In the Shadows: A Tale of Silver and Gold

by ugahill

A DracoGinny ficlet, with a thin line between love and hate...

5. The Battle Begins

In the Shadows: A Tale of Silver and Gold (in seven parts)

Chapter V: The Battle Begins

"This is an extremely serious allegation, Harry. Is Mister Malfoy certain that his sources are correct?" asked Professor Dumbledore. His office still held the same unique, quirky gadgets, but there were a few missing here and there—a result of Harry's temper last year. He still felt a little justified, at finally getting Dumbledore to explain everything, but a great deal more guilty than anything else. On his perch near Dumbledore's desk, Fawkes was watching Harry with interest.
Harry nodded. "I think he was sincere, Professor. And the owls seem to confirm his suspicions. But has nothing been noticed at the Ministry? A great army of Dementors would most certainly be noticed, wouldn't they?"
"It would seem so. But the Death Eaters have a strange way of managing to surprise the Ministry—and others, including the Order of the Phoenix."
"Then…how will we know for certain? What should we do?"
"For now, I will have all classes cancelled until the end of the day, and someone outside of the school can confirm it."
"And if you're unable to reach someone outside the school?"
Dumbledore gazed at him over the rim of his glasses, looking grave. "Then I believe that shall be enough confirmation. Tell the Prefects in your House to gather the First and Second years—they'll be placed in the Great Hall for the time being, and at noon, when the Floo in Slytherin is supposed to be opened, we'll take them down to the dungeons. I'll have the other Heads of House tell their students the same. We'll take no chances, especially if this plan has been formulated by Bellatrix Lestrange."
Harry nodded, and rose, gathering his things. He paused at the door. "Sir…why would Voldemort want to destroy the school? What motivation could he have?"
The Headmaster heaved a sigh. "None, Harry. None. Voldemort's ancestor was Salazar Slytherin—he would have neither desire nor reason to attack the school directly. And as you and I both know, he prefers not to sully his own hands with open warfare. Either this is an intricate plot to find a way to get to you—and perhaps myself—or this has nothing to do with Voldemort at all."
Harry's eyes widened. "Then…this might be just Bellatrix…on her own?"
"Yes. And if that is the case, then things may be much more serious than we originally feared."
"More serious than Voldemort?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Voldemort has a reason to see you alive—so that he can kill you. Bellatrix Lestrange has no such motivations."

Ginny gazed out the windows of Gryffindor Tower, watching as Hagrid and Professor McGonagall hurried down the winding slope towards the lake. Something strange was going on. All students had been called to their dormitories, and told to wait there until they were informed by prefects, Head students or Head of House as to what was going on.
And now, their own Head of House was making her way to the lake…
Everyone turned as the portrait hole swung open, and Harry walked into the room.
"Harry," asked Hermione, jumping up from her chair. "What's wrong? Where have you been?"
Ron stood up beside her. "What happened?"
"Ron, Hermione…Ginny…" he motioned for them to join him.
They made their way over to a nook in the corner, the other Gryffindors watching them suspiciously. Harry leaned in, his voice low.
"I've just been with Professor Dumbledore. There's a possibility the school…the school might be attacked."
"WHAT?" cried Ron, startling the crowd.
"Quiet!" Harry hissed. "We don't know for certain…but Dumbledore wants to go ahead and start taking precautions."
"The owls…" Hermione murmured. "The repelling spells."
"You mean Loony Lovegood was right?"
"Possibly. According to Malfoy, the Floo network and the field of apparation have also been altered."
"Malfoy? " Ginny cried.
"Field of Apparition—what's that?" asked Ron.
"It's the distance outside of Hogwarts to which a wizard can apparate. Like a protection…no wizard can apparate within a certain number of miles of the Hogwarts gate," explained Hermione. "But…how?"
"Malfoy?" Ginny asked again.
Harry nodded at her. "Malfoy was the one who told me…and told me to tell Dumbledore. According to him, this has been set up by…"
"Voldemort?" said Hermione.
Ron jumped. "Do you always have to say that name?"
Hermione opened her mouth to respond, but Harry interrupted her. "It would seem so, but Malfoy seemed to think it was his aunt who was behind all of it—Bellatrix Lestrange." His last few words came out somewhat garbled, and he realized he was wringing his robes rather violently.
Ginny collapsed into a nearby armchair. "Bellatrix…"
"You don't seemed surprised," said Ron suspiciously.
"But…what are we going to do if the rumour is true?" asked Hermione, ignoring him. "If no wizards can get here…and they don't suspect anything's amiss..."
"If they can't get in contact with their children, I'm certain they'll suspect something's up. Think about it…if Hedwig, Pig…they can't get through, they'll return to where they came from. Professor Lupin, Fred and George…they'd all know something was wrong."
"If she hasn't done something to the owls themselves," Ron whispered, looking grave.
Harry felt a flutter of panic at the thought of Hedwig, subject to the mercy of Bellatrix Lestrange. "Come on. We have to let the Gryffindors know, and get the First Years down to the Great Hall. Malfoy said the Slytherin Floo would be open starting at noon, to allow the Slytherins time to leave. Dumbledore says we can use that one for the younger students."
They nodded, looking slightly panicked, but turned to leave, all except Ginny, who remained in the armchair. Harry bent down to her. "Ginny…"
"He should have said something sooner…he's known about this since yesterday, I know he has. Well, at least we know what he meant now…'its on your head…'"
"Ginny, its amazing he said anything at all. He told me, of anybody. Not Snape, not Dumbledore, not the other Slytherins…me. And he told me for your sake, at least, so he says."
"My sake?" she looked up to him. "He actually said that?"
Harry nodded.
"And…you don't think this is some kind of trap?"
He paused for a moment, remembering Malfoy's somewhat lost expression. "No, Ginny. I think this is sincere. A verifiable 'wizard's debt.'"
Ginny's eyes widened. "Wizard's debt?"
He shrugged, but grinned at her. "That's what he told me."
"And you think he's being truthful?"
"I don't think much of Draco Malfoy, Ginny. But this time…" he shook his head. "This time even I believed him. And that should say something for him, however little it might be."
She smiled slightly, then frowned. "Still…he should have said something."
"Yeah, he probably should have." But he offered no other comments, or, more importantly, criticisms.
She looked a little more certain, and after a moment, rose. "I'll go and help the other prefects then."
Hermione was gathering the First and Second Years around her, most of whom wore looks of uncertainty and panic on their faces. The remainder of the Gryffindor students were watching Harry with trepidation.
"So then…if the only the First and Second Years are going to go, what's our lot?" asked Lavender Brown.
"Isn't it obvious? We're going to fight," replied Seamus Finnegan, pulling out his wand. "When do we go to battle?"
"Battle?" said Hermione, shaking her head. "We're going to do as Professor Dumbledore instructs, and stay here."
"But the Professors…"
"We will wait and see what the Professor have to say," said Hermione forcefully. "But no talk of 'battles' or anything else until we know for certain." She nodded to a few of the Third years, who were watching the exchange with wide eyes.
Seamus lowered his wand, looking slightly disappointed. "Right, then."
She gathered the first group of students, leading them out through the portrait hole. Ginny gathered a second group, and Ron a third. Harry watched them leave, his mind a whirl of thoughts. If they had to fight…could they?
A few of the upperclassman were sitting down at the tables, looking utterly bewildered and extremely frightened. Some of them had been in the training sessions for Dumbledore's Army last year. Most had mastered the Patronus spell. But working with Boggarts, under the watchful eye of Hogwarts students, was nothing compared to facing a real Dementor. Much less an army of them.
He could only hope Dumbledore would be able to find a way to stop this.

