AN: Ah.....second to last chapter! This is were things get sexy between Draco and Hermione, and I tried to made it classy, not smutty. I wrote this the way I saw it in my head, so I hope the whole cure part makes sense. I appreciate all the great reviews from you guys, and check out my other oneshot 'Run Away With Me' if you haven't already. I like Draco as a vamp =) Hopefully this last chapter will be up soon and bring in some closer and whatnot. Tell me what you think! Much love ;) Oh and the song that Draco sings is actually "All I Need" by Tom Felton haha!
I find the map and draw a straight line. Over rivers, farms, and state lines. The distance from 'A' to where you'd be. It's only finger-lengths that I see. I touch the place where I'd find your face, my finger in creases of distant dark places. Your words in my memory are like music to me. I'm miles from where you are, I lay down on the cold ground and I, I pray that something picks me up and sets me down in your warm arms. After I have travelled so far. We'd set the fire to the third bar. We'd share each other like an island. Until exhausted, close our eyelids and dreaming, pick up from the last place we left off. Your soft skin is weeping, a joy you can't keep in. I'm miles from where you are, I lay down on the cold ground and I, I pray that something picks me up and sets me down in your warm arms. -Set Fire to the Third Bar
"I know we don't have a lot of time…but can't you just wait a little longer? I don't want you to go…" Hermione said softly as she rested her forehead against Draco's, both lying wrapped up in each other. His eyes closed as he ran his fingertips along her bare arm, sighing softly.
"You know there isn't another way….this is it. I don't want to go, but I have to. It's about time I manned up don't you think?" He asked her as he pulled back slightly, opening his eyes to lightly touch her cheek, "Hey look at me…" On his command she opened her eyes slowly and met the dark gray gaze she had learned to love so much, "I don't know what's going to happen, but I promise you it's going to be ok. Can you trust me on that?"
"You know I trust you…" She replied softly and moved her hand up to touch his hair, taking a piece of his white-blonde locks softly between her fingertips, "But does it have to be tomorrow?" Their eyes met and he pushed a strand of bushy curls from her cheek and rested his hand there.
"If I don't go tomorrow I'll only keep putting it off. And then before we knew it, it'd be too late. I don't want to wake up next to you one day and realize we're out of time. Damn you Granger for ever showing me that life was worth living…" A small smirk danced on his lips as he leaned in and touched his lips to her forehead. She still had a ghost of a frown on her lips and this made him sigh softly and sit up, "Stop being so bloody depressing…mind if I try and get your mind off things?"
"Be my guest." She replied softly as she too sat up. He flashed her a small smirk as he got up from his bed and went to grab his guitar from the other side of the room. Hermione blushed slightly as she watched him walk over in nothing but his boxers, clearly they'd become quite comfortable with each other. She herself had on only one of Draco's t-shirts and pajama shorts. He walked back over with his guitar and sat across from her.
"If you laugh or make fun of me I'll leave tonight, I swear." He said quickly as he shut his eyes and took a deep breath.
"You know I wouldn't laugh at you…" Hermione said crossing her arms and she looked into his eyes, seeing something there that surprised her greatly, "Are you actually nervous?"
"Shut it…" He mumbled as he closed his eyes again and positioned himself more comfortably, getting ready to play, "And yeah I am. I've been practicing a lot and I sort of wrote you this song…But you cannot, under any circumstances, tell anyone I did this ok? I still have some pride left…"
"You're being ridiculous…and for your information I think it's rather cute," She blushed slightly as she spoke and he grudgingly smiled slightly, "I didn't get you a guitar so you could sit alone and play. You shouldn't be so embarrassed…I'm sure you're not that bad."
