Chapter 25

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, it all belongs to JK Rowling…I'm merely an obsessed fan with ideas stuck in my head.

… … … … … …

Leila stormed into the Slytherin common room. All the sixth year Slytherins, except for her and Draco, sat in front of the fireplace. The group had been chatting until Leila entered. Instead, they all stared her direction, except for Daphne and Pansy, who glared. Leila rolled her eyes, balled her fists, and stomped toward the entrance to the dormitories. She couldn't help overhearing Crabbe and Goyle's conversation as she walked past.

"Do you think Malfoy's really sleeping?" Crabbe whispered.

"Dunno." Goyle whispered back.

Draco was alone in his room. Perfect. Leila headed toward the boys' entrance, but before entering she quickly glanced around making sure no one was watching before continuing. She had never been in the boys' wing before; she had never had any reason to before now. She came upon what she assumed was the sixth year boys' room and she jiggled the handle. The door was unlocked. Leila took a deep breath, opened the door, and quickly walked inside, shutting the door behind her.

The boys' room appeared much like her own, except a little messier; but nowhere near as messy as the Gryffindor boys' room. The bed at the end of the dark room had its curtains drawn. Draco's bed. Leila slowly walked toward his bed. Her heart was thudding by the time she reached his bed. She quickly pulled back his curtains to find him waiting with a sneer on his face and wand drawn at her throat. Leila instinctively pulled her wand out.

"What the hell, Leila." Draco hissed.

Leila looked at him and narrowed her eyes. Draco lowered his wand and Leila slowly lowered hers.

"What are you doing here?" Draco demanded.

"Who are the girls?" Leila snapped.

"What?" Draco questioned.

"Don't try and deny it. The girls Harry saw you with earlier." Leila growled.

"We don't have time for this, we'll get caught." Draco argued.

"We'll I'm not leaving until I hear your pathetic excuse. You'll be lucky if you still have a girlfriend to get caught with." Leila sneered.

Draco set his jaw, determining how to handle the situation until he heard Zabini talking outside the door.

"Bloody hell." Draco muttered.

There was no place to hide Leila, except in his bed with the curtains closed. Draco reached for Leila's arm, but she swatted at his hand.

"Don't touch me." Leila hissed.

"Just get up here." Draco hissed back.

"I'm most certainly not getting in…" Leila began.

The door slowly opened and Leila quickly jumped onto Draco's bed. Draco quickly closed the curtains and put his hand over Leila's mouth to keep her from talking.

"What's going on, Malfoy?" Zabini asked.

"Bugger off." Draco said.

"Bout time." Zabini chuckled.

Draco let out of sigh of relief. He placed one finger over his mouth, motioning for Leila to be silent, and removed his hand from her mouth. Leila sat there, arms crossed, glaring at him. Draco cast a silencing charm around his bed.

"How long am I going to be stuck here?" Leila sneered.

"Until they're asleep, I suppose." Draco answered.

"Damnit." Leila cursed.

Draco chuckled and reached for Leila's face.

"On no you don't. You're not going to distract me. You're going to tell me who those two girls are!" Leila hissed.

"It's not important." Draco shrugged.

"Yes it is!" Leila argued.

"Why? Is Leila Potter jealous?" Draco smirked.

"This isn't funny!" Leila groaned.

"Of course not." Draco muttered.

Leila slapped Draco across the face. Draco's one hand instinctively flew to his face and the other wrapped around Leila's arm. Leila tried fighting him, but failed.

"Bloody hell, woman." Draco hissed.

"Tell me who the girls are." Leila hissed back.

"I told you they're not important." Draco sneered.

"They are to me." Leila narrowed her eyes.

"Why?' Draco asked.

"My brother tells me my boyfriend is with two girls and I need a reason?" Leila scoffed.

"Scarhead would stick his nose in business that isn't his." Draco muttered.

"Don't talk about my brother like that!" Leila shot back.

"Why not? He's always coming between us!" Draco sneered.

"Don't make me choose between the two of you." Leila hissed.

"He's not always going to be there for you, Leila." Draco argued.

"Why are you going to get rid of him?" Leila questioned.

"I didn't say that!" Draco roared.

Draco and Leila's faces were mere centimeters from each other by this point, with Leila's arms pinned in Draco's hands. Leila and Draco both glared at each other, pissed beyond words.

"I'm done." Leila shook her head.

Leila shook Draco's arms off and reached for the bed hangings, when Draco stopped her.

"I'm leaving." Leila hissed.

"No, you're not." Draco replied.

"You think you're going to stop me?" Leila sneered.

"I think the fact that you don't want to get caught will." Draco drawled.

Leila groaned and slapped at Draco's arms. She then moved to sit as far away from him as she possibly could. Draco sighed and looked at his girlfriend. She shouldn't be mad about something so stupid. He was only with Crabbe and Goyle. He would never consider cheating on her. He had already fought too much for her.

"I didn't want to be with everyone cheering Scarhead on down at the match." Draco gave in.

"That doesn't explain the girls." Leila said coldly.

"They were second years, Leila." Draco sighed.

"Oh." Leila muttered.

"I finally tell you what you want to hear and all I get is an 'oh'?" Draco questioned.

"What more do you want from me, Draco?" Leila retorted.

"I don't know. An apology?" Draco hissed.

"You don't deserve one." Leila said angrily.

"You're acting childish." Draco stated.

"I don't care what you think I'm doing." Leila rolled her eyes.

"If I would have known you'd act like this when we started dating…" Draco began.

"Let me guess, you'd never have gone after me. If it means so much to you go ahead break-up with me." Leila hissed.

"Leila." Draco said forcefully.

"Do it! Just do it!" Leila shouted.

"Why do you always assume the worst of me every time we argue? Can't you see I'm just as committed to this as you are if not more!" Draco shouted back.

Leila sat there speechless with her mouth hanging open. Draco couldn't resist the temptation and forced his hungry lips on hers. Leila gasped in surprise and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. Draco drew her closer and flipped her so that she was beneath him. His lips moved to nibble on her ear and neck.

"I'm still mad at you." Leila whispered.

Draco mumbled something unrecognizable against Leila's neck between kisses. She closed her eyes and nearly melted in Draco's arms. When she opened them, she saw Dobby peeking through the curtains at the end of the bed. Leila gasped and pushed at Draco.

"Draco, stop. I'm tired." Leila said.

Draco chuckled and nipped at her ear.

"I mean it Draco, I'm tired." Leila said.

Draco sat up and looked at Leila confusedly. Leila simply shook her head.

"Are they asleep yet?" Leila sighed.

"No." Draco muttered.

"I really am tired." Leila groaned.

Draco handed Leila his pillow.

"What about you?" Leila asked.

"I don't think I could sleep. Besides, someone's got to keep watch for when you can sneak out." Draco shrugged.

"Are you sure?" Leila asked.

Draco nodded his head and scooted over to make room for Leila. Leila climbed under his covers and snuggled with his pillow. She inhaled his scent from his pillow, bit her lip, and looked at Draco. He was gazing at the bed hangings on the end of his bed.

"Draco?" Leila whispered.

"Hmm?" Draco asked.

"I'm sorry." Leila said.

Draco and Leila's gazes met.

"Just go to sleep, Leila." Draco said brushing some hair from Leila's face.

Leila sighed, snuggled Draco's arm close to her, and fell asleep. It was almost two hours before Draco carried Leila to an empty common room. He placed her on the couch and went back to bed. As the days passed, Harry's obsession with Malfoy seemed to intensify. He even had Dobby and Kreacher following Draco. As Harry's obsession grew, so did Leila's paranoia of Harry catching her and Draco. She knew she should tell him, but she knew that her brother would never understand. Instead, she made her way to the kitchen.

"Dobby." Leila called.

"Miss Leila!" Dobby smiled.

"Dobby, I need a word with you." Leila said.

"Anything for Miss Leila." Dobby said.

"What…What you saw last night." Leila stammered.

"Miss Leila with Mister Malfoy?" Dobby asked.

"Exactly that." Leila sighed.

After a little convincing, Dobby agreed not to say anything to Harry about seeing Leila with Draco. One April day, Leila walked with Harry to Potions class. She dreaded going to this class because most of the class was taking their Apparition examination. This left her with Harry, Draco, and Ernie Macmillan. Luckily, Harry's thoughts were focused on the Felix Felicis and finally cornering Slughorn to notice Leila's dread for Potions. She walked in the room with her brother to find Draco and Ernie already seated. Leila and Harry sat at their usual table and waited for Slughorn to begin class.

