Elaine's POV:

Once we all finally caught our breath, Harry stood up and started pacing. "He knows. He knows we broke into Gringotts. He knows what we took, and he knows we're hunting horcruxes," Harry said as he ripped off his sopping wet clothes and threw them aside. "How is it you know?" Hermione asked him as she dug out clean dry clothes for all of us. "I saw it," Harry said as he quickly threw on a dry pair of pants. "Harry you can't keep letting him in," Hermione began but Ron cut her off. "Never mind that. What did you see?" Ron asked as I quickly changed into leggings and a sweater.

"Well...he's angry and scared too. He knows if we find and destroy all the horcruxes we'll be able to kill him. I reckon he'll stop at nothing to make sure we don't find the rest. And there's more. One of them's at Hogwarts. I saw the castle and Rowena Ravenclaw. It must have something to do with her. We have to go there now!" Harry rambled. "What?" I asked, completely surprised he'd want to risk it all and sneak into the castle.

"We can't do that! We've got to plan and figure it out!" Hermione replied nervously. "Hermione...when have our plans actually worked? We plan, we get there, all hell breaks loose," Harry replied. "Right well, one problem. Snape's the headmaster now...we can't just walk through the front door," I said. "We'll go to Hogsmeade--to Honeydukes. We can take the secret passage in the cellar...it's...there something wrong with him. It's like, you know, I've always been able to follow his thoughts...and now everything just feels disconnected," Harry explained. "Maybe its the horcruxes? Maybe he's growing weaker...maybe he's dying," Ron suggested. "No....no it's more like he's wounded. If anything, he feels more dangerous," Harry explained.

After we all got changed and reorganized, I took one last look around the tiny little island we stood on and breathed deeply. I knew breaking into Hogwarts wasn't going to be easy by any means.

"Ready?" I asked Hermione as we walked up to Harry and Ron. "I never am," she said with a faint smile. This war was really taking a toll on her. She missed mom and dad dearly. I, of course, miss them too...it's just...well, I didn't really know them that well. Jason was my family at home, but I was used to being alone. Harry, Ron and Hermione were my family now.

The four of us grabbed hands and apparated to Hogsmeade. As soon as our feet touched the ground, an alarm sounded. We heard doors opening somewhere not too far away, and a bunch of running men towards the direction that we were.

"POTTER!" screamed someone who just walked outside nearby. Ron grabbed my hand and led the four of us into a covered area with tables and benches. Two death eaters walked under the covered area just as I ducked down under a table. The two looked under each table and they were about to get to the one that I was crouching under. Luckily, an alarm from across Hogsmeade went off and the two death eaters went to help the others. We took this opportunity to try and find safety.

"This way!" Harry whispered to us and we followed him on a path in between buildings. We then came to a dead end, and heard others approaching us. "Potter, in here," a voice whispered from behind us. A tall man was holding the door opened and we all piled in very quickly with no questions asked.

Harry led us into a downstairs area and we waited for our savior. As we waited, I looked around the room. There was not much to it except a portrait of a young girl. She looked oddly familiar. "Did anyone get a good look at him? I could've sworn I saw," Ron started but Hermione cut him off. "Dumbledore...I know," said Hermione.

The Dumbledore-look-alike then walked into the room. "Are you mad? Coming here at a time like this!" his voice growled. "You're Aberforth? Dumbledore's brother," Harry said and Aberforth nodded. He looked at each one of us and strolled out of the room only to return minutes later with food and drink for us. We scrambled to eat and it was all gone in seconds. "Do you hear from the others much? From the Order?" Hermione asked as she finished her drink. "The Order is finished. You-know-who has won. Anyone who says otherwise is kidding themselves," Aberforth replied. Harry ignored this.

