𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 \\ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗷. 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝐶𝑋𝐼.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙣𝙚-𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙙-𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

"HURRY, CAROL!" HARRY yelled to Caroline, pushing her in front of him as the floor above them began to crumble, windows being blasted.

        They panted when they made it through safely, standing in front of the Room of Requirement, the door not appearing yet. "Breathe." Caroline reminded Harry, her head resting on his shoulder. He did, closing his eyes.

        Calm. A funny word. Caroline had had a life full of calm with her family, until she went to Hogwarts. Then, there was no calm. Secrets were revealed, Jacob was murdered, Caroline was tortured, her father was kidnapped for months, her mother tried to kill herself. Caroline contemplated jumping off a cliff, Sirius died, her father died, she took her mother's memories. She was tortured, again and again, until she didn't even recognize the girl she used to be. Caroline wished for calm, dreamt of it.

        The door to the Room of Requirement appeared, and Harry and Caroline walked inside, pausing at the mess they were greeted with. "Come on." Harry tugged gently on Caroline's hand, lacing their fingers together.

        Caroline walked with Harry, remaining quiet as they walked quickly through the room, Harry trying to find the diadem. They searched, and searched, and searched, and couldn't find it. Harry grew frustrated and quickened his pace, winding through rows of stacked objects. Then he froze, listening. He turned and walked towards the sound, Caroline moving with him. They stepped up to a table, Harry removing a long rope from above a box, opening it to reveal the diadem. "Is that it?" Caroline asked, and Harry nodded breathlessly.

        He lifted the diadem, about to give it to Caroline to place in her bag, when a voice spoke. "Well, well. What brings you and your stupid girlfriend here, Potter?" Draco sneered, standing with his wand raised, Blaise and Goyle on his either side.

        "Don't talk to my girlfriend like that," Harry said sharply, stepping in front of Caroline. She gazed at him. "I could ask you the same question." Harry spoke, abandoning the diadem.

        "You have something of mine. I'd like it back." Draco said, speaking of his wand that Harry took when they were leaving the Manor.

        Harry stalked towards him, Caroline at his side. "What's wrong with the one you have?" Harry remarked.

        "It's my mother's. It's powerful, but it's not the same. Doesn't quite understand me. Know what I mean?" Draco said, him and the other two not lowering their wands.

        "Why didn't you tell her? Bellatrix," Harry asked. Caroline had been unconscious, bleeding during this part. "You knew it was me. You didn't say anything." the boy spoke calmly, knowing full well what he was doing.

        Goyle stepped close to the blonde. "Come on, Draco! Don't be a prat. Do him." Goyle whispered harshly.

        Draco nodded. "Easy." he said. Caroline saw him inching closer before Harry had a good enough grip on his wand.

        "I wanted to help you, Draco. In the hospital wing last year, when you told me what your family and the others did to my father, I wanted to help you. I told myself, you had no choice. It wasn't your fault. You have a choice, Draco," Caroline spoke calmly, Harry whipping his head over to her. She never told him what she discussed with Draco the previous year. "You-Know-Who doesn't care about you. If you do this, you'll be just like him. And it'll be your decision, no one else's."