𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 \\ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗷. 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝐶𝑋.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙣𝙚-𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙙-𝙩𝙚𝙣

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

THEY RUSHED THROUGH the moving staircases, hand in hand, too afraid to let each other go. They were fighting against the flood of students, trying to go up. Caroline still didn't know where they were going. "Harry!" Ron shouted, and they turned on a platform between stairs. "Hermione and I have been thinking. It doesn't matter if we find a horcrux." the redhead spoke.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, eyes wide.

"Unless we can destroy it." Hermione said, next to Ron.

"So, we were thinking–" Ron started.

Hermione was looking only at him. "Well, Ron was thinking, it was Ron's idea. It's completely brilliant." she interrupted.

Caroline eyed Hermione carefully. "Keep going." she rushed them.

"You destroyed Tom Riddle's diary with a Basilisk fang, right?" Ron asked, Harry nodded. "Well, me and Hermione think we know where we might find one." the Chamber of Secrets. Ron truly was brilliant from time to time.

"Okay. Okay, but take this. That way, you can find us when you get back." Harry said, handing Ron the Marauder's Map, taking Caroline by the hand once more.

"Where are you going?" Hermione called after them.

"Ravenclaw common room. Gotta start somewhere." Harry said with a sigh, and he and Caroline began scaling the stairs to Ravenclaw Tower once more.

Breathing heavily, Caroline walked behind Harry through the many staircases. Then Luna appeared. "Harry, wait! I need to talk to you!" Luna shouted, following them through the winding staircases.

"I'm a bit preoccupied at the moment, Luna." Harry brushed off.

"You're not going to find anything where you're going. You're wasting your time!" Luna said quickly.

Harry sighed. "Look, we'll talk later, okay, Luna?" he said, continuing to walk.

"Harry?" Luna tried again. Caroline tried to get Harry to stop but he wouldn't.

"Later." Harry pushed.

But Luna wouldn't take no for an answer. "Harry Potter! You listen to me right now!" Luna shouted, and Harry froze, turning around.

He looked at Caroline. "Don't look at me." she said with a smile.

Harry looked away from his girlfriend, down at Luna. "Do you remember what Cho said about Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem? There's not a person alive who's seen it. It's obvious, isn't it? We have to talk to someone who's dead." Luna explained calmly.

"Obvious? Yeah, sure," Caroline muttered under her breath as they watched the protective spells coming down around the castle. "Wow." Caroline said.

"It's very impressive, isn't it?" Luna voiced her thoughts.

Harry began to follow Luna, but Caroline stopped him. "Go on. I have to find the Order." Caroline said. There were things she needed to do before the battle started.

Harry knew he couldn't argue. "Use your ring if you're in trouble. I mean it," he made her promise, kissing her once. "I love you." Harry fixed her necklace stack.

"I love you, too." she kissed him briefly before she left, running down the stairs and through the corridors. The Order needed her, and she needed them.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

WHEN CAROLINE FINALLY found her godfather, the protective enchantments were being blasted by Death Eaters outside. It was beautiful, and terrifying at the same time. Kingsley was there, as well as Dean. "Hey, Dean. On second thoughts, tell Professor McGonagall we might need one or two more wands this side." Kingsley said.

"Hi!" Caroline said brightly, waving to Dean, Kingsley and Remus as they turned around. "My boyfriend's talking to ghosts, so I'm a free agent." she said, her godfather sighing.

"You stick close to me." Remus instructed, and Caroline hugged Dean as the boy left, running into Mr. Weasley and the twins on his way.

Caroline leant into her uncle's side as she watched the scene outside, his hand smoothing down her braids as he held her. "It is the quality of one's convictions that determines one's success, not the number of followers." Remus said, the twins passing by.

"Who said that?" Kingsley asked.

"Me." Remus answered, pushing a kiss into Caroline's head like Tonks always did.

"You're pretty wise, old man." Caroline teased, watching as the Death Eaters grew nearer. They would be fine, when the day was over.

Then, a moment later, Tonks appeared, Caroline's eyes widening as she broke apart from Remus. "My sweet girl. You're okay!" Tonks shouted in relief, running over to Caroline, sweeping the girl into her arms.

Caroline almost cried. She was here and safe. "I missed you. So much." Caroline said into Tonks's shoulder. Her aunt, her godmother, the woman who made her feel at home, like she had a family again.

"Teddy will want to meet you. His godmother, I mean." Tonks smiled, ruffling Caroline's hair.

She turned and rushed into Remus's arms. "You shouldn't have!" Remus said as he held her. Caroline assumed he had begged her to stay home. "It's Teddy who needs you."

"He'll sleep till dawn and snore like his father. It's you that needs me tonight. And our little hero." Tonks pulled back from her husband, still in his arms, extending a hand to Caroline's chin.

Caroline wanted to stay in that moment forever, but she couldn't. Not while Harry was alone. "I have to find Harry. I love you, I'll see you soon, and I can't wait to meet Teddy." Caroline shouted, hugging both Remus and Tonks before she turned and left, hearing them shout that they loved her, too.

The barrier of enchantments was about to be destroyed, and Caroline needed to find Harry before that happened. Caroline was running fast, faster than ever. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw it happen. The Death Eaters were in the grounds, running at them. The castle was being taken down, chaos occurring inside. Everyone was screaming, taking cover as Death Eaters flew in. And then, on the stairs, Caroline found him.

Ginny and Neville had just spoken to him, and he was standing still. Then, he saw her. Caroline pushed through crowds of students, running at him. Harry caught her in his arms as she threw herself at him, kissing him, long and hard. They breathed together, Harry holding her waist. "Ron and Hermione destroyed the cup. I know where to find the diadem." Harry said, madness encircling them.

"Tonks is here. You-Know-Who's coming." Caroline updated him, fingers on the nape of his neck.

Harry nodded, breathing heavily. He kissed her again for good measure, in case it was the last time. But it wouldn't be. It couldn't be. "Let's go." he said, taking her by the hand.

Caroline followed him blindly. "Where are we going?" she asked, ducking to avoid a falling lantern.

"The Room of Requirement." Harry announced, and Caroline hid her blush. They had spent a lot of time in that room over the course of sixth year. They kept running, as fast as they could go. There was no time to die now. Caroline was getting sick and tired of running from death, of saving people. She wanted to be a kid again.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —