So I realize the titling might be confusing, but this song is just too perfect for them; I actually cannot physically get over it. It's Oliver and Aly in a song, along with 'High' by James Blunt. I'm probably going to have to fight not to make a third one of the same title.

By the time I reached the staircase, what was once a single puff of red smoke had turned into a hazy cloud of beeping red dots, all different muggle-borns in trouble. I coughed as I stumbled through the smoke, tripping over the first few stairs in an attempt to get to the one that I could tell was the closest; a girl on the fifth floor whose name escapes me but I can get to her quickly enough that her name shouldn't be important.

Luckily the girl, who was a nameless first-year Gryffindor, was straight down the hallway, probably confused about the floors and locking for the portrait of the fat lady. She was being accosted by two tall Death Eaters, distinguishable by their black robes and the skull half-mask that covered their face. By this time, the red smoke had faded, thanks to my remembering the spell to literally put them on hold.

I should have worried about a million other things, but the over-protective Head Girl in me just wanted to get those Death Eaters away from the first year, "Stupefy! Expelliarmus!"

I was ready to start making up words that sounded like spells just to scare the Death Eaters when, giggling at some unknown signal, they scurried away down a dark hall. That was another one of those times when common sense told me to worry about other things, and I remained blissfully ignorant to it.

"Are you alright," I asked the First Year, who moaned a response back at me about losing her wand. I nodded, honestly not concerned with her defending herself as I was about her getting to safety. "Alright, alright, we'll find it later, let's get you back to the tower, ASAP."

Luckily, she wasn't one of those bratty First Years and she willingly took my hand and let me drag her towards the stairs. I fully intended on continuing to drag her up those stairs when the floor of Hogwarts, almost the very foundation of the castle itself, trembled. This being such an unusual occurrence, since it had never happened in my time at Hogwarts, I tumbled onto the stairs, pulling the girl down with me.

Sensing the panic in the air as I thought about all the other muggle-borns being attacked, in addition to the two Death Eaters, the First Year started to quiver. She was probably confused just as to what was going on, having never seen a Death Eater or probably even had one described to her. I just kept pulling her once I regained my footing, praying that the stairways were in my favor and wouldn't turn.

Once I hit the seventh floor corridor, I realized there was an onslaught of students heading towards the Gryffindor tower for safety, supposedly alerted by the teachers. "ALY!" I let go of the First Year as she hurried towards a slightly familiar Second Year. It was only after she was securely in their clutches that I turned to whoever had called my name. Ginny pushed her way out of the crowd, fighting against the current, "Aly, what's going on?"

I shook my head quickly, "I don't know, but I think there's going to be an attack." I probably shouldn't have said that so openly in a corridor filled with panicked students, but it as the only thing I could think of.

"Do you know where they're getting in?"

I shook my head, "No, but I think it's somewhere in the basement. I'm just trying to figure out where all the muggle-borns being attacked are."

Ginny nodded, tagging along beside me wordlessly as we headed towards the staircase. A few seventh years and sixth years followed us, obviously planning on fighting in whatever battle was going to happen. Now, I distinctly fought my protective Head Girl instinct, accepting that we would need more than just the teachers and I if there was going to be any hope at defending Hogwarts.

For a second as the Gryffindors and I past the sixth floor, I took a second to wonder what I'd do if I found Oliver as a Death Eater, attacking Hogwarts. Would I duel him? Would I break down? Would I ignore him as if I'd never seen him? And, if I ignored him, would he ignore me? It would look suspicious if we just walked away from each other, but then again I knew I couldn't fight him, not seriously do battle.

I shook the thought off as I past the fifth floor, some of the Gryffindors trailing to go and explore the hallway, which was generally more populated than the sixth floor anyway. Everyone in the small group of warriors seemed to know what they were doing, including Ginny who I could tell wanted defiantly to march in front of me but was quite aware that she didn't have any clue where she was going. None of us did, though.

Oliver's POV

Just after Aly left, I tried desperately to shake what we'd been talking about off and concentrate on my work. I knew internally she was right, but I couldn't imagine going through with what she was suggesting. Tell the Dark Lord that I quit? No one just quits the Dark Lord; they're fired, or they stay. Being a Death Eater isn't just like a regular job at the Ministry.

Once I had managed to sufficiently fall into the comforting pattern of my work, it was disrupted by the sudden flaring of my fire, a snake-like head popping out and his red eyes glowing at me in the firelight, "Wood, it's time."

Just as suddenly as he'd appeared, the disembodied head of my master faded back into flames and I was left to process what he'd said. Time for what? I racked my brains for information from recent meetings, but I couldn't think of anything. Draco had been talking a lot, I knew, but I naturally tuned the over-polished blonde out before his haughtiness could somehow spread.

Suddenly, with a jolt of the stomach that was disturbing, I remembered the red smoke, and what Aly had told me it meant; a muggle-born was being attacked. And if the Dark Lord was involved…

Oh no, no, this wasn't good; I'd never dreamed we'd actually try something like this again. I have to get to Aly, I thought to myself, the thought on repeat in my head as I stood, I have to warn Aly, I have to get to her. She's in danger. Before I could get away from behind my desk, however, the very earth beneath Hogwarts shook, and with an unfamiliar crack from the ceiling something fell loose and smacked me on the head, rendering me unconscious before I could even yell for help.

When I woke up what could have been years later in my office, everything was disturbingly still. There were no sounds of, the battle that I would have sworn had happened in my time spent asleep, nor any discernable cries of pain. As far as I could tell, there was simply no one in Hogwarts.

