Aberforth scratched his beard as he entered the room and pushed the door closed with his boot. His eyes skimmed the three students, and rested on the wands still held in their hands. Ivy quickly lowered hers but the others didn't.

"I know you," Aberforth grunted and frowned deeper as if trying to recall the memory.

"What's going on Ivy?" Neville murmured, "Who is he?"

"Speak up lad, you're in my house, you talk to me." Neville's mouth snapped shut and he exchanged a confused look with Ginny. Aberforth cocked his head to the side and inspected Ivy, "You're the girl Hagrid sent, the one who was worried about that ball at Hogwarts. I take it you survived."

"Hagrid?" Ginny said in a high pitched voice, "You've seen him?"

Ivy didn't reply, it wasn't the time to launch into an explanation. "So, your name's Ivy, is it?" Aberforth grunted and stepped towards them into the light. Ivy had forgotten she hadn't told him anything about herself, fearing he wasn't trustworthy. When his blue eyes caught the candlelight Ginny gasped and Neville's arm dropped. Aberforth shook his head and strode to the corner to collect bar stools from a high stack.

"His eyes," Neville breathed, "did you see them? He looks just like Dumbledore, but a bit grumpier."

"He's Aberforth Dumbledore, it's his brother," Ivy told them.

"How do you know him?"

"I'll explain later," Ivy promised as Aberforth returned and set the stools down for them to sit on.

Once relatively comfortable Aberforth spoke again, "Now, who's going to tell me what you're doing here?" They all looked at Ivy.

"We didn't mean to come here, we followed a tunnel and it led us through your portrait." She gestured at the picture of the girl, who wore a small smile.

"There's a tunnel behind there?" Aberforth asked, surprised.

"It leads to the room of requirement at Hogwarts. We've been hiding out there with two others." Aberforth leaned forwards curiously as she spoke. "There was an inspection by the Ministry. They wanted everyone to prove their blood status. If you couldn't, you were taken away for further investigation. A fight broke out but we managed to hide."

Aberforth nodded, "Still doesn't explain why you're here. From what I remember, that room provides what you need. What is it you wanted when the tunnel appeared?" Neville's stomach growled and Aberforth chuckled darkly. "Bloody kids," he grunted before heaving himself up and vanishing out the room.

Ginny and Neville turned to Ivy expectantly. Ivy didn't know what to say to them. "What?" She said defensively.

"What was he talking about? When did you speak to Hagrid?"

"It's a really long story," Ivy breathed. "I needed to find a way to watch what was happening at the ball, in case something happened."

Ginny eyed her suspiciously, "Like what?"

"Unless you didn't notice, I'm not exactly in with the Ministry. I'm half blood." Ivy wondered if both the Gryffindors had been walking around blind the past few hours. They were surprised by her confession. "What did you think I'd been dragged away for?"

"I thought it was a joke," Neville shrugged.

Ivy shook her head as Aberforth remerged, carrying a basket of bread and a large container that had steam fizzing from the edges. He passed it to them and Neville instantly took a bite out of the bread. "'fanks" he mumbled through his mouthful.

"How long are you planning on being in that room?"

Ivy grimaced weakly, "We aren't sure, possibly a long time. We can't leave Hogwarts without getting caught and we have people there we care about." Well, she did anyway. The old man nodded and Ivy remembered their first meeting, and everything he'd said to her. She realised it was pointless trying to reason with him. "Thank you for the food, we'll find another way to get it from now on."

"Wha'?" Neville said and swallowed down his bread. His eyes widened as he looked between the two of them.

"Is that right?" Aberforth said and brought his hand up to his shaggy beard.

"Last time we spoke you said…" She searched her mind for his exact words, "I'm not the hero type, I don't get involved in business that isn't mine." Ivy folded her hands on her lap and glanced up at the portrait of the girl, who was now watching Aberforth curiously. "Feeding us would count as getting involved. So we'll find another way."

Neville and Ginny exchanged crestfallen looks and the boy shoved more food into his mouth as if expecting it to be his last meal. It could very well be.

"You got me all figured out, haven't you?" Ivy didn't reply. "Listen kid, I'm not the sort to go marching into battle with a bunch of teenagers on a suicide mission, but passing some stew through a tunnel in my living room isn't joining the Order, is it?" Aberforth rolled his shoulders back and his blue eyes flashed in an angry way not shared with his brother.

"So," Neville began, "you'll help us?"

"Seems that way," Aberforth confirmed.

Everyone avoided Draco. Whether it was because they knew he had some unresolved issues with the traitor Ivy Green, or they were just sick of his sullenness. Either way, he found himself alone most of the time, and when he wasn't he was rarely spoken to.

Crabbe and Goyle had taken to whispering in corners and giving him glances that would have been questioning if they weren't so stupid. They weren't his bodyguards anymore, they had moved up and he'd moved on.

It had been three days since he'd last seen Ivy, and his mood hadn't improved. Her last words rang in his ears, 'Stay alive'. He was alive alright, but without her he could hardly call it living. He existed. His eyes were stained with black circles and his hair was lacking its usual lustre. He missed her so much he wondered if it was possible to go insane from it. Could his mind split in two? It felt like it.

It didn't help knowing that she was in a room with three boys, single, Gryffindor boys. There was Ginny too but she was mooning after Potter, and it wasn't like they had much to do in there. His teeth clenched and he had to tense his arms to stop them punching the stone wall. If any of them touched her he'd rip their heads from their necks.

He came to a stop suddenly, realising where he was. The blank wall was in front of him, unassuming and identical to every other wall in Hogwarts. He hadn't been here since that night and hadn't meant to visit now.

