"Out of here, quickly," said Snape. He seized Malfoy by the scruff of the neck and forced him through the door ahead of the rest; Greyback and the squat brother and sister followed, the latter both panting excitedly. As they vanished through the door. I let go of Harry and watched as he raced after them, I blended back into the shadows and joined the death eater's, including Snape, in running away.

Harry's jinx hit Amycus in the chest: He gave a pig like squeal of pain, was lifted off his feet and slammed into the opposite wall, slid down it, and fell out of sight behind Ron, Professor McGonagall,and Lupin, each of whom was battling a separate Death Eater. Beyond them, Harry saw Tonks fighting an enormous blonde wizard who was sending curses flying in all directions, so that they ricocheted off the walls around them, cracking stone, shattering the nearest window. I have been fortunate enough to be seen as an ally so far and not a villian, neither Snape, Malfoy, nor I have been attacked yet. I kept running

"Az- Professor Riddle? where are you-" Nevile started, I kicked the poor boy in the stomach, running past him dragging Severus and Malfoy behind me past Nevile's crumpled person. we kept running and some other death eaters blasted the grand oak doors open there were smears of blood on the flagstones, and several terrified students stood huddled against the walls, one or two still cowering with their arms over their faces. The giant Gryffindor hourglass had been hit by a curse, and the rubies within were still falling, with aloud rattle, onto the flagstones flew across the entrance hall and out into the dark grounds: I was racing across the lawn, heading for the gates beyond which we could Disapparate.

The cold night air ripped at my lungs as I tore towards the gates, tasting my freedom; I saw a flash of light in the distance. I did not know what it was but continued to run, notyet near enough to disapparate away —Another flash, shouts, retaliatory jets of light, and I understood: Hagrid had emerged from his cabin and was trying to stop the Death Eaters escaping, and though every breath seemed to shred my lungs and the stitch in my chest was like fire, I had to get away.

I madethe mistake of looking back, I saw Harry as he tore past Hagrid and his opponent, took aim at Snape'sback, and yelled, "Stupefy!"He missed; the jet of red light soared past Snape's head; Snapeshouted.

"Run, Draco!" and turned. I couldn't move, I was frozen, watching the hideous encounter between Severus and Harry, Twenty yards apart, Severus and Harrylooked at each other before raising their wands simultaneously.

"Cruc —"But Snape parried the curse, knocking Harry backward off hisfeet before he could complete it; Harry rolled over and scrambledback up again as the huge Death Eater behind him yelled "Incendio!"I heard an explosive bang and a dancing orange lightspilled over all of them: Hagrid's house was on fire.

"Fang's in there, yer evil — !" Hagrid bellowed.

"Cruc —" yelled Harry for the second time, aiming for the figureahead illuminated in the dancing firelight, but Snape blockedthe spell again. I could see Severus sneering from here."No Unforgivable Curses from you, Potter!" he shouted over therushing of the flames, Hagrid's yells, and the wild yelping of thetrapped Fang. "You haven't got the nerve or the ability —"

"Incarc —" Harry roared, but Snape deflected the spell with analmost lazy flick of his arm."Fight back!" Harry screamed at him. "Fight back, you cowardly—"

"Coward, did you call me, Potter?" shouted Snape. "Your fatherwould never attack me unless it was four on one, what would youcall him, I wonder?"

"Stupe —"

"Blocked again and again and again until you learn to keep yourmouth shut and your mind closed, Potter!" sneered Snape, deflectingthe curse once more. "Now come!" he shouted at the hugeDeath Eater behind Harry. "It is time to be gone, before the Ministryturns up —" I start my paranoid ramblings, urging the death eaters that we have to leave.

"Impedi —"But before he could finish this jinx, excruciating pain hit Harry; Harry keeled over in the grass. He was screaming, Snape was going to torture him to death ormadness —

"No!" roared Snape's voice, Harry lay curled on the dark grass, clutching hiswand and panting; "Have you forgotten our orders? Potter belongs to the DarkLord — we are to leave him! Go! Go!"And I felt the ground shudder under my feet as the brotherand sister and the enormous Death Eater obeyed, running towardthe gates. I stood, still frozen, and watched as Harry pushed himself to his feetagain, harry staggered blindly toward Snape, the man he now hated asmuch as he hated Voldemort himself —

"Sectum — !"Snape flicked his wand and the curse was repelled yet again; butHarry was mere feet away now and he could see Snape's face clearlyat last: He was no longer sneering or jeering; the blazing flames showed a face full of rage. Mustering all his powers of concentration,Harry thought, "Levi —"

"No, Potter!" screamed Snape. There was a loud BANG andHarry was soaring backward, hitting the ground hard again, andthis time his wand flew out of his hand. I could hear Hagridyelling and Fang howling as Snape closed in and looked down onhim where he lay, wandless and defenseless as Dumbledore hadbeen. Snape's pale face, illuminated by the flaming cabin, was suffusedwith hatred just as it had been before he had cursedDumbledore."You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? It was I who inventedthem — I, the Half-Blood Prince! And you'd turn my inventionson me, like your filthy father, would you? I don't think so. . . no!"Harry had dived for his wand; Snape shot a hex at it and it flewfeet away into the darkness and out of sight.

