CHAPTER TWENTYTWO
EVANGELINE

The door opened at the end of the tunnel, as Neville greeted the room below. Evangeline could hardly believe her ears. All that he had told them, the Carrows punishments, Dumbledore's Army, and that they were going after student's families to keep them in line. Part of her was glad that she hadn't returned to school that year. Even though Michael still died.

"Look who it is! Didn't I tell you?" she heard Neville announce as they entered a large room. She came out last but heard the people shouting,
"It's Harry!"

"HARRY!"

"It's Potter, IT'S POTTER!"

"Ron!"

"Hermione!"

"Look! It's Evangeline!"

When her name was shouted her head snapped up, but she was only able to see a glimpse of the large room with a motley of colors hanging on the walls, before she was pulled into a hug. She was hugged by lots of people, getting patted on the back, the air squeezed out of her lungs. When it finally stopped she noticed that Harry, Ron, and Hermione had faced the same treatment and looked breathless.

They were in a large room. The ceiling rose above them and the walls that were not covered, were mirrors. Along the walls were banners for the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw houses. There were no Slytherin banners. The people that had hugged them were their fellow students, they looked a little worse for wear. But from what Neville had told them, it would be the Carrows punishments that had made them look so beaten up.

Neville turned to them, "So what's the plan, Harry?"

Harry glanced around the room, his eyes shifting from one person to the next before landing on Neville again. Evangeline could tell that he was nervous, Harry nodded and sighed.

"There's something we need to find," he said, "something hidden here in the castle, and it may help us to defeat You-Know-Who."

"Right. What is it?" Neville asked.

"We don't know," Harry said, deadpan. Evangeline coughed, staring at Harry bewildered. He didn't know?! "We think it has something to do with Ravenclaw. Something with her symbol on it, an eagle? Any ideas . . ?"

There was a whooshing sound, and the crowd parted, revealing Luna and Ginny. Harry seemed to pale at the sight of Ginny, as if he didn't want her there.

"Hi- . ." Ron began, but Ginny seemed to ignore him and only look at Harry. Ron grumbled annoyed.

"There's always the lost diadem of Ravenclaw," Luna said speaking up as if she had been present for the whole conversation. A boy across the room, sitting with his fellow Ravenclaws rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, but the lost diadem," he said, "is lost, Luna. That's sort of the point."

"When was it lost?" asked Harry.

"Centuries ago," said an Asian looking girl, she seemed familiar, something having to do with Harry and his fifth year. Had Hermione said that Harry dated some girl named Cho? "Professor Flitwick says the diadem vanished with Ravenclaw herself. People have looked, but no one's ever found it."

"Sorry, but what is a diadem?" asked Ron.

"A kind of crown, Ron," Evangeline said.

"We have a problem," Ginny cut in, her eyes were big and glued on Harry.

"What is it?" Harry asked, reacting immediately.

"Snape knows that you were in Hogsmeade, he thinks that you may be here."

DRACO

He heard her go downstairs. He heard the excited greetings of her friends and then it was silent. At first he paced, walking from the door to the window, looking out it every time in search of something. Maybe a sign? Anything.

Draco glanced at Verity who slept in the bed and completely unaware of what was happening. He had to protect her. He had to protect her from her family.
He paced for well over an hour, the steady rhythm of his feet hitting the floorboards was the only thing keeping him sane. Part of him wished that he had kept her here. What if she got hurt? Or worse, killed? There was a knock on the door.

Hesitantly he went to it, unlocking the latch, and slowly pulling it open. His mothers wand was held tightly in his right hand, ready to use. But he didn't need it, in the doorway stood the barman, who looked so familiar to the previous headmaster of Hogwarts. "You best get up to the school, boy," he growled. "Your girlfriend is already there and everyone else has gone up too."

"I-"

"Well?" he asked gruffly.

"I can't leave her."

"Who?"

"My niece, the little girl that was with us," Draco said. The barman tried to peer around him and look into the room. His blue eyes settled on the small girl in the bed and softened somewhat.

"I'll look after her," he said. "Make sure she stays safe."

Draco nodded. "Alright. I just need to say goodbye."

He left the door open, seeing that the barman was no immediate threat and crossed the room to Verity's side. He brushed her curly black hair away from her face and kissed her cheek. She stirred, opening her black eyes blearily.

"Draco?"

"Shh. Go back to sleep. I just have to go help some people."

"Bad guys?" she mumbled. He chuckled.

"Yes. Go back to sleep."

Her eyes shut obediently, and Draco straightened.

