Unofficial Portkey Archive

Title: Forever a Secret (16/?)
Author name: LittleWitch
Author email: littlewitch_br@hotmail.com
Category: Romance
Sub Category: Drama
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, OotP
Summary: The Wizarding World was a mysterious place -- full of secrets. Three years after the fall of the Dark Lord, darkness was still spreading over. A secret was held. A secret that was killing their souls. But they had to pay the price -- or else the rest of the world would. No matter what, it had to be forever a secret.
DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. The lyrics used in this chapter are from the songs "Still Waiting" by SUM 41, "The Reason" by Hoobastank, "The Blower's Daughter" by Damien Rice and "Indigo Daisies" by Des'ree.

Chapter 16: The Beginning of The End (Part II)

Round 2: Hopeful X Hopeless

"In Adam's fall we sinned all."

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So am I still waiting

For this world to stop hating

Can't find a good reason

Can't find hope to believe in

Drop dead

A bullet to my head

Your words are like a gun in hand

You can't change the state of the nation

We just need some motivation

These eyes

Have seen no conviction

Just lies and more contradiction

So tell me what would you say

I'd say it's time too late....

So am I still waiting

For this world to stop hating

Can't find a good reason

Can't find hope to believe in

Ignorance

And understanding

We're the first ones to jump in line

Out of step for what we believe in

But who's left to stop the bleeding

How far

Will we take this

It's not hard to see through the fakeness

So tell me what would you say

I'd say it's time too late

This can't last forever

Time won't make things better

I feel so alone

Can't help myself

And no one knows

If this is worthless, tell me so

What have we done

with a war that can't be won

This can't be real

Cause I don't know what to feel

So am I still waiting

For this world to stop hating

Can't find a good reason

Can't find hope to believe

So am I still waiting

For this world to stop hating

Can't find a good reason

For this world to BELIEVE

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MALFOY'S MANOR …

A small 'puff' came out of the cauldron in front of Severus Snape when he added the last ingredient.

It was ready.

Snape's dark eyes met themselves when he stared down at the cauldron and saw himself.

One could swear there was only pure water in that cauldron as they looked at that cloudless potion when, in truth, what they would be seeing was the product of an intense study, a mixture of dozens of strangest ingredients collected from the deepest places of the planet. From the high mountains where extinct phoenixes built their nest to the forgotten druids' fortress, from the deep blue sea where the mermen lived to mystical oasis hidden for the great sand people.

It had taken years of research. Sleepless nights and too many dangerous missions...More than once one of them, Hermione, Draco, Sirius or himself, had faced forces of this world that where beyond their power to get a special ingredient that was missing and Merlin only knew how they had survived. But they did.

He just hoped all of that hadn't been in vain. He had no guarantee that this would be enough. Besides...besides they still need something. They still need the right spell... and this ...this had proven to be the hardest part....

Even harder than the dead samurais they had to fight to get a certain stone…

In truth, he knew it was impossible. She had spent three years looking for the right spell and came with nothing. How could she suddenly found the answer to the puzzle?

A miracle?

No, he didn't believe in miracles…

Nonetheless, despite his believes or lack of them, he was still 'waiting' for something… for what he didn't know…but why else would he have wasted his supposed last hours of life brewing potions…

He had been in Hell once…He would not let Voldemort push him back there. Not without a fight.

"Elf," he called Dobby, who looked very busy filling up flasks after flasks with potions of the most different origin and purpose, going from a boiling cauldron to the other.

The Elf Emissary looked up at the Potion's Master.

"Call, Miss Granger. Tell her the potion is ready."

*************************************************************************

I'm not a perfect person

There's many things I wish I didn't do

But I continue learning

I never meant to do those things to you

And so I have to say before I go

That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me

To change who I used to be

A reason to start over new

and the reason is you

I'm sorry that I hurt you

It's something I must live with everyday

And all the pain I put you through

I wish that I could take it all away

And be the one who catches all your tears

That's why I need you to hear

I've found a reason for me

To change who I used to be

A reason to start over new

and the reason is You

I've found a reason to show

A side of me you didn't know

A reason for all that I do

And the reason is you

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"Ai! This is so heavy. Are you sure we can't just use our wands and levitate this thing?"

Ginny complained, as she descended one more step of the stair, holding one side of a huge trunk.

"Yeah, go ahead, Weasel. Use your bloody wand and blow us all off," Draco sniggered.

"The name is Weasley, ferret boy. And still… I don't see why we can't use magic?"

"Gees, Weasel, you are little slow, aren't you? How many times do I have to tell you that we can't use magic because the Stupid Boy Who Should Have Never Lived is breaking the Dammed Spell?"

"Harry is breaking a spell? What spell?"

"Just forget it. It's useless talking to you when you are still under it."

Ginny suddenly froze, letting go of the trunk. The fall nearly broke a step. Draco was taken by surprise, he staggered and rolled down the last three steps with the trunk.

"Ouch!" He screamed in pain. "What the hell is your problem, Weasel?" He looked up at her, getting up, furious and - One look at her face and he stopped. "Weasel? Hey, Weasel? Are you all right?"

"Why? Why can't I remember it?" Ginny stared at him, tears welling up in her eyes. "I know it's there. I know it's important. I know - Harry…. Ugh…Why can't I remember? That woman in the Chambers…she is involved with all this, isn't she?"

"Yeah. Don't you remember? The elf told us she is a guardian?"

"Guardian? Spell? I - My memories…It's like someone is messing up with them."

"It's the Spell."

"Is Voldemort alive? Is that all of this is about? I - a rose, you were talking about a rose…I don't understand what a rose…I -- damn it, this is all so confusing, knowing and not knowing…it's just so frustrating. "

"Not as frustrating as actually knowing."

"How? How can you remember? How can you know and I don't?"

"Let's just say I was in the wrong place, at the wrong time."

"I don't understand how Hermione can trust you. She must be under the influence of an even stronger spell than I am."

"She is under no spell." Draco shook his head. "She doesn't trust me. She just needs me, that's all."

Ginny couldn't help but notice a grimly tone in his voice. She gazed at him but he avoided her eyes, looking down, he leaned down and took something from the floor.

Ginny followed his actions, and then finally realize that the trunk they had been carrying was turned and its cover was widen open, spreading all its contents in the hall.

"What's all of this?"

"Muggle weapons," Draco said, pointing the gun at Ginny. Her eyes went wide. "My father hated the Muggle World. He hated Muggles. Always telling how they were weak and useless…Even so, there was one thing he did admire in their world…their weapons...It had always fascinated him how such lower creatures could have found such a beautiful and efficient way to kill without magic."

"I have classes about this in Muggles Studies…About Muggles guns and bombs. Their wars. There's not fascinating in them. They are used to kill."

Draco nodded. "Yes. 'As quickly as a curse', my father used to tell me."

He pushed the trigger. Ginny closed her eyes at the sound. But nothing happened. So she opened them again.

"Of course, first we need to load them," he chuckled.

Ginny glared at him. Who he thinks he is to play with her like that? He is - he is - Well he is the enemy, right? But Hermione told her to help him and she just doesn't know what to do anymore…she should have stayed with Ron, splitting up was a bad plan…She just hope Ron had found Harry…and they were in their way to find her and Hermione…and maybe they could make her remember, her understand what is going on…why is it all becoming so fuzzy on her mind?

Wait. Did she hear anything about loading the guns?

"Wait! You can't be serious. You. You can't be really thinking about using this - this things...you - you will ended up hurting someone..."

"That's the whole point, Weasel."

"What?"

"Look, aside from the elf, we can't do magic. You don't understand. You can't. But it won't take long until you do. If you can acknowledge that there's something wrong with your memories, the spell is - Well, it won't take long now. And they know it. That's why they are coming after her. But I'll be dammed before I let them hurt her. When they do arrive I'll be here to protect her. They will have to pass through me first."

He loaded the gun.

Ginny blinked. It just couldn't be…

"How?"

"Well, it's kind of obvious, isn't it, Weasel? If they come close, I shoot. I have some silver bullets for the werewolves and Snape can prepare some --"

"No, I know that. I meant… How can - how could this happen? How can you be in love with her?"

Draco froze. He slowly turned to her. "What did you say?"

"I - I mean, this is impossible. You are a Death Eater. She is a Muggleborn. You hate her. Or at least, you were supposed to. You used to, right? I remember all those times at Hogwarts. The way you treat her…You called her Mudblood, you jinxed her teeth, you kidnapped her, you…Oh Merlin, how can so much hate become love?"

"The spell must be frying your last brain cells. I don't--"

"Yes, you do. I have seen the way you looked at her before. The way you spoke her name - her first name. How it broken you heart that she doesn't trust you. How you are willing to do anything to protect her…"

"Shut up, Weasel. You have no idea of what are you talking about. I - I don't love her, all right? I HATE HER. I HATE HER, do you understand? I. HATE. HER."

Ginny winced. Draco was yelling now. He seemed out of control. He seemed - he seemed to be…

"You have no idea of how much I hate her. She is the reason I became what I am. She is the reason I lost everything. I hate her…

"I hate her because she asked Potter not to relish his anger in me in our sixth-year…

"You have so much potential. I have seen it Mr. Malfoy. I know that there's a chance of great good in you. But yet, once again, you make the same mistakes. Once again, you choose the wrong path. I'm afraid this time, however, you have gone too far…I will not be able to overlook your actions anymore." Dumbledore turned to Hermione and Harry and then looked back at Malfoy. "I'll ask Professor Snape to make sure you have all your things packed and an owl sent to your mother. You are no longer welcomed in this school."

Draco's eyes snapped in shock. "What? No. You can't --"

"I could do a lot more", Dumbledore said, raising his voice firmly to reinforce his authority. With Malfoy's face reflecting deep despair, Dumbledore continued in a softer tone, "But I won't. You are officially expelled from Hogwarts, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco shook his head not believing his sentence. Actually, he was not the only one unhappy with this verdict: Harry wasn't pleased either. "Expelled?! What? That's it? You can't be serious. You are just going to let him walk away after this…after all he did to Hermione?"

"Yes, I will," Dumbledore told him calmly.

"No. I won't accept that. He - he -- what he did to Hermione…just to let me suffer -- I'm not going to let him free so he have the chance to do it all over again, I'll make him pay for what he did, I --"

Harry's aura was emerging again as he walked towards Malfoy.

"Harry, no." Hermione said stepping between him and Malfoy. "It's okay, really. Honestly, I can't think of a worst punishment myself."

"She said she couldn't think of a worst punishment than being expelled from Hogwarts. I hate her for being damn right about that. When I was expelled from Hogwarts my life became a living hell. That summer I was given this mark," he said, pushing his robes up and showing her the Dark Mark."

Draco was on his knees, his arm stretched out. Before him, Lord Voldemort had a wand pointed at Draco's arm. A big flash of light and a burning pain.

"Now, rise, my Death Eater"

"I became a Death Eater. And what it was left of - of everything else that I was, that I could be was stolen from me on that memorable day. I was sent to Durmstrang for my last year at school and let me tell you...that place is no Hogwarts. I learned things there that haunt me still. And that was only the start."

Draco hold his wand tightly. A muggle girl was on her knees crying, pleading him for her life…

"I learned very late that killing was not as easy as I thought it should be. But again it was too late. That was the path I had chosen. I was in too deep to come back. So I sink even lower. Day after day."

