Neville started to lead the quartet into the school by the tunnel in which he came through, using a flashlight to light the way as he ducked his head through various dips in the ceiling. Hermione still held Ellie's hand, lacing their fingers together as the thought of entering the grounds brought back a nostalgic feeling.

"Don't remember this on the Marauder's Map," Ron commented.

"That's because it never existed till now," Neville answered. "The seven secret passages were sealed off before the start of the year. This is the only way in or out now. The grounds are crawling with Death Eaters and Dementors."

"How bad is Snape as Headmaster?" Hermione questioned.

"Hardly ever see him. It's the Carrows you need to watch out for."

"Carrows?" Harry repeated.

"Yeah. Brother and sister. In charge of discipline," Neville responded, pointing to the small wound on his face. "They like punishment, the Carrows."

Ellie let out an angry sigh, seeking revenge to the Carrows for what they did to Neville. Hermione gave her a wary look and quickly pecked her cheek in reassurance.

"They did that to you? Why?" Hermione pondered.

"Today's Dark Arts lessons had us practicing the Cruciatus Curse. On first-years. I refused. Hogwarts has changed."

They continued to walk down the seemingly endless tunnel. With every step closer, Ellie felt a sick feeling in her stomach, her hands growing clammy. She couldn't pinpoint the source, but she assumed it was from the sickening treatment Neville had described.

"You feeling okay, my love?" Hermione mumbled, turning to look at her girlfriend.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," Ellie brushed off. "I just... don't have a good feeling about tonight. That's all."

"It's going to be okay. I promise," Hermione reassured with a small smile, squeezing Ellie's hand gently.

The group finally reached the end of the tunnel. Neville had his hand on the handle of what seemed to be the back of another painting. He looked back to the group with a smile.

"Let's have a bit of fun, shall we?"

Neville slowly turned the handle, revealing what stood on the other side.

"Hey, listen up, you lot. Brought you a surprise," Neville told the others.

Ellie peeked her head over Neville's shoulders to find themselves in the Room of Requirement. Multiple hammocks were hung cross the pillars, and a variety of blankets, beddings, belongings, and other items were strewn across the floor.

"Not more of Aberforth's cooking, I hope. Be a surprise if we can digest it," Seamus responded.

Neville moved aside so that Harry could step into the light, revealing himself to the students. An immediate round of applause erupted from the students as they stood up to greet him.

Harry began to greet the students while Ron, Ellie, and Hermione smiled widely. A few students had even came up to Ellie, giving her a hug of welcome. Luna had given Ellie a tight hug, rambling about how she's missed her presence.

"Okay, let's not kill him before You-Know-Who," Neville told the others, freeing him from their grasps.

The room settled as the quartet and Neville took the spotlight.

"What's the plan, Harry?" Neville asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

The students looked at the boy expectantly, their faces full of hope. Ellie, Ron, and Hermione shifted awkwardly, knowing all too well the didn't have one.

"Okay. There's something we need to find. Something hidden here in the castle. And it may help us defeat You-Know-Who," Harry announced.

"Right. What is it?" Neville prompted.

"We don't know," Harry answered flatly.

Ellie watched as the students' faces dropped in confusion, the hope draining from them.

"Where is it?" Neville continued.

"We don't know that either. I realize it's not much to go on."

"That's nothing to go on," Seamus stated in a clearly irritated tone.

"I think it has something to do with Ravenclaw," Harry continued. "Um, it'll be small, easily concealed. Anyone, any ideas?"

"Well there's Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem," Luna spoke up.

Ellie smiled at Luna warmly as the Hufflepuff took Hermione's hand once more.

"There's hope," Ellie muttered, though the sickness in her stomach only grew.

"Oh, bloody hell. Here we go," Ron commented.

"Lost Diadem of Ravenclaw?" Luna resumed, looking around to the blank faces. "Hasn't anyone heard of it? It's quite famous."

"Yes, but Luna, it's lost, for centuries now," Cho reasoned. "There isn't a person alive today who's seen it."

"Excuse me," Ron intervened. "Can someone tell me what a bloody diadem is?"

"Goodness, Ronald," Ellie muttered under her breath, earning a nudge in the ribs from Hermione's elbow.

"It's a sort of crown. You know, like a tiara," Cho explained.

