Ayleen sighed and hurried through the hallways of Hogwarts. Harry had been right, the school was terrible. Though her father had returned as headmaster, it didn't change something for Ayleen, because they had to avoid each other, because everybody thought that he had betrayed their side. Also death eaters had found their way into the school. With the Carrows as their teachers in dark arts as it was called now they had to learn how to use the unforgivable curses. She shivered at the thought of those horrible lessons. What troubled the girl further was that Harry had stayed true to his word and really hadn't returned to Hogwarts. She had last seen him at the wedding of Fleur and Bill, and since then there had been no sign of him. Ayleen could only hope that this meant that he was still alive. Suddenly someone grabbed her at her wrist and pulled her into an alcove. She wanted to scream as a callused was put on her mouth. "Psst it's me", a familiar voice whispered and the hand was slowly moved from her mouth. "Draco what are you doing?" Ayleen hissed hitting his chest. Draco lightened the alcove with the wand in his hand. Once again, it tore Ayleen's heart apart to see him so torn apart. "Also nice to see you again", Draco said and brushed her hair behind her ear. "Draco…" Ayleen begged and closed her eyes. "I know, that nobody should see us together, but first of all I missed you and second I need to tell you something important", Draco insisted. "Oh yeah?" Ayleen asked raising an eyebrow skeptically. Draco nodded. "I've seen Potter." Ayleens eyes widened. "What? When?" she demanded to know. "At easter break. Snatchers caught him, Granger and the weasel and brought them to the manor. He received an engorgio but I recognized him." "Are they still in the manor?" Ayleen wanted to know. Draco shook his head. "Dobby helped them to escape." Ayleen nodded and swallowed. After all Ayleen knew that her brother had been alive a few weeks ago and that relieved her. "Thanks Draco", Ayleen said kissed his cheek and left the alcove.
Nervous Ayleen stood between the students in the great hall. Her father had called all students here. Apparently Harry had been spotted in Hogsmeade. She hoped that it was fake news, then if he was really on his way to the school, he would sign his death sentence. "Well as you might have heard Harry Potter is supposed to be here in the castle. If anyone knows where he is, they shall step forward and tell me. You can be sure that you will receive a princely reward," said Severus. Ayleen saw how someone push their way out of the ranks of the students in front of her. She couldn't believe that someone would hand her brother over. A Slytherin maybe but not a Gryffindor. The student had pulled the hood of his cloak into its face, so Ayleen couldn't see who it was. When he reached the aisle between the two groups of students he pulled the cloak from his head. Ayleen's eyes widened when she saw that it was Harry. Had he gone mad, what was he doing here. "Mr. Potter nice to see that you've come to your senses" Severus said. He tried to step closer to Harry but Professor McGonagall stepped in his way. "Only over my dead body Snape", she hissed and deflected the curse Severus send her was easily. She send a curse at Snape, Ayleen saw how her father stumbled back. The doors to the great hall opened and a great part of the order of the phoenix and some aurors entered. Panicked Severus looked around, until his gaze fell on Ayleen, his eyes became sad before he jumped out the window. "Such a coward", Professor McGonagall hissed. In the meantime Ayleen had freed herself from her stupor and was fighting her way through the students. "Harry!" she called and hugged her brother. Harry pulled his little sister close. "Where have you been?" Ayleen asked looking up at Harry with tears in her eyes. "Later", Harry said and turned to Professor McGonagall. "Professor I need your help", Harry said to his teacher. "All you want Potter, but first. Mr. Filch why don't you bring the Slytherins back into the dungeons", McGonagall asked. The caretaker grumbled unhappily but then did what he was asked to do.
Together with the perfects Ayleen had helped to evacuate the minors and all who didn't want to fight from castle. The school was already in chaos and she had no idea where Harry was. He had spoken with Professor McGonagall and had then disappeared. The next time she met Harry and his friends, they were full of soot. "What happened with you?" she asked and followed them through the school. "Crabbe started a fiendfyre in the room of requirement and it got out of control", Harry said moving forward. "What?" Ayleen said shocked. Fiendfyre was highly dangerous if not controlled. "Yeah, he Goyle and Malfoy followed us there and to kill us he started it. But he couldn't control it", Hermione explained. "How did you get out of there?" Ayleen asked. "Brooms and don't worry Harry saved Malfoy", Ron growled. Ayleen was relieved that Draco was fine. "And where are you going now?" Ayleen wanted to know. "The shrieking shack, we have something to do there", Harry said. Ayleen decided to simply accompany her brother. They hurried past the great hall and Ayleen didn't dare to look. As they went across the ground to the whipping willow she tried to focus on the way. As they reached the tree Hermione froze him with an immobilus. Ayleen followed into the underground tunnel. She was glad that she wasn't so tall because the tunnel was narrow and not very high. For a while she stumbled through the darkness until she saw a small beam of light. Harry put his finger on his lips and pressed the board open a little more. Through the gab Ayleen could spot her father and Voldemort. "Severus can you tell me, why the elder wand doesn't obey me?" Voldemort wanted to know. "You've cast extraordinary spells with it, my lord" Ayleen heard her father say. "That's because I'm an extraordinary wizard, but the spells were just average. No Severus, it doesn't recognize me as his master", Voldemort hissed. "My lord?" Severus said hesitantly. "A wand only obeys the one who wins it from its previous owner. So Severus your no longer useful for me", Voldemort said coldly and let the bubble, in which his snake floated, fly forwards him. Severus' upper body got caught in it and the snake bit him. Ayleen slapped her hands over