Houses burning…a baby's cry…screams of agony…

"And then it happened. The day Potter cast that bloody spell. That day was the day the world as I knew it was destroyed. Voldemort, my master, the one I swear to follow… he killed my father before my one eyes…just out of the blue…just because he could…"

"Father. Father." The Death Eater took out his mask. It was Draco Malfoy. And he was crying. He took out the mask of the motionless Death Eater. Lucious Mayfoy wide opened eyes reflected the agony of his last moments of life. Draco closed his father's eyes. He was dead.

"WHY? Why did you kill him? My father was loyal to you. He has been following you since the beginning. How could you do that?"

"Because his life meant nothing to me. Life means nothing to me. Your father was just a fool. Just as fool as you and all the others who followed me. Your father was never loyal to me. He wanted power and I gave it to him. It was a business, a game of interests. And now that I'm so close to get what I want .I don't need him anymore. I don't need any of you. The game is over."

"And then she saved me…"

Lord Voldemort raised his powerful and indestructible wand, the tip of it aiming at Malfoy, a green aura surrounding it. It sparkled. Magic flew in the air like a strong current of electricity and…

Hermione jumped in front of Draco. Actually, she jumped on him, bringing him down with her, the two rolling together on the grassy floor.

Once again the ring pulsated and a pink aura engulfed her, repealing the curse.

A perplexed Draco stared at the eyes of the girl on top of him, trying to understand why, why she had saved him after all he did.

"Why?" he asked in a whisper.

"I couldn't understand. I was confused…Then, came the serpent and I -- I should have died that day with my father…The Great and Proud Lineage of the Malfoys should be no more. In truth that was what I wanted. The game was over for me. But, unfortunately, life had a few more surprises for me that day…I would never, not in a million of years, imagine that I would own my life to scar-faced…

Draco, as furious as well, glared at Harry. "What am I doing? What do you think you are doing? I didn't ask for you help, scar-faced. I'm going to kill the Dark Lord myself He killed my father," he yelled.

"Yeah, well, welcome to the club." Harry yelled back. "Now stay out of the way."

Malfoy stood up. "You can't stop me. I'm going to make him pay for what he did."

Once again, Harry grabbed him by the collar. "Now you listen to me, you stupid moron. My best friend is probably never going to wake up again. The woman I love is dying and the only way to save her is giving to Voldemort the power to destroy this world or destroying it myself. And here I am losing my precious time saving someone who doesn't even deserve to be saved. The truth is I should kill you myself but unfortunately I'm the good guy here. But you know what they say; you can't really save someone unless they want to be saved. So, if you want to die -- because you know you don't stand a chance against him -- Go ahead. I won't stop you, or him. I have bigger things to worry about."

Malfoy stared perplexed at Potter.

Voldemort Apparated only ten feet away from them, massaging the back of his neck. "This is starting to annoy me, boy. This dying thing hurts, you know?"

Voldemort raised his sword, that glowed black.

Harry let go of Draco and pushed him forward. "Go on, it's you chance. Kill him. Have your revenge."

Draco gulped as he looked into Voldemort's scaring eyes. The blade started descending.

Malfoy was frozen.

Another blade intercepted The Dark Lord's one. Harry and Voldemort resumed their sword fight.

Malfoy watched the scene, just trying to remember how to breath again.

"Chaos issued. That's what I remember. Before and after Potter cast that damn spell…His body laying there…Hermione a wreck… I thought the stupid hero was dead…But I had no idea. I couldn't have known back then…the dimension of what happened in that cemetery. Then Aurors came and I was held a prisoner, to be judged and certainly sent to Azkaban. I knew that with the Dark Lord gone I had no chance. The Dementors would no longer be at our side. If I let myself be locked at Azkaban I would die there. The Wizarding World was still busy celebrating the Death of The Dark Lord, so I took my chance and before I could even go to trial, I escaped."

Red lights…Sirens echoing…Aurors running…

"I went home. That's all I could think about. I need to see my mother…But when I arrive I wished I had not gone. I wished I had not escaped. Akzabar would be a dreamland in comparison to what I found home…My mother had left me….dead…she was so cold…she had… I had no one. No one left."

"Mother…No, mum…don't leave me please, come back…"

"I was alone…"

Draco stared at the front page of the Daily Prophet. 'The Boy Who Lived Again' said the headline and there was a photo of Potter, Weasley right beside him and behind them he could see a glimpse of a grimly Granger. Below an article about Voldemort's defeat…Malfoy frowned. It didn't make any sense.

"No one remembered. It was like I was transported to a different realm where no one had any idea of what happened that day, of what had been happening during years. And Granger and Potter, in every newspaper she was only mentioned in a footnote as his best friend who had somehow helped him during this years of battles against Voldemort. It was insane. It was absurd. But somehow it started making sense for me. It was her…of course, it was her. It was her bloody fault. It was her fault I was expelled from Hogwarts. It was her fault I became a Death Eaters…I was her fault my father was dead, that my mother…It was her fault I lost everything that I held dear…the ones I loved…"

Draco watched from far as Hermione sit at a table at a coffee house in Muggle London. She kept checking the time at her clock, tapping her foot nervously under the table. A man arrive. Draco recognized him as Sirius Black, Potter's grandfather. They exchanged a few words and then left the coffee house. He followed them.

"I was an out-law. A fugitive. I need to think. I cast a counseling charm I found in my father's Book of the Shadows. They wouldn't be able to found me and I would have time…time to think. Time to plan my revenge…"

Transylvania. What the hell was she doing in Transylvania? And why in this castle? Had they lost their minds?

Draco was hiding on a corner, observing them as hexes kept flying everywhere. He was blinded by the light that come out of her wands and when his vision was back he could see the vampires retreat.