"Well, we'll see." He said in a dark voice as he took another deep breath, looking back at her once more before he began to strum the strings lightly, nervously. She watched him, already surprised that it sounded like music, and more surprisingly, like good music. And then he began to sing, "'Cause I live to get lost on lazy afternoons with you. And what I'd give for any cause to turn a day into a few. 'Cause just one kiss is all I need, take my hand and let me lead far away to an empty place. I live to see your face smiling back at me after kissing you. Got a trick right up my sleeve if I'm missing you…'Cause I need to do to is close my eyes and you'll be right by my side. 'Cause I need is you. You're in my mind, everything's gonna be alright. 'Cause a thousand miles wouldn't keep me from seeing you. So if I only have one day left in my life, I'd make you my wife.I'd take your hand, fly to the warm sand. That would be grand. And in my last few hours, I'd find you some flowers. And for once, I wouldn't need my guitars 'cause right now I'd rather be in your arms," As he sang, his voice itself had surprised her, but the words themselves had made tears form in her eyes. Ash he finished he looked up and saw this, surprised himself that it had affected her so greatly, "I figured it fit with our situation a bit…." And with those words Hermione flung herself at him, their lips colliding as the guitar was pressed in-between them. Draco quickly pulled it out and moved it over to rest on the side of the bed, not taking his lips from Hermione's. He grabbed her waist and pulled her closer against him.
"That was beautiful…" She whispered between kisses as tears began to fall down her cheeks but his lips were there to catch them. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he kissed her, wanting every inch of him to herself before he left her tomorrow in uncertainty. His lips found her neck, their bodies pressed closely and she found herself thinking back to all the other times they had gotten intimate. They had been together but never completely together…ever since the first time it had almost happened at the Manor it seemed they both honored the proposition Draco had come up with. But now Hermione realized she had helped find the cure, they knew it. And so she knew what she wanted to do. She pulled back from him slightly and he looked at her with slight confusion but she simply moved to pull the shirt over and off her head and cast it aside, quickly retuning her lips to his to silence any remarks he may have.
"And what exactly are you doing?" He asked firmly as he pulled back and grabbed her shoulders, both her skin and his palms warm. She looked in square in the eyes, determined to show him she wasn't afraid, and she knew he understood, "You can't want to do this now…not when I'm leaving tomorrow…"
"I made a promise to you," She said as she met his gaze, moving her hands up to rest on his chest, feeling his pounding heartbeat, "And if you believe you'll come back then this isn't a big deal. This can be our goodbye…" Her voice softened as she moved in to catch his lips with her own but he pulled back again, determined to make his point.
"I made that promise when I was still an arrogant bastard…I didn't think at the time I'd ever end up where we are now," Hermione looked away from him as he spoke but he grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him, "I won't say goodbye to you. This isn't a goodbye, because I'll come back to you, one way or another, do you understand me?' His voice raised suddenly, somewhat passionately in what he said, reassuring not only her but himself as well.
"Then let us have this one night together Draco…" She replied softly and brought her hand up to touch his cheek, a small smile forming on her lips, "I want this. I want to be with you. And there's no one else I would want to do this with than you." The look of sincerity in her eyes convinced him and once more he moved in to press his lips to hers, the kiss filled with a lust and longing that made Hermione move back into him, wrapping her arms securely around his waist.
"Are you sure?" He asked softly as he pulled back for a moment, cupping her face in his hands and she smiled at him.
"I've never been more sure of anything." Was her firm reply and once more they pressed together as he eased her down onto her back, him supporting his weight as he kissed her, their bare skin touching. Draco's lips moved across her jaw to her neck as one of his hands trailed down her side and grabbed her leg, Hermione pulling it up against him as his lips caressed her neck. She touched her lips to his temple as he moved his hands down to her shorts, without hesitation she let him pull them off and away as his lips went back to hers. She bit her lips softly as she felt him against her, still somewhat nervous despite her want to do this with him. A thousand questions and thoughts danced through her mind as she tried to analyze it all in her head. He reached his hand around her back and she arched her back as he skillfully undid her bra and cast it aside, his hand coming up to cup her cheek and he smiled softly at her.
