Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter quotes I borrowed for this chapter, quite clearly they belong to the amazing JK Rowling.

Chapter twenty-five: Perfect

Hedley: perfect

Falling a thousand feet per second
You still take me by surprise
I just know we can't be over
I can see it in your eyes

Draco

Frustrated beyond belief Draco left Ivy standing in the middle of the corridor without another word. What could he say to her though, knowing what he did? It was best just to leave, to start the separation process; something Draco could now admit was going to be hard. He could have made it so much easier if he'd just stayed away from her the last time they fallen out, she'd still hate him and wouldn't care when what was going to happen happened, but he'd been selfish and now they'd both suffer for that. Tonight everything was going to change, this fragile little world they'd built together, the one that shielded him for a few short hours a day from the task he had to complete, was about to collapse and she didn't even know it yet. But Draco did, Draco knew that fact all too well. The Dark Lord was impatient, Draco had received word that Voldermort planned to act tonight and that there would be a group of select Death Eaters waiting in Brogan and Burkes for Draco to grant them access to Hogwarts castle. Though Draco was sure he was almost finished with the vanishing cabinet the letter had spiked him with the fear he'd been trying to suppress, he'd been living on borrowed time for weeks, pretending what was coming didn't have to happen even though he knew better than that. Tonight could go one of two ways and no matter what happened Draco was sure to be miserable, either he failed and was hunted down, along with his family, and killed by the Dark Lord for the disappointment. Or he succeeded, in which case he would be involved in the killing he wouldn't let himself think of it as murder) of a great wizard, who while he didn't like he didn't exactly want to see dead, and ultimately the maiming of his own soul. Either way, Ivy would never speak to him again.

The blond Death Eater was able to admit now, if only to himself, that losing her would hurt him, he'd come to terms with the fact that Ivy meant a lot to him and that he maybe even lo….no! Draco scolded himself instantly; he couldn't say that, not even in his mind, it was too dangerous to name in insanely strong emotion he felt towards Ivy Jones, too dangerous for the both of them. Fools who felt the way he did, did stupid things and if he could just ignore it for a little while longer he might get away with what he had to do. He had to keep her from his mind now, he had work to do and the very last thing he needed was Ivy acting as his shoulder angel, telling him not to do this.

Running a hand through his hair Draco tried not to think about the lost sound of her voice when she'd said goodbye to him, it was almost as if she knew, as he did, that it could be the last time they ever saw each other. It would be better if that was the case, Draco thought, if I see her again tonight then she'll be in grave danger, no; I need her to stay safe in her common room. That would have to be our last goodbye. And what a shabby one it had been, Draco thought with regret, he'd hardly been able to look at her for his shame at what he was about to do. He had no choice though, he had to do this terrible thing or he and his family would die and Draco wasn't ready to die yet, it was a thought that terrified him, though he'd never admit such a thing. Remember that, a practical part of Draco's mind said, remember that you haven't got a choice and its do this or die, remember the honour that will come with your triumph and the punishment that will come from your failure. There was so much that Draco stood to gain as well as lose from this task, enough to have himself half convinced that it wouldn't be as bad as he thought it would be, that maybe the rewards would be worth the trauma of taking a life. Exactly, the voice agreed. What could you possibly get from backing out now? Nothing but a price on your head. Fear was filling Draco up fast by this point, and even as he grew more and more terrified Draco knew full well what reward he could get from going against the Dark Lord, respect, Ivy's respect and the chance to spend some more time with her. And wouldn't that be worth the risk of defying Voldermort? He wondered but that same practical part of his mind had an answer to that and it was a resounding no. No, it argued, there was no way some girl could possibly be worth getting yourself killed, no mater how attractive she may be. She was just a girl, and a Gryffindor and a Mudblood at that, she couldn't give him the power and the status that the Dark Lord could, come the Dark Lord's takeover she'd be less than worthless, not to mention a dead woman walking for being a friend of Potter and a child of Muggles.

Shut up!

