The bed sheets lay in a crumpled heap at the foot of the bed, mixed with an assortment of Slytherin uniforms. Two bodies lay entwined in the centre of the bed. One had her eyes closed and sighed happily, the other was staring at the ceiling with an anxious expression on his face. Draco Malfoy pulled the girl closer to him protectively as he tried not to think about the possibility of never seeing her again if he failed in his task. Caoilfhionn felt his body tense and rolled over to face him. Worry lines creased his forehead and he tried to smile but his eyes betrayed his fear. Caoilfhionn rested her head against his warm chest and sighed again, this time in despair. She had hoped tonight would never come, or at least wait a while longer so she could enjoy her precious few hours alone with Draco however she knew that it was time to become serious. She looked up, suddenly solemn.

"Well you had better tell me your plan then," she huffed. The unfairness of the whole situation exasperated her but since there was nothing she could do to prevent the Dark Lords plans, she succumed to the inevitable. Draco sat up and glared at the note on the floor.

"Tonight," he said, "I will lure Dumbledore to the Astronomy tower with the Dark Mark and catch him off guard." Caoilfhionn listened in fascination and horror as Draco carefully explained his plans. He confided in her all about how he had Rosmerta, the local pub's landlady, under the Imperius curse and how he communicated with her with enchanted coins, an idea he had stolen from that 'mudblood' Granger. He explained how the cabinet would allow the Death Eaters through as soon as he sent up the mark. They would then fight any of the Order who came to help. He laughed bitterly at the ingenious plan. When at last he had finished, Caoilfhionn found she was unable to speak. She was sure the plan could work, if carried out effectivley, but it was the last part which worried her. The part about Draco casting the killing curse on his old headteacher. She had noticed, whilst he had explained the plan, how his tone changed from confident to insecure. He had reeled off his plan of action as though he had said it a thousand times but had never really believed it.

"Draco, you have to believe you can do it!" She cried. "There's no time for you to hesitate." She wrapped her arms around his slender frame protectively.

"I can't loose you," she sniffed. Instantly she felt two strong arms wrap themselves around her and hold her close. Draco held her comfortingly until he was sure she wasn't about to cry before releasing her slightly.

"You won't. I'm not going to fail."

"But if you do…" began Caoilfhionn, "there's something you should know. If you fail, I will be made to fulfill my task." At this last remark, Draco leaned in a little closer, curious. Against her will, Caoilfhionn continued. She hoped that by telling him the truth, he would be driven to succeed even more.

"If you fail, I will be instructed to kill you." She paused and waited for the boy's angry retort but he remained silent and impassive. As the moment dragged on, Caoilfhionn felt herself releasing the breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding. She glanced up to face him, fearfully, but found he wasn't looking at her.

"Please say something…" she whispered. She tried to sound strong but her breath came out in a rush as sobs rose in her chest. Draco finally looked down and met her tear filled gaze.

"Shh," he said consolingly. He stroked her hair in a soothing manner and pulled her into a hug. Surprised, Caoilfhionn resisted and pulled back.

"But…?"

"It's okay…shh… it's alright," he reassured her. He understood how difficult it must have been for her to keep such a secret from him and he appreciated the help he received towards his own task. He knew how the guilt of having to kill another person must have eaten away at her through the course of the year, just like it ate away at him. However he also realised at the sight of the girl's tears how much harder it was for her than for him. She had been asked to murder someone she loved whereas his task was to kill an old man he barely knew. Caoilfhionn had also killed someone she loved before and had suffered imense guilt because of it and so he understood how having to repeat the experience would have affected her. He pulled her closer, this time ignoring her protests until she was settled. In his arms, Caoilfhionn forced down her tears and promised him she would stand by him tonight.

"I'll wait for you at the tower's entrance Drake," she swore, "I won't let anyone up until you come back down."

Draco appreciated her resiliance but refused.

