As they came to the landing at the top of the stairs to the dungeons, Crabbe, Goyle, and he shuffled themselves into the evacuating students. He had seen Potter head up the stairs along with all of the students. He still wasn't entirely sure what his plan was, but they needed Potter. It seemed that was the only real option he had. A full-on battle against the Dark Lord was the apex of death wishes. There was a very good reason that the Dark Lord was still around; he was thus far impossible to kill. And he would not rest until all of his opposition was eliminated. That left Draco with only one thing he could think of that would keep him alive. Hand Harry Potter over to the Dark Lord. Then, his family would return to some damaged favor and be spared.
At the doors to the Great Hall he saw Remington. She stood by herself, her bright blue eyes fixed somewhere inside the Hall. There were large sleep circles beneath her eyes. She had been on for the first rounds of the night, he remembered. Not that he had been paying attention. His hands tensed into fists and he turned to go up the stairs. He couldn't talk to Remington. Not now, not with his decision to capture and turn over The Chosen One. She probably had no desire to speak with him, either.
He was about to ascend the first step when he heard his name. Goyle looked back at him, but Draco looked straight ahead. Maybe she'd-
"Draco!" Remington's voice reached him again.
-Or not…
"I'll meet you on the seventh floor." He said to Goyle under his breath before turning and pushing through the crowd – which wasn't really that hard to do since most people veered out of his way – to where Rem was at the edge of the swarm of evacuating students.
"Alvers, I really don't have time-" He started to say, his tone carefully even.
"I love you." She said suddenly, meeting his gaze almost pleadingly. "And I'm stupid. Really, really stupid-"
He couldn't do this right now. His guards would crumble at any moment if he didn't get away from her. But as it were, she couldn't see a crack in the walls he had up, no sign of response in his expression. She was losing hope, and maybe it was for the best-
No, if he did this – if he handed over Potter, and if anyone saw Remington fighting, she would likely be high on the list of those the Dark Lord would decide weren't worth keeping around. It wasn't as if she were hard to recognize, with her telltale scar. And if she were to fight… Those she would battle would surely have no mercy for her. She would never evacuate, he knew. Especially since she called off their engagement.
The only sign of his contemplation was a muscle that jumped in his jaw.
"Draco-" She prompted, her eyebrows creased and a defeated look in her eyes. "I'm sorry, please-"
"We don't have time for this-" He started to say, pulling his hand away as she reached for it.
"That's just it," She said, her tone suddenly growing sharp, determined. As he pulled his hand away from her, she instead reached up and pressed her hands to the sides of his face, forcing his attention on her. "Do you forgive me or not, Draco?"
No, he couldn't do this right now-
He grabbed her wrists and brought them back down to their sides. "On one condition, Alvers," He said, "You get the hell out of this place."
"I can't do that." She told him regretfully. "You know I can't."
"Miss Alvers!" Professor McGonagall's voice called her attention over to where the woman was standing near the doors to the Great Hall. She beckoned Rem over.
Remington looked back at Draco, "Stay here," She told him, giving him a severe look. His brows arched, but he didn't say anything as she turned to walk the few yards over to McGonagall. She noticed Fay nearby, speaking with Seamus, their heads close together.
"Miss Alvers, I have the understanding you're notably skilled in Charms." McGonagall commented.
"I- ah," Rem began.
"As it appears you and Miss Dunbar are not to be separated, I think it best for you to join one of the groups at the towers." Professor McGonagall told her.
"Alright, I-" She looked over her shoulder to where she had left Draco, but he was gone. She really shouldn't have been surprised. Her heart felt as though someone were squeezing it, like the muscles there were tight and sore. "Which group do you suggest, Professor?"
"I would suggest joining Pomona," McGonagall began. "She is a brilliant witch, but never did she excel in charms."
Remington nodded and walked over to Fay and Seamus. They looked up as she approached. "We're going with Professor Sprout." She said, looking at Fay, then glancing at Seamus.
"I'm blowing up the wooden bridge by the clock tower." Seamus remarked.
Rem looked at Seamus. She couldn't imagine a better job for him to do.
"Malfoy?" Fay asked quietly.
She drew in a deep breath. "He's still upset with me, and I'm near certain he's going to do something probably horrible, and there's nothing I can do about it." She said, her eyes flicking to meet the other girl's. "So for now, let's focus on not dying."
