Hey everyone, a new chapter of Star-Crossed Lovers and this story is drawing to a close. I'm not sure if this chapter is fully developed but it's the best I can do at the moment so enjoy!

Limea Delta

No copyright infringement intended

So instead of the guests attending a wedding, they attended a funeral. The Great Hall, instead of being decorated with white and green, was hung with black and colours of mourning. All flowers were replaced with yellow candles that gave off a flickering golden light. The bewitched ceiling showed not the sunny day outside, but stormy grey clouds. Classes were cancelled, obituaries read at breakfast and then the funeral itself, a slow march through the castle and then straight down past the dungeons to the crypts below. Here, Draco's body, dressed in silver and green, was laid upon a large stone alter where it would remain for three days, allowing mourners to come and pay their respects. Such an elaborate farewell was traditional for a Malfoy.

The news of Draco's death spread through the school like wildfire, each student telling their own version of why the heir of Slytherin was dead. Hermione heard the rumors and encouraged them to spread, keeping away suspicion that Draco Malfoy was very much alive. However, how would anyone know, why would anyone suspect? Hermoine told no-one about the plan, figuring that it would be easier that way.

Neville Longbottom heard the news of Draco's death and bowed his head in sorrow. He knew about the forbidden lovers and he acted as a messenger between the two, sending owls carrying notes between the two schools. Hermione offered to do the job but Harry and Draco knew how busy she was, how much she had already done for them so Harry asked Neville as a close friend. He had agreed and so an arrangement was formed. Therefore, he knew it was his duty to tell his friend the news in person so he left that night for Durmstrang, unaware that a little owl was caught in a storm, unable to deliver its message.

Harry was sitting against a tree, enjoying the rare sunlight and the accompanying warmth. A sunny day in the cold north was an event so everyone was out enjoying it. But Harry was left alone, people were wary of him. They knew that he had been expelled from Hogwarts and rumors spread, changing Harry from a misunderstood teenager to an axe murderer in seconds. So they left him to his thoughts. He didn't mind, he knew he would be returning to his home soon enough. All he had to do was wait.

His books were on his lap but they lay unattended as he daydreamed, staring out through the wrought-iron gate to the mountains beyond. However, his eyes focused as he saw a black shape enter the gate and start striding up the driveway. Something seemed familiar about that figure, how he walked and held himself… "Neville!" Harry cried, springing up and running over, "I did not expect you here today!" and he pulled him into a tight embrace before letting him go and staring into his eyes. "How are you? How is Hermione? Is everyone well at Hogwarts? How is he? How is my Draco? Because nothing can be ill if he be well…"

However, his words faded as he stared into his friend's eyes. Neville looked up at him, his eyes full of sadness. "Then nothing can be well if he be ill," the younger man started.

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Harry… It's Draco… He-"

"What about Draco? Tell me dammit! Neville, what has happened?" and he grasped him by the shoulders.

"He's dead Harry, Draco is dead."

Silence. No wind stirred the leaves at their feet or in their trees. Nothing moved. Then, "No! No… it can't be true…"

"Harry, I'm so sorry-"

"NO!! There must be some mistake…" and he tried to wrench himself away by Neville held on to his friend's arms, afraid of what he might do.

"Harry, there is no mistake. He was meant to marry Pansy Parkinson but instead of a marriage there was a funeral. He has been placed inside the Slytherin vault. I saw him Harry! I saw him. Draco is dead, Harry!"

Harry pulled himself out of Draco's grasp and turned away, took a few shaking steps and then fell to his knees with a loud cry that echoed out over the hills, a cry of pure pain, grief and suffering. He pulled at his hair and clothes, sobbing and gasping for breath. "Why? Draco, why? Why didn't you wait for me? We promised that we would be together forever. We were meant to be together… forever!" Then he threw his head up to the heavens, tears streaming down his face, "Then I curse you, stars! You lied to me. You promised me happiness and you gave me grief. How can I live now? How can I live?…"

Suddenly, his sobs quieted and this silence scared Neville even more than his grief. It was a silence of someone who knew what they had to do, no matter the cost. Slowly, Harry stood up and began to walk down the gravel path, getting faster and faster until he was running, running away from his new life, towards an unknown future.

I have a question for everyone. What is a potion that is poison in the world of Harry Potter?

Please review!