"Relax Granger…Don't think so much. It's just you and me." He said softly as his lips went back to hers, his hand once more exploring her body as she moved her own down to grasp the top of his boxers, slowly pulling them down and he kicked them off as he grabbed the blanket and pulled it over them. He looked in her eyes one last time to assure she wanted this, his eyes dark with lust and she nodded slightly as he pulled down her underwear, tossing them aside as his lips trailed down her skin and she let out a small gasp, feeling him smirk against her skin. It was then she knew she wanted this, her whole body humming with sensation as he pressed so intimately against her. He too felt the pull and wanted to make sure he wouldn't hurt her in his own lust. And so he met her gaze, eyes filled with passion and love as she opened up for him, both wanting nothing more then to come together, the final wall broken. She cried out softly but he quieted her with kisses, careful as he could be, and he knew he had to come back to her. He couldn't leave her, not after this. Hermione gripped his shoulders as she too began to understand. They moved together, as one, in love though neither dared confess it. Pleasure ran through both of them and finally he pulled back, planting soft kisses all over her face before moving to lay beside her, pulling her close beside him. She curled up into him, "Are you okay?" He asked softly, stroking her hair and leaning up to look at her and she smiled.
"Yeah….better than okay I think…" She blushed slightly and he let out a small laugh as he kissed her cheek, "Have I convinced you to stay yet?"
"Oh so that's what that was then? You trying to persuade me? You're bloody good at it…" He muttered and she sat up, clutching the blankets around her as she looked down at him.
"No, you know it wasn't to persuade you…I wanted to do that. If there was anyone who I would chose to take my virginity, it would be you. I'd always pick you Draco. Haven't you figured out yet that I care about you more than anything?" As she said this, her words filled with truth, he pulled her back down and kissed her softly, wrapping her in his arms.
"I'm glad you don't regret it…and for the record, if any other bloke got to do that with you I'd be pretty pissed," He said and she laughed softly as he stroked her arm, "Now get some sleep. Tomorrow's a big day, and I'm exhausted…"
"I wish it didn't have to come…" She whispered against his chest and he nodded.
"I know. But this night can't last forever can it?" And with that they both fell silent as they fell into sleep in the arms of one another, truly connected, and dreading the day to come and what it may bring.
*********
Draco woke up and knew on this day he would break her heart. But he had made a decision in the middle of the night, watching Hermione sleep against his chest. He wouldn't be waking her up and having a tearful goodbye. That was the last thing he wanted. So instead he woke up early and got dressed, already having packed anything he thought he may need for this trip. He didn't know what lay ahead of him, but it wouldn't be easy. Nothing was ever easy. And as he looked at Hermione sleeping soundly, so perfect, he knew this was true. He had knew for months what he'd gotten himself into and he'd dragged her down with him. But he hoped this way, things would be easier. And so he silently left the room to meet up with Harry.
"Where's Hermione? Thought she wanted to be here…" Harry asked as Draco arrived at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Despite spring having come, it was still chilly and Harry moved from side to side to try and stay warm.
"She was upset and said she'd rather stay in our room." Draco said, a blatant lie but he hid it well. He didn't like having to lie to Harry, but he knew this was better for Hermione, or at least, he hoped it was. He didn't want what could be their last memory together to be sadness. If anything he wanted it to be what had happened last night.
"Er…alright," Harry said with a shrug, accepting what Draco had said, "Anyway, I figure there's a few magical places you could try. If there's anywhere that's significant to your family, I'd go there. But since it involves Voldemort, you could try the town where he grew up…I've written down a few ideas in detail to help you out. But the one I think will definitely work is the Dean Forest. It's where I found the sword of Gryffindor in a lake last year." Harry handed him a folded piece of parchment.
"Potter…thanks." Was all Draco managed to say but Harry understood it meant much more than that.
"Still wish you'd let me come. You're less likely to totally fuck up." Harry grinned and Draco returned it.
"If you were in my place Potter you wouldn't let anyone tag along. Not even Hermione and Weasley." Draco crossed his arms and Harry nodded.
"Yeah I know. Just watch your back. I know you can't die but I dunno what this will do. I don't want to be the one who tells Hermione you aren't coming back." Their eyes met then, suddenly serious and Draco nodded.
"You won't have to." He said softly and now it was Harry who nodded slightly.
