Despite nearly getting killed and being betrayed by Griphook, we managed to get another Horcrux. The Hufflepuff cup.

It was as we were escaping on the back of a dragon when Harry got his vision.

"He knows!" Harry gasped, clutching his scar. "He just went on a murder spree in Malfoy Manor."

My heart literally jumped into my throat and I felt I couldn't breathe.

"Harry - who?! Who did he kill?!" I choked, clutching at my chest fearfully.

"Just a bunch of goblins and some Death Eaters that got in the way," Harry said dryly. "No one you know. Just be grateful you got Nova out of there when you did."

But I couldn't be grateful, and I couldn't breathe easy; not until Draco and Nova were both back safely with me.

We landed on a lakeside, whilst Harry contemplated our next move. We no longer had the sword of Gryffindor thanks to Griphook, so we had the added problem of finding another way to destroy the newly acquired Horcrux.

"Hogwarts," Harry said, finally. "I'm pretty sure that's where the last Horcrux is hidden. I think it's our only chance. And whilst we're there we can think of a way to destroy the Horcruxes."

"That's it mate!" Ron piped up, "The Chamber of Secrets - we can use the basilisk fangs!"

"Ron, you're a genius," Hermione smiled up at him adoringly.

But getting into Hogwarts was not easy. The moment we Apparated into Hogsmede, alarms went off.

"Quick! This way!" Came a gruff voice, beckoning us through a doorway.

"Aberforth?" Harry breathed, as we entered up into our saviour's living room.

I looked up startled at the man who had brought my mother back to life.

Aberforth nodded at Harry and then eyes turned to me. They seemed to widen in surprise. "Nova? But it cannot be."

"I'm Aurora, Nova's daughter," I said shakily. "It seems I have you to thank for bringing my mother back to life."

But he just shook his head sadly.

"I should never have interfered. Thanks to me, she's lived all this time in hell when she could have been at peace. And you kids should get as far away from here as possible. I don't know what my crazy brother was thinking sending a bunch of unqualified school kids on a mission like this."

"Not going to happen." Harry stated.

"And I'm not going anywhere without my husband," I added, "and as long as he is a Death Eater he is trapped in this war."

Aberforth looked at me, his jaw dropping. "Nova Diggory's daughter married a Death Eater?!"

"He was forced into it," I said stoutly. "He wasn't even of age when he was pinned down and branded. And I'm going to stay and fight until I can be safely reunited with my husband and our child."

"You can only be talking about the Malfoy boy, then," Aberforth concluded, sighing heavily.

He seemed to contemplate something, then stood up and walked over to a painting of a girl. He explained it was his sister who had died in a tragic accident when they were younger. It turned out to be a secret passageway into the Room of Requirement.

We were back in Hogwarts.

*****

We split off. Ron and Hermione took the Hufflepuff Cup down to the Chamber to destroy, and Harry and I went in search of Ravenclaw's lost diadem, praying it would be the last Horcrux.

"The most logical place to start is the Ravenclaw Tower," I panted, as we hurried along the hallways as quietly as we could, trying not to disturb the castle awake.

There was a panicked feeling of time running out - now Harry reckoned Voldemort knew about our Horcrux hunt, we knew it wouldn't be long until he got there himself to protect it.

I answered the riddle that allowed us to enter, and went straight to the statue of Rowena Ravenclaw.

We both stared up at, Harry inspecting it closely as if he could somehow find a clue from it.

"Wit beyond measure is a man's greatest treasure," he read slowly from the plaque underneath.

"Which makes you pretty skint, witless!"

Both Harry and I wheeled round, my heart in my throat as Alecto Carrow, grinning at us maliciously, placed her wand down on her Dark Mark.

Harry cried out as he fell to the floor, clutching his scar and started writhing around in agony.

Alecto, still grinning, pointed her wand directly at me.

"Ah, the Diggory girl! The one who keeps escaping! Well, not this time, young lady!" She cackled, as she flicked her wand.

I felt pain rip through me, making me drop to the floor. I wanted to die, I needed someone to kill me right now. The only thing I could feel, the only thing I could think, was of the horrifying pain consuming me, that was surely worse than death.

And then as suddenly as it had started, the pain had stopped.

"Aurora!"

Strong arms were around me, lifting me up to a sitting position, pulling me to a comforting chest as a familiar scent hit my senses. A pair of fearful silver grey eyes stared down at me.

"Draco," I breathed, throwing my arms around his neck and clinging onto him with such relief.

"Aurora," he murmured, kissing my hair and holding me close. "What are you doing here? Where's Nova?"

"She's with my mother, she's safe." I assured him, suddenly looking around panicked; Harry was slowly getting to his feet, clutching his head. "Draco, they called him! He's coming!"

