You fluttered your eyes open as the light directly met your eyes, causing you to close them again for a bit. You blinked a few times to adjust your eyes from the light. You felt like you were lying down on beach sand. 'Oh, wait.' You sat up and noticed that you were on the beach sand. Suddenly, someone helped you up and dragged you on a hill. "Hermione?" You asked.

Hermione nodded and continued to walk. You squinted your eyes to see clearly and saw Harry and Ron waiting for you.

"He knows," Harry told you and the others. "You-Know-Who. He knows we broke into Gringotts. He knows what we took, and he knows we're hunting Horcruxes."

You furrowed your eyebrows. "How is it you know?" You asked. Hermione handed you a towel, and you gladly took it before wrapping yourself with the soft material.

"I saw him," Harry replied as he took his shirt out, making him shirtless.

"You let him in?" Hermione asked while Ron took his shirt off as well. "Harry, you can't do that!" Hermione exclaimed while wrapping herself on a towel too.

"Hermione, I can't always help it!" Harry argued but paused for a moment. "Well, maybe I can. I don't know!"

"Never mind!" Ron exclaimed. "What happened?"

"Well, he's angry..." Harry trailed off. "And scared too. He knows, if we find and destroy all the Horcruxes, we'll be able to kill him. I reckon he'll stop at nothing to make sure we don't find the rest. And there's more. One of them is at Hogwarts."

"What?" You asked in disbelief. "You saw it?"

Ron and Harry wore a new set of dry clothes that Hermione had given them.

"I saw the castle," Harry replied. "And Rowena Ravenclaw. It must have something to do with her. We have to go there, now!"

"Well, we can't do that!" Hermione complained. "We've got to plan, and we've got to figure it out!"

"Hermione, when have any of our plans ever actually worked?" You asked, crossing your arms.

"We plan, we get there, all hell breaks loose," Harry added, earning a nod from Ron.

"He's right!" Ron exclaimed. "One problem... Snape's Headmaster now, we can't just move freely from the front door!"

"Well, we'll go to Hogsmeade, to Honeydukes. Take the secret passage in the cellar." Harry replied before walking away as you, Ron, and Hermione followed behind. "It's... there's something wrong with him. It's like, you know, in the past... I've always been able to follow his thoughts. And now everything just feels disconnected."

"Maybe it's the Horcruxes?" You suggested. "Maybe he's growing weaker."

"Maybe he's dying!" Ron added.

Harry shook his head. "No! No, it's... it's more like he's wounded. If anything, he feels more dangerous."

°•○●○•°

Draco looked down, trying to avoid looking at the bloody scene in front of him and his parents. Numerous goblins who were working at Gringotts were killed, as well as the security. Lots of blood and lifeless bodies were scattered in the room, the place where Draco used to love as a kid. It was sickening.

Draco didn't dare look up, afraid to see Voldemort's murderous eyes. Narcissa held her son's hands for comfort as she looked at Voldemort fearfully. Lucius looked scared as well, trying to lower his head down, but he wanted to look brave in the eyes of the Dark Lord.

Draco gulped and looked up a little to see Voldemort, who was walking towards him and his parents with his snake, Nagini.

Voldemort started talking in Parseltongue to his snake that Draco and his parents couldn't quite understand. (For some of you who doesn't know what he said, he said: "The boy has discovered our secret, Nagini. It makes us vulnerable. We must deploy all our forces now to find him. And you, my friend, must stay close.")

After the small talk, Voldemort and his snake Disapparated. Lucius sighed in relief, and Narcissa did too. Draco looked down at Griphook, who he had seen with you and your friends escaping with him. The goblin died with the sword of Gryffindor in his hand. Draco watched the sword slowly disappearing from the goblin's hand.

"Get ready, Draco." Draco heard his mother tell him as she patted his back. She gave her wand to her son, causing Draco to look at her. "Use this until you get your wand back."

Draco gave her a quick smile. "Thank you, mum."

Back at Hogsmeade, you and your friends entered a house when an older man allowed you, Harry, Ron, and Hermione to get inside. You stared at the man. 'I swear that man looks like Dumbledore.'

"Did you look at him?" Ron asked you. "For a second, I thought that was..."

"I know. Dumbledore!" Hermione cut him off with a whisper.

"Oddly weird but somehow relieving." You added.

Hermione looked at a broken mirror and noticed something odd. "Harry?" Harry turned to Hermione, who was looking at the broken mirror. "I can see you in this."

"Bloody fools, what were you thinking, coming here?"

You flinched when the stranger spoke. You looked at him as he walked towards you and your friends. "Have you any idea how dangerous it is?"

"You're Aberforth, Dumbledore's brother." Harry recognized the man. You gasped in realization. 'So, that's why they look like each other.'

"It's you who I've been seeing in here." Harry continued. Harry turned around to see the broken mirror again. "Who gave that to you? The mirror?" He asked.

"Mundungus Fletcher, 'bout a year ago," Aberforth answered.

"Dung had no right selling that to you.
It belongs to..."

"Sirius..."

Harry froze, feeling upset again. You knew it was hard for him. Sirius Black was the only family that Harry had, and now he was gone.

"Albus told me," Aberforth added. "He also told me you'd likely be hacked off if you ever found that I had it."

Aberforth gave you and your friends food and drinks. Hermione and Ron quickly grabbed biscuits and butterbeer, munching and gulping them down while you took a muffin and ate it. "But, ask yourself; where would you be if I didn't?

"Do you have any others much? From the Order?" You asked, slightly clearing your throat as you eat.

"The Order's finished." He replied. "You-Know-Who's won, anyone who says otherwise is killing themselves."

Harry nodded. "We need to get into Hogwarts tonight. Dumbledore gave us a job to do."

Aberforth scoffed. "Did he now... nice job? Easy?"

"We've been hunting Horcruxes. And we think the last one's inside the castle. But we'll need your help getting in."

"Which job my brother has given you? No, it's a suicide mission. Do yourself a favor, boy. Go home! Live a little longer."

"Dumbledore trusted me to see this through," Harry argued.

"What makes you think you can trust him?" Aberforth asked. "What makes you think you can believe anything my brother told you? And in all the time you knew him... did he ever mention my name? Did he ever mention hers?" Aberforth pointed at the portrait of a girl hanging on the wall.

You gazed upon the picture of a girl who was smiling. 'Well, he's damn right. He never mentioned he has a brother nor a sister...'

"Why should he..."

"Keep secrets." Aberforth interrupted. "You tell me."

"I trusted him."

"That's the boy's answer. A boy goes chasing Horcruxes on the word of a man who wouldn't even tell him where to start."

Aberforth started to walk towards Harry. "You're lying! Not just on me, that doesn't matter. To yourself as well. That's what a fool does. You don't strike me as a fool, Harry Potter! So, I'll ask you again; there must be a reason."

Harry looked at him blankly. "I'm not interested in what happened between you and your brother. I don't care that you've given up. I trusted the man I knew. We need to get into the castle tonight."

Aberforth stared at Harry for a moment before sighing. He turned to the portrait and nodded. "You know what to do."

The girl nodded back and started to walk away.

"Where have you sent her?" You asked curiously.

"You'll see," Aberforth replied. "Soon enough."

"That's your sister, Ariana. Isn't it? She died very young, didn't she?" Hermione asked, pointing at the picture, making Aberforth to froze on his spot before going inside a room.

"My brother sacrificed many things, Mr. Potter. On his journey to find power. Including Ariana. And she was devoted to him. He gave her everything... but time."

You turned to Aberforth. "Thank you, Mr. Dumbledore." Aberforth smiled shortly before leaving the room. You faced your friends and scrunched your nose. "It's weird addressing him as Mr. Dumbledore. I should have just called him Mr. Aberforth."

"He did save our lives!" Hermione said. "Kept an eye on us on that mirror." Hermione leaned on Harry to whisper. "That doesn't seem like someone who's given up!"

