"Training session? What are you training for?" Theodore asked wiping at his eyes with one hand, the other hand still wrapped around me.
I stayed quiet, not even moving, staying still like an statue in his embrace.
"I'm helping her practice duelling, she's incredibly lacking the skills." Draco insulted me, I looked up, glaring at him.
"They are perfectly fine, thank you very much, just a little rusty." I sassed. "I was actually credited quite an skilled spell caster actually."
Theodore took a step back, placing both hands on my shoulders as he stared at me intensely.
"Love?" He asked.
"Yeah?" I responded, avoiding eye contact, playing with Delaney's tiny hand.
"Uh, before you have a talk, I'll go take her for a ... nap." Draco said, coming in between us and taking my baby. "Have some quality time with your Uncle Draco!" He said in a high enthusiastic voice as he held her in his arms with the biggest smile on his face.
Both Theodore and I watched him, flabbergasted the whole time as he walked into the house, until he closed the door.
I could feel his eyes on me now, burning my skin.
I kept my eyes trained at the door.
"Keira." He said.
"Hm?"
"Look at me."
"I don't want to." I said as I scratched the back of my neck nervously.
"Now."
I slowly turned my face to look at him.
His jaw was clenched and brows furrowed.
"You look tired, darling, maybe you should go lay down." I suggested, placing a hand on his cheek.
He grabbed my wrist, pulling it off his face.
"Why do you need to duel?" He asked.
"Because I'm a witch?" I said, as though it was blatantly obvious.
"Don't." He said. "You don't need to duel, so why are you, you've never had an interest in it before."
"That was before an war kicked off."
"But you're safe here, you'll be safe after this as well."
"Not when I fight."
"You won't be."
"I will." I scoffed at him.
"But you'll get hurt." He said, his voice cracked just a little, but I still heard it.
"Wow, you have so much faith in my capabilities." I rolled my eyes.
"I don't want you to get hurt, Keira." His eyes was full of hurt and sadness, he really was fatigued as well.
"Everyone gets hurt, Theo, and then they heal and move on." I stated.
"But if something were to happen to you, I wouldn't be able to live with myself, what about Lanes, I don't want her to grow up in a world with only one parent." He placed his arms around my waist, pulling me close to him.
I cupped his face with my hands, stroking his cheeks with the tips of my fingers, the bit of facial hair forming, brushed against my skin.
"She won't, she'll have the both of us until we're all old and grey, she's only seven, eighteen years younger, when we're eighty, she'll be sixty-three." I attempted to reassure him.
"Do you have to fight?" He asked me.
"Are you planning on fighting, love?"
"Yes, of fucking course." Theodore said.
"And I've accepted that, I know of the consequences, but I'm not badgering you, because I know you'll be safe, and I understand how important it is to you." I brushed my hands through his hair, unknotting it with my fingers.
"I don't want anything to happen to you." He said. His eyes were welling up, I knew he was imagining scenarios. "I love you so much, it hurts, like nothing I've ever felt before."
"And nothing will, okay, I promise."
"Pinky promise?" he asked, he resembled a sad puppy and my chest tightened just by looking at him.
"I pinky promise" I said, linking my pinky finger with his, touching his thumb with mine to lock it. "And that goes for you too, if I see even the tiniest scratches on that beautiful face, there will be no mercy". I said.
"Yes ma'am" His voice was a lot more confident now, and a small smile tugged on his face.
"Now lets get you to bed." I held one of his hands, pulling it off my body and linked my fingers through his, leading him in the direction of the house.
That was until he stopped.
"Is that for Ted?" he asked, his eyes fixated on the grey headstone.
"Yeah, we held an small funeral for him." My voice was quiet as I spoke. "'Dromeda wanted to wait for you to come back, but none of us knew when that would be."
He let go off my hand walking towards it.
He knelt down in front of it. I watched as he placed a hand on the stone, I couldn't see his face as his back was towards me, but then after a while he stood up and waved his wand where an bundle of flowers appeared.
He walked back over to me without saying a word, grabbing my hand once more and we both continued towards the house.
Entering our room, I expected to see Draco in here, or at least a sleeping Laney, but it was empty.
Theodore practically collapsed onto the bed, when reaching it.
He layed motionless on the right side.
I took of his shoes for him, placing them together on the floor, then struggled to get the duvet out from under him to cover him.
I was going to leave to give him some peace and quiet to rest but he called my name as I reached the door.
"Baby." He mumbled.
"Yes, honey."
"Go get Lanes, I want to cuddle with my girls." He said, sleepily.
"Okay, I'll be right back." I left through the door as intended, but made my way to Draco's room, knocking on the door before entering.
"Why do you knock if you're going to walk in anyway?" Draco whispered, holding the sleeping baby in his arms.
"Are you planning on holding her the whole time she's asleep?" I asked him, walking towards his bed.
"I wanted to give you guys some space in case Nott wanted some rest." He said "I didn't know where to put her."
"Well that's very sweet of you Draco." I said, ruffling his hair and kissing his cheek.
"I have my moments." He pulled his head away from me, but being careful not to move his body too much.
"Theo wants her." I told him, reaching out to take my daughter from him.
"Really? But he gets her all the time." He pouted.
"Guess it's something to do with her blood and genes" I shrugged. "Don't worry though, she'll miss her uncle Draco as much as he misses her."
"This really isn't fair." He huffed.
"Then I suggest you go find yourself a lovely lady and have one of your own" I teased, "but I am surprised, I never would have taken you as the baby type."
