𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 \\ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗷. 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝐿𝑋𝑋𝑉.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙮-𝙛𝙞𝙫𝙚

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

CAROLINE MET HARRY in the corridor. She didn't want to go to Slughorn's Christmas party, but maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Caroline found a simple black long-sleeved dress in her closet to wear, paired with heels. She freshened her curls, tying half of them up into a ponytail, stray pieces framing her face. "Don't say it." Caroline said when she neared Harry, finding him dressed neatly.

"You look beautiful." Harry smiled, and Caroline rolled her eyes.

"Enough. Let's get this over with." Caroline held onto Harry's extended arm, allowing him to lead her into the party, making forced conversation so she didn't have to.

Harry took an awkward picture with Slughorn, and then he found Caroline again, Neville coming up to them with a tray of drinks. "Neville. He's got you doing this?" Caroline asked, upset that Slughorn was playing such intense favouritism with his students.

Neville shrugged. "I didn't get into the Slug Club. It's okay, though. He's got Belby handing out towels in the loo." he said, offering them drinks once more.

"Oh, we're fine, mate, thanks." Harry said, and Neville nodded walking away.

From the corner of her eye, Caroline saw Hermione slipping under a curtain. She pulled Harry behind her as they made their way over to their friend. "Hermione. What are you doing?" Caroline asked.

"What happened to you?" Harry questioned as Caroline tucked some of Hermione's escaped hair behind her clip.

"I've just escaped. I mean, left Cormac under the mistletoe." Hermione admitted, breathing heavily.

"Cormac? That's who you invited?" Harry asked, about to smile. Caroline sensed this so she jabbed him in the ribs.

"I thought it would annoy Ron the most." Hermione crossed her arms after fixing Caroline's constellation necklace.

Caroline rolled her eyes. "He's disgusting, Hermione." she said, Harry's fingers dancing around her waist.

Hermione didn't disagree. "He's got more tentacles than a Snarfalump plant." the girl added.

A server poked his head into the curtain. "Dragon tartar?" he asked, holding the tray in front of them.

"No, I'm fine, thank you." Hermione said hurriedly, speaking for everyone.

"Just as well. They give one a horribly bad breath." the server began to leave.

"On second thought," Hermione lunged for the tray, grabbing it. "Might keep Cormac at bay." Hermione said as she filled her mouth.

Caroline smiled. "That desperate?" she teased, and then Caroline spied Cormac on the way over. "Oh, here he comes." at Caroline's words, Hermione pushed the tray into Harry's hands, taking Caroline by the wrist and ducking away with her.

The girls hid from Cormac with their friends, and then Caroline left to fix her hair. She didn't feel safe in the dark corridors that late, and Caroline wished she had brought someone with her so she didn't have to be alone. She was on edge, walking back to the party as quickly as she could, unaware that Draco and Snape had passed while she was freshening her curls.

Caroline was about to tap her ring to get Harry's attention, until she turned a corner, walking straight into someone. Her mouth was covered instantly and Caroline raised her fist to punch whoever was holding her in the face, until she saw it was Harry. She swiped his hand from her mouth. "You scared me–" Caroline said, Harry pushing his hand against her mouth again, his eyes telling her it was vital that she stay silent.

Together, hand in hand, the pair walked quickly and quietly, hiding behind a wall when they were close enough. Caroline quickly realised it was Snape and Draco that they were hiding from. "Maybe I did hex that Bell girl, maybe I didn't. What's it to you?" Draco shouted.

It sounded as though Snape pushed Draco against a wall. "I swore to protect you. I made the Unbreakable Vow." Snape said.

"I don't need protection. I was chosen for this. Out of all others. Me. I won't fail him." Draco spoke, a confused Caroline glancing to Harry for answers he feared he had.

"You're afraid, Draco. You attempt to conceal it, but it's obvious. Let me assist you." Snape insisted, growing angry.

"No!" Draco shouted. "I was chosen. This is my moment."

Harry and Caroline didn't dare move until they were sure Draco and Snape were gone. Caroline's head was held by Harry, who exhaled when they were alone. "Are you okay? You look scared." Harry said, inspecting his girlfriend carefully.

Caroline snapped in and out of focus. "I'm fine." she said, but she wasn't.

Harry's eyes trailed down to Caroline's hand, finding it twitching out of control, worse than ever. "Lana, your hand. What's wrong?" Harry was worried now, especially watching Caroline struggle to breathe.

        "I think... I think it's h-happening again." Caroline stammered, stressing as she tried to get her hand to stop moving, which resulted in her left hand starting to shake.

        Caroline had been suffering from panic attacks since the day Jacob was killed. They happened more often since her depression faded away. There was no real trigger, and when she was alone, it was terrifying. It was like a switch in her mind, and being alone in that dark corridor set it off. Harry was the only person who could effectively calm Caroline down. He knew what to do. "Okay. It's okay. You're going to take a deep breath. Just breathe. I know it's hard, but I'm right here. You want to go to your dorm?" Harry asked, running his hands up and down Caroline's shoulders.

        She nodded shakily, tears pricking her eyes. While they walked quickly back to Gryffindor Tower, Harry distracted Caroline as best as he could. It was the only thing he could really do to keep her grounded. Her dorm was empty, thankfully, so Harry undid her bed while she got changed, her hands shaking as she tied her hair into her satin cap, one of Harry's jumpers tugged over her form. They were going to the Burrow for holiday tomorrow, Caroline had to hold on to that.

        Penny and Marie instantly sensed that something was wrong with Caroline, so they cuddled up with her as soon as she laid down in her bed. "Harry..." Caroline whispered, her voice and hands still shaking.

        Harry sat down beside Caroline, drawing her head towards his chest, his hands holding hers in his soft grip. "Just breathe. Breathe through it. That's what Madam Pomfrey says, yeah? You took your calming draught?" Harry said, forcing Caroline to focus on her schedule she created, not on the dark hole she was fighting to stay out of.

        She nodded, drinking quickly from a vial of sleeping draught. "I'm sorry." Caroline said quietly, voice muffled by Harry's shirt that she clung to.

        "Don't be sorry. It's okay." Harry said in a soothing manner, holding Caroline, trying to get her to go to sleep.

        When her breathing evened out and the shaking in her hands calmed down, Harry made sure she was asleep before he unwound himself from her, pulling the blanket up to her shoulders. Harry pressed a kiss to her head before he left her dorm, running into Hermione. He filled the girl in on Caroline's panic attack, and Hermione sat with Caroline once she got ready for bed. The two best friends shared Caroline's bed. Caroline slept on and off, knowing that Hermione was there.

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