Half-Blood Princess Book Two

Chapter 8 - Saving Everyone

Third Person POV

10th October 1992 – Early Morning (3 am)

All were sleeping peacefully; all but four. Ginny riddled with nightmares. Draco pacing in wait for Tilly to come back. Harry and Tilly having the same voice repeat the same words over and over. Tilly wakes with a gasp for air, sitting up straight, drenched in her sweat. The squeaking from Ginny's bed, from Ginny rolling around in fear, finds Tilly's ears. Tilly gets out of bed and shakes Ginny awake; who panics and starts to breathe heavily.

"Gin, Gin," Tilly whispers. "You're ok. Breath with me," Tilly slows her breath, and slowly Ginny can bring her breathing back to normal.

"Thanks, Tills." Tilly nods, opening her arms, rocking Ginny back to sleep. Tilly hand Ginny a drink of water; which she slipped some Dreamless Sleep potion; her Dad makes. Ginny drifts off to sleep in no time.

Tilly thinks the check on Harry and almost crashes into him walking over to the boy's rooms.

"Lills, I was coming to see if you are alright. I had a restless sleep; though you might have as well." Harry says, looking at his sister.

"Me to James, me too," Tilly suggest the two go sit by the fire, downstairs and talk; Harry agrees. "This voice means bad things. It's only going to get worse; you know that."

"I do." Tilly rests her head on Harry shoulder and sighs. "I'll keep you save, little sis." Harry chuckles.

"Hey, I'm 15 minutes younger, big brother." Tilly elbows Harry in the ribs.

"We never talked about what you said in your sleep; about Malfoy."

"He hates storms; as it makes him thinks I'm upset, angry, or something of the sort." Tilly's eyes suddenly becoming heavy; closing her eyes, she starts to fall into a deep sleep.

"That makes sense. Know, I will always protect you, even if you are the more powerful twin." Harry whispers also falling asleep.

5 am

Bang! Bang! Bang! Comes from the Gryffindor entrance door. Fred and George make their way down to see, still half-asleep Hermione and the rest of the Weasley's at Hogwarts looking at something on the couch.

"What is that incessant banging?" George asks, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"It woke me from my beauty sleep." Fred laughs sleepily, nudging George.

"Well, whatever it is; it didn't wake these two." Ron nods to the sleeping Tilly and Harry. The banging continues, "Oh for God's sake," Hermione opens the door and walks back to the couch; without seeing who was at the door. Now at staring at the sleeping two, was Colin Creevey. Of course, he took photos of the two; no one is awake enough to do anything.

The door bangs open and in dashes in a frantic, and dishevelled Draco.

"Malfoy? Did you not check what house door you were trying to break down?" Fred asks.

"Or forget to look in the mirror this morning?" George ends.

"You look like you haven't slept," Hermione adds.

"What are you doing here?" Ron steps in front of Hermione, ready to take any insult Malfoy's might throw out.

"You can't be here." Percy says, "Neither should she actually."

"That's why I'm here; for Tilly." Draco walks through; frowning seeing Potter so close next to her, he wakes Tilly up, in the process waking Harry.