*EXACTLY ONE MONTH LATER*
Emariepicked up a nicely foldedenvelopeat the bottom of her dormitory stairs. Across the front 'E.C.' was written in script. Every morning, she had a little envelope waiting for her. The first morning she found one, shehad stepped on it and heard it crinkle before she had realized what it was.
"Emarie, forgive me. I was wrong to ask you for something so potentially dangerous. I justvlauedyour and your intelligence very much. I wish you would talk to me; I don't mind leaving you notes, but I miss your voice." It was signed by Draco Malfoy.
Emarieshoved it in her schoolbag to add it to her collection pile in her nightstand. She has had to take extra care to avoid Draco more and more recently. The other day she had seen him, attempting to wait for her to go to dinner, but instead had fallen asleep. To avoid being caught, she began leaving at different times for her meals. That's it the exact time the letters started showing up. They always started the same way, "Emarieforgive me," but always held a different reason why Draco should be forgiven.
Focusing on the newest letter,Emariealmost walked into a post. "Wotcher!" A pink haired, petite woman said.
"Thanks,"Emariemurmered.
Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew she had seen that crazy-haired woman before.
"Are youEm-may-ree?" A short first yeargirl asked her.
"It's actually 'em-ma-ree'."Emariesaid, "but yes, that's me."
"I was told to give you this." The first year handedEmarieanother small envelope.
"Sweetheart, who gave this to you?"
"Over there- blond hair, prefect, he said he'd give me detention if I didn't give it to you."
"Thank you."
Emarieleft the Great Hall. She looked at the small envelope in her hands. She was about to tear it open when she noticed that herinitialsweren't on the front. She ripped it open and found a single piece of parchment. The parchment was ripped from the corner of a larger one.
"It's happening tonight. Don't stay in the inthe forest and stay safe. Don't try to follow me,Emarie. I'll find you again soon." The letter madeEmariefeel cold all over her body and she felt her fingers go numb.
"Hey, Harry!" The same pink haired woman said. She waved towards Harry Potter and his two friends, Hermione and RonWeasley.
"Hey, Tonks! What are you doing here?" Harry behind a corner so they wouldn't see her but she could still hear their conversation.
"Dumbledore asked members of the Order to guard the castle whenever he leaves the castle. He told us he's planning to leave tonight, so here I am."
"Are more of the Order joining you tonight?" Another female, Hermione, asked.
"Well I'm not going to defend the castle very well all by myself. I'm such a klutz." Tonks laughed, "I think Dumbledore said he'll have most of the Order here tonight."
Emariesank to the floor.
The entire Order would be here tonight andDumbledorewouldn't. She had to warn back into thecafeteriashe found him sitting at the table looking extremely nervous. "Draco!" She yelled loudly, several people turned to look at her.
"What are you doing here? Did you not get my note?" Draco stood up to meet her. He grabbed her shoulders, "you have to get out of here!"
"Draco!Listen to me!"
"They'll kill anyone in their way. I have to make sure you're safe."
"Listen-"
"I can't lose you."
"Draco, the entire Order is here and Dumbledoreisn't. He must've known."
"Emarie, please go to the Forest... you'll be safe there." Draco saidquietely.
"What about you?"
"I'll be okay; I've got Snape," he added in a whisper, "and in about thirty minutes, nearly a hundred Death Eaters will be showing up. Dumbledore will come back once he knows this school is under attack. He isn't a coward. The Order won't be able to survive an attack of this size."
"We're safe then?"Emaireasked.
As if the universe was working against them, they heard an enormous crash from somewhere over their heads.
"Death Eaters?"
"No, it's too early."
"The Order of the Phoenix?"
Draco andEmarielooked into each other's eyes. Panic began to break out as another loud crash sounded what seemed like directly outside of the Great Hall doors.
"Don't try to fight them. The Death Eaters must be here. They sound like they're fighting hard."
"Be safe,"Emariewhispered back.
"You too, now go. Head to the forest." The Great Hall door flew open andEmairetook in thesituation. Students and staff were fighting. It was hard tomake out who was who anymore, butEmariedidn't stop.
She ran until she couldn't anymore. Nearly to the Forest's edge,Emariecaught her breath. The Dark Mark had appeared above the Astronomy tower. She backed into the dark forest and slid downagiansta tree's trunk. "Lumos," she whispered. Light filled the small circle where she was sitting and to keep herself calm she began to think about her Muggle book safely tucked away in her dormitory.