"All too young to Apparate just yet? Not turned seventeen yet?" Slughorn asked.

The four of them merely shook their heads.

"Ah well, as we're so few, we'll do something fun. I want you all to brew me up something amusing!" Slughorn said cheerily.

"That sounds good, sir." Ernie said, rubbing his hands together.

"What do you mean 'something amusing'?" Draco asked irritably.

"Oh, surprise me." Slughorn chuckled.

Draco opened his book and grumbled about the lesson being a waste of his time. Leila couldn't help but chuckle at him. Draco looked up from his book and locked eyes with her. Leila raised her eyebrows at him. Draco quickly looked away and Leila smirked. Harry smacked Leila's arm.

"What was that for?" Leila hissed.

"Stop flirting with Malfoy." Harry hissed back.

"I'm not flirting with him." Leila rolled her eyes.

"He's not a good guy." Harry whispered.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Leila asked.

"You know what I mean." Harry hissed.

"Is the guy an egotistical prat? Of course…" Leila began.

"He's up to something in the Room of Requirement." Harry whispered.

"What? Says who?" Leila asked.

"I've had Dobby tailing him. Malfoy's up to something, something bad; and I'm going to find out what." Harry said.

"Shouldn't you be a little more concerned about Slughorn and a little less concerned about Malfoy?" Leila asked.

"You sound like Hermione." Harry rolled his eyes.

Professor Slughorn walked to their table to find them quickly opening their Potion textbooks. Leila peered over the top of her textbook to find Harry watching Draco. Harry smiled to himself. What was Harry thinking about concerning Draco? Had Dobby accidentally blabbed about her and Draco? Leila took a deep breath. Harry would have already confronted her if he knew about her and Draco. Leila flipped through her Potions textbook, picked a random potion, and began brewing it. Leila carefully brewed her potion only to be outdone by Harry and the Prince. Leila quickly followed Ernie and Draco out of the classroom, not wanting to be left with Harry and Slughorn. Leila quickly caught up with Draco, who remained silent. They were almost to the common room when the silence was interrupted.

"Drakie!" a voice screeched.

Leila turned around to find Pansy Parkinson running toward Draco. Draco, looking slightly annoyed, stopped to meet her.

"I passed!" Pansy said throwing her arms around Draco.

Draco pushed Pansy off him and nodded his head.

"You're not even going to say anything?" Pansy whined.

"Congratulations, Pansy." Draco muttered.

"What do you say we celebrate?" Pansy winked at him.

Draco quickly looked over to Leila. Leila stood watching the scene with her arms folded across her chest.

"Pansy, we're done; we've been done, we're going to stay done. How many times do I need to tell you?" Draco said.

"Draco, I miss you and I know you miss me." Pansy whined.

"It's time you moved on, I certainly have." Draco said.

"You've moved on? With whom?" Pansy questioned.

"I have things I need to do." Draco said walking away.

Pansy's face dropped as she watched him walk away. Pansy then looked to Leila, who was still watching.

"What do you think you're doing, Potter?" Pansy sneered.

"Watching you get rejected." Leila said.

"What were you doing with Draco?" Pansy questioned.

"I wasn't with him. I was heading back to the common room from Potions, where we both happened to be." Leila argued.

"Stay away from him." Pansy hissed.

"Why would I want to be near him?." Leila asked.

"He doesn't want you anymore, you know. He's been over you all year." Pansy said.

"Did part of your brain get left behind when you Disapparated? Draco Malfoy and I want nothing to do with each other." Leila yelled.

Leila quickly spun on her heel and headed in the opposite direction of Draco. Pansy watched Leila walk away, thinking that was almost too easy. After dinner, Leila spent the evening in the library with Hermione. Hermione read a book about Felix Felicis.

"What's that for?" Leila asked.

"Harry took some Felix Felicis after dinner." Hermione said.

"What's the problem with that?" Leila asked.

"He insisted on going to Hagrid's. He knew he was supposed to find Slughorn." Hermione said.

"Isn't Hagrid burying Aragog today?" Leila asked.

"Yes, but…" Hermione began.

"I'm sure Harry knows what he's doing, or at least Felix does." Leila commented.

"That's what Harry said." Hermione sighed.

"See, things will work out. If not, he has more Felix Felicis for another go at it." Leila said.

"I suppose so." Hermione said hesitantly.

