Disclaimer: Not mine.

I followed the sound of the commotion, which led me to the Gryffindor tower.

People were shouting, angry and I jumped back out of the way as a trunk was flung from the portrait hole, a very surprised Fat Lady crying out.

Snape appeared next, dragging along Gale who looked incredibly confused.

Longbottom showed up next. "You can't do this! She hasn't done anything! Professor, you have to stop him!"

McGonagall appeared suddenly beside me, rushing forward. "Severus this is highly unorthodox!"

"She has been disruptive," Snape snarled. "She is a delinquent and I will no longer let her influence the other students."

"You can't just take her away from her dorm!" McGonagall argued. "Where will she go?"

"That has already been arranged." Everyone, the watching Gryffindors, Longbottom, Snape, McGonagall, and I, looked up as Ark approached. He took his wand from his pocket and I saw Gale cringe, moving behind Snape. Ark smirked and used his wand to raise her trunk in the air. "Come along, Gale."

Gale yanked free of Snape and moved to McGonagall, who wrapped her arms around the girl. "Secluding her will not do anyone any good. This is wrongful punishment!"

"New reign, new way of life," Ark said. He walked forward and grabbed Gale's arm, pulling her down the hall, her trunk bobbing along behind her.

If Gale could talk right now, I'm sure she'd be screaming.

They had but her in a small room near the dungeons equipped it with a bed, a desk, a miniature grandfather clock and a bathroom.

Ark could come and leave now as he pleased. I heard him say that when he took her there. . . . I followed, wanting to make sure he didn't hurt her.

"Welcome to your new room," Ark said. He waved his wand and her trunk opened, her things jumping out and unloading themselves into the dressers and closets. Her trunk lined up against the bed and closed. "Enjoy. I'll be able to keep a watch on you now."

He turned and left her there standing in the doorway where she didn't move. As soon as he was gone, I walked up to her, reaching out to her shoulder. "Gale."

She moved forward into the room. I followed her, closing the door. She moved over to the desk, picking up the lamp that sat there.

"I'm really sorry, Gale," I said, slowly, softly as she turned the lamp in her hands. "This is all not going the way it should have been."

Her hands tightened around the lamp for a second before she threw it at my head.

I ducked and it shattered against the door. "Gale!"

But she wasn't listening to me. She started throwing stuff, tearing up the room. She threw her desk chair, knocked her things off the desk, pulled open drawers and threw her clothes to the ground, ripped her things down from the hangers in the closet, knocked over the grandfather clock, pulled the sheets from her bed, ripped down the curtains. . . . And I could do nothing but watch, my back pressed against the door.

She collapsed then, covering her face in one hand and breaking into quiet sobs.

Hesitantly, I approached her, kneeling down in front of her. I pulled her into my arms and she clung onto the front of my shirt, crying against my chest. I was fairly sure that this was the first time she had cried since her cousin was killed.

"I'm sorry," I whispered because I didn't know what else to say. Gale was shaking. It was like a complete breakdown. I felt completely helpless and there was nothing I really could do for but hold her in my arms until she stopped. "I'm so sorry."

We fell asleep like that, on the floor with Gale still in my arms. I'm surprised she hadn't pushed away from me yet.

I woke up first, a couple of hours later, my back slightly sore but I didn't really care. Gale was still asleep so I tried not to move to much as I took my wand from my pocket and waved it around the room. Things began to jump back into place, righting themselves.

Gale turned over but she didn't wake. Carefully, I lifted her up and put her in her fixed bed, covering her with the blankets. I turned to leave when her fingers wrapped around my wrist.

She shook her head, still half asleep but her eyes pleading.

"Okay," I said, softly. "Okay, I'll stay."

I laid on top of the covers but Gale pushed herself into my arms, wrapping her arms around my waist. Soon, she was asleep again

Maybe this was our way of starting over. . . . I hoped it was. I missed her so much it hurt. I didn't like her glaring at me. I wanted to see her happy again, smiling. . . .

"I'll protect you," I whispered against her hair.

Because I hadn't been able to before and I felt as if I owed her.

I loved her.

A/N: So I'm sorry it's short but here it is. Stay tuned for the next chapter.