Draco thought angrily at the voice in his head, despite how crazy it made him seem. He would not think like that, no matter what he was going to do tonight he couldn't let himself think of Ivy like that. She had to be safe. Furious at the hopelessness of his situation Draco pressed on through the corridors until he reached the Room of Requirement. The voice was right about one thing, he didn't have a choice, he couldn't back out of this now, not for Ivy, not for anyone, he was in too deep, he had to complete his mission. He'd done his best today to make his last day with Ivy a peaceful one, he'd failed miserably of course because Ivy was just so argumentative, he thought almost fondly, and he'd been on edge since arriving to meet her, which instantly had her worried and ruined any peace there might have been. But that was over and done with now; he had to focus on himself and getting this cabinet fixed. So walking into the Room of Requirement and finding the cabinet a disturbed Draco set to work, despite his best intentions his fear and thoughts of Ivy kept invading his mind. The fear spurred him on and made him want to breakdown at the same time, while Ivy made him think about the consequences of what he was doing, she wouldn't forgive him killing someone, her morals meant too much to her. It didn't matter! He insisted, if I did manage to kill him then she'd never see me again anyway, I'd never have to see her disappointment. But who was she to be disappointed in me anyway? He asked himself in an attempt to discard Ivy's thoughts as unimportant. She'd not know all the facts, she'd judge me on the act alone and not the causes that made me do it, he thought irritably, hating how unjust this situation was. He didn't want her to hate him, he didn't want to kill anyone, but he just didn't want to die more.

Loosening the school tie that felt as though it were choking him, Draco took a few breaths to steady himself before regaining his usual cool composure and carrying on work. He had to stop thinking and just work! If he thought much more about this he was liable to go insane, and that would help no one. Trying to be as impassive as he could, which was not easy when you're fearing for your life and considering the most important person in your world, Draco carried on. Less than an hour after he left Ivy standing in the corridor, the cabinet was fixed. Taking a few steps back to admire his completed work a numb Draco wasn't sure how he was supposed to feel, looking up at the cabinet that he'd been working on all year he didn't know how to react. And then relief crashed into him in waves, he'd done it, he'd actually done it! Feeling a shockingly strong sense of pride and pleasure for completing this most difficult task, Draco soon found himself laughing out of pure relief. So lost in his relieved emotions Draco wasn't paying any attention to the room around him and didn't notice that someone had come in until they called out,

"Who's there?"

The voice was faintly familiar, and in his shock and fear Draco couldn't help but think that it was Ivy. It wasn't of course, as soon as Draco looked over his shoulder he realised that it was that phoney Seer, Trelawney. Not about to let the old hag ruin all he'd worked so hard for Draco instantly drew his wand, thought 'reducto' and sent Trelawney flying backwards out of the Room of Requirement. She shrieked loudly as she went. Staring after her as she disappeared from sight Draco hoped, with all that he had, that she hadn't seen him. Panic was filling him anew now, time was running out, he'd fixed the cabinet but that was only part one of his task complete, task two was all together more difficult. Looking down for a moment as he thought about how he'd assumed it was Ivy standing in the doorway just a moment ago, and he wondered what he would have done if it had been. Considering that for a moment Draco scrunched up his eyes, balled his fists and told himself he'd have done exactly the same as he had to Trelawney, there was no room for his emotions now, it had come down to life or death. The sooner he came to terms with that the better. Draco Malfoy was about to bring demons to Hogwarts and kill its headmaster, he was terrified and ashamed but he didn't have a choice, he had to do this, the only thing he let himself care about now (aside from his own life and the lives of his family) was that Ivy stayed safely hidden in her common room. Hogwarts was about to turn into Hell.

Ivy

Curled up in an arm chair by fireplace, my first tucked under my chin and deep set worry lines on my face, I listened as Ron and Hermione (the latter having just returned from helping Ginny a few minutes ago) discussed where Harry could be going with Dumbledore. Normally I'd have participated and I did, a little, from time to time, but I simply couldn't keep my mind on the happy excited conversation, I was too worried. Hermione was as practical as I had (surprisingly) been earlier, saying that we should be concerned about Harry's safety, however Hermione also said that we couldn't tell Harry we didn't want him to go, we had to let him do this, which I also agreed with. We all knew Harry well enough to know how important this was to him, he'd been waiting so long for the chance to get back at Voldermort for what he did, and it would be cruel of us to rob him of that now. But it was still beyond dangerous for him to go.

So as Hermione joined in with Ron's animated speculation, putting her logical mind to the task of deciding what Dumbledore and Harry would do, I still couldn't stop myself from worrying. It wouldn't do anyone any good I knew that, but I couldn't help it, there was a horrible feeling of dread churning painfully in my stomach, causing me to panic and fidget. But it wasn't just Harry running into a potentially life threatening situation that had me concerned, though that was a pretty big bit of my worry right there; Draco's odd behaviour still bothered me too. He hadn't acted so withdrawn and miserable for weeks, something was definitely troubling him and something big, I was sure.