And then, as my head cleared, I picked up on more subtle hints of the battle: the dust and almost rotten smell in the air that was apparently the smell of the magic that held the stones together breaking. Outside, glowing brightly green through my window was a Dark Mark floating through the sky, the snake making sick loop-de-loops through the mouth of the skull. Had the Dark Lord won, then? Or had an overzealous Death Eater simply made a mistake and fired declaration of victory too early?

Finally finding the balance and state of mind to clamber to my feet, I was praying for the second. What would happen to Aly if they found out she was the girl they'd been looking for? Would she have the common sense to fly away, or insist on the nobility to stay and fight until the very end, even when defeat was imminent long before hand? I shook my head – this war was all she really wanted to be noble about; she'd give her life just to inspire others, if she thought her death would inspire others.

I shook my head, stumbling and wobbling down the hall towards the staircases, where I could see a thicker, lighter dust than I'd seen in my office. Luck was with me in some perverse way, and I could see Aly hunched over and half-pulling someone up the stairs with her, her wand pointed purposefully forwards.

"Aly," I called for her, coughing at the dusk. Half-heartedly, she turned, pausing and waiting for me to reach the stairs. Her glare was painful it was so sharp, but at least she was alright, and so was Hogwarts in some shape or form, "Aly, what happened?"
"We were attacked by your cronies."

The pain in her voice was evident, and I knew quite well that she blamed me for the battle. It wasn't logical, though; I was knocked unconscious before the fight even began; how was I responsible at all for it? I felt more angry than I probably had a right to, but tried desperately to control it.

"Aly, th-"

"Death Eaters got into the school through an area in the dungeons that had secretly had the apparation-ban lifted in case of an emergency during the war; who else could have known about it? That information was only made known to faculty and the Head Boy and Girl."

It could have been anyone! "Al-"

"They destroyed part of the foundation for the school and killed twelve people, Wood." The girl who Aly was supported groaned and shifted, and I realized with a horror that it was Ginny. Aly didn't wait for my response; she knew I didn't have any. "People who are able to heal wounds are rotating through the houses; I need to get these girls to Gryffindor Tower."

And that was that; Aly forced her way up the steps, Ginny trailing behind with what looked like a hurt ankle. I couldn't think of anything to say to Aly, and instead forced myself to turn away from her and make my way into the dungeons, where there was probably quite a bit of clean-up.

Aly's POV

Ginny hissed as Madame Pomfrey bent her ankle, "I'm telling you its broken, just fix it!"

"Are you a Mediwitch," the aging nurse questioned smartly, smirking at the silence she received in response. I giggled quietly at my friend from my spot at her couch-side, trying to ignore the fact that I should be in a common room that was blue, worried about my own house.

The silence was quickly broken, though, by a series of banging on the portrait door, "Let me in there, you fat old cow! I've got to get in there!"

For a few seconds, no one risked moving as the person continued to bang and pound at the fat lady, screaming other curses at her and guessing at the password occasionally. It only took Ginny a second, though, to recognize the voice.

"Harry!"

Even the most ignorant First Year knew enough gossip to know which Harry Ginny was talking about, and in one mass group they rushed towards the portrait to open it. I'm not quite sure how he managed to fight through the pack to get to Ginny, but he was there so fast I thought he very well could have been riding a broom, if he didn't have his feet firmly planted on the ground.

"Ginny, thank God," Harry breathed, falling to her side and taking her hand in one fluid motion. Instantly I felt sick at the display of obvious affection, the honest-to-God care that shined easily in his eyes as he looked over her for any injury than the one already being taken care of by a disgruntled Madame Pomfrey, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Harry." There was another few seconds that seemed untouchable, they were so engrossed in each other. This was probably the first time they'd seen each other since Christmas, or even earlier. It killed to think of being away from Oliver that long, and Ginny and Harry were on the same side. "This is my friend, Aly Darling. She's the Head Girl this year."

Harry looked up, noticing me for the first time. When his green eyes first made contact, I realized why so many girls were so captivated by him. He was absolutely gorgeous, even if he lacked a certain something; his eyes weren't brown, which bothered me immensely. Still, I was a little starstruck.

"Sleeping in 'Mione's old bunk, aye?"

I nodded awkwardly; Hermione Granger's presence in my room was forever declared by a small 'RW+HG' carved in the side of my bedside table. While it very well could have stood for any number of girls, I still am fairly certain that it's obvious who it is.

I nodded, and Harry smiled before looking back down at Ginny, that same sickening love emanating from his eyes. I felt sick, and quickly excused myself to go and check on my own house and possible start healing some more simple ailments. I just couldn't stand watching that happen, knowing what Oliver was, and that I looked at him that same way.

Two to one, static to the sound of you and I undone for the last time
And there this was, hiding at the bottom of your swimming pool some September
And don't you think I wish that I could stay? Your lips give you away
I can hear it, a jet engine through the center of the storm and I'm thinking I'd prefer not to be rescued
Two to none, roads will lead away from this, I'm following myself just this once
And I got spun, it appears you got spun as well, it happens when you pay attention
Well this could take all year; but when it's quiet, does she hear me?
Jettison to the center of the stom and I'm thinking I'd prefer not to be rescued

Oh, I can feel her, she's dying just to keep me cool
And I'm finally numb so please don't get me rescued, rescued
And it's unclear, but this maybe be my last song, oh
Oh I, I can tell she's raising hell to give to me
But she got me warm so please don't get me rescued
And oh say you'll miss me one last time, I'll be strong
But whatever you do, please don't get me rescued
Cause I'm feeling like I might need to be near you
And I feel alright so please don't get me rescued