It was during the last DA meeting before the Easter holidays when everything went wrong.

We were practising the Patronus Charm, admiring one another's forms as they flew, trotted and glided around us. My dragon was chasing Cho's swan causing us to double over in fits of giggles.

And then, out of nowhere, Dobby appeared, panicked and flustered as he tried to tell us that Umbridge and her Inquisitorial Squad had discovered us and were on their way.

"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?" Harry bellowed to the room. "RUN!"

Cho and I looked at one another in horror as all the Patronuses vanished around us and everyone started running for the door at once.

We joined the bustle, cramming ourselves through the door and sprinting off in opposite directions.

My heart was thudding fearfully as I rounded a corner - and then found myself nearly toppling over as I slammed hard into a chest.

"Ah!" I cried, as arms flew around me, steadying me on my feet.

I looked up and my heart stilled. Baffled silver grey eyes blinked down at me.

I had been caught. By Draco.

We stared into each other's eyes, our breathing both ragged and furious. Umbridge's voice called Draco's name in the distance as she approached the far end of the corridor.

I looked up at him fearfully, wondering if he was going to turn me in. But to my relief, he pulled me to the side.

"In there, quick," he whispered furtively in my ear, lifting a tapestry on the wall next to us which revealed a hidden alcove behind it.

I gratefully stepped in as he let the tapestry drop down, concealing me. I stood as still as I could, practically holding my breath.

And then I heard another noise. Another pair of feet running from the same direction I had just come from.

"AAARGH!"

There was a loud crash as though someone had collapsed hard onto the floor.

"Trip Jinx, Potter!" I heard Draco hoot delightfully. "Hey, Professor - PROFESSOR! I've got one!"

"It's him!" Came the jubilant cry of that horrible woman. "Excellent, Draco, excellent, oh, very good - fifty points to Slytherin! I'll take him from here... stand up, Potter!"

I heard the sound of Harry scrabbling to his feet - his heated, fearful breaths loud enough to mask the furious pounding of my heart.

"You hop along and see if you can round up any more of them, Draco," Umbridge continued. "Tell the others to look in the library - anybody out of breath - check the bathrooms, Miss Parkinson can do the girls' ones - off you go - and you," she added in her softest, most dangerous voice, as the sound of Draco's footsteps petered away, "you can come with me to the Headmaster's office, Potter."

Shit. This was not good.

*****

Draco was torn between elation and anger.

He should have guessed, though, that Aurora would have been a part of it. She did appear to be Potter's number one supporter these days, after all, he thought bitterly.

But when she had literally run into him, there was no way he could bring himself to turn her in. He closed his eyes when he remembered how his heart had stilled at realising she was in his arms again. Even if it was accidental.

"I hear congratulations are in order."

Draco's eyes flew open at the bitter voice of his friend, Blaise. Their friendship had started to strain since he had become leader of the Inquisitorial Squad. Blaise clearly didn't approve.

"So, you caught Potter's underground army and managed to get Dumbledore sacked in the process. Well done, Draco. No doubt your father's really proud of you now."

Draco felt a flicker of anger. Who was Blaise to judge him? He'd been hanging around that fucking Ravenclaw chick too long, that's what it was.

"Blaise, just leave me alone. I'm not in the mood for another one of your lectures." Draco sighed, slamming the Potions book he was trying to study shut.

"That's because you know I'm always right." Blaise said, matter of factly as he sank down onto the other sofa. "I would have thought you'd look happier than this. Umbridge is now the headteacher. Just as you wanted."

Draco just sighed, slipping his hand inside his pocket and felt the moonstone he kept there. He wondered if she was okay and had managed to escape the tapestry without being seen.

He missed her. Draco missed her so fucking much.

*****

I didn't tell anyone about Draco saving me. I doubt they would have been very impressed anyway seeing as he was the one who caught Harry.

But I started to allow my eyes to wander over to him more often than I usually permitted. My steely expression I saved for his presence softened.

I feared for my heart. To allow myself any hope would potentially leave it vulnerable to being destroyed again.

But some things I couldn't help. And loving Draco Malfoy was one of them.

Fred and George took me aside a few days after the Easter holidays.

"We're leaving." They told me. "It's top secret, but we can't stand it here a second longer."

"What?" I cried, feeling a rush of horror fill me. I loved the twins, and couldn't bear the idea of them not being around everyday anymore.

"Fear not, Aurora, it's only a couple of months earlier than we would be leaving anyway." Fred chuckled at my expression. "We just wanted to give you the heads up and say goodbye. But don't forget, we'll see each other again in the summer."

"Yeah, just try and keep us away from our favourite Beauxbatons girl," George chortled.

"When are you going? And how?" I asked, mystified. I couldn't see Umbridge agreeing to an early drop out right before exams.

"That'll ruin the surprise, but we'll be leaving with a bang - just you wait and see."

And that they did.

I was in the library, doing some homework when I heard the commotion.

Loud bangs erupted from the distance and everyone around me jumped to their feet to go and see what was causing it.

Running down into the Entrance Hall, I was greeted with hundreds of fireworks exploding all around. Almost the whole school had gathered to see the unexpected display - including Umbridge who was fuming, screaming at her Inquisitorial Squad to do something.

A mixture of laughter and screams filled the air, occasionally drowned out by loud booms.

I looked around desperately for Fred and George, whilst simultaneously trying to dodge being killed by the occasional firework, knowing this was their doing, and that this was the beginning of their exit.

I had just reached the bottom of the staircase when I heard someone scream "Look out!". I span around in time to see a giant flaming rocket flying right towards me.

Before I could react, I was thrown roughly to the ground, the back of my head connecting painfully to the stone floor.

"Ow!" I cried, my eyes squeezed shut in pain as I moved a hand instantly to the back of my head, only half aware of the weight of another person on top of me.

"Aurora?"

My eyes flew open at the familiar voice.

Draco was staring down at me, his face only inches away from mine as his body pinned me down to the floor.

The closeness was overwhelming. The pain that the blow to my head caused vanished in an instant as I felt myself drown in his silver grey eyes.

"Draco," I breathed.

Despite the fact that the entire school was running and screaming around us in chaos, it suddenly felt as though we were the only two people in the world and everything else was just a blur.

His fingers were suddenly caressing gently against my cheek. My heart was hammering beneath my chest and I could feel his too, as his lips moved closer to mine.

"DRACO! GET FILCH - NOW!"

Draco blinked, clambering off of me in an instant.

It was as though Umbridge's voice had broken the spell. The pain in my head had instantly returned and, as I sat up clutching my head, I realised Draco had gone.