"Better get going then mate, the whole school will be up soon. It'll be better if you leave in some secrecy." Harry replied. Draco turned and took a few steps towards the edge of the grounds, turning back to look at Harry, the boy who had hated him for so long. Whom he had hated. Once more he didn't understand how this strange friendship had formed, but he was grateful for it.
"Harry…I appreciate this, I really do. Take care of her for me?" Draco said and Harry nodded, not needing to say anything else. And with that Draco turned his back to him, walking over the border for the grounds of Hogwarts, feeling green eyes on his back as he vanished from sight.
**********
"Harry where is he?" Hermione asked, furious, as she stormed into the Great Hall, only an hour or so after Draco had left. She had woken up to an empty bed, cold and bare, Draco gone. She thought she had been mistaken, that maybe he truly hadn't gone. But she soon realized that he had left without even telling her and that both upset and infuriated her. Why had he done it? She had found herself sitting on the ground, Felix gazing at her like she had lost her mind, sobbing uncontrollably. He had slept with her and left without any warning at all….and it hurt knowing that he might not come back. She knew the risks….over half the people who tried to change their blood status almost always met their end. It was this fear and anger Harry saw in her eyes as she slammed her hands onto the table, the Gryffindors closest to them all looked at her in surprise. Even Ron and Ginny looked surprised.
"What do you mean? He left almost an hour ago….said you didn't want to come down and meet me," Harry said the last part slowly as he realized Draco had lied, "Shit…"
"I woke up and he was gone…no note, no word, nothing…how can boys be so bloody thick!" Hermione yelled as tears filled her eyes but she angrily wiped them away. Ron opened his mouth to speak and Harry shot him a warning glance.
"He probably just thought he'd be hurting you less. Can't say I blame him, you'd probably act twice as mental if he'd woken you up. He's trying to protect you." All eyes shot to Ron as he spoke and he shrunk back slightly, shoving a huge bite of muffin into his mouth as Hermione looked at him in somewhat shock.
"And since when are you on his side?" She said in an almost shriek. Before answering, Ron actually swallowed his enormous mouthful of muffin to answer her.
"I'm on your side, in case you forgot," At these words Hermione fell silent, frozen by Ron's sudden words to her, "I may be acting like a total git, but I still care about you. I'm trying to be helpful here…believe it or not."
"But why? You were so against all…" Hermione began to say but Ron stopped her. Harry watched with interest and Ginny leaned her head on his shoulder, paying close attention to what was happening, intrigued.
"I may be against it….but I'm sick of fighting. You're my bloody best friend for Merlin's sake! And exams are coming up." A huge grin light up the red heads face and Hermione fought a smile as she smacked him in the arm. He laughed and rubbed his arm as she down beside him, her smile instantly vanishing as she thought back to Draco.
"I'm happy Ron, I am….but I don't know what to do…" She looked at Harry who gave her a sympathetic gaze, "I hate being blind in this whole mess. He didn't even say goodbye to me…"
"It's out of our hands for once. We're so used to being the ones dealing with all things involving Voldemort but he has to do this on his own. We were never looking for any type of redemption…he is. All we can do is wait." As Harry said the words, Hermione knew they were right, but she hated accepting them. The four friends looked around at each other and grimly knew he was right as well and despite their past feelings for Draco Malfoy, they hoped he would succeed.
*********
The journey was one he expected to be challenging, but for Draco Malfoy, he had no idea what he was doing. He had packed a small tent, changes of clothes and certain necessities, even food when he decided he wanted to eat. And as the fruitless days passed he only felt worse, and he missed Hermione. Harry list had helped, but not nearly enough. Every place he ventured to was certainly one with known magical influence, but no matter what he did, what he offered, nothing happened. He would plead aloud his request, wave his wand, offer up gold…but nothing worked. Even drawing his own blood proved useless. And so he spent each day at a different place, trying to figure out what he was doing wrong and draw a reaction. But time was passing, and if he didn't find a solution soon he'd be out of it.
Two weeks passed. Two weeks of wasted time with only a week left until his birthday. And as each day passed he grew more and more sick. The Dark Mark on his arm bled constantly, the red veins of Voldemort's mark had engulfed his arm and shoulder, threatening to overtake his entire being. Draco had given up eating, not out of boredom, but out of pain. Everything he ate he couldn't keep down….he was weak. It was now he wished Hermione was there with him, more than anything. And so down on life, so sure he would fail, he decided to try the last place on Harry's list: the Dean Forest. Draco packed up his camp and Apparated from grounds of the Malfoy Manor to the forest, already sensing the magic within this place. Harry was right to have sent him here. Draco walked along the lush green grass, the light peering through the trees, a canopy of lights. It was beautiful. He remembered Harry mentioning a lake, and before he could try and find it, there it was. A small, fresh water pool ahead of him, guarded by a mass of trees. Draco stepped down to the water front and set down all of his things, kneeling down by the edge.
"This is it….my last shot…" Draco said softly to himself as he took a deep breath and pulled out his wand, "I offer up myself, Draco Malfoy, a sacrifice, to be reborn. To be made Muggle born," He spoke with sincerity, but truthfully he had no idea what to say, or do, "Please…I need to figure this out…" He whispered and as he did, a great gust of wind swept up around him, the water rippling. He looked down and for an instant, swore he saw an icy blue pair of eyes staring back at him. More…..Voices whispered in near silence, he barely caught it but what he did hear chilled him to the very bone, "More?" He replied as he took a deep breath and muttered a spell as he trailed the tip of his wand across his palm and let the crimson droplets fall into the water, causing another huge ripple, "I offer my blood…" More….The whisper called back and still he didn't understand.
"More? What more is there? Gold? Magic?" He called out but the faint whispering fell silent. He looked back into the water and saw the icy gaze looking at him, a reflection. It was then he realized whose stare it was, the eyes he had last seen frozen in death as their master fell from the Astronomy Tower. Draco suddenly began to shake. Draco….Dumbledore's voice whispered to him as the eyes widened, calling to him. His shape began to form in the water, an image of glowing white light. Other forms of people swam beneath the surface, whispering their thoughts, their eyes dead. A pool of lost souls, "No…" Draco said softly as he saw everyone he had ever known who had died within the depths of the water. His aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange, swam by, her mouth open in a silent mad laugh. He saw Fred Weasley, sadness enveloped in his gaze. He saw Lupin and Tonks, hands locked, eyes sorrowful. He saw Sirius Black reaching out to him. Snape was there, beside Dumbledore, watching him. Even the faces of countless Death Eaters, students, even Voldemort himself, eyes red as blood watched him, swam around like ghosts underwater. The only gaze piercing him was that of Dumbledore, whispering to him and him alone.
And for some reason, Draco couldn't take this, not now, now the voices and souls of the dead. It was too much to experience them. And without warning, he burst into tears. Draco leaned over the water's edge, squeezing his eyes shut as he tried to gain control of himself but failed. Teardrops fell from his eyes down to his nose where one salty drop fell swiftly to the water. Where it fell the water rippled in glowing light and the surface began to bubble as more tears collided with the surface. Draco's eyes opened at the light, widening at the sight of the lake glowing bright. Dumbledore's white hands reached out from the water and grabbed hold of Draco's shoulders. Instead of fighting, Draco knew he had succeeded in offering himself as the wispy hands pulled him under into the water, filled with spirits, good and bad. Little did Draco know there were two sets of eyes watching him from the forest, shocked at what they had just seen.
*********
"I know you've been helping Draco, Potter, and it's about time someone filled us in to what's been going on." Blaise Zabini spoke as he leaned over the table in the library where Harry, Ron, and Hermione all sat. Pansy Parkinson and Greggory Goyle stood behind him, trying best to look less rude towards the Gryffindors they had hardly ever gotten along with. But they wanted answers, Draco had been gone for almost two weeks and they had been worried, even though he had tried so hard to severe their friendship.
"That isn't my place Zabini." Harry said coolly as he leaned back in his chair and Ron crossed his arms. Hermione on the other hand, sighed and gave the three Slytherins a sympathetic look.
