Rest in Peace

Author's Note: A few things before we get into the story… I do this for fun. It's not my goal to write the best fan fiction that ever was, so if it sucks, I'm sorry. You have been warned. D: This story was inspired by the song "Jumper" by Third Eye Blind. The original included a line from the lyrics, but I took it out because I believe that is against the guidelines. My guess is that it isn't in the public domain? And that is all. Hopefully you'll like the story okay and won't try to blind yourself by the end. Thanks in advance for any reviews.

Warning: Contains themes of suicide and homosexuality. Also, spoilers for book six, in case that matters anymore.

Chapter One: My Own Choice

Harry Potter made his way up to the Astronomy Tower, carefully concealed beneath his invisibility cloak. He had been watching Draco Malfoy on the Marauder's Map and now, finally, he was doing something suspicious that Harry could maybe catch him at. When he'd seen Draco's dot traveling up there, he thought it would be his chance. Harry had left Ron snoozing, quickly pulled on his cloak, and left Gryffindor Tower.

It hadn't taken him too long to reach the top of the Astronomy Tower. He stopped when he had come to the top of the stairs. He looked around for Draco, but didn't see him. At least, not at first.

Harry took three steps forward and then stopped again. There was Draco… standing on the edge of the Astronomy Tower platform, gripping the railing so tightly his hands were turning white and red.

Tears were streaming down Draco's face, turning his normal paleness splotchy and pink. His hair was shining in the moonlight, silvery and bright.

Then Draco stepped over the railing and stood on the other side of it, the only thing keeping him up was his grip on the wood behind him.

Harry leapt forward, flinging off his cloak. "No!" he cried. "Don't do it!"

Draco was startled, but managed to keep his grip on the railing and not fall to his death. He looked around behind him, saw Harry, and scowled horribly.

"Oh great," he said, wearily, but still with a snarl of hatred. "Come to watch me die, then, have you Potter?"

Harry ran over to the railing. "Don't do it, Malfoy," he said. "I didn't come- I mean I thought you were up to something, but-"

"But what? You've been spying on me, haven't you?" Draco asked. "I'm not stupid, you know. Anyway, it doesn't matter anymore. I'll be out of your hair soon enough."

"Look, it's not like I like you or anything, we've been at it for years, but I don't want you to kill yourself!" Harry burst out. "Whatever your problem is, this can't be the right answer!"

"Save it, Potter!" Draco said, glaring deeply at Harry. "Don't even bother! I don't want your help, I don't need to be saved. This is my own choice."

"W-will you at least tell me why?" Harry asked.

Draco smirked. "Why should you care?"

"I don't!" Harry said at once. "But someone else might. Like Dumbledore… or your mother."

The mention of Draco's mother seemed to calm him just a little. "Fine," he spat. "You really want to know, so you can tell my mother why I offed myself? Fine. I just decided that I'd rather die than go on the way I have been. You've got to know the truth by now, Potter. I'm a Death Eater. I've been given the task of killing Dumbledore. You think I want to do that, do you? Well, I don't. I'd rather just die."

Harry was staring at Draco in shock, his mouth slightly agape. Finally, he said, "You were going to … to kill Dumble… but you couldn't. Not even Voldemort can kill Dumbledore, that's why he fears him. How'd he expect you to do it?"

"Why do you think I'm killing myself?" Draco snarled.

"But you haven't actually… tried have you?" Harry asked.

Draco shrugged a little as best he could. "Not really."

"And you would rather end it all… end your own precious life… than kill Dumbledore?" Harry asked, still incredulous. "But if you're a Death Eater… I don't understand…"

"Did you ever think that maybe I didn't want to be a Death Eater?" Draco asked, harshly. "Did you ever think that maybe he just decided to give me the mark?"

"But I thought you were proud," Harry said.

Draco grimaced. "Hardly," he said, softly. "Now if you're quite done, I'd like to go ahead and die in peace now."

"No!" Harry said, stepping forward again. "There's got to be a better way," he said. "Why don't you tell Dumbledore the truth? I know he can help you."

"Oh yes, why don't I just tell Dumbledore that I'm a Death Eater and was planning to kill him," Draco said sarcastically. "That sounds spectacular."

"He would help you," Harry said again.

"I don't care," Draco said. His eyes had become glassy, vague. "But I never meant for things to be this way. Good bye."

Draco let go of the railing.

Harry's wand was out in a flash and he thought, as hard as he could, Levicorpus!

Moments later, Draco's body came dangling up over the railing. Harry set it down on the astronomy tower floor and kneeled next to him. He had fainted, but he was still alive.

Harry picked up Draco's body and found it to be extremely light. He wondered if Draco had stopped eating or something. With determination, he carried him down to the hospital wing.