Half-Blood Princess Book Seven

Chapter 20 - Goodbye For Now

Third-Person POV

27th February 1998

It had been over a week since Draco had asked Tilly to marry him, and even after their sensual night together, Tilly had to make it clear to Draco they had to wait until the war was over. Surprisingly he didn't care; he was just happy he knew that if they got out of this alive, he would be able to spend the rest of his life with the woman of his dreams.

The school was back to normal, and Snape had complete control again. He had grown much more confident and didn't need Tilly around the school to help anymore. The Carrows' had been stopped and knew not to try to take Snape down. Both knew that as the war came closer, the Carrows' would be given instructions by Voldemort to weaken the students, but they could hold that off... for now.

Tilly woke up this morning beside Draco, like she has for a week, realising this was the last morning for possibly months she would be able to see her fiancé. The past week has been relaxing, but Tilly had been away from the Trio long enough and needed to get back to them soon before they kept moving without her. She had decided to say goodbye to her friends first, letting them know where she was going and to hold on until she returned, most likely when the war was upon them. Then her Dad, just asking him to keep Voldemort off her track as long as he can and not blow their covers. And finally, leave after telling Draco. On the walk towards the Gryffindor Common Room, Tilly is trying to think what she is going to say to Draco, but can't think of anything, as she pushes the door open, seeing her group of friends playing games around the fireplace.

"Hey guys," she calls as she sits down on the couch arm.

"Hey, Tilly," Neville answers back with a smile and little wave before winning chess against Seamus.

"Hello, Tilly," Luna skips over to the girl with Ginny next to her.

"What are you doing here. We assumed you were keeping an eye on the Carrows'." The ginner hair girl asked. Ginny must have come of quidditch as she had her uniform on, covered in dirt and muck.

"That's why I'm here." Tilly turns to face the rest of the room. "It's time for me to leave. I need to get back to the Trio and back on our hunt for Horcrux's if we want to defeat him."

"What about the Carrows'? Or if Snape loses his backbone again?" Seamus speaks up, jumping up from his chair.

"We need you here. You scare them; you frighten them all; without you, we have nothing!" One random kid yells, causing the whole room to agree with him.

"That's not true!" Tilly says sternly, her booming voice silencing the room. "I may be the Chosen One and James too, but that doesn't mean you guys are nothing without us." Tilly smiles at everyone. "We fight for you; we live for you. Our hearts beat for you. Without you, we have nothing to fight for. You give us a purpose."

"Not only that, but we'll also hold down the fort and us older kids with protecting the younger ones," Neville speaks up, standing beside his friend, giving her a friendly smile, encouraging her to leave if she has to.

She stands before her Dad, explaining the same she did to her friends a few minutes ago.

"We'll be okay without you," Snape says, giving Tilly a warm hug. "But the closer the war gets, the hard it will become."

"I know that, Dad, that's why I'm leaving now. So the Trio and I have as much time as possible to find the rest of his Horcruxes." Snape nods, sitting back down behind his desk, going back to the book he was looking through. Tilly stood silently in front of him, not saying anything nor moving, debating whether to tell her Dad about her and Draco or not. "What's on your mind?" Snape mutters, not looking up from the workbook.