You looked at the picture again and saw Ariana coming back. "She's coming back." However, you noticed something odd. "What's that with her?" Ron asked.

The portrait turned out to be a door for a secret passageway because it opened and revealed Neville Longbottom. "Neville!" You greeted and quickly pulled him out of the tunnel, hugging him. "Oh, it's a relief to see you again!" Neville smiled and hugged you back.

"How you look..." Harry was about to compliment him, but Neville interrupted him.

"Like hell, I reckon." Neville chuckled. "This is nothing. Seamus is worse."

Neville pulled away from you and saw Aberforth coming out of the room. He smiled. "Hey, Ab!" He greeted. "We've got a couple more coming through."

Neville showed you and your friends the way through Hogwarts by the secret passageway. "Don't remember this on the Marauder's Map," Ron told Neville.

"That's because it never existed till now," Neville explained. "The seven secret passages were sealed off before the start of the year. This is the only way in or out now. The grounds are crawled with Death Eaters and Dementors."

"How about Snape as Headmaster?" Hermione asked.

Neville shook his head. "Hardly ever seen. It's the Carrows who's watching out for."

You raised a brow. "Carrows?"

Neville nodded and turned his head in front so he could focus on the path the five of you were taking. "Yeah. Brother and sister. Incharge of discipline. They like punishment, the Carrows."

You noticed the bruises and cuts on Neville's face, making you frown in sadness and anger. "They did that to you? Why?"

Neville sighed. "Today's Dark Arts lesson was practicing the Cruciatus Curse. In the first years. I refused. Hogwarts has changed."

The five of you stopped in front of a door. "Let's have a bit of fun, shall we?" Neville suggested with a smile.

Neville opened the door, and you, Ron, Hermione, and Harry saw a room full of students. Most of them were from Dumbledore's Army, while the others were you presumed are newly recruited. "Hey, listen up, you lot! I've for you a surprise."

"No more about Aberforth's cook gonna help." Seamus groaned in annoyance. "We'll be surprised if we can digest that."

Neville wore a cute smirk on his face before stepping aside so Harry could step forward and show himself to everyone.

"Blimey!" Seamus exclaimed as he stood up. "Harry!" Seamus greeted, coming towards you and your friends. The students started clapping and cheering.

Neville saw Nigel and leaned on his ear. "Get the word out to Remus and the others that Harry is back." Nigel nodded before running away excitingly.

Some students greeted Harry and hugged him, making Neville chuckle. "Okay, okay! Let's not kill him before You-Know-Who does."

"Do you read? We've got a new weather report. Lightning has struck. I repeat: Lightning has struck." You heard Nigel's report.

"What's the fun, Harry?" Neville asked. There was a brief awkward silence.

"Okay. There's something we need to find. Something is hidden here, in the castle. And it may help us to defeat You-Know-Who." Harry announced.

"Alright, what is it?" Neville asked.

"We don't know."

"Where is it?" Dean asked.

"We don't know that either," Harry responded. The D.A. members looked at you and your friends blankly. "I realize that's not much to go on."

"That's nothing to go on." Seamus shook his head.

"I think it has something to do with Ravenclaw," Harry added. "It'll be small, easily concealed. Anyone, any ideas?"

"Well, there's Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem," Luna spoke up from the crowd. You grinned at her. 'You really are a sweet angel Luna, thank you.'

"Oh, bloody hell! Here we go!" Ron sighed in relief.

"Lost diadem of Ravenclaw?" Luna asked the crowd. "Hasn't anyone heard of it? It's quite famous."

"Yes. But, Luna, it's lost." Cho sighed, shaking her head. "For centuries. There's no person alive today who's seen it."

"Excuse me, can someone tell me what bloody diadem is?" Ron asked in confusion.

"It's a sort of a crown. You know, like a tiara." You replied, shrugging.

"Harry!" Ginny came inside the room with Megan. Ginny was smiling as she stared at Harry, who was smiling back at her.

