Author's Note
Slightly shorter than usual chapter - but good things come in small packages (I hope!)
(Once again, Janie sends a million thanks flying over the sea to Kirsti!)
FOUR WEDDINGS & A FUNERAL
By Lady Jane
Chapter Nineteen
What happened next was painstakingly reconstructed from many hours of discussion and talks amongst those who were present (and lived to tell the tale), including the limited use of Legilimency by Dumbledore.
Once all the details had been captured and set down on parchment, Neville Longbottom read over that final report before handing it to his boss. Despite having heard everyone's accounts first hand and being instrumental in the writing of this report, the awe it inspired was as fresh and vibrant as ever and he found himself wishing he'd been there to see it for himself…
`Kill them!'
When Harry heard Lucius Malfoy order his Death Eaters to kill Ginny and Draco, he knew the time had arrived, that this was the moment for action. And he was ready.
His head snapped back, he closed his eyes - reaching down for the power that lay dormant within him - the power that had first been revealed when he'd defeated Voldemort. Harry knew this extraordinary power, not experienced by any other of his kind, was the creation of his own, very unique circumstances. Even Albus Dumbledore was in awe of it - what he had seen of it. The irony was that Voldemort had had an intrinsic part in the origin of this power - the very power that had enabled Harry to eventually defeat him. Unlike his former nemesis, Harry's power wasn't fuelled by hatred, but by love; it was Harry's immense capacity for love that was at the core of his great power.
In the same time as it takes to draw a breath, Harry awakened the force within him, expedited by the fact that Hermione's life depended on his ability to act swiftly; he brought his head up and on opening his eyes he could see the very air glittering with the magnitude of the magical energy he'd called forth - his whole body was pulsing with it. He looked down the length of the room at Lucius Malfoy to see him glaring at his Death Eaters who, contrary to his orders, were hesitating, their eyes irresistibly drawn to Harry.
`Kill them!' For the second time, the command was issued.
As each second that passed seemed to expand to encompass a minute, everything appeared to Harry to be happening slowly; his gaze moved to his left, away from Lucius and Hermione, past Ginny to Draco, who stood with his hands raised, his fingers curled. Harry thought he looked as though he wanted to strangle his father.
Harry's eyes moved to Draco's left, back to see Ginny staring at him, her eyes wide with fear and hope. Then he turned his head to take in the sight of Hermione, still in Lucius' grasp, but fully conscious now and he felt his heart leap at the blazing look of joy, love and triumph in her eyes - directed at him!
Harry raised his right arm, palm out, his fingers stretched open, and as he allowed the power he controlled to rush through him towards his hand, he threw his head back and roared:
`SHE IS MINE AND I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO HARM HER!'
The strength of the magic coursing through him magnified Harry's voice to such a degree that the glass in the windows rattled. Lucius turned to let his gaze rest once more on Harry, his red eyes revealing the first flickers of fear as again the ferocious, magical wind sprang out of nowhere and began to whip at everything in the room - the green, velvet drapes twisting and writhing as though alive. Hermione's hair was flung across Lucius' face and he pushed her to arm's length to escape the stinging strands. Only Lucius Malfoy and the hooded Death Eater guarding Ginny and Draco were wearing robes, the sharp snapping sound they made as they flapped violently about their legs lost in the roar of the relentless turbulence.
Through the chaotic tempest, Harry once again looked into Hermione's eyes. Then unexpectedly, he smiled at her - for her; a smile that rejoiced at his impending victory. A smile that held triumph and a smile that held, above all else, his jubilation at knowing she was going to be safe. Hermione realised she had tears rolling down her face but she, too, was smiling; the look in Harry's eyes was for her alone - and it held all his love for her, she could feel it. And at that precise second, Harry unleashed the full force of the power he'd been holding at bay.
This was the power that had defeated Voldemort. This was the power that had destroyed Voldemort and rid the world of his vile presence, reducing him to less than nothing.
And this was the power that now surged towards Lucius Malfoy. The jet of light wasn't the horrid, sickly green of the Avada Kedavra, it was a blindingly bright blue - a cleansing light. If Harry had taken his eyes from Hermione at that instant, he would've seen the enormity of Lucius Malfoy's fear as he realised he was about to die.
There was a blinding, blue flash - an ear-splitting screech - screams - the sound of men's voices crying out in dreadful fear and then, just as the roar of the wind reached a crescendo, it suddenly began to dwindle. As the storm died away, a silent stillness settled over the whole room, each of the survivors frozen in place, each of them awe struck at what they'd just witnessed. The eyes of those who were left were riveted on Harry.
Hermione was the first to move. She somehow found the energy to run the length of the room and throw herself at Harry, her heart almost bursting with relief and joy and love - all directed at this man - her man! Harry wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her knotted, windblown hair.