"Go. We can take care of them," shouted Sirius as he and Snape cast more hexes on the vampires.

Hermione nodded and ran to the next chamber. That was it. That was his chance. This time she would not escape him. He had studied new charms…he would beat her this time.

He followed her through the halls and when she hesitated before opening the door that would lead her to her final destination he cast the disarming spell…

Her wand fled away and she spurs around, her eyes wide in shock as she stared at him.

"Malfoy? What are doing here?"

His eyes were gleaming with disdain. "I got you, Granger. You had no where to go now. You will pay for the deaths of my parents. This is end of the line for you. This is where you die."

"Look, Malfoy. I don't have time to play with you this time. I --"

"Expectro Mortis," black shadows came out of his wand, running in her direction.

Hermione grimaced. She blinked.

And Disapparated.

The shadows hit the door…opening it. Hundreds of bats rushed through it taking Draco's by surprise. He screamed as he waved his arms to get rid of the bats…he stumbled and fell.

When all the bats were gone. He looked up. Hermione was before him her wand pointed at him.

"If you came all the way here to try and kill me, you'd better try harder."

That had got him even more furious. He got up and then the dueling started. He cast a hex that Hermione immediately blocked, throwing one of her own on him. Hexes of both sides flying until one of Hermione's finally found its way towards Draco's chest. He was tossed away, collapsing on the cold floor of the same chamber were all the bats had been resting.

He tried to get up. But he couldn't. His head hurt. His vision was blurred. He could taste blood on his lips. That dammed Mudblood. He could see a silver coffin in the middle of the room and right in front of it, a flight of stairs led to an altar were you could find a black box illuminated by the moonlight. He watched hopelessly as Hermione run the steps and caught the box.

She Disapparated again.

Damn. Damn. No problem, he would get her next time.

The lid of the coffin was raising.

Uh-oh.

"I lost track of how many times I had failed in my attempts to kill Granger…The more I failed, the more I hated her… And in Salazar's name, how I hated that woman…I would not stop. Nothing would stop me until she died. But then…"

It was late. The stupid house-elf had just left. She was the last one there. S.P.E.W. Spew…what a bunch of nonsense… House-elves were made to serve them. Slaves, that's what they were.

Finally, she left the building.

It was time to attack.

He jumped in front of her.

She didn't scream. Didn't try to run. She didn't even look surprise with his presence.

She just rolled her eyes. "Look, Malfoy, this is getting boring. And you are becoming reckless…whatever counseling charm you have been using you are losing control over it. I could --"

"Shut up, Mudblood. I didn't come here to hear your annoying nagging."

"No, you came here to kill me. Yeah, I know the deal…But listen to me. If you keep that way it won't be long until the Ministry can track you down..."

"What is the problem, Mudblood? Are you afraid if I get caught I will tell the world you dirty little secret?"

"Go ahead. No one is going to believe you anyway."

"Not even Potter?"

"You stay away from him."

"Oh, so you are afraid."

"Huh. Honestly, if I believed you could do some danger, you would be way gone. I'm just saying it for your own good. You are not exactly one of Harry's favorite people and he is -" She suddenly looked around, scanning the area. "Oh Merlin, he is here…Disapparate!"

"What?"

"Now!"

But it was late. Too late for him to Disapparate. A hex cursed through his body. Another one cut though his shoulder. Wizards in black popped in everywhere. He tried to run but he was trapped and the hexes keep coming…And between his own screams he could hear the voice of his enemy…

"Hermione, are you hurt? Did he try anything?"

"No. I…I'm fine. I -- Make them stop, Harry. They will kill him that way."

Draco had glanced in their direction then. He had seen Potter nod at her request and turn his back to her, walking slowly in his direction, telling the black-hooded figures that there was enough. The hexes stopped and from the corner of his eyes Draco was the only that saw Hermione carefully taking a flask from her cloak's pocked and let it slip on the ground.

A dense smoke covered it all, taking the black team by surprise. With his last strength Draco Disapparated.

"I Apparated back here. But I was too injured… She had been right when she said I was losing the power to counsel myself from them. Life as a fugitive was not like the condescending life I was used to as the heir of the Malfoy family. It had been weeks since I had a proper meal…all my family treasure had been taken away…even this house…My cloaks were torn…there's no more house-elves to order to do a potion to heal my wounds…I knew I would die. I was lost and alone and for months I have lived for only one purpose: to have my revenge from her…and in the end, even that she took away from me..."

He awoke startled. Big brown eyes were staring right into his grey ones.

"Shh...Lay down. You still need to rest," she said softly pushing him back on his bed.

Draco's eyes were wide open. Too say he was shocked would be an understatement. He was beyond…way beyond…And he couldn't even mutter a word.

He just stared as she applied some magical leaves on his shoulder and for hours he just stayed like that, staring as she took care of his wounds, preparing potions, using magical bandages. Sometimes she left the room, but she always came back carrying more potions and herbs. For hours not a word was spoken, until ...

"Why?"

Hermione stopped mixing the potions and turned to look at him. Her eyes soften.

"You know why. Just because."

He had only one reply to that. Only one thing he could say. "I hate you."

She smiled sadly at him. "I know." She sat on the edge of his bed and applied some more healing potion on his shoulder.

Silence.

"I - I'm really sorry for what happened with your father," she had tears on her eyes.

"You should be. It is all your fault." He said pushing her of his way, taking his wand from the bed table and getting up abruptly, which turned to be a mistake because as soon as his foot touched the floor he felt a weakness in his knees and fell on them, but he kept his hold on his wand, pointing it at her.

Hermione didn't move. She just looked down at him sympathetically.