her mouth to keep from crying out. When Severus slumped down Voldemort let his snake float back to his side. "Well done Nagini, let's go", she heard Voldemort say. As soon as the steps disappeared, Ayleen pressed past Harry and pushed the board completely away. As fast as she could she hurried to her father's side. "Dad" she said and tears already streamed down her face. Severus didn't pay attention to his daughter he only saw Harry who had followed his sister through the hole. "Potter" he said weakly. Quickly Harry also hurried to his side and pressed his hands to the wound on his neck. "Don't worry Professor, you wont die. Hermione surely has something that can help you", Harry said desperately and looked at Hermione who just shook her head sadly. "Take her", Severus panted and Harry saw the tear streaming down his face. "Hermione quick a vial." Hermione handed Harry the desired vessel in which Harry caught the tear. "You have the eyes of your mother", Severus said weakly. Then he finally turned to Ayleen. "I'm sorry", he panted. Ayleen shook her head. "You can't die please Dad", Ayleen begged but Severus could no longer hear her. Ayleen started to sob and buried her face in Severus' chest. Suddenly Voldemort's voice rang out in the silence. "Residents of Hogwarts you fought bravely. That's why I will give you an hour in which you can put your dead aside. Harry Potter now I speak directly to you, I will wait for you in the forbidden forest. If you let the deadline pass, then we will resume the fight and this time I will be there and I will kill anyone who gets in my way. So think carefully Harry Potter, whether you want to allow more magical blood to be spilled for you." Harry got to his feet. "Let's go. Ayleen?" he said looking at his sister. She didn't raise her head and only shook it. Harry sighed and mentioned Hermione and Ron to follow him.
Ayleen had enough, it was all too much. So many people had already given their lives in this war. Now her father was also one of the victims. She didn't knew how long she sat at his side, but somewhen she heard how Voldemort announced that Harry was also dead. Ayleen put her head in her neck and groaned, would that never stop. She remained sitting next to Severus' lifeless body for a while, then she stood up. Even if they had lost the war, maybe she wound find someone who could clear away the body, at the moment she had no power for it. Powerless she dragged herself back through the underground tunnel back to the grounds. As she turned up under the whipping willow she was blinded by the sunlight but she couldn't feel it's warmth. It was like she had died along with her father and brother. She walked across the grounds and wondered slightly that there were no death eaters around. The gate to the school was open, she entered and went to the great hall. What she saw there surprised her. The students, teachers and helpers of the battle sat there and talked with each other. The mood seemed a little depressed, but they seemed to be doing well. Ayleen had thought that the death eaters would surely torture them. "Ayleen", she heard someone call her name and was sure that her mind was playing tricks on her. As Ayleen turned around her heart stopped. There stood Harry, looking a little battered, but alive. Without thinking, Ayleen pounced on her brother and threw herself at his neck. Harry stumbled back a few steps and wrapped his arms around her. "Harry", Ayleen sobbed against his chest. "You're alive", she said looking up at him. Harry nodded brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, we did it Voldemort is gone", he said. Ayleen didn't care how he had done it, she was just glad that he had. "I will make sure that someone gets Professor Snape we couldn't have done it. without him And than we should talk, but not today." "Thanks Harry. I think you're right", Ayleen replied finally letting go of her brother. "I love you", Harry said kissing her forehead. Harry looked over his shoulder and sighed. Ayleen slightly bend to the side to see where her brother was looking. Surprised her eyes widened, there at the Slytherin table sat Draco with his parents and seemed quite lost. "I think he needs you now", Harry said and pulled something from his trouser pocket. At a closer look Ayleen recognized Draco's wand. "Would you give it back to him for me," Harry asked, pressing the wand into Ayleen's hand. "What about you?" Ayleen wanted to know and looked at the plain wand. "Don't worry about me, I get one as soon as Ollivander opens again." Harry shrugged and disappeared from the hall. Ayleen looked after her brother. She could understand, that after all he went through he wanted his peace. When she had regained her composure, she made her way to Draco. "Draco", she said softly as she reached the three Malfoys. A little startled the blond looked up at her. "Ay-Ayleen", he stuttered and let go of his parents. "I'm so glad that you're alright", he said and wrapped his arms around her. Ayleen didn't say anything, just buried her face in his chest and breathed in his familiar scent. She was incredibly happy that he had survived. "Here, let me give you this from Harry," she said as Draco finally let go of her and handed him his wand. "My wand", Draco said surprised and took it. "Why is he doing this?" he asked looking at Ayleen in amazement. She just shrugged, sometimes she didn't really get her brother. "First he safes my life and then this", Draco said shaking his head. "May I sit with you?" Ayleen asked finally and wrapped her arms around herself. Suddenly she felt incredibly cold. "Doesn't it make you uncomfortable to be seen with Death Eaters?" Draco wanted to know. "My father had been a death eater too, don't forget that", Ayleen said and noticed how tears gathered in her eyes again. Draco looked at her worriedly. "Ayleen what's with uncle Sev?" Ayleen could only shake her head, the tears already streaming down her cheeks again and Draco wrapped his arms around her once more. "I'm so sorry", he whispered while Ayleen clung to him desperately. Draco stroked her back comfortingly. He knew, that they were facing difficult times now, but he would be there for Ayleen. They would be there for each other. Tenderly he breathed a kiss on her head and hoped that she knew that he would not leave her alone if it was in his power to do so.