Draco leaned up against the stone wall of the Slytherin Common Room, watching the rest of the gathered Slytherins impatiently. Snape had called the meeting right after classes had been let out; he knew exactly why, but was still wondering what the course of action would be.
At least Potter hadn't wasted any time.
Professor Snape breezed into the common room, his usual black robes looking slightly unkempt. "Professor Dumbledore has informed the teachers that there is a distinct possibility Hogwarts shall be attacked tonight."
The entire common room gasped, then burst into a collection of whispers. Professor Snape waited patiently for a moment. "Gather yourselves, please. The Headmaster has instructed that all First and Second Years are to follow their prefects to the Great Hall; the rest of you will remain here and wait for further instruction."
"But what is it, Professor Snape?" asked Avery. "What is the attack going to be?"
"Again, we're uncertain, Mr. Avery, but according to the Headmaster's sources, it appears to be Dementors."
"Dementors!"
"But…why would they attack us? They'd have no cause, especially not Slytherin."
"I bet it's Potter," sneered Zack Tolbert.
"Right. Well, we should just chuck him out in front of the gates—he and his little friends. Then we wouldn't have to worry about anything."
"Before you entertain ideas of human sacrifice," growled the Potions Master, crossing his arms, "I would remind you that Dementors neither know nor care of the distinction between pure-blood and mixed-blood. And they have no clue as to the importance of Harry Potter—who, I've been informed, is not the cause of this particular attack, at least not directly—and as such, they won't be searching for him. That being said, the army that has been amassed won't know the distinction between anyone here. All they know is that life means souls, whether they be Slytherin, Gryffindor, or any other House.
"Further, the attack is an attack on this school. From what precautions have been set up by the person behind this plan, it appears that no part of the school will be safe—except for here." He motioned to the Slytherin's great fireplace.
"Here? Slytherin House? Then it's an attack by the Dark Lord, then," said Pansy, before clapping a hand over her mouth.
Snape's eyes narrowed. No Slytherin had ever dared mention the Dark Lord in Snape's presence, although it was generally assumed that he, like many of their parents, bore the Dark Mark. Lucius Malfoy had once said it did no one any good for Death Eaters outside their respective meeting circles to acknowledge one another; wizarding pride, and a greater risk of getting caught, were two reasons all who followed the Dark Lord remained anonymous. Further, in a place like Hogwarts, there was no telling who might be listening. Not with Dumbledore and his army of House Elves around. And Draco had just learnt of what House Elves were really capable.
"You will not mention that name here. EVER," spat the Professor, and Pansy nodded meekly, sinking into her chair. Most of the other Slytherins watched the floor, unable to look at him. "There is no reason to assume Lord Voldemort is behind this, although the Headmaster will treat it with the same degree of urgency as if it had been. The Slytherin common room, for some unknown reason, bears a working Floo; because of that, all First and Second years from every House will be using it this afternoon, starting at noon, until everyone is safely away."
This started another round of exclamations.
"WHAT?"
"But…Professor! All of the Houses will know Slytherin's location!"
"We can't let them in here!"
"Would you prefer them all die, then, and have that be on your heads?" Snape questioned.
Again, the Slytherins grew quiet.
"I expect there shall be no difficulty, then, for any of the other Houses. The first round of students will be the Slytherin First and Second years; for now, they need to make their way to the Great Hall, but someone will come to escort you back before noontime. The rest of you, take this opportunity to brush up on your Defenses skills, as there is a slight possibility you might be needing them later." He whirled around, towards the entrance.
"And don't view this as some sort of prank. I expect each and every one of you to see this as a most serious threat. And to be prepared for it."
The wall slid shut. Pansy and some of the other House Prefects began to gather a few of the First and Second years together, but Millicent Bulstrode and Theodore Nott marched over to where Malfoy stood in the shadows.
"You knew about this, didn't you, Draco? " Milly spat. "It was you who told Dumbledore."
"No, it wasn't," replied Draco truthfully. "But yes, I did know about this." He moved from the wall, trying to push through them. Pansy was watching him, betrayal etched on her face.
"Then why didn't you say something last night?" asked Teddy. "We might have…"
"Might have what? Tried to get away?"
"No…we might have tried to find a way to help them."
Draco spun around, grabbing Nott by his robes and thrusting him up against the wall. "Did you not hear what Snape said, you fool? This isn't the Dark Lord. This is an army of Dementors. This has nothing to do with the Death Eaters."
"How do you know?"
"Because I was there. I overheard my aunt telling my mother exactly what she was planning."
"Your aunt?" asked Milly. "Then, its Bella who's planning this?"
"Yes, its Bella who's planning this. Apparently, without regard for any of the other Death Eaters. If it hadn't been for my mother, none of us would have known that this was coming, and none of us was going to have a way out.. She was going to attack without regard for any of your parents. She would have let you die."
"But…she wouldn't do that. The Dark Lord…she wouldn't do that," sniffed a Second year. "She can't."
"She can…and she is. Now go on and do what Professor Snape and Dumbledore command." He released Teddy. "This is for our safety as well as that of the other students."
He marched to the head of a line of First Years. "Come on, then."

Ginny ushered the last few First Years into the Great Hall. As she'd seen happen countless times before, the Hall was empty of the long tables that usually occupied it, and was instead a completely open room, with only chairs to accommodate the groups of First and Second years entering it. The Gryffindors retreated to the a sunny portion of the room, gathering together and talking amongst themselves quietly.
"Go on. Professor Snape should be in here shortly."
Ginny turned; Draco had paused by the doors to allow his students to move past him, headed for the furthest corner in the Great Hall, near the doorway the Professors often used. When the last one had entered, he crossed the doorways, moving towards her.
She turned around and headed back towards the main staircases. He's the last person I need to see…
"Wait a minute," he called after her, dodging around a pack of Ravenclaw First years who had just arrived.
She whirled around, her hair flying out around her, facing him but not stopping. "You knew. You knew about this the whole time. That's why you wanted me to go home to the Burrow."
A few more lines of younger students were making their way to the doors, including another line of Slytherins, led by a Seventh Year Prefect who was watching them with interest.
Draco caught up to her, grabbed her arm, and hustled her around the corner. "I knew, but forgive me for not thinking of it at the time, as my immediate concern was getting you out of my house and away from my aunt!"
"We were safe in that part of the house! You could have told me then…or after the Slytherin common room…"
"I tried, remember! If it hadn't been for that half-wit of a brother of yours…"
"My brother is not a half-wit!" she cried, yanking her arm out of his grasp. "And at least he would have been honest from the start! You had to wait until what…this morning before you told someone about this? Why couldn't you have done it last night? Or…when you were in the hospital wing? Snape…Dumbledore…somebody! "
She lowered her head. "But you didn't. You waited until we were all in greater danger."
"I didn't wait, not exactly," he retorted. "I tried to tell you then—in the Hospital Wing—but you wouldn't listen. You kept going on about Muggle-borns and pure-bloods and asking questions I never should have answered. And even then I wasn't sure about it…not until my Mother sent an owl letting me know it was real."
"And then?"
"I told Potter about it first thing."
"You should have gone to Snape the moment you found out it was true, if not before. Last night, we could still get into Hogwarts! Which means others could have gotten out again. But something…that blasted pride of yours—or your hatred towards those muggles you find so loathsome—stopped you from making the right decision."
"I didn't wait because of that! I don't want the school destroyed either!" he cried.
"Then why?"
Draco stared for a moment.
Ginny shook her head. "'Its on your head.' You were sentencing me to death, Draco. And you didn't even care."
"I was angry. I didn't mean it. And you were the reason I told Potter in the first place!"
She continued on, ignoring him. "And after everything I told you last night. I should have listened to you then. You know, you were right. People really can't change. Not even the little that might matter." She moved away from him.
"That's not true. You were…" he reached for her retreating hand…and paused, eyes widening. "What's this?"
He flipped her hand over. On the palm, the snake that had been cut into it was still there, less prominent, and smooth, as though it had been healed over, but still present.
"N-nothing!" she said, trying to pull her hand out of his grasp.
"Why did you do this? Why didn't you follow Madam Pomfrey's instructions? She told you to leave those bandages on all night!"
"I—I forgot!" she said, her voice strangled and high-pitched. "They must have slipped off while I was sleeping."
"Ginny…"
"It doesn't matter anyway!" she cried, yanking her hand from his grasp. "It means nothing now."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing. The boy who gave me this…who I got this for…he was an illusion, remember?" she spat. "He doesn't exist. He's back where he belongs." She tapped the small silver badge, which was clipped once more to his robes. "Exactly where he belongs."
His eyes moved from the silver pin on his robes, to the one on hers. "You're probably right."
Her face twisted. "I don't ever want to see you again, Draco Malfoy. And thanks to you," she added, "I probably won't." She turned and headed back towards the Great Hall, leaving him alone and astounded in the middle of the corridor.

Harry waited patiently in the Gryffindor Common Room, watching the wind blow across the lake through one of the windows. The grounds were so peaceful, and quiet, it seemed impossible to think that something as dangerous as Dementors might be attacking it tonight.
Hermione was in a corner, attempting to teach the Patronus spell to the few Gryffindors who hadn't been members of the DA in either year it had been around, or who were having difficulty mastering the spell. Ron was pacing back and forth, twirling his wand through his fingers, and mouthing something that looked suspiciously like "think happy thoughts."
The portrait hole swung open, and Ginny entered, looking a bit shaken and very red.
Ron stopped his pacing and came over to her. "You're late. Is everything all right?"
"The First and Second Years are tucked away in the Hall," she said briskly, marching over to one of the desks and pulling out a bandage. "Hermione, do you still have some of that essence of murtlap you used on Harry last year?"
Hermione looked up from her little group, only a few of whom had successfully managed a puff of silver in the past half-hour. "Yes, it's upstairs in the dormitory cabinet."
Ginny trotted off to the girls staircase, sending Ron back to his pacing. When she returned, she had her left palm wrapped in a bandage.
"Are you feeling alright, Ginny?" Harry asked, moving towards her.
"Perfectly fine," she returned, taking a seat in one of the armchairs, where she picked up a book and proceeded to read it upside down.
The portrait hole swung open.
The Gryffindors turned as Professor McGonagall made her way into the room. Her hat, which she normally wore at all times, was in her hands, bent completely out of shape.
"The Headmaster has just informed us that it appears the attack will take place. There has been no contact with anyone outside the school, and every attempt we have made has been blocked by Hogwarts' own defensive spells. No owls, no Floo, and no ability to apparate. There is no word on whether anyone outside the school is aware of what is going on, other than, perhaps, someone at the Ministry…but there is no one we can spare to find out."
"What about Hogsmeade?" questioned Hermione. "Why don't we try and send someone down there?"
"Hagrid and I journeyed to Hogsmeade early this morning. All of the owl posts have been cut off, and the wizards down there have no ability to apparate at all. And it appears that a repelling curse has been placed upon the borders to the town, because anyone who tries to leave it falls into a deep slumber that would take a very strong revival potion to break. We suspect that the same thing would happen to any professor who tries to go within a few miles of the gates of Hogwarts."
"So, we're trapped?" said Ron.
Professor McGonagall didn't answer.
"What about the House Elves?" Harry asked. Dobby didn't use the same kinds of magic that wizards did. "Can't they get through?"
"We've asked them, but it seems their powers, as well as those of the centaurs, the ghosts, and even the paintings, have been stifled somehow. They don't have the ability to apparate outside of the school. We've sent a few of them outside the castle, to try and make it out on foot, but they are so little thought of it's a wonder that anyone would believe them, if they do reach help in time."
"So, now what do we do?" asked Ginny.
"We will do as we planned," said the Professor, looking pale. "We shall send the First and Second Years through the Slytherin Floo first, then begin on the Third years and going on, until the Seventh years are out. The professors, meanwhile, will take up defenses around the castle and try and hold them off long enough to allow the students to escape."
"Just you…by yourselves?" asked Hermione, her eyes wide.
"Some of the wizards of Hogsmeade have agreed to come up to the castle to help…but yes, Miss Granger, it appears we have no other choice."
"We can help," said Harry. A few of the other Gryffindors stood up behind him, nodding.
"No, Potter. We're not putting any of the students in unnecessary danger. All we can hope is that the Floo works fast enough to get you all out before nightfall."
"But Professor…"
"I don't want to hear another word about anything even remotely close to 'helping,' Miss Granger. You'll be headed to a safe place long before the Dementors come anywhere near Hogwarts."
"But…"
"IS THAT CLEAR, MISTER WEASLEY?"
"Yes, Professor."