Draco could feel her. She was so close, so painfully close. He rested a hand on the wall and allowed his forehead to drop onto it. "Green," he murmured and heard the sorrow in his voice. "Fuck," he seethed and slammed his fist to the stone. He didn't want to feel sad, so instead he got mad. Hitting the wall again until it ripped into his skin and a trail of blood oozed down his knuckle. He punched it a final time, enjoying a pain that wasn't emotional.

"What the hell are you doing?" A voice snapped and he turned around. Pansy stood with her arms folded and an eyebrow cocked. He hadn't seen her since before Christmas.

"Fuck off Pansy." He ordered and slumped against the wall, facing her.

"Aren't you charming? I only wanted to tell you that you've been cleared by the Ministry, as a pure blood. You're safe."

"Great," he sighed, "you can go now."

The girl checked around them and stepped closer, staring firmly at him. "Malfoy, you are a lot of things, but you aren't a complete dick." Draco opened his mouth to respond but she held up a hand to silence him. "People are starting to wonder what is wrong with you. There are rumours that you were shagging Green and have gone to the other side. Crabbe and Goyle are considering reporting you to the Dark Lord, all they need is a reason."

He couldn't argue with her, not when it was so close to the truth. "I don't give a rat's ass what you were doing with her, but it's over now, do you hear me? Unless you want to see a green light followed by a short fall, I'd get it together and start being you again."

"You have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh, so you weren't in love with the slut then?"

It happened quickly. His wand was in his hand and was pushed against her throat. Pansy backed into a wall and sneered at him. "I knew it," she hissed.

"You know nothing." He growled and his wand shook in his fingers.

"Tell me you don't love Ivy Green."

"I…" He tried to force the words out, but he physically couldn't do it. It was as though his tongue had swollen and his throat constricted, stopping the lie in its tracks. Because it was a lie.

He loved her.

Shit.

Draco stepped back, his wand leaving her. At first Pansy looked triumphant but it quickly turned cold. If she knew, Draco was in trouble. It would give Crabbe and Goyle the perfect excuse to go to Voldemort, and then he'd be killed or tortured for information on Ivy's whereabouts.

His fingers tightened around his wand and he raised it slowly back up to her, inches from her nose. Pansy frowned slightly, but didn't move to retrieve her own wand. "Do you think you can kill me? You couldn't kill Dumbledore, what makes this so different?"

"I didn't have anything to lose then." Now he had Ivy.

Pansy shook her head but didn't seem at all concerned about her situation. The corridor was still empty, but if he was going to do it, it would have to be soon. "I'm not going to tell anyone," she said bluntly.

"I don't believe you."

"You're going to have to. Unless you want to become a murderer."

He didn't understand. It made no sense for her to protect him. He didn't move his wand. "Look Malfoy, I'm not a Death Eater yet. One day, I'll take the mark and commit to the Dark Lord. I'll turn on my friends and murder innocents because that is what I'll have been trained to do." Pansy sighed and suddenly she looked almost kind, "But not today. You were my first and only friend here. You can trust me until the moment I join him, not a minute longer."

He paused. And his wand lowered.

"Did you hear that?" Ivy asked as once again a slamming noise came from behind the doorway.

"It's probably some students having a fight, ignore it." Ginny shrugged as they gathered around the old radio. Ivy nodded but continued to watch the door, an odd sensation gathering in her stomach, like she wanted to open it.

"Go on Dean, show them" Seamus encouraged.

The Gryffindor twiddled with a dial on the old machine until a high pitched note erupted from the radio. Ivy covered her ears and winced. "What the hell is that?" She shouted.

"Give me a minute," he mumbled and pressed a large button before spinning it to the right. The noise was cut off and a voice floated in.

"And Margery Griffins, which ends our list for today."

"Is that Lee Jordon?" Neville gasped but they all shushed him.

"If you've just tuned in, this is Potterwatch, a radio show that tells you what you need to know. It has been rumoured that Lightening has been sighted at the dark base, but no death has been reported. We haven't lost yet, folks. I'll be back at 5pm tomorrow night with Romulus. He's got some important news, so stay tuned. Until then, stay safe and remember you are not alone."

The radio fizzed out again and Dean flicked the switch. They were silent for a while, but Seamus broke it. "What does that mean? Lightening has been sighted? Where is the dark base?"

"Don't you get it?" Neville said and practically bounced with glee. "It's Harry! Harry is Lightening and they've seen him. The dark base must be where You-Know-Who is. If he's alive it means he escaped!"

"He's alive?" Ginny breathed and tears clogged her wide eyes. Ivy didn't have the connection with Harry that they did, but even she was excited. If Potter was with Voldemort then he must have a plan.

"I knew he wouldn't let us down!" Dean grinned.

"I think this calls for some stale bread, compliments of Aberforth!" Seamus chuckled and ran over to their food supply.

Ginny was staring into space, an unreadable expression on her face. Ivy was about to go over to her but a creaking sound made her turn around. The door had opened and two girls stood in the doorway, watching them.

They were identical and shared shocked expressions. One in Gryffindor robes, the other Ravenclaw.

"Padma? Pavarti?"

A banner rolled down a wall, with an eagle emblazoned on it.

A/N: First - SO sorry for how long this took to update and it's length. Had a crazy two weeks, but I promise next chapter will be up quicker and will be much longer! Battle is looming soon so stay tuned ;) Second - Had some wonderful reviews from Beckah Godric-Northman and Runos sister (Sorry for breaking your heart before class! lol) and finally, ChantalHolmes. Love getting reviews so thank you soooo much.