"If any harm comes to her-"

"Save your breath, boy," snarled the barman. "Nothing will happen to her."

Draco nodded, fingering his mother's wand in his hand, collecting his thoughts. He wondered if he would be able to apparate to the school. Probably not, considering that only the headmaster seemed to be able to do that.

"How do I get there?" he asked the barman.

"Follow me."

The barman led him downstairs to a small room, the only thing hanging on the walls was a portrait hanging above the mantelpiece. It was of a girl, who smiled down at him.

"Arianna," the barman said. Her portrait swung open revealing a long passage. The walls held lamps with fire to light the way. "This will take you to the castle."

Draco nodded, climbing up, but paused as he was about to enter. "I never asked, what is your name?"

"Dumbledore. Aberforth Dumbledore. You may have met my brother Albus," said the barman, with a flat voice. Draco understood now why he looked so familiar. Why Evangeline seemed wary of him, almost shocked when they had first seen him.

"You could say that."

"And your name, boy?"

"Draco Malfoy," he said and turned to the passage. The portrait swung shut behind him and he began jogging down the passage. It wasn't long before he saw a light. It grew as he neared, and he heard voices. Whoever they were they would not take kindly to him revealing himself. Especially if they were Potter's friends.

At another door, which was most likely a portrait he waited. Slowly the voices faded and he chanced a peek. It was a large room. Beds lined the floor, hung from the ceiling and the house banners of Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor hung proudly. He knew why Slytherin wasn't among them. His house-mates liked the new way school was run.

But the room wasn't empty. Several people were there, sitting in chairs gathered around each other, talking quietly. Among them was Potter's little girlfriend, Ginny Weasley. If he was really, really, really quiet, then he might be able to make it to the door.

He crouched down low, using the beds and pillars to hide himself. They didn't notice him and he left the room without incident. He sighed with relief in the empty corridor. But he could stay there. So he found a niche in the wall and waited, formulating a plan.

How was he going to do this?

Why was he doing this? Potter and his friends thought he was a coward, and as such, treated him like one. He would admit that he wasn't an adventurous person. But he hated being called a coward. But he was doing this for Evangeline. She had stuck by him, even when everything he had done, should've pushed her away.

He tried to recall why he had even taken interest in her. He had been so forward, almost. And she had been wary of his action at first. In truth he was drawn to her otherworldly actions. She wasn't like anyone he had ever encountered. Even her hair had been intriguing, always dyed at the tips. Her need to rebel against the rules. Wearing clothes that didn't meet school uniform regulations . . .

To him, she was unique and lovely.

"I know that you are prepared to fight," a cold clear voice filled the air. Its words seeming to come from the walls themselves. Draco knew that voice. He was the monster that tried to kill Evangeline, wanted to still kill her. The Dark Lord, Voldemort. "Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood."

A pause. The silence bared down on him like a giant weight.

"Give me Harry Potter," said Voldemort's voice, "and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded.

"You have until midnight."

His mind was racing. He needed to find Evangeline. Draco got to his feet and began running down the corridor. He passed several students, in fact, many. Most of them were from his house, but he ignored their calls to him and kept running. He was nearly down another flight of stairs when he was struck, and went toppling over.

He landed on his back, and lay there dazed and confused.

"What the bloody hell?" he muttered sitting up.

"Oi! Draco!" hissed a voice in his ear. He jumped but recognized the speaker. It was Crabbe. His heart sank and he realized that he need to play the cowardly bully if he was going to shake Crabbe off. And where Crabbe was, Goyle most likely followed.

"You idiots!" he hissed, "Where have you been?"

" 'idden out, of course," Goyle's voice said from his other side. "Diss-lusion charm. We didn't know you'd be 'ere."

"Well, of course I'm here!" he snapped. "We need to find Potter." And Evangeline. He could almost hear the glee in their voices as he stood and brushed himself off. Draco didn't really want them to find Potter and Evangeline. But he needed somewhere that they wouldn't get in Potter's way, and possibly give him the chance to sneak away.

"I 'eard that Potter was goin' to the Room of Requirement," Crabbe said. Draco nodded casting a Disillusion spell over himself.

"Lets go," he said. Hoping that Potter was not headed for the Room of Requirement.

EVANGELINE

She ran after Harry, a new wand gripped firmly in her hands. Blackwood, ten inches, unicorn hair. It didn't feel like her old wand, it was . . . off. It felt unnatural in her hand. But she'd snatched it from a Slytherin, it wasn't like it chose her.