"I'm not, I only like her, not that much though, she's a friend stealer." He glared at the passed out girl.
"Goodbye, Draco." I laughed softly, walking out of the room and back towards mine.
"I come baring gifts." I whispered, holding Laney up carefully towards Theo, who was now sat up in bed.
"Angel." He said.
"I like that." I smiled at the name.
"Why does our bed smell like Malfoy?" He asked suspiciously.
"It's not what you probably think." I said quickly.
"What do you think, I think it is?" He asked as I walked towards the left of the bed.
"Knowing you, my love, it could be anything." I rolled my eyes, placing our girl next to him as I lifted the covers, and got under it.
"So tell me the actual reason then."
"My boyfriend decided to be a prick and leave me, and I got sad, and considering I haven't slept on my own in a long time, I was upset and lonely and missed you a lot, so Draco kept me company" Theo stayed quiet so that I could explain, I was quite impressed he hadn't blown his top off like usual. "But, he refused to even hug me, kept his distance and slept on my side out of respect of you. He didn't even talk to me most of the time." I scoffed.
"Oh..." He said slowly. "Really?"
"Yeah, he kept telling me you wouldn't like it and felt really guilty, but I told him to shut up."
"D'you hear that, Lanes, mummy missed me." he said happily.
"Don't wake her up!" I snapped at him.
"Would you ever want another one?" He asked after a moment of quiet.
"What?" I asked, turning to face him.
"I just think it would be nice if she had an sibling, and I know how you don't like odd numbers.
"Our daughters only a month old and you're already thinking about having another child?"
"Not right now, no, I mean like, after all this, and we're living in our own house, maybe married, I don't know."
"Yeah." I said simply.
"Really?" He asked, sounding shocked at my response.
"Yes, I admit, sometimes I wished that my siblings would just evaporate, but living in France did have its lonely times, but I only want two, deal?" I asked, putting my hand out to him.
"Deal" He confirmed, shaking my hand.
"Good, now go to sleep, you definitely need it." I told him.
"Is that an insult?" He asked me.
"No, I kinda like the new look, but not when you look ill and on the verge of death." I said, stroking his beard.
The days went by, Draco continued to train me, with Theodore's supervision, "In case I were to get hurt he would be able to kill him in the same breath" they also had an argument on how tough Draco's teaching skills are, I ended up going inside for some lunch during that one, leaving the two to sort it out between themselves as clearly I wasn't involved.
Andromeda had gradually began leaving her room more often and staying out of it for longer, She looked her happiest when she was holding Delaney or just talking to her, she started an habit of gradually calling Theodore, Ted, or Teddy, he never corrected her though.
Edward Lupin was born in early April, an month and week younger than Delaney.
Tonks was quick to act smug that her son was an Metamorphmagus, which made it easier to figure out the reason behind his crying, it was the first thing she said to me when her and Remus came over a week after he was born.
Draco wasn't too ecstatic to hold his first cousin once removed, but after a while of Tonks bothering him, he gave in and I even glimpsed his lip twitch a little.
"How's the training going, Keira?" Remus asked me.
"It's going good, I'm definitely getting better I think, I mean I was never bad, but my skills have for sure improved." I confirmed.
"That's good, anyone would be lucky to have you on their side, you have always been an promising student, and great witch" He smiled.
"I did have a great teacher, Professor Lupin, You should look at going back after all this, they could use one like you."
"Maybe one day." He sighed wistfully.
Third person's point of view
Two more weeks had passed, it was late at night, when Keira was tossing and turning in her sleep.
"What's wrong baby?" Theodore grumbled, lazily rubbing her arm.
"Sorry, did I wake you?" She asked, turning to face him, they were face to face now but his eyes were still closed.
"It's okay, are you?"
"yeah, I'm fine, my brain just won't switch off" She admitted.
"Do you want me to make you some tea?" He offered. "I won't suggest coffee, because that won't help your problem, and it wouldn't hurt you to cut down either." He grinned.
"Hey, coffee's the best thing I've ever had in my mouth" She defended her beloved drink, not choosing her words too carefully from lack of sleep.
"Ouch." Theo said, making Keira roll her eyes and tap his arm with the back of her hand.
"I have this feeling, like somethings about to kick off, it's been too peaceful, sort of, for way too long." She said thoughtfully.
"I'm sure it's fine, maybe just overthinking?" He tried.
"Hopefully" The redhead sighed, she placed one of her hands on her boyfriends face, letting her index finger trail his features softly.
He scrunched up his face at the touch but didn't stop her.
"You're beautiful" She commented.
"You're more beautifuller." He replied.
She giggled at his reply, under the covers he reached for her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulled her towards him so she layed in his arms.
"My pretty boy" She breathed.
"My prettier girl" He murmured, his breath tickling her face.
He brought his face closer to hers, pecking her lips.
"Keira" he said hesitantly.
"Theodore?" She responded.
"I know I've talked about this a lot, but Keira Muriel Weasley, my gorgeous fucking girlfriend, the mother of my child, I want to and will spend my forever with you, even if you decide to break up with me and move on, I'll be lurking with a muggle batbox playing "I want you back" by the Jackson 5 at two am outside your window, and train Lansey to be my personal owl. hang on" he reached behind him, into his drawer, as Keira sat in shock at his words. "Will you, the love of my life, do me the honours and change your last name? And answer before I show you the contents in my hand."
No words came to her as she repeated his words to herself in her head over and over, before getting the idea to nod, she nodded her head furiously, covering her face as she welled up in tears.