Pity. That's what he had seen in her eyes. How dare she? She was just a stupid Mudblood and he was a Malfoy…

"Don't. Don't look at me like that, Mudblood…Just leave me alone. Why don't you leave me alone?"

"Interesting, considering you are the one who is always following me around."

"To kill you."

"Yeah, sure. And then what?"

"Then you die and I have my revenge."

"No, then I die and you die with me. You will have your revenge but you will lose your purpose. There will be nothing left for you. You will realize that it was never my fault. That your father's death was only a consequence of the choices he made. And so was your mother's. Perhaps I could have saved your father, I'll give you that. And believe me when I say that if I had foreseen You-Know-Who's attack early I would have saved him just like I saved you. But I thought my best friend was no more and that Harry…I could only wonder what such impact had on him…It was your pain that waked me from the numbness that took hold of me that day…The desperate cry of a son that had just lost his father. When I say I'm sorry I'm not apologizing. I'm saying I'm sorry for you. I'm sorry for your loss…

"I can't even imagine how I would feel if I lost my father. My mother… One of my greatest fears on my Hogwarts years was that You-Know-Who tried to kill my parents to get to me…so he could get to Harry…You have no idea of how many charms I have protecting my family. By now The Grangers House must be safer that Hogwarts itself…I love my parents, very much. I bet you loved yours as well…Anyway, you want to kill me. Go ahead. I promise I won't Apparate or block you hex somehow…But you know this won't bring your parents back, right? Nothing could…So go on. I'm waiting. You will probably be doing the world a favor. Dumbledore will even give you a medal…Come on, I don't have all day, you know."

He had tears welling up his eyes. He clenched his wand tightly. "Avad - Avada…"

The wand slipped though his fingers. He lowered his arms, openly sobbing. He missed them…He missed them so much. His mother was so beautiful…others could think of her as a cold heartless woman but he remember her hugs…they were so warm. And his father how he loved his father…he loved him so mush that he couldn't really see any flaws in him…He thought being a Death Eater to be the coolest thing in the world, after all, his father was one. His father that would always tell him stories of dark monsters and teach him illegal potions…His father that never denied him anything…anything at all.

Hermione put a hand one his shoulder. Their teary eyes locked again.

"She was right and I knew it. My revenge had only been an excuse I create…I didn't want to accept that they were gone…that nothing would bring them back…I loved them. I really did. They could be crazy, evil maniacs but they were all that I had. They were my family. And they loved me…Of course we were not one big happy family like yours. But in our own way…in our always so proud and malevolent way we loved each other…And she saw that. She understood. She cared. She took away from me my only living purpose but she gave me another…"

"Why are doing this? I mean I get it. You saved my life because you are just too good to let an even evil bastard like me die but why didn't you let they arrest me. Why did you help me escape Potty and his gang?"

"I guess it's because I'm not as good as you may think."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, as you said I just helped a wanted criminal to escape. That makes me a criminal too, doesn't it? I'm your accomplice now."

"Your point being?"

"I made you favor. I expect you to do me one in return."

"You want me to do you a favor? Have your lost your mind?"

"I guess you can say I lost my mind the moment I realized I was in love with one of my best friends. I want him back. And for that I need your help."

"And what made you think I would help you to get your hapilly ever after? Because I'm telling you I don't give a fuck about your 'crashed fairy-tale' drama. If The Boy Who Should Be Your Boyfriend is too fucked up to remember that, this is not my problem."

"It is your problem. It is everybody's problem. You have no idea of how far I would go to have him back. Going behind my friends' back, stealing ancient artifacts and making a pack with a Death Eater is really nothing. I can go way too far...way low. I could free Him and then 'Puff'..."

"'Puff?' What do you mean with 'Puff'?"

"What do you think?" A long pause. "You are gonna help me, Malfoy, because I give you no other choice. I still can't believe that all this time you have been here...right below ours noses and no one, not even the Unspeakables with all the resources provided by the Ministry, could find you. You sure have a very interesting library here. Some very interesting Dark Books. The counseling charm you used is a very strong one. Still…no Dark Art can counsel you forever. The charm you are using requires a lot of your own magic. It has weakened you and is now consuming you. You are too weak to control it. If I found you, it won't take longer until the Ministry or the Order do. I have cast some other charms when I arrived to confuse them and buy us some time -- until I can prepare all I need to perform a spell of my own that will keep you out of their radar. I'll keep you safe, I'll give you supplies, money, anything you need. All you have to do is…change sides."

"Change sides? You mean working for the Greater Good? I don't think so, Mudblood. The House of the Malfoys has written its name in The Halls of the Dark. I am the proud last heir of the Malfoys, a Pureblood, a --"

Hermione rolled her eyes, interrupting him, "A Death Eater?"

"Never. Never again call me that."

"Why not? You still held his mark in your arms, don't you? The mark of the one who killed your father. The mark that represents everything you have lost, everything you hate, everything that is dark. After all you have been through, are you really gonna stand in the same side, defend the same ideals You-Know-Who did, rather than joining forces with us so together we can kill him."

"Kill him? What do you mean? Voldemort is dead. I saw when Potter cast that spell and -"

"He is not dead. I can assure you."

"He was not dead. He is not dead. The bastard who killed my father…That monster that had given me this mark…this mark that just don't go away…that is always here laughing at me... laughing at my stupidity… at my weakness. I hate everything that this mark represents. I -- I hated myself. I was tired. I was lost. I didn't know what I want…Suddenly her 'Puff' didn't seem so bad…Death would be a relief. But in the end I accepted her terms. She needed someone from the other side, someone respected there, with a free pass to the sub-world of the dark magic. Someone from the inside who could keep her post in their activities so she could plan ahead and keep Potty safe…and keep the world as you know safe…"

Hermione Apparated in, carrying lots of boxes. Draco only watched her as she started placing the boxes on the table, used her wand to clean the room and opened the curtains… and rambled like mad.