"We need to get into the castle...tonight. Dumbledore gave us a job to do," Harry said. "Did he know? Nice job? Easy?" Aberforth asked sarcastically. "We've been hunting horcruxes. We think the last one is inside the castle but we'll need your help getting in there," Harry explained. I could tell he was loosing patience. "That job my brother gave you is a suicide mission. Do yourself a favor boy...go home. Live a little longer," Aberforth said. "Dumbledore trusted me to see this through," Harry snapped. "What makes you think you can trust him? What makes you think you can believe anything my brother told you? In all the time you knew him, did he ever mention my name? Did he ever mention her's?" Aberforth asked and pointed to the girl in the painting. "Why should he?" Harry asked through gritted teeth. "Keep secrets? You tell me," Aberforth snapped. "I trusted him," Harry said, now clenching his fists. "As a boy. A boy who's chasing horcruxes on the word of a man who didn't even tell him where to start. You're lying...not just to me, that doesn't matter, but to yourself as well. That's what a fool does. You don't strike me as a fool, Harry Potter, so I'll ask you again...there must be a reason," Aberforth ranted but Harry cut him off. "Look, I'm not interested in what happened between you and your brother. I don't care that you've given up...I trusted the man I knew. We need to get into the castle...tonight," Harry said.

Aberforth didn't respond to Harry. Instead, he looked at the girl in the painting and spoke to her. "You know what to do," he said calmly. The young girl nodded and walked away. "Where have you sent her?" I asked him. "You'll see...soon enough," he replied and turned to walk out of the room. "That's your sister Arianna isn't is? She died very young didn't she?" Hermione asked before he left the room. "My brother sacrificed many things, Mr Potter, on his journey to find power...including Arianna," Aberforth said quietly. A tear welled up in his eye and he went to leave the room. "Thank you, Mr Dumbledore," I said before he could leave. He gave me a quick nod and then left. Once the door shut behind him, Harry threw me a weird look. "What? He saved our lives...," I began, "that doesn't sound like someone who's given up."

Moments later, the portrait of Arianna began walking back...except..she wasn't alone. Harry grabbed his wand as the figure got closer and closer and then...the portrait swung opened. A very tall handsome man stood in the door of the portrait. "NEVILLE!" I screamed as he jumped down to greet us. I almost didn't recognize him. He looked totally different. He was much taller than me, and his face was beat up pretty bad. As he hugged me, I stopped him from moving to examine his face. "What happened?" I asked as I looked at a giant gash from the corner of his eye and all the way down his cheek. "Oh this is nothing...Seamus is worse. Come on lets get you guys into the castle," Neville said with a huge smile on his face.

As we walked through the tunnel and towards the castle, Neville explained to us how bad Hogwarts had gotten with Snape as headmaster. There were death eaters roaming about the corridors and they tortured students if they misbehaved. When we finally reached the end of the tunnel, Neville seemed really excited. "Let's have a bit of fun shall we?" Neville said smirking. He opened the door that was at the end of a tunnel and blocked the doorway so no one could see us. "I've got a surprise for you," Neville said to whoever was on the other side of the door. "Not more of Aberforth's cooking. Be a surprise if I can even digest it," I heard Seamus' voice say. Neville then stood aside and revealed the four of us standing there. The crowd, that filled in what I realized was the Room of Requirement, erupted in cheers. We all climbed down from the portrait hole that the door was attached to and greeted everyone. Everyone who was in the room swarmed us with hugs, high-fives, and even a kiss on the cheek from Dean. "Alright alright let's not kill them before You-know-who gets the chance," Neville joked.

On my left I heard Neville talking to a boy who was a year younger than us, Collin Creevey. "Get the word out to Reamus and the others that Harry's back," Neville said to him. Collin immediately scrambled out of the room.

Once everyone calmed down and said their hellos to us, Neville spoke first. "So, tell us the plan Harry," Neville said after everyone calmed down. "Okay there's something we need to find. Something hidden here...inside the castle. It may help us defeat You-know-who," Harry started. "Right...what is it?" Neville asked. "We don't know," Harry replied. "Where is it?" Dean asked. "We don't know that either. I realize that's not much to go on," Harry said. "That's nothing to go on," Seamus replied with a laugh. "We think it has something to do with Rowena Ravenclaw. Um..it'll be small, and easily concealed. Anyone have any ideas?" I asked the crowd. "Well, there's Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem," said a dreamy voice from the back of the crowd.

