The End of Hogwarts.

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Shadow stood on one of the ruined towers, looking at the dust falling to the ground. She looked up at the night sky, watching the stars coming out. People were slowly coming out of the Forbidden Forest, shaken at having been inside the school as it started to collapse around them.

Shadow was retching blood when they finally managed to get her to take the potion. They moved away from the shaking girl.

Holly bit her lip watching her and eventually shook the two hooded figures off of her and hurried over to kneel by Shadow's side.

Shadow was trembling, coughing, but she opened her eyes.

Holly moved into Shadow's view.
"You're gonna be okay," she assured her, and then turned to Arias and the rest, "Leave. Please."

Shadow reached out for Holly, but she started coughing again, blood coming out of her mouth. The Senate turned their backs, but the Senate member who had stood up for Shadow looked back before they all faded from view.

Holly nodded once at the member before they vanished and then linked her little finger around Shadow's, reaching for her wand in her other hand.

Shadow smiled slightly and closed her eyes.

Holly squeezed Shadow's hand before pulling it away and conjuring a firewhiskey, to take away the pain.

Shadow's breathing evened before stopping.

Holly was half way through her first swig when she realised there was perfect silence. Other than her own heart thumping and her own breathing, she could hear nothing.

Shadow's eyes flew open as she coughed again, drawing uneven ragged breaths.

Holly reached for her wand and cast what she hoped would be a calming spell on Shadow.

Shadow's breathing evened out, but she trembled. She was still in pain, but she didn't want Holly to know the extent of it.

After deciding Shadow was alright, Holly downed the bottle of firewhiskey.

Shadow looked at Holly, watching her carefully.

Tears began to spurt from Holly's eyes, but she made no attempt to cover them.
"I cant believe hes dead," she whispered, aware Shadow was watching her.

Shadow reached out and touched Holly's hand, puzzled.

"Riley I mean," Holly added as an answer, "I mean I didnt....I didnt even get to...."
Holly closed her eyes.

Shadow nodded.
I'm so sorry... Her thoughts said.

Holly nodded.
"Mm," she said, "What about your siblings? Are they alright?"
Holly was about to say George could teleport them to Raven if Shadow wanted, but with a horrible pang and a fresh choke, Holly remembered.

Shadow tensed as she heard a rustle behind her.

Holly barely looked up. Whatever happened to her from now on she didnt care. It seemed nothing could be worse than the feeling she had right now.

Shadow turned her head slightly to see George limping out of the bushes.

Holly stood up quickly, in disbelief. Too quickly, and so she had to sit down again.
"You're alright!" George cried elated.
Holly grinned for what felt like the first time ever.
"Oh my ... George you're alive!"
George nodded, pleased and then looked down.
"Before you get all excited ... Riley he ... hes dead ..."
Holly nodded sadly.
"I figured as much," she said, hugging her monkey with all the love in the world.

Shadow smiled slightly at the reunion.

"I should have known you were alright...I would have felt something if you had died."
George resumed his usual place on Holly's shoulder.
"Miss Roth," he said, nodding to Shadow, "Its nice to see you are alright,"

Shadow smiled before closing her eyes again.

"How did it happen?" Holly asked George softly, watching Shadow.
George bowed his head.
"One of the cloaked men.....he was fighting him off because the cloaked guy was trying to kill this little kid. They had a shouting match and then the cloaked guy just.....stabbed him. With a magic sword....It took ages for him to go properly.."
Holly held up a hand to silence George.
"Did you...," Holly hesitated and glanced at Shadow, "Did you tell him?"

Shadow had fallen into a doze.

"Well?" Holly demanded.
George shook his head sadly.
"Im sorry," he said quickly, "I tried Holly I swear I did but...he was telling me something too..."
Holly looked at him expectantly.
"I think he was saying the same," George said.

Shadow's breathing evened out, and there was another rustle in the bushes as a raven flew out, closely followed by a fiery pegasus with a silver stripe down its nose.

Holly's eyes widened at the sight of Raven and she gently shook Shadow's shoulder.

Shadow's head flopped limply, and Raven morphed back to human form, battered, but alive.

Emmalynn used the light of her wand to lead her out of the forest. She saw some figures ahead and cautiously walked toward them.

"Holly!" she yelled, recognizing the first person. "Raven!" Emmalynn put away her wand and ran to the group. Everyone looked a bit worse for wear... but they were alive.

Holly's eyes widened when she saw Emmalynn, whom she had not seen in what felt like months.
"Thank Lordy," she said and stood shakily to walk towards her, "Are you alright? Where were you fighting? Any more survivors?"

Raven breathed a sigh of relief.
"Emmalynn! I was glad to see that this lot survived, and now that more are turning up... It's a lot better."

Holly nodded earnestly, "Where have you been Raven? Arias and them turned up and tried to kill Shad and all!"

"I've been in a coma, trying to heal myself." Raven said.

"Oh," Holly said, "Well Im glad you're....."
She stopped to think of a suitable adjective.
"Alive," she decided on.

Raven smiled slightly.
"Well, at least we're all together."

"Mm...." Holly said, a crease appearing between her eyebrows, "What about the others? Shaeman and such? They alright?"

The pegasus nickered indignitaly. Raven smiled, shaking her head.
"He managed to get himself stuck." She giggled.

Holly smiled at the pegasus and then realised Shadow hadnt spoken in a while.
"Hey, Shad, still holding up?"

((Spoken... lol))

Shadow remained unconscious.

Holly glanced at her and sat down, feeling her wrist for a pulse. There was one.
"Man, i think shes unconcious," she said, reaching for her wand.

Raven knelt beside her sister and monitered her breathing.,

"Um....eneverate," Holly mumbled, not sure what she was saying, "En...en....Aw I dunno!"

Raven sat back, waiting.

Holly tried the spell once more and then stepped back to give Shadow some room.

"Just leave her for now..." Raven said quietly.