Theodore grew the biggest smile on his face as he brought his hand out from behind his back, opening his fist to showcase the most beautiful diamond ring, the silver band with the diamond in the middle was surrounded by green emeralds and ruby's. It would look "different" to some, but to them, it was perfect.
He pulled her hand away from her face as he placed the ring on her finger.
"D'you hear that Lanes? She said yes!" he quietly cheered to the crib across the room from them.
"I love you" She whispered, cupping his face once more, this time her new ring leaving a cold trace on his cheek.
"I love you more" He whispered back.
"I love you infinitely."
"Impossible." He smirked.
She kissed him this time, more than the last, full of passion and love.
"I could never love anyone as much as I love you, Fiancée." He said into her mouth.
She was about to respond when an burning feeling went off in her bra.
She pulled away from him to pull out the fake galleon she had been carrying around for three years.
"What is that?" He asked her. "And why do you keep it in your bra?"
"I don't know if I can tell you" She said, remembering what had happened to Marietta Edgecombe "And so I know if it goes off, just like now." She said, trying to grasp the fact that it was actually working.
"What does it mean?" He asked once more.
"I think its time." She said, her eyes going wide at the realisation.
"Wha-" Theodore was cut off by an loud crash that shook the house.
"MUM!" The voice of Tonks cried.
Keira jumped out of the bed in a heartbeat, Theodore doing the same but glancing at his sleeping daughter, checking to see she was still out cold.
The pair raced out the door, meeting an shirtless scruffy haired Draco Malfoy.
"Tonks?" Keira called to the older girl.
"It's time!" She shouted as the three bounded down the stairs, Andromeda right behind them.
"What is?" Draco asked urgently.
"He's on his way! The Dark Lord! The Battles commencing." She said.
Keira went pale.
"Mum, you have to take Teddy, Remus left, I have to go help him!" Tonks cried.
"Of course, dear, but are you sure?" Andromeda asked her only child, taking the bundled baby from her.
"Yes! Is that even a question" Tonks said to her mother, her voice rising with every second that ticked by. "Are you lot coming?"
"Absolutely!" Draco said. "Just give me a second to get dressed" He then bounded back up the stairs.
"I will" Theo said, facing Keira.
"Me too." She agreed.
"No" Theodore furrowed his brows.
"Love, we've discussed this, I'm fighting."
"But we can't leave Lanes on her own!" Theo told her.
"It's okay, dear, I'll watch her and Teddy, She'll be safe" Andromeda reassured, but didn't realise how she had ruined the eighteen year old's plan.
"Theo, we promised, remember?"
"This is really touching and all, but you need to make a decision quickly" Tonks pressured them.
"If you go, I go" Keira stood her ground.
"Merlin, so fucking stubborn" Theo cursed under his breath. "Fine, go get dressed, I'll grab our wands and shoes." He sighed in defeat.
Keira raced up the stairs and back into the room, throwing on jeans and a jumper, Theodore ran in behind her as she got dressed.
"Are we ready for this?" Theo asked as they frantically ran around the room.
"No." Keira said honestly.
After getting ready, they both neared Delaney's crib, who had managed to sleep through everything.
"Mummy loves you so much babygirl" Keira said, stroking her baby's face. "Daddy and I are going to be right back, you'll still be asleep and everything will be so much better."
"We promise, Delaney Theodora" Theodore said. "Daddy loves you way more than Mummy though." He said, kissing her forehead.
"He does not!" Keira disagreed, picking the infant up and holding her close to her, sniffing her head.
Theodore held the back of the girls head, kissing her all over.
"And you better stay away from the Lupin boy, Lanes, no dating until you're thirty!"
"Honey, I- don't worry" Keira sighed.
"OI, HURRY UP!" Draco shouted up, breaking the moment.
Keira placed her down, tucking the dragon teddy Draco had gifted her on the day she was born, under her arm, and Theodore pulled her blanket over her.
"We love you so much Lanes" Theodore said, his hand on the small of his girlfriends back as they left the room.
"We'll be back so quick, you won't even know the difference" Keira added.
She then closed the door and exhaled out heavily.
"Ready?" She asked the taller brunet.
"Fuck no" He said.
"Then let's go" She grinned.
He kissed her quickly before they both went down the stairs once more.
"Finally" Draco said, pushing off the wall he was leaning on. "thought it'd be over by the time you two sods got down here."
Keira rolled her eyes at the blond.
"We need to hurry so we can apparate right away." Tonks said, stopping her pacing.
"Thank you so much for having us and for everything, Andromeda" Theodore said to the old woman as he was being pushed out the door by his best friend.
"Yeah, thanks Auntie Meda" Draco rushed out, closing the door once the four of them were out of it.
Tonks led them out of the safe gates and into the real world once more.
"Okay, we need to go to the Hogshead Inn" She said, taking an deep breath.
Draco furrowed his brows, about to comment, but Tonks grabbed his and Theodore's hand, who's other one was holding Keira's, and she apparated them away.
It went black before the four fell to the ground of the pub.
"Ugergh" Theodore groaned at the impact.
"Quick, through here!" An old man whisper-shouted at them.
"Who are you?" Draco asked him, jumping up from the ground quickly.
"It's alright, he's cool" Tonks said.
"Aberforth Dumbledore" The old man introduced himself.
"Dumbledore?!" Keira and Theodore said at the same time.
"Yes, now do you want to go join them or not?" He said. Pointing towards the open portrait that Tonks was stood at.
"Right, sorry" Keira apologised, her, Draco and Theo all meeting Tonks at the open space.
"Right, through here"Tonks told them before climbing in.