"Kill me then," panted Harry, who face contained no fear at all, but onlyrage and contempt. "Kill me like you killed him, you coward —"

"DON'T—" screamed Snape, and his face was suddenly demented,inhuman, as though he was in as much pain as the yelping,howling dog stuck in the burning house behind them —"CALL ME COWARD!" I couldn't bare to watch, I bolted for the gate to disparate, i thought only of george, his flame red hair, his warm arms that screamed home to me. suddenly i was infront of the house, George and Fred's house. A sigh of relief and exhaustion escaped my lips, I beat my fist on the door a few times, squeaking in pain as I realise I had been hit be at least one run away curse that had missed their target. Or maybe the curse was meant for me. I collapsed against the door with a thud, just as it was opened.

"Oh shi― Azrael! are you okay? oh my god" it was Fred's voice not George's, but still a comfort.

"F-Fred, I need George." I rasp, looking pleadingly at Fred

"What you need is a hospital!"

"Azrael! what happened!" i heard George's voice before I saw him, I picked my self up as well as I could managed and grabbed his wrist.

"I need you to come with me. back to Hogwarts" I collapse against George again.

"you need a hospital"

"I'm fine!" I snap "we have to... we have to go... or to my dad.. we have to... choose a side..." I collapse against George again, fainting and falling into his arms. All I could feel was the familiar swirling and whooshing of aparation then the thud of landing, George was running with me in his arms, I could feel my dress becoming damp, I'm not sure if it's my blood or Georges tears, maybe a mixture of both. my arm hanging limply in front of us was swinging side to side, I must look dead. we were definitely outside the infirmary though, I could hear people talking.

"Molly and Arthur are on their way," some one said, and the spell ofthe music was broken.

"Harry, what happened? According toHagrid you were with Professor Dumbledore when he — when ithappened. He says Professor Snape was involved in some —"

"Snape killed Dumbledore," said Harry. I felt a gust of wind as George Kicked the doors open with his foot and ran in with me

"Help! it's Azrael, she's hurt bad. what happened here?" George cried out as he started to set me on a bed

"stop! don't bring her in here, she's vile, she let Snape kill Dumbledore! she held me back from stopping them!" I heard Harry scream, Nevile mumbled something I couldn't understand.

"Be quiet Potter! I think she's dying" George sobbed "Madame Pomfrey, please"

"I will not treat her if she had something to do with this. Go somewhere else." Madame Pomfrey said darkly, I opened my eyes slightly, as much as I could manage. George's face was twisted into one of confusion and anger.

"Fine." George said as darkly, he hoisted me back up and spun on his heel, taking off back towards the gate. running past Hagrid's ruined shack of a house. then the all too familiar feeling of aparation overcame my aching body, when the thud of a landing came the familiar smells of my fathers home floated around me. "Your dad is going to have to learn to put up with me" George mumbled. I put the exhausting effort into opening my eyes again when we stopped, George was standing in front of the gate.

"Just walk through it" I said looking up at George "It's and illusion used to deter people." i continued and shifted slightly, wincing when i move the wrong way.

"don't move, you're still badly hurt." George commanded, it was odd. "sorry, trying to get into character so they don't see me as a total pushover" I smile slightly as we start moving again. the loud thud of the door knocker rang in my ears as we waited for someone to open it for us.

"Who is there, What do you want" I heard Severus' condescending voice on the other side of the thick oak doors.

"Hey Sev, finally showing up late to the party" I laugh. I cough and splutter blood onto Georges shirt.

"Az is hurt. Bad. no one on my side would take her so we came to you guys. We came home." George said calmly, holding me tightly into his chest. the door swung open as soon as george uttered my being hurt.

"In, quickly" I turned a little and clung to George as we walked into the familiar house. With every step George took I bounced side to side slightly, my eyes pressed shit, one arm pressed tight against the wound, the other wrapped around George. Slowly I was set down on the lumpy leather couch,my head was lifted slightly and George sat then put my head on his lap.

"alert the dark lord that his daughter is home, and she brought a... friend." Severus said calmly, he sauntered over to us and inspected my wound. "Nothing too serious, its just been open too long and you've lost a lot of blood. I nod slightly and bite my lip as Severus gently presses on the edges of the wound. he chanted a spell softly, the pain slowly subsided.

"Where is she!" I heard my father bellow

"brace for it" I whispered to George, trying not to move as to not impede the healing process.

"In here my lord." Severus called to my father

"traitor" I whisper laugh to Severus, he smirked in response. A few moments later my father's face was hovering over my own.

"why didn't you come straight here?" he asked intimidatingly

"I wasn't going to make it here" I responded, lifting an eyebrow. Voldemort gave an unsettling smile as his reaction, he moved quickly and gracefully, his face inches from Georges.

"you must be George. pleasure" Voldemort said, holding out a hand to him. George's expression did not waiver as he shook my father's hand.

"it's my honour" George stated.

"You proposed to my daughter?"

"yes"

"do you love her?"

"obviously" Voldemort's face fell and I mentally face palmed at George's statement

"why 'obviously'?" Voldemort said in a dangerous tone.

"I'm leaving my family for her, My moral's are changing for her. my world is starting to revolve around her" George replied. Voldemort laughed an unnatural laugh in response.

"My dear boy, that's infatuation. tell me you truly love her when you world revolves around keeping the both of you safe and healthy. neglecting yourself to prove your love for another person is not love. My mother taught me that." Voldemort rambled.

"besides love, you don't have to give up your family, we're still going to bill and fluer's wedding." I say smiling softly, the pain completely gone now.

"I think it's safe to say we're un-invited to the wedding." George deadpanned. I smirk and kiss George gently

"then we crash it."