"I don't know how much we should tell you, but I understand your concern." Hermione's eyes met Pansy's as she spoke and the Slytherin girl didn't hide her worry.
"If you understand Hermione then please, tell us what's going on. He may've decided to stop being out friend, but we haven't stopped being his," Pansy's friendliness towards them surprised Harry, Ron, and Hermione, but the nod of agreement from Goyle and the look in Blaise's eyes proved they were being truthful, "Is he at least ok?" Pansy asked softly and Hermione looked at Harry in a silent conversation, wondering what they should tell them.
"Well you've already told enough people Hermione, couldn't hurt if you told the people who actually consider him their friend." Ron said gruffly and Hermione shot him a glare.
"Sit down…this isn't exactly a short story…" Hermione said softly and so Blaise, Pansy, and Goyle all sat across from the three Gryffindors as Hermione began to relay Draco's tale to them, leaving out certain parts and trying to protect Draco's secrecy as much as possible. By the time she had finished, Pansy was wiping tears from her eyes, Blaise's face had gone stoic, and Goyle looked down at his hands, "And he left almost two weeks ago….we haven't heard anything. And it's only a week away from his birthday." Hermione spoke softly as she fought back the tears that threatened her eyes. She too was extremely worried.
"No wonder he acted like such a git…" Blaise said softly as he looked to Pansy and took her hand, squeezing it softly, "You don't expect him to be able to do this on his own do you?"
"Well that was the idea…" Ron muttered and Blaise shook his head slightly, looking at Harry.
"He's a bit thick in case you haven't noticed," He glanced at Hermione when he said this, "I think we should go after him. At least check in. That way we can know he's alright. Or if things didn't work out…we'll know that too." Blaise kept his eyes on Harry, not wanting to see Hermione and Pansy's reactions at him insinuating Draco's death.
"Maybe you're right…" Harry replied, thinking about Blaise's offer and Ron rolled his eyes.
"Eager to hop back on the hero train?" Ron grinned slightly as Harry punched him lightly in the arm. Harry looked back at Hermione.
"It's your call….want me to go make sure he hasn't screwed up completely?" As Harry asked this, Hermione's eyes met Pansy's and she knew that she too was as worried as she was. They all were.
"Yes…but don't intervene unless he absolutely needs it. He wants to do this on his own and you need to respect that." Hermione replied and Harry nodded as he stood up, Blaise standing up right after him.
"I'm going with you." Blaise said firmly and Harry shook his head.
"No way Zabini…"
"Boys! Can we at least agree on that? Harry…let Blaise go with you," Hermione said quickly and Harry shot her a glare, "Come on…"
"Fine. But we're leaving soon. We'll go to the Dean Forest, it was last on my list. He'll end up there one way or another. Meet me in the Great Hall in a half hour." Harry said quickly and Blaise nodded, holding out his hand.
"Thanks Potter. All of you…we had no idea…" Blaise said as Harry grabbed his hand and shook it, everyone else standing up to leave.
"You deserved to know. And Draco does care about you all, even if he hasn't shown it. When all this gets resolved, it'll work out, I know it." Hermione said as they all met eyes for one last time, Pansy smiling thankfully at her, Goyle nodding slightly, and Blaise letting go of Harry's hand as he put an arm around Pansy and the three Slytherins left.
"Goyle's a real chatterbox isn't he?" Ron said lazily and Hermione glared at him.
"Ron! This is hardly the time for jokes!"
"Just saying…I've heard more out of potatoes than that bloke…"
**********
"Were those hands that just came out of the water?" Blaise asked Harry, his jaw nearly dropped as they had just watched Draco get pulled into the lake. It had been two days since they left Hogwarts and camped out by the lake in Dean Forest, just as Harry had said, Draco had shown up in one piece. But now things had suddenly turned grim.
"I think so….something's pulled him under. Whatever he did must've worked. This might be it…." Harry turned to Blaise and they were silent for a moment as Blaise drew his wand.
"We need to go in after him…" The Slytherin said as he turned to walk towards the bubbling lake but Harry grabbed him firmly.
"No. We can't do anything now, it's up to him. He has to do this alone. We just need to wait." Harry said quickly and Blaise turned back to him and sighed, knowing he was right. But they were both concerned, something very big was about to happen and neither boy knew how it would end. And so they sat back down on the chairs they had summoned outside of their magically hidden tent and waited for something, anything, to happen.
Draco was being pulled, down into the depths of the pure lake. Glowing white forms swam around him, whispering things. He knew they were dead…real or not…but his gaze was focused on Dumbledore who pulled him further down. He didn't have to breathe and he silently thanked the curse for giving him that ability, although part of him knew he may not of needed air anyway. Bubbles erupted around him, eyes transfixed on Dumbledore's icy stare. The spirit of his old Headmaster slowed down and they floated in front of each other, Dumbledore's frail hands still holding Draco in place. The spirits began to circle them, whisper to them, as Dumbledore gazed at him. You want to make the ultimate sacrifice…your status as pureblood, a descendant of the House of Malfoy, to become Muggleborn. You must be judged. Dumbledore's great whisper sounded in Draco's head and he nodded, understanding now that the dead would pass judgment on him. Other's began to whisper now, voices he knew, and voices he didn't… Traitor… Liar… Coward…These words stung because he knew the truth in them…Redeemed…Changed…Loved…. He didn't know what to think, or what was happening. But suddenly the bandaging from his hurt arm vanished and he wanted to explain why it was there, why he was forced into becoming a Death Eater, but before he could Dumbledore reached his hand out and grasped his arm as tightly as he could.
White hot pain raced through Draco's body as suddenly his vision went blank and a million memories began to shoot through his head. His father telling him lies as a child, his first day at Hogwarts, playing Quidditch, spending time with his friends, fighting with Harry, being held by his Mother, dueling, crying alone in his room, learning magic…..all light and darkness in his time as a child came flooding back. And then more memories began to flow. Getting attacked by Buckbeak, dancing at the Yule Ball, insulting first years, working for Umbridge, getting punched by Hermione, watching his father be taken to Azkaban, comforting his crying mother. Suddenly the memories began to grow darker, more recent. Meeting Voldemort, being manipulated into getting the Dark mark, trying to kill Dumbledore, crying alone in the abandoned bathroom, pointing his wand at Dumbledore, torturing his mother, trying not to lose himself in attempting to kill Tonks and Lupin, being punished by Voldemort, getting the curse, getting saved by Harry, Ron and Hermione, feeling victorious when Harry killed Voldemort, watching his father being dragged away, disappearing from the world as he watched his mother go insane…His whole life flashing before his eyes. And then it came to Hermione…the train ride with her, kissing her for the first time, helping each other sleep, her saving his life, falling in love with her…. everything… even the most recent and most private of memories was there. He knew now that all the dead could see inside of him too, this was his judgment, a reflection of his life. His innocence lost so young.
Dumbledore released his arm and Draco's eyes refocused, the spirits had ceased their swimming and now all of them formed a circle around Draco and Dumbledore, a ring of light, all whispering opinions Draco couldn't follow. Our decision is made….Dumbledore's voice called within Draco's head and his grey eyes widened as Dumbledore's eyes glowed white and he reached his hands out to press hard against Draco's chest. Burning. Where Dumbledore's hands touched his flesh turned hot, impossibly hot, a pain that spread through his whole body, worse than anything he had ever felt. He opened his mouth to scream but it was muffled by water, a great light beginning to glow around them and shoot to the surface of the water where Harry and Blaise looked on in awe. Draco felt as if he was dying over and over again as he realized blood was spilling out of his chest and into the water, crimson encircling them. Seconds passed as he felt as if he was going to pass out from the agony, excruciating as more and more blood spilled turning all the water red.
"Potter! We need to do something!" Blaise called out as he ran over to the edge of the lake, crimson beginning to overtake the glowing white but Harry grabbed him once more.