"Sorry, I'm late. But I ran into Luna…Luna Lovegood, do you remember her, right? And, oh, she is so pissed up with me…You have no idea what show Ron put out in Ginny's party and now Luna thinks I'm playing with Ron's feelings and that I should move out from our flat. Now, how can I make her understand that -- Sorry. I don't know why I'm telling you all of this. So, how are you? Does it still hurt? Well, I brought some more potions in case you need it and I hope you like Chinese because I didn't have time to go to the grocery store. Here, try these later."

"What is this?"

"Just some new robes I bought for you. You can't very well play your part as the evil and proud Draco Malfoy using this rags you are now, can you? So, do you remember everything you have to do tonight?"

"Sure. After all I'll just be myself. I guess I can handle that."

"Nothing had changed. Nothing would change. It was a business. That was what I told myself over and over again. What we had was a business. I would give her what she wanted until I found a way to get rid of her and I didn't know - I really didn't know what I would do then…Kill Voldemort myself, became a villain worst than him, destroy the world myself…I really didn't know…All I knew was she needed to go into Darkness to steal their dark secrets and I was her guide."

Hermione and Severus were in front of a cauldron, adding ingredients to a potion. Draco Apparated in the room, carrying a book.

"Look what I found," he said.

Hermione looked up. "Oh. MY. GOD. The Black Grimoire. I can not believe it. How did you get this?"

"Well, you know me, I'm the great Draco Malfoy, I get everything I want."

Hermione caught the book. "Oh, just imagine how many ancient spells we can find in these pages…thousands of years of knowledge…Ah, I'm so happy I could kiss you right now. But of course I won't."

"Yeah, well, thank you for sparing me of such a horrify experience, Mudblood. Just be quickly with the book, okay. I have to return it before my dark colleagues miss it."

And he Disapparated.

"As time passed by my plans of betraying her simply vanished my mind...I began counting the days to our secret meetings…I began to change…I began to see things in another light…I began to understand my father's weakness, my weakness …the weakness of all of those who chose that dark path. We were the cowards. We followed the easier way…but she. She was so different. She kept following the right path even if that only brought pain and sorrow to her…"

"Ouch!"

"Stop complaining, Mudblood. Look at you, you look awful." Draco placed another drop of the potion on her fleshed open cut on her upper arm.

"Yeah, well, you look even worst," she said and she was probably right, from his black eye to his blood stained robes. He looked as messy as she was.

"And whose fault is that? Who have the brilliant idea of going to Japan to retrieve one more stupid artifact? You know, if you really want the guy this much, just kiss him and put an end to it."

"Ha. Ha. You are so funny, Draco." He let go of her arm and turned to the table behind him to get some more herbs. When he turned back, he noticed the black cloud that seemed to be crossing her eyes.

"What is it?"

"Nothing."

"I think that I know you better than that now, Granger."

She sighed. "I almost get we all killed."

Draco only shrugged. "It's part of the job," he said, holding her arm so he could finish cleaning the wound.

But Hermione grabbed his hand, stopping him. "It shouldn't be. Perhaps I am pushing things too hard. I just - This is not right. I never meant to anyone to get hurt. This has to stop." Hermione bit her lower lip, and she frowned…something was going over her mind.

Draco just watched her closely as she started rambling senseless things.

"My vault is almost empty. I have spent a lot on S.P.E.W and with the H.R.H but I - I could go to Harry, I know he would lend me the money without questioning why I need it but still -- he would be concerned about me, wondering why I need the money and - I could ask my grandfather but - Oh, I kno, I'll ask Sirius. Sirius can lend me the money and then you can go anywhere. Perhaps to the Caribbean Islands, Hawaii or Rio de Janeiro…You don't need to worry I'll keep the spell that counsels you, no one will be able to find you."

"What - What the hell you are talking about, Granger?"

"I'm releasing you, Malfoy. I'm releasing you from our pact. You no longer owns me anything. I can give you a new identity and enough money to restart your life. A new life."

Malfoy was looking at her like he had never seen her before. He gasped at her. "A new life? I- I don't understand, Granger. You wanted to give me a new life? Why? I - I'm the Draco Malfoy, remember? Don't you remember all I did? It wouldn't really be a bad thing if I got hurt. In the end, I deserve to die… And I thought - I thought we had a deal. I thought you need my help."

"Not anymore. I can't take the risk. You have already done more than enough. All this times that you helped me, all the information that you have passed to us was very important and for that I'll be forever thankful. That's why I'm letting you go. Things are getting tough. The closer I came to an answer, the dangerous it become. I can't ask you to keep spying for us…I can't ask you to keep helping us. I won't have blood in my hands, unless it's my own. This is my fight. My War."

Silence.

"I wasn't thinking straight when I come for you to help…I was selfish. I needed your help and went for it. I didn't think in what this would represent to you, how risk it would be…and for that I'm sorry. I put you into all this mess, Malfoy. Let me take you out now. Before it's too late."

Silence.

"Malfoy. Malfoy. Look at me."

"I can't. You - You make me sick, Mudblood. You and your stupid ideas. How - how can you forgive me? I - I was a damn Death Eater. I don't deserve a new life - I don't deserve a second chance. You have no idea of the horror, of the darkness… I deserve to burn in hell."

"No, that is past. That Malfoy deserved to burn in hell and he did. Because you are not him. Not anymore, Draco. Stop living in the past, and accept the future I'm offering you."

"Looking back I think I should have taken her offer…A tropical paradise doesn't seem so bad now. I could use a little tan, you know."