"Hi, there." Ron greeted her sister. Ginny ignored him and focused on Harry. Ron frowned. "Six months she hasn't seen me, and it's like I'm a frankie first-year. I'm her brother!"

"She got lots of them, but she's got only one Harry." Seamus laughed.

Ron glared at him. "Shut up, Seamus!"

Megan did not hesitate and ran towards you and hugged you tightly. "You have no idea how worried I am to you."

"I could tell you the same thing." You chuckled and hugged her back. Your sister pulled away and looked behind you, searching for someone. "Draco. He's still with them?"

You sighed and nodded. "Don't worry. He sort of helped us."

"What is it, Ginny?" You heard Neville ask.

"Snape knows..." Ginny said worriedly. "He knows that Harry was spotted in Hogsmeade."

°•○●○•°

"Oh, (Y/n)!" Vivian rushed to you and placed a kiss on top of your head before hugging you. "You're safe! Oh, God, you made me worried."

"It's good to see you too, mum." You hugged her back, burying your face to her shoulder. The two of you pulled away and smiled at each other. "Did you see your sister?"

"Mhm."

"Were you hurt? Did you gain injuries or—oh, no! You have a cut on your cheek!" Vivian examined the cut that Bellatrix gave you on your cheek. "Who did that? Who's the bastard I have to kill--"

"Mum, mum!" You chuckled. "I'm fine. Don't worry. Let's stay focused on the plan, okay?"

Vivian nodded. "Alright, alright." She placed one last kiss on your cheek before returning back to her position.

"Many of you are surely wondering why I have summoned you at this hour," Snape spoke. You could hear his voice behind the door with Ron, Hermione, and the Order of the Phoenix. Harry, however, hid and blended in with the other students in the Great Hall.

"It's come to my attention that earlier this evening..." Snape continued. "Harry Potter was sighted in Hogsmeade. Now, should anyone... student or staff attempt to aid Mr. Potter? They will be punished in a manner consistent with the severity of their transcription, furthermore..."

You clenched your fists as Snape continued his speech. "Any person found to have knowledge of these events, who fails to come forward, will be treated as equally guilty. Another... if anyone in here has any knowledge of Mr. Potter's movements this evening. I invite them to step forward. Now!"

Harry stepped out from the students. "It seems, despite your exhaustive defensive strategies, you still have a security problem, Headmaster."

Snape squinted his eyes to see Harry since he was wearing his hood on. Harry pushed his hood away and showed his face. You and your friends heard audible gasps and murmurs. "I'm afraid it's quite extensive."

You, Hermione, Ron, and the Order of the Phoenix opened the doors and revealed yourselves to Snape. Harry was now glaring at Snape. "How dare you stand where he stood?"

You wanted to tell a joke so bad, but you knew how serious the situation was. 'Harry, as much as I am with you, Dumbledore stood everywhere in this school...'

"Tell them how it happened that night!" Harry exclaimed angrily. "Tell them how you looked him in the eye. A man who trusted you and killed him. Tell them!"

Snape pulled out his wand and pointed it at Harry until McGonagall stepped forward and pointed her wand at Snape. The students gasped and stood beside the walls, afraid they might get hit with the spells that were about to be mentioned.

Snape froze as he stared at McGonagall while you and the Order pointed your wands at him and the Death Eaters who were behind Snape. McGonagall shot numerous spells on Snape, and he blocked them all except for the two Death Eaters who were shot and now are lying unconscious on the ground.

Snape escaped as he turned into a cloud of black smoke and flew away, breaking the glass window. "Coward!" McGonagall yelled. With one swish of her wand, all of the fire around the Hall lit up very brightly, and the students cheered. Harry stood beside McGonagall and looked at all of you with a smile.

"Harry."

You saw Harry fall on the ground, shaking, and his eyes widened.

"Potter?" McGonagall asked worriedly, crouching down to check on Harry. The lights dimmed.

All of you suddenly heard a high-pitched scream making you wince. Harry checked on the girl who was still screaming in a corner, covering her ears until another student screamed.

