Dumbledore has excused me just five minutes prior. I am rushing as fast as possible towards the highest tower. I can only imagine what I am to find up there, but something in me forces me to check on Aurora. In the back of my mind, I can hear the little voice from this morning after my dream whisper that it is because of my feelings of affection for her. Unknowingly, I scoff aloud while taking the steps two at a time. Time is of the essence. I know this, but I know not why I think this. It doesn't take me long to reach the Astronomy Tower, but I never have thought it would.

Walking briskly towards the large oak door that I know leads to Aurora's rooms, I draw in a breath. My imagination runs wild with various scenarios of how I am going to find her. Normally, I would have the courtesy to knock, but not this time. I cannot afford the luxury for either of us. I flick my hand towards the door, which makes it burst open as my nonverbal spell hits it. The room is dark, which is odd since it is nearly ten in the morning. I navigate it by only the slightest bit of light.

I see Aurora's outline in the light as she stares at it. I slowly approach her as not to frighten her. I can only imagine how many curse marks I would bear if I scared her. I catch the glimmer of silver in her hands along with the crimson running down the long wand.

"You are bleeding," I say quietly. I catch the jerk of her hand before a bright light overtakes the room. I instantly take it all in. She has destroyed almost everything in sight. Books litter the floor with large scorch marks in their bindings. In fact, several books are nothing more than piles of ash now. Glass from the mirror, picture frames, and windows spread about glistens in the soft light. Spew about the room is the sad remnants of her large bookcases that now are only slivers of splintered wood. Several hanging portraits about the room have slashes that are so deep it reveals the wall.

My eyes close at the sight of her large tapestry that hangs on the far wall. It is her most prized possession, but one would not know that now. She has destroyed it. Silver stars with singed edges and missing points rest below the badly frayed blue tapestry. I can clearly identify the spells she has casted at it just by the damage inflicted upon it: Confringo, Diffindo, Incendio, Sectumsempra, and half a dozen dark magic spells. I then glance towards Aurora.

If I were any other man, I'd have cried out at the sight of her. She is bleeding even worse than before. I can see the chunks of glass now embedded into her exposed skin. I wince as my eyes continue to wander over her. At the sight of her wrist, I feel my stomach instantly sour. A piece of glass has sliced the pale skin, releasing more crimson to color her. The voice in my head screams at me to get her to Madam Pomfrey. However, I cannot speak. My mouth is dry, and my voice is stuck in my throat.

I know as well as the others that Aurora is full of destructive magic. In fact, more than I would have liked, I have been at the receiving end of her powerful castings. I have seen her at worse, and this does not even remotely compare to anything I've seen thus far from her. I have seen her duel five Death Eaters at once and remain collectively cool as they sent volleys of Killing curses at her at terrifying speeds. I have even been one of those unlucky Death Eaters who has been in a duel with her. I did not know it at the time, though, but as soon as her hood fell and I saw her, I learned that she is of equal strength magically as Albus and me. That is why looking at her now scares me beyond all imaginable doubt. I have never before seen Aurora so—words do not even begin to describe how she looks.

My mouth then opens to speak. I cannot dawdle like this anymore, not when she is bleeding so badly. My words are on the tip of my tongue. However, I soon learn that there are also words on hers.

"Aurora—" I start to say only to be cut off by her casting a spell at me. I cannot react in time. The spell engulfs me and is so strong that it makes me drop to my knees. Pain floods my nerves, but it is not a pain similar to the Cruciatus. No, it is different. It is much, much stronger. I glance towards her, ignoring the pain as best as I can. My eyes then notice the glass that is now floating in midair with its sharp edges towards me. She is not in control of her magic so I do not blame her. I cannot blame her.

As the glass daggers suddenly fly at me, I attempt my best casting of a shield. My eyes lock with her cold black eyes. The familiar warmth is gone and only anger remains. As my spell hits hers, it bathes us in a dark light. I silently watch her, hoping she snaps out of her fury. It does not take long, but soon I wish I never hoped for that. Our intermingled dark spells combine before encasing her. I watch helplessly as she falls to the floor as if a broken doll. You'll kill us all in the end, Severus, the voice in my mind whispers, as you always do.