AN: All thanks to my beta Katherine.
Sorry I've been a little MIA guys. I just bought a house and that mixed with publishing a book, life is crazy! I will post the next chapter soon! (like within the next week)
And per comments on the previous chapter: yes, Harry and Ginny still dated 6th year. IDK how I missed mentioning their relationship. To me they are such a default couple. I will do a rewrite eventually and get them added in to the end of the last chapter.
Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna gathered. Hermione told them what happened, Harry was going on a mission with Dumbledore, and was convinced something bad would happen that night. Mia wanted to scoff. Something was gonna happen that Dumbledore wasn't prepared for? Harry probably thought Draco was behind it or Snape, Harry's two favorite scape goats. She was still mad about Harry almost killing Draco. It wasn't the sort of thing you just got over, although Harry seemed to have.
Hermione explained about the marauders map to those who didn't know what it was, then they all stood around examining it. Draco wasn't on it, so he was likely in the room of requirement. Hermione passed around the little vial of liquid luck and they all took a small sip till it was gone.
Draco missing was all the proof Ron needed, and he started rolling up the map.
"Neville and I will wait outside the room of requirement. Hermione, Ginny, Luna, you go stand guard outside Snape's office, he's there now, make sure he doesn't leave. Mia, Gabe-"
"We're gonna go wake up McGonagall," Mia said, cutting him off.
"Rrrright. You go wake up McGonagall," he agreed. It didn't seem like the best way to avoid detention under normal circumstances, but the potion Mia had taken made her feel good, and this felt like the right idea.
They were a landing below McGonagall's office when they were stopped.
"Oi! What do you lot think you're up to?"
Normally, while sneaking around in the middle of the night with her boyfriend, that was the last voice she would have wanted to hear, but this time it felt right, so she turned around and smiled.
"Hey dad! We're going to wake up McGonagall."
"Why? What happened?" Sirius asked, coming closer with worry on his face.
"Nothing yet, we don't think. But soon I think," Gabe said brightly.
"Yes, soon," Mia agreed. "Something bad is going to happen soon." Mia turned and ran up the rest of the stairs to pound on McGonagall's door. She opened it, fully dressed in her green robe. Mia wasn't surprised to see her awake.
"Hey Professor, something bad is going to happen, so we came to get you."
McGonagall looked at Mia, who smiled, then at Gabe, who smiled, and then at Sirius who shrugged. "Don't look at me, I was patrolling and came across them."
McGonagall looked back at Mia. "Explain yourselves immediately," McGonagall ordered.
"Harry left with Dumbledore on some secret thing," Mia started.
"And Harry was sure that something bad would happen tonight," Gabe continued.
"So, he set us to guard duty so we could put a stop to whatever it is," Mia finished.
"And what made you think the castle needed your protection?" McGonagall asked, outrage brimming in her eyes.
Mia got it. With Sirius here, it probably meant there were several Order members on guard, so the adults didn't think anything else was needed.
Mia and Gabe shrugged, and spoke at the same time. "The arrogance of youth."
"Ok, tell me what you did. Why are you two acting so funny," Sirius asked, his wand in his hand as if ready for a jinx.
"My favorite jam is raspberry, and I spent six months calling you Um because I was too scared to say Dad. We aren't under the Imperius Curse, Harry gave us the last of his Felix Felicis potion so we would have luck tonight. And instead of telling us how to avoid detection and go to bed, it told me to come get McGonagall because things are about to start."
Sirius narrowed his eyes at her. "Who else is out on guard duty?"
"Lots of us. You can't stop us all, so you might as well join us," Gabe said to Sirius. Then he turned to McGonagall. "We aren't being disrespectful, professor. We took a potion that is magically guiding us down the best path of success in our lives. Even if you think we're wrong, wouldn't it be best to at least keep us around and see if we get any sudden bright ideas?"
McGonagall sighed and her stern expression melted into acceptance, with maybe just a hint of fear. "Oh, all right. But come morning if nothing happens, you both will have a month of detentions."
"And groundings over the summer," Sirius added.
Mia smiled but said nothing. They needed to wait now.