These unsettling feelings had me nervously chewing on my lip, shifting awkwardly in my seat and just generally acting edgy, the others asked me about it, worried by my nervousness and I told them, honestly, that I didn't know why I was so bothered. Harry and Draco both had me worried, but even then there was no reason I should feel as nervous as I did, it was almost like I was waiting for something terrible to happen. I couldn't explain it, it was the strangest sensation I'd ever felt, it was almost like I knew that Draco and Harry were in danger and I couldn't do anything to stop it, I just had to sit and watch as they were led to the hangman's noose, that's how bad it felt. Which was fair enough where Harry was concerned, because he was about to go and search for a heavily and lethally protected part of Voldermort's mangled soul, he was definitely putting himself in danger, so I had a right to be worried. Except of course that didn't explain why I felt so hopeless about him going, like I was certain, not just worried, that he would be hurt tonight. It didn't make sense about Draco either; I was so sure, on some deep level, that he was also in incredible danger tonight, even though the only threat to him at the moment was himself. Unless you could die from been unnecessarily miserable and internally cold, there really was no need for me to worry about him like I was. Except I couldn't help it, there was absolutely nothing I could do to stop how I felt and no matter how many times I told myself I was being irrational, the feeling I'd had since I first saw Draco earlier today only continued to intensify.

Must be going mad, I thought with a heavy sigh, from all the life or death situations I'd been in, in the last few years. That certainly would explain my sudden pessimism. However I didn't get the chance to think much more about the awful twisting sensation in the pit of my stomach, or my state of mind, as at that point Harry exploded into the emptying common room at breakneck speed and made a beeline straight for us. Instantly the three of us all sat up a little taller in our chairs, concern (largely from me though it was taking a backseat to other emotions now), interest and eagerness filling us at the sight of our determined friend. Something serious had happened.

"What does Dumbledore want?" Hermione asked even though we could all guess "Harry, are you OK?" she added at the mildly possessed look in Harry's eyes, the determined frown in his brow and the small, slightly mad smile on his lips.

"I'm fine," our friend said as he dashed passed us and disappeared up the dormitory stairs. Hermione and I shared a look, unsure about how true that statement was, and Ron turned from watching Harry go to look at us and say,

"You know what? I think he's finally lost it," in a stunned tone "I mean, the stress of everything, I think it's got too much."

Hermione and I were seriously considering that as a possibility until Harry reappeared and explained "I haven't got much time," he said the Marauder's Map and a pair of rolled up socks in hand "Dumbledore thinks I'm getting my invisibility cloak." He panted stopping in front of us "Listen, Dumbledore is taking me to go and find the Horcrux with him; we're going to the cave where Voldermort took those kids from the orphanage. But that's not it, I ran past the Room of Requirement on my way to Dumbledore's office and banged into Trelawney, she said she'd been going into the room to hide her bottles and had heard somebody whooping….err cheering in there, like they were celebrating. The person saw her and threw her out of the room…" Harry explained as Hermione gasped in upset, she didn't like Trelawney, heck none of us did for her habit of predicting Harry's painful, horrific death every time we got near her, but even then it wasn't fair the way everyone treated her.

However I could hear the accusations in Harry's voice and knew that he was suggesting before he even said it, "Harry…." I said tiredly, not in the mood for Harry's prejudices against Draco and hardly able to stomach them, when I was so worried about both men at the moment.

Harry, in a rush and on a roll, ignored both Hermione and I and continued "…I think that it was Malfoy, because he didn't want her to see whatever it was that he'd mended. And then Trelawney started talking about how she got her job here and said that it was SNAPE who was listening at the door during the interview! That he was the one who told Voldermort about the prophecy."

Hermione's eyes went wide, my jaw dropped and Ron furiously exclaimed "What! And the hook nosed sneak still works here!" we all understood exactly what Snape hearing the prophecy meant, it meant that Snape, along with Pettigrew, was the reason that Voldermort had gone after Harry's parents in the first place. He was the reason they were dead. Dumbledore had told Harry before that someone was listening at the door during Professor Trelawney's interview and that that person had delivered her vision to Voldermort, but he had never said who it was. Livid that Snape, who we'd always hated, could sink even that low and unable to believe, like Ron, that he was still permitted to work here even though Dumbledore knew that, I kept myself from saying anything about it only for Harry's benefit, he didn't need to be made any angrier. So, with my heart going out to my dark haired friend, I reached out and took Harry's hand and squeezed it gently, which wasn't difficult since he was standing right by my chair, before letting go.

