•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

"So, how's fifth year working out for you?" Deanna asked Jemina, the two of them sitting on the bench and catching up after what seemed to be a long time. Eleanor and Noah were currently doing some schoolwork in the library, and Jemina had some free time so she decided to spend it with Deanna.

"Horrible." Jemina let out a sigh. "They're like machines. They don't stop giving work."

Deanna laughed at that. "It gets worse as you grow older. You want to be an Astronomer?"

"Not really... But Professor Sinistra's proving to be a great teacher, and it's just amazing..." Jemina looked up at the sky and smiled as if imagining the stars in the blue sky. "Everything is connected. They say the people we love who have passed on are in each of those stars, twinkling and smiling down at us."

"Really?" Deanna closed her eyes, trying to imagine it. "That's one way to think of it." She smiled at the thought of her old friends shining brightly in the night sky. "I think you're right."

"Maybe, but it's just comforting to think of it like that." Jemina chuckled, turning to Deanna. "A war's coming, isn't it?"

Deanna opened her eyes, frowning slightly. "Yeah... You can't –"

"I know..." Jemina smiled sadly. "I'm a Muggleborn, and most likely, I won't be able to return next year... But I still want to help. Even in the smallest ways."

"Hey, don't worry about that. What matters most is that you are safe." Deanna patted her on the back reassuringly. "So don't worry and keep yourself and your family safe, Jem. That's how you can help in this war." Her voice trailed off because she noticed someone going into Myrtle's bathroom.

"I think I have to go now. Don't worry, alright?" Deanna gave her one last hug before running to the bathroom. As she always did before entering that bathroom, Deanna took a deep breath before entering. She then saw Draco Malfoy clutching the sink, head bowed, with Myrtle near him.

"Deanna," said Myrtle in surprise. "What are you –"

"He gave you a mission, didn't he?" Deanna directed to Malfoy whose head snapped up, surprise and fear evident in his eyes.

"W-What –"

"Damn it, Draco." Deanna stepped towards him with worry in her expression. "I may be an idiot at times, but I'm not stupid. I know him. He told you to do something, didn't he?"

Draco Malfoy let out a heartbreaking sob and started shaking his head frantically. "You can't do anything... I-I have to do it... He'll kill me." His voice died down though because he spotted someone behind Deanna. Harry Potter himself.

"You... you planned this." Malfoy glared at Deanna.

"What?" Deanna said in confusion, and to her surprise, Malfoy whipped out his wand and threw a wordless hex at her, but luckily, Harry had combatted it with his own.

"Harry?" Deanna asked, finally catching sight of Harry. "What the hell –"

"Get down!" At Harry's shout, Deanna ducked and let Harry throw his own spell at Malfoy. Harry grabbed Deanna's hand and led her behind the cubicles for cover.

"STOP IT!" Myrtle shouted, her voice echoing loudly around the room.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Deanna whispered angrily to Harry, taking out her own wand. "I was about to –"

"He cursed Katie. And I want to know why." Harry's answer made Deanna's glare soften a little.

"Come on then." Deanna helped him stand up and the two of them got out from where they were taking cover, flying to two different sides when Malfoy had aimed a jinx at them.

'Flipendo!' Deanna thought and flicked her wand, but Malfoy blocked it.

"STOP!" Myrtle screamed once more.

Malfoy glared at Deanna and cried. "Cruci –"

"SECTUMSEMPRA!" bellowed Harry from the floor...

Deanna's eyes widened when blood started spurting from Malfoy's entire body and he collapsed onto the wet floor with a splash, his hand falling limp and dropping his wand. There was silence due to shock for a few moments and Deanna alternated between looking at Harry and Malfoy before she finally got to her senses.

Deanna dropped down to Malfoy's body. "Myrtle, call someone! Now!" Myrtle nodded and flew out of the bathroom, taking one last glance at Draco Malfoy's bloody body. Deanna cursed in her mind, thinking of a spell to help Malfoy, but the only thing she could do was press her hand to the wound to try to stop the bleeding.

