Firstly, Draco and Jo didn't have sex, the merely slept together – literally. Secondly, I believe that this will be my final chapter, as it ties up sixth year and I think that writing seventh year in the same story will ruin it. So thank you for reading it - though I think that one person remains.
This changes a lot from the books, but I believe that what I have written best matches the story.
One may say that the tough times are the ones you remember the most, that the people who help you get through the bad are your true friends, and that no matter how bad a situation may seem, you will always pull through.
I do suppose that if I survive I will remember this day for the rest of my years, and that if the others do, we will reminisce right through to death, but even the most positive of us seem to have lost hope; it almost seems as if all of the light and warmth in the world has been taken.
Albus Dumbledore was killed today – killed by none other than Draco Malfoy, the one boy who I had attempted to reform. I felt betrayed and hurt, but most of all, I felt torn – torn between my love for my friends and my love for Draco.
I am unsure of how to fully express my love for him, and I am at a loss as to name the love I feel for him, but I do know that when I saw his body, laying limp and parallel to the lifeless Dumbledore, my heart ached deeply for him, and all I wanted to do was run to embrace him and take the pain of the world away from his heavy heart.
Yet all the time I knew that he had killed the one man who I had seen as a father, a mentor, and most of all a friend; the type of friend who knew more about myself than I did at times. The whole school had turned its back on Draco, and I myself would be seen as a traitor and treated as an outsider if I had chosen to walk with him. I knew, however, that if I didn't pull him up and help him trudge on, then no-one would, and then I would truly have lost the battle to reform the boy who I knew had a great ability to love, and who had great potential for good.
With all of this resting heavy on my mind, I walked towards the boy and helped him up, hugged him, and sat him down. He sat, but soon after stood up, and walked on towards Madame Pomfrey, walking directly through the sea of disapproving students. It was at this moment that I realised that he had become a man. It was plain and simple, he had grown and matured during the past torturous year, had had begun a boy and walked out, chin lifted and eyes steady, a man.
I loved a man. The thought was momentous and it took me by surprise, but at the same time I was unsurprised. I had grown to at first tolerate the blond, and then I had grown to admire and respect him. I suppose that I knew that this was to come, but I had always tried to suppress the emotions.
I followed this man towards the nurse, and I held his waiting hand as the rest of the world looked on, shaking their heads.
As I walked towards my dorm, I felt the piercing glares and icy whispers of my fellow Gryffindors. I was never expecting a welcomed return, but this was heartbreaking – I was back to walking alone through the storm.
I waited at the doorway for someone to acknowledge my presence, to allow me entrance. After what seemed to be an eternity, but also no time at all, I walked in. there was still no response for moments.
'Why would you do that?' Hermione seethed, her voice cutting me into a million, vulnerable pieces.
'No, don't even bother answering. I don't see how whatever you say could ever be logical.' Her words broke me down, and she would see the hurt in my eyes. She softened, just a little.
'How could you help the person who killed Dumbledore?' The question somehow didn't seem to be directed at me, but more towards the world. She, too, broke down, but into tears and I witnessed her heaving sobs and piercing wails, I saw her being comforted by our, no her, friends and I felt that we were separated by an unnamed barrier, and that I could never be with her, crying for the man we had last. I was merely a person, standing on the outside, looking in.
Like a lone wolf striding stealthily through the shadows, I too walked away from the horrors of the world alight to find solace in the darkness.
I walked towards the woods, hoping that I would be welcomed by the willowy foliage the outskirts provided, but I highly suspect that my subconscious willed that I be reduced to fear of a little girl, and run back towards the school.
I slid down the moss-covered tree and marveled at its ancient wisdom, silently begging it to make the pain disappear; to raise me up again, back into the light. Yet, I would never want anything to be different, my life has taken course and to change anything would be to change me.
My life has been filled with defining moments, epiphanies and melancholic acceptance and today had been filled with all three. I have been changed forever by the events of the past few hours my perspectives will forever be influenced by what has happened.
I have come to the realisation that, no matter how hard I may try, I will never be able to walk away from Draco – I truly feel that he is the only person keeping me sane and giving me purpose.
With this is mind, I stood and walked towards the castle. I walked right past the terrified first years and hysterical girls. I walked right into Madame Pomfrey, but I merely turned and kept on walking; only stopping when I reached Draco.
He seemed to understand what I needed, even though I, myself, had no idea what I truly yearned to hear.
'My father stood next to me as I killed him. Voldemort came in and taunted me; I couldn't escape either of them. I told them that I couldn't do that to Dumbledore, that I refused to be a part of this any more, but I was bashed and told to do what I had been trained to. And I did.' He hung his head at that last sentence, seeming truly ashamed of his actions, and then I knew that all was not lost.
'It will all be alright, I promise.' With no way of knowing if I could keep this promise, or if he wanted me to be around to keep it, I made the vow; and in a way, I promised to never leave him.
He merely nodded his head, a little sadly, and proceeded to take my hand in his and walk with me towards the Gryffindor common room.
I cannot describe what took place over the following hours, but I do know that somehow Draco managed to redeem himself in the eyes of my friends and now belonged to The Order of the Phoenix, presumably due to his amazing ability to access information. Yet he refused to do this, as he was completely escaping the Death Eaters.
'You truly are amazing, you know that?' I told him, appropriately amused at his ability to use his charisma to charm others into believing him, and I wondered if that is how I managed to put so much faith into one person.
It was during this unseasonably balmy night that I experienced my first kiss, and I cannot express how much I loved it. Awkward, it was, but nevertheless it was gentle and caring and seemed to express what we couldn't express in words.
I knew that during the next year I would be facing new and even scarier conflict, as Voldemort would be returning, angrier than ever.
I knew that I would have to remain loyal and courageous throughout it all, but as Draco took my hand in his, I knew that I could face any challenges the world could place on me.
During the next year, I would complete my NEWTS, whilst Harry, Hermione and Ron would go off and destroy horcruxes. I would fight alongside Draco, Ginny, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Lavender and many others. I would see the ones I love fall to their deaths, and I would mourn their loss, but take comfort in the fact that they died for a peaceful world. We would win the battle against Voldemort and I would leave Hogwarts with immaculate NEWTS results, a fiancée, the best of friends, and a future.
I would go on to live in a wonderful house, married to Draco with three wonderful children – a life too banal and clichéd for the old me, but fitting for me now. I would see Hermione and Ginny often, as well as their respective husbands, Ron and Harry. I would have a wonderful career in Magical Law, and I would live a fulfilling life.
But I didn't know all of this as I held Draco's hand and walked with him towards the lake. I only knew that I would face challenges and I could never know how my life may turn out, but if I lived it next to Draco, then risks wouldn't be half as scary.
With this knowledge safe in my heart, I chastely kissed him, and together we watched to sun set, symbolizing the end of an age.
Well, there we go. The end. I feel a little sad that I have finished, but I am proud of this one, regardless of the fact that it has taken me forever to complete it. I won't write any more, but I would genuinely appreciate it if you gave me a review. Thank you immensely for reading this, and I sincerely hope that you have enjoyed it.