"…so you see what this means?" Harry asked and at our blank (but still furious) looks he continued "Dumbledore wont be here tonight, so Malfoy's going to have another clear shot at whatever he's up to. No, listen to me!" Harry hissed at the three of us because all of us looked as though we might interrupt, I certainly was going to. I knew Draco, he was my friend (moody and unpredictable though he was) and I would not believe that he was up to any underhanded deed that might be more than a boyish prank or spiteful fight, he might be sneaky and hateful at times, but he wasn't that bad. Harry didn't let me say that though and said, "I know it was Malfoy celebrating in the Room of Requirement. Here-" he shoved the Marauder's Map to Hermione who opened it, leaning over towards her so I could see the map I looked over Hermione's shoulder "you've got to watch him and you've got to watch Snape, too. Use anyone else who you can rustle up from the DA. Hermione, those Galleons will still work, right?" he asked and Hermione nodded that they would.

"Good. Dumbledore say's he's put extra protection in the school, but if Snape's involved, he'll know what Dumbledore's protection is-but he wont be expecting you lot to be on the watch, will he?"

"Harry-" Hermione started looking frightened, which I could understand, Harry was suggesting that there was going to be some kind of attack on Hogwarts and that Draco and Snape would be at the head of it. It was a terrifying thought.

"I haven't got time to argue," Harry said shortly "take this as well-" he said handing Ron the pair of rolled up socks.

Ron blinked and looked down at the black bundle in his hands "Thanks," he said unsurely "err- why do I need socks?"

"You need what's wrapped in them," Harry answered "it's Felix Felicis. Share it between yourselves and Ginny too. Say goodbye to her from me. I'd better go, Dumbledore's waiting-" Harry said looking most upset when he thought of leaving without saying goodbye to Ginny.

"No!" Hermione interrupted, while Ron unwrapped the lucky potion, looking as stunned as I felt, this was all so sudden. "We don't want it; you take it, who knows what you're going to be facing?"

"Hermione's right Harry, you're the one that's going to need the luck." I agreed, my feelings and worry for Harry surfacing and wanting to keep him safe.

Harry shook his head "I'll be fine, I'll be with Dumbledore," said Harry, looking worried himself as he regarded us "I want to know that you lot are OK…don't look like that, Hermione, I'll see you later…" he said turning to leave but I grabbed his arm before he could, not about to let him leave without speaking my mind.

"Harry, I really don't think you've got anything to worry about here, Draco…"

"Look, Ivy," Harry said putting a hand on my shoulder and looking down at me "I know that Malfoy is you're friend and you want to trust him, but he'd not the guy you want him to be. Just look at his track record! Look at all the stuff he'd done to all of us over the years, at what he's father is, he's more than capable of doing this. So yeah, I have got things to worry about here."

"He's not as bad as you think he is Harry," I said shaking my head "and he's not his father, he's just going through some…stuff." I said thinking about how he'd been earlier, how distracted and upset he'd been, there was definitely something bothering him.

Harry looked down at me sadly for a moment, almost pityingly, before saying "you're too trusting Ivy, he'll hurt you."

"Yeah well when I See it, I'll believe it," I said in a lame attempt at a joke, Harry smiled a little and I was pleased, I didn't want my friend to leave me after an argument. However I then became deathly serious as I said what I had to say "just be careful Harry." I said and Harry's expression clouded with concern.

"Why?" he asked picking up on my tone "Have you had a vision?"

"No," I admitted, then blushing because it felt stupid to be saying it out loud "but something doesn't feel right, it's like a….like a…a dark cloud and it's over you." I said with a frown, hating how I sounded like one of those phoney fortune tellers you get at fairs, but that was how I felt, like there were black clouds, one over Harry and one over Draco and something bad was going to happen because of that.

"Infisus?" Harry asked with a grin, just like me he was trying to lighten the mood before he left with a little joke. This time he was referring to Luna's Infisus, a creature that sits on your shoulder and warns you when something bad is about to happen.

"Could be," I said in response, a little smile in place. Harry's expression then became serious as he took on board my warnings. After that he said a quick round of 'see you laters' and left.

"What now?" Ron asked as Harry disappeared out the portrait hole, the three of us sat in silence for a moment, digesting what had just happened and considering Ron's question.

"Firstly," I answered feeling suddenly sombre "we use the map to make sure Harry and Dumbledore get out of the grounds safely." I said and immediately Hermione opened the parchment and located Harry on it, following his progress with her finger "and then we do what he said, just in case." I said, feeling like I owed it to my friend to heed his words, it was a foolish thing to ignore a warning from Harry; he tended to be right about those things. Though I still stood firmly in my belief that Draco had nothing to do with why Harry thought the school was in danger tonight, and I trusted my blond haired friend wholeheartedly, it was far better safe than sorry. That and the motions of defending ourselves did wonders for my worry, though I still felt it.