"So, Ron didn't want to go to the funeral?" Leila smirked.

Hermione shook her head and chuckled. It was common knowledge that Ron was terrified of spiders. Leila remembered when she, Harry, and Ron had met Aragog second year. The Acromantula had tried to feed the three of them to its hundreds, if not thousands of children. They had just barely escaped the forest without being eaten. Leila worked on her homework for the rest of the night in the library and then quickly headed to bed.

The next day at breakfast, Harry retold his adventure with Hagrid and Slughorn. He had succeeded in getting the memory. Not only that, but he had viewed the memory with Dumbledore. Dumbledore had promised that Harry could come along should another horcrux be found.

"Seven horcruxes? Why would someone want to split their soul that many times?" Leila asked.

"It's You-Know-Who, not exactly a someone; more of a something." Ron argued.

"He obviously didn't want to take any chances of dying." Hermione pointed out.

"But two of them have been destroyed. Tom Riddle's diary and…" Leila began.

"The ring Dumbledore found." Harry added.

"Two down, but exactly how many more to go? Did Voldemort make all seven? Did he make more?" Leila asked.

"Dunno." Harry shrugged.

"Wow, I still can't actually believe you're going with Dumbledore… and try and destroy…wow." Ron said slightly changing the subject.

"Stop it Ron, you're making it snow." Hermione said grabbing Ron's wrist.

Ron's snow lightly covered the four. Ron brushed snow off Hermione's shoulder causing Lavender to burst into tears. Leila and Harry turned to watch Lavender's outburst.

"We split up, last night." Ron whispered.

"Ah, well…you don't mind it's over do you?" Harry asked.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm bloody thrilled to be shot of her; especially after all that yelling last night. It's just she seems a bit put out." Ron said.

They four turned to watch Lavender cry on Pavarti's shoulder.

"Yes, she does. Doesn't she?" Leila commented.

"At least I didn't have to finish it. She saw to that." Ron whispered.

"Coward." Hermione smirked.

"Am not." Ron grumbled.

"I'm agreeing with Hermione on this one." Leila said.

"I think I liked it better when you two hated each other." Ron sulked.

"Get over it, Ron. Besides, I think last night was a bad night for romance all around. Ginny and Dean split up too." Hermione said.

"How come?" Harry asked, trying to stay calm.

"Oh something really silly…" Hermione began.

Harry paid little attention to Hermione's rambling. Instead he turned to see Ginny sitting down the table with Luna. He didn't even see Katie Bell walk by with her friends.

"Harry." Hermione said.

"Hmm?" Harry asked drawn away Ginny.

"That's Katie. Katie Bell." Hermione said.

Harry quickly stood up, grabbed his Potions textbook, and marched to where Katie was standing. Leila stayed with Ron and Hermione, watching him.

"Do you think she remembers anything?" Leila asked.

"That's what Harry's going to find out." Ron said.

"I kinda figured that much." Leila groaned.

"Well, whatever Harry finds out he'll tell us." Hermione said.

"You mean he'll tell you two and conveniently forget to tell me." Leila said.

"I'm sure Harry didn't mean anything by not telling you about Malfoy. Besides, I can only assume you're sick of Harry's obsession over him." Hermione said.

Harry quickly darted past them. Leila looked to the entrance of the Great Hall to find a whir of blonde hair exciting.

"Speaking of those two." Leila muttered.

Leila quickly stood up to follow them. She was almost out of the Great Hall when her path was blocked by Pansy.

"Going somewhere, Potter?" Pansy sneered.

"Out of my way, Parkinson." Leila hissed.

"Or what?" Pansy drawled.

"Bloody hell." Leila muttered.

She quickly shoved Pansy to the floor and ran from the Great Hall before she got in trouble. She quickly ran up two flights of stairs and came to a stop. She hadn't a clue where Draco and Harry were; but wherever they were something bad was happening. She was about to head to the Room of Requirement when she heard screaming.

"Stop it! STOP!" Moaning Myrtle yelled from her bathroom.

Leila quickly changed her destination to the girls' bathroom. She could hear and see the water flowing out of the bathroom.

"You hexed her, didn't you Malfoy?" Harry bellowed.

