“Name?”

“What?” Grace asked, confused.

“I need your name.”

“Grace Williams.”

The Death Eater looked over his list. “Clear. Next?”

Rue stepped forward, shaking, thinking about Cedric’s death to Voldemort. “Rue White.”

“Clear. Next?”

“What was that about?” Rue whispered as she followed Grace to their compartment.

“I think they’re checking for Muggle-borns. Have you seen the Prophet recently?” Rue shook her head. “There’s been a crackdown on all Muggle-borns.” She explained about the Ministry being taken over, parroting what Draco had told her.

Halfway to Hogwarts, dementors went through the train, checking everyone over and keeping everyone in line.

On the grounds, they were double checked before entering the castle. At the opening feast, the Sorting Hat was subdued and didn’t sing, but Grace got to see Draco. He seemed worried and distant, though.

Rue was freaking out about Voldemort basically controlling the school. Leanne was trying to comfort her, but she was still extremely anxious.

“What happened to Potter, Weasley, and Granger?” Pansy asked at the Slytherin table.

Grace looked over, realizing she was right. “Where are they?”

“Who cares? At least they won’t be around to thwart us at every turn,” Blaise said.

“Muggles are filthy animals that need to be contained,” Alecto lectured. “Wizards are the greater race, easily.”

“I hadn’t noticed, since we’re being controlled by a Dark Lord now,” Rue said loudly. “We don’t seem to be doing any better than them.”

“Shh,” Grace hissed.

“Detention to White. Anyone else want to argue with me?” Alecto looked around defiantly.

Everyone avoided eye contact, looking down at their desks.

“That’s what I thought.” She continued her lecture.

That evening, Rue slowly made her way down to the dungeons to serve her detention.

“Since White has finally decided to join us, we can begin,” Amycus said coldly. “Crabbe, Goyle, take your marks. Since she was last, get White in the first round.”

In front of her, Crabbe whipped out his wand. Amycus counted down for them, and Neville and Rue dropped to the ground. They’d put Cruciatus Curses on them.

Rue was aware of everyone watching them, and Neville screaming off to the side. Refusing to give them the satisfaction of doing the same, she clenched her teeth and stayed silent. Her bones burned, her skin stung like it had been dipped in acid.

Eventually, the pain lifted. Rue laid there for a moment, dazed, until Alecto kicked her to get her to stand up.

“You two are free to leave,” she said nastily.

Several weeks later, after acquiring many detentions, Rue learned of a student hideout in the Room of Requirement from Luna.

“You’re leaving? Just like that?” Grace asked.

“I have to. You think I’ll survive much longer here?” Rue rolled her eyes.

“You’re leaving me to die?”

“I don’t think you’re going to die. Just send me a letter if you ever need me, I’m sure Amber will be able to find me,” she said, referring to Grace’s owl.

“Okay, but where even is the hideout?”

“Can’t tell you.”

“We’re supposed to be friends!”

“Are we not?”

“Not at the moment.” Grace crossed her arms.

“Stop being such a baby.”

Months later, it was battle time.

“He’s coming!” someone shouted.

“Who?” Grace asked.

“Voldemort, who do you think?” Rue answered, grabbing Grace. “Come on, we need to see what’s happening.”

There ended up being a huge assembly, where everyone thought Harry Potter died.

When Voldemort asked for people to come and join him, Grace stepped forward, hesitant but ready to follow him.

“Are you crazy? You can’t leave!” Rue said, pulling her back.

“I’m not siding with the losing team.”

“No, you’re just scared to fight against him.”

“So what? It won’t matter when he rules the world.”

“What if we can stop him from that? Since when do you listen to what other people want?”

Grace paused.

“Come on over,” Voldemort invited, gesturing to Grace.

“Yeah, I’ll be joining you when hell freezes over.”

Neville moved forward then, distracting everyone. Then Harry got up and the battle resumed.

Grace and Rue fought back to back, defending and attacking together, but they soon drifted apart as they got drawn into separate fights.

“AVADA KEDAVRA!”

Rue turned to see someone aiming the spell at Grace, who was now staring at the Death Eater blankly, accepting her death.

Instead of the curse hitting her, though, Rue shoved her out of the way, taking it for her.

“Rue!” Grace dropped to her knees, the Death Eaters becoming preoccupied with other people. “Rue! Don’t leave me!”

“It’s okay. I’ll see Cedric again, and you’ll get to see Draco. Check my diary, the last filled out page. It’s for you.”

As the light went out of Rue’s eyes, tears started to spill down Grace’s cheeks, for the first time in a very long while. Tears for her lost friend, tears for her own grieving.

After the battle, Grace was sitting on the demolished stairs leading up to the school, holding Rue’s diary in her hands, rereading the last entry.

“Grace?” She looked up to see Draco.

Leaping up (leaving the diary on the steps), she ran towards him, colliding in an embrace. Their lips touched into a long overdue kiss.

“Draco, I can’t believe it’s you. I thought you were gone.”

“No, I’m here, why are you trembling, are you alright?”

“Rue’s dead.”

“I’m so sorry, Grace. I know you were close to her. How did it happen?”

“Let’s just say that if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be here, talking to you.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“I have no idea. I wasn’t ready for any of this. I was aiming to work in the Beast Division at the Ministry, but they probably need time to get everything back under control. Why, what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to go back to stay with my parents, and hopefully get a job at the Ministry at some point.”

“Imagine liking your parents.” Grace gave a small laugh. “It doesn't matter anyway.”