"Here," Hermione said handing me the map and pointing out Harry's location to me "I'm going to get my Galleon." Nodding to her in agreement I then glanced at Ron, who was looking troubled and measuring out does of Felix with his eyes, before returning my gaze to the parchment in my hand. I watched intently as Harry made his way to the Entrance Hall where Dumbledore was waiting, they both hovered for a moment, probably exchanging a few words, before setting off out the doors and into the grounds. My gaze didn't leave the paper until Harry and Dumbledore's dots went through the gates and disappeared off the map.

"I've sent out a message," Hermione said returning down the stairs, the common room was now empty but for us "requesting to meet in half an hour."

"Do you think anyone'll still check 'em?" Ron asked lowering the glass vial of potion from where he'd been inspecting it.

"I hope so," I said looking up at them both, the knotting sensation in my stomach mounting ever more "because I'm getting really bad feelings about tonight." Ron and Hermione exchanged an alarmed look, not because they were worried about my sanity, but rather because they knew that when I had one of these feelings, bad things tended to happen.

Fidgeting with the hem of her top Hermione looked frightened before taking a deep breath to regain her cool, smoothing down her top and turning to Ron "is there enough?" she asked him and the redhead nodded.

"There ought to be," he said looking at the vial again "we'll just have to be careful." Hermione and I nodded and Ron looked up at me before asking "where are Malfoy and Snape then?" starting, since I'd forgotten to look for them, I hastily turned my attention back down to the map and after a bit of searching I found them both.

"Snape's in his office, behind his desk and Draco…."I said trailing off as I scanned the map, poking the page when I found him "…is in his dormitory, pacing." I said somewhat triumphantly, see, I thought, he's not planning anything, whoever Harry said was in the Room of Requirement earlier must not have been Draco.

"Best keep an eye on 'em," Ron suggested "they might not stay there." I nodded in agreement and carried on watching the map.

"Phew," a voice breathed in relief as the portrait hole was thrown open "I don't know how you do it Hermione, I'm sick of the library already and I haven't spent half the time you do in there."

We all looked up to find a content (probably because of her new relationship with Harry) Ginny grinning at us "I might have known you lot would still be up, where's Harry?" she asked, looking between us all.

"Come and sit down and we'll tell you," I said gently as the younger girl looked alarmed by our lack of response "it's a bit of a story."

Ginny did just that and between the three of us we explained to her what had just happened, where Harry was, what he'd heard, what he thought and what he'd asked us to do. Ginny, like the rest of us, was worried about Harry but she also accepted that he needed to do this, she just wished she'd been here when he left having been in the library all day and just been kicked out by Madam Prince.

"Have you heard back from the DA yet?" Ginny asked Hermione when we'd finished explaining.

"Not yet," Hermione admitted and Ginny just nodded, looking thoughtful.

We lapsed into a nervous silence then, with me watching Snape and Malfoy on the map, Ron fiddling with the vial of Felix Felicis, Hermione flicking through her books with a look of desperate and a stern faced Ginny a million miles away in her head. Time trickled by and we were losing all hope of anyone from the DA coming to help, but also losing all the fear and anxiousness that had been building since nothing else had happened and perhaps nothing would. It would be the best case scenario really. Anxious to get started Ron, Hermione, Ginny and I shared out the Felix Felicis only to become more and more nervous after that, worried that we were wasting the potion just being sat here. It was an amazing feeling though; drinking the lucky potion, it made me feel like anything was possible, but even then it didn't squash the feeling od dread in my stomach. At that point however we heard the sound of footsteps coming down the dormitory staircase, collectively the four of us stiffened and turned to look who it was, not looking forward to having to explain our late night rendezvous to a classmate.

"I got your message," a winded Neville panted, raising a gold Galleon by way of explanation. "What's the emergency?" he asked still sounding short of breath, not unsurprising since he'd obviously just ran down here, from his mess bed head he'd probably been asleep too until he felt the coin start to heat up and woken up, at which point I was guessing he'd thrown on some clothes and come down here.

"We might have a problem, mate." Ron said and Neville's flushed face grew serious before he nodded and walked towards him. Once again we explained what had happened and Neville looked terrified by the prospect of an attack on Hogwarts, however he also looked determined and strong, not about to let his school be threatened Neville agreed to help us.

As we resumed our planning, well aware that the half an hour mark was fast approaching, I was going back to watching Draco's dot after keeping an eye on Snape, when I noticed that Draco wasn't in his dormitory any more. Suddenly frightened, despite my faith in him, I began searching again, almost frantic with the desire to find him and maintain that he wasn't up to anything. So I didn't know what to think when I found him walking the corridors.