She was safe. His world was intact.
*
Ginny felt herself shaking. Never would she have imagined that it was possible for a wizard to do what Harry had just done and if she hadn't seen it for herself, she probably wouldn't have believed it. Despite the fact that Lucius had held Hermione in his grasp, Harry had thrown some sort of spell at him that had apparently obliterated Lucius while leaving Hermione untouched. But of course, Harry would never allow harm to come to Hermione. What Ginny didn't know was that Harry's spell was guided by his will and his will dictated the end of Lucius Malfoy - just as it dictated that nothing whatsoever would harm Hermione.
As the realisation that it was all over slowly sunk in, Ginny sagged to the floor, her right hand spread on the floor to support her. The Death Eater that had been guarding her was still standing - his face a mask of fear and horror. Draco turned, his expression dazed, and looked down at Ginny. As she met his stunned, grey gaze she realised that the two Death Eaters that had been with him - the two who had used Polyjuice Potion to become Harry and Seamus - were also gone. It was too much to take in - she would ask later what had happened to them.
Draco was completely stunned - he'd watched as that streak of blue light had hit his father and engulfed him. When it cleared, his father was no longer there. There was nothing left behind to indicate that there had been anyone there. Potter had done what Draco had believed he wanted to do so desperately himself - destroy his father. While he felt relief at his father's destruction, Draco was also aware of a strange sadness stealing over him. He turned to look down at Ginny who had gracefully sunk to the floor, no doubt in shock. He felt enormous relief wash over him knowing she was all right and that it was all over.
`Ginevra?' His voice was a husky croak. `Are you all right?'
Ginny could only nod as she gazed up at him. `Your father…' she whispered.
A shadow of a smile touched Draco's lips. `Don't worry about him - the world will be a far better place without him.'
`Still…' began Ginny.
`It's all right Ginevra - truly. I'm glad he's gone. I wanted to kill him myself.' His eyes swung around to the sight of Harry and Hermione, their arms around each other. `Trust Potter to beat me to it.' His voice held a tinge of envy and bitterness. Ginny wasn't to know that these feelings were caused not only by the fact that Harry had been solely responsible for his father's demise, but that the woman Harry loved, loved him back...
Ginny felt hysterical laughter bubbling within her - but it became a strangled sob instead and she brought her hands up to her face, finding herself crying uncontrollably.
Draco was on his knees beside her in a moment, his arms around her slight, shaking form, holding her to him. He allowed himself, for a few precious moments, to feel the satisfaction of being able to comfort her, to hold her - rejoicing in the warm intimacy of embracing her and the knowledge that, for this one magical moment, she wasn't rebuffing him…
The one remaining Death Eater had taken in the fact that his master had been killed - obliterated - along with two of his fellow Death Eaters and whilst wondering how on earth it was all possible, began to fear for his own safety. Was Potter going to kill him, too? As the red-headed woman he'd been guarding collapsed to the floor and his master's son kneeled beside her, apparently comforting her, it came to him that for some reason he'd been spared - Harry Potter had spared him. Why? His gaze shifted to Harry - holding Hermione to him - and again he wondered why. He felt fear rush through him as he suddenly found himself looking into those famous green eyes.
`Get out,' said Harry. His voice, although quiet, was flint hard and threatening. `Tell every one of your friends what happened here - and that it will be their fate should I ever come across them.'
With the realisation that he'd been spared simply to be a messenger, the frightened man fled.
Draco and Ginny had looked up on hearing Harry's voice. Once the Death Eater was gone, Draco stood up, helping Ginny to her feet, keeping one arm around her waist, the other holding her hand. Silent tears still ran down her cheeks unchecked, but she was calmer, no longer sobbing. Draco felt a fierce desire to crush her to him; he wanted to bury his face in her hair and tell her he loved her and wanted to keep her safe, always. But the words stuck in his throat and he knew he'd never say them, that it wasn't his right. He did, however, draw her to him, holding her gently within the circle of his arms, murmuring soft words of comfort.
Ginny felt disorientated and while she was aware on some level that she shouldn't be accepting any form of consolation from Draco Malfoy, she was powerless at this moment to refuse it. She was heart-sick and too weary to reject comfort from any quarter.
As soon as the Death Eater had left, Harry turned back to Hermione, his joy renewed at having her in his arms once more, safe and sound. She was smiling up at him, her eyes glowing.
`Harry, that was - well, amazing doesn't really describe it, but I can't think of anything that would truly do it justice!'
`Just that old "saving-people-thing" my love,' Harry said with a chuckle, relief still coursing in his veins.
`But what was it? How did you do that?'
`Later. I'll explain everything later. Dumbledore is probably outside now with a team of Aurors and Hit Wizards. We need to get out of here. This place should be razed to the ground.'