A loud rumbling came from behind the students, and the students turned to look in that direction. The students made way for the visitor, revealing herself to be another familiar red-head who seemed to have sprinted her way there.

"Harry," Ginny gasped, her eyes flickering to Ron, Hermione, and Ellie.

"Hi there," Harry greeted while Ron waved his hand at his sister.

It was quiet for a moment until Ron leaned towards the girls, opening his mouth to speak.

"Six months she hasn't seen me and it's like I'm Frankie First-Year. I'm her brother," Ron spoke quietly, though it was heard by everyone else.

"Got lots of those. There's only one Harry," Seamus snickered.

"Shut up, Seamus," Ron snapped.

"What is it, Ginny?" Neville asked.

"Snape knows. He knows that Harry was spotted in Hogsmeade," Ginny warned.

A soft chatter filled the room, the students panicking as Harry was struck with worry. Within minutes, the group collectively formulated a plan. Harry was to enter the Great Hall and confront the Headmaster. Ellie insisted that she come with but was held back by her girlfriend, who gave her a firm refusal.

While Harry made his way to the Great Hall, escorted by Luna, the others prepared for battle. With all the Death Eaters assembled in one room, the group found it rather easy to converse with one another.

Neville turned to Ellie and Hermione with a mixed expression of hope and ambition on his face.

"Hey, Hermione. You know those Galleons you bewitched for Dumbledore's Army? Well... I'd tell you, but it'd ruin the surprise. You'll see," Neville explained excitedly.

Neville left quickly to acknowledge a few others, a grin on his face as he held his head high. Ellie and Hermione turned to each other with identical expressions of confusion. Ellie faced away from the tunnel in which they came through, while its entirety was exposed to Hermione.

"What's he talking about?" Ellie questioned.

Hermione didn't answer, her eyes fixated on the dark passageway behind Ellie. She squinted her eyes to get a better view, and a smile suddenly crept onto her face.

"Darling, are you even paying attention to me? What are you so happy about?" Ellie frowned as she moved her face directly in front of her girlfriend's to get her attention.

Ellie was suddenly engulfed from behind by two lean arms, seeming to tower over her. The Hufflepuff yelped in surprise as she immediately spun around to see.

"Fred!" Ellie greeted excitedly as she hugged him tightly, grinning from ear to ear.

Ellie withdrew from the boy to focus her attention on George, embracing him equally as tight. The twins gave a quick hug to Hermione, who greeted them politely.

"Long time, no see, Ellie," the twins greeted in unison.

"W-What are you two doing here?" Ellie stammered, smiling widely.

George held up a familiar Galleon, one that Neville had been talking about.

"We were told Harry needed our help," George explained. "Can't say we didn't miss you."

Fred playfully nudged Ellie in the arm with his elbow, a mischievous grin toying at his lips.

"So, how was it? You know, being on the run all the time, your life always exciting? You and Granger still had time to... ahem..." Fred teased, making inappropriate gestures with his hands.

Hermione turned a deep shade of red and looked away as Ellie smacked Fred's hands away, with George chuckling loudly.

"You're disgusting," Ellie commented sarcastically. "Besides, most of the time, it was like hell out there. We were always in danger, and we nearly died multiple times."

"Well, that's all the more fun, isn't it?" Fred commented. "Isn't that right, George?"

"That sounds wicked," George grinned.

Loud claps came from the tunnel as more alumni started to enter the Room of Requirement. One by one, Hermione and Ellie watched as the remainder of the Weasley family entered along with Kingsley Shacklebolt, Remus, Tonks, and Fleur.

"Alright, alright! We've got to get to the Great Hall. Harry's already there, and we need to be ready," Kingsley ordered loudly as he started to make his way out of the room.

Ellie turned to her girlfriend and kissed her passionately, nearly knocking her over as her arms snaked around Hermione's back. In case hell did break loose, Ellie wanted to make sure she snuck in one more kiss. They were interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat.

"Ahem... come on, you two. You can snog each other afterwards," Molly greeted as she gestured with her hands for them to move along.

The girls gave the woman a quick hug, also greeting Arthur as well. Walking hand in hand, Hermione and Ellie began to make their way to the Great Hall, stopping just before the grand, oak doors, waiting for approval.