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It was a strange request, but Oliver found he had gotten used to them over the years. One had to if you wanted to date Luna Lovegood, even in secret.
But a Confundus in the middle of battle? “Are ye sure, love?”
“Something important is about to happen,” Luna said with a dreamy nod. “I’ve seen it, but I can’t recall… I need the confundus to clear my mind.”
“Ye know that’s not how that spell works…” Oliver trailed off at the look she gave him and raised his wand instead. He would be right by her side to protect her if need be.
The moment his Confundus charm hit Luna, her eyes focused and she took off down the hall at a dead run, so fast Oliver struggled to keep up. Based on the sounds of battle ahead of them, that was unacceptable. He picked up his pace and managed to grab her hand so that they were running side by side.
Turning a corner, they found themselves by the Potions classroom, having to duck out of the way of some spell that was a nasty burnt orange color. Oliver rapidly took in the scene before them.
Their old Professor Lupin was facing off against Fenrir Greyback. The snarling werewolf, as much beast in human form as he would have been on a full moon, lunged at the professor. Oliver raised his wand, but knew he would be too late to help. To his shock, Luna hummed and nodded, waving her wand to conjure something.
A WWW product appeared in her hand, one Oliver didn’t recognize, in the shape of a ball. “Greyback!” she shouted, just as she launched the product at him. The werewolf seemed surprised to hear her voice and paused, looking her way as he sniffed the air. It reminded Oliver that Luna had admitted the werewolf pawed at her while she was under the Malfoys’ tender care. He felt fury wash over him just as the small ball began to morph into something else.
When one of Molly Weasley’s apple pies hit Fenrir in the face, Oliver didn’t even take the time to laugh. He was too busy casting at the creature before him. Luckily, he wasn’t the only one. Face still covered in pie, Greyback sank to the floor, blood flowing down his body from multiple wounds.
Professor Lupin surprised them all by throwing his head back and howling in what seemed to be triumph. Unfortunately, it was at that moment that several more Death Eaters poured into the room, including Bellatrix Lestrange.
Luna launched another WWW ball, this time watching as it turned into a mirror to reflect a Death Eater’s spell away from Lupin, killing the man who sent it instead. Oliver grabbed Luna and tucked her behind him when he saw Bellatrix look their way. They did not want her attention.
The professor was up against the rest of the Death Eaters, but Bellatrix seemed to find that unacceptable. Dismissing them undoubtedly as inconsequential, she turned away from Oliver and Luna, intent on Professor Lupin.
“Don’t you dare!” came a shout from the other end of the hall as Nymphadora Tonks appeared, fury radiating from her features.
“Oh, my little niece wants to play?” Bellatrix squealed with delight.
Oliver felt a chill run up his back, but Luna tugged on his hand. “We need to help Professor Lupin.”
“But Bellatrix—” Oliver protested.
“Help is on the way,” Luna said cryptically before dragging him into battle.
It was hard to pay attention to what was happening beyond his own wand fight, but Oliver was vaguely aware that Minerva McGonagall had arrived behind Tonks and now Bellatrix seemed to be looking for a way to retreat even as he, Luna, and Professor Lupin beat back the rest of the Death Eaters in the room.
Suddenly, everything went black, then he heard McGonagall chanting powerful words, “Invoco Slytherin auxilium!” Suddenly there were hissing sounds all around them, and the sound of pounding feet coming closer. Then, near them, he heard a cry of pain and someone falling to the floor.
Oliver’s hand found Luna’s and he pulled her away from the sound of dropping bodies. As they stepped backwards, he could see again and realized someone had thrown Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder in the room to achieve the darkness.
They needed somewhere safe to go, somewhere away from the darkness and the killing within it — though how anyone had been able to tell where to attack, Oliver had no idea. Suddenly, a shriek that must be Bellatrix split the air just as the darkness vanished. Around her feet slithered too many stone snakes to count. From the way Bellatrix was writhing on the ground, the fact that they were made of stone had not made their venom any less potent.
“You cast Slytherin’s Aid,” came an awed voice across the hallway as Professor Lupin, covered in others’ blood, helped his wife to her feet.
Oliver looked up to see Draco Malfoy standing there with his wand out. Flanking him were several of his Slytherin yearmates as well as a few older ones. Oliver recognized Adrian Pucey and Marcus Flint. All of them looked confused.
“I did,” McGonagall agreed. “One of the few nice things about this day — I’m getting to cast the best spells. Now help us. You’re familiar with these dungeons. We need a place to hide until everyone gets their bearings.”
Draco paused for only a moment before nodding. Oliver considered protesting — how could they trust these Slytherins? But Luna shook her head and took off following him. It was only a few moments before they turned back around the corner and Draco led them toward a door Oliver was certain hadn’t been there before.
Stepping inside, Luna sighed happily. “The room of requirement saved itself!”
“Saved itself?” Oliver asked, noticing a faint charred scent.
“Yes,” she agreed. “It couldn’t stay in its usual spot, but when Professor McGonagall cast Slytherin’s Aid, it was able to move where it would be required by the Slytherins. So now everyone here — and the room itself — have been saved, just as they should be.”
Oliver blinked. He didn’t understand his girlfriend’s particular brand of divination, but he couldn’t argue with the confounding results.
“Oh, I think the room needs to move again,” Luna announced suddenly.
“Why would it need that?” Adrian asked, looking worriedly at the walls around them.
“To save someone else,” she replied, then turned to Oliver. “I might need another Confundus.”
“Anything for ye, m’love,” he answered as the entire room began to shift. Oliver didn’t know where they would end up next, who they would save, but he knew they were doing just what was needed.