"So, what do you suggest, oh guided one?" McGonagall asked in the most sarcastic tone Mia had ever heard, which was saying something for McGonagall.
"Now we wait," Gabe said, and closed his mouth, with his hands behind his back.
"For what?" Sirius said, impatiently.
They didn't respond, just smiled and looked around. Things would get bad, part of her knew, but a few moments of peace now would do them all better later. Her eyes met Gabe's, and he smiled at her. There was so much love in his eyes, she always felt safe when she looked into them.
"I love you," she told him.
It was right to say it now.
McGonagall sighed, and Sirius groaned, but Gabe smiled, and his smile lit up his whole face and lit up Mia's whole heart.
"I know," Gabe said, with a grin. He had told her he loved her before, and she didn't doubt it for a second.
There was a loud boom far away, and dust fell from the ceiling as if the castle had shook just slightly.
"And now we should go to the Astronomy tower!" Gabe said. Mia agreed. That felt like the right decision.
"But the noise came from the other direction," Sirius said as he tried to stop them.
Mia dodged him easily and started down the staircase, Gabe at her side. "Astronomy tower!" she called back to her dad.
A Ghost passed them on the stairs, flying up out of the steps towards Professor McGonagall.
"Professor!" it called. "Professor! The castle has been invaded by Death Eaters!"
She heard McGonagall gasp, and heard the pounding of Sirius's feet as he caught up to them. McGonagall's patronus streaked past them a moment later, on the way to deliver a message, and then Sirius sent his own patronus out.
There was fear, Mia felt it, and adrenaline. But the potion told her those were tools to keep her sharp, and it helped her stay above it.
They encountered the death eaters in the corridor leading to the astronomy tower. They were badly outnumbered at first. Mia didn't recognize most of the death eaters, but Sirius did, and they knew Sirius. Taunting him as he deflected hexes. One of them leaned out a window and shot a spell into the night. The familiar glowing green of the dark mark rose high in the sky, casting green light through all the windows.
"That should speed things up a bit," the Death Eater who cast the spell yelled.
Mia was sharper with the liquid luck, faster, as she blocked spells she didn't quite know were coming but felt. More bodies joined them, Remus, Tonks, Ron, Neville, and Bill. Bellatrix appeared from the other end of the corridor, and she was dragging Draco with her, shooting hexes and curses. She shoved Draco onto the staircase, and then set a spell blocking anyone else from chasing after, then she turned and faced off with Sirius.
One of the death eaters, he was a ghastly man, his face grizzled and deranged. His robes were tight across his chest and massive arms, and he fought with his claws as much as his wand. He faced off with Bill, and when he knocked out Bill, he bent over him on all fours and started biting into his arm, slashing at his face and chest. It was too horrific, Mia froze for a moment, then shot a stunning spell at the man, it landed, but didn't seem to faze him. McGonagall was at her side a moment later and started hexing the man until he broke off and started fighting back. Mia darted between duelers and slid to the floor at Bill's side. She started casting spell after spell onto his wounds, but they didn't work. She used the ones to heal normal wounds, then started going through ones to heal magical wounds, none of them worked. She cast spell after spell and watched the bloody flesh press itself together, then fall back open, more blood gushing out. She had worked so hard so she could do this when it really mattered, and now her magic wasn't working. She didn't understand, was she broken?
Then she remembered something she'd read once. There was no charm for healing werewolf bites. She started to panic just a little as Bill's eyes fluttered close, and he breathed out as if it was his last breath. Then Mia performed the diagnostic spell. He was just unconscious and breathing lightly. Not dead. She started ripping up her cloak and tying up the worst of the gashes to stop the flow of blood. She needed to learn to conjure bandages next.
Snape appeared up the corridor. He strode through the chaos and deflected spells left and right, even blocking ones that were aimed towards other members of the Order. Then he turned and darted up the stairs, straight through the barrier like it wasn't there. Neville ran after him, as if convinced Harry was right, and Snape was on the wrong side, but he bounced off the barrier and fell to the ground.
A very large Death Eater started shooting hexes in all directions, not caring who he hit, and knocked out a death eater. Mia pulled Neville closer to Bill, and stood in front of them, deflecting every hex she could. Most of the death eaters took the moment to run up the stairs, but the big man was still firing off spells, and nearly everyone was crouched behind shield spells. Flitwick tried to take the man out but got hit with a spell and fell to the ground.