"I-I didn't –" Harry stuttered, falling to his knees and looking at Malfoy's body that was shaking uncontrollably. Before he could say another word, the door banged open and Snape came in, his face livid.

Without a word, Snape pushed Harry aside and knelt over Malfoy, muttering a song-like incantation. "Vulnera Sanentur."

"Vulnera Sanentur." Deanna helped him, tracing her wand over the wounds. Snape stopped momentarily, glancing at Deanna before continuing to mutter the incantation. The flow of blood seemed to ease, and the wounds were knitting. As she casted the spell, Deanna looked around. Myrtle was still sobbing while Harry was watching, still horrified.

Snape held his hand up as a signal for her to stop after the third countercurse. He lifted Malfoy up. "You need the hospital wing. There may be a certain amount of scarring, but if you take dittany immediately we might avoid even that... Come..."

Deanna helped him support Malfoy up to the door. Snape suddenly stopped, speaking in a voice of cold fury. "And you, Potter. You wait here for me." He looked at Deanna, his fury seeming to vanish. "You too, Miss Dumbledore. Your assistance is appreciated."

Snape and Malfoy left, leaving Deanna with a sobbing Myrtle and a guilty Harry. Deanna went over to Myrtle first, smiling comfortingly at her friend whose cries had lessened a bit. She gave a light pat near Myrtle's shoulder before going over to Harry.

"Did you get it from the Half-Blood Prince's book?" Deanna asked softly. A nod.

"Did you mean it to happen?" Deanna's question made Harry's head snap up and his eyes widened, wondering why would Deanna ask him that.

"Of course not." Harry answered with a hint of hurt in his voice.

"I know you didn't." Deanna smiled slightly, squeezing Harry's bloody hand with her own that was just as bloody. "But you have to get rid of it, Harry. Today."

Harry nodded, letting out a shaky sigh and resting his head on Deanna's shoulder. No words were said, but Harry's appreciation and Deanna's understanding in that action was felt by each other.

A few minutes later, Snape had arrived. "Go." He said to Myrtle. Myrtle nodded at Deanna before she went back into her toilet, leaving a tense atmosphere between the three of them.

"Who casted the spell?" Snape asked the two students on the floor coldly.

"I did." Harry spoke up before Deanna could say a word. She looked at Harry worriedly, but the Gryffindor just squeezed Deanna's hand.

"Very well. Go, Miss Dumbledore." Snape simply said.

Deanna stood up and nodded, giving Harry's hand one last squeeze. She nodded once more to Snape before leaving the bathroom with worry. She just hoped everything would be all right. With Harry and Snape, with Draco Malfoy and his mission with Voldemort... Everything. It just had to be fine.

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

"Hey, guys." Deanna smiled at her friends who were crowded around the sleeping Draco Malfoy's bed. News about what happened had already spread around the castle, and Harry had detention for every Saturday until the end of the term. It meant he had to miss the upcoming Quidditch match of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff.

"Thanks for helping him, Dee." Theodore gave her a grateful smile.

"Snape told us you helped heal him." Daphne had answered when she saw the confusion in Deanna's eyes. Deanna simply smiled, looking at Malfoy with worry. She didn't do anything. It was Snape who saved him.

"He could've died..." Blaise trailed off, his fists clenched. Theo had reached over and squeezed his hands, making the other relax.

"I didn't do much anyways. He'll be fine." Deanna chuckled and checked the time. "By the way, I have to go. Take care, you guys, yeah?"

A series of thanks came from the Slytherins and soon, Pansy brought Deanna out of the Hospital Wing, the two of them still looking at Draco.

"Deanna, really, thank you." Pansy wrapped her arms around Deanna, tears building up in her eyes. "We know you say you didn't do much, but you really did save him. He might be an arse but he's still our friend."

"I know, Pans." Deanna rubbed her back comfortingly. "But don't worry... He'll be fine. Professor Snape healed him well. So, the four of you should go and have a good rest now, alright?"

"Thanks, Dee." Pansy gave her one last hug before she went back into the Hospital Wing, kissing Daphne's forehead.