"Draco's moving," I told the others, without taking my eyes from the map so I sensed rather than saw them all dash towards me and look at the parchment over my shoulder.

"Where's he going?" Neville asked from my left.

"Upwards," Hermione said pointing as Draco went up a flight of stairs "he's come from the dungeons and now he's on the fourth floor, he'd heading up."

"You don't think….?" Ron asked as Draco carried on heading upwards.

"That Harry might be right?" Ginny offered from my right hand side, I shook my head, not about to believe it.

"We can't assume that," I said watching as Draco continued to climb "he could be going anywhere."

"He could be going to the Room of Requirement." Ron intoned and I shot him a glare, not appreciating the way he said it, like I was stupid for thinking otherwise. Turns out I was though, because that was exactly where Draco went.

"It still doesn't mean anything," As Draco reached the wall where the room should have been and disappeared off the map "just because he's in there it doesn't mean he'd up to anything sinister."

"Of course not," Hermione agreed somewhat doubtfully, making me think she only said it to spare my feelings, meanwhile the boys shared a uncertain look and Ginny squeezed my shoulder reassuringly. They all thought I was deluding myself, even though they didn't believe Harry either, they just didn't believe in Draco more.

"We can't just sit here, times running out." Ginny said as we all pulled away from the map.

"Agreed," Hermione said before turning "Neville, are Dean and Seamus coming?"

A little sadly Neville shook his head "I don't think so," he admitted "I tried waking them but they're pretty deep sleepers." Neville said with an apologetic shrug.

"Bloody hell," Ron breathed looking worried "we're done for, there's only five of us."

"It doesn't matter," I said trying to reassure my friends, all of whom looked pretty alarmed by the prospect of the five of us taking on whatever threat we faced "it isn't just the Gryffindors who were in the DA with us; there might be some people from the other houses who got our message." I said looking up from keeping an eye on Snape, who was still in his office.

"Ivy's right," said Hermione "we should go out and see if anyone is waiting by the Room of Requirement, since that's where we used to meet and they won't be able to get in if Malfoy's blocked them out."

We all agreed with that and together, being a stealthy as we could since it was past curfew and we didn't have Harry's cloak, we snuck out the portrait hole and headed towards the Room of Requirement, halfway there we found Luna heading in the same direction, clutching a fake Galleon.

"Oh there you are," she said her dreamy voice when she spotted us "I just got your message, are we going to the Room of Requirement, for more lessons? I had hoped there'd be more this year."

"Err, no Luna," I said in a quiet voice, knowing full well that there could be teachers patrolling the corridors and also conscious of Peeves and how he could show up at any time "we think that something bad is happening. Will you help us?" I asked and without waiting to hear what we needed her for she said yes, feeling warmth towards the loveable, exocentric girl I hastily explained to her what had happened and what we were doing.

"There really is rather a lot of us," she said looking at our group and earning herself a raised eyebrow look from Ron "not for protecting people, but for sneaking around, maybe we should split up." she suggested.

"Good point," I agreed before turning to the others and saying "what do you think?" not liking that we were standing randomly in the middle of the corridor. The others agreed it was a good idea and so we decided to split up, Ron, Ginny and Neville were to go to the Room of Requirement and keep an eye on what was happening and see if anyone else turned up, while Hermione, Luna and I would go to Snape's office and stand guard. I would keep the map. I was going to Snape's office because, as Ron put it, I 'couldn't trust myself where he was concerned', a comment that earned Ron a scowl and a slap from me.

With that we split up and headed our separate ways, and with an ever increasing feeling of dread I headed for Snape's office with Luna and Hermione. Quietly dashing through the corridors, stopping every now and again to hide from a patrolling teacher, we didn't need them sending us back to our common rooms now, and checking the map to make sure Snape and Draco were where they were earlier, we soon reached Snape's office. Positioning ourselves just around the corner, so we could peer around it and keep an eye on the doors but not be seen ourselves, the three of us waited in an anxious silence for a while, but nothing happened so we settled down, lit our wand tips and waited. Sitting there with my gaze on the map, I heard the murmur of Hermione and Luna's quiet talking and found myself wondering about what Harry was doing now, if he was safe or not, I'd hardly had the time to consider the danger Harry could be in since he left, because we'd been so busy ourselves, but now I was still, I could. I was still worried, that hadn't gone anywhere, it just continued to get worse as I watched Snape's dot, still firmly behind his desk in his office, and the small cluster of dots by the Room of Requirement that were my friends. Since they'd arrived there no other labelled dots had appeared, Draco was still inside and no one else from the DA had heeded our call, I really hoped that nothing happened tonight, we were really underprepared.