The roof caved in, and chaos resumed, the death eaters came flooding out of the tower, Bellatrix cackling and laughing. The order and DA moved with them down the corridor, but when Mia saw Draco, she grabbed his arm and pulled him as hard as she could and caught him off balance. She tugged him into a corner. He got his wand up, eyes full or horror and fear, and then he recognized her. Harry raced down the tower next, and past them, not seeing them in his focus on the other death eaters.
"Let me go, Mia. Please."
"No," she said, and pushed him harder against the wall. Draco's eyes were red and so full of fear. She saw something break in him, and tears started to well in the corners of his eyes, then he was sliding to the ground, and curled into a ball, crying. "It's my fault, it's all my fault. I did this. I did this."
"Draco talk to me. What happened?"
"Dumbledore's dead," he sobbed. Mia must have miss heard him. It wasn't possible. "It's my fault, I did this!"
"Draco." Mia put her hand on his knee. Everything felt like it was crashing inside of her. It couldn't be true. It wasn't possible.
They had no time. She could hear battling further down the hall, but it was only a matter of time till they came back up this way for the injured.
"Did you kill him?" The words barely came out. She didn't want to know. She didn't think she could ever look at Draco the same way if she knew.
"I was ordered to. I should have. It was my job, but I couldn't. I'm a coward, such a coward. I've always been a coward. Couldn't stand up against anybody, not my father, not Him." Draco started shaking, spit came out of his mouth and snot ran down his face as he sobbed. "But I couldn't even do it. You need to get out of here, Mia." He looked up at her as if just seeing her and gripped her arms tight. "If they find you, they'll kill you." His face broke again, into hopelessness. "Mia you have to go, and I have to go with them there's nothing else left for me. I finally cemented my fate, as you say."
A choking sobbing laugh came out. Draco pushed her off and stood. He rubbed his robes against his face, determined now. "Get out of here, I'm serious. I don't want anything happening to you too."
"Would you if you could?" Mia asked.
"What I what Black?" His tone had the bitter edge to it she knew so well. Somehow it was comforting.
"Would you undo this if you could?" she asked, the last of the potion felt like it was wearing off, but this last part was so important, it called up from inside of her.
"It's too late now Mia, I'm one of them. There's no going back."
"Yes, there is Draco." If he really meant it there was a way.
"What do you mean?" Another sobbing laugh and he wiped away another tear. "I can't go back from this Mia." He pulled up his sleeve and revealed the dark mark, dark against his pale arm.
She suspected Harry had been right about that for a while, but she didn't want to believe it. Even looking at it somehow, she didn't believe it. The mark was red and inflamed in places as though he'd been scratching it through his sleeve.
She tore her eyes away from it and looked Draco in his eyes, no pity or fear showing in her face. "Come over to our side. Help us. You know information of value, so trade it for your life."
"I killed-" he started to yell and then it turned again into a sob. "I killed Dumbledore."
"No, you didn't Draco. You didn't kill him because there's still good inside of you. It wasn't cowardice that stopped you, it was your heart. It was bravery. Bravery to stand up against orders and murder and what's wrong. Do you get that? Bravery isn't the absence of fear, it's doing what's right in the face of it. What happens if you go back there and tell them you didn't kill Dumbledore? What will he do to you? Even knowing what would happen, you still didn't do it. Knowing your life was on the line, you still didn't kill him and trade his life for yours. That matters, Draco. Now tell me," Mia touched the tattoo on his arm and Draco pulled away as if pained. "Is this what you want? Is this who you want to be?
"No." It was soft, but it was still there.
"Say it again Draco, who do you want to be?"
"Not this. I don't want to be one of them." Determination again flashed in his eyes.
"So, what are you willing to do about it?"
"But my mother, what about my mother? I can't just leave her." Mia frowned. No, they couldn't.
"She's safe there? Will anyone hurt her?"
Draco thought about it as if conflicted. "No. No, not with my aunt there. She'll protect her."