At exactly noon, Professor Snape marched in the first line of First Years, a group of Slytherin girls, all of whom looked excited and nervous about the upcoming trip.
Draco had resumed his position in the shadows along the wall, leaning back against the tapestries. Ginny's words still ran through his mind.
I don't ever want to see you again…
He shook his head. He would never be rid of that girl's voice, now.
Not as if he wanted to be.
He heaved a frustrated sigh, and tried to push Ginny and his own traitorous thoughts out of his mind. Professor Snape led the girls to the fireplace, which was now lined with dozens of buckets of Floo powder. According to his Mother, the Floo should be open now, and the Slytherin fireplace was large enough to provide traveling space for up to three of the younger students, and two of the older. Hopefully, there would be enough Floo powder to last through all of the groups, although he and a few others had volunteered to go and fetch some from their houses if needed.
The Potions Master pointed at the first girl, a scrawny, trembling little thing with two rather unkempt brown braids. She leapt as he motioned to the fireplace, and scrambled through the iron grating into the massive hearth.
The Professor stared at her in frustration. "Would you like to collect some Floo powder, Miss Davenport?"
She squeaked something that sounded like an affirmation, then grabbed a handful and threw it over herself.
"Whitehall Way!"
The powder shimmered to the ground, dusting the little girl in green, glittering residue. She stared at the Potions Master with frightened eyes, as though she'd been the one to make the error. The rest of the Slytherins turned to the Professor, looking worried.
Professor Snape ordered her out of the fire, then turned to Draco, who lifted himself up and strode over the mantle.
"Its supposed to be open," he said, handing Professor Snape the note his mother had sent him the evening before. "At noon."
The Professor studied the note with some interest, then turned to Draco, an eyebrow raised beneath his folds of dark hair. "Try to go home. To the Manor."
Draco immediately strode into the fire, seizing a handful of Floo powder from one of the buckets. "Malfoy Manor."
He dropped the powder into the grating, where it wafted slowly down, not a spark of green flame lighting beneath it. He shook his head at the Professor, completely astounded.
"I don't know what…"
"I believe I do." He leaned in so only Draco could hear. "Your aunt has interfered with your mother's plans."
Draco's eyes widened. "But…she can't…my mother…"
"You aunt will do whatever she can to ensure the events tonight shall not be interrupted. Even if it means defying your mother, and others…" his tone sharpened at the last word, "Once they find out, it will be to late for them to stop it. Or stop her."
"So, what do we do now?" interrupted Blaise Zabini.
Professor Snape looked slightly annoyed. "All the Prefects will gather their First and Second Years back to the dormitories. It will be easier for the Heads of Houses to update you this way. I'm going to speak to the Headmaster about the Floo…we'll see if we cannot get this sorted out somehow."
Draco watched as he swooped out of the Slytherin entrance, then turned, to where the other students were eyeing him, some of them rather darkly. As though he had betrayed them.
"What the carp, Draco?" asked Joya Mannan, a Slytherin seventh year. "I thought the Slytherins were supposed to be protected."
"They were," he replied. "It appears that someone has changed the plans."
"Why would she do that?" asked Goyle. "Why would a Death Eater risk the lives of those who would follow in her footsteps?"
"Well, this particular Death Eater doesn't tend to look at things sensibly, does she?"
Avery's eyes lit up. "Our parents will massacre her."
"Do you think she cares?" Draco said angrily, spinning on them. "All Bellatrix Lestrange cares about is making sure Potter and Dumbledore are dead, and making sure Hogwarts is destroyed. So what possible motivation would she have to make sure all the rest of us survive?"
The entire common room had gone silent, the First and Second Years trembling, the rest staring at him with a mixture of incredulity and horror.
"So…the Dark Lord…really doesn't know?" asked Nott.
"Why would he?" sighed Draco wearily. "Attacking Hogwarts is the last thing he would consider doing, if everything Potter claims is true. He's been very careful about avoiding Dumbledore, and getting others to do his work for him. Like your dad. And mine."
Nott lowered his head.
"Attacking Hogwarts would be a foolhardy move on his part," said Millicent, looking more frightened than Draco had ever seen her. "So, then…what now? Even if we had some way of letting him or the other Death Eaters know, its not like they can stop her. No one can stop her."
"We can stop her," said Jonah Santiago, another Seventh Year.
"What?"
"We can stop her. Most of the Sixth and Seventh Years can do a Patronus spell, and even a few of the Fifth Years. And many others learned those countercurses at home. We could help the teachers."
Blaise started to laugh. "Us? Helping Dumbledore? Have you gone completely mad?"
"Why not?" said Jonah defensively. "If we don't, we could all die. Do you think your parents—or rather, the Death Eaters—would be upset if we tried to save our own lives rather than die for Bellatrix?"
"What do you mean, our parents?" snarled Millicent. "You're in Slytherin too."
"Not all of us are in Slytherin because our parents are Death Eaters. Mine are pure-bloods, but that's all. I was jut better suited for Slytherin than anywhere else."
"Even so," said Blaise, staring at Jonah uncertainly, "there absolutely no way that I, or any other respectable Slytherin, would lend Dumbledore, or Potter, a hand in this."
"But…"
"She's right," said Draco. "Dumbledore has never asked our help, and I personally don't want to assist that goody-goody Potter or his friends."
"But what about Professor Snape? He'll be out there, fighting, just like the rest of them. And he told us to be prepared."
"He wanted us to be prepared in case the Dementors get past them," Draco replied. "If the others students want to kill themselves, they can. The rest of us will stay in here, defend our common room if need be, and wait until its over."
I should have listened to what you said. People really can't change…
"That's more like our Malfoy," said Millicent with a grin. "We were getting worried there for a little while."
He returned her smile, twirling his wand between his fingertips. All the while Ginny's disappointed, tear-streaked face raced through his mind.

Professor McGonagall returned to Gryffindor a few hours later, pallid, with trembling lips.
"The Floo in Slytherin House is not working. The Headmaster has asked that all students return to their dormitories."
"What? " cried Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"But…Malfoy told me…"
"The fault is not Mister Malfoy's, if that is what you're wondering, Potter. It appears that there was a mix up of which not even he was aware."
"So then," said Ron hoarsely, "there's the chance we're all…"
"You are to remain in Gryffindor until the Professors come for you," said McGonagall swiftly, drowning him out. "Which is likely to be sometime after the battle has ceased. You are to remain here—and do not leave the tower—is that understood?"
"But Professor…"
"THERE IS TO BE A CHARM PLACED ON THESE ROOMS FOR YOUR OWN PROTECTION, MISTER POTTER, AND I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR YOU ARGUING WITH ME RIGHT NOW IS THAT CLEAR?"
Harry backed away slightly. "Of course, not, Professor. I was just wondering if it might not be safer to take the other students to a more well protected portion of the castle."
"There are no places safer in Hogwarts than the dormitories. They have concealment charms on them already, to prevent intrusions by other students, and the charms we're looking to do should cloak them almost completely."
"But it won't conceal the students inside," said Hermione meekly, staring at McGonagall in trepidation. "The Dementors will still be able to sense the souls."
"This is the best protection we can provide, Miss Granger. There is nothing else…"
"What about the Chamber of Secrets?" Harry asked.
The Professor turned to him. "What did you say, Mister Potter?"
"You could use the Chamber of Secrets. It wasn't damaged during the battle with the Basilisk. And since the "monster" has been gone for a couple of years…"
McGonagall pursed her lips. "Dumbledore has address the Chamber of Secrets issue, as well as the Third Floor corridor and the Room of Requirement. And concluded that none of them were as safe as the dormitories. Therefore…you will all wait here until I return…and DO NOT LEAVE FOR ANYTHING, IS THAT CLEAR?!"
"Yes, Professor," they echoed.
She turned, exiting through the portrait hole.
"The Chamber of Secrets," muttered Ron, shaking his head. "Whatever possessed you to think of that?"
"I dunno," replied Harry. "I was just thinking of all the places we've been in the past, trying to figure which one is safest. The Marauder's Map wouldn't really help us, because all the tunnels come out to Hogsmeade and McGonagall said Hogsmeade's been placed under the same spell restrictions."
"Still," said Hermione thoughtfully, "at least they're a way out. If we could lead the students down into the tunnels, the Dementors might not be able to catch them—especially if they've already passed by Hogsmeade."
"They'd find them eventually," said Ron. "If they didn't find them in the school, they'd locate them somehow. They're Dementors. They don't need eyes."
She frowned. "Well, that's positive."
"I'm trying to be realistic."
"Well, we don't need 'realistic.' We need hopeful, Ron."
Ginny listened to them quarrel back and forth. All the places we've been…
"Harry, may I borrow your invisibility cloak?" said Ginny quietly.
"What?" he asked, his eyes widening. "How did you…"
"Ron talks in his sleep. And, well…the twins have all sorts of methods of spying."
Ron stopped arguing with Hermione for a moment, and glared at her.
"Why?"
"You mentioned something…you know, I don't wonder if maybe Malfoy's mom got the Floo's mixed up. The divination one was open yesterday…perhaps it was the one his Mum's contact opened again. I want to go and check it over."
"Perhaps I should go instead," said Harry.
"You don't have to do everything, Harry," Ginny replied.
"I don't do everything!" he retorted. He glanced at Hermione and Ron, who had stopped arguing for a moment. Ron was doing his best to look disinterested, but Hermione had her arms crossed, a rather tentative expression on her face. "Well, Harry, you do have something of a…"
"Hero's complex, " Harry snapped, before she could finish. "I know."
"Besides," Ginny said, "if McGonagall returns, you're the first person she'll notice as missing, and you'll get into a great deal of trouble. If I'm gone, you can tell her I'm upstairs or something. She'll believe you."
Hermione looked slightly unconvinced of this, and Harry pursed his lips, as though he were trying to think of an excuse. Surprisingly, it was Ron who acted, shaking his head and marching across the room to the boy's staircase. He returned a few moments later with the invisibility cloak tucked under his robes.
While Hermione and Harry watched him with mouths opened, he leaned over to Ginny, whispering, "don't put it on until you're beyond the view of the Fat Lady. You had better be back her in no less than fifteen minutes, or I'm coming after you."
"Right," she said, grinning.
They walked over to the portrait hole. "If anyone misses you," said Ron, "I'll tell them you're in the loo."
She nodded, pushing open the painting. The Fat Lady watched her with an eyebrow raised. "And where are you off to? Professor McGonagall said that you have to remain inside the Tower.
"The lavatory," said Ginny calmly, winking at Ron. The Fat Lady eyed her suspiciously, but said nothing more. Behind her, Ginny could hear Hermione whisper, "Do you think this is a good idea?"
"Ginny can handle herself," Ron replied. "Maybe she'll find something out that will help us."
Ginny grinned, covering herself with the cloak the moment she was around the corner.

