𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 \\ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗷. 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝑋𝐿𝑉𝐼𝐼.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙮-𝙨𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

THERE HADN'T BEEN anymore talk of what Hermione had brought up that rainy night for weeks, but Caroline knew that it would come up again. It was snowing at Hogwarts, and Caroline was growing worse. Harry worried for her daily, noticing that she ate less every day. Madam Pomfrey had taken to giving Caroline calming draughts every day to ease her body and allow her to rest. They worked some, but Caroline was growing thin and weak.

Professor Umbridge's continuous torments made matters worse, and Caroline was afraid that she was going to lose control and do things she would regret. Caroline was a very even tempered person, and she remained calm all the time, but Umbridge made that nearly impossible for Caroline. Most days after those lessons, she would leave as quickly as she could, rushing away to their next class before she could be stopped by their professor.

Harry was angry, as he had been for months, and he was only growing more irritable. Most days, he and Caroline sat quietly together, reading her poetry. It was the only thing that gave them both a sense of peace. Caroline was greatful for Harry's presence, whether it be toying with her coiled hair when they sat together, getting a smile out of her when she told him to stop, or holding Marie and Penny as they did homework. Hermione and Ron saw how close they had become. They saw the soft kisses Harry sometimes left on Caroline's temple, they saw Caroline constantly placing her hand on top of Harry's.

Nightmares came every time Caroline tried to sleep, and she had to work harder each day to hide the prominent bags residing under her dulled eyes. Every chance she got, Hermione would whisper to Caroline about how they needed to learn defensive magic, and how Harry was the only one who could do it. Eventually, Caroline grew annoyed with having the words repeated and asked Harry to teach them all.

She was the only one he listened to these days.

Caroline's curly hair that reached her shoulder was covered by a wool hat, her scarf around her neck and her gloved hands burried in her jacket pocket. They were walking through snowy Hogsmeade towards the Hog's Head, where Hermione had gathered a group of students to hopefully be taught by Harry. It truthfully didn't take much convincing from Caroline for Harry to agree to talk to their fellow students. He would teach her no matter what, just to keep her safe.

Harry walked next to Caroline, Hermione and Ron next to him as they traveled through the village. "This is mad. Who'd want to be taught by me? I'm a nutter, remember?" Harry said as the four arrived at the Hog's Head Bar.

Caroline rolled her eyes, nudging Harry with her elbow. "Look on the bright side; you can't be any worse than old toad face." Ron said, making Caroline crack a whisp of a smile.

"Thanks, Ron." Harry said sarcastically.

"I'm here for you, mate." Ron followed after Hermione, Caroline and Harry behind him as they moved down the narrow path to the tavern.

"Who's meeting us, Hermione?" Caroline asked, stepping in front of Ron to speak to her best friend.

Hermione hoped Caroline would not lose her control. "Just a couple of people." she said simply, and Caroline narrowed her eyes at the girl.

Ron pushed the door open, its creak echoing through the quiet air. "Lovely spot." the redhead commented, staring into the dusty tavern.

The four friends stood still as they watched a sheep walk through the bar, bleating. "Thought it would be safer somewhere off the beaten track." Caroline frowned when she saw all the people sitting in the bar. If it wasn't for Harry standing behind her, she certainly would've made a run for it.