"You have something of mine; I'd like it back." Draco's voice visibly startled me; it was probably the last thing I expected to hear when we noticed Harry was talking to someone.

We were stood behind one of the many piles of things in the room of requirement, deciding to see how the scene played out before barging into it.

That was before we noticed it was Draco, at least.

Probably fearing I'd run right out in the open as soon as I heard his voice, Hermione rested a hand on my shoulder, giving me a reassuring smile that I returned.

She had always been the one judging me the least. And I'd always appreciate that.

"What's wrong with the one you have?" My brother retorted, and while I assumed they were talking about his wand, I wasn't 100% certain.

"It's my mothers—" Draco trailed off. I was 100% certain now. "It's powerful, but it's—" He began, searching for the right words. "Not the same. Doesn't quite understand me. 'Know what I mean?"

His words reminded me of that night in his room in the manor, and the way we had talked about his mother's wand, then. The memory might've brought a smile to my face if the situation wasn't so tense.

"Why didn't you tell her?" Harry suddenly asked, ignoring Draco's words completely and making me furrow my brows. Tell who what? "To Bellatrix... You know it was me. Why didn't you say anything?"

An uneasy silence followed my brother's words, and all I could hear was a second voice mumbling something that was incoherent to me from the distance.

Blaise and Goyle. Of course, how could I forget about them?

"We should probably—" I urged, nodding towards them as the tension threatened to explode right in our faces. My words were all it took to have them move, and I heard Hermione shout an "Expelliarmus," before I even turned the corner.

"Try not to kill my boyfriend, will you?" I shouted over the noise of spells flying back and forth as they shattered various objects around us. Draco already nowhere to be seen.

Just as the words left my mouth, I heard Goyle yell a loud "Avada Kedavra!" right at Hermione.

"Stupefy!" I sent back, Hermione quick enough to block the curse he had hurled her way before he ran off; Ron right on his tail.

I raised my brows in pleasant surprise as he called her his girlfriend, and a wide smile spread across her face as she shrugged. Though, before she could say anything, Harry trying to climb one of the piles caught her attention.

"What are we even here for?" I wondered out loud, watching both Harry and Hermione trying to make their way up to the top of it. It's not like a third person trying their luck would help anything; so I decided I might as well just stayed down here.

"I found Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem," Harry muttered, more concentrated on not falling rather than answering my question.

"And you think it's a Horcrux?"

"I know so— got it!"

But instead of celebrating the victory of holding a Horcrux in his hand, his attention was quickly called onto Ron's vigorous screaming that seemed to get closer quite quickly.

"Goyle set the bloody place on fire!" He screamed as soon as he noticed us, and my eyes widened at the orange light cast on parts of the room behind him.

"Where's Draco?" I asked as soon as the fire rounded the corner, panic flaring up in my voice. Soon enough, I was looking right into that burning serpents mouth.

My eyes widened, and I only began running when Harry dragged me along with him. And with every look behind me, I just noticed how much closer it had gotten to us.

The adrenalin kept me running for now, but it didn't take much longer before the four of us were surrounded with no way to go but up. Harry managed to hold the fire off with a spell for a little while longer, though, I had to admit, it wasn't looking good.

That was until Ron stumbled upon broomsticks. Three of them, to be exact. And just a moment later, I found myself on the back of his, holding on for dear life.

I wasn't quite sure when or how I ended up with Ron, of all people.

My eyes were wide open, though, intently looking for a head of platinum blonde hair. Though, all I saw was fire. To my left, right, and centre. And my stomach dropped at the very real possibility of Draco being submerged in flames below us.

"Come on, this way!" Ron instructed, nodding towards the exit.

My heart was pounding in my chest, and the thought alone had my eyes water as an odd feeling spread in the pit of my stomach. It couldn't be.

My eyes kept on searching the roaring flames, and a loud sigh escaped my lips as they fell on Draco hanging onto a table on top of one of the piles.

His situation was far from ideal, but at least he wasn't dead.