The Divination classroom smelled of thick, pungent spices and aromatic herbs; sure signs that Professor Trelawney had returned. The fire, however, was unlit, and there was no sign of the retired instructor; she might have been locked away behind her decorative, bead-draped door.
Ginny moved swiftly to the fireplace, then blanched.
She hadn't brought any Floo powder.
She searched around the hearth, hoping Madam Trelawney might keep some about, but there was nothing, not even a bit of the spare powder Draco had dropped the night before.
Draco…
She shook her head, trying to clear him out of her mind. He was the last thing she needed to be thinking about, at this point. But the memory of his face, smiling at her, or gazing down at her in confusion—it was hard to erase. He'd seemed so torn—and yet this morning he was the Malfoy she'd despised for so long…
He has so many faces…which one is real?
The trapdoor swung open; Ginny jumped, scrambling for a place to hide before realizing that the intruder would more than likely not be able to see her. She folded back against the wall, hugging the Invisibility Cloak to her.
Draco Malfoy's silver-blond head peeped through the opening. Ginny felt the blood rise to her cheeks.
Of all people, why him?
He glanced about the classroom, checking, probably, for signs of Madam Trelawney. He then moved inside, walking casually over to the fireplace, and whisking out his same small bag of Floo powder. He tossed the powder in, muttering "Malfoy Manor."
It sparkled and fluttered to the ground, but brought no green flames.
"Folly," he whispered, laying his forehead on the mantle. "Why does it have to be like this? Why can't it all be normal again?"
"That's what I'd like to know," she said, yanking off the invisibility cloak and stuffing it under her robes.
"BLOODY HE—" he whirled about, knocking a few of the Professor's cups off the top of the hearth. His wand was already in his hand. "What…"
He paused as he caught sight of her. "Ginny? "
There was the sound of shattering glass, and a rather hoarse, high-pitched wail from somewhere behind Madam Trelawney's office door.
Ginny glanced at him, then bolted for the trapdoor, he doing the same. They sidled down as fast as they could, tearing through halls and staircases until they had gotten as far from the Divination Room as possible.
"What…what were you doing in there?" Draco panted, as she slid down against the stone wall.
"The same thing as you," she replied, trying to catch her breath. "Checking to see if your mum's contact had made a mistake. But I guess he didn't, did he?"
"He wouldn't have defied my mother. He wouldn't have risked it. My aunt must have interfered, somehow."
"She seems quite good at that," Ginny said, narrowing her eyes.
"Yes," he said, starting to sit down next to her. She quickly rose, careful not to let the Invisibility Cloak slip loose.
He watched her mid-sit. "Where are you going?"
"Back to Gryffindor, of course. I was wrong, I have to let them know that."
"But…"
"But what? You want me to stay and chat? I've nothing more to say to you. I told you that this morning."
"Yeah, I guess you didn't get your wish," he muttered.
"Guess you didn't get yours, " she retorted.
"What?! That stupid insult again?! I told you that was a mistake! I didn't mean it!"
"Oh, really? Then tell me, Draco, what all exactly do you mean? Because I must admit, I'm a bit muddled when it comes to your true intentions—I can't figure out which part of you is the real Draco and which part isn't!!"
"I…" he paused, looking slightly confused. "I honestly don't know."
"You don't know? "
"You've got me all confused!" he shouted, throwing his arms up. "I can't even remember when the last time was that I felt normal! Or comfortable! The Slytherins don't trust me, you don't trust me, Potter doesn't trust me…I'm not even sure I trust myself! All I do know is that I want this to be over with so that everything can go back to the way it was!"
"The way it was. You hating me, I hating you. Is that it?"
"Yes…No!!!"
"Then what?"
"I'm not sure! To be back in Slytherin again and proud of what I am! To hate Potter for all the right reasons! To…to…"
"To stand in the shadows and watch? To do more harm than good? To hurt people intentionally, and take pleasure in it? Well then, you've accomplished that. You can go back to being a Slytherin, and a pure-blood. Go back to your dormitory. Pretend to be brave, like you always do, then hide away until Harry has gone and saved the day. Like he always does."
He flushed red, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
Something inside her told her to stop, but she couldn't. "I should never have believed that there was something good in you, Malfoy. And I did, for a little while. But now I've just ended up disappointed."
"THAT'S RIGHT!" He roared, grabbing her by the shoulders. "BE DISAPPOINTED! LET IT BE POTTER, LIKE IT ALWAYS IS! POTTER THE MAGNIFICENT, WHO ALWAYS SAVES THE DAY! AS IF I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT BEFORE! WELL, LET'S JUST HAVE YOU DO IT TOO! TELL ME I'M NOT AS GOOD AS HIM! TELL ME I'VE NEVER MATCHED UP TO HIM! TELL ME, SO THAT YOU CAN BE LIKE EVERY OTHER BLOODY PERSON I'VE EVER CARED ABOUT IN MY LIFE, WHO ALL THINK I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!"
She stared at him in shock. He lowered his head and released her, turning away. "What does it matter, anyhow, what you or I think? I'm the villain of this piece. I always have been, and I always will be. I'll never be Potter and I don't want to be. Nothing is going to change that."
"You aren't the villain. Voldemort…and you aunt…they're the real villains here. But you don't have to be. I've told you before, you can change."
He snorted. "And how am I to go about that?"
She moved to his side. "Learn to care about something other than yourself. That's all."
His forehead creased. "What?"
"Put something else first…and know it. Not because you think you do, but because you do."
"I already do," he said, crossing his arms, his usual smirk settling back into place. "I care about the Slytherins."
"No, you don't. None of you cares about the other where it would mean putting your life before theirs. Not really."
He shook his head. "Don't try and tell me about the Slytherins, Ginny. I've told you before, you don't understand us. You think you do, but you don't. You want to break it down into good and bad, right and wrong, to make it simple, but its not. You still don't understand. And you never will."
"Then help me to! Explain to me what I don't know."
"I can't. You're not a Slytherin. You would never be able to appreciate what we think or feel. No more than I can understand what you or the other Gryffindors think and feel."
"You're right. You don't know what I feel," she cried, her voice rising. "You don't know how frustrating it is, to see you stand there, and try and figure you out! To try and understand how you can help me, and then abandon me. To try and understand how you can protect me, then pretend that you don't care. To try and understand how I can love you and despise you all at the same time!"
Draco's smirk washed from his face. "What did you say?"
"N-nothing," she said swiftly, her face so red it outshone her hair. "I have to get back to Gryffindor."
"Wait a minute!" He moved around in front of her, putting his hands on her shoulders. "What did you just say?"
"Let me go!"
"Did you just…did you…"
"LET GO!"
There was a loud grinding noise, and the stone gargoyle across the hall suddenly leapt up, revealing a small wooden door, through which, after a moment, Professor Dumbledore walked casually through. He paused at the scene before him, one eyebrow rising, Fawkes, who was perched on his shoulder, tilting his head. Draco released Ginny. She scrambled to pick up the Invisibility Cloak, which had slithered to the floor.
"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Weasley…is anything the matter? Why are you out of your dormitories?"
Both hesitated.
Dumbledore watched them pleasantly, his blue eyes twinkling.
"I…I had to go…find something," Ginny muttered.
"And did you find it?"
"Not quite," she said.
"Well, I believe your search…and yours as well, Mr. Malfoy…will have to wait until tomorrow. For now, it would be safest for you to return to your dormitories."
They both nodded.
"And please, follow the instructions of you Heads of Houses, to ensure your safety. We certainly do not need any more surprises this evening."
"Yes sir," they echoed in unison.
As soon as he had turned the corner, Ginny moved away, heading down the corridor towards the main staircases. Draco moved up next to her.
"Why did you say…that?"
"I didn't mean to," she returned.
"So, you didn't mean it?" he asked, sounding disappointed.
They'd reached the Entrance Hall. She turned to him, surveying his anxious face. "I…I did mean it."
His shoulders dropped, face softening, as though a weight had been lifted from him. "Ginny…"
"But what does it matter now, Draco?" she asked wearily. "It changes nothing."
"Yes, it does. It changes everything." He stepped closer to her, grasping her shoulders, his gray eyes searching her face.
This time, it was she who pulled away. "No, it really doesn't. Like you said yourself, I don't understand you. And if I don't know you now, then I will never be able to. No matter what I feel for you, it won't change that. So why should we even try?"
He said nothing.
She turned sadly, and headed for the steps.
"You're going to fight them, aren't you?" he asked after a moment. "I mean…you, and Potter and the rest…you're going down to the battlefield."
"I don't know," she said truthfully. She didn't turn to him. "But if we do, then I'll be there. That, I can promise you."
"But you might die."
She continued up the steps without looking back. "Goodbye, Draco. And good luck."