Theodore instructed Keira to follow after the other girl.
She followed Tonks who walked rather quickly, both Theodore and Draco right on her tail.
"I did it." Theodore whispered behind him.
"Did what?" Draco asked him.
"What are you guys talking about?" Keira asked them.
"She said yes, Mate! I'm an engaged man!" Theodore cheered quietly.
"Congrats bud." Draco clapped his best friend on the back.
"Are you guys really talking about this right now?" Keira stopped walking now, turning around to face them, causing Theo to walk straight into her and Draco to walk into him.
"Wait, Nott, you proposed?" Tonks asked, also stopping.
"Yep, like half an hour ago?" He beamed.
"Congrats you two, that's really great, how bigs the diamond?" She asked, directing her question towards Keira.
"Oh, it's big" Keira laughed, waving her hand in the darkness.
"Should we get going then?" Draco asked, bringing everyone's attention back to the matter at hand.
They continued on their way, walking the distance in silence now.
Theodore pressed his body against the back of Keira, holding her hips as they walked.
"Alright, through here." Tonks eventually said pushing open another portrait, their ears were instantly flooded by noise and chatter.
The groups eyes adjusted quickly to the change of lighting.
The room was unrecognisable, it was huge, multicoloured hammocks hung from the ceilings, an balcony circled the wood covered walls, hung off them were every house banner... except Slytherin.
There were bookcases around the room and even an wireless.
"The room of requirement." both Keira and Draco said, sharing a look of surprise after.
The room was also filled with students of the three houses being represented, also accompanied by members of the Order of The Phoenix.
"It's Tonks!" An voice cheered. "And Keira Weasley?"
"Malfoy?!" A voice shouted over the other cheers.
"What the bloody hell are death eaters doing here?" Another student said, Seamus Finnegan.
As Theodore and Draco dropped out of the portrait after the girls, Students had brought out their wands, pointing them at the two boys.
The blond and brunet put their hands in the air as a sign of surrender, not knowing what to do at the conflict.
"OI! You lot!" A loud and confident voice that belonged to none other than Ginny Weasley shouted over the ruckess. "Keep your knickers on and use your heads dimwits, Tonks wouldn't willingly lead the other side in here, stop being so daft."
After that, the students hung their heads in shame, putting their wands away and returning to the previous conversations.
Keira made a beeline towards her sister, pulling her into an tight embrace.
"Gingin" She sighed in relief.
"Keira!" Her younger sister laughed. "Where's my niece, who I haven't had the pleasure to meet yet?"
"She's still at Andromeda's, she's safe with Teddy too."
"Tonks, what are you doing here?" Remus said, breaking the moment between the two sisters.
"I couldn't leave you to fight on your own Rem, they took my dad away from me." Tonks told him.
"But what about our son?"
"He'll be alright, Mums got him." She reassured him.
Theodore walked up to Remus, patting him on the back.
"So bloody stubborn, eh?" He said to the older man.
"You're telling me." The werewolf rolled his eyes.
The rest of the Order joined the six.
Molly Wealsey hugged both her daughters, giving each one an kiss on the head.
Arthur than pulled Keira into an bone crushing hug, lifting her off her feet as she giggled.
Molly also hugged the two teenage boys giving each an kiss on the cheek and thanked them for keeping her daughter safe.
"Hold on, is that Oliver Wood?" Keira asked, looking in the direction of the quidditch player.
Theodore was quick to wrap his arm around his new Fiancee.
"That's not funny." He muttered to her grumpily.
"No but your face was priceless" She teased. "Where's Charlie?"
She looked at her whole family, after failing to spot him.
"We don't know dear?" Her mother said, we called for him, but it all depends if he'll be able to show."
"Oi, Nott" Ron said, Also joining them, Hermione right behind. "Wanna let go of my sister?"
Keira's eyes went wide that she was seeing them again after such a long time.
She let go of Theodore and ran towards Ron's open arms.
He hugged her just as tightly as she hugged him.
"Happy birthday!" They said to each other, ignoring the fact they turned eighteen two months ago.
"How are you even here, I thought you were expecting?" He asked her.
"Wait, Keira's having a baby?" Hermione gasped.
"I already did" She grinned. "Twenty forth of February, Ron I'm so excited for you to meet her, she's the most beautiful baby ever."
"Why didn't you tell me, git" Hermione whacked Ron's arm before hugging Keira.
"Must've slipped my mind" He shrugged.
"Did Harry sort this room out, it's quite impressive" Keira asked.
"No, believe it or not, but it was all Neville." Ron said
"Really?" Keira gasped, the two nodded enthusiastically, pointing to the boy who patrolled the room, making sure everyone was alright.
They turned their heads to see Harry Potter and Luna Lovegood moving down the stairs at an quick pace.
Remus was the first to reach the pair.
"Harry, what's happening?" the scarred man asked.
"Voldemort's on his way, they're barricading the school - Snape's run for it - what are you doing here? How did you know?" the speckled boy asked rapidly, looking around the room at all the new people.
"We sent messages to the rest of Dumbledore's Army" Fred told him. "You couldn't expect everyone to miss the fun, Harry, and the DA let the Order of the Phoenix know, and it all kind of snowballed."
"Yeah, I was in the middle of being proposed to" Keira said, making the women around her face her, checking her hand's for any evidence.
"Proposed?" Her dad repeated, his eyes going wide.
"What first, Harry?" George asked, steering the conversation back to Harry. "What's going on?"
"They're evacuating the younger kids and everyone's meeting in the Great Hall to get organised," Harry explained. "We're fighting."