After walking for a while, Deanna rested her forehead on the wall, letting out a sigh and closing her eyes. She felt bad that they would have to play Quidditch against Gryffindor with their captain absent, but Madame Hooch had already warned her that the match would have to go on, no exceptions. Harry too had told her that the match should go on.

And what just happened with Malfoy... She couldn't help but feel annoyed because she was about to get through to Malfoy, but Harry just arrived and made Malfoy think that she had planned it. Just what did Voldemort ask Malfoy to do that he couldn't do it?

A pair of arms snaking around her waist made Deanna jump. She turned around and a smile immediately made its way onto her face when she saw who it was...

"Hermione."

Hermione had just turned the corner when she saw her girlfriend leaning her forehead against the wall. She approached the Hufflepuff silently with a smile, but her smile faltered when she saw Deanna looking troubled. She wanted to tap her on the shoulder but decided to just hug the girl, hoping to give a little comfort to her.

"Are you okay, love?" Hermione asked worriedly, cupping Deanna's face and not even noticing how she called the other 'love.' It came naturally to them, and it made their hearts beat a hundred times faster.

"I am now." Deanna leaned in and placed a kiss on Hermione's cheek, standing on her tiptoes. All her worries had gone away upon seeing Hermione's face. "I like you, Hermione Granger."

As it always did, Hermione's heart skipped a beat and she smiled even wider. She kissed Deanna sweetly on the lips, leaning her forehead against Deanna's. "And I like you too, Deanna Dumbledore."

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

"All right." Deanna clapped her hands together. It was finally the final match of the season and most people were rooting for Hufflepuff after seeing how they've improved since Deanna had handled the team and knowing Harry was banned from the last match.

"It's the last match of the season, and we've all worked hard." Deanna smiled at each one of them, earning wide smiles in return. "Badgers, you know what to do... As we've always done? Let's do our best and soar high."

Cheers came from the Quidditch team of Hufflepuff and they mounted their brooms. Under Deanna's lead, the Hufflepuff team flew out, meeting the cheers of the crowd. Deanna looked at the Gryffindor stands, smiling at Hermione who was wearing a yellow scarf. Hermione winked at her and made a heart with her hands, making Deanna smile even more.

"Captains!" Madame Hooch blew her whistle, and Ginny and Deanna flew towards each other, shaking their hands firmly.

"Don't go easy on us." Ginny smirked at Deanna.

"We'll give you twice the power." The two of them shared a laugh after that, going back to their teams. Ginny knew it would be a hard battle to win because Hufflepuff was amazing, but Deanna still had her guard up because the Gryffindor team was still the most formidable opponent they had. Also, she knew Ginny was a Seeker who was just as good as Summerby.

The whistle was blown, and Deanna raised her fist as a signal. To everyone's surprise and confusion, none of the Hufflepuff team moved. They were just staying in their places, eyes closed. The Gryffindor team flew on though a bit confused. Even Ginny who was up in the air and looking for the Snitch was looking on in confusion.

"What are they doing?" said Eleanor who was commentating the match. "The Gryffindors have moved, but the Hufflepuffs have no movement. None at all."

Katie Bell was even more surprised when she came near with the Quaffle and they still didn't move, but just as she came into Hufflepuff's zone and aimed to throw the Quaffle, Deanna put down her fist and opened her eyes.

"Now!" Deanna shouted, and Justin had zoomed past the startled Katie, stealing the dropped Quaffle, Macavoy and Ernie following after him from under and above. Summerby had finally zoomed up to the air, looking for the Snitch too while Scamander stayed in his spot, keeping an eye out for the Chasers. Deanna and Noah nodded once at each other before stealing the Bludgers from Peakes and Coote, each of them handling their own.

"Finally, the Hufflepuff team moves! And just in a minute, Hufflepuff scores... Great job, Ernie! Hey, Ron, cheer up! We'll have Butterbeer or fire whiskey –"

"Miss Edmonton!" Minerva interrupted, glaring at the commentator who simply smiled.

Deanna just grinned, throwing a Bludger towards Katie Bell's way while remembering their meeting a few days ago.

"What? We should just stay still at the start?" Noah asked in confusion. The whole team was confused at what Deanna had just told them.

