Hercules is a constellation named after the Greek hero Heracles. He was a strongman who killed the Nemean Lion (Leo), the hydra (Hydra), a dragon (Draco), and the crab (Cancer) as part of his Twelve Labours.

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The Great Hall was in a frenzy. Madame Pomfrey and Nurse Wainscott were running about frantically, tending to the wounded. Students rushed around, some carrying stretchers of unmoving bodies. Bloodied and battered faces stared as he walked in, carrying Angel in his arms.

Then he saw the dead. Like laid-down toy soldiers, they remained unmoving in their permanent sleep. With a pounding heart, he strained his eyes, praying he didn't see familiar faces.

At the back Weasley family were standing around someone. Percy looked solemn, and so did Ginny. Mrs Weasley was wailing and clutching George. Ron was nowhere to be seen. As he moved further into the hall, the body came into view, and a wave of nausea hit him when he realised it was Fred.

He momentarily forgot where he was and stepped forward, wanting to hug them, to apologise, to do something.

"What's happened to this one?" Madam Pomfrey had tottered up and was now tapping his arm, trying to take Angel.

He dragged his stare away from Fred's body. "Dementors. They almost killed her."

"I'm fine," Angel protested weakly as two student aids propped her up. "We don't have chocolate at the moment," one of them informed her apologetically. "You might have to wait it out." 

"Angel Dawson. I never thought I'd see you again." A voice came from behind, and he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder as Cedric Diggory pushed past him.

Angel's face lit up. "Cedric, you're alright!" Draco stepped back to give way to Cedric, vines of jealousy snaking around his heart. "You shouldn't have left her, Diggory," he spat out bitterly.

Cedric touched Angel's face, beholding. "I'm so sorry. This Ravenclaw girl was knocked out cold so I brought her here. I got jinxed on the way, so I had to stay. I did ask around, but one had seen you and Pomfrey refused to let me leave."

"I'm just glad you're alive," Angel sighed, shaking away his explanation. "Dementors - they attacked the school. But Draco saved all of us!" She peered around at Draco. "I've never seen anything like it!"

"I heard," Cedric said, looking at him curiously, his expression carrying no sign of resentment. Draco felt a hint of... pride? Accomplishment? He wasn't sure, but it swelled within his chest and he almost smiled back. Almost.

Madam Pomfrey handed Angel a mug, which she accepted gratefully. She sipped, properly taking in her surroundings for the first time.

Draco moved to block her but it was too late. She had spotted Fred, and the cup smashed to the floor. "Fred!" She tried to stand but wobbled on her feet. Cedric held her steady. "Angel, I think it's best you sat down for a bit."

"Fred... Professor Lupin... Tonks...? Tell me this isn't happening..." she choked, collapsing back into the chair.

Draco stared at the ground. Whether he liked it or not, he had a hand in their deaths, and that of the dozen other students and teachers who had not been found yet.

"I have to go," he said suddenly, and the two Hufflepuffs looked at him in surprise.

"Back out there? Absolutely not!" Angel snatched his sleeve. "Draco Lucius Malfoy, I forbid it!"

He knelt down in front of her, clasping her hands between his. "Ophiuchus," he said softly, so that Cedric wouldn't hear. It was an offering. An apology.

Her irises darted back and forth, and he could almost see the cogs turning in her mind. Just as he thought she was going to argue, she pulled him into her arms. Despite the dirt and ash, she still smelled like honeyed florals.

"I have to fight," he murmured into her hair. "I have to make things right." She stroked his head. A breath of laughter, soft as blowing dandelions. "You go do that, Draco."

He fished the Hippogriff from his pocket. "You said to give it back to you..." She balled her hands into fists. "No," she said. "Not yet." His eyes met hers, and he understood.

The silver figurine, exceptionally miniature in size, was their promise - a promise of forever. And he swore to himself then he would keep it or die trying.