"Wait! We need to give him a chance!" As Harry said this, Draco felt the last of his life leave him….this had to be it. All thoughts were vanishing, all movement was gone. He was forgetting….everything except the pain. For one last moment his mind went to Hermione, hoping he'd see her again…hoping he wouldn't be stuck in this pool of dead souls for all eternity. If they couldn't be together in life then maybe she would find him in the afterlife. And with that his eyes closed, his blood vanished. It was done. Through the surface Harry and Blaise could see Draco, the light so impossibly bright, and it was then Blaise had enough. He went to step into the water but found the surface deflecting him. He couldn't go in. He walked out onto the water and knelt down, pounding his fist on the surface with no luck.
"I can't go in the water!" He growled to Harry who too tried to step into the water and failed. They both began to fire every spell they could and still nothing broke the surface. Draco floated lifeless at the bottom and both boys thought that was the end. There was no reaching him. They kept trying everything, but failed. Blaise finally looked over at Harry, breathing heavily from his efforts but knowing now it was pointless. They had done everything.
"Is that it then?" Harry asked softly as they both walked off the surface of the water. Blaise turned back to him, trying to remain composed as he nodded, biting his lips.
"Yeah…..I think it is…" Blaise said as he realized he just lost one of his best friends, he didn't save him. Harry put his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"We did everything we could…" Harry replied, trying to be comforting, wishing they had gone in after Draco when Blaise had said something. But he could have 'what ifs' now, the deed was done.
"I know we did…..doesn't make this any easier…" And with that the two Disapparated back to Hogwarts, knowing what pain awaited them there.
In the depths of the lake, the whispering continued, Dumbledore's hands still on Draco's still chest. You have passed…his voice called out as suddenly the blood began to dissipate from the water and the souls began to swim through Draco, renewing his life. Water from the lake began to pour into Draco's body from Dumbledore's hands, filling the boy up again with life. Rebirth. Draco's eyes shot open as he inhaled deeply the glowing white water. New life. New blood. The spirits ran through him, accepting his great sacrifice. At that very moment, an emptiness in his heart overwhelmed him and he knew what was happening. The true crux of the curse. Somewhere in a dark cell in Azkaban, Lucius Malfoy felt the breath being sucked from his chest and he let out a curse to no one, knowing his son had indeed succeeded in saving his own life. And suddenly he vanished from the cell, from Azkaban, from the world itself. Narcissa let out her final breath in relief, a smile coming to her worn face as she too disappeared, knowing her only son had been saved. Draco felt his whole body come back to life, his blood all restored. He felt now, more than ever, he had truly been given a second chance at life. And he closed his eyes as a smile formed on his lips, once more the bubbles encircling as all the spirits gathered together to raise him to the surface of the lake. As he broke the surface he gasped in air, the eyes of Dumbledore still on him as he called out his thanks and was pushed to the banks of the lake, the curse finally broken.
**********
"No…no that can't be…" Hermione said softly as she sank down onto the couch in her Common Room, Harry and Ron standing in front of her. Blaise had gone to tell Pansy and Goyle of what had happened. Harry and told Hermione and she couldn't believe him…she couldn't believe that Draco had failed. That he had…No. This wasn't happening.
"We tried everything to get to him, be we reacted too late. I'm so sorry Hermione…" Harry said softly and Ron reached out to touch her shoulder but she moved away from him, bringing her knees up to hold against her chest. She felt like she was falling part, that she was dying. Because he truly was gone….Harry wouldn't lie to her. After everything….Draco was gone, "Is there anything we can do?" Harry asked softly, knowing she was in shock, not being able to comprehend what had happened.
"Leave…" She whispered, unable to look at her friends in fear of completely losing control. Ron went to reply but Harry grabbed him and silently they left her, curled up on the couch. The moment the door closed she broke out in racking sobs that echoed in the emptiness of the room around her. Draco Malfoy was dead. They had tried so hard to preserve his life and now he was gone. It had been for nothing….maybe he was right all along. Maybe she should've stayed away…..because now it hurt more than anything. And she let her sorrow ring out around her, drowning everything else in pure, unbarred sadness.