Ron was waiting outside Gryffindor by the time Ginny returned. "Thank Heavens!" he cried as she slid the Invisibility Cloak off. "McGonagall wanted to come back and put the charms on the Tower; we had to make up some story about Dennis Creevey getting a stomachache and having to go to the Hospital Wing. Of course, he had just popped one of Fred and George's Guaranteed Gastric Gobstoppers, so he might not have been lying. Hermione wasn't too thrilled; seemed he had a whole store of them—she'd been wondering why he kept popping in and out of the infirmary—guess he liked the taste so much that…what's wrong?"
"Ron!" she cried, throwing herself against him. "Everything's all muddled…I don't understand anything anymore!"
He let her sob into his robes, patting her head awkwardly. "It'll be alright, Ginny."
"But why did things have to turn out like this? I never wanted this to happen. I didn't want it to be this way. We all have things we're meant to be. I wasn't…it shouldn't have been like this!"
He clasped her shoulders softly, bending down to look her in the eyes. "Perhaps we think they shouldn't be like this. But everything happens for a reason. And the more difficult it is to deal with, then perhaps the more important it is to resolve. We just have to realize that not everything will be easy, but that's its worth fighting for in the end."
"Your brother's right, dearie," murmured the Fat Lady, observing Ron with approval. He blushed, straightened, and muttered "Phoenix Feather."
The portrait swung open, allowing them inside.
"And don't worry. We'll defeat them. The Professors are strong."
She gave a half-hearted laugh. He thinks I'm talking about the Dementors.
Harry turned to greet them as they came in. A few moments later, the portrait opened once more, revealing Hermione, a rather green-faced Dennis Creevey, and Professor McGonagall.
"Very well, then, as I trust there are no more illnesses to account for, I shall place the appropriate charms on Gryffindor Tower."
"What are you using, Professor?" asked Hermione meekly.
"That is none of your concern, Miss Granger," replied the Professor, eyeing her suspiciously. "As it is, once these charms are placed, none of you shall be able to enter or leave Gryffindor. We expect you to be away from the windows by sundown. If, for some reason, you sense the Dementors coming, use this."
She handed Hermione a small silver coin.
"It has a counterspell placed upon it; it will allow you to exit the portrait hole without having to disarm the Charms. All you must do is recite "Expellium Incantato". Do not use this until you ABSOLUTELY have to, do you understand, Miss Granger?"
Hermione nodded.
"If you use it any sooner, the protections that have been set up will be voided, and the Dementors will be able to sense you easily. If you must leave the Tower, head down towards the Forbidden Forest. They may not be able to sense you as easily there, with the number of creatures that inhabit it. Be prepared, and in the meantime practice your Patroni—thank Heavens Professor Lynch decided to study them—in case you need them. Do you understand?"
The students nodded.
"NO FUNNY BUSINESS." She gazed straight at Harry when she said this; he tried to look as innocent as possible.
"Well," She looked them over once, her lower lip trembling slightly. "Take care of yourselves, then. I shall see you when this little mess is over and done with."
She turned, and exited through the Portrait hole.
Ginny surveyed the room; most of the Gryffindors were watching the place she had stood, looking miserable. More than a few had to wonder whether that was the last time they would see their Head of House again.
"This is ridiculous," said Dean Thomas, pounding his fist against the back of an armchair. "We can't just sit back here and let them face those Dementors alone! Those of us trained in the DA can manage a Patronus Spell—even Neville can do one now! We should at least try and help."
"And run the risk of what…getting ourselves killed?" said Parvati Patil.
"We run the risk of getting killed anyway," said Ron. "If Bellatrix Lestrange is anything like what we think she is, this isn't going to be just a small attack. We all run the risk of getting injured here…or worse. We might as well be helping out as best we can, and prevent as much injury as possible."
Parvati looked unconvinced.
"Look…you don't have to fight if you don't want to. No one is asking anyone to make sacrifices here. There are just some of us who might want to try and help the Professor," Harry said, rising. "Maybe what we should do is check and see how many people from the DA and the other Houses would want to join us in…in…"
"In battle," finished Hermione determinedly.
"Right. We can make our judgment from there."
"And how are we supposed to do that?" said Seamus. "The Portrait Hole's been sealed and locked, and that charm repeller-thing would mean disarming the whole of the protections."
"So what?" Ron replied. "We'll just undo them, then have Hermione do them back. I'm sure she can manage them."
"No, Ron," Hermione said. "For one thing, I have no idea what all Professor McGonagall is using. For another, I'm not as skilled or as strong as she is. I might be able to provide as strong a protection as she could. And we still need those charms for the younger students."
"Well, if we go outside, then we'll have to disarm them anyway."
"Then we'll wait until we have to do that. I'm not going to displace them until I absolutely have to. "
Ron started to open his mouth, but Harry interrupted. "Let's just figure out how to contact the other dormitories first. "
"How about these?" said Lavender Brown, holding up a gold galleon. "Hermione made these last year for the DA…would they still work?"
"They should—but there's no guarantee the members of the DA still have them. Besides," Hermione continued, "they wouldn't know what it was for."
"They'd probably have a pretty good idea."
"All the same…"
"What about having Crookshanks deliver messages?" said Harry. "Could he get under the spells?"
Hermione looked doubtful. "I'm not certain. I don't know exactly what Professor McGonagall put the spells on. If it's the portrait, he could set the whole thing off."
"I wish Dobby were here…I bet the House Elves can apparate inside the school."
"Ron, that's it!" cried Hermione excitedly. "Where's Nick?"
From the far corner of the room, Nearly-Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost, breezed through the crowd, leaving a trail of shivering Gryffindors in his wake. "Yes, Hermione?"
"Nick, can you get to the kitchens?"
"I believe so," he said, tilting his head to the side and causing it to nearly come off. "But…I've been asked to keep an eye on you. I don't think trying to assist you in breaking out is what the Professor had in mind."
"Please, Nick," said Harry. "You know as well as I do that staying here isn't going to solve anything. But if you help us, then maybe we can do something."
Nick frowned, but glanced back and forth between the two of them, then at the rest of the Gryffindors, most looking rather determined and brave.
"Oh, very well. It would do no good to have more than one ghost per dormitory anyhow. What is it you need me to do?"
"Can you go down to the kitchens and ask the House Elves and see if any of them can apparate—and only apparate—inside the Gryffindor common room?"
"Certainly."
"While you'd going down there," said Harry, "give a message to the other ghosts, if you see them? Tell them to tell the members of their houses that the DA is trying to meet up to help the professors. Tell them that we'll be sending messages as to where and when by either House Elf or their House ghosts, and not to leave the dormitories before then. Can you remember all that?"
"Of course," Nick said, standing up straighter. "But I can't guarantee that the Bloody Baron will cooperate." He glided through the wall silently, the others watching him in trepidation.
"Well then, now what?" asked Dean.
Harry turned to them. "We practice."

"Well, then, its set. You are not to leave the dormitories for any reason whatsoever, unless the Floo becomes available." Professor Snape handed Draco the tiny silver sickle. "Very well then, I expect you all to adhere to what you've learned, and to use it, should you need it. Farewell."
Without another glance at the group of gathered Slytherins, he turned and marched out the door.
Draco flipped the coin in his hand, surveying the room. Most of the Slytherins looked downhearted and rather depressed, like they'd never be seeing their Head of House again.
"Well then, what are you moping about for? Might as well practice those Patronus spells and whatever else you might need," he snapped, startling them. "No point in hoping that the Professors will be able to stand through all of this."
The group began to disperse, most of the students eyeing him warily.
"What's happened, Draco? Why are you so standoffish?" said Pansy, moving over to him. "The last thing we need is for you to become pessimistic and useless."
"I'm NOT," he muttered. "I'm being realistic."
"Realistic or not, Draco, they need you to be strong. Don't start acting all Weasley on us now."
"What did you say?" he said suddenly.
She stared at him in surprise, one eyebrow raising. "Don't be such a coward, is all."
He threw her a dirty look, and moved away, flipping the coin methodically in his hand.
"What's wrong with you, Draco?" Pansy cried in frustration. "You haven't been the same since you came back from the Divination classroom…or from Malfoy Manor, for that matter. What happened to you?" She grabbed him by his arms, whirling him around. "What did she do to you?"
He turned away, unable to look at her. Pansy's lower lip began to tremble, and she put her hands to her face.
"Why?" she whispered. "In just one day…she…I just…don't understand…"
"Neither do I," he replied.
She burst into tears and turned from him. He moved to the fireplace, leaning his head against the mantle.
He could barely focus on anything, anymore. Not even Snape's departure had resonated with him. He was still trapped in the hallway across from Dumbledore's office.
I can love you…
Ginny consumed him. She was everywhere. He could care less about the Dementors, about Slytherin, about Potter, about Snape. All he could see, and feel, and hear, was Ginny. Every time he tried to stop, to think about the battle ahead, or about the danger to those he cared about, those words returned to haunt him.
He couldn't get her out of his head. No matter what he did. If the other Slytherins found out, they were likely to disown him, or worse, but it didn't matter to him anymore. Not that they might not already know. Like Pansy, they were sure to have figured something was going on, but were either too disgusted or too afraid to ask him.
I'm losing everything I ever was because of that girl. All that really mattered…
The Bloody Baron floated through the far wall, a malicious grin on his face. "Listen to this," he moaned in a voice that send tremors through the First Years, "that half-brained half-headed ghoul of a ghost Nick told me that Potter is organizing the DA, and wants the Slytherins to join in. Looks like we will have a full house of Spirits by the end of the night!" He floated off through the ceiling, cackling hoarsely.
"The DA?" questioned a First Year. "What's that?"
"A little band of nobodies Potter organized," spat Millicent. "The Inquisitorial Squad took care of them last year. Guess this means he's planning on assembling a group to fight."
A wave of terror, more powerful than any he'd ever felt, shot through Draco.
If they're battling, I'll be there…
Ginny…
"And he wants us to help," sneered Avery. "I'd go…if only to see him get swallowed up by a Living Shroud."
"Or brought to his knees by a group of Dementors."
"And see Granger…and the Weasleys…ALL of the Weasleys," added Pansy evilly, "…get it too."
"SHUT UP, SHUT UP!" Draco yelled suddenly, whirling about to face them. "At least he's doing SOMETHING! What are we doing—waiting here to die?"
"What?" said Goyle, turning to him.
"You…you're siding with Potter?" asked Crabbe confusedly.
"Draco, what in the bloody hell is wrong with you!" screamed Nott. "First you get defensive and angry that we won't help, then you tell us we shouldn't, now you're deciding…what…that we need to ally with Potter? Have you gone mad?"
"This has nothing to do with Potter!"
"You're right…it has nothing to do with Potter," hissed Pansy.
"Be quiet."
"It has to do with Weasley. "
"I told you to be quiet."
"Do you think we're stupid?" said Millicent icily, interrupting them. "Do you think we haven't been able to notice a change? We know what's going on here."
"You don't know anything."
"Right after your little trip down the Floo…"
"With that…that…freckle-faced nobody…"
"Stuck together for how long?"
"SHUT UP!"
"JUST SAY IT!" screeched Pansy, startling them all. "SAY IT! SAY THAT YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH THAT LITTLE MUDBLOOD LOVING RED-HAIRED TWIT!"
"I AM NOT!" he bellowed. "HOW DARE YOU? HOW COULD YOU EVEN THINK…THAT…" he paused, his mind whirling, as the entire Slytherin common room went completely silent, watching them.
Pansy's face was streaked with tears. "I…I'm sorry…I know that…I know that you could never betray us like that…I'm sorry, Draco."
How could I have been such a fool…
"So am I," he said, turning to her. "Because you were right."
Without another word to the mass of Slytherins watching him in shock, he turned and strode up the stairs to his room.

Nick returned after less than half an hour. "The House Elves can apparate within the corridors of Hogwarts," he said excitedly. "Just not beyond."
"Excellent," Harry said.
"Dobby will be coming to see your shortly, although I can tell you what the other House ghosts said. The Fat Friar told the Hufflepuffs, and they more than agreed to help—in fact they're waiting for your signal. The Gray Lady said the Ravenclaws were a little more tentative, but Padma Patil and Luna seemed to be able to convince most of them otherwise.
"As for the Slytherins…I didn't speak to the Bloody Baron after he left me, but he seemed to laugh at the idea…so I don't know you're going to get much help from them."
"But he told them?" asked Harry.
"HE, at least, knows," returned Nick.
"Thank you, Nick, that was brilliant. Alright then, what now?"
"I think we should schedule a time to meet…right about sundown, after the Professors have left to go outside the castle. That way no one will be left to make us return, and we won't be distracting them initially," said Hermione.
Harry nodded. "Right, then. How about the Great Hall? It's large enough to hold all of us."
"What about the charms on the doors?" asked Ron. "What do we do about those?"
"Ahhhh…that was something I knew you'd approve!" said Nick with a smile. "The Gray Lady asked Professor Flitwick what he was using, and he gave her a list." He pulled out a rather tatty piece of parchment. "Sorry, its all I had at the moment."
He handed it to Hermione, who shivered at his touch, but looked it over gleefully. "Nick, this is wonderful! Of course, I'm sure they're a rather difficult combination of spells…mmm, this one's particularly clever…and…I don't wonder but she shouldn't have used the sister spell to this one…and here's…well, who would have thought? A First Year spell! They are rather complex, but I think I can manage most of them, save the Stone Barrier and the Reckoning spell. They're incredibly advanced…more like Auror training."
She handed the list to Harry. "You should be able to manage these as well."
He looked at her doubtfully, but glanced at the list and nodded. "We'll show this to the other Houses too. Nick, can you run back out again and tell the other ghosts—at least for Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, anyhow—what we've decided?"
"The Great Hall at sundown? Right."
"And tell them we'll be sending copies of the spells used by the Professors. They can break the concealment charms right before we meet, but not before…if they want anyone's help from one of the other houses recasting them, just let us know by House Elf."
"And what about the House Elves?"
"Tell Dobby and a few of the others to pop up here, if they can. We'll send them out with instructions."
He nodded, and floated out.
Harry turned to the rest of the group. "Alright, then…only those who are capable of producing a Patronus will be able to come. The rest of you will have to stay here. But you'll be able to keep an eye out through the windows."
"Mmm…perhaps we ought to leave a few people who are trained here. Just in case?" said Hermione.
Harry glanced about the group. Most wore determined looks on their faces.
"Not me," said Seamus.
"Not me," joined Dean and Neville.
Harry frowned. "Lavender, Parvati?" he said finally. "Can you look after the Tower?"
Lavender nodded quickly, followed by Parvati, who appeared slightly disappointed.
"So, if the Dementors do break through the lines, just do what Professor McGonagall said," Hermione ordered, handing Parvati the silver coin. "I'll re-enchant this with unlocking capabilities when I've reset the spells. Use it the same way she instructed as before."
There was a loud crack, and another, and a third, which sent most of the younger Gryffindor scurrying to the far reaches of the common room. Harry grinned at Dobby, who looked back sheepishly.
"Mister Harry Potter is needing us, sir?"
"Yes, Dobby."
Hermione was jotting down copies of the list of spells as quickly as she could.
"You take this one to Ravenclaw," Harry instructed, handing over a list, along with a few added notes, to a sweet little female Elf. "And you take this one to Hufflepuff."
The other Elf, a burly, rather strong looking fellow, nodded curtly, and disappeared.
Harry turned to Dobby, and grabbed a piece of parchment, scribbling down a few lines separate from what he'd already added to Hermione's list. "And you, please take this to Slytherin."
Dobby gulped. "Is…is the young Mister Potter sure of Dobby's needing to do this?"
"Please, Dobby. I promise…if they try anything, you can leave there—in fact, I order you—"
Hermione frowned at him.
"Rather, I request that you leave immediately. But…listen to me, Dobby…I don't want you to give this to anyone but your old master…Master Draco."
Ron's jaw dropped open; from her position in an armchair by the fire, Ginny swiveled around.
"Trust me." Harry whispered. "Can you do that, Dobby?"
Dobby looked rather frightened, but nodded. "Dobby will be doing this for Harry Potter." In a flash he was gone.
"Alright then. Let's get prepared. The Professors will need our help, and we're going to be ready."
The Gryffindors cheered.

Draco stared at the empty fireplace. His mind was no longer a jumble of confused thoughts…but his chest felt heavy, and he knew that he couldn't face the Slytherins downstairs.
It had become clear to him, why he'd been so uncertain. Why he'd be unable to hold onto the things that had given him comfort before. Why he'd been unnecessarily harsh with Pansy, with the other Slytherins…even with Potter. Why he'd felt that unmatchable fear when he found out that Potter really had organized the DA to do battle. The answer had been simple, and staring him in the face the whole time.
He was in love with her.
He was in love with Ginny Weasley.
How, or when, he didn't know, and at this point, he didn't care. He understood what she had said, earlier, about changing things, about knowing exactly when you began to care about something other than yourself. Because when Pansy had yelled it at him to say what he felt, it wasn't anger that had responded back.
It was fear.
He was afraid. Afraid that she was going to die tonight and he would never see her again.
And he cared more about that than anything. That was what really mattered.
But now…
He wasn't a fool. He knew that things would never be as easy as they had been before this mess had started. Not only would he have to face the Slytherins, to make them…forgive him—he'd have to deal with Potter and Weasley and all the rest. And they would never be so understanding. Not even for Ginny.
But he didn't have time to think on that. She was going outside, to face the Dementors, and Bellatrix Lestrange, and there was nothing he could do to stop her.
That terrified him.
As before, in his home, she was his immediate concern. But he couldn't take on Dementors on his own. And he couldn't leave the common room to the mercies of such creatures just for Ginny…even if she meant more to him than anyone else. Because to the Slytherins, she meant nothing, and though it might pain him, he would not abandon everyone else just to save her.
He smirked. I'm even starting to THINK like Potter.
A blinding flash lit the room, and Draco leapt from the bed, heart pounding. A tiny House Elf was standing in his room, dressed strangely in a rather beat up looking coat, tiny trousers, a rather poorly knitted cap, and the most horribly mismatched pair of socks Draco had ever seen.
With a trembling hand, he held a parchment out to Draco. "M-Master is to look at this…p-please…"
The Elf was fatter, and less tired, than he remembered, but the voice was unmistakable.
"Dobby?"
The little Elf flinched under Draco's darkened stare. "Harry Potter instructs Dobby to give this to you or Dobby would not have bothered the Young Master. Please to not be harming Dobby, sir?"
Draco glared at him, but snatched the note out of his hands. "Don't call me Master, Dobby, you no longer have the honor of serving the Malfoys."
"Y-yes, M-m…Young sir."
There were two pieces of paper in the bundle. The first was a list of spells, probably the ones used to conceal Slytherin, and a small note detailing a meeting in the Great Hall at sundown, along with instructions to contact Potter for further details.
Draco snorted. The second paper was nearly bare, save for three words scratched out in Potter's loopy, girlish handwriting:

She will fight…

The paper fluttered to the floor.
He crumpled the list of spells in his fist. Dobby trembled in the corner, clutching his ugly knitted cap tightly between his small hands.
"What are you still doing here?" Draco hissed.
The House Elf jumped with a whimper, snapped his fingers, and disapparated.
Draco bowed his head, fully aware of what he had to do. He steeled himself, and opened his dormitory door, heading for the stairs. He had until sundown.

