The four of them followed Professor Flitwick without question, although Draco and Hermione had to run to keep up with the three men who were clearly more afraid than they were letting on. As they progressed through the castle, scaling stairs to reach the ground floor, they began to hear less muffled indications of battle. Explosions of some kind rocked the castle and every so often screams pierced the dreadful cacophony. They could only hope that those screaming were Death Eaters, not their allies.

"Hermione, Draco, why are you following us?" Remus asked suddenly when they were about to enter the Entrance Hall. "You can't fight," he said, staring at the two teenagers.
"They are of age," Severus stated, shrugging.
"Filius, surely_" Remus pleaded to the Charms professor, hoping for sympathy on his part.
"They are both admirable duellists and, as Severus so excellently pointed out, are of age. We cannot prevent them from fighting if it is their wish to do so."

Remus turned to the two sixth-years.
"I wish to fight," said Hermione resolutely.
There was a pause before Draco spoke as well.
"I want to help," he affirmed.

At this, the five entered the massive hall. The two heads of houses immediately joined the fray. Remus stopped the two teenagers before they rushed after Flitwick and Snape.
"Stick together," he ordered. "Defend the castle and its students. Don't get hurt, and don't get killed."
And, with that, he was gone too.

"Alright," said Draco, "the best plan of action seems to be not to die."
Hermione rolled her eyes and disarmed the nearest Death Eater.
"Well reasoned," she replied. "You almost could've been in Ravenclaw."
"Nah," Draco dismissed. "I'm not mad."

"Are you not?" Hermione seemed surprised. "You happen to be dating me if you hadn't noticed."
"So, we're just as sane as each other," Draco stated.
"Agreed," Hermione said.

She gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
"Don't die," she whispered and ran off.
"To you too," Draco muttered, and raced after her.

*

Severus was finding it surprisingly hard to keep his cool. He had to pretend to be an enemy to friends and a friend to enemies, and he was so woven into the sorry disguise he'd mockingly named his life that he almost felt as if he'd double-crossed himself. He decided to simply send erroneous hexes out and hope they didn't hit any students. Beside him, Filius was conjuring up creative projectiles, occasionally even desks, and on his other side Remus and Minerva co-existed as an unstoppable force of destruction, with Minnie offending and Remus defending.

"Alright, Severus?" Remus asked, sending the stressed Potions Master a wry grin.
Severus suddenly saw something flying straight towards Remus_ a very large something.
"Lupin, look out!"

He knew his yell was not enough; Remus' head would have become detached from his body before he had turned the required one-hundred-and-eighty degrees. Time seemed to slow down as Severus realised what he should do. And then he did it, praying that he would be able to explain it to the Dark Lord.

*

Hermione and Draco had been fighting back to back when Draco stopped.
"'Mione look," he breathed, pointing ahead.
Thankfully, their opponents were curious too and turned to look as well.

Snape had flown - literally flown - over to the desk heading for Lupin's head and obliterated it with an insanely powerful Reducto. The result was so great that even a few nearby Death Eaters became dust where they stood.
"Blimey," exclaimed Draco.

Snape landed, dusted himself off and went straight back to fighting. Shocked, Hermione quickly disarmed her and Draco's opposition before they had the chance to retaliate for previous hexes.
"Do you think he's redeemed himself yet?" She yelled over all the banging and crashing.
"More than likely," he returned.

But then the battle took a turn for the worse.

*

Remus, Minerva and Filius had gone back to duelling almost as quickly as Severus and had just finished off three particularly large Death Eaters when a load of smoke billowed out from a cracked flagstone. And from it emerged Lord Voldemort himself, red eyes glittering with menace and madness.

"Good God," Remus gasped.
"We're doomed," Filius whispered partially to himself.
Minerva saw Severus turn and his blanched face whiten even further.

"My friends," Voldemort welcomed, spreading his arms wide. "So nice to see all of you."
Someone shouted something and the dark wizard flared his nostrils.
"Silence! Why aren't you kneeling before me?"

At this, all of the Death Eaters (excluding Severus) and the majority of students who weren't imitating the professors kneeled before him.
"Severus," Voldemort said pleasantly, "why aren't you kneeling at my feet? Come and kiss my robe."

Minerva thought it was a trick of the light but she could've sworn she saw Severus wrinkle his nose slightly. She, at least, had known of his fluctuating loyalties. Meanwhile Filius and Pomona, standing nearby, gasped in indignation.

Severus made to approach his master but then there was a sharp crack and Dumbledore appeared between his professor and his formed student.
"Tom," he said heavily.
"Dumbledore," Voldemort spat.

"You cannot have my colleague, Tom. He is under my protection."
Voldemort looked momentarily venomous and then he calmed down.
"Is that so, Dumbledore?"
"Yes, it is so. Professor Snape will remain where he is."
There was a hint of warning in his voice, possibly directed at Severus, Minerva thought.
"What if I take him from you? Forcibly..."

Hermione couldn't tell if Dumbledore looked nervous in any way. Snape certainly seemed conflicted over whether to go and kneel or allow the whole confrontation to happen.
"This is it," Draco whispered.
"I certainly hope so," she breathed back.

As if on hearing her very words, Voldemort snarled and the duel of the century began.

*****

A.N. Yep, I know. Beneath the Covers hasn't been updated for what feels like centuries. However I still hold out hope that I can tie this off satisfactorily.
Anyway... Thank you for reading and PLEASE COMMENT!!! :)