He finally looked back at her. "I can't. I - I - you are only fooling yourself. Deep down that Malfoy still lives on me. And he won't die. Not while I held this mark in my arm. Not while I don't see that bastard killed…for real. This can be your war, but it is my fight as well because in the end we want the same thing: We both want him gone. And only when we got what we want we can restart our lives. So, don't bother letting me go, because I'll stay here until the end."

Silence.

They only stared at each other.

Someone coughed behind them, cleaning his throat.

Sirius Black was standing on the door, carrying some bandages. He too wasn't on his best. His robes were torn, there was some small cuts own his face and a big bandage around his forehead.

Sirius glared at Draco "Alright, boy. I'll finish here. Go upstairs and check on Snape."

Draco glared back at him. You could feel the tension growing up. But, in the end he headed to the door. He stepped outside, he was about to close it and go away when he heard something that caught his attention. He lean his ears close to the door so he could listen to what they were saying.

"I don't like the way he looks at you. Actually, I don't like anything about him. I still think that keep him around is a very bad idea."

"Well, you better start getting used to this idea because apparently he is not going anywhere."

"What do you mean with that?"

"Nothing…"

"Hermione?"

"Oh, Sirius, he is not that bad. If Severus had a chance. Why wouldn't we give Draco the same one? He's been through so much and he did really change. Can't you just try and be nice? After all, he is part of your family."

"He is not my family. He will never be. Harry is the only family I have."

"Oh, honestly, I don't really see why you like to make life more complicate than it already is but…Well, it's your life, your choice."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Just don't forget that I, too, have my own life and my own choices. And I chose to trust him."

"Do you? Do you really trust him?"

"I --" Draco noticed some hesitation on her voice. "I trust him enough. That is more that what I can say from most of the people that surround me nowadays."

"Even me?"

"Even you."

"I guess I can live with that."

"I know you can."

Silence.

"Here. Let me put -- Oh. This looks ugly. We'd better go back to your place. Harry can heal you then."

"And I tell him what when he asked me how I get this cut? That I got it from the sharp blade of a Samurai's sword? I don't think so. A couple of weeks and some healing potion and I'll be right as new."

Silence.

"I should never let you come with us. If something happened with you Harry would kill me. After all, you are his treasure." A pause. "What is it?"

"Nothing. I was just wondering."

"Wondering?"

"Yeah, wondering…Harry sacrificed everything for me, right? But Sirius, I can't stop thinking that - that in the end, I was the only thing he sacrificed. He sacrificed me for everything else."

"What? No, Hermione. You know that it's not like this. Harry…he would never do something to hurt you. You should never doubt his feelings for you."

"No, Sirius, you got to understand -- I don't doubt Harry's feelings for me. Not even in the slightest. I can feel it, Sirius. I can still feel it."

Draco felt a warm aura… through the breach of the door he could see a pink glow. And he could still hear her voice.

"I know they are real. Perhaps too real. I still- I still keep our forever in my heart. And I know there is where he is keeping it too. I would never doubt his love, our love… But still I wonder Sirius, I wonder about this wall that is between us…Maybe destiny is too much a thing to be challenged. Maybe even the strongest of the loves can't change it."

The aura faded away.

Inside there was more silence.

"What? What is it, Sirius? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"How did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Haven't you seen it?"

"Seen what? Sirius, what is going on? You are scaring me."

"The magic…it was - Look at your wound, Hermione. It is healed. It's gone. Completely gone…"

"You have no idea of how much power she held within herself. Sometimes I wonder if she knows. She was not kidding when she said she could free Him. But of course, she would never do that. She cared too much to do that. And I hate her for that too. I hate her because life means something to her…Any life. Even mine…

"I hate her for making me-for making me feeling this way. I really hate her."

Ginny, who had been watching speechless as her enemy had an emotional breakdown, finally spoke out. "I - I know this is crazy. But I think I know exactly how you feel. I hate Harry this way, too, you know, I hate him for making me falling in love with him. I hate him because I love him so damn much."

*************************************************************************

And so it is

Just like you said it would be

Life goes easy on me

Most of the time

And so it is (he has)

The shorter story

No love, no glory

No hero in her sky

I can't take my eyes off of you

I can't take my eyes off you

I can't take my eyes off of you

I can't take my eyes off you

I can't take my eyes off you

I can't take my eyes...

And so it is (he has)

Just like you said it should be

We'll both forget the breeze

Most of the time

And so it is (he has)

The colder water

The blower's daughter

The pupil in denial

I can't take my eyes off of you

I can't take my eyes off you

I can't take my eyes off of you

I can't take my eyes off you

I can't take my eyes off you

I can't take my eyes...

Did I say that I loathe you?

Did I say that I want to

Leave it all behind?

I can't take my mind off of you

I can't take my mind off you

I can't take my mind off of you

I can't take my mind off you

I can't take my mind off you

I can't take my mind...

My mind...my mind...

'Til I find somebody new

*************************************************************************

Draco groaned. "Don't you dare compare the way I feel with you silly little crush on Potty."

"Why does everybody think it's a crush?"

"Perhaps because it is," he stated, turning his back on her as he pushed the trunk around and started collecting the Muggle weapons.

"It is not. What I feel for Harry is so much more. It's so strong…

Ginny was openly crying now.

"I - I love Harry Potter, even if that boy that I saw in his eyes wasn't the one I love… I - It doesn't matter how hard I fight it - How I denied, how I tell him I understand. The truth is that I don't really understand. Because I know deep down that he and I we are meant to be together, do you know what I mean?"

"Nope, sorry," was his reply. He was not really interesting in Ginny Weasley affairs. He began loading the guns. Sensing her gazing at him, he sighed, turning to her. "Look, Weasel, you can't love him and not love him at the same time and claim that you and he are a match made in heaven. This doesn't make any sense. Have you ever considered seeing a shrink?"