The crowd advanced towards the stairs, pushing others out of the way as they marched towards the entrance to the main castle with their wands in hand.
Theodore and Draco had already left but Molly Weasley had an tight grip on her daughter's arms.
The Weasleys and Remus Lupin was the only one in the room as the Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore's Army, the Quidditch teams and other students fled.
"You're underage!" Molly shouted at Ginny, "And you're an new mum!" She turned her attention to Keira. "I won't permit it! The boy's, yes, but you two, have to go home, now!"
"Mum! We have every reason to fight!" Keira said, wiggling away from her mum
"I'm not going home." Ginny barked fiercely, still struggling, her hair flying every which way.
"You have to!"
"I'm eighteen, you don't really have an say in what I do, and you should let Gin fight if she wants to" Keira tried to reason.
"I'm in Dumbledore's Army -"
"- a teenagers gang!"
"A teenagers gang that's about to take him on, which no one else has dared to do!" Fred stepped in.
"And she's one of the best duellers I've ever seen!" Keira backed her sister.
"She's sixteen!" Molly shouted at the two. "She's not old enough! What you two were thinking, bringing her with you -" She acknowledged George now.
The Twin boys dropped their heads in shame.
"Mum's right, Ginny" Bill, the oldest sibling said kindly. "You can't do this. Everyone under-age will have to leave, it's only right."
"I can't go home!" Ginny shouted, still not giving up, her eyes were beginning to well up. "My whole family's here, I can't stand waiting there alone and not knowing and-"
Keira watched as her younger sister looked towards her famous ex boyfriend, but looked away quickly in defeat.
"Fine" She sighed, looking straight at the entrance of the Hogs Head. "I'll say goodbye now, then, and-"
There was an thump that snapped everybody's attention away from the young redhead.
"Am I too late? Has it started? I only just found out, so I- I-"
"Percy!?" Keira gasped in disbelief, none of her other family members said anything, just staring at the boy with the lopsided horn-rimmed glasses.
"So - 'ow eez leetle Teddy?" Fleur asked, directing her question towards Remus, who was obviously thrown off.
"I - oh yes - he's fine! He's at his grandmothers, with the other baby" He said loudly as the Weasleys stayed in their staring contest.
"Here, I've got a picture!" He raised his voice even louder now, he brought the picture out to show Fleur and Harry.
"I was a fool!" Percy practically screamed, it was so loud that poor Remus almost dropped the picture of his son. "I was an idiot, I was a pompous prat, I was a - a -"
"Ministry-loving, family disowning, power-hungry moron," Fred continued.
"Don't forget selfish and oblivious" Keira added.
Percy gulped before continuing.
"Yes, I was!" He agreed.
"Well, you can't say fairer than that" Fred nodded his head, holding his hand out to his older brother.
Molly Weasley burst into tears as she pushed one of her son's out of the way to hug the other one.
"I'm sorry Dad" He directed towards Arthur as he patted his mothers back as she cried.
He didn't say anything, instead he followed his wife and engulfed the two into an hug.
"What made you see sense, Perce?" George asked.
"It's been coming on for a while," Percy admitted, wiping at his eyes. "But I had to find a way out and it's not so easy at the Ministry, they're imprisoning traitors all the time. I managed to make contact with Aberforth and he tipped me ten minutes ago that Hogwarts was going to make a fight of it, so here I am."
"Well, we do look to our prefects to take a lead at times such as these," George said, mimicking his brother. "Now let's get upstairs and fight, or all the good Deatheaters'll be taken."
"That's the spirit" Keira laughed, clapping her brother on the back.
"So you're my sister-in-law, now?" Percy asked Fleur, shaking her hand as they both hurried towards the stairs.
"You'll also have an brother-in-law soon." Fred winked at Keira.
"Keira? You're in a relationship?" He asked his sister.
"She's a mother!" George added.
Keira blushed but wasn't able to answer as she was being cut off by her mother screaming at her younger sister who had just got caught sneaking up the stairs.
"Molly, how about this" Lupin suggested "Why doesn't Ginny stay here, then at least she'll be on the scene and know what's going on, but she won't be in the middle of fighting?"
"I-"
"That's a good idea" Arthur answered for his wife. "Ginny, you stay in this room, you hear me?"
She folded her arms as she begrudgingly nodded her head.
"Where's Ron?" Harry had asked, stopping Keira from running off as she looked for her twin brother "Where's Hermione?"
"They must have gone up to the Great Hall already," Arthur Weasley called over his shoulder, not stopping as he marched with Lupin and Molly.
Keira didn't stay to listen to Harry and Ginny discuss the whereabouts now, following her parents towards the Great Hall.
Keira first spotted her friends sat at one of the tables, the old Slytherin table, with all the students dressed in their pyjamas, their dressing gowns thrown over it, it was hard to tell which student belonged to the right house.
Theodore was the first to notice her, as she ran towards the two, who were accompanied by; Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini, Daphne Greengrass, and other slytherins in the years below and above.
She couldn't ignore the stray glares from some of the other students, whereas the majority including ghosts, kept their eyes on Professor McGonagall.
The room was also occupied by the other teachers, an centaur, and members of the Order of the Phoenix.
"... evacuation will be overseen by Mr Filch and Madam Pomfrey. Prefects, when I give the word, you will organise your house and take your charges, in an orderly fashion, to the evacuation point."
"Congratulations, you two, Pansy's told me all about little Laney!" Daphne quietly cheered to the pair.