She brought his face close, lashes fluttering against his cheekbones. "I love you, Draco Malfoy," she whispered. "I love you more than the stars." Her hands were the cool autumn breeze, her words the fall of rain over a scorched desert.

"I love you too." It escaped carelessly from his lips as they kissed. She gave him one last squeeze before he stood and walked away.

"Hey, Malfoy!" Cedric was running after him. "Your Patronus. You proper did it?"

"What's it to you?" he sneered. 

Cedric shrugged in his casual, handsome manner. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I just thought- you know... that you couldn't."

He raised his eyebrows and snorted. "Well, you and I both, Diggory."

"So... a bloodhound, huh?"

"What?"

"People were talking about it. Your Patronus. It was a dog, wasn't it? A bloodhound."

"So?"

Cedric looked surprised. "You don't know?" He lowered his voice, like he was divulging a secret. "Angel, hers is a bloodhound too."

Draco blinked, uncomprehending. He understood less about Patronuses than he would like to admit. The Death Eaters never had much use for them since Dementors did the Dark Lord's bidding anyway. All he knew was that they mostly took the form of animals or magical creatures, so having the same one was a common occurrence, wasn't it? Either way, he wasn't about to ask Pretty Boy what he meant.

He shook his head. "Just look after her, alright?"

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Two Death Eaters strode up towards the Great Hall as he was leaving. He raised his wand, and as though pulled by invisible ropes, they flew apart, smashing into the windows on each side of the corridor.

He was angry. Angry for Angel; and for Fred, Lupin, Tonks, and all of his schoolmates who would never see the light of tomorrow.

The Death Eaters had been merciless, so he would be as well. Alternating between the Sectumsempra and Killing curses, he waved at them, slinging them off their feet and sending them into walls and pointed ends.

As he rounded the corner of a ruined classroom, someone crashed into him with such force that it knocked the breath out of him.

"Urgh! Malfoy!" Hannah Abbott stumbled backwards, clutching her nose in pain. Despite her muck-covered clothes and the few cuts on her arms, she looked relatively unharmed.

"Abbott," he addressed her for the first time in years. "What are you doing here?"

"What does it look like I'm doing, you idiot!" she gestured around impatiently. "Where's Angel?"

"Uh- with Madam Promfrey."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, scrutinising. "I heard what you did. At the courtyard."

He jerked his head in acknowledgement. This was the first time he had been alone with her and he did not know what to say.

In background, a dark shadow moved behind her. "Get down!" he shouted, casting the Protego charm above her head as she ducked.

Fenrir Greyback pounced right into it, his paws only inches from Hannah. The force threw him right through the walls of the classroom, where he smashed into the far end.

He sprang back up easily, snarling. In his full werewolf form, he seemed larger than ever, the muscles on his hinds large as limestone boulders. Despite this, he jumped from wall to wall with such agility that their spells merely blasted off chunks of brick, never quite catching up with him.

Draco saw confusion and shock flash across the creature's eyes for a second. Why was an ally attacking him?

Greyback bounded towards the exit, but Draco anticipated his, directing his statue curse towards the doorway instead. The monster whined as it hit him on the head mid-leap. His body solidified into grey stone before it even hit the ground, smashing apart like an eggshell.

"That was... advanced Dark magic," Hannah observed. "Impressive." Her voice was tight, but he knew it was her way of saying thank you.

"Perks of being a Death Eater."

It was a lousy attempt at a joke, and he instantly regretted it as she glowered at him, her lips curling in disgust.

"Evening, Draco," a deep voice said, startling the both of them.

Yaxley leaned against the doorway, twirling his wand idly in his fingers. "Your parents are looking for you." He strode in with a haughty air. "I'm to take you to them. Stop playing with your food and let's finish up here."

He was overconfident, unprepared. He hadn't even noticed the pieces of his fallen comrade laying right at his feet.

Slowly, Draco aimed his wand at Hannah. She mirrored his movements, her blue eyes wide with panic.

Then he swung around.