Ginny looked into his eyes. "Why it's so hard for everyone to understand? It's so simply. I love Harry Potter. I love the Boy Who Lived and I don't care what Hermione says, that is who he is… perhaps he is a little lost but I can show him the way back…I can show him that he is the hero and I'm the hero's girl…I was born to love the Boy Who Lived."

Draco snorted. "Well, if that's the case you should consider dating Longbotton."

"What? Neville? What do you mean with this? Stop joking, all right. It's not funny. I wasn't laughing when you told me about you and Hermione so don't go and - Ah, but what else should I expect from someone like you…From a moment there I thought you couldn't understand. I thought you were human after all but you, you…"

"First of all, there is no me and Hermione. And second I wasn't joking…it's just that…Oh, forget - you can't understand as long as you are under the spell. Maybe after it is broken you will start seeing things in a much clear way and just start making some sense."

"Love doesn't make sense. I don't need a spell to be broken to know what is in my heart."

"Well, Potter is not that lucky," Draco muttered.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

"No. No. I heard you. You said, 'Potter is not that lucky.' Oh Merlin, I knew it"

"You did?"

"All this time…this spell is stopping Harry from loving me."

Draco just looked at her for a moment, not believing his one ears. "What? No. Nooo. You got all wrong."

"You don't need to lie. I have seen it, you know?"

"Seen what?"

"When I was controlled by Voldemort, I had these visions."

"Visions?"

"Visions of Harry and I, together. It was so real. It was like I was living them. And I can still see them in my mind. I can still feel them."

"No, Weasel. No, trust me on this one, the spell has nothing to do with the fact that scar-faced ignores your existence. Voldemort must have played with your mind, he made you see what you wanted to see."

"No. It was real. I -- "

"Er…Excuse me, Former Master Draco, sir?" Dobby appeared out of the blue, slyly interrupting their little discussion.

"What is it, elf?" Draco seemed a little annoyed with the presence of the elf.

"Have you seen Miss?"

"She said she would try to write a spell…to replace that spell. She is in the balcony."

"No, Dobby has been there. Miss was not there."

"Well, Dobby", Ginny said, "Why don't you look in the library? Knowing Hermione she is probably there looking for more books."

"No, Dobby looked there, too. Dobby looked everywhere. Dobby can't find Miss. Dobby only found Miss's most precious book."

That brought up Draco's attention. Something was wrong. Hermione would never leave that book out of her sight. He reached his hand to take the book from Dobby but a sudden pain on his arm stuck him…The mark on his arm was burning - He was burning inside.

"ARGH!" His knees buckled and he crashed to the ground.

Darkness surrounded them as the day become night. An intense wave of magic made the manor's structure shake. The windows blew into pieces…

DUMBLEDORE

The strike of a lightning illuminated the room. They brought their hands to cover their ears as Dumbledore's name clapped like thunder in their minds.

"What the heel is going on?" Ginny yelled. It was all dark around her. She couldn't see nothing else than darkness around her. "Malfoy? Dobby?"

A small source of light approached her. "It's the beginning," replied Dobby, who was holding a candle on his hand and Hermione's book in other. He handled his candle to Ginny and flicked his hand, conjuring a new one to him.

"The beginning of what?" she asked, accepting the candle.

"The End," came Draco's voice from behind her. She raised her candle so she could better see him and when she saw she was barely able to contain a scream. He was crying tears of blood. She was about to say something when a loud roar echoed. She froze. The sound of wings swishing in the air.

"He is here," Dobby said.

"Voldemort?" Ginny asked frightened.

"No. It's not him. Not yet," stated Draco, placing a hand where his Dark Mark laid. "We must find Hermione"

The sound of things breaking, doors knocked down, people running. It was suddenly very cold, a breeze coming from nowhere extinguished the flame of their candles.

Draco tightened the grip around the gun on his hand.

"Dobby?"

"Yes, Miss?"

"If it's not Voldemort, who is it?" Ginny was shaking in fear.

"It's One of the Seven," Dobby whispered.

An indigo glow illuminated the room completely. The source of the glow was approaching them, one step at the time.

A man stared at them. But he was not a simply man. His skin was so pale that shined, his hair was waist long and dark black. Black pants was the only piece of close he was wearing because from his back came a pair of black dragon wings. But the sinister thing about this man was his eyes…they were two big black orbs, real voids of darkness.

The man, or better, the Guardian, gazed intensely at Dobby. "You should stay away from this, elf. It is not your kind that needs to be punished," a huskily voice echoed. He raised his hand and the book on Dobby's hand fled to his own.

Ginny, Draco and Dobby stared speechless at the figure before them. They demonstrated no reaction as black flames coved the book. Something about that man demanded all their respect and fear.

Werewolves, vampires, demons and Dementors appeared right behind the Guardian.

He closed his hand. The black flames ceased. The book was no longer.

"Now, where is the Keeper?"

A shooting sound.

An indigo flash.

*************************************************************************

Sitting in the fields surrounded by daisies,
Was her fate. She loves him,
She loves him not. He loves her
But he forgot. Now it's too late.
She's down to 3 petals,
She hears the whistle from the kettle,
But should she stay.
'Cos running never solves anything,
running changes nothing, you better stay.
But if you're running to another arms,
Running to another charms.
Then go away.
Indigo daisies indigo daisies.
Sitting on the train,
Surrounding by faces she doesn't know
She doesn't have a book to read
The journey takes infinity. She sucks a polo.
She remembers the pavilion
He made her feel a million
Sweeter days.
Indigo daisies indigo daisies.
Running never solves anything, yeah,
There was a time I was surrounded
By beautiful flowers
Indigo daisies