Draco's thumb absentmindedly caressed Rosie's hand as Potter explained to them that he was looking for something. Draco thought he had misheard but it definitely sounded like he was looking for a diadem. How on Earth finding some tiara would help Potter defeat Voldemort was beyond Draco's comprehension. The only thing was, was that Potter seemed to have no idea where it could be.

"Well, I know for sure it's here, in the castle... somewhere." Potter tried.

Draco couldn't help but let out a derisive sigh. Potter frowned at him, but said nothing.

Around them, McGonagall was supervising the evacuation of the younger students. There was an element of panic going on, and Draco noticed a few of the youngest ones were in tears and others were calling desperately for friends or siblings as an explosion from overhead caused dust to fall from the ceiling. He couldn't help but glance at Rosie, silently thanking the universe that he had her with him.

"But is there anything to go on, Harry?" Rosie asked, looking as frustrated as Draco felt.

"Riddle would have hidden it in a place he would want to remain secret forever." Harry explained.

"Yeah, that really helps now!" Weasely snorted. Granger poked him in the side, shaking her bushy head disapprovingly.

But something about what Potter said niggled at something in Draco's mind. A place he would want to remain secret.

"I may know somewhere," Draco coughed, feeling uncomfortable as all eyes rested on him, waiting for him to continue. "A room. A special room that only the Room of Requirement can provide."

Rosie's eyes widen, suddenly understanding what Draco was getting at.

"But what room? How do you know what to ask it for?" Potter frowned. Draco hated having to explain this to him.

"Last year," he said, shifting uncomfortably. "I needed a room to hide in." Harry glared at him, - understanding. Rosie squeezed his hand, urging him to go on.

"I asked for the place where everything is hidden."

Draco saw the dawning on Potter's face. "Of course! He hid it exactly where I hid my old Potions book, where everyone's been hiding stuff for centuries. He thought he was the only one to find it."

For a horrifying moment, Draco thought Potter was going to kiss him.

But instead, Potter excitedly hit his fist in the air. "Come on, guys. We've got a Horcrux to find."

A Horcrux?! Draco assumed it must be this diadem he was talking about.

As they all made their way up to the seventh floor, Potter leading the way, they could see the battle was already taking place. The walls around them trembled with every explosion. As they reached the end of one corridor, the whole castle shook, and Draco knew, as a gigantic vase blew off its plinth with explosive force, that it was in the grip of enchantments darker than they could ever know. It wouldn't be long before Voldemort's army penetrated the castle completely.

When they reached the troll tapestry, Draco watched as Potter paced up and down until a door materialised in front of him. Draco swallowed, the last time he had gone through that door, it had been to let Death Eaters into the castle to kill Dumbledore.

"Are you OK?" Rosie's sweet, comforting voice whispered. Draco turned to her, her blue eyes full of concern.

"It's just strange," he murmured. "Going back to that place after... everything."

"I know," she breathed. "But you've got me, remember?" And standing up on tiptoes, she lightly kissed his cheek. Draco sighed blissfully at the touch of her lips.

And together, they walked through the door, after the golden trio.

It was silent, the furore of the battle dying the moment the door closed behind them. Draco looked around at the familiar towering walls, built of objects hidden by thousands of long-gone students. It was just as he had remembered. It was the place where he had fallen in love with Rosie.

The golden trio had gone on in search of the diadem and, stopping, Draco had the sudden urge to pull Rosie into his arms, so he could feel her soft body against his, and inhale the scent of her hair.

"As much as I love your cuddles," her muffled voice came from his chest, "we need to find this diadem before the castle falls down around us."

"I know," he sighed. "This place just brings back a lot of memories." His eyes twinkled as he remembered a certain occasion up against the wall of books.

She laughed, pulling him along with her, their eyes scanning all the rows of junk. They moved, slowly, quietly - the only sounds coming from their breathing as they concentrated on finding the diadem.

Draco looked up suddenly, as a noise, like a door opening and closing sounded in the distant.

"They wouldn't have left already, would they?" Rosie asked, looking at him wide eyed.

And then a voice rang out, a voice Draco recognised very much so.

"Hold it, Potter."

It was Crabbe. Draco marched around the corner towards where the voice had come from, Rosie at his heel.

"Oh!" Rosie cried as they turned down the next aisle. Crabbe and Goyle were shoulder to shoulder pointing their wands towards Potter, who was in the process of reaching out towards a pock-marked stone warlock that seemed to be wearing a tiara. The diadem.

Crabbe instantly turned his wand on them. His ugly face wore a nasty grin upon seeing his old friend.

"Oh look who it is, it's Malfoy and the Mudblood!" He sneered.

