Chapter Four: Life after Dumbledore

"RON WEASLEY! I'M GOING TO BOIL YOU IN A VAT OF HAIR SPRAY!" A shrill screech came from somewhere around the 4th floor corridor. A tall thin 16 year-old-boy, covered with freckles, with bright red hair and pale blue eyes came skidding around the corner. He took off as soon as he got his bearings. He hid behind a statue, and looked around the corner. A rather wild looking 16 year-old-girl had just run around the corner, her black hair in many directions, and her brown eyes sparkling with a rage.

She looked around for a few moments before whirling around on him and pointed her infamously red wand at his nose. She had a look on her face that would have terrified any normal fully trained wizard. Ron was no different.

"Look Cygnus… I didn't take it! It wasn't me I swear!" He said. She saw sweat trickle down from his brow.

"You're lying!" She roared. Sparks shot out of the wand. It was a horrible omen for spells about to come.

"I'm SERIOUS!" He said backing away helplessly into the wall, the statue clattering hopelessly to the floor.

"Tell me where you stashed Ron or I'll…"

"No! Cygnus please don't!" He said falling on to his knees. "I don't know where he hid it, but it was Seamus! I swear! He got the diary from you bag, and he hid it somewhere, I don't know where!" He pleaded.

Cygnus looked at Ron for a moment, and then finally lowed her wand, the fire in her eyes dying down.

"If you're lying to me…"

"I'm not Cygnus. Why would I lie to you? I never have!"

Cygnus tucked away her wand, looking down at her hand. "I can't believe this. If I don't get that book back…"

"What's wrong? Isn't it yours?"

"Of course it is! Well… well it was. I gave it to someone. But he's always gone he never uses it."

"You stole it from DUMBLEDORE?" He gaped.

"Are you kidding?" She said, adjusting her green tie, so it was considerably looser. "I gave it to him. I just borrow it back every once in a while. It belonged to a friend of mine, and Dumbledore wanted it. For the longest time I couldn't figure it out, and now I just feel stupid."

Ron looked at her. She was calculating. She could make a plan faster than anyone in the entire school. She was amazing at any sort of magic. The only person who rivaled her for perfect grades was Hermione Granger. Not surprisingly the two hated each other. Anyone that was on her bad side feared that they would drink something, fall over, and die. She was wicked at Potions, and dynamite at Charms and Transfiguration. She also was magnificent at Defense Against the Dark Arts, and the Dark Arts themselves.

"I'm not even going to ask."

"Well good, because I didn't want you to," She rejoined, looking at him square in the eyes. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she turned her eyes downward. "I have to go. Seamus is dead. Deader than the beetles in my mortar and pestle," She grumbled marching off.

Draco smirked at Cygnus as she plopped down next to him in the common room.

"Oh sod off Malfoy. I hate it when you're being a git," She said angrily, a book tucked in her left hand.

"How are you?" He asked.

"Fine. My arm…" She didn't finish, and adjusted her right arm in her sling before flipping through the pages of the book.

"You got it back from Weasley?" He asked.

"He didn't have it," She said lovingly caressing the pages. "Seamus did."

Even Draco had to cringe. Wrath from Cygnus was not pleasant, and Seamus was not good at defense. He was probably in the hospital wing, and would be for several days.

"Cygnus?"

She looked up. Severus Snape stood there looking down at her. "Dumbledore wants to see you. He needs to speak to you about… the book."

Cygnus looked down at the book. She nodded, and Snape walked off.

"Hey sis… chin up. It'll be okay," Draco said, touching her chin.

Cygnus smiled. "Thanks. Love you. See you later."

"Look out Tonks!" Cygnus shouted launching a deadly spell from her wand hitting a death eater square in the back. An empty feeling had struck her heart a few moments ago, and she was fighting ruthlessly. She looked at Severus Snape running from the building with Draco.

"Draco!" She screamed. "No!"

Draco looked at Cygnus and blew her a final kiss before running out of the building, tears streaming down his face. She looked around everywhere, frantically. She ran after her friend, her brother. She was hit with several spells, but they seemed to glance off of her in her hurry. She was neck and neck with Harry Potter running out the door.

"Draco!" She screamed. She couldn't tell if Harry was saying anything. Cygnus stopped. She saw something on the ground over by the Astronomy tower, and she froze. The empty feeling in her heart became more intense. Draco no longer mattered. She ran to the heap on the ground. She reached the side of the body and fell to her knees.

"No… NO!" She said grabbing his black and damaged hand. She screamed in fury and in pain. "Don't leave me Dumbledore… don't leave me. Draco and you are all I have left…" Not one tear fell from her face. She couldn't.

She touched his placid face. She immediately felt fire in her chest. She took his 1 jewelry possession on him… a large black ring. She touched his face.

"Good bye… you were my only friend," She said. Tears could not stain her face. "I love you." She stood up, and walked away from the castle. A small black cat was in toe. She turned to look at the castle.

"Severus Snape… is no more." She growled. People had begun going towards the body of Dumbledore. She turned and saw Harry Potter watching her. She did not wave. She did not acknowledge it. She looked at the road. She ran past the gates of Hogwarts and disappeared with a pop that could not be heard at the distance.