Columba, Latin for 'dove', is a small constellation in the southern celestial hemisphere, south of Canis Major. Petrus Plancius named it 'Columba Noachi', meaning 'Noah's Dove', in reference to the dove that signalled to Noah that the Great Flood was receding.

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Draco's note had arrived two nights ago, and its contents had stirred another internal conflict within her. She would go to save Luna, but she couldn't simply just abandon everyone after the fact.

When he'd told given her the plane ticket that night in the Tower, she'd asked him to come. Now, she'd decided she didn't very much want to leave after all. Hogwarts was her home. The friends she'd made here have become her only family. But she also desperately wanted to help Draco.

It had taken her three nights to convince herself to ask Draco to come back with her and fight, rather than to run away.

Hogwarts always offers help to those who deserve it, and she knew in the deepest depths of her heart that Draco was someone as such.

"Angel, are you sure you know what you're doing?" Susan's voice trembled in the darkness.

"No, not really," she admitted, adjusting her bag on her shoulders. The grounds seemed overly large when it was just the four of them out there at night.

"I'm telling you, he won't do it," said Hannah. "He's a coward! They all are!" Susan lightly slapped her arm with the back of her hand. "Hannah... If she wants to, let her!"

"If he hurts you," Hannah warned. "If anything happens to you, I'll kill him."

Angel wanted to smile, but something in Hannah's expression told her she was being dead serious this time.

"If you're not back in three days, we're going straight to Professor McGonagall," Susan reminded her. "And for the love of Merlin, remember, you have a wand for a reason. If you're in danger, use it. And I mean use it."

The three friends hugged, clinging on to each other. "Thank you," Angel said gratefully, before breaking apart.

They waved forlornly as she stepped over the Hogwarts threshold and Disapparated.

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The weather was frigid, and Draco put on his black jacket. He hadn't received her reply, but he was certain she would be there. It was almost time, and the house seemed quiet enough. He stuffed the last of his clothes into the bag and took one last look at his room.

He'd spent his entire childhood and almost every holiday away from Hogwarts in this manor. He remembered sneaking down to the kitchen for food, and then being caught by Dobby with half a cake stuffed down his throat. The house elf and him had always played hide-and-seek around the grounds, and Dobby always pretended not to see him.

But that had all changed. The luxurious house he once called home was nothing but a prison now. Home is somewhere else now, he thought wistfully as he picked up the bag. But before he could take another step, the door flung open.

Narcissa stood as a shadow in the doorframe, her features hard in the dim night light. "Where are you going?"

He shook his head, avoiding her stinging gaze as he moved to walk past her. "Out. For a wal-"

"Don't. Lie. To me." Her expression was rarely this angry. This wasn't one of her routine checkups - something was wrong.

His blood ran cold when he saw the Blackbeard's leather holder dangling from one of her hands. In the other, pinched between her index and middle fingers, was a folded piece of parchment.

"Where did you get that?" he asked between clenched teeth. "What have you done with Blackbeard?"

"You fool," she hissed, flicking the note against him. It hit him in the chest and fluttered to the floor. His heart was hammering as he bent down to pick it up.

I'll come. Do you really promise forever? If you do, please listen to what I have to say.

I love you.

They glared daggers at each other. "You can't stop me," he said, setting his mouth into a line.

"What have you told her?"

"Nothing, I-"

"They're out there, you know?" Narcissa interrupted him again. "They've gone to look for Potter. You will dispose of that note immediately and pray to Merlin they don't find her. Because when they do...if she tells them that you and her... He will not spare any of us, Draco."

Suddenly, a loud shouting rose from downstairs, Scabior's voice cutting clearly through the din. "We've got one!"

His mother looked at him knowingly, and he pushed past her. She followed closely behind as they rushed into the main hall.

"Ah, Draco! Recognise this one, boy?" The three snatchers were dragging something heavy behind them. It was a person - a girl. They were holding her by the collar of her white coat. No. A flash of pale pink underneath. No, please. He knew that coat, that pink scarf, that long dark hair like gossamer.

No.