`It will be.' Draco's voice was thick with revulsion. What had once been his home was now nothing but a monument to horror.
The muffled sound of distant voices reached them and Harry led them out of the wrecked remains of the drawing room. The front doors burst open as they reached the foyer and Dumbledore swept into Malfoy Manor, his gaze quickly finding Harry's.
`It's done,' said Harry.
Dumbledore nodded, stepping aside as Dean rushed through the door, looking around.
`Dean!' Ginny's voice held tears and joy as she wrenched herself out of Draco's embrace and ran to her husband.
His strong arms wrapped around her and he lifted her up, holding her tightly, whispering her name over and over.
`I'm all right, really, I'm all right!' cried Ginny as she hugged him with all her might. Over Ginny's shoulder, Dean's eyes met Draco's.
`She's all yours,' said Draco with irony in his voice.
`I don't need you to tell me that Malfoy!' spat Dean. Then he dropped his gaze and determinedly put Draco Malfoy out of his mind. Despite his bitter hatred for the blonde wizard, he didn't want to waste one thought on him right now - he just wanted to concentrate on Ginny.
The team of four Aurors and two Hit Wizards that had accompanied Dumbledore and Dean spread out through the house, checking each room, returning quickly to report that they'd found no one except the house-elf.
The terrified creature was shuffling along in front of them and when he spotted Draco, he bowed, his voice shaking as he managed to say, as required by tradition after the death of the head of the house, `Master, I am Latro, your house-elf.'
Draco nodded curtly then looked up as someone else strode into the foyer. It was Neville.
He glanced at Harry and winked. `So, you managed to do it, eh, Harry?'
Harry laughed. The sweeping feeling of release from the horror of the last week was making him feel light headed. That and the feel of Hermione, still in his arms.
`All right, everyone!' Neville called out. `Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Dean, you'll go back to the Burrow with Professor Dumbledore. The rest of you come with me to my office for a debriefing.'
*
Because Dumbledore was so confident that Harry would triumph, he'd given in to his desire to have everyone gather at the Burrow in anticipation of Lucius' defeat and so they were all there to welcome them home. Professor Dumbledore left shortly after seeing them home safely; he was on his way to the Ministry and Neville's office.
At the sight of Ginny, Molly could barely speak for crying and even Arthur was seen wiping his eyes a few times.
After two cups of strong, hot tea which her mother had laced with Sleeping Draught, Ginny began to yawn. Dean, who hadn't moved from Ginny's side since first laying eyes on her at Malfoy Manor, picked her up and told her she was going to bed. Ginny didn't argue, rather suspecting her mother had had a hand in the sudden onset of tiredness. She was actually rather grateful because she was sure that without the help of the Sleeping Draught, her rest would be nothing more than one long nightmare and she was too exhausted to make any attempt to come to terms with her ordeal just yet. That would come later.
Ginny was asleep before Dean even tucked her into her bed, after which he lay down beside her, his arm curled around her.
*
Draco thought it rather cruel that the day should be so beautiful when inside he felt so leaden and bleak.
He and Professor Dumbledore were standing by the newly filled grave of Narcissa Black Malfoy, a gleaming marble headstone in place, courtesy of the Headmaster. It had his father's name on it as well, even though there had been nothing left of him to bury. His mother had been near death when he'd returned to Hogwarts the night of the day his father had died. She'd never regained consciousness as her life slowly ebbed away during the long, tortuous hours of the next day.
Dumbledore had suggested he bury his mother here, at Hogwarts, and he'd listlessly agreed. And so this bright, sunny Monday morning found him here, in the Hogwarts graveyard.
Sensing that he wanted to be alone, the Headmaster placed a hand lightly on Draco's shoulder, saying he was returning to the castle. Draco had nodded and listened as the old wizard's footsteps died away, leaving him along with his sorrow and wandering thoughts.
And so he stood, his eyes closed, head bowed, feeling drained and more lost than he had ever done before. His parents were now both dead and there was no one else he cared for - or cared for him. Well, there was Ginevra - but that was a lost and impossible dream.
`Draco?'
Draco gasped, looking up and turning around so fast he stumbled. He stared at the woman standing there, only able to whisper, `What are you doing here?'
`I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.' Ginny had stopped a few feet away, looking down at her entwined fingers, which were twisting and turning around themselves nervously.
Draco's heart was in his mouth. `Why are you here?' he asked again. It was painful to see her - to remember how she'd felt in his arms - and know that he would never experience that again. As he stood there gazing at her, he knew then he'd be leaving England, never to return. He couldn't risk ever seeing her again. The pain of not seeing her would not be as awful as the pain of seeing her and not being able to talk to her or hold her…
Ginny glanced up at him, her eyes dark with sympathy. `I'm so sorry you lost your mother.'
Draco nodded, not trusting himself to speak.