Time ticked by, and Hermione, Luna and I had nothing to show for it, half an hour after first arriving there we were still sat round the corner from Snape's office, with Hermione watching the door attentively, Luna stroking an unseen creature sitting on my shoulder and me staring the map. Nothing had happened, which was probably a good thing, and I was starting to think nothing ever would when suddenly Snape was moving in his office, heading for the door.

"Snape's coming," I hissed to the others, getting to my feet and pressing myself flat against the wall as the others did the same, Hermione on my left and Luna on my right, the corner edge was on the other side of Hermione.

We all extinguished out wand tips and Hermione pressed her lips in a shushing motion before turning back to look around the corner, and I needed the reminder as I was all on to quell the gasp that forced its way to my lips then. Hands over my mouth and wide eyed all I could think was, oh, my, God. I listened but barely heard as Snape's door opened with a creak, I couldn't bring myself to pay attention though my mind was reeling. Hermione had just shushed me, she'd just shushed me exactly like she had in the dream I'd been having over the past few weeks! I was sure that she had, it was the clearest part of the whole dream and just about the only understandable thing in it, oh no, it wasn't a dream at all, it was another vision! Albeit a very unclear and confusing vision but a vision none the less, this was not good. After a moment the sound of Snape's office door shutting filled the corridor and Hermione relaxed.

"He was just checking no one was there," Hermione breathed turning back to face us, her expression going concerned when she saw my face.

Luna, who had seen my reaction the second I had realised my dream had been a vision, asked "are you okay?" and I shook my head.

"I've seen you do that before, Hermione, in a vision." I said and Hermione's eyes went wide "I thought it was a dream though, I was asleep when I saw it and it was so confusing that I thought it had to be." I said feeling very distressed and not to mention furious with myself for doing this, again!

"You're a Seer?" Luna asked me in a tone that was hardly surprised, it was as though she'd expected as much and I felt my stomach drop, oh crap, I'd forgotten she didn't know "I thought you might be, Infisus' prefer to perch on the shoulders of Seers, they find them the most comfortable. Don't worry though, I wont tell anyone what you are if you don't want me to." She assured me with a warm, accepting smile.

Momentarily I forgot about my troubling vision and smiled back, just as pleased as ever to have the type of friends I did "Thanks Luna," I said just as an distressed Hermione asked,

"What did you see?"

Frowning I racked my brains but found I couldn't call the vision to mind, just like many dreams I've had before I always forgot about this vision after I woke up, or only remember parts of it. Hermione shushing me had caused me to remember that bit, but I was struggling with the rest. "I don't know," I admitted "I can never remember it all, but I do know it was bad and that I was always terrified when I had it…I think there were people fighting in it, which really doesn't bode well for today." I answered and Hermione looked even more alarmed.

"And both parts definitely happened in the same time space?" she asked.

"I can't be sure," I answered honestly "but I think so."

On that depressing an ominous note the three of us sat down, our backs against the wall as we resumed our lookout posts, there was nothing we could do now, I didn't have any details, there was no telling where this fight would take place, who would be involved and if it even happened anywhere near here, we could only wait and see, a little more cautious than before. Feeling really quite anxious now and longing for my usual control and sense of certainty, I glanced down at the map and resumed watching our friends on the seventh floor. However, no sooner had I started watching again than Draco Malfoy's dot appeared again, just outside the Room of Requirement. Feeling a jolt from seeing his name again I was too stunned to tell the others I could see him again until several other, unfamiliar names appeared behind Draco. Feeling my worry peak I told Hermione and Luna, who watched with me as Draco set off running down the corridor, heading for the stairs again, with the unfamiliar dots in hot pursuit. However while this was happening Ron, Neville and Ginny's dots only wandered aimlessly around the corridor, heading slowly in pretty much every direction but the one Draco had gone.

"What are they doing?" Hermione asked as she watched our friends' strange actions "why did they let him past?"

"They look like they're confounded," Luna observed "or they could have a Wackspurt pestering them."

Unfazed by Luna's suggestion I focused on the map, "why is he running?" I asked watching as Draco ran, noticing as I did that he was heading for the stairs. Were those people chasing him? I naively wondered.

"I don't know, but we have to do something." Hermione said getting to her feet "something has clearly gone wrong."

"I'll go and find out, or keep Draco occupied if need be." I offered and Hermione gave me a reluctant look.

"I don't know, Ivy I think…." She started doubtfully but I cut across her.