"I know," he muttered darkly, glancing down to his own left arm, "word got out that there are intruders in the castle so Alecto made me wait outside whilst she came in here to check. As soon as she hit the Dark Mark I came to see what was going on and I saw you screaming and writhing on the floor. So I knocked her out."

I looked up over his shoulder, to indeed see Alecto sprawled on her back out cold.

The room started filling up with Ravenclaws coming out of their dorms to see what was going on.

Draco helped me to my feet, fiercely pulling me to him protectively as everyone gathered around.

"Aurora? Draco?" Cho spluttered, "what's going on?"

There was a frantic banging on the other side of the common room door.

"ALECTO!" Bellowed the voice of Amycus. "Alecto! What did you call the Dark Lord for?! ANSWER ME!"

Everyone's eyes swivelled to where Harry was stood, casually wiping his glasses on his top.

"I'm sure most of you are aware that I've got a job to do," he said, replacing his glasses on his nose. "Now, if one of you could be so kind as to point me in the direction of your house ghost, I wouldn't mind a quick chat with her. The sooner we can get this sorted, the sooner we can get back to our beds and sleep soundly."

But before anyone could answer, Professor McGonagall came bustling into the common room, with Amycus running behind, diving down by his sister's unconscious body.

The next thing I know, he's spitting in McGonagall's face and Harry is Crucio'ing him.

Draco quickly tugged me away from the scene, pulling me to the back of the room.

"Aurora, you need to get out of here," he hissed frantically, "He is coming, it's not safe for you."

"I'm not leaving you," I implored. "And I promised Harry I'd help fight. I'm doing this for you and for our daughter, Draco."

"Fuck Harry! Please, Aurora!" He implored, panic flitting across his face, "I can't lose you!"

"Then come with me," I said, my heart racing fearfully in my chest. I didn't want to leave his side. I keep finding him and then losing him. I couldn't bear to do it again. "Draco, come back with me and let's keep ourselves safe together. Don't ask me to leave without you! Not again!"

But he just shook his head sadly, and of course I knew the reason why.

"Aurora, I'm not safe, you know that. I have to be here. But you can go back - go back for our daughter, please!"

I looked into his pleading eyes, and I knew I couldn't say no to him.

"Okay," I nodded, and he pulled me to him, weeping with relief.

"Come on, I'll get you to a spot where you can Apparate." He clutched my face in both hands, pulling me up firmly against his lips, "I love you so much, Aurora."

However, by the time we got out into the hallways, the castle had been thrown into commotion.

Students were shouting as they bustled past us, running crazily down towards the Great Hall.

"Snape's done a bunk!"

"McGonagall got him good and proper!"

Draco and I looked at one another, our eyes wide with horror. And then another voice; a voice that penetrated the walls and stunned everyone into shocked silence.

"I know that you are preparing to fight."

Everyone started screaming around us. Draco let go of my hand, and pulled me into his embrace, I could feel his heart thudding furiously as Voldemort's words continued.

"Give me Harry Potter, and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded. You have until midnight."

"For fuck's sake!" Draco hissed, looking around in panic as teachers sped up and down the halls, casting extra protective spells around the castle. "I don't know how I'm going to get you out of here!"

"The Room of Requirement," I said at once, "it was how I got in. There's a secret passageway to Hogsmede."

Draco didn't hesitate, grabbing my hand again, he practically dragged me at top speed towards the seventh floor.

"Aurora!"

We halted in our tracks as Fred came hurrying towards us, throwing his arms around me.

"What in merlins beard are you doing here?!" He scolded, stepping back and frowning at me. "I could kill Harry!"

"You're telling me, mate," Draco muttered next to me.

"I have my own mind!" I cried. "I wanted to help! I wanted to fight."

"But not here!" Draco urged, "Not like this, when we've got a little girl at home waiting for her mummy."

"He's right, Aurora," Fred said vehemently. "Now get going quick, I think everyone who's leaving has gone through already."

He kissed my forehead fiercely, before nodding at Draco and hurrying on.

The door was already visible when Draco and I finally reached the Room.

Both of us panting, we came to a halt as we stood outside it. We both jumped as a loud sickening thud caused the castle walls to violently shake around us.

"Come with me, please, Draco." I pleaded, feeling horrendously frightened about leaving him here.

He looked at me sadly, stroking his fingertips along my face. "I can't, Aurora. It wouldn't be safe for you."

The castle shook once again, and the walls started crumbling.

"Go!" Draco urged, kissing me hurriedly and fervidly on the lips. "I love you!"

I grasped his fingers one last time, before quickly stepping through the door.

As soon as the door slammed shut behind me, my blood turned cold as I realised two things.

One, this wasn't the same room I came through in the secret passageway.

And two, I wasn't alone.

"Well, lookie what we have here then,"