Chapter 47

Anastasia tried to find Harry, growing more and more anxious that Tom would turn up before she had the chance to explain herself. She hadn't seen him all day, and Hermione and Ron were acting questionably. After dark Anastasia snuck out of her dorm to look for him, and decided to head towards Dumbledore's office as she knew they trusted one another.

"Anastasia!" She heard Daphne whisper loudly from behind her, making her heart drop. Her sweet friend, Anastasia had completely forgotten about her.

"Where are you running off to? You've hardly spoken to me since we've got back!" Daphne smiled, but underneath she seemed concerned.

"Daph, I don't even know how to start..." Daphne threw an arm over her friend.

"Wow! Christmas with the chosen one was THAT bad?" Daphne laughed, trying to lift Anastasia's spirits.

"Daph-" Anastasia heard someone and grabbed Daphne, forcefully dragging her into the shadows. From down the corridor the pair saw Draco walking speedily. Anastasia watched Draco pass, noticing the fearful quiver of his lips.

"Something's wrong." Anastasia whispered out loud.

"Ana, it's Draco. Obviously something is wrong." Anastasia looked at her beautiful friend, placing a hand gently on her cheek.

"Daph, I'm sorry but you need to go back to the dorm-"

"If you-"

"Daphne, seriously. I think I know what is about to happen, and I can't put you in the firing line."

"What are you on about?" Anastasia grabbed her wand.

"I wish I had the chance to explain all of this to you, but now all I can ask is that you remember me as I am now, not me then." She watched the confusion and fear grow on Daphne's face.

"Thank you for being a great friend. Stupefy!" Anastasia swallowed the tears as she caught her friend falling, laying her down gently on the ground. Anastasia ran through the halls to see Draco heading up into the Astronomy Tower. Anastasia crept up the stairs, peering over the top step to see Draco's back. Beyond him she saw his extended wand pointed at Dumbledore. Anastasia released a small gasp, making Dumbledore flicker his eyes towards her for a moment. Suddenly, she felt a hadn't around her ankle. She was about to scream, but she looked down to see the two blue eyes she had been so desperate to find. Harry helped her silently creep under the floorboards, and the pair held each other as they watched Draco disarm Dumbledore above them. Suddenly others entered, and Anastasia felt Harry's body go rigid against hers.

"Good evening, Bellatrix." Dumbledore sounded so calm compared to the fear exuding from Harry. "I think introductions are in order, don't you?"

"Love to Albus, but I'm afraid we're on a bit of a tight schedule. After you we have to find the Delaney girl." Harry looked down at Anastasia, wide eyed. "Do it!" Bellatrix whispered loudly to Draco. Anastasia looked up to see Professor Snape staring at the entangled pair. Harry went to move but Anastasia gripped him tighter, realising that Snape had his hands extended towards them, urging them to stay quiet. Snape's stare went from Harry to Anastasia.

"Stay hidden." The man mouthed, making Anastasia shiver. Before either of them could respond Snape had turned back and headed up the stairs. Harry and Anastasia went back to watching the events unfold above them.

"Severus... Please."

"Avada Kedavra." Harry nearly collapsed as they watched Dumbledore fall backwards out of the tower. Anastasia held him as tight as she could, watching warily as Voldemort's followers descended the stairs and began wreaking havoc through the corridors. Harry tried to release himself from her grip.

"Harry please... please let them go." Anastasia begged.

"I can't." Harry shouted, throwing her off him. As she landed on her back she watched Harry run away. She couldn't let him go alone, what if they killed him? But by following she knew they would take her. She pushed herself up, gasping for air into her winded lungs. She shouted his name as she stumbled after him.

"Don't follow me!" Harry shouted back to her, worried as to why Bellatrix was interested in her. Anastasia grabbed his shoulder, turning him around.

"Harry I need to tell you something."

"Dumbledore is dead!" Harry screamed, and in that moment Anastasia realised how deeply she had wounded him. Tonight he had watched an important person in his life die, once again. He had watched him be betrayed by a friend. He was now going to discover that she had also betrayed him. He was about to lose another person in his life.

"I know, and I'm so sorry Harry." She wrapped her arms around him. "I'm so sorry that this has to happen now, but-"

"There they are!" Anastasia spun around to see Draco approaching her closely followed by the others. She noticed a look of fear and anger in Snape's eyes. Anastasia turned back to Harry.

"I'm going to go with them Harry-"

"Ana-"

"No, listen to me I have to face him. Im so sorry, but just know I-"

"If you think you can kill him or something you're wrong! I got Slughorn's memories, he's made multiple horcruxes-" Harry looked at Anastasia desperately as Draco roughly placed a hand on her arm.

"I know." She whispered with a pain-stricken, yet knowing expression. Anastasia turned freely with Draco, leaving Harry speechless. He wondered how she knew what horcruxes were for only a second, before the clarity of realisation settled in. He remembered Slughorn's obsession with her resemblance, her strange behaviour and most of all her desperation to go back in time. Harry swallowed hard, feeling as if a boulder wedged down his throat. She had wanted to go back to a boy that made her feel as if she was something, someone. A boy called Tom. Anastasia Delaney had been one of Tom Riddle's original followers.