"I know that many of you will want to fight." You heard a whisper-like voice digging into your ears and sending shivers up to your spine. "Some of you may even think that to fight is wise. But this is folly."

You covered your ears and shut your eyes closed in pain when your head started aching. "Give me Harry Potter. Do this, and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave Hogwarts untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded. You have one hour."

You glared at nowhere when you heard Voldemort's statement. 'You have one hour to fuck off.'

The lights lit up brightly again as the voice died down. Students looked at Harry, unsure and afraid. You placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Harry..."

"What're you waiting for?" You heard someone ask. Your eyes twitched when you knew whose voice it belonged to. You quickly gave Stacey Doom a death glare who was pointing her finger at Harry. "Someone grab him!"

'What are you waiting for? Someone break her finger!'

You stood beside Harry, still glaring at Stacey. Ginny stood in front of Harry, protecting him, while Ron and Hermione stood beside him too. Soon, the rest joined you and your friends as well. Pansy and Daphne glared at Stacey, who stepped back in surprise.

"Students out of bed! Students out of bed!" All of you all heard a voice yelling. "Students in the corridor!"

It was Argus Filch yelling. He ran towards the students while holding his cat until he stopped in his tracks as McGonagall faced him. "They're supposed to be out of bed, you blithering idiot!"

Filch paused and looked around. "Um... Sorry, ma'am."

"As it happens, Mr. Filch. Your arrival is opportune. If you would, I would like you please, to escort Ms. Doom and the rest of Slytherin House from the Hall."

"Exactly where is it I'll be leading 'em to, ma'am?"

"The dungeons would do."

And with that, most of the students cheered except for the Slytherins students. You watched the Slytherin students walk away from you and the rest of the students. Pansy and Daphne looked at you before turning around and following their fellow Slytherin students. It was cruel to put the Slytherins down in the dungeons; however, it was also to protect them when they saw that most of their parents were Death Eaters.

Filch started taking the Slytherins out of the Hall. Stacey gave you one last bitter look before leaving.

"(Y/n)!" You turned around to find out that someone was running towards you. You were unable to recognize them when they suddenly embraced you. All you know is that it was a guy. "I'm so glad to see you safe!"

You blinked a few times and hugged the person back awkwardly. "Um, yeah, thanks. Sorry, who are you?"

He pulled away, and you finally so saw his face. He was frowning. It took you a while to realize who it was. "How could you forget me so quickly, (Y/n)?" He pouted. "You're tearing me apart."

"Peter!" You gasped and hugged him, earning a chuckle from him. "I'm so sorry that I didn't recognize you! Good Lord, you changed a lot."

"It's okay, (Y/n)," Peter said calmly. You pulled away and furrowed your eyebrows at him, causing him to look at you confusingly. "What?"

"You took care of my sister, yeah?"

Peter nodded vigorously. "Of course I did! I won't let anything to my girlfriend." Your eyes widened, and his eyes did too. "I—uhh. What?"

"Since when?" You asked, grinning.

"Fifth... year..." Peter blushed furiously, causing you to laugh a bit. "In the middle of that year... we, um, didn't say it publicly."

"You kept it a secret? Why didn't you guys tell me?"

"Because you were busy!" Peter chuckled.

"I presume you have a reason for returning, Potter," McGonagall told Harry. "What is it you need?"

"Time, Professor." Harry pleaded. "As much as you can get me."

McGonagall nodded. "Do what you have to do. I'll secure the castle."

Harry nodded and was about to leave. "Potter..." McGonagall stopped him. Harry looked at her. "It's good to see you."

Harry smiled warmly. "It's good to see you too, Professor."

Harry patted Neville's arm. "Hold the fort, Neville." You were about to leave with everyone, but someone grabbed your arm, causing you to look around. You saw your mother. "Mum? What's wrong?"

Vivian smiled and pulled you into a warm hug, and kissed your forehead. "Be careful, okay? I can't lose you and your sister."

You smiled back and nodded. "You won't. We'll be back. Safe and alive."