Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. That belongs to J.K. Rowling. The character of Avery however does belong to me. This story is a part of a story that a friend of mine and I wrote together, and she is currently publishing the story from the Gryffindor point of view. The characters of Ella and Gina belong to her. Kristy is also mine. This is my first story so please all input you have to offer is welcome!

Chapter One – Friends Forever

I never imagined that she would be the one. In my wildest dreams I could not have known that it would come to this or end this way. Truthfully, I had all but forgotten her. We were so young when we met, and then she had to leave. How was I to know that fate would return her to me again? How could I have known what she would do for me? How she would save me…how she would sacrifice for me. I was never prepared to fall in love. It wasn't my plan, nor my father's, or anyone else's. Things were where I thought they were supposed to be. But she changed everything. She changed me. Down to the very core of who I am, she touched me, and I became someone new. If only I could have foreseen where that would lead me. How I would come here now, helping him, losing her, trying to find a reason to live when everywhere you look there is death. War is a bloody and terrible thing. But love…true love…that is beautiful. She taught me that. I would do anything to change history, and yet, there is so little I could change. But I can remember. I remember everything.

"Oh they are precious aren't they? If I didn't know better I'd say they were related." Pia Emendatio crooned while she watched her daughter and friend play together on the floor with blocks. Narcissa Malfoy sat beside her and smiled.

"Indeed. And they get along so well together." She added, watching as her son handed the little girl a block when she asked for it.

"She's very polite." Narcissa complimented. Pia smiled.

"Thank you. And Draco is a little gentleman. Takes after his father." She smiled and winked to Narcissa. Narcissa laughed.

"I agree." She smiled proudly over little Draco. Draco looked over at Avery to see features that he had come to assume normal, as young children will when they see something often enough. Light blonde hair, fair skin, baby blue eyes…the only difference was that Avery's hair had a soft wave to it, where as his was straight. Avery met his gaze with her own and smiled. Draco returned the gesture and stood, holding a hand to her.

"Let's go on an adventure Avi." He said. When he was first learning to talk, Draco had trouble pronouncing Avery's name, and so he called her Avi instead. Somehow the nickname stuck and soon it became his special name for her. She took his hand and got up, holding on tight.

"Okay!" she chirped happily. Narcissa and Pia smiled as they watched their children hurry off to explore the large Malfoy Manor together. The two had been raised together since birth and were the best of friends and constant playmates. Pia had gone to school with Narcissa and their husbands worked together in the Ministry. Both had a history with the Dark Lord, and it seemed only right that their children should be friends as well. The two were inseparable and both parents thought that was a wonderful and adorable thing.

Draco and Avery played together almost every day. But then things began to change. Avery got sick. At first it was just a little cold every once in a while, but then her illnesses persisted, and she was always in bed or something of the like. Whenever Draco saw her, she looked pale and thin and frail, like one of his mother's pieces of porcelain, so delicate it could break if you blew too hard on it. But one thing never changed, Avery would always smile when she saw him. She would always smile and say hello.

Soon Avery's doctor decided that for her own health, she needed to move away to the countryside where she could get more fresh air. Draco was allowed to visit her one last time before she left, and that was the one time she didn't smile.

Avery was crying when Draco walked in. She was too weak to sit up on her own, so she was supported by pillows piled behind her. Something built inside the little boy's chest, twisting his heart and pushing him to do anything to stop her tears and return her smile.

"Avi what's wrong?" Draco asked, going to her side. Avery looked up at him with tearful eyes from behind her tiny hands.

"I'm moving in a few days and I won't get to see you anymore." she explained through her sniffles. The reality of her leaving hit Draco hard in the stomach. What would he do without her? Who would he play with? Who would he spend time with? She was his best friend. He felt tears sting his own eyes, but refused to let them win. Somehow he knew crying wouldn't help the helpless girl before him.

"Sure you will. I'll come visit you. And you can come visit me." Draco replied with a supportive smile, "and we'll meet back up at Hogwarts." Avery looked at him.

"You think so?" she asked. He nodded.

"Course. Then we can spend all our time together cause we'll be in the same place." He said, proud to see that he was having an effect on her. Avery smiled.

"I'll miss you Draco." She said sincerely. Draco dug his toe into the ground for a moment before looking up at her.

"I'll miss you too Avi." He said.

"Draco?"

"Yes Avi?"

"Promise we'll be friends forever?"

"I promise." Draco held out his pinkie finger towards her. Avery smiled and wrapped her pinkie around his. Draco smiled to see her smile. He would remember that smile, even after many years after Avery had moved away and they had lost touch. Even though he never mentioned her to anyone, or that she was still unable to attend when school started up, Draco remembered the smile on the little girl's face when he was able to stop her from crying.