Harry swallowed nervously as he zoomed towards Hogwarts on the borrowed broom. He and Dumbledore had left the school earlier that evening in search of a Horcrux. They had apparated to a cave, the same cave that had been mentioned in one of Dumbledore's memories of Tom Riddle, and through a series of trials had managed to take Slytherin's locket. But Dumbledore had been forced to drink a potion that had weakened him. Even now Harry could see him swaying on his broom.

He turned as a shout rose from the castle gates. Upon returning to Hogwarts they had discovered the school under attack from dozens of Death Eaters. They were screaming and beating at the gates, shooting curses into the air. The Dark Mark was hanging in the stormy sky above the Astronomy tower as sleepy students, still dressed in their pyjamas, looked out windows and gathered on the lawn.

"Do not remove your Cloak," Dumbledore instructed as he and Harry landed at the top of the tower. "You must stay hidden, no matter what happens."

Footsteps pounded up the stairs; Harry drew his wand and moved behind the door. There was a bang as it flew open, and Harry realised that he was completely unable to move. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Dumbledore lowering his wand and realised that the headmaster had petrified him.

Draco emerged first through the door, his arm twisted behind him as he struggled against his captor. Snape appeared behind him, Draco's Hawthorn wand clutched firmly in his hand and pointed threateningly towards Dumbledore.

"Ah, Severus, I was just about to look for you. I am afraid that I am not well, and you are the only one with the skills to help me."

Snape glanced around the tower before pushing Draco in Harry's direction. "Wait there, boy," he snarled before turning to Dumbledore. "And why do you think I would help you, Albus?"

Draco fell into Harry, nearly knocking him over. He groped wildly for a moment, confused, before Harry saw realisation in his eyes. He backed carefully into Harry's frozen form and began to feel for something, careful that Snape couldn't see his movements.

"My old friend, why wouldn't you help me?" Dumbledore asked. His waved his wand hand, still blackened and shrivelled as it had been over the summer, in the air. "I trust you, Severus. Please."

Snape's face twisted into an expression of contempt. Slowly he lifted his wand. "Avada Kedavra."

As the curse hit Dumbledore Draco's hands found what they were searching for. He wrestled Harry's wand out of his frozen grasp and pointed it at Snape.

With a flash of light the wand flew out of Snape's hand towards Harry's feet. Before it had even hit the ground Snape had his own wand in hand. He easily deflected Draco's curse.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

Harry felt Draco stiffen against him. His mind raced too fast to think, too fast to feel anything, as he realised that he could move again. He scooped Draco's wand off the ground.

"Impedimenta!"

Snape deflected the curse with a wave of his wand. "I knew you were here, Potter," he sneered.

"Reducto!" The Invisibility cloak slipped from Harry's shoulders as he waved the wand violently. Snape easily sidestepped the attack and sent a jet of red light flying towards his left shoulder.

"You have proven yourself to be incapable of even the simplest non-verbal spell," Snape taunted as he deflected Harry's attacks. "Completely unable to keep your mouth closed and your mind shut!"

"Sectumsempra!" Harry bellowed in response. Before he could move there was a loud BANG and he soared backwards. He hit the wall of the tower and crumpled to the ground, grunting in pain.

"Do not use my own spells against me!" Snape bellowed, standing right above Harry. "I am the Half-Blood Prince!"

"You killed him!" Harry bellowed. "He trusted you!"

Snape was shaking in anger as he looked down at Harry. "DON'T" he yelled, "speak to me about trust! You know nothing!" He backed up to the edge of the tower. "The Dark Lord is coming for you both," he glanced between Harry lying on the hard stone and Draco's frozen form. "You cannot escape Him."

Snape swirled in place as if he was going to Apparate. Instead of disappearing, he rose into the air. Harry stared in amazement as he flew- actually flew, robes billowing behind him- to join the other Death Eaters waiting outside the gates. He didn't notice as Draco ran up behind him and began to throw curses towards the fluttering black shape.

Harry stared down the tower, towards the group of figures clustered at its base. He sobbed as tears began to stream down his face.

Draco cursed. "He got away."

But Harry didn't hear. He was already racing down the stairs. He heard Draco's footsteps following him as he burst through the door of the castle.

The next few days passed in a haze. Harry remembered falling into the grass next to Dumbledore, feeling for a pulse even though he knew there was no hope. He knew that it had been Lupin who pulled him away once again, just as he had done when Sirius fell through the veil. He had seen the Order of the Phoenix there; the Weasleys, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Mad-Eye, Tonks and Fleur. He knew that Bill Weasley had been injured, mauled by the werewolf Fenrir Greyback as he tried to drag back a third-year Gryffindor who had rushed through the gates and into the Death Eaters. But everything else was jumbled, confused.

It was after the funeral that Harry remembered the Horcrux. He found Ron, Hermione, and Draco and walked to the far side of the lake before opening it. But it was a fake. He screamed and threw it into the woods.

"He could have lived! He could have lived but now he's gone, and I'll never be able to find the Horcruxes, I'll never be able to beat Voldemort alone." He sobbed into his hands.

An arm wrapped around Harry's shoulder. "You're not alone," Hermione said gently. "I'll never leave you alone."

There was a shuffle as Ron slid closer. "Wherever you go, I'm coming with you. We'll find the Horcruxes, and we'll beat Him."

Harry watched numbly as Draco stood up and walked away. He crumpled into Ron and Hermione's arms at the betrayal. "I won't be coming back to school, you know," he whispered. "It'll be dangerous."

"Of course it will be," a voice answered from behind him. "But I'm coming too." Draco dropped to the ground in front of Harry, the locket clutched tightly in his hand. "We might need this. At least now we know we're looking for a locket."

Harry smiled. Here, on the edge of the lake, he was safe for one more day. Safe, and surrounded by friends.

Thank you so much for reading my first fanfic ever! I've been inventing stories in my head since I was very young, but this is the first time I've ever bothered to write it down. Hopefully you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

I am going to continue writing and updating this with my own version of their seventh year. I will try to post updates regularly.

I would really appreciate reviews to tell me what you thought about it!