De-charming the Tower took much less time than Harry thought, for which he was glad. Only Hufflepuff had requested help in resetting their defenses; Hermione had gone to take care of that while he finished up Gryffindor.
"Don't worry, it'll be alright," he said to Parvati as he handed her the re-charmed coin. "You won't need this at all."
"You be careful, Harry. You all be careful," she said tearfully. Lavender's lower lip trembled as the Fat Lady closed in front of her.
"You really shouldn't be doing this, you know," The Fat Lady chided disapprovingly at the large group of Gryffindors. "You're going to make things worse."
"For the Dementors," said Seamus snidely.
She narrowed her eyes at him. Harry muttered another "don't worry," and turned for the Great Hall.
As they neared it, they could see down to the Entrance Hall, which, surprisingly, had not been sealed, more than likely because it was going to serve as a recovery base for the Professors.
More chocolate than Harry had ever seen in his life was piled within the foyer; mounds upon mounds of it stacked in small hills and mountains that reached almost to the ceiling.
Hermione was waiting for them in the Great Hall, surrounded by a number of Hufflepuffs, although they weren't as great in mass as the Gryffindors.
"Not everyone can do a Patronus," said Ernie Macmillan nervously. "But everyone who could came to help."
"Thanks," said Harry gratefully.
Ginny stood near the back, eyeing the doors to the Hall every few moments. Harry hoped, for her sake, that his note to Malfoy had worked.
A few moments later, a slightly larger number of Ravenclaws appeared through the door, although not nearly as many as Harry knew could perform the Patronus. Cho was not among them, which irritated him even more, because he knew that she could cast a beautiful, useful Patronus. Surprisingly, though, her old 'friend' Marietta, who'd turned in the DA last year, was.
Luna lead the group, her wand tucked behind her ear as it customarily was. "Some of us felt we needed more guards," she said airily, as though it was clear it wasn't her. "But everyone here is capable of producing a Patronus on command. Why they would need them, I don't know. We have our own fair amount of puffskeins, and everyone knows they attack Dementors when provoked."
Hermione rolled her eyes.
In total, the group was rather respectable, though not as large as Harry had hoped. At least it could outnumber the Professors two to one, however, meaning that they would have three times the number of defenders than they had started out with.
They drew closer as he began to explain the ideas he, Hermione and Ron had sketched out for coverage of the grounds, keeping an eye on the doors. After quite a few answered questions, some last minute suggestions by some of the Hufflepuff students (who turned out to be rather exceptional at team strategizing, which explained their always challenging Quidditch style), and a few practiced spells, Neville pointed out that the sun had set.
Harry gazed out of the windows at the fading rosy light, which was about to disappear above the horizon. The doors to the Great Hall remained empty.
"Let's go, then," he said determinedly.
Ginny was one of the last few to leave, her wand hanging limply by her side. Ron and Hermione both passed her, gazing at each other worriedly, but not saying anything.
Harry came up alongside her as the last of the Gryffindors exited through the doors. "I'm really sorry, Ginny. I really thought he would come."
"Me too," she said, very softly. She screwed her face up, wiping at one cheek with her fist. "What are we waiting for, then? We've got some Dementors to defeat. This is our school…we're not going to let it fall, right?"
"Right."
Ron and Hermione had paused at the doors. Harry and Ginny marched towards them, then led the way through the group of students—pausing to pocket some of the immense store of chocolate—then moved beyond it, to the massive front doors.

Draco made his way down into the silent Slytherin common room. Only a few initially noticed his appearance: Millicent, Avery and Nott throwing him dark looks; Blaise, who was trying to comfort a still shaking Pansy, glaring at him hatefully. Crabbe and Goyle looked lost and a little afraid.
"Potter wants us to help," he said, tossing the crumpled sheet of spells to Millicent. "He and the rest of the school are probably on their way out to the grounds right now. All the other Houses. Except us."
"Good," spat Nott. "Saves the Dark Lord a little work."
"Of course it does. Saves our parents a bit of work, too—at least those of us whose parents aren't in Azkaban."
Nott stared at him confusedly. "What, are you back to hating Potter now?"
"I never stopped hating Potter," said Draco coldly. "And I doubt I ever will."
"So then…what? What does that mean?"
"It means," he leaned back against the fireplace. "That very little has changed. I'm going to continue to hate Potter, and Weasley, and all the other Gryffindors, because they all hate me. And Slytherin."
Pansy sniffled, but turned to face him.
"What I'm not going to do is sit idly by and let them take all the glory for what we are able to do. Before, we thought that if we kept to ourselves, that we were showing we were better than Potter. In fact, it had the opposite effect. Everyone else thought we were lower—lower than a half-blood, lower than a mudblood. And we acted like we didn't care…but we did."
The Slytherins were silent, most of the younger ones fearfully so, the rest simply waiting for him to continue.
"Instead of showing him that we, the pure-bloods, the most noble of all the Houses—instead of showing Dumbledore, and Snape, and everybody else that we were capable of doing what Potter was doing…instead we acted like we couldn't, and everybody began to believe we couldn't."
"Couldn't do what?" interrupted Blaise. "Save a mudblood? Defy the Dark Lord? We wouldn't do that anyway!"
"Everything. Not just the large things," Draco replied. "The little things too. Not picking fights in class…chasing after them for breaking stupid rules…docking them points because they breathed. Those were the things that people looked down on us for. And when Potter and his little band turned around and fought back, we ended up looking the idiot because we hadn't bothered to learn what they knew. We were better than they were, so we didn't need to be like them. Which is exactly why they looked better than us."
"With their charms and such," said Millicent, looking sick. "Granger and her little mudblood supporters."
"So then…what, Draco? We go about supporting Dumbledore and the rest? Is that how we prove our worth? Hugging mudbloods and pushing the Dark Lord aside?"
"Of course not. We can't do that, because that's not who we are," Draco said. "We can't change from Slytherins overnight. Nor would we want to. We should be proud to be what we are."
"But you can't have it both ways, Draco," hissed Pansy. "You can't love…you can't believe in Potter and believe in the Dark Lord too."
"I believe in ME." Draco replied. "I believe in what I hold to be true. And my truth says pure-bloods are superior, and Potter is not."
"And what about the Dark Lord?" asked Avery harshly. "Do you believe in him?"
"I believe in what he stands for. But whether I believe in his methods is a question for another time…not tonight. Tonight, for once, it is not about the Dark Lord," said Draco staring at him. "It is about Hogwarts."
"Hogwarts," Millicent snorted. "Why should we care about this good for nothing school?"
"Because Salazar Slytherin did. Because our parents do. Because the Dark Lord did. And because Snape does, too. So much so he's willing to die for it."
"Then go and join him, Draco. But don't expect us to follow," Pansy said, rising. "For all that Snape might be trying to do, it doesn't change that we'd have to side with mudbloods…with Dumbledore…and Potter. Something we've sworn we'd never do. Or have you forgotten that?."
He looked her straight in the eyes. "I've not forgotten. But I'm not going to view it as that. I might have to fight alongside Potter, but I'm not going to fight for him. Or Dumbledore. I'm fighting for Slytherin. For you."
Pansy gazed at him in surprise. He walked over to her, grasping her softly by the shoulders. "But I cannot do this without you. Any of you—and you know that."
The other Slytherins stared back at him, silent.
"If you believe in what the Dark Lord is doing, then fine. Despise the muggles and the mudbloods. But remember that what's attacking tonight has nothing to do with him—or them. Bellatrix will see us all dead, along with Hogwarts and everything your parents, your grandparents, and your ancestors worked to build. And everything we have tried so hard to become…to prove…all that will be destroyed. Can you really just sit back and let that happen?"
"But what can we show them, Draco?" said Goyle quietly. "Anything we do will look like Potter's doing. The Gryffindors will come out saving the day, as always. And the Slytherins will be second best."
"Not this time." Draco raised his wand, pausing for a moment as a smile spread across his face. "Expecto Patronum."
The Slytherins watched, open-mouthed, as a large, silver Patronus burst forth from his wand, blowing through them gracefully. Most stared in awe, but a few smiled gleefully.
"We're capable of much more than any of the other Houses. They need us. We are the force that will mean victory or defeat for everyone else. But we have to prove that—and we have to prove it tonight…or we might never again get the chance. Will you let us…or will you sit back, and do nothing?"
The Patronus slowly faded into the dark ceiling, the beautiful silver light flickering out
Millicent rose, watching the place where it had dissipated, then slowly turned to him, her square jaw set. "You betrayed us, Draco. You're spouting ideas your father would be ashamed to hear. You feel…something…for a mudblood lover. What do you think?"

