Chapter Thirty Five

A/N: No reviewers.

The army was gathered on the edge of the Hogwarts grounds, scores of black dots on the distant horizon, blocking out the light as it faded away. 'It's quite appropriate, I guess.' Scarlette thought vaguely, as she stood at the top of the Astronomy Tower. 'They're taking away the last piece of hope that we had.'

The Dark Lord's army was not the only one that had gathered. The pupils had banded together, determined to protect their home from the forces threatening to destroy it. The divide between the Houses, the competition for House Cups and Quidditch titles all seemed to have faded away now. They were all Hogwarts students together. It was all that mattered in extremis.

If she squinted her eyes together, Scarlette imagined she could see them all, among the sea of black cloaks. Her mother, her father, her aunt and uncle. Even the Dark Lord himself would be concealed behind the front lines, Nagini not far from his side. It seemed bizarre to know that she would be fighting against them soon. The notion was almost as bizarre as the fact she had pledged herself to fight with them not long ago.

"I won't tell you that they're safe, because they're not." Draco seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. "But it won't do any good to worry about them. You'll only get distracted, and being distracted in a battle gets you killed."

"You're right." Scarlette sighed. A small figure among the Death Eaters seemed to bounce with excitement. The girl tried to pretend it was not most likely her mother. "After all, they're not going to be worrying about me."

"I'm sure they care, Lettie." Draco told her. It was a lie, but she appreciated it all the same. "My mum's going to be worried sick. I'll be surprised if she doesn't get turned into a frog at some point during the night. She probably wouldn't notice the spell coming."

"Oh, I don't know. She's a very good witch, I'm sure she'll be paying attention to the people around her." Scarlette pointed out. There was no need for her to lie. She had a great deal of admiration for her mother's youngest sister, the same admiration she had held for the middle child. It was ironic, really; of all the Black sisters, her mother was the one she admired the least.

Draco came closer, leaning against the other end of the window ledge, slumping a little against the stone. Scarlette could not help but worry. If fatigue was taking its toll on him now, before the battle had even started, how would he survive the night to come?

"I don't want to fight." Draco sighed. He looked almost like a small child, disillusioned with the toy soldiers he manipulated. "We either kill children, our classmates, or we kill the people we've known all our lives. Our family. It's an impossible decision to make."

"I know." Scarlette observed. He had managed to sum up in a few words the swarm of emotions running through her mind. "I just wish we didn't have to. I wish none of this had ever happened."

She did not specify any more than that, because she did not know how to. Did she wish it had never come to battle, so she would not have to fight? That she had never taken the Dark Mark, so she would not be bound to the Dark Lord's army? That she had never come to know her parents, her aunt and uncle, so she would not be fearful of fighting against them? That she had never left Andromeda, so that she would not be conflicted this way in the first place? Perhaps it was all of them. Perhaps it was none.

"What are you doing to do when they attack?" Draco pressed gently. He could see the worry creasing her brow.

Scarlette shook her head, unable to think of an answer. What could she do? Family against family, friends against friends. Whichever side she chose, people close to her would be at risk. Whichever side she chose, she would be at risk.

"You know, if we could Disapparate right now, I would do it in a heartbeat." Draco whispered. "That way we wouldn't have to choose. We could just wait on the sidelines, see who comes out on top, then get lost in the crowd of the victors. It would be so easy."

"It would be wrong." Scarlette chastised weakly. She could not judge him too harshly, she had thought exactly the same thing. "If we wait on the sidelines, our friends and family die, with no one to protect them. Do you think you'd be able to live with it, if your parents were killed in battle and you weren't here to help them? I don't think I could."

Draco nodded glumly, knowing that she was right. He was a good man at heart, an honourable man, far more like his mother than his father. He would never have gone through with such an awful plan, not when it came down to it; he would feel far too guilty afterwards. Then again, if it was to protect her… even his mother would abandon her allies to try and save her family.

"We're just going to have to fight." Scarlette reasoned, knowing it was the only choice she could make. She did not know who they would be fighting for or against yet. Perhaps they would have to wait for the throes of battle to overtake them before the decision was made. It was often only under duress that the most important things became clear. The girl could only hope that was true.

"One thing's for sure, though." Draco pointed out, watching as light shot from a Death Eater's wand in the distance. It could have been Scarlette's mother for all they knew. It could have been the Dark Lord himself. "You and me, we're going to fight together. No matter what side you choose in the end, I will be with you. I swear."

"Thank you." Scarlette smiled, resting a gentle hand on the blonde boy's shoulder. It was the most intimate gesture they could risk at that moment; the most intimate she could bear if something were to happen. If nothing else, it was a good memory to carry with her into the horrors to come, a warm determination to fill her heart and give her strength. All she could do now was hope that it would be enough.

A/N: Next chapter, all hell breaks loose! Please review!