A chill ran down Mia's spine at the thought of Draco's aunt, her aunt Bellatrix, the woman who had killed her mom. She didn't say anything, and she tried her hardest to make sure her fear and hatred didn't show on her face.
"Then she's safest there for now, and we can work on getting her a way out later. You on the other hand, can I trust you Draco, truly trust you?"
"I don't know."
"Decide. Now. Who do you want to be Draco?"
"I... I want to be someone you can trust."
"Then promise me Draco. Promise me if I trust you, you won't break that trust, you won't go back to them. You won't tell them anything that can hurt me or those I love." Draco looked down as though unsure. "You're on that list Draco." He looked up at her. "The list of people I love. Promise me you won't do anything that will hurt them or you."
His blue eyes, so bright and red rimmed from crying held hers, and she saw something in them. Fear, pain, anxiety, but something else too, something that looked an awful lot like hope. "I promise." He reached out and took her hand. "I promise Mia." He sighed. "But we'll need a third for an unbreakable vow."
"I'm not going to make an unbreakable vow with you Draco. Your promise is enough for me, because I believe you are a man who will keep his promise." She held his eyes, they again held fear and doubt, but the hope was stronger now. "Now come on."
They had to step over rubble, and a few bodies on their way out. Neville was on the ground groaning, but unconscious, holding his stomach. She should help him, but she needed to help Draco first. People in the castle were waking up now, and she and Draco rushed past a few Hufflepuff's in their pajamas, looking for information, as they ran past and out the castle.
They made their way outside, very carefully and Mia looked around. She could see hexes and curses flying across the grounds but the direction she wanted to go was clear. She pulled Draco after her and he didn't resist. When they entered Hogsmeade she heard someone behind, chasing after them, and they ran faster. She was going to take them to the Three Broomsticks, but Draco told her one of the bar ladies was under the Imperius curse. She took them to the Hog's Head instead. She turned and saw Snape rounding a corner and their eyes connected as she pushed Draco through the door. In the moment before she shut the door, Mia saw Snape's wand drop slightly, and his head moved down as if in a nod, and then she was through the door. She ran into Draco, just through the entrance, he was stopped in the room watching the barman of the Hog's Head, standing unmovable with his arms crossed.
He seemed to recognize her, and she pulled Draco to the fireplace by the corner.
"Oi, what you be doing there?"
"Sorry sir just need to use the floo. Meadow Lake," she whispered into Draco's ear and then pushed him towards the fire. She pulled a few coins out of her bag and turned back to the bar man. "Bit of an emergency I'm afraid but I promise we'll pay for the powder."
She heard the fire flare behind her and sighed with relief. Even if she couldn't be there to help Draco with explanations, at least he was safe.
"Now stop right there. Hogwarts shouldn't be out this late, nor should you be off the school grounds and you definitely shouldn't be flooin' anywhere."
"I need to get information out to the Order immediately," she told the barman.
She wasn't totally sure he could be trusted, but she had once seen him in a picture of Order members back when her mother was still alive.
The old bar man's eyes lit at her words, and he nodded once. "If this becomes a regular thing, I'll rat you out. But tonight," he looked towards the castle where the dark mark shone. "Tonight, I'll pretend as though I never saw you. Now get going." Mia and nodded once and turned to the fire. Something caught her eye and she looked out the window to see Harry shooting hexes at Snape, who deflected each move, but didn't shoot back. She shook her head, unsure what it meant, and crossed back to the fire, threw in a bit of powder and said the name of her home.
Draco was standing in the middle of her dark living room, looking around as though unsure where to go. When she stepped out of the fire he glanced at her relieved. "I need to go back, warn my dad you are here, and figure out why Harry is still attacking Snape." She ran a hand over her face. "You will tell my dad everything you know when he gets back? About You-Know-Who's plans?"
Draco looked scared again, and at first, she was afraid he would refuse, but he nodded. "Harry is fighting Snape because he finally realized Snape's been a double agent all along. He's on my- You-Know-Who's side."
"No." Mia shook her head. "He was a double agent for our side, for Dumbledore."
"Mia, he killed Dumbledore." Mia shook her head. He must have it wrong. "He made an unbreakable vow with my mum, that if I failed, he'd do it, and he did. Harry was there, he saw Snape do it."
