"You're bleeding," Draco murmured, as he gently caressed my lower lip with his fingertip, a slight frown creasing at his features. "Sorry."

We were lying down on the mattress side by side, both still naked and both just staring at one another.

"It's okay," I whispered, trying not to flinch as the movement caused the split to pull.

He leaned across to me, giving the cut a gentle soft kiss, making me sigh as a warmth spread throughout me, my heart beating contently at the touch of his lips.

He pulled his head back, his silver eyes swimming sadly as he looked intently into mine.

I expected him to say something but he remained silent, his face a picture of exhaustion and sorrow.

"What time will it happen?" I whispered, knowing I didn't have to clarify what I was talking about.

"Just after curfew."

"And will you- will you be leaving straight after?"

"Yes, Neve. You know I won't be able to stay here."

"And then-?"

"And then I wait for my orders."

I felt a tear start to roll down my cheek. Draco immediately reached out and wiped it away with his thumb.

"Neve, please stay in the tower tonight. I don't want you to get hurt."

"I don't want you to do this."

"You know I have to."

I nodded as more tears spilled from my eyes. Draco pulled me to him, wrapping his arms around me as he held me protectively against his body.

I wept for some time whilst Draco soothed me, stroking my hair and planting his lips lovingly down on top of my head.

"You need to go and get something to eat," Draco said later as we both looked at the time on the grandfather clock next to the cabinet.

It was getting late and there were only a couple of hours left until curfew. Time was against us and no matter how much I willed it to slow down or even stop, it simply refused.

"Come with me," I begged, afraid to be apart from him, wanting to make the most of the little time we had left together.

But he shook his head. "I'm sorry, Neve. I need to get ready."

"But you must eat too," I said desperately, not ready to say goodbye yet.

"I really couldn't, Neve," he said continuing to shake his head morosely.

After we were dressed, he located my wand for me, making me promise to keep it on me at all times.

"There will be no reason you won't be safe in the Gryffindor Tower," he assured me. "But just in case... okay?"

I nodded, not being able to speak for the lump in my throat.

"I don't want to leave you," I eventually sobbed, my voice breaking on the last word.

He engulfed me in his arms, holding me tighter than he'd ever done before, peppering kisses over my face as he tangled his fingers through my hair.

He looked down at me, his grey eyes piercing mine as if drinking me in, and I took the opportunity to memorise every detail of his face, every mole, every scar; the way his post sex hair fell messily on top of his head and the way his lips pursed as he studied me intently.

"I love you, Neve," he whispered, a slight quiver in his voice as if fighting back the emotion that threatened to overcome him again.

"I love you too," I breathed, feeling the slow breaking of my heart in my chest.

I wondered if it would ever be truly healed again.

I didn't look back when I walked out of the door. I couldn't; walking away from him was too unbearably painful.

When I returned to the dormitory, too sad to eat, I found myself collapsing on my bed in floods of tears.

"Merlin, Neve, are you okay?"

I looked up to see Hermione's concerned face as she hovered in the doorway, looking unsure whether to enter or not.

I shook my head but said nothing. What could I say?

"Is this about Draco?" She asked. "Because if it is, Neve, you need to tell us everything you know."

I looked up at her confused. I couldn't understand how she would know.

"Harry thinks whatever he's planning it's happening tonight." Hermione explained. "He's gone somewhere with Dumbledore, and has left us with the instruction to keep an eye out on Draco's movements."

"Dumbledore's not here?" I asked. My heart suddenly felt hopeful. If Dumbledore wasn't here then Draco couldn't kill him.

But then... then who would help defend the castle against the Death Eaters? Without Dumbledore, we were unprotected.

I jumped to my feet. I needed to find Draco and warn him.

"Where are you going?" Hermione frowned, not making an attempt to move out of the way as I went to pass her. "If you know something Neve, you need to tell us now!"

"I need to find Draco!" I said, suddenly feeling panicked. "He doesn't know Dumbledore's not here!"

"Why would he be concerned whether Dumbledore's here or not?" Hermione persisted.

"Because he's bringing Death Eaters into the castle and I'm terrified they are going to kill him if it turns out Dumbledore isn't here!"

"WHAT?!"

Tears were falling down my face in sheer panic. I was terrified for Draco. I just wanted to grab him and get him somewhere safe.

"You heard me!" I cried, "we need to save Draco and get him away from here!"

"I'm calling the Order," Hermione said at once. "This is too big for us, Neve."

I nodded, feeling relief that someone else was taking charge. I had forgotten about the Order and if we could get them here on time, they might even be able to help protect Draco.

Hermione, Ron and Ginny came with me to the Requirement Room, with Luna meeting us there.

"I called the DA using the coins," Hermione explained upon my confused expression. "We need all the help we can get if there are going to be Death Eaters."

But something was wrong. I was unable to conjure the room where I knew Draco and the Vanishing Cabinet lay.

"I don't understand!" I cried in frustration, wringing my hands through my hair. "I was only in there earlier!"

"Malfoy must have changed it so you can't get back in," Ron muttered dryly. "He probably knew you'd try to stop him at the last minute."

"Well then, we'll just have to wait," Hermione said decisively, drawing her wand as she eyed the blank wall suspiciously.

My heart was pounding crazily in my chest. If we couldn't stop Draco letting the Death Eaters in then-

"Snape!" Hermione cried, making me jump out of my thoughts. "He can help us! He's in the Order too!"

"WHAT?!" I spluttered. This was the first I'd heard about this. The way Draco always spoke, it sounded as if Snape was very much on Voldemort's side.

"It's got to be worth a try!" Hermione gushed, grabbing Luna to go with her, leaving Ron, Ginny and I waiting outside the Room of Requirement.

"You love him," Ginny said, studying me intently. It was not a question.

I heard Ron release a little noise; sounding suspiciously like a snort.

"He didn't have a choice." I seethed, looking at Ron in particular. "He was forced into this."

"He's a fucking Death Eater, Neve!" Ron bellowed. "And all this time you knew - you didn't tell us! Even when Harry thought he'd worked it out - you still said nothing!"

"I was hoping he would do the right thing and go to Dumbledore!" I implored.

"But he didn't," Ron barked, "and here we are now waiting for them to come out of that fucking room - and to do what? You are literally going to be fighting him tonight Neve, you realise that? Your fucking boyfriend is about to endanger all of our lives!"

"He would never hurt us!" I cried, feeling desperately protective.

"Really?" Ron scoffed. "So what happened to your face then?"

I quickly touched a finger to my split lip, forgetting about what Draco had done earlier. And it wasn't just that, I realised as I checked my reflection in the glass of a nearby window - Draco had left visible bite marks along my jaw and purple bruises all over my upper arms.

To say he left his mark on me was an understatement.

"I tripped," I shrugged, looking down to try and hide the glowing heat creeping to my face.

"Jesus fucking Christ," Ron muttered as Ginny threw him a warning look. "I should have guessed he was into that shit."

"Ron, just leave it," Ginny hissed. "I mean, I wouldn't complain if Harry-"

"STOP RIGHT THERE LITTLE SISTER!" Ron bellowed furiously. "As far as I'm concerned, all you'll ever do with my best mate is hold hands."

"Oh give it a rest, virgin!" Ginny spat.

"I'll have you know I'm no longer a virgin!" Ron roared. "Just ask Lavender. She couldn't sit for two fucking days after I'd had her up the-"

But we never got to find out where Ron had had Lavender, as the door to the Room of Requirement appeared.

It was time.

*****