The crowd parted to reveal Luna Lovegood. "Oh bloody hell here we go," Ron whispered, causing Hermione and I to punch him in the arm simultaneously. "The lost diadem of Ravenclaw? Hasn't anyone heard of it? It's quite famous," Luna spoke softly. "Yes, but Luna, it's lost...for centuries now. There isn't a person alive today who's seeing," Cho Chang chimed in. "Excuse me but can someone tell me what a bloody diadem is?" Ron interrupted. "It's a sort of crown...you know, like a tiara," Cho explained.

As we all began talking about where this potential diadem could be, the door to the Room of Requirement opened. It was Ginny. She walked up to the four of us standing there and ran into Harry's arms. "Harry!" she said as she flung her arms around his neck. Ron rolled his eyes. "She hasn't seen me in months and it's like I'm Frankie-first-year," Ron scoffed. "She only wants Harry," Seamus said raising his eyebrows and smirking. "Shut up Seamus," Ron snapped. When Ginny and Harry finally broke apart, she gave us the bad news. "Snape knows. He knows that Harry was spotted in Hogsmeade," Ginny said.

Just as she told us this, Snape's cold voice rang throughout the castle. "All staff and students must report to the Great Hall immediately," his voice said. Harry then turned to us. "You guys wait here. Wait for the Order to come and then go to the Great Hall. If I don't see you take this to find me...keep each other safe," Harry said as he thrusted the Maurauder's map into Hermione's hands. He then rushed off with Ginny to the Great Hall.

Not even a minute after the door to the Room of Requirement closed, the portrait that we climbed out of minutes before had opened. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were the first to climb out and then, Aberforth, Kingsley, Percy, Remus, Brandy and finally Fred and George. I ran and hugged Fred and George, squeezing extra tightly since I'm sure a battle was going to ensue shortly.

As all the Order members piled out of the Room of Requirement, it was time to go meet Harry in the Great Hall. Harry's shouting could be heard from outside the Great Hall. "It seems, despite your exhausted defensive strategies, you still have a bit of a security problem, headmaster," Harry yelled. Fred and George opened the Great Hall doors as the entire Order of the Phoenix surrounded Harry, wands drawn.

"How dare you stand where he stood! 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 screamed and it echoed through the hall. Snape grabbed his wand and pointed it at Harry.

Instantly, Professor McGonagall whipped out her wand and jumped in front of him. Snape hesitated slightly as McGonagall sent spell after spell in his direction. Just as she was about to win the duel, Snape apparated out of the castle. "COWARD!" McGonagall screamed. With a wave of her wand, the Great Hall's fire place erupted and everyone started to cheer.

Just as all seemed to be going well, Voldemort's voice rung throughout the castle. A young girl, probably a first year, began screaming and crying as she covered her ears. "I know many of you will want to fight. Some of you may think it is wise to fight. Give me Harry Potter and none shall die. Give me Harry Potter and Hogwarts shall remained untouched. You have one hour," Voldemort's chilling voice said. "Well? What are you waiting for? Someone grab him!" Pansy Parkinson screamed and pointed at Harry. Everyone's attention turned to her and then to Harry. Ginny jumped right in between Harry and one by one, we all grabbed onto him, ready to fight. McGonagall then ordered Filch to take the Slytherin House down to the dungeons and lock them down there for the time being. As they were being forced out of the Great Hall, everyone erupted in cheers again.

"Everyone who is 16 and younger must follow me to the train! Everyone who is old enough can choose to stay and fight if they wish!" Professor McGonagall said and she led half of the Great Hall out of the castle. "Elaine!" Hermione screamed as she called me over to where her, Harry, and Ron were standing. "Ron and I are going to the Chamber of Secrets. Harry is going with Luna to look for the horcrux. We'll meet you in front of Moaning Myrtle's bathroom in thirty minutes. Stay safe," Hermione said as she grabbed Ron's had and rushed off. As I watched my friends leave the Great Hall, I ran off too.