"Drop your wand, Crabbe." Draco warned, feeling his blood starting to boil.

"Ha!" Crabbe spat, looking uglier than ever. "I don't take your orders no more, Draco. You an' your dad are finished." And with that, Crabbe swished his wand, pointed it at Rosie, yelling "Avada Kedavra!"

As quick as lightning, Draco pulled Rosie out of the way just as the curse flew past, missing her by millimetres. Completely horrified at what nearly happened, Draco removed his wand from his pocket, pointed it at Crabbe and without hesitation yelled "Crucio!"

But Crabbe had managed to dive out of the way and escaped being hit.

"Harry?" It was Weasley, Draco saw him approach from the other end, the Granger girl following close behind him. "What's going on?"

Goyle had moved his wand away from Potter to point at them. Draco noticed Potter take that opportunity to grab the diadem. He silently sighed in relief. Now all they needed to do was get out of here and away from these buffoons.

But Crabbe was crazed, pissed off from missing the chance to kill. He slowly turned on the spot, grinning eerily at them all and raised his wand. Draco had one hand on Rosie's arm and the other clutching his wand tightly, prepared.

"Like it hot, scum?" He roared as he flicked his wand wildly up towards the ceiling, Draco watched, horrified, as fire, shaped like a dragon soared out from the end of Crabbe's wand.

For a moment, everyone stared in silent terror, and as the fire dragon mutated into a gigantic pack of fiery beasts, spreading itself throughout the room, common sense prevailed.

"RUN!"

Draco pulled Rosie as fast as he could in the direction where he knew the door was. Crabbe and Goyle close on their tail. The fire was spreading quickly and the heat engulfed them all immediately.

Crabbe caught up with them, pushing them violently aside as he scrambled to get ahead. Draco cursed as his wand was knocked out of his hand and disappeared somewhere amongst the junk. There was no time to look for it.

They rounded a corner, but Draco stopped short when he realised there was more fire up ahead. Crabbe had also stopped and Goyle went running into the back of them. The four of them looked around frantically for an escape but the fire was out of control and left them no path to take.

"We're trapped!" Rosie cried, looking at him, pure terror in her eyes.

No. He was not going to let them die in there. Especially not with Crabbe and Goyle by their side. Looking around desperately, he spotted a towering pile of furniture. It was their only way.

"Come on, Rosie, climb up here." He made a start, helping Rosie up beside him. They clambered up precariously, finding footholds amongst the tottering tables and chairs. Crabbe and Goyle followed them up, making the tower sway dangerously.

Draco's heart was hammering in his chest, the heat had become unbearable and the smoke made it difficult to breathe. He kept making sure Rosie was OK and was always right next to him.

They had almost reached the top when Rosie screamed, making Draco's heart still. Crabbe had caught up with her and was grabbing onto her foot to hoist himself up.

"Get off of her you bastard!" Draco yelled as Rosie struggled to grip.

"Help-" she gasped as her hand kept slipping from a table edge. Draco immediately reached out grabbing her arm.

"Kick him, Rosie!" He yelled. Crabbe had managed to pull himself up to her legs now. Rosie thrashed, desperately trying to kick Crabbe off, but he was heavier and stronger than her. Draco held on to Rosie tighter, willing her to kick him off.

"Get out of the way Mudblood!" Crabbe roared as his fat hand now slammed onto the back of her head.

"GET OFF OF HER!" Draco bellowed, and letting go of Rosie, with all his might, slammed his fist into Crabbe's face.

With the force of his punch, Crabbe hollered in pain and surprise. He lost his grip and, flailing, fell backwards, a look of horror on his fat face as he plummeted down past Goyle, and was swallowed up by the flames below.

Draco, terror and relief flooding him all at once, looked down in horror at what he had just done. Rosie sobbed next to him, bringing him back to his senses.

"Come on, Rosie, we need to get to the top."

They both started to climb again, and Draco sighed with relief as he pulled himself on to a table on the very top. He reached down to help Rosie up, her hand clammy and sweaty in his as he pulled with all his might.

"Draco, I can't do it," she sobbed. Her grip weakened in his as she seemed to lose all strength.

"Rosie! Don't give up, don't do this!" He yelled, begging her to keep going. He wasn't going to lose her. He couldn't.

Rosie looked up at him, her eyes sad and resigned. "I'm sorry, Draco," she whispered.

Draco desperately tightened his grip on her, but his hand was getting slick with sweat.

Horror tore through him as her hand slipped from his fingers.

"ROSIE!!!" He screamed as she hurtled down, away from him and into the fire.

"ROSIE!!!"

***