Leila's eyes widened as she could hear more spells whirring in the bathroom. She quickly ran in. She found Harry and Draco missing each other with spells. Toilets and mirrors were being blown to shards. Leila tried to find an area out of the way, so she wouldn't get hit. She was in the process of drawing her wand as Harry poked out with his wand pointed at her. He froze. Suddenly, Draco appeared from behind a stall, his face contorted in anger.

"Crucio!" Draco yelled.

Draco, not realizing Leila was standing there, hit Leila with his spell instead of Harry. Leila screamed in pain, as her knees buckled and she fell to the floor.

"SECTUMSEMPRA!" Harry bellowed.

The curse hit Draco. Blood spurted from his chest as he toppled backwards into the water. Leila, gasping for air and holding her side, crawled to where Draco lay bleeding. Draco lay shaking uncontrollably, gasping for air in a pool of his own blood. Leila, breathing hard, tried to steady him. She threw herself over his body, not caring that his blood was staining her clothes.

"Harry, what did you do?" Leila cried.

"I…I didn't mean to. I didn't know." Harry fumbled for words.

"Why the hell did you use a spell that even I don't know the counter curse for?" Leila screamed.

Harry was at a loss for words. Leila rested her forehead on Draco's. His eyes were squinted in pain, but Leila focused on them. She tried to console him, best she could; but her tears were flowing.

"L..L..Lei…Leila" Draco forced.

"Sh, save your strength." Leila whispered, tears streaming down her face.

Leila kissed Draco's forehead as he clenched his teeth in pain.

"He's going to die." Leila cried.

Harry numbly tried to pull Leila away from Draco's body, but Leila clung tighter to Draco.

"Stop! I love him, Harry." Leila hissed.

Harry instantly backed away and went rigid. He looked at his sister, who was drenched in water and Draco's blood.

"You what?" Harry asked.

Leila gently released Draco and slowly turned to face her brother.

"I…I…love." Leila began.

The after-effects of the Cruciatus curse had finally caught up with her. The pain was so unbearable that Leila fainted away into darkness. Harry finally took notice to Myrtle's cries.

"MURDER! MURDER IN THE BATHROOM! MURDER!"

Not knowing what to do, Harry fell to his knees beside Leila, who was breathing raggedly. The door banged open and Snape burst into the room. Snape narrowed his eyes at Harry, pushed him aside, and knelt over Malfoy. Snape then drew his wand and muttered the counter curse over Draco's body. Snape performed the counter curse three times, and each time Draco's body seemed more on the mend. Snape then turned his attention to an unconscious Leila.

"What happened to her, Potter?" Snape demanded.

"M..Malfoy hit her with the C..Cr..Cruciatus curse." Harry stammered.

Snape growled something under his breath, when Professor Slughorn entered the scene.

"Severus! What's happened here?" Slughorn gasped.

"I'm going to have a word with Potter, once we get these two to the Hospital Wing." Snape sneered.

"How can I help?" Slughorn asked.

"Help me with, Mr. Malfoy." Snape said.

Snape half-lifted Draco into a standing position and moved him to lean heavily on Slughorn.

"Leila." Draco barely whispered.

"You both need the Hospital Wing. As for you Mr. Malfoy, there may be a certain amount of scarring, but if you take dittany immediately we might avoid even that." Snape said.

Snape then carefully scooped Leila into his arms. Slughorn, supporting Draco, moved for the exit, followed by Snape, carrying Leila. Harry moved to follow.

"Potter, you will wait here for me." Snape growled.

Harry stood still and didn't follow even one more step. Snape looked at the limp girl in his arms. She looked so much like her mother, too much. If only Lily could see them now, she really wouldn't forgive him for allowing her daughter to be hit with an Unforgiveable. Draco looked back every now and then to look at Leila. Snape could see the worry in the boy's eyes.

"She'll be fine, Mr. Malfoy." Snape drawled.

Draco merely nodded. When they reached the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey quickly rushed Draco and Leila into beds, forcing Slughorn and Snape to leave. Madam Pomfrey applied dittany to Draco's chest and gave him a Dreamless Sleep Potion. She then turned to the bed beside his where Leila lay unconscious as Professor McGonagall walked in.

"I had only hoped Severus was wrong." McGonagall sighed.

"Mr. Malfoy will need to stay here for a while and should sleep through the night, but I can't do anything for Miss Potter until she wakes without risking permanent damage." Madam Pomfrey said.

"Then it looks like we wait." Professor McGonagall said.