Mia let out a ragged breath and covered her mouth. She felt like she was falling, like the world was falling around her. It couldn't be true, but she didn't think Draco would be lying to her. She trusted Snape. Dumbledore trusted Snape. How could she have been so wrong, and Harry, grudge holding Harry Potter be right?
Mia sat down in one of the chairs. She had spent so much time alone with him over the years, and always he had treated her with contempt, but he had still taught her, still helped her. She had to get back, make sure Harry was ok. He was no match for dueling Snape. She stood again and looked around, then at Draco.
"I'm sorry I have to leave. I promise my dad won't be mean when he gets here. There's probably food in the kitchen, and you can stay in Remus's old room. It's the first door on the second floor. Will you be ok?"
"Yes," he said, and swallowed hard.
He had his determined face again, and she nodded. Then after a second she stepped forward and hugged him. He stood rigid in her arms, but she didn't care, and she squeezed once before stepping back. "You will be safe here, Draco. You're family, and I won't let anything happen to you."
She didn't wait for a reply, but turned back to the fire, and returned to the Hog's Head. It was empty this time when she got back, and she started the trek back to the castle. Harry and Snape were nowhere to be found. There was a crowd at the foot of the tower, although none of the tear streaked or shocked faces belonged to those who had been with her in the battle. Kingsley was there, managing the crowd. She approached him and put a hand on his arm. He looked down at her with tear filled eyes and crouched so she could speak to him softly.
"Have you seen Snape?" she asked.
Kingsley shook his head. "No, he's likely around here somewhere, but most of our people, your dad included are gathered in the hospital wing."
Mia took the information in stride. She couldn't think about who else might be dead now. It was too horrible to consider. "He did it. Snape," she said. Kingsley needed to know if he was here, trying to help.
"Did what?
Mia nodded towards the still form in the grass. "Snape killed…" She couldn't finish, but she didn't have to.
"Did you see it?" Kingsley asked steadily.
Mia shook her head. "No, but Draco did. He told me. He was supposed to do it, but he didn't."
"Where is he now?" Kingsley's eyes roamed over the crowd.
"He's somewhere safe." Kingsley's eyes landed on her, and she held them, not about to be intimidated by the weight of the stare. "He says he will tell us everything he knows. I'll tell dad where to find him, ok?"
Kingsley nodded. "Tell them in the Hospital wing all you told me. I will send messages to the rest. Headquarters is no longer safe."
He straightened and sent out a patronus, and Mia started towards the entrance of the castle, clearly dismissed. She climbed the steps to the hospital wing with determination. She wasn't sure she could handle it if any more of her friends were dead, but she had to keep climbing.
She shouldn't have worried. The only one who had died that night, besides Dumbledore, had been a Death Eater, hit by one of the hexes the large death eater had been shooting off in every direction. It was hard to believe they had all made it, and Hermione made the point, they likely wouldn't have if it wasn't for their liquid luck.
Bill was the worst off. They weren't sure what side effects being bitten by a werewolf not on the full moon would cause, but there was always Mia's werewolf animagus potion if he needed it. But the scars, he would likely have for the rest of his life. Fleur said she didn't mind one bit, she was just thankful he had lived. Her and Mrs. Weasley had a bonding moment, and Mia hoped the wedding later that summer wouldn't be as awkward as Christmas dinner had been.
Harry had told them who had killed Dumbledore, and about Snape's betrayal. They all talked it over, in slow shocked voices, reliving step by step where they had seen Snape. He had kept his cover through the very end, not harming anyone other than Dumbledore.
After a time, Mia built up her strength, and pulled Sirius aside, holding Gabe's hand, and bringing him along for comfort, and so she wouldn't have to explain everything twice.
"Am I finally going to be told where you disappeared to after the battle?" Sirius asked, crossing his arms. "Your boyfriend wasn't alarmed till after the potion wore off, so we figured you were alive, but a note would have been nice," he added with clear sarcasm.
"Do you trust me?" she asked.
Sirius sighed and dropped his arms. "Yes Mia, I trust you. I trust you more than I do any other sixteen-year-old girls."
