Draco Malfoy's hands shook with unexplainable terror and grief.

"Good evening, Draco."

Draco crept forward carefully and glanced over to see two broomsticks. The blond licked his lips anxiously as his eyes flitted around the dark room. He could see no one else in the room with them, despite the second broom.

"Where are they?"

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Who rode the second broom? Where are they? Who else is here?"

"A question one might ask you," Dumbledore questioned before tipping his head, "Or are you acting alone?"

"No," he snapped, "I've got back-up. There are Death Eaters here in your school as we speak!"

"Very good indeed. You found a way to let them in, did you?" said Dumbledore as he took in a deep breath, "Yet... forgive me... where are they now? You seem quite alone."

"They are downstairs right now. They're having a fight down below. I came on ahead. I-I've got a job to do."

"Well, then, you must get on and do it, Draco," Dumbledore said softly.

Draco just stared coldly at the old man and clenched his jaw. His other hand curled into a fist tightly as he looked straight ahead. 'C'mon now. Just do it,' he thought angrily. He fought the tears blurring his vision just begging to be released.

"Draco, Draco, you are not a killer"

"No," He snapped, glaring at Dumbledore, "No, you don't understand!"

"Now Draco-"

"Shut up!" Shouted the teen, tears waiting to be unleashed, "Shut up! I have to do this. I have to kill you!"

"Oh Draco," Dumbledore whispered, shaking his head, "You don't have to do a thing. Tell me. What do you really want?"

"I just-I just need to do this."

"No you don't Draco. You've never needed to do any of this."

That was it. Tears began rolling down Draco's pale, flushed cheeks leaving them inflamed and splotchy. Everything he fought for, every thing and person he loved but his mate was in jeopardy at that very moment. It was in that moment he decided to spill it all; the plans, his failed attempts, how he got the Death Eaters into the school - everything. For the first time in a long and terrible month he finally once again told the headmaster everything he assumed the other didn't already know. It felt good to unload it all but it was tainted by the thought that the only reason he could say it all was Dumbledore's impending death. They talked back and forth before the old man took a few more steps closer.

"There is little time, one way or another," said Dumbledore, shaking his head slightly, "But you still haven't told me Draco. What do you want?"

"Don't you understand? It doesn't matter. Don't you see? He'll kill her and he's as good as dead either way."

"I do understand Draco," He said earnestly, "But you can still be saved. We can protect you-he can protect you from Lord Voldemort."

Draco flinched sharply at the name and mention of his mate. The other teen had plagued his mind constantly since the night at the bathroom. Every moment not spent on his plan to kill the headmaster had been filled with the boy-who-lived. It had doubled after the incident the Saturday after he had been wounded.

"Thank-you Madame Pomfrey," Draco whispered.

"You're welcome dear. You know your mate could help you with this Mr.Malfoy. Pansy seems so worried about you."

Draco nodded absentmindedly and tapped his fingers on the set of dreamless sleep potions anxiously. The nurse had found out his heritage soon after his third wave. While in potions he had burned his hand and Pansy insisted he go to the nurse. To the nurse's surprise however when he got there his heart beat was deadly slow. The only thing he could do to stop her from sending him to Mugo's was to reveal himself.

He began walking away when he felt a sharp burning pain pressing on his lips and in his heart. The blond cried out and dropped to his knees as the pain looped itself like arms around his neck. The pitter-patter of the nurse's quick footsteps approached him and hauled him up. She settled the quaking boy in a nearby bed quickly and looked him over.

"Oh my," She sighed, looking at the Malfoy heir quivering in pain, "That mate of yours has kissed someone haven't they? Your mother will want to know. Narcissa said to tell her is something like this were to happen."

"No," He croaked, "She cannot know. Keep this between us. He-she is the least of my concerns."

He figured out in the following weeks was that Harry had kissed Ginny Weasley. His heart had fractured once again when he heard the news. It was then he gave up all hope Harry would be his saving grace. Harry had that Weasley girl and he had nothing but his mother who sat in the Dark Lord's hands.

"He can't protect me. Nobody can." Besides the Dark Lord told me to do it or he'll kill me. I've got no choice."

"But he would," Dumbledore insisted, "If only he knew! He would accept the bond immediately Draco! I know it!"

"He hates me!" Draco bellowed, his face contorting with pain, "That Weasettle bitch has him wrapped around her finger! Everyone knows it!"

"Draco," he said calmly, "That just simply isn't true. You can find safety with him!"