They rounded a corner and skidded to a halt. Ron and Hermione had their arms full of large, curved, dirty yellow objects. Ron held a broom.

"Where the hell have you been?" Harry shouted as the castle shook again. Dust fell from the ceiling and a person screamed not far from them.

"Chamber of Secrets," said Ron.

"Chamber - what?" said Harry, surprised.

"It was Ron's idea, all Ron's!" said Hermione breathlessly. "Wasn't it absolutely brilliant? There we were, after you left, and I said to Ron, even if we find another one, how are we going to get rid of it? We still hadn't got rid of the cup! And then he thought of it! The basilisk!"

"The what?" Evangeline said, eyes wide.

"Something to get rid of Horcruxes," said Ron.

"No the basilisk! There is a basilisk in this school?"

"No. Harry killed it our second year," Hermione said.

Evangeline felt her mouth drop, as she stared at Harry. No flipping way! Harry had killed a basilisk? That was so cool! She couldn't imagine facing a creature like that. Then again, she did speak Parseltongue . . . she could just reason with it.

"But how did you get in there?" Harry asked. "You need to speak Parseltongue!"

"He did!" whispered Hermione. "Show him, Ron!"

Ron made a horrible strangled hissing noise. Evangeline understood that it meant, 'open', in Parseltongue. But it sounded terrible. She grimaced.

"It's what you did to open the locket," Ron told Harry apologetically. "I had to have a few goes to get it right, but," he shrugged modestly, "we got there in the end."

"Well, it certainly could do with some polishing," Evangeline said, "I could barely understand you, and I speak it!" she smiled, "but it's pretty good for someone who doesn't."

Ron's cheeks flooded with color.

"He was amazing," said Hermione. "Amazing."

"So . . ." said Harry trying to keep up.

"So we're another Horcrux down," Ron said holding up the remains of a cup. "Hermione stabbed it. Thought she should. She hasn't had the pleasure yet."

"Genius!" yelled Harry.

"It was nothing," said Ron, looking pleased with himself. "So what's new with you two?"

Another explosion came from overhead: they all looked up as dust fell from the ceiling and someone screamed in the distance.

"We know what the diadem looks like now," said Evangeline.

"And where it is," finished Harry. "He hid it exactly where I hid my old potions book, where everyone's been hiding stuff for centuries. He thought he was the only one to find it. Come on."

The doors to the room of requirement appeared on the the wall as Harry approached it, his hand went to the handle when Ron spoke up.

"Is everyone out of the room then?" he asked.

Harry looked back at him, grim faced. "It seems so. Everyone's out, and safe."

"Hang on a moment!" Ron said sharply. They looked at him curiously. "We're forgetting something."

"Who?" asked Hermione.

"The house-elves, they'll all be down in the kitchen, won't they?"

"You mean we ought to get them fighting?" asked Harry.

"No," said Ron seriously, "We should tell them to get out. We don't want any more Dobbies, do we? We can't order them to die for us -"

Hermione dropped her basilisk fangs and ran at Ron, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him full on the mouth. Ron responded immediately, dropping his basilisk fangs and broom, lifting Hermione into the air.

"About time," Evangeline said loudly, "day-am!"

"Is this the moment?" asked Harry weakly. They ignored him, and Evangeline was beside herself with glee. Harry gave an annoyed huff as they held each other tighter and swayed on the spot. "OI! There's a war going on here!"

Ron and Hermione broke apart looking dazed and dreamy eyed. Evangeline knew the feeling.

"I know, mate," he said as if he'd been struck, "it's now or never, isn't it?"

"Never mind that," sighed Harry, "can it wait till after we find the diadem?"

"Yeah - right - sorry," said Ron, and he and Hermione set to work picking up the basilisk fangs, both pink in the face. Evangeline couldn't help but giggle. The castle shook again as it was hit with a series of bangs.

But the clamor and rumbling faded to silence the moment they entered the room of requirement, and the door shut behind them. They crept along the aisles of books, chairs and bottles among other things, looking for the diadem. Wands held and ready.

Then Harry dashed forward, toward a pockmarked stone warlock wearing a dusty old wig and what looked like an ancient, discolored tiara. His hand was reaching for it when a voice filled the still air: "Hold it, Potter."

They all froze, turning slowly to see Crabbe and Goyle, shoulder to shoulder, wands pointed right at them. In between them, stood Draco. Evangeline could feel her heart start pounding rapidly in her chest. His gray eyes flickered her hers and she saw that he didn't want to be here. He broke eye contact and stared at Harry.

"That's my wand you're holding, Potter," he said pointing his mother's wand at Harry.