Harry shoved open the doors to Hogwarts, the rest of the students following behind him in a shivering, tentative mass. The grounds of the school were dark, and terrifyingly silent.
Hermione was beside him, trembling. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, and nodded at Ron, who returned the gesture with a pale, if determined face. Ginny had her shoulders squared, and stood with a fierce determination, as though nothing, not even an army of Dementors, could stop her.
He pulled out his wand, and started out; the other students fanned out behind him, forming a long line down the front of the castle.
Far ahead of them, the Professors had spread out near the gates, their wands raised and lit. Professor Dumbledore stood nearest the entranceways, his own wand by his side, watching. A few of the Professors were missing, including Snape; Harry figured they were on the other sides of the grounds, patrolling them with Hagrid, Firenze, and the rest of the volunteers from Hogsmeade.
The doors to Hogwarts remained empty. The Slytherins had abandoned them.
The Headmaster turned as Harry and the large group of students made their way down the hill.
"Mister Potter, Miss Granger, Mister Weasley…what is the meaning of this? Why are you out here? You should be inside!" Professor McGonagall came running over to them, her hat tipping to the side. "You broke the charms!"
"We're going to help," said Harry determinedly, looking at Dumbledore. "This is our school."
"This is no place for students, I'm afraid," said Professor Flitwick, also joining them. "This is going to be extremely dangerous."
"We know that," said Hermione calmly. For the first time, she looked somewhat at ease. "But some of us have faced these before. And most of us can perform a Patronus spell quite well. We can help. And we've reset the charms…well, most of them anyway."
"Its true that they can perform most elements of the Patronus," said Professor Lynch, coming up behind Dumbledore and the rest. "But even so, Mister Potter, this is nothing to what you've faced in the past."
"You don't know what we've faced in the past," said Ron. "Harry's dealt with Death Eaters—with Voldemort…and with Bellatrix. And so have many of the rest of us, at least in some form. We know perfectly well what we're going up against."
"And what might happen," said Ginny.
"Still…"
"Let them be," said Dumbledore suddenly, and softly. "I have underestimated Harry many times in the past, and he, and many others, have suffered dearly for it. This time, I won't let my desire to see them protected interfere with what I know they're capable of. We will need their help. Otherwise, we'll all be destroyed."
"But, Albus," Professor McGonagall cried, looking more frightened than Harry had ever seen her, "they're children…"
"And they are all going to die, Minerva, if we don't try and stop this now. All of them will die."
She glanced from Harry's determined face to Dumbledore's somber one, then stepped back, heaving the deepest sigh she could muster.
"You will stay back, Harry…you and all the rest, until we absolutely need you…is that clear? You can use your Patronus spells from a very safe distance. If any of you begin to feel the effects of the Dementors, you must retreat to the castle. Madam Pomfrey has a large supply of chocolate that was prepared for us in the Entrance Hall…make your way there if you can."
"We understand, Professor," said Harry, reaching into his robes and pulling out some of the chocolate he had stored there. "And we're ready."
Dumbledore smiled as the rest of the group reached in and showed him the chocolate they had ready. "Just take care of yourselves."
Harry nodded. The group backed away, to the crest of the hill, overlooking the path down to the gates.
Hermione and Ron moved over to him, Hermione looking worried, and Ron, frightened.
"Don't worry," he said casually, careful to place his own trembling hands behind him. "We can do this."
At least his scar wasn't hurting him—a sure sign this had nothing to do with Voldemort.
Hermione nodded. "We can. We've been able to do this for ages…and we…well you—you've faced this many Dementors before."
"We've faced them…you fought them off, too."
"Not really, Harry. Its been you, doing all of this, all along."
He placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "Its been all of us. Even when you both weren't there, you were. And you're here, now, as I knew you would be."
Ron looked slightly mollified, despite his pale face. "Of course we are, mate. We'd never abandon you…or Hogwarts."
"We'll always be here for you, Harry. Always," said Hermione softly.
He smiled at her.
"LOOK!" screamed a voice from somewhere within the crowd.
They turned. Over the lake, a chill mist was rising, spilling across the water in thin, transparent waves. In front of them, the breaths of the Professor suddenly became visible as a foggy, bitter wind floated through the gates.
An immense cold blew inwards, towards the castle. Above them, the stars seemed to blink out, one by one, and the dim light cast by the moon faded until it was almost pitch black.
A hollow echo blew through the fences.
The students behind him began to shiver. All the Professors raised their wands, Dumbledore standing ready in the front. Along the lakeside, far down the hill, the other Professors, and the Hogsmeade wizards, including Snape, had emerged, their wands raised and pointed to its far side.
"Bloody hell…" whispered Ron, staring down the path.
From the shadows, a line of darkness was moving forwards, towards the castle. Across the lake, a gigantic swath of black covered the outer edges, floating across like a gigantic ebony shroud, enfolding the grounds in darkness.
There were more Dementors gathered before them than Harry could have ever imagined. Alongside them floated strange, linen-like folds, whipping about in the soft, bitter breeze that accompanied the onslaught.
"Living Shrouds," breathed Hermione.
"They're the same as the Dementors," said Harry, grateful he'd paid attention during one of Grubbily-Plank's substitute classes. "Don't worry," he whispered, loud enough for the group of students to hear. "They will fall with a Patronus. Don't let any of them get near you!"
In front of them, the Professors stood, wands ready, as the Dementors reached the gates.
It seemed an eternity…Dumbledore lifting his wand slightly higher…the other Professors doing the same…the Dementors closing in around the gates, sliding their shadowy forms through the bars…closing in on the Professors…
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!!!" shouted Dumbledore.
A great silvery blur burst from his wand, so large and swift that Harry couldn't make out what image had emerged. It slammed into the first wave of Dementors forcefully, whipping them up off the ground and shooting them into the darkness of the sky.
Around them, the grounds exploded with bursts of great silver-blue light as the Professors began their attack on the approaching Dementors. Waves of the hooded figures, and the Living Shrouds, began to burst apart, flying upwards into the darkness of night.
But the lines continued to advance.
More and more Dementors emerged from the shadows…they were halfway across the lake, despite the Patroni being launched by Snape and his group, and more and more continued their descent upon the line of Professors at the gate.
Professor McGonagall fell to her knees, clutching her chest.
"Come on, we have to help," Harry said. The students moved forward tentatively, falling into rank behind him. "This is it."
The Dementors continued to advance, some of them slipping forward, through the breaks in the Professors' line. Flitwick, his little unicorn Patronus chasing away a few of the Living Shrouds, managed to help Professor McGonagall to her feet.
Harry turned slightly to the side, raising his wand above his head. The Dementors continued to advance.
Hermione and Ron followed suit, somewhat shakily. The rest of the students raised their wands.
"EXPECTO…PATRONUM!!!" he shouted.
His great silvery stag burst forth from his wand, cutting a swath through the oncoming Dementors. Around him, the other students pointed their wands at the invading army, and called forth their patroni.
Hermione's beautiful silver otter glided through the gates, taking on the yet unseen of the Dementors' army. Ron's lion thudded off towards the far left hand side of the grounds, to aid a few professors whose attacks were failing.
The group of students began to break apart, Harry staying in the lead atop the crest of the hill, Ron and Hermione beside him. The others began to fan out across the grounds as per their plan, facing off against the Dementors that were slipping between the attacking teachers, and trying to make sure none of the Professors succumbed to the Dementors' powers.
Neville managed a small Patronus of a toad, sending it scampering towards Professor Sprout, who had slipped to her knees beneath an oncoming creature.
Ginny was far to the right, her own fox Patronus dancing forward, down the slopes towards the lake. Ron turned to check on her, then dodged to the right to take care of a Living Shroud that had come dangerously close to Michael Corner.
The Dementors had begun to overpower the professors, and were pushing them back. Dumbledore shot another one with his large, silvery Patronus, which Harry could now see was a Phoenix, and motioned with his wand to the others to fall back into a tighter line.
"Fall back," Harry yelled over the din, motioning to the students to step backwards.
The chill released by the Dementors was becoming overpowering; Harry was having a hard time breathing. Hermione's breath came out in clouds, puffing around her face, and Ron's freckles stood out against his pale skin, tinged blue by the cold.
"Fall back, fall back!" echoed Professor Flitwick, turning towards them. A Dementor slid up behind him swiftly, raising its hands to its hood.
"No…" Hermione gasped, racing forward. "Expecto Patronum!"
The Dementors let out a raspy shudder, and flew to the sky. Hermione tumbled to her knees, clutching her chest.
"C-cold…" she whispered.
Harry was struggling with the groups of students that were trying to push past him. "Hermione!"
A Living Shroud wafted towards her as she sagged to the ground.
"HERMIONE!"
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" yelled Ron, and his lion shot forward, burying the Shroud. Harry shuddered in relief as Ron lifted Hermione into his arms, half-carrying her across the grounds.
Around him, the grounds has burst into chaos. The students became a panicking mass as the line of Dementors finally broke apart, the creatures abandoning form to float throughout the crowd randomly, sending the teachers into a fluster of racing wands and spells.
"Be on guard!" Harry yelled to the students, some of whom were retreating back to the castle. He broke off a piece of chocolate and handed it to Hermione, who took it gratefully. "Are you alright?"
"F-fine…" she chattered.
"Where's Ginny?" Ron cried suddenly, as color began to return to Hermione's face.
Harry glanced about, through the mass of students that was now racing aimlessly about the grounds. He caught sight of Ginny and a small group of Gryffindors, fighting tirelessly with their Patroni, aiming for a block of Dementors that were floating towards them, and near the entrance of the castle.
"This…this isn't working," Hermione whispered. "We need more students…there are too many of them."
"We have to do what we can," Harry replied. "It's the only thing we can do."
"GINNY!"
Ron bolted forward as the small group, Ginny at the head, began to sink to their knees. An overwhelming cold flowed from the Dementors, and as he neared them, Ron's pace began to slow, and he shivered uncontrollably.
Harry started forward, but the chill coming from the group began to spread. Hermione fell to the ground, clutching at her throat. Harry bent down to her, watching Ginny anxiously.
Ron straggled to his feet. "Ex-exp-pec-too…Pa-pa-paTRONUM!"
A puff of silver smoke blew out of his wand, but nothing more. Harry raised his. "Expecto…"
A screech behind him interrupted the spell. He turned, where Professor McGonagall and Professor Vector were trying to stop a huge wave of Dementors from destroying the gates.
Harry whipped around. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
His stag sliced through the mass of Dementors, tearing them apart and whisking them to the heavens. He returned his attention to Ginny, trying to direct his stag to the small group of creatures that had descended upon her.
"GINNY!" Ron cried, trying to stay on his feet.
She'd collapsed on the ground, her wand pointed weakly at the descending Dementor. "Ex—ex…p…"
The Dementor raised a scaly hand to its head, and began to remove its hood, only inches from Ginny's face.
"GINNY!!!!! "

What do you think? The poor Slytherins. They're terribly confused right now…but wouldn't you be, if your hero was acting completely out of sorts? And I know, I know, its an evil cliffy…but I like them, they make people come back and read… And if you think this one is bad, wait until my last one…it's a doozy. In fact, I'll even start it for you here: The last two spoken words of chapter six are going to be: "Avada Kedavra. " Happy reading! ;)