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"Hey, Dee. Can I talk to you for a moment?" Jemina asked with a small smile, wondering how the older girl was doing. Of course, she wasn't fine. She just lost Professor Dumbledore, her father and her pillar, the man who meant the most to her. Her heart went out for Deanna who didn't deserve any of this.

Deanna glanced at Hermione, who nodded, before she got up. "Sure." Jemina led her to the tree near the lake where nobody could hear them.

"Are you going to come back?" Jemina suddenly asked though she knew the answer already.

Deanna looked at her in confusion before speaking. "I won't be coming back next year, Jem."

"Deanna-"

"It will put everyone in danger, and you know it. They're going to take me if I stay here. Hogwarts is not safe anymore."

Jemina stared at her for a few moments before taking a step towards her and hugging her tight. This was not goodbye, it was just see you next time. She blinked back the tears in her eyes, wondering how would Hogwarts be without Deanna? It would probably too dark and cold, the phoenix's presence was the one that made Hogwarts feel like home, especially to the Hufflepuffs.

"And you and El have to run with your families." Deanna smiled despite the tears in her eyes. Damned Voldemort. They did not deserve this. They did not deserve to have their lives ruined like this. "You two are Muggleborns –"

"I'm not running, Dee. I'm staying." Jemina's words surprised Deanna. She and Jemina stared at each other, one looked horrified and the other looked firm with her decision. Jemina had already made her decision after thinking it over for a few nights. She knew Deanna was not coming back. So, who would defend the Hufflepuffs and the rest of Hogwarts? It made her afraid, especially since she was a Muggleborn, but Jemina was a fighter. Deanna helped her grow into the fighter she was now. So, this was the least she could do for Deanna. Protect Hogwarts.

Deanna glared at her. "Don't you understand, Jem? They're going to kill you –"

"And I'm not going to hide while you are out there." Jemina spoke firmly, holding Deanna's hand tight. "Someone needs to be here for us, and I'll be that, Deanna. Just like you've been there for us, I'll be there for everybody too. I promise."

Deanna looked like she wanted to protest before she sighed. There was a fire in Jemina's eyes that she saw too much in her own. She hugged Jemina one more time, knowing she couldn't convince the girl otherwise. She just hoped Jemina would be strong until the very end. Jemina knew she made the right choice with the tight hug Deanna gave her, it was as if that hug they shared was giving Jemina strength for what she was about to do. She couldn't just run away just because she was a Muggleborn. She was a part of Dumbledore's Army.

"Stay strong, Jemina. Stay strong until I come back."

"I know you'll come back, Dee." Jemina said sincerely. "That's why I chose to do this." She pulled away and smiled at Deanna before she walked away, leaving Deanna staring at her back with mixed emotions. When she got in the carriage with Noah and Eleanor, she let out a deep sigh. It was hard to make the decision, but Deanna's reaction made Jemina firm with her choice. She was coming back, no matter what, even if it meant risking her life.

"Listen, I won't be coming back, you two." Eleanor suddenly said, making Jemina and Noah stare at her. It was silent for a few moments, the three of them sharing sad smiles with tears in their eyes. Of course, this was not goodbye. Right now, they had to part ways with people they wanted to stay with them, but for their safety, it was needed to be done.

"Take care of yourself and your family, El." Noah hugged her tightly. "We'll see you soon."

"Hey, don't worry about us." Jemina smiled reassuringly, joining the hug. "As long as you and your family are safe, it's alright."

The trio of Hufflepuffs just sat there in the comfort of heir hug for a few moments. It was real now. Dumbledore was dead. The war has started. Deanna and Harry and the other Muggleborns weren't coming back. The reality settled in Jemina's mind and she started wondering if she was ready to leave her family alone to go back to Hogwarts.

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"I have a favor to ask."

"What?"

"Please... let Jemina Nightingale return to Hogwarts."

A pause, red meeting blue... No hate or anger, only pleading and conflict.

"Don't harm Jem, Eleanor Edmonton and their families. Let Jem return to Hogwarts. That's all I ask of you, Tom. Please."

A long silence...

"Fine."

"What?"

"She can return and I'll tell them to take extra care of those two."

The heir of the phoenixes held her hand out for a handshake, and the heir of the snakes raised his own to reach out for it, but then, the connection ended and they were back in their own places with their hands outstretched.

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"You fools! Avada –"

The other man dropped to his knees, bowing deeply. "Please... Please spare us, my Lord. We just wanted to scare them. I-It won't happen again!"

"You just went against my orders and what she wanted." The pale-faced man let out a sigh, his red eyes flashing at the man on his knees. "Make one more mistake and Nagini will have a great meal."

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It had been a few weeks since they've gotten home from school and Jemina was out at the supermarket, buying some things her mother asked her to buy. She had been thinking in the past few weeks about what she told Deanna, and finally, she made her decision.

She felt bad for deciding not to go to Hogwarts anymore and hide with her family, but she hoped Deanna would understand her decision somehow. There were countless reports about dead Muggles, and she needed to protect her family first. The thought of them dying because of her was frightening.

Jemina was so sorry to Deanna for being so cowardly, for going back on her word, but her family would come first no matter what. She shook her head, trying to think about something else and went to the counter to pay for the eggs and milk. She just hoped Deanna would be safe and away from Voldemort.

With one last sigh, Jemina paid for them and started on her way home, lost in thought. Sure, she did make her decision but still... Why was it so hard to make a decision in these times? Jemina sighed again, finally arriving at her house. She took the key from her pocket and pushed the door open. "Mum, Dad, Archie, I'm home!"

Jemina went to the kitchen, and her eyes widened at the sight. Right on the floor, her mother, father and little brother were lying on the floor, eyes wide open and on the wall behind them was the dark mark itself. The plastic bag of eggs and milk fell from Jemina's grasp, tears falling from her eyes with her entire world. The eggs breaking like Jemina's heart and the milk spilling as quick as her tears.

"Mum... Dad... Archie." Jemina made her way slowly to them, dropping to her knees. She bent down to check if her mother's heart was still beating, but there was none. No sign of life. Their bodies were cold, too cold. This wasn't supposed to happen, her family was always warm. It couldn't be...

"Archie!" Jemina sobbed out, holding on to her family. "Mum, Dad! I'm so sorry... I'm sorry." What was she supposed to do now? The family she was supposed to protect was gone, she didn't even get to speak with them for one last time. She didn't get to tell them she loved them so much.

Now, Jemina had only regrets with her. It was all her fault... If she wasn't a Muggleborn... if she acted earlier, this wouldn't have happened. Why? Why them? Suddenly, Jemina noticed a piece of paper in her mother's hands. She took it from her mother's cold hands gently and opened it.

"Great surprise, isn't it, Mudblood? Too bad you weren't here when it happened."

Jemina's entire body shook with rage and grief, the note being crumpled in her hands. She looked at the bodies of her old mother and father and her 5-year old brother. There was a fire burning in Jemina, her green eyes sparking with rage. Those Death Eaters, that bloody Voldemort. She was going to get all of them, she was going back to Hogwarts and fight back. As she promised Deanna and as she now promised her family.

"I'll do what I need to do, Mum, Dad, Archie." Jemina's voice cracked, and she kissed their foreheads one by one. "Go and rest." She closed their eyes and let her tears fall, hugging them tight and clenching her fists.

"I'm keeping my promise, Deanna. For you and for my family."

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