"It's our final match, but even if Harry's not there, we can't be sure of our win. They have Katie Bell back, and Ginny would probably be playing as Seeker." Deanna snapped her fingers. "There's one way. One way we can secure victory."

"And what's that?" Summerby asked.

"Feeling Quidditch." With Deanna's words, they got even more confused. That's how the rest of their practices went. Instead of practicing their usual plays, Deanna told them to close their eyes and just be aware of their surroundings using their other senses.

Feeling Quidditch was playing Quidditch with using all senses. The feel of the air, the unfamiliar scent and the sounds Quidditch players make. It was how she won against the Prewett twins before. Also, she just had a feeling she wouldn't be here next year. She at least wanted to leave something to the Hufflepuffs before she would go.

"And the score's 60-30 in favor of Hufflepuff." Eleanor said cheerfully. "Hey, whatever happens, I'll be there for the firewhiskey."

"Miss Edmonton!"

20 minutes have passed since the match had started and just like Deanna thought, the Gryffindor team was hard to beat. Though their technique had helped a lot, Ron was a great Keeper and the trio of Chasers were amazing as well. Even Ginny was doing a great job at playing Seeker.

As the score was now 250-240, Deanna was looking around while she knocked Bludgers towards the Chasers of Gryffindor. She had promised Summerby that she would keep her eye out for the Snitch since he didn't feel much confident to face Ginny off. And Deanna's eyes widened because it had fluttered near her.

"Summerby!" Deanna suddenly yelled, following the Snitch around. Summerby had immediately flown after her, Ginny following after. Deanna cursed mentally because Ginny had overtaken Summerby and was now nearer to the Snitch, and now, the last part of the plan.

"Noah!" Right on time, Noah had knocked a Bludger her way.

"I'm sorry, Gin!" Deanna apologized before knocking the Bludger towards Ginny, making the girl fly back and Summerby finally advanced to take the Snitch. Deanna had flew down after Ginny, safely putting her back on her broom.

"Summerby has taken the Snitch and Hufflepuff wins the Quidditch Cup, 400-240!" Eleanor shouted cheerfully, giving a hug to the smiling Minerva. Minerva was a little disappointed Gryffindor didn't win, but seeing how happy Deanna was made her happy as well.

"W-We won." Deanna muttered to herself as she stayed in the air while the rest of the Hufflepuff team had flown down with tears streaming down their faces. She was still with Ginny who was smiling widely at her.

"You won, Dee. Congratulations." Ginny gave her hand a squeeze. Deanna turned to her with a wide smile on her face. Deanna gave Ginny a tight hug before flying down to where the Hufflepuff team was.

"Deanna!"

Deanna was swooped into hugs by all the Hufflepuffs and she too was crying with them. She knew what they felt. Hufflepuffs were being looked down on all the time, and despite none of them saying a word, they were all hurt. Finally, like Cedric Diggory promised, glory was brought back to them. Finally. Deanna kept her promise to herself that she would make the team win.

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

"Hey, darling. Congratulations." Deanna smiled widely, seeing Hermione come towards her. They were now in the Hufflepuff Common Room, having a party and Deanna invited her friends in Gryffindor. Ginny was talking with Eleanor and Ron while Noah was with Jemina.

"Mione." Deanna kissed Hermione's cheek, grinning widely. "Thank you."

"For what?" Hermione tilted her head in confusion.

"For being my girlfriend." Deanna's remark made Hermione smile softly and she leaned in to place a kiss on Deanna's lips. Deanna smiled into the kiss, making Hermione smile as well.

Hermione caught sight of something behind Deanna and grinned. "Look, we've got another couple."

Deanna turned around and let a laugh escape her lips. There was Harry Potter himself with open eyes, Noah Knight clutching his collar as they were absorbed into a sweet kiss. Applause came from the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors and the two boys blushed, making their way out of the Common Room.

Deanna just laughed, resting her head on Hermione's shoulder and intertwining their fingers. Winning the Quidditch cup, seeing her friends get together and being with the person she lo-liked most? It was a day Deanna would never forget.

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

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