"Well if that's the narrow category I've managed to top, I feel so honored. How many other sixteen-year-old girls do you even have in your life?"
Sirius ran over his face. "This is what I get for reproducing."
That was better. He was smiling a little. This would be easier if he wasn't in worried father mode. "Draco betrayed You-Know-Who tonight and he's going to do it more. He said he'll tell us everything he knows about their side, but we need to keep him safe."
Sirius looked confused at first, then disbelieving. "Oh, please tell me you didn't grant your death eater cousin sanctuary."
"Draco was supposed to kill Dumbledore, but he didn't. You heard Harry, he said he was standing there with every opportunity, Dumbledore completely defenseless, but he didn't do it. He doesn't want to go back to them. He wants to join our side."
Sirius started pacing.
"Will you keep him safe Dad?"
He stopped pacing and got close enough to whisper. "Mia, we just found out our last ex-Death Eater was a double agent and just betrayed us all. Do you really want to go in for round two?"
Mia crossed her arms. "He's family dad. I thought you'd understand someone who's trying to move away from their family's beliefs."
"But that's the difference isn't it?" he said loudly, then dropped his voice again. "I left that family. I didn't turn into a death eater."
"Dad, you were raised by blood purists not by Death Eaters. What if you had been raised by Death Eaters and had been sorted into Slytherin and hadn't had James and Remus supporting you along the way? What if your only support had been Death Eaters and the children of Death Eaters? Would you really have broken out on your own?"
He ran a hand over his face again. "All right, fine, but I want to hear it from him. Where is he?"
Mia hesitated. "I promised him we would keep him safe, and that you would be nice to him when you saw him. Dad, he's in a really dark place right now, and he's mean and rude when he feels scared."
Sirius looked pained. "You want me to be nice to my cousin's Death Eater spawn?" Mia glared at him. "Fine, I will take Remus, but you have to tell Harry."
Mia winced. "I may wait a few days."
"Deal," Sirius said, and he stuck out his hand to shake. Mia shook it, and then he pulled her in for a hug. "I'm so glad you're safe." They separated. "Alright, where is the kid?"
Mia smiled. "I told him he could have Remus's old room."
Sirius rolled his eyes and went to get Remus. Mia turned to Gabe to see what he thought. "Do you think I'm being stupid trusting him?"
"Who, Draco or Sirius?" Mia grinned and elbowed him. Gabe smiled softly. "You have a big heart, Mia. It's one of the things I love about you." He pulled her close and held her. "I trust your instincts."
"But they were wrong about Snape," she said softly so her voice didn't crack. Here, in the safety of the Hospital wing and Gabe's arms, her adrenalin was finally crashing, and the shock of the night was seeping in. She wanted to find somewhere quiet to cry and let out all of the tension, sadness and fear of the night.
Gabe didn't say anything. They had all been wrong about Snape.
Dumbledore's phoenix set off into the night, flying through the sky, and singing into the darkness. It felt like the music was inside of her, an expression of her own pain radiating out, until the phoenix finally disappeared over the forest.
All lessons were suspended, and exams were postponed till after the funeral. Parents came to pick kids up, some kids refused, arguing through the halls. Apparently Hogsmeade was packed with wizards who arrived to pay their respects. Madame Maxime arrived in her powder blue carriage, the minister of magic, and a delegation of officials were staying in guest rooms in the castle.
Mia cried at the funeral, and so did Gabe. Her tears were so constant, she worried they would never stop, till she shriveled up, dry and dehydrated. She knew so many faces in the audience, members of the Order, the Hogwarts Express trolly lady, and so many more. The centaurs came, the merpeople sang, and then in a flash of flames, the marble table Dumbledore was laid on was sealed.
Her father found her afterwards, and hugged her by the edge of the lake, his own eyes red from crying. He told her Draco was safe and had provided them with better info than they could have imagined. They were working on getting a message to his mom, but it would take some time.
Her last few days at school passed too quickly. There were fears the school wouldn't re open again, and when they finally had to leave and head home for summer, Mia worried she would never see the castle that had been home for so long, ever again.
AN: Only 3 more chapters to go! Prepare yourselves!