Ginny stepped forward. She was close enough to touch. Why was she here? The question tormented him.
`I just wanted - I mean, I'd like to say -' Ginny faltered, dropping her gaze once more to her restlessly twisting fingers.
Taking a deep breath, Draco reached out and took her hands in his, stilling the movement of her fingers. Her skin felt so soft and warm. He could feel his heart beating faster, just through this small contact with her.
`Just say it, please,' he said softy, wanting - needing - to be going, to leave his past behind; to leave her behind although he knew he would carry the memory of her with him for the rest of his life.
Ginny steeled herself. Despite her intrinsic revulsion for everything this man and his family had stood for, she felt she owed him something and being the person she was, she wouldn't be able to rest until she'd acknowledged it by telling him.
Leaving her hands in his, Ginny straightened and looked Draco in the eye as she began to speak.
`I want to say "thank you". For your - consideration. When you came to tell me what you could because I'd been told nothing and you knew I was scared and alone - for trying to protect me from your father, for taking my side against him. It did help, it did make a difference and I wanted you to know that. So, thank you.'
Draco knew he had nothing to lose and spoke impulsively. `I would always do these things for you, Ginevra. I love you. I always will.'
It was the truth and Ginny could see it reflected in his eyes. In that moment she realised how painful it must be for him to know that she would never like him, let alone love him, when he felt so much for her.
She was suddenly overwhelmed with tremendous pity for this sad man and before she could think about it, she pulled her hands from his and lifting them, gently stroked his face, running her hands across his cheeks, skimming them over his ears and down, to rest around his neck, her fingertips just touching at the back; she could feel the softness of his hair where it rested against her hands.
His eyes held surprise and wonder and a question, hers were sparkling with unshed tears of compassion. Ginny exerted enough pressure on Draco's neck so that he automatically leant down and she reached up and kissed him on the mouth, pouring her gratitude, pity and sorrow for him into that kiss - and her goodbye.
As Ginny lips touched his, Draco felt shock first followed by a sharp, stabbing joy. Despite knowing that only pity and gratitude were the real reasons for this kiss, he couldn't help but rejoice at the knowledge that she was doing this of her own free will - no Imperius Curse, no cursed crystal roses - she was kissing him because she wanted to. And that made it the sweetest kiss of all. As their lips met, Draco's hands moved unthinkingly to Ginny's waist, pulling her ever-so-slightly closer to him. Despite knowing it may cause her to recoil, he nevertheless couldn't stop himself from pushing against her soft lips with his tongue, wanting more… and when her lips parted and he felt her warm, velvet tongue sweep into his mouth he was helpless to prevent the soft moan that escaped him. As if in response to that, Ginny reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, which effectively brought the whole length of her body into contact with his. Draco reflexively wrapped one arm around her waist to hold her there, his other hand sweeping up her back to entangle itself in her dishevelled, gold-red curls. The feel of her mouth and his tongue entwined with hers was the most intoxicating thing he'd ever experienced.
I'm dreaming! he thought wildly, this is paradise!
Ginny suddenly pulled back, gasping, her eyes wide with confusion as she looked up at him.
It was over.
Draco immediately released her, a self-deprecating smile forming on his lips.
`Don't worry, Ginevra. It was no doubt a mixture of your pity, the residual effects of those accursed roses and whatever bond was forged between us the last few days at my father's hands. It doesn't mean you've suddenly gone mad or that' - he faltered a little here - `you actually feel anything for me.' Hurtful and hard to say, but true and he couldn't help himself - he didn't want her suffering in any way because of him.
Ginny nodded dazedly as she took another two steps back away from him. She knew he was right but she'd shocked herself nonetheless.
`The roses…' she murmured, thinking perhaps she'd experienced similar sensations when she'd had the Malfoy roses.
`You're safe from them Ginevra. They're buried with my mother.'
`I have to go.' Ginny looked up at him, her confusion still evident in her eyes, her hand running through her hair. `I won't see you again, will I?'
He shook his head, his expression now serious. `No, I'm leaving England. You're safe from the spectre of perhaps running into me somewhere, sometime.'
Ginny nodded, feeling a sudden, desperate need to get away from him. `Yes, all right - and, well, thank you again.'
`Goodbye, Ginevra.'
`Goodbye, Draco.'
It was the last time he saw her, his name the last thing he ever heard her say…
TO BE CONTINUED…
Author's Note
There! And now I'm wondering what you think of that….
By the way - because of that damned little plot bunny forcing me to write "Caught Kissing", I'm behind on Chapter 20 (and also because time-consuming things like real life, socialising, family and friends just insist on butting in on my writing time! lol!). Anyways, I'll be madly working on the next chapter this week and will post it as soon as I can (at least there's no cliffie for you to suffer over this time!)
Cheers! Janie xoxo
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