𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 \\ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗷. 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝐿𝑉𝐼.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙮-𝙨𝙞𝙭

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

HERMIONE TRIED TO speak to Caroline when she and Harry arrived at the Room of Requirement, but Harry shook his head, and Hermione understood. As everyone arrived, Caroline didn't move from Harry's side, afraid of what would happen if he left her. Seamus wanted to talk to Caroline more than anything, but he knew it wouldn't do any good. Dean begged him to leave her alone, and he listened.

Caroline saw Neville looking at the mirror in the back of the room where Jacob and Cedric's pictures were posted. She abandoned Harry's side after fixing his sweater and ventured over to Neville. Caroline found him looking at a photo of the original Order of the Phoenix. Harry must've put it up. "You're worried because of her?" Caroline said quietly, following Neville's eyes to his mother and father.

Neville nodded. "Do you know what happened?" he asked Caroline, his gaze unchanging. Caroline nodded, feeling it unnecessary to have Neville repeat the tragedy of his parents. Caroline had only been hit with the Cruciatus Curse twice, but it was enough. She couldn't even imagine the pain Frank and Alice Longbottom suffered, or her own father for that matter.

"They're really strong, Nev. You look just like them." Caroline said gently, her eyes flicking from the picture to her friend.

"I'm quite proud to be their son," Neville said. "But I'm not sure I'm ready for everyone to know just yet." the boy spoke, and Caroline nodded.

She pointed to her own parents. "Those are mine. Well, set 'A', I suppose. Set 'B' didn't do much better." Caroline said. She thought of everything differently now. The way Crouch Jr., acting as Moody, taunted her with the Killing Curse and the way her parents died filled her with so much rage she didn't know how she hadn't exploded.

Neville didn't say anything right away. "They found your dad?" he asked.

"He's at St. Mungo's." Caroline shrugged. Neville understood.

"We'll protect each other. From Lestrange and Crouch Jr." Neville decided, looking at Caroline.

She let what appeared to be a smile slip. "Always."

They were working on patronuses. "Make it a powerful memory, the happiest you can remember. Allow it to fill you up," Harry walked between groups of students whose first patronuses were taking shape. "Keep trying, Seamus." Caroline glanced at Seamus and Dean for a moment, before turning back to Hermione and Ron.

Caroline's patronus wasn't taking shape today. She was too sad. "You'll get it back, Car." Ron said supportively, watching his jack russel terrier run from his wand.

"A full-bodied patronus is the most difficult to produce. But shield forms can be equally useful against a variety of opponents." Ginny's horse came into view, along with tons of other students successfully performing the spell.

Hermione's otter danced around her as Caroline tuned out Harry's words. She had done it loads of times before, it was her memories that were failing her. Luna's rabbit appeared, and Neville was getting closer and closer to his. Harry watched Caroline struggle and walked over to her. "What memory are you using?" he asked gently.

Caroline sighed, lowering her wand. "I tried Jacob and my parents, but that only made me sad. Even school memories aren't working anymore." she said, and Harry pulled her braids behind her back.

"Don't push yourself. It's okay." Harry said. He kissed Caroline's cheek and walked away from her.

Then a new memory popped into Caroline's mind. She had no idea why she didn't think of it before. It wasn't one exact moment, it was a series of them. The Astronomy Tower. Fourth Year. Caroline had so many Astronomy assignments that it made sense for her to spend her evenings completing all of her homework in the tower. Harry started coming with her. They talked, and laughed, and studied, every night for months. She smiled at how awkward they were before the recent Christmas. And Caroline waved her wand, a full-bodied black stallion rushing from her wand, galloping around the room.

Harry looked at her across the room. She wasn't happy, not even close, but maybe she would get there soon. Maybe they both would. And then, the walls started shaking. Quietly at first, and then louder. Caroline was between Fred and George as Harry and Nigel, who happened to be there, moved closer to the sound. The lights flickered, and the mirror on one of the walls shattered.

Someone was there, everyone could tell. The twins raised their wands as Nigel inspected the hole in the brick wall. Caroline was afraid to breathe as she heard Umbridge's aggravating voice. "I'll make short work of this," Harry was already rushing Nigel away as Umbridge raised her wand. "Bombarda Maxima!" there was an explosion, and Harry telling everyone to run.

When the wall was blown away, Umbridge was there with Mr. Filch and a handful of Slytherins. Instantly, Caroline helped Harry stand, checking him over. He was fine, and she could breathe again, just barely. Draco appeared, holding Cho. It was her. Caroline was glued to Harry's side, terrified. "Get them." Umbridge seethed, but it was only Harry she managed to get.

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