"I know what you think, but believe me I don't look at Draco with rose tinted glasses, I know what he's capable of," I told her and at the time I honestly believe that what I was saying was true "and while I'm sure he'd not doing anything wrong I want to help the others, besides, I'm the only one who'll be able to get him to stop." I said, determined to go and do this, to find out what had happened and what Draco was doing.

Hermione looked torn, clearly she doubted my ability to be impartial with Draco but she also knew what I'd said was the truth; I was the only one who stood a chance of getting him to listen. "OK," she conceded reluctantly "just be careful."

Feeling my heart lift I nodded "same to you two," I said as I handed Hermione the map and she gave me another hesitant look before sitting back down next to Luna and with that I set off. Jogging I raced down the corridor, well aware that I didn't have much time, however I'd seen the map before I'd handed it to Hermione and seen that Draco was heading upwards again, I planned to head him off. Reaching the end of the corridor I squeezed behind the bigger than life sized bust of Helga Hufflepuff and disappeared into one of Hogwarts many secret tunnels, this one led all the way up to the Astronomy Tower, a little further than I needed to go but once I was up there I'd be able to head down another flight or so and meet Draco. This way would be much quicker than taking the main staircase.

Halfway up the secret staircase I was overcome by sudden dizziness, stopping for fear of toppling backwards I steadied myself against the cold stone wall and took deep breaths, not sure what to make of this. Then I felt my eyes go wide and an unearthly breeze blew across the front of my mind as a vision took me. I wasn't myself when I opened my eyes again. I was standing outside, the cold night air whipping my silver hair around me as I regarded the poor boy in front of me, how I wished it hadn't have gotten to this point, that he didn't have to go through this, but of course this was the way things had to be, my plan wouldn't work otherwise. I'd offered him my help though, despite what he was trying to do to me, I wanted to help him and I was waiting for him to accept it, I knew he wanted to. I was also conscious of Harry standing invisible and immobilised behind me, he wouldn't like this and I knew it would be difficult for the courageous boy, but it simply had to be done. Looking up at Draco Malfoy, his eyes shinning with tears and face a contorted mixture of wavering determination and outright fear as he digested my words, I awaited his response.

"I haven't got any options!" he said his face going even paler than ever before "I've got to do it! He'll kill me! He'll kill my whole family!" he insisted looking away for a spilt second in misery, that one glance was all it took for me to understand he wished he could accept my offer. I was right, he wanted to do the right thing, he wanted to do the right thing because of her. There was hope for my plans yet.

Gasping loudly I blinked as I surfaced from my vision, swaying on my feet with the horrific sickness that had followed my visions recently; they were getting even more unpleasant with ever vision I'd had. However despite that I couldn't stay still long, sucking in deep breaths I waited for my dizziness to pass and paused a second before taking off at a run again, even more determined than before. My vision about Draco propelled me forwards, I knew it was going to come true soon, I just knew it, I had to get to him and warn him, in my vision he'd been hurting and in some serious trouble from the looks of things, I had to tell him about it. Desperate to warn Draco and find out what had happened outside the Room of Requirement I soon made it to the Astronomy Tower, slipping round another large bust, this time of Rowena Ravenclaw, I stepped out into the inside room that had one more flight of stairs before the open roof of the tower and ran towards the stairs. I skidded to a halt though when I heard footsteps running up the stone steps, eyes wide and suddenly very worried about who would soon be stepping out onto the landing. Pulling my wand from my pocket I took up a duelling stance and waited, stunned when I saw the top of a blond head coming up the stairs and then Draco appeared standing on the top step. He froze.

I didn't know what to do; oddly I just stood there, staring at him, my heart beating erratically in my chest even as it hovered. Feeling a blush work its way to my cheeks at the embarrassing and totally unprecedented emotions I was feeling I watched Draco's expression, it went from shocked, to annoyed, to unreadable and strangely firm in just a few seconds. There was a strange glimmer in his eyes. Chest rising and falling I scrambled for something to say, an insult, a warning, something to ease this new electric tension, it was faintly familiar and I was sure I'd felt it before, though I couldn't quite place where at the time. Later I realised it was the same way I'd felt on the seventh floor corridor the day Draco and I kissed. Just when I'd decided on something to say, I don't remember what, an insult probably to combat the intense emotions I felt at the sight of him, Draco started towards me, a look of absolute determination in his eyes and purpose in his step. I couldn't move, maddening I had no will to even try; I just stood there and waited to see what he would do.

Author note: the end is nigh my friends, what do you reckon will happen? As ever I love to hear your thoughts, so if you've got the time please drop me a review. :) x