𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 \\ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗷. 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝐿𝑋𝑋𝑉𝐼𝐼.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙮-𝙨𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

THE NEXT EVENING, it was Christmas Eve, and the Burrow was decorated and lively for the occasion. Harry and Caroline sat together on the sofa in the living room, speaking to Remus, Tonks and Mr. Weasley about Draco and Snape. "So, Voldemort has chosen Draco Malfoy for a mission." Remus said, clearly not believing the story.

        "We know it sounds bad." Harry said quickly, Caroline holding his hand, her chin on his shoulder as they sat beside each other.

        "Has it occurred to you, Harry, Carol, that Snape was simply pretending to offer Draco help, so he could find out what he was up to?" Remus poised, seated in an armchair across from the two teenagers.

        Caroline shook her head. "That's not what it sounded like." she said quietly.

        Tonks spoke up next, her hair a dark colour. "Perhaps they're right, Remus. I mean to make an Unbreakable Vow..." the woman said, winking at Harry and Caroline.

        "It comes down to whether or not you trust Dumbledore's judgement. Dumbledore trusts Snape, therefore I do." Remus insisted. Caroline could tell he was getting worse, knowing that the full moon rose that evening.

        "Dumbledore can make mistakes, he said so himself." Harry said, rubbing his thumb over the elastic that covered Caroline's hand.

        "You're blinded by hatred!" Remus shouted.

        "I'm not." said Harry, trying not to raise his voice.

        "Yes, you are," Remus continued. "People are disappearing, you two, daily. We can only place our trust in a handful of people. If we start fighting amongst ourselves, we're doomed." Remus glanced at Caroline, and she tilted her gaze away.

        Sharing a look with Caroline, Tonks stood and moved to Remus, walking away with him. Mr. Weasley remained, but he left a moment later. It was just Caroline and Harry alone, staring at each other, each thinking the same thing. And then Ron came in, sitting awkwardly beside Harry. A few minutes later, Harry left to talk to Mr. Weasley, and Caroline and Ron sat with Ginny, eating pies as they watched the fire in the fireplace.

        Later, Caroline said goodnight to Remus and Tonks, and they promised they would be back the next day. Harry had gone upstairs after talking to Mr. Weasley, and Caroline found him seated on one of the stairs, looking out the window. "Hey, you." Caroline said quietly, wearing one of his jumpers, her hair gathered in a neat ponytail at the base of her neck.

        Harry stood, taking her close to him, hands on her waist. "I love you. I don't say it enough." Harry said, and Caroline's face lit up.

        "I love you, too." but before they could press their lips together, there was a ball of flames lighting the lawn in front of the Burrow on fire.

        The fire encased the tall home in a circle, trapping it. Then a string of darkness, and Bellatrix Lestrange was appearing on the lawn, Caroline's heart stopping. She killed Sirius. Bellatrix was baiting Harry, but Harry was too blinded by rage to see that. He slipped out of Caroline's grip and ran down the stairs, ignoring her shouting after him.

        Bellatrix was running away through a gap in the fire as Harry reached the group of adults at the front door. "Harry, no!" Mr. Weasley shouted as Harry broke through them, racing after the Death Eater.

        "Remus!" Tonks yelled, following him as Remus ran after Harry.

        Then Caroline arrived, barely remembering to gather her wand as she sprinted after Harry. "Caroline!" Mrs. Weasley screamed, and Caroline could hear Mr. Weasley run after her.

        Remus and Tonks were taming the fires, and they tried to reach Caroline, but she was on a mission. Find Harry. Bellatrix taunted Harry through the fields as he chased her, Caroline not far behind. Caroline was terrified. Completely and utterly terrified. She knew other Death Eaters were out there, and she was alone in the dark fields. She tapped her ring, and Harry tapped his bracelet.

        They must've been so in sync that together they started running, listening to the sound of the other's footsteps to find each other again. Caroline's feet sloshed in shallow water, her converse filling with mud. She turned around quickly, hearing sounds. "Harry? Is that you?" Caroline asked into the dark night. It wasn't Harry.

        Fenrir Greyback snarled hauntingly, making his way through the field towards Caroline. His teeth were bared as he crept closer to the girl. She tried to raise her wand, but her hand was shaking far too much. Then Harry appeared, throwing himself in front of her, arm holding her body back protectively. "Stupefy!" Harry shouted, Greyback deflecting the spell.

        He disappeared in a cloud of darkness as Caroline and Harry stood unprotected, scanning their surroundings as they huddled together. Death Eaters were appearing, disappearing, and reappearing all around them. Remus, Tonks and Mr. Weasley were shouting their names, but the two were too distracted.

        Caroline managed to focus enough for her wand to work, shooting out spells and using defensive magic to protect herself. Harry was beside her, doing the same thing. Thankfully, Remus, Tonks and Mr. Weasley found them forming a circle around the teenagers. Harry snaked his arm around Caroline's waist, pulling her to him as the Death Eaters hidden in the fields left in darkness.

        But they were going towards the Burrow, and the group deep in the fields were able to see as the house was lit up in flames. Mr. Weasley ran there first, everyone followed. When Caroline and Harry arrived, the house was destroyed, completely set on fire. Everyone was outside, safe, and Caroline exhaled when she saw her two cats and Hedwig on the lawn.

        Harry held onto her shoulder as she lifted Penny and Marie, the Weasley's watching as their home was ravaged. But it was Harry and Caroline's home, too. Without the Burrow, where would they go when life was too tough to carry alone. Where would any of them go, on Christmas, with the most perfect holiday home, gone?

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —