Chapter 21.

DISCLAIMER: The plot's mine, but nothing else, what's more of a pity.

I Told You So.

Draco stood on the Battlements of Hogwarts Castle. He had wondered in the past why a castle, designed solely for the use of education would ever need Battlements. he didn't think of that now. He thought of nothing. It didn't matter any more. Crabbe and Goyle stood either side of him still. They had been faithful to him, though stupid.

The wind whipped through Draco's fine, blonde hair as he climbed up onto the wall. He looked down. It was a long way down. Far enough for it to be half the length and kill him anyway.

He heard Crabbe leave, running. Probably for help. Goyle was saying something. Draco didn't care. He was watching a miniature figure of Hagrid digging in his pumpkin patch. From up here, he looked as small as a toy soldier, not the seven foot figure that he really was.

The sky was blue. It was a clear day, though the wind was cold, whipping away any heat that the weak sun brought. Draco wondered what death was like, lazily, as he shuffled closer to the edge. He heard Crabbe return, with someone else, who was breathless from running.

"Draco Malfoy, get down from there, at once!" A voice snapped. MacGonagoll, thought Draco absently. She a bit of a stuck up cow, but she was alright, really, when it came down to the bit. It didn't matter.

"Severus," he whispered. It was Sunday. Friday had been the day that Severus had ended it. . . he heard MacGonagoll snap something to Crabbe, who left again.

"Severus, Severus, what have you done? Severus. . ." he repeated over and over, under his breath.

"Malfoy, this is unacceptable! Come down, right now!" commanded MacGonagoll. Didn't she understand? He would tell her.

"It's ended," he told her.

"What has?" she asked, surprised.

"Everything," he answered. He took another step closer to the edge. One more would take him over.

Crabbe was back with someone else.

"Oh, thank god you're here, Severus! Where's Dumbledore?"

"He's coming Minerva, calm down," answered Severus's brusque voice.

Draco heard Snape's quick impatient footsteps advancing towards him.

"Draco, what are you doing?" he asked, quietly.

"It's ended," answered Draco. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Snape stare over the Hogwarts grounds, distantly. He sighed.

"I know how you feel. You'll get over it," he said, vaguely.

Nothing happened. They stayed there, standing, one on the brink of death, the other watching.

"You know, even if you did jump, I wouldn't let you die," said Snape.

Draco didn't say anything. How would Snape stop him? He was lying. He was good at that. All the same. . .

"Why?" he asked.

"Why wouldn't I let you die?" Snape shifted, and leaned against the wall, his back facing MacGonagoll, Crabbe and Goyle. "Unprofessional? What kind of teacher would let a student kill himself?" answered Snape.

"Oh," replied Draco, vaguely disappointed.

Someone else joined the group on the Battlements.

"Dumbledore, thank heavens! Where have you been?" he heard MacGonagoll cry.

"Bye, then, "he said, and stepped off the edge.

He heard a MacGonagoll scream, Crabbe and Goyle shouting after him. He heard Dumbledore cry,

"Draco, no!"

He didn't hear Snape. Didn't he care? He was half way down now. Sky flashed past.

Suddenly, he slowed. What? Thought Draco. Is this death? He started travelling up, slowly accelerating as rose. Was he going to heaven? But he hadn't died yet! He was going quite fast now.

He reached the top of the Battlements, but instead of continuing straight up, he curved, and fell, straight into the waiting arms of Severus Snape.

He fell at such a speed that he knocked Snape backwards, but he didn't care.

He stared at the scene that lay before him. Snape was straightening out his robes in his own, ever imperious, manner. MacGonagoll stood to one side, behind Dumbledore, looking as though she was about to faint. Dumbledore himself looked white, but calm. Crabbe and Goyle stood, staring, not comprehending what had happened.

He looked back at Snape.

Snape raised his eyebrows, archly.

"I told you so," he said, in an ever so slightly smug voice.