I wasn't sure where I was going, but something called me to look down by the dungeons where the Slytherins were being held. As I ran down towards them, there was an explosion and hundreds of Slytherins were running towards me and towards the rest of the castle. When I jumped out of the way, someone caught my eye. It was that blonde hair that I'd recognize anywhere. It was Draco Malfoy. He had his friends Crabbe and Goyle by the neck and he was marching them up towards the staircase. I instantly ran past him so he would notice me, but for some reason, I pretended I didn't notice him and I kept walking. "Elaine!" I heard him scream from behind me and I turned around. He let go of Crabbe and Goyle and had the biggest smile on his face as he walked up to me.

In an instant, his lips were on mine. I'm not exactly sure how it happened, but he was kissing me and I was kissing him back. When we broke apart he looked at me in a way I've never seen him look at me before. "I just wanted to say something before this all goes down...I'm in love with you. I always have been and I always will be and I really hope we both are alive by the end of this," he said with the biggest grin on his face. I've never seen him act like this before. "You don't have to tell me how you feel...frankly, I don't care...be with Fred for all I care. But you should know that I am in love with you," he said. Once more he pulled my waist close to his and kissed me. When he pulled away he winked at me and then left with Crabbe and Goyle. It took me a moment to get my thoughts together and realize where I was and what was going on.

"Elaine!" I heard someone call from across the corridor. It was Fred. "Are you alright?" he asked when he saw my face. Draco Malfoy just kissed me...what was I supposed to say?

"Draco Malfoy just kissed me," I said without thinking. "Well I'm not surprised honestly. He's probably not going to make it out of this battle alive and he wanted to shoot his shot," Fred said with a laugh. "What?! Why aren't you freaking out about this?" I asked him. Of course, the Fred I knew back when we dated would have flipped out...but war changes people. "Because...it's what happens when you are about to go into war. About four girls just kissed me. It's no big deal," he said still laughing. "Are you serious!" I said, half-laughing, half-serious. "I'm kidding," he said as he began to walk away. "Oh...right," I said with a slight sigh of relief. "IT WAS FIVE!" he screamed once he was far enough away and about to turn down another corridor. I laughed to myself shaking my head slightly, and then suddenly remembered I had to meet Hermione and Ron.

As I ran up the steps to the bathroom that Hermione and Ron were meeting me, I passed by Brandy, and I wondered where she was heading to...or if she even knew where she was going. She looked like she was on a mission, though, and no one was going to stop her.

Deciding not to interrupt her, I continued on...passing more and more familiar faces. I wondered to myself how many of these people would be lifeless by dawn. When I finally got to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, Hermione and Ron were just getting out. "We got a ton of basilik fangs so when we get the next horcrux we can destroy it," Ron explained with a smile on his face. That was when I noticed that him and Hermione were holding hands. "We need to find Harry," Hermione said as she pulled out the map Harry gave her. "There I just saw him!" I said as I pointed to Harry's icon on the map, but his name disappeared. "Maybe he's gone to the Room of Requirement. Didn't you say last year that the Room of Requirement doesn't show up on the map?" Ron asked Hermione. "Yes I did say that didn't I?" Hermione said, completely boggled on why she didn't think of that herself.

The three of us ran to the Room of Requirement and burst through the doors to find Harry looking through endless stacks of items. When we found Harry, he was looking at a bust with a tiara on it. It was the lost diadem. He had found the horcrux. He had grabbed it just when we approached him. "I found it," Harry said showing us the beautiful crown.

Seconds later, a voice rang throughout the entire room. "Well well, what brings you here Potter?" Draco Malfoy asked. Draco, Crabbe and Goyle all had their wands out and pointed to us. "I could ask you the same," Harry replied cooly. "You have something of mine. I'd like it back," Draco snapped. Since I was hidden behind all of the junk piled in the room, I stepped up next to Harry and raised my wand towards Draco.