"Thanks Daph" Theo replied kindly, but then they all stayed quiet as Ernie Macmillan, of Hufflepuff stood from his seat.
"And what if we want to stay and fight?" He shouted at the Professor.
The Hall broke into applause at his bravery.
"If you are of age, you may stay" Professor McGonagall answered him.
"What about our things?" An girl asked from Ravenclaw table "Our trunks, our owls?"
"We have no time to collect possessions" The old woman said firmly. "The important thing is to get you out of here safely."
"Where's Professor Snape?" A girl near the group shouted.
"He has, to use the common phrase, done a bunk." She replied, causing the other tables to roar and cheer at the news.
Keira clapped her hands quietly under the table, never being fond of the professor, even if he was her best friends godfather.
Whispering erupted as Harry was spotted around the Great Hall, probably still looking for her brother.
"We have already placed the protection around the castle" McGonagall continued. "but it is unlikely to hold for very long unless we reinforce it. I must ask you, therefore, to move quickly and calmly, and do as your prefects-"
An loud echoey voice cut her off, every head turned to find the source, but it was never found.
"I know that you are preparing to fight." The voice sent some students into panic as they screamed and fidgeted. "Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood."
Theodore let out an harsh laugh at the voice as he rolled his eyes, no one else seemed to have the humour to join him though, no one else dared to make a sound, as if the voice had petrified them all.
"Give me Harry Potter" The voice of Voldemort said. "and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded. You have until midnight."
The voice finally stopped talking, leaving everyone in the room to sit in what he had said, no one knowing or daring to say anything.
Keira and her friends as well as every other eye in the room had turned to look at Harry, the star of the show.
"He's right there, we should- we should just turn him in" Pansy whisper shrieked to her friends.
"Are you out of your mind?" Keira glared at the girl furiously.
"Pans, just calm down" Draco said, noticing how she was panicking.
"Look, I don't agree with him, and I know what side I'm on, but I can't fight, that's my family, I'm sorry, I don't want anyone to die.
"You know he's lying right, why would he be trying to become immortal, have the most powerful wand in the world, and want the one person whos ever been the closest to kill him, if he's not going to do anything?" Theo asked her. "He just wants an easy delivery, he's not collecting all the power to sit on it, use your head Pans."
But another person from their table had stood up to point at the dark haired boy. An boy in the year below.
"He's right there!" he shouted "Let's grab him and turn him in, then he'll leave!"
Theo dropped his head on the table, hitting his forehead against the wood a few times.
But then all of a sudden, The Gryffindors stood to stand against the Slytherin table, the other two tables copying.
"Let's get out of here" Keira said to the others, not wanting to be caught up in this.
Her, Draco, Theo, and Blaise, dropped to the ground on their hands and knees, making their way around the table and out of the way.
"Pans, Daph, come on!" Blaise said to the other two girls, but Daphne disappointingly shook her head as she rubbed her girlfriends arms reassuringly, who was clearly going into panic once more.
The four made it to the walls quickly standing up to watch.
Keira attempted to calculate all the wands that had been brought out, but lost count at the mass amount.
"Thank you, Mr Vaisey" Professor McGonagall said. "You will leave the Hall first with Mr Filch. If the rest of your house could follow."
The Hall was filled with the sound of scraping benches as the Slytherins did as what was instructed, leading the way out of the Great Hall.
"Ravenclaws, follow on!"
As the Great Hall began to empty out, Only a few students were found still seated, none of them being Slytherin, except for the four out of the way.
"Maybe we should go too?" Blaise said to the other three.
"I'm not going anywhere?" Theodore said firmly. "You can do whatever the fuck you want, but you leave that up to yourself, I have a family to fight for." His eyes lingered on Keira as he spoke.
Less and less left their tables as instructed, Gryffindor still seating the most students.
"Absolutely not, Creevey, go! And you, Peakes!"
"Come on, let's go join my family!" Keira told the boys, grabbing Theodore's hand as she led them towards the Weasleys.
Harry also made his way over as he asked the family,
"Where are Ron and Hermione?" Harry asked once more.
"Maybe they went off to have a shag before all this kicks off, just in case they don't get an- oughf" Theo bent over after Keira elbowed him in the stomach as the family glared at him in disgust.
"Kids, be quiet" Molly Weasley instructed as Kingsley Shacklebolt got to the podium about to say something.
"We've only got half an hour until Midnight, so we need to act fast! A battle plan has been agreed between the teachers of Hogwarts and the Order of the Phoenix. Professors Flitwick, Sprout and McGonagall are going to take groups of fighters up to the three highest Towers - Ravenclaw, Astronomy and Gryffindor - where they'll have a good overview, excellent positions from which to work spells. Meanwhile, Remus," He pointed towards the tall man. "Arthur" He then looked towards him, who was sat in front of where his eldest daughter rested her head on his shoulder. "And I will take groups into the grounds. We'll need somebody to organise defence of the entrances of the passageways into the school -"
"- sounds like an job for us" Fred volunteered himself and George.
Kingsley nodded at the pair, giving them approval of the job.
"All right, leaders up here and we'll divide up the troops!" Professor McGonagall ordered.
As people marched in all directions, Keira got lost in the crowd, desperately trying to look for her friends but none of them were insight, she ended up getting pushed into an random line, being her height, was jumping up and down to look for an familiar face, she didn't expect finding an six,four man this challenging to find.
She was led by an group out of the Gryffindors, not knowing what else to do, she decided to follow as Professor McGonagall led them.
She still had yet to spot anyone she knew in the group, only a few students in her year that she couldn't remember the names of.