"No way. You will stay out the way. Stay in here so that no one can find you or hurt you. The Death Eaters won't harm you but I don't want to risk you getting caught up in a fight with the Order." His kiss stopped her protests until she relaxed and returned his passion. The two enjoyed eachother's company for the next few hours. They discussed the plan again and again until there was no possibility that either of them could forget it and Draco even showed her his coin. As he passed it to Caoilfhionn, it suddenly grew hot in her palm. Draco snatched it back and stared at it.

"Dumbledore's left the castle," he gasped, "Rosmerta's just seen him going off to the Hog's head."

"What does this mean" asked Caoilfhionn, afraid it would somehow change Draco's plans.

"Nothing," he said, remaining calm. "I'll make Rosmerta fetch him when I send the Dark Mark up in the air. That way he'll head straight for the tower thinking someone has died. As soon as he touches the ground, I'll finish him." He spat out the last sentence as though it were venom. Caoilfhionn cast him a worried look. He sounded confident but she was still unsure whether he was capable of murder. The Draco she knew was not a killer.

"Well, if you're sure," she breathed. She nestled into the crook of Draco's neck as he placed an arm around her. She wasn't happy with the idea of Draco confronting Dumbledore in the tower but he assured her he wasn't going alone.

"The Death Eaters will accompany me Caoilfhionn. I'll have back up." At this, Caoilfhionn relaxed but only slightly. Perhaps someone else would carry out the deed. However she knew this was unlikely. The Dark Lord had given very specific instructions.

Eventually, Draco's coin grew hot again. This time, he did not even bother to look at it. Instead he grabbed the parchment, scribbled a note on it and sent it through the cabinet into Borgin and Burkes shop. Caoilfhionn didn't bother to ask what he wrote for she knew that it would have been some kind of invitation. She quickly joined Draco in getting dressed before standing away from the cabinet and preparing to greet whoever came through it. A few minutes later, a sharp tapping noise rang out around the room. It was coming from inside the cabinet.

Draco lunged forward and threw open it's doors and out stepped several cloaked figures. The first ran straight past them and headed out of the room. The next approached Draco and a manic smile was visible in the shadows caused by her hood. Belatrix Lestrange threw back her hood and embraced her nephew with stiff politeness.

"Come, Draco, we don't have much time. Here." From beneath her cloak, she handed him a severed preserved human hand bent into the shape of a claw. It was the Hand of Glory. Caoilfhionn recoiled at the sight of it but Draco grabbed it eagerly with both hands. His aunt quickly passed him a dark package which she placed inside his robe's pocket.

"Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder," she explained, "now let's go. Gibbon's already cast the Dark Mark." Bellatrix led her nephew and three other Death Eaters to the door. Caoilfhionn recognized them as Alecto and Amycus Carrow and Thorfinn Rowle. She watched in stunned silence as they passed her. However as Draco reached the door, he paused and ran back. Heart thumping in her chest, Caoilfhionn realized he was heading for her. He grabbed her by her shoulders and kissed her fiercely. At last he pulled apart and stared at her for a long moment.

"Stay safe," he ordered before turning on his heel and running out the door after his aunt. Caoilfhionn watched him leave with despair, fearing for his life but not knowing how to help him. Suddenly the cabinet door in front of her opened for a second time and two more men jumped out. Yaxley jumped out first, wand in hand, followed by a fiercer looking figure. The tall, savage man was Fenir Greyback in his human yet animalistic form. He growled when he was Caoilfhionn and lunged toward her, teeth bared. Caoilfhionn quickly rolled back her sleeve and brandished her marked arm, proving her allegiance and thus saving her life.

"Leave her," snapped Yaxley as he swept past into the corridor. Greyback followed him with a manic eagerness. Suddenly, Caoilfhionn's strength returned. She had only just come to terms with the idea of killing Dumbledore but she knew she could never allow a savage werewolf loose in a school full of sleeping, innocent children. She grabbed her wand and ran from the room, intent on stopping him.

When she reached the door, there was no sign of either of them. Caoilfhionn decided it was probably wisest to heade towards the Astronomy tower in the hope that they had gone there. Turning left into the corridor, she fled down the hall in a strange state of calm. Her panic had gone and had been replaced by sheer determination. Determination to find Greyback and stop him, determination to help Draco succeed in his task and determination to survive.