"We have to get them!" I shouted over the noise, Ron shooting me a strange look over his shoulder before turning straight ahead again. He didn't change directions, though, and we were just flying further, and further away from them. "Ron!" I tried once more, my tone a lot more demanding.

"She's right," Harry chimed in, and a weight was lifted off my shoulders as Ron diverted his attention onto my brother. "We can't leave them."

Ron groaned. "He's joking, right?" He muttered, and I simply couldn't help myself.

Light enough to not seriously disturb his flying, my hand smacked the back of his head. "One more word from you and I'll kill you myself," I grumbled into his ear, holding onto his torso a little tighter as he turned the broomstick around.

"Lovely," He muttered before heading for the two boys. "If we die for them, I'm going to kill you both!"

I watched as both Blaise and Draco missed Hermione's and Harry's hands the first time, my pulse thumping against my skin too fast for my own good.

Though I sighed in relief as they both managed to get on their brooms the second time around, and I closed my eyes as I rested my forehead against Ron's back.

I didn't think I even opened them before we hit the floor outside the room harshly; the feeling of having lost Draco still way too real.

As soon as we hit the floor, Blaise was up and gone, and for a second, I thought Draco might follow in his footsteps. Though, when I felt him next to me, I immediately calmed down.

Before either of us had the chance to say anything, Harry took the opportunity he was given.

In one swift motion, he destroyed the diadem. Black smoke escaped the object, having Harry stumble back in a trance-like state. My gaze flicked back between the Horcrux that, in my opinion, was laying way too close to me, and I quickly scrambled off the floor to kick it right back into the flames.

It was more a reaction rather than a thought out plan, but it seemed to do the trick as the doors closed right after and the diadem was gone.

With a loud, breathy exhale, I let myself fall against the wall, sliding down with my back still against it in hopes it would help me catch my breath.

Before I even noticed his absence, Draco was next to me, seemingly just as exhausted as the rest of us were.

"Whatever happened to not leaving my side?" I grumbled, reminding him of his own words; its barely even been two hours since he said them.

"That's what you call not dying?" He huffed in return, shaking his head before keeping his gaze steady on mine.

"Right back at you."

My eyes fell on my brother, sat against the opposite wall. Hermione and Ron in front of him, probably inquiring whether he was alright. I should probably do the same, I thought as I heaved myself up.

"Are you okay?" I asked as soon as I sat down in front of him, my hand resting on his leg in a hopefully assuring manner.

"I'm fine," He shrugged, waving the question off like it was nothing. "It's the snake. She's the last one. It's the last Horcrux."

Draco shot me a quick glance when the word fell, brows furrowed as he tried to figure out what they were talking about.

"Later," I mumbled quickly, and though he probably expected something better, he didn't ask any further.

Once Harry found out where Voldemort was and figured out the snake's whereabouts through him, they were eager to get on their way. Though, he was even more eager to make sure I didn't come with them.

Whether it was because of Draco or because he genuinely thought it was too dangerous, I didn't know.

"I really need to talk to you, though, Harry—"

"After the snake, I promise. I'm sorry, I don't have much time left, I think."

But before they left, he turned to face Draco.

"And you?" Harry asked, a brow quirked as he watched the blonde whirl around to look right back at him. "What are you doing?"

"Staying with your sister, of course," He shrugged as if it was the most obvious of replies. "One of us has to, don't you think, Potter?"

"She'll be fighting," Harry stated, closely observing his reaction.

"Then so will I be." 

A/N: I'm working on a new book and its so intimidating but I'm just about to finish the first chapter oh my 

it's so weird not to be writing in the hp universe, and ill definitely need some time to adjust lol on that note though, ill probably be releasing the first chapter some time this week. <3 

I'm kind of starting to like ron now like their dynamic of not rlly liking each other (for a reason that's not even valid anymore) but still like bickering and growing more comfortable around each other hehe 

Fun fact, ron had a little crush on us third year :) I think I can spill that now that we're slowly coming to an end with this 

I've also been quite active on tiktok recently, so follow me there if u want - seselina_ <3

I love and appreciate u guys so much btw, I hope you enjoyed today's chapter!!!