Everyone knew as soon as it hit Midnight, as bangs and crashes were heard as windows were being blown out, smashed to smithereens.
The top of Gryffindor tower gave them a perfect view of the chaos from below, seeing wizards and witch's fighting each other, multiple colours flying around as Trolls and giants stomped around, the castle shook under the attack and gargoyles flew about.
"Are those giant spiders?!" Keira found herself shouting over all the noise.
"Miss Weasley, please refrain from shouting" Professor McGonagall told the girl sternly.
"Sorry, professor" She said awkwardly.
"Now students, I want you to aim for any threats, be careful of who you cast a spell at, and no unforgivable's, only jinx's, hex's, and defence spells" She instructed the group.
Keira got an overwhelming sense that she wasn't supposed to be here, on the defence hidden away at the top.
She needed to be with her boys.
She pushed away from the group.
"Miss Weasley! What are you doing?!" The old woman called after the teenage girl.
"I'm sorry, Professor, I have to go find someone" she called over her shoulder.
She brushed past other fighters and ruckus that was thrown around the place, dust filled the air, caused by the fatal attacks on the castle.
Keira struggled to keep her thoughts straight by all the noise.
She passed the room of requirement, an group of people she didn't take notice of until her name was called.
"Keira!" the voice of her twin shouted at her, making her pivot in her place to face him, with his arms wrapped around Hermione as Harry stood by.
"Have any of you seen my friends?" She asked.
"Uh- I think Nott went with your dad" Harry said. "I don't know about the other two"
"I saw Zabini with Luna not too long ago, we just separated from her" Hermione said.
"Thanks!" Keira called before continuing again, knowing to head towards the grounds now. "I love you all"
She didn't wait for an response, speeding around the castle, dodging duels and things and spells being shot through glassless windows.
She turned a corner, where an burly long faced man was running towards, Keira noticed this man to be none other than Antonin Dolohov, the man who murdered her uncles.
He aimed his wand at her, but she was faster casting Stupefy at him, he was rendered unconscious, as she passed his body, she fought the urge to find revenge, but reminded herself she was on an mission, and instead opted for kicking him hard in the face a few times, messing up his already twisted and scarred appearance.
She found her self finally being thankful of Draco's extensive training and combat routines, even the tip about the cardio, she was hardly as breathless and slow as she was this time last year.
The entrance hall was filled with rubble and through the dust and smoke she could've sworn she saw some bodies.
The grounds was even more berserk with fires sprouted all around, she was on the constant look out for any stray spells shooting her way, she moved and zipped around people dancing around the grass as they fought for their life and beliefs.
Keira finally sighted her boy, he outshone everyone with his height, and she could spot his full head of curls from miles away.
She watched as he swiftly flicked away spells that were being thrown at him as he argued with someone.
As she advanced she could hear what he was shouting, at an old frail looking man.
Keira wondered how on earth this man was here at all times, fighting when he looked as though he should be on his deathbed.
"-And she's the most beautiful woman on this earth, and guess what Dad!" Theodore barked.
He noticed Keira as she was deep in thought.
"There she is, the mother of my child!" He called over to Keira as she ran towards him.
That's when Keira realised what was going on, this was his dad, the man Theodore had been known to resent the most out of anyone, even if he never shared much about his childhood or family, she knew it was bad.
"You're an disappointment, you're no son of mine!" His father shouted at him.
"Good! You've never been an father to me, you sick fuck!" He bellowed. "I can't wait to raise your granddaughter with everything you're against, she's the purest, kindest, most innocent soul, nothing what an Nott represents" He let out a laugh at the older mans reaction.
"A DAUGHTER!?" the man screamed. "Notts are not women!"
"Good thing she's more of a Weasley then"
Keira thought the man was about to die then and there, but her eyes locked on to the figure that was advancing on Theodore from behind, she shot into action.
"Theo! Watch out" She called as she shot stupefy at the attacker over his shoulder.
The Death eater fell unconscious, as Theo tried to grasp what Keira just did for him, it might not have meant a lot to anyone else at this predicament, but to him it meant the world and more.
He pulled her into an embrace, selfishly forgetting their surroundings as he held her tightly.
He missed how an spell was shot from his fathers wand, an green light surged towards the girls back, as she hugged him back tightly, she suddenly fell limp in his arms.
Theodore felt as if his heart had stopped as he pulled her face towards him, her now pale lifeless face.
"Keira?" He said not grasping what just happened, shaking her slightly. "Keira!" His voice raised as he kept repeating her name, shaking her more furiously.
Draco Malfoy, who watched the whole thing from afar shot an string of red towards the man instantaneously.
Both Nott's fell to the ground.
Sr Nott in immense pain as he thrashed around on the floor and Theodore Nott as his whole world shattered within a second.
He held the love of his life in his arms as her body sprawled out on the ground, he screamed out angrily as he clung to her, not caring about the tears streaming down his red face.
"THEO!" Draco yelled as he sprinted towards his best friends, throwing himself onto his knees.
"It's my fault, i- its', She's- I can't fix it, help me-" He rambled on and on to his friend. "Help me Draco, please!"
Draco looked towards the girl, frantically checking for any signs of a pulse, but everything around him froze when he found no luck.
"Draco" The desperate boys voice cracked as he cradled her head into his chest.
"We have to get out of here" Draco said, knowing that he had to get the boy safely out of the way, not seeing anyone who could help them as everyone was busy with their own opponents.
"No, no, no, no" the boy sobbed.
"Theo, we have to go, we have to get inside!" He shouted.
