Sage | H. GRANGER

forty seven

Like the ticking of a clock, Sage Whitaker's heart thumped against her chest. Mere moments ago she had been withering on the floor due to a curse that came from the wand of a Carrow who had harmed her time and time before. Her limbs still aches from the phantom sensation. Harry and McGonagall spoke briefly, securing the plan to give Harry whatever time he needed to find the diadem. Sage looked past them to the Slytherin students who stayed behind. Nervous glances were being shared, whispers of fear and tearful eyes seemed to float from them. Her heart ached for them. For herself. She understood the pain that came from the choice, she knew it all too well. A flicker of remembering caused Sage to stiffen. Draco.

She knew it was a foolish thought to hope that he would be among the students. Sage knew he wasn't there. But, her eyes scanned the crowd nonetheless, hoping to clash with the steely gray of the Malfoy boy.

"I didn't see him either." Hermione broke Sage's focus. Her warmth flooded Sage's senses as she felt Hermione join her side. "I don't think he's made it here."

Sage heaved a sigh. Whether it was relief or anxiety, she couldn't tell. Maybe he wouldn't be here when the time came. Maybe his father finally grew a backbone and fled, or maybe his mother finally stood up for her son. Maybe, just maybe he would get out of this.

"We're going." Hermione chimed softly, pulling Sage along with her as Harry led the four of them out of the Hall. Sage gave the Slytherin students a fleeting glance. For a moment, her eyes locked with the hauntingly blue ones of a young girl. She had a white scar running across her brow, trailing along the side of her face to her jawline. She couldn't have been older than 15. A defiant gleam sparkled in her eyes. A determination that matched one Sage felt once, many moons ago. The young, nameless girl gave her a nod. A small sign of acknowledgement. A whispered message of loyalty. Sage pried her stare away from the girl and swallowed the lump in her throat.

The group stuck closely together as Ron spoke up urgently, avoiding the chaos of students and staff sweeping past them to the staircases.

"Harry, Hermione and I have been thinking. It doesn't really matter if we find the Horcrux."

Harry stopped, turning to look at Ron in confusion. Sage furrowed a brow at the duo before her.

"What're you saying?" Harry questioned.

"Unless we can destroy it." Hermione spoke up, sharing a supportive look with Ron. Sage glanced at the chaos around them, hoping she would (or wouldn't) spot the familiar gleam of platinum hair among the crowd.

"So we were thinking-" Hermione cut Ron's sentence short. "You were thinking. It's Ron's idea. And it's brilliant."

Harry gave the two a quizzical look, waiting for them to get to the point.

"You destroyed Tom Riddle's Diary with a Basilisk fang, right? Well, we know where we might find one, don't we?"

Sage looked at Harry, then back to Ron and Hermione.

"Okay, but take this. That way you can find me when you get back." Harry hands Hermione the Marauder's Map. "Sage and I will go to the Ravenclaw Common Room. Gotta start somewhere."

"Wait. Why?" Hermione questioned, a flash of panic flickered through her eyes.

"Just a feeling." He spoke lightly. Sage swallowed harshly, looking back to the crowd of students that were preparing for the upcoming battle. She couldn't bear to face Hermione and the look of dread that appeared on her freckled face.

"A feeling?" Hermione asked tightly, her panic turning into anger. Her future was at risk and Harry was willing to bet it all on a feeling?

"I don't know." Harry answered, the calm of his voice fighting against the clamor of chaos around him. "It's a shot in the dark, but maybe there's something there."