When I woke up, I could feel someone behind me, their chest pressed to my back. Rather nice chest, my half-awake, bleary mind thought. I was on my left side, my right arm still held by the cloth sling. Their arm was wrapped around me and I could feel warm breaths on the crook of my neck. To be painfully honest, it actually felt kind of good, and I stretched a bit, realizing my legs were tangled around theirs.

"What in hell is going on here?" growled a voice.

It was right about then my brain decided to wake up. It took me about a half-second to figure out who I was curled up with. Another half-second told me who was growling. Within three seconds, Scorpius and I were upright and on opposite ends of the couch, looking up at James. Merlin knows how we got untangled that fast. All at once, we tried to splutter out explanations.

"It was cold in here-"

"We didn't mean to-" James held up a hand. Every muscle on his body was tensed, his other hand's knuckles turning white.

"Get your sorry arses into gear and get your stuff while I wake the others," he growled slowly through his teeth, the threat clear in his voice. With that, he turned and began to gently shake Lily awake. Avoiding looking at Scorpius, I grabbed the potions that were laid around the room and dropped them into my bag, along with Circe.

While James helped up Al and Scorpius levitated the couch back into place, I tiptoed over to the sisters and crouched next to their mattress. Both were completely out cold, and when I glanced at the window, light was barely beginning to poke out from the horizon. With movements as slow and gentle as I could make them, I began to check their breathing and pulses. Both seemed steady, but with one look at them, I could tell they needed their rest. I rose and made my way over to James.

"Can you and Scorpius carry the girls? I don't want to wake them." He gave a small nod and went over to where Scorpius was coming back from wherever the couch had come from. After a few clipped, short words, the two boys went over to the mattress. Gently, Scorpius lifted Lucia and supported her so that she was sitting on his right arm and leaning over his left shoulder. I walked over and guided her arms around his neck so she was less likely to fall. James was taller and heavier built, so he picked up the older girl, Ivona. He carried her in the same way, so I stretched up and moved her arms around his neck, too. I watched as he shifted her a little and her arms tightened around his neck.

"Let's go," whispered Lily from where she was helping Al walk. He must have bumped his ankle around in his sleep, because it was now swollen. I led our little procession down the stairs and towards the front door.

"Not there," hissed James. He took the lead and led us into the basement. Pointing his wand at the blank wall, he muttered a spell. The wall disappeared and led to a tunnel.

"Leads to under the Whomping Willow. Press the knob right next to the exit and it'll stop moving." I nodded and headed forward, leading again. When we reached a set of stairs, Circe jumped out of my bag and ran ahead. We tromped up the stairs to find Circe up a four or five foot tall hole with both paws on the knot. I stared at her a bit.

"You're cleverer than you let on, aren't you?" I whispered. She winked.

"Budge up, we need to get Al to the Hospital Wing," muttered Scorpius. I found a few foot-holds and hand-holds and climbed out of the exit, one-handed. Scorpius lifted Lucia next and I took her under the armpits, setting her at the base of the Whomping Willow's trunk. Scorpius came through next, and helped James with Ivona. Soon, the boys had helped Al out and we began to make our way over the grounds to the front gates. Somehow, the girls slept right through it and Circe followed at my heels, releasing the knot once we were out of range.

At the gates, Professor Flitwick took down our names and directed us to the Great Hall, the temporary Hospital Wing. Students were being treated by a small host of frantic teachers, and the chaos was terrifying. Suddenly, as we stood staring, Professor Slughorn ran over to us, wheezing.

"Miss Weasley!" he wheezed, "If I remember correctly, you were the one who creates wound-sealer and pain-reliever potions on a weekly basis?" I nodded.

"Yes, Professor," I mumbled, opening my bag to reveal my multiple potions.

"Excellent! If you don't mind, dear, run along to the potions room and whip up as much of any useful potion you can think of. We need it a- Oh, dear. Let me fix that," he babbled, lifting his wand. After a few complex waves and wiggles, he pointed it at my broken arm and I gasped at the momentary pain as the bones clicked back into place.

"Owww…" I hissed through clenched teeth.

I noticed a touch of concern flash through Scorpius's eyes. And James, flashing a warning look at Scorpius. I ignored them both.

"Now, dear, I'm gathering up our best seventh-years for this job, but since you came into my office that day in your first year to learn these, I think you're up to the task. Now, would you please proceed to the dungeons?" I nodded and glanced back at the ragtag group behind me.

"They'll be treated and sent up to their dorms, dear, don't worry." I accepted his response and made my way to the potions room, where several other students were working over hissing cauldrons and preparing ingredients. I set my bag down next to me and cleared a space on the desk, moving old textbooks and making a small bluebell flame, like my mother had taught me. It flickered in the middle of the desk as I retrieved my cauldron from the storage room. I explained to Circe how much of each ingredient we needed, and soon the two of us were pulling out dried plants and bodily parts of magical creatures from the storage room. Soon, we had the wound-sealer potion bubbling away. I couldn't help but giggle as some of the seventh-years stared at Circe. She was always helping me gather and prepare ingredients while I worked on other bits and pieces of the potion. As she squeezed the juice from some pods, one of the other students asked me, "Are you sure she's not human?" I couldn't help but shake my head no.

It was midnight when we were told we could stop making potions. By that time, we were all exhausted. One of the girl's hair was puffed up from the smoke and everyone had some sort of markings on them, either from accidentally wiping something on themselves while working or from the smears of ash and soot from the fires. Even Circe had lacewings knotted in her fur. Eyes around the room were glazed over and shoulders were hunched from weariness. The headmistress herself came down to stop us, and I felt a small bit of pride in my chest. "Thank you very much for your services to this school. You shall each receive an award and 50 points for your house. You may now bottle what remaining potion you have and head back to your common rooms to…" McGonagall looked around at our disheveled appearances. "Clean up." A few students cheered, and I cracked a smile as even Circe joined in with a caterwaul. With a few swipes of my wand, the excess potion was bottled, the cauldron clean, and the bluebell flame out. Circe hopped back into my bag and the two of us trudged back up to Ravenclaw tower, where the knocker endlessly quizzed us on what happened and our state of being.

After my extended verbal essay on the events of the previous two days, we were let in to see Scorpius sitting in the common room.

"Oh, right, dear, I had to let him in because he answered my question and told me you were okay."

"Knocker!" I cried softly.

"Sorry, dear," it responded, swinging closed. With a sigh, I turned back to face Malfoy. We were the only ones in the common room, making me shift uncomfortably. Circe hopped out of my bag with ease and curled up in his lap as he sat on one of the couches. He slowly started to stroke her, pulling lacewings out of her fur with nimble fingers.

"Hey, how are you?" he asked, his eyes still fixed on my kitten. I shrugged and went to sit next to him.

"These last few days seem like a dream, something that only happens in the news." My voice was barely a whisper. He nodded slowly. I felt his arm slip around my shoulders and I leaned into him. "Is there a death c-c-count?" I mumbled into his shoulder. I saw Circe out of the corner of my eye. She winked and headed off to the dormitory.

"A memorial or funeral-like ceremony next week," he replied, pulling me into his arms and hugging me, for his comfort as well as mine.

"I-I-I saw this… I-I-In the three b-b-broomsticks. When J-J-James came over…" I sniffed. "I-I-I s-s-saw the p-p-place going up a-a-and people d-d-dying…" His breath was warm on my neck, his face buried in my hair. I was sitting on his lap now, hugging him and feeling my tears slip down my cheeks and onto his shoulder, and feeling his tears mix into my hair and trickle down to my neck.

"Shhh…" he murmured, running his hand up and down my back. I let myself go and tears overflowed as his rhythmic strokes continued. It was silent, this comfort. He cried silently, with little motion, but I let out small hiccups and my shoulders shook when I sobbed. I found it mildly ironic. He was talkative otherwise and cried in silence, while I hardly spoke and cried with small whimpers and mewling noises. I felt his hand still moving up and down my back, quiet comfort. We cried all of our tears out to each other, but I stayed in his arms even when the tears dried. And then I heard the knocker. The door had a little revolving panel for it so that it could flip to look inside, and it was staring the two of us down.

"Dears, it's two in the morning. I think Filch is going to murder you if he catches you out any later than this. The Slytherin better head back, now." I slowly unwrapped myself from his arms and we stood up.

"I'll see you later, then," I whispered, eyes on the ground. I felt a cold hand caress my cheek and gently lead my gaze up to meet his eyes. They were stormy and beautiful, and I couldn't help but be captivated by them. Slowly, he leaned forward and placed a light kiss on my lips, a lighter touch than a butterfly's wing.

"Goodnight, Rose." He turned and left, closing the door behind him softly, leaving my frozen form standing in the middle of the Ravenclaw Common Room.

Five minutes passed as my brain exploded into thought, too many to process, a whirlwind that I had no control over.

Another ten later, the Knocker asked, "Are you okay, dear? You haven't moved in quite a while." I didn't answer. "Rose, dear?" "

I'm okay," I whispered.

"Rose, are you alright?" I nodded slowly, looking up at the worried bird.

"Ah, well, happens a lot to Ravenclaws. Get kissed, minds explode, and can't process anything for a bit. All's well, dear, now go get some sleep." I nodded and turned to head up the stairs.

"Night, Knocker."

"Night, dear."