"I can't, I can't leave her, she can't be, she has to wake up, she's going to wake up, this is all a prank, this is all just a stupid fucking prank." the boy wasn't even speaking to the blond now as he brushed the girls hair with his fingers.
Draco felt angry and destroyed, but he knew he had to keep it together for his best friend, even though he selfishly wanted to go on an rampage, killing anyone on sight, but he couldn't do that.
"She promised, she promised me, I- she swore- she-."
Draco grabbed hold of his face, pulling it to face him.
"We need to get her body out of here, before you get hurt too, we need to get her into the Great Hall, do you hear me?" He said in the steadiest voice he could manage.
"She's not hurt, Malfoy!" the brunet yelled. "SHE'S DEAD! ALL BECAUSE OF ME!"
He was bringing attention to them, Draco had to think fast.
He grabbed the body of the girl he secretly still longed for, bringing her close to his chest and ran, he knew Theodore was hot on his trail, and even though it crushed his soul that he was holding her dead body he continued to run to shelter for him.
He dodged every obstacle and blockage, as he made it into the castle.
Draco came to an halt in the entrance hall, Theodore right by his side, taking his girl back instantly.
"Go take her inside." Draco instructed.
"What about you?" Theo asked, the tears never stopped as he blinked frustratingly.
"Go, now" He said sternly, running back the way they just came from.
Theodore didn't waste anymore time as he lifted Keira up in his arms, bringing her closer to him as her head lolled downwards.
"Come on, baby, please don't leave me, you can't, don't leave me. Don't do this to me!" He muttered towards her as he continued into the Great hall. "You can't put her in the same place I went through, she needs her mum, Lanesey needs her mum!"
The tables had disappeared and the room was rather crowded, an small row of bodies layed on the floor as some of the injured were being treated by Madam Pomfrey by the podium.
Theodore couldn't bring himself to lay his girl with the other bodies, instead lent himself against an wall in the corner where no one else was, he sat cross legged as he continued to hold the limp body in his arms. He couldn't care less if he looked like an psycho, instead focused on the wall opposite him in silence as he clung to the girl, not knowing what else to do.
For the first time in his life, he couldn't talk, fight or run away from his problems, he ignored his urges for revenge and death as he hugged the body of his fiancee to his chest, keeping his lips pressed to her temple as he silently cried.
He didn't even snap out of it when Voldemort spoke once more.
"You have fought valiantly. Lord Voldemort knows how to value bravery. Yet you have sustained heavy losses. If you continue to resist me, you will all die, one by one. I do not wish this to happen. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a loss and a waste. Lord Voldemort is merciful. I command my forces to retreat, immediately. You have one hour. Dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured." Voldemort commanded.
"I speak now, Harry Potter, directly to you. You have permitted your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest. If, at the end of that hour, you have not come to me, have not given yourself up, then battle recommences. This time, I shall enter the fray myself, Harry Potter, and I shall find you, and I shall punish every last man, woman and child who has tried to conceal you from me. One hour."
Eventually the room became more flooded, the row of bodies grew and the line of injuries extended.
"Percy here, is now my favourite sibling, you should've heard him!" Fred boasted as he and the other Weasley's entered the Great Hall, not seeming to notice the boy yet. "Oh and mum, the weirdest thing, you know that Dolohov git, the evil one."
"I'm aware, Fred" The woman said darkly.
"The strangest thing, when we left our posts, we just found him spread out on the floor unconscious, his face looked bashed in too." Fred explained.
"I suspect someone cast stupefy on him." Percy said, pushing up his glasses.
"Is that Nott?" Ginny called out, noticing the pale looking boy who sat by himself in a corner.
"Theodore, dear, are you alright, are you hurt?" Molly Weasley asked. "Where are your friends?"
He looked up at the family, his heart breaking, as he looked down at the girl who was now on display for them to see.
"I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry." His voice cracked and he bit hard on his quivering lip as he cried harder once more.
"No." Arthur Weasley said under his breath.
The Weasleys dropped towards him as they examined the girl.
"It's all my fault." He admitted as Molly Weasley let out a wail.
"My baby, my baby girl." She cried loudly, bringing others attention towards them.
Ginny choked on a sob, slapping an hand over her mouth as her eldest brother brought her into an hug.
Molly Weasley pulled the body away from the boy, laying the head in her lap as she wheezed in pain.
Arthur Weasley seethed as he fired questions at the teenager about what had happened, the other Weasley siblings hugged each other, in shock at what had actually happened.
At that moment, Draco Malfoy returned, covered in blood and accompanied by Blaise Zabini, the pair headed straight for the grieving family, Blaise joined Molly's side as he looked at his friend as Draco attempted to break up Arthur and Theodore.
"It was his father!" Draco said loudly to the old man "Let him go."
Arthur let go off the collar of Theodore's shirt as if it burned him.
"What's going on?" Remus Lupin asked but stopped short as he saw the sight, the colour of his face dropping. "Oh... Merlin" He sighed as he looked at the lifeless girl, he knew how he felt when he thought he had almost lost his wife when her own evil aunt attempted to murder her, before he managed to cast protego, he didn't even want to imagine what Theodore was feeling.
"He cast the killing curse whilst Keira was saving Theo" Draco told them, "She died saving his life."
It couldn't make up for their loss, but he hoped it made them feel proud at what their daughter had done.
No one would even know that she was the one who had stunned Dolohov either, and the amount of deaths she prevented.
Keira Weasley was an hero, and Theodore Nott could never forgive her bravery and stubbornness.