"Not anymore," said Harry, his grip on the hawthorn tightening. "Winners, keepers, Malfoy. Who's lent you theirs?"

"My mother," said Draco.

Harry began laughing, and Evangeline reacted before she could stop herself.

"Shut up, Harry," she snapped. Then her eyes widened, looking at Harry who was shocked by her words. It was awkwardly silent as Draco's 'minions' took in what was happening. Evangeline couldn't believe herself. She was supposed to hate Draco. Her friends thought that she didn't like him anymore. What could she say now? Her eyes landed on Draco, who was staring at her with wide eyes. She silently hoped that he would do something. Toss an insult at her, sneer perhaps? Goyle was the first to respond.

"Aw, look, is little Potty's girlfriend showing 'er true colors?" he sneered. Draco flashed him a scowl, which they didn't see since he was behind them. Harry saw it, and frowned at Evangeline. She felt her face flush uncomfortably. Crabbe smiled, revealing his teeth, that were spaced weirdly in his mouth and slightly discolored looking. She took a step back.

"When we're done with Potter," he jeered, "we'll show Fallon 'ere 'ow our side is really the best." Draco's jaw tightened, his eyes flashed dangerously. Harry took a step forward.

"You're not touching anyone," he growled. "Why don't you three run along back to you're master."

"No. We'd rather capture you Potter, and get a reward," Crabbe said. "The Dark Lord will reward us for bringing him two of his most wanted. Especially since Fallon 'ere took something that was 'is." Harry sent her a questioning look, and she ignored him. Pulling out her wand she pointed it at them.

"I'm going nowhere," she said firmly, "you'll have to take me dead." Goyle shrugged as if that didn't bother him. A smile appeared on his face.

"The Dark Lord never said to bring 'you' alive, jus' Potter."

The blood drained from her face, as Goyle and Crabbe both raised their wands and pointed them at her. They were going to kill her. Crabbe opened his mouth, the words forming when Ron's voice filled the air.

"Harry? Have you found it yet?" Ron called as he rounded a large pile of stacked chairs. He stopped upon seeing Crabbe, Goyle, and Draco, his eyes narrowing. Harry shook his head slightly, and Hermione came up behind Ron. Her eyes growing big at the sight before them.

"Weasley," Goyle sneered.

"Shut it, stinking lowlife," Ron spat.

Crabbe pointed his wand at Ron.

"Expelliarmus!"

Ron leapt in the pile of chairs, taking Hermione with him. The impact sending several chairs crashing to the floor, as Harry took his chance to jump up to the pockmarked stone warlock and snatch the tiara off its head.

"STOP!" bellowed Draco, waving his hands frantically in the air, his blond haired mused with the motion of his shaking head.

"What's the matter?" said Crabbe.

"You'll blow the room apart, whatever Potter wants must be important so that must mean-"

"'Must mean'?" Crabbe turned on Draco with undisguised ferocity. "Who cares what you think? I don't take your orders no more, Draco.You an' your dad are finished."

"Harry?" Ron asked getting to his feet.

"Harry?" mimicked Crabbe. "No. Crucio!"

Harry dived as the spell shot at him, and then Crabbe pointed it at her. Evangeline's eyes grew wide. Time seemed to slow down as Crabbe opened his mouth.

"CRUCIO!"

"EV!" Draco screamed, grabbing at Crabbe's wand.

The pain hit her so fast that her legs gave out beneath her. She crumpled to the floor instantly, feeling as if she's been struck by lightning. Pain crawled up and down her spine, like little fire ants biting at her flesh. She felt like someone had set her on fire, the pain was almost as if Greyback was tearing at her throat.
A scream filled the air, guttural and loud. It hurt her ears. Then she realized it was her own. The pain stopped suddenly when Draco's voice raised above her own.

"STOP!" he stood face to face with Crabbe, his wand pointed directly at his heart. Crabbe's face registered shock, and quickly drained of its color. Goyle, whose wand was pointed at Harry seemed to hesitate with whatever curse he was about to send at him.

But that was all Harry needed.

"Expelliarmus!"

Goyle's wand flew out of his hand and disappeared in a bile of objects near him. He dashed after it as Draco ducked one of Hermione's jinxes and to his knees at Evangeline's side. Crabbe pointed his wand at Hermione and screamed, "Avada Kedavra!"

Ron roared and charged at Crabbe.

"That's my girlfriend you numpty! ARGH!"

Crabbe grabbed Goyle and the three went running, as Ron shouted insults and jinxes after them. Hermione stood with a pink face and a slightly pleased smile. Harry shook his head and turned to Evangeline.

Draco was cradling her face in his hands, running his fingers over her face as she painfully smiled back at him.

"Are you alright?" he asked worriedly, his hands moving to the rest of her body. Evangeline rolled her eyes and tried to sit up.

"I'm fit as a fiddle, Draco, nothings broken-" she hissed as she stood and Harry reached for her hand, which she gladly took. Harry glared at Draco over her shoulder.

" 'Draco'?" Hermione mimicked. "Since when has he been 'Draco'?"

Evangeline glanced at Draco, and then Hermione and Harry. Her hands rubbing soothing circles over her ailing limbs as they cramped up.

"Its a long story . . ."

Hermione's brow rose challengingly.

"Now's not the time," hissed Draco, "we've got to get weaselby-" Evangeline pinched his arm, "-I mean Weasley back before Crabbe or Goyle do something stupid - "

"RUNNNNN!" Ron's voice echoed through the piles of junk, until he came around a corner. "GOYLE'S SET THE BLOODY PLACE ON FIRE!" He grabbed Hermione's hand and dashed off towards the door. Crabbe and Goyle were got on Ron's heels when they came around the corner next, fear written on their faces.

Flames rose into the air of abnormal size. They licked the piles of junk, and they were soon engulfed in flames, as it steadily grew and closed in on them.

"Oh my . ." Evangeline breathed, grabbing Draco's hand.

"Aguamenti!" Harry shouted, at the roaring flames. The jet of water evaporated in air before it even neared the wall of fire. Harry turned, "RUN!"

They took off running after Crabbe, Goyle, Ron and Hermione towards the doors. It was a curse that Evangeline was unfamiliar with. Whatever Goyle used, seemed alive and intent on killing them. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the wall of fire rear up and form into great fire spitting horses that charged towards them. Draco pulled her forward, easily out-pacing her, but gripping her hand even more tighter. Then they hit a dead end. Harry, Ron, and Hermione whirled around frantically looking for an escape. Crabbe and Goyle were nowhere to be seen. The wall of fire circled them, closing in with hissing creatures. Heat licked at their faces.

"What can we do?" Hermione screamed above the raging roar.

"Here!"

Harry tossed heavy looking broomsticks at them, Ron caught one and pulled Hermione on behind him. Draco caught the other, and Harry narrowed his eyes at him.

"Don't you dare drop her-"

"Shut it, Potter," Draco hissed, pulling Evangeline on behind him. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, and they kicked off into the air. They soared above the flames as winged dragons engulfed the area that they had just stood in. The heated air blasted at them and they made a beeline for the doors.
Suddenly Harry pulled away and headed toward a huge pile of desks, tilting dangerously in the air as it was eaten by the flames. Ron glared after him.

"IF WE DIE FOR HIM, I'LL KILL YOU, HARRY!"

Harry pulled Goyle onto his broom.

"To the door, the door!" Draco yelled, as a great chimaera rose up after them. They flew through the air as the last objects to be burned were flung into the air, Evangeline's hair flying wildly in her face. As they neared the great dark wooden doors, a smile grew on her face.

Then she was hit with something heavy and the broom dropped slightly as Draco yelled with alarm. Evangeline's fingers slipped from around his waist, her eyes following a rogue chair falling back into the flames only to be burnt before being fully consumed. She was falling backwards in midair, fear filling her. Draco turned, eyes wide, his hand reached out for her.

She grabbed at his hand, missing by barely an inch as she fell. Draco looked horrified as she dropped through the air towards the flames. A scream escaped her lips.

Was this it?

CLIFFHANGER! MWAHAHAHA! Just kidding! I am terribly sorry for my lack of posting, and almost three week absence . . . I was on vacation and there was no computer for me to write on! (dies slowly) I really need to invest in a laptop.

To my faithful reviewers:

xXMizz Alec VolturiXx: thank you! :)

The Mysterious E: Neville really became a man in the last couple of movies, and books. My favorite line from him is when he's on the train and he stands up when the Death Eaters come on board and says, "Hey, losers, he isn't here." AWESOME!

TheElegantFaerie: thanks! :)

indigofrisbee: wherefore art thou indigofrisbee! Your back! YAY! Don't worry, I'm not mad, I'm extremely excited! Sorry for the lateness of the chapter.

BANDN3RD: I'm so glad you like it! I realize that since it's summer I "should" be updating more . . . but yeah. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

And a big hug to all my other readers. Now, I must go explore this 'image manager' thingy!

~Ciao