Draco scoffed at the headmaster, "Well then who protects my Mother? Ever consider her? Who protects her? He has her right now! He will murder her on the spot. I can't do that to her!"

Draco's face was splotchy and wet as he sobbed shamelessly. His body shook painfully as the lump in his throat expanded. When no answer came the volume of his sobs only grew in terror. The old man opened his mouth to say something anything to help his student in pain but footsteps interrupted him.

Suddenly a rough hand gripped Draco's face and whipped it to the side. Snape stared at and studied him for a moment, eyes flicking over the boy's flushed face.

"Pull it together Draco," He hissed, forcing the boy to straighten up. "They're coming. Go stand over there and keep your wand on him."

The blond nodded and stalked over to the spot quickly. He was surprised by the heat being admitted from his right. He stretched his right arm out and discovered a cloaked and beside his own. Frozen in terror he grabbed the other hand and squeezed hard. With one touch he gasped as he already knew who it was and whispered his name softly, as if confirming what he already knew.

"Harry."

The room began to spin.

Three people entered to room and he knew they were talking but he couldn't focus. Their voices were muffled to his ears as if a cloth was being held over their mouths. They laughed and screamed around him but he was frozen in time.

He was out of time.

'Oh Harry,' he thought, 'what have you heard? What do you know? Do you know what they could do to you?'

Out of nowhere he felt a shove on his extended arm and tuned back in. Severus Snape had pushed his left arm down as he had drawn his wand and pointed it at his old friend. His professor and mentor locked eyes and stared blankly at Albus Dumbledore.

"Severus… please…"

"Avada Kedavra!"

And then they were was running.

Of course there were things in between but the blur of his memory told him otherwise. His leg stung from a badly aimed stinging jinx that was meant for his face. His aunt could be heard laughing maniacally from in front of him as he half ran half gimped along. His breath was rushed, panicked making his chest constrict tightly. Shouts rung in his ears but there was only one name was clear in his mind. He had been there. He knew too much and he would know even more if he were to stop and think.

Then he flew.

His back slammed into the ground painfully with a loud snap and everything shot back into focus.

Draco looked over to see Harry running to him, Snape limping close behind. He attempted to lift his arm to no prevail and realized he had been stunned. His breath was shallow and each inhale caused a sharp stabbing pain in his lungs. Warm blood trickled near the corner of his lips signaling that something had gone terribly wrong. Harry reached him seconds later and grabbed his arm and squeezed painfully.

"What were you talking about?" He snarled, eyes searching the blond's face for some kind of answer.

He just stared blankly, the spell mixed with his fear leaving him unable to answer.

"Tell me!" shouted Harry, shaking his shoulders roughly, "Tell me what you were talking about!"

"Hermione," He croaked quietly, "She knows everything. Ask her."

"About what?" asked Harry, still confused, "How will she know what I'm asking?"

"Tell her," Draco whispered, struggling to breath with the painful pinch in his lungs, "Tell her I was wrong that day with Ron in the library. Tell her you deserve to know. I'm sorry."

"Malfoy, Malfoy," He whispered, seeming to just notice the condition he was in, "Malfoy? Draco!"

"Everything will be okay my Dragon," She had assured, rubbing his back as he sat weeping in pain from his father's punishment, "The sun will always shine bright on you."

His mother's voice rung in his ears as everything began to blur. Emerald eyes looked down into his own pools of silver as his lids fluttered. His lashes, wet with tears tickled his cheeks each time they touched down. Pain erupted within his chest as he tried to breath in a large shuddering breath. Above him he faintly acknowledged his mate chanting his name like a mantra as if it would heal him. The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.

"Everything will be okay my Dragon. The sun will always shine bright on you," She had whispered, his small cool hands clasped in hers, moments after his second wave.

"I'm sorry," He whispered, stroking Harry Potter's tear soaked face, "I'm sorry Harry. But don't forget, the sun always shines brightest on you. Always you."

"Everything will be okay my Dragon. The sun will always shine bright on you," She had said as they stood waiting for the Hogwarts train for the first time.

He closed his eyes, ignoring the cries from the teen above him. The cool grass welcome and lulled him into relaxation. His godfather and mate's shouts were a sickeningly crude lullaby. Searing pain screamed within him as his body was jostled and lifted, the cool green grass leaving his fingertips. Wind kissed his cheeks as he bounced in the arms holding him, belonging to the calloused hands of the potions professor.

"Everything will be okay my Dragon. The sun will always shine bright on you."

"Everything will be okay my Dragon."

"Everything will be okay."

'Everything is not okay'

-xx