𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 \\ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗷. 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝐶𝐼𝑋.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙣𝙚-𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙙-𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙚

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

AS ALL OF the students were summoned to the Great Hall, Hermione and Ron stayed back to meet the Order when they arrived. Caroline wanted to see Remus as soon as he got their, but she couldn't leave Harry. Everyone was in danger because of them, they had to stick together. Caroline and Harry found Gryffindor robes and pulled them on, assimilating quite well into the crowd of students gathered in the Great Hall.

        The students marched as one like a cult, an army, and Caroline hated it. Her and Harry held hands tightly, walking beside Ginny down the stairs. Snape passed through a gap in the students once they assembled in the Great Hall, cape blowing behind him as he reached where Dumbledore used to stand. There was darkness in the Great Hall. No stars in the sky, thick clouds blocking the moon. This wasn't the night where they would die.

        "Many of you are surely wondering why I have summoned you at this hour. It's come to my attention that earlier this evening, Harry Potter and Caroline Taylor-Jones were sighted in Hogsmeade," a herd of hushed whispers fell over the crowd, and Harry held Caroline's hand tighter. "Now... should anyone, student or staff, attempt to aid Mr. Potter and Miss Taylor-Jones, they will be punished in a manner consistent with the severity of their transcription. Furthermore... any person found to have knowledge of these events  who fails to come forward... will be treated as equally guilty," Snape stalked through the rows of students. "Now then, if anyone in here has any knowledge of Mr. Potter and Miss Taylor-Jones's movements this evening, I invite them to step forward now."

        Caroline looked at Harry, and he nodded. Together, hand in hand, they stepped out from their hiding place, everyone in the hall gasping and murmuring at the sight of them, turning to where they walked towards Snape. "It seems, despite your exhaustive defensive strategies, you still have a security problem, Headmaster." Harry spoke, the doors of the Great Hall opening to reveal the Order, with the twins, Bill, Fleur, Hermione and Ron with them. Remus exhaled visibly when he saw the back of Caroline's head.

        "We're afraid it's quite extensive. Surely, it's not your fault, though. You're just following You-Know-Who's orders." Caroline sneered, her dark braids over her shoulders.

        "How dare you stand where he stood?" Harry said harshly. "Tell them how it happened that night! Tell them how you looked him in the eye, a man who trusted you, and killed him! Tell them!" Harry shouted. Caroline gripped his hand, intertwining their fingers, eager to calm his racing heart.

        Snape raised his wand, students gasping. Caroline raised hers too, the shouts getting louder. Then, Professor Mcgonagall swopped in, students backing against the walls as she pushed Harry and Caroline aside, stepping in front of them. Snape was clearly intimidated by the woman who was ready to fight him. Professor Mcgonagall struck Snape ten times with a curse, and all he did was reflect it. He wrapped himself in a black cloud and darted out the window, shattering it. "Coward!" Professor Mcgonagall screamed after him.

        Everyone cheered and applauded as Professor Mcgonagall put firelight in all of the torches, bringing warmth back to the Hall. Caroline exhaled in relief, ripping off of her robe, leaving Harry's side and rushing over to the Order, throwing her arms around Remus. "You named him Teddy?" Caroline asked quickly, Remus hugging her tightly.

        "Edward Hector Lupin. We're calling him Teddy," Remus revealed his son's full name that honoured Caroline's father, and she smiled. "We want you and Harry to be his godparents." Remus said, and Caroline's eyes lit up.