The ground had become cold and Emarie dozed lightly. She fought to stay awake, but her body was exhausted.
"Emarie!" The shout startled her out of her light sleep. She blinked her emerald eyes and the world came back into focus. She looked toward the barely visible castle where she saw shadows crowded around the bottom of the Astronomy Tower. "Oh, God," she whispered.
"Emarie?" The voice sounded much closer. She stated as silent as possible, but she heard the crunch of the dead leaves growing steadily closer.
"Nox," she whispered as quietly as she could. She was left in complete darkness. She didn't know why she was hiding from Draco, but she knew she wouldn't be able to face Draco if he had actually completed his task.
The light from Draco's wand was visible now to her. "Emarie, I know you're over here."
He didn't know; he was just trying to get her to talk.
He stepped out in front of her and she drew her knees up close to her chest. He must have heard her breathing because he crouched down in front of her and grabbed her cold hands.
He hung his head down, "I couldn't do it," he whispered.
"Is he..?" Emarie couldn't finish.
"Yes." Draco said, "Snape had to do it; we were out of time."
"Snape?"
"He is waiting for me. We're going back to my parent's home."
"What's going on at the castle?"
"Potter alerted the Order of the Phoenix to our diversion. He tried chasing after Snape and I, but couldn't keep up so he went back to be with his precious headmaster
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"The other students?"
"I'm not sure. You need to go back; before they figure out you've been missing. Most of the students were out of bed when they heard the fighting, but they'll be trying to restore order."
"I want to go with you," Emarie whispered.
Draco looked at her with sadness in his eyes, "the parents will be picking up their students soon."
"Draco!" Emarie heard Professor Snape's cold voice call out.
"I have to go," he said, "I will make sure your parents come to get you. I'll make sure they know."
"Draco!" Snape's voice echoed again.
"Be safe!" Emarie cried.
Draco lost all resolve and kissed Emarie. There were tears sliding down her face but her hands wound through Draco's soft hair.
The broke apart and Emarie leaned her head on Draco's chest. "Promise me you'll be safe?"
"Always," Draco kissed her again but broke apart quickly. "I'll see you soon."
The gave each other one last hug and went their different ways.
When Emarie returned to the castle, she didn't have to worry about sneaking back in. There was complete chaos happening around her.
Most people were ushered inside the Great Hall, but some were left in the corridors outside. Emarie managed to to squeeze into the Great Hall and sit near the other huddled Slytherins in her year.
Minerva McGonagall stood at the headmaster's podium. She didn't say anything, but the entire room silenced before her. "A terrible event has befell our school tonight," she began, "Albus Dumbledore has died." Professor McGonagall choked up, "his wishes were to be buried here on school grounds. Hogwarts was his home and forever will be."
Emarie looked around at the other students in the Great Hall, some of which weren't students at all, she came to realize. There were several sets of parents sitting among the teenage children. There were even some adults who weren't sitting with children at all. They were fans, admires, worshippers of the Great Albus Dumbledore. "News travels fast," Emarie muttered to no one in particular.
"Students will have an option depending on their parents' wishes. Students can decide whether they want the Hogwarts Express to bring them home tomorrow morning or wait until after Professor Dumbledore has been put to rest." Professor McGonagall spoke gracefully.
Emarie's breath caught in her throat.
"If any student wishes to leave, the carriages will be outside the front gates at exactly nine-thirty and the Hogwarts Express will be leaving at eleven. Parents may also arrive to escort their children home."
Emarie knew that all of the Gryffindors would be staying, it was a toss up whether or not the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs would be staying. She figured the only reason they would not stay would be because of their scared parents. The Slytherins were a different story, completely. Many of their families would rejoice that the liberal Dumbledore was dead and would not be infecting the precious minds of their children, but some were sentimental and traditional and would stay just as tradition dictates.
Emarie was stuck in the middle; her parents held no ties to the late headmaster, but they also would not be rejoicing in public eyes.
"Let's have a moment of silence for the wonderful Albus Dumbledore!" Professor McGonagall's voice went silent and she lowered her head.
Within seconds, the moment was over, and the Great Hall was being emptied. "Sleep well, students." McGonagall said, "Slytherins, please take care to notice your new Head of House will be Professor Slughorn."
Emarie rolled her eyes. She followed the crowd to the common room. Before slipping into her dormitory, she heard the gossip and rumors about where Professor Snape and Draco went to. Emarie rolled her eyes once more and crawled into bed. A few tears rolled down her face before finally succumbing to sleep.