Entranced (Draco Malfoy)

•thirty•

Dove Taylor and Draco Malfoy walk hurriedly to the Great Hall, the only place they can think of to go. Their hands are latched together tightly, as if no force on earth could separate them. They've been together a year, and nothing has come between them that has made them want to even begin to think of breaking up with each other.

As they enter the Great Hall, relief fills them noticeably. It was the right place to go. A good size of students sit at the Ravenclaw table, but the students are all from different Houses. Dove spots Megan Jones, who waves at her with a huge smile, Hannah Abbott, who jumps to her feet, Susan Bones, who pales as if she's about to faint, and Ernie MacMillan, who is already walking to the couple.

He pulls Dove into a tight hug, "Thank Godric," he breathes. "I'm so glad you're here. I've missed you."

"I'm missed you too," she murmurs. "What do you know?"

"We were given a chance to fight for Hogwarts' safety," he shrugs. "Why are you here?"

"We're the ones who are giving you this chance," Draco admits. He explains the situation as quickly as possible, "So, because of that, we're here to fight and hopefully save Dumbledore's life."

Ernie's jaw is practically on the floor, and he goes slightly pale, his forehead shining with slick sweat, "Good Merlin."

"Miss. Taylor, Mr. Malfoy," Professor McGonagall calls from the Head table, all of the other professors alongside her.

"We've got to go," the Hufflepuff murmurs to her shocked friend. "Try to keep that between us." The couple goes to the Head table. "Yes, professor?"

"Where should we position students? Do you know?"

If she's being honest, this feels like an exam. The professor knows where to place the students. She's been doing this for a long while. But she's asking Dove, despite the fact that Draco is right beside her. She can only wonder what this is for.

"At every entrance," she begins. "And also, I would set up some kind of barrier spell around the Room of Requirement. Something feels off about it. And maybe add someone from the Order of the Phoenix there just to ensure protection." She takes a breath, her mind racing a mile a minute, "And definitely a hidden team around the Astronomy Tower."

Professor McGonagall lets a rare smile slip onto her face for only a second before masking it, "Very well, Miss. Taylor. Where are you and Mr. Malfoy going to be?"

"The Astronomy Tower," they chorus.

"We have to be there," Draco affirms.

"Do we get to know why?" Professor Sprout asks drily.

The couple exchanges a look. Should they tell them? What if Blaise truly does pick the good side?

"Can we tell you after?" Dove asks cautiously. "It's not that we don't want to tell you or that we don't trust you, because we do, but..."

Draco, understanding she doesn't know how to finish, does so, "We want to make sure the reason why picks the right side. We'll tell you regardless, but we need to have all of our facts first."

"Go on then," Professor McGonagall encourages. "Take whoever you want with you."

"Who do we take?" Draco asks in a low voice as they walk away from the Head table.

"I want my parents at the Room of Requirement," Dove admits. "I think we should take Professor-- Er, Remus Lupin and Bill Weasley. Anyone else?"

"Ernie," Draco says instantly. "He's got determination."

"Mum, Dad," Dove calls. "Can you go man the Room of Requirement? I'd set up a boundary spell and wait outside it. I have a feeling that's where the action will be. I'd take Molly Weasley, Percy Weasley, and the twins with you."

"Okay," Lorraine agrees. "Be safe. Both of you."

No more words need to be exchanged. They all just know.

"Professor Lupin," Draco says as he approaches the man. "Would you come to the Astronomy Tower with me and Dove?"

Looking surprised, the ex-professor responds, "Sure. Is anyone else coming?"

"This lug is," Dove says proudly, carting Bill Weasley behind her. "And he brought the amazing Nymphadora Tonks!"

"Awe, Hufflepuff power!" Tonks responds, high-fiving Dove.

Bill, Remus, and Draco collectively roll their eyes. Ernie walks up a moment later, Dove having just spoken to him before she got Bill and Tonks.

"Shall we?" Remus asks.

They go.