Yes, well, ummm.sorry for killing Hagrid. Didn't really have a choice. I'm just writing this to get rid of my writer's block. I'm starting to regret promising that this will have a happy ending, but I well, (consider me, I read the end of books before the beginning just to make sure that the story has a happy ending. No happy ending, me no read.) sympathize, and yes, I really couldn't leave off like this. Don't you just hate it when it takes her death to make Draco call her Darling?Seriously, I'm beginning to not like him anymore. Ideas, I deas..Mount holyoke application, no concentrate, grr..

By the way, this was, again, inspired by some novel written by Elizabeth Lowell. I don't know which one, but as I wrote, I started getting the feeling that I was writing very much like her, so although it was unconscious, I would like to acknowledge her influence.

Chapter 25:

"Mr. Malfoy, are you asking me to believe that both Hagrid's and Ms. Granger's death were accidents? Do you think me stupid?" Professor Dumbledore shouted, and for one of the few times in his life, he lost his grip on his temper.

"You don't seem to have evidence to prove me false, Headmaster, you heard my son's testimony." Lucius Malfoy answered calmly.

"Hagrid died of an unforgivable curse and Ms. Granger has a knife wound through her heart. Isn't that evidence enough?"

"As I said, Hagrid mistakenly attacked me and I defended myself. Ms. Granger fell on a knife."

"That's a lie and you know it."

"Prove it." With that, Lucius stood up and whisked out of the room. Draco moved to follow him.

"Draco, you will stay here for a while and answer my questions." Dumbledore said in a cold voice.

Draco stopped and turned around. His face was a mask, his eyes were cold. Professor Dumbledore heart sank, he had seen that look before. It was the same look Tom Riddle had whenever he talked about his parents. It was a look of someone whose heart was broken, someone who had lost his soul.

"I've told you what you needed to know, Headmaster." Draco said. His voice was dry, empty. It was as if he didn't care any longer.

"You haven't told me the truth Draco." Dumbledore said.

"Does it matter Professor? At this moment, there is nothing either of us can do." Draco's voice was tinged with bitterness. At least it was an emotion, Professor Dumbledore thought.

"Both of us know that it wasn't an accident, Mr. Malfoy. Whoever killed her needs to pay."

Then kill me, Draco thought, remembering what happened. Kill me and put me out of my misery.

"Mr. Malfoy?"

"Don't worry Headmaster, one day, they will pay. I will make them pay, even if I have to die doing it." Draco vowed. Yes, he would follow the path paved for him. He would become greater than the Dark Lord, and then, father or no, he would make them pay!

Suddenly, Professor Dumbledore got up, and put an arm around Draco's shoulders. Soothingly, he said....

"Are you sure that's what Hermione would have wanted of you?"

No! Damn it, he knew that she wouldn't have wanted this. But he didn't have anything left. If he let go of this vengeance, this anger, there would be nothing left inside of him. Nothing left for him to feel. He never knew how much of his heart depended on seeing her each day; he never knew that without her he would feel so empty; he never knew that he.....

"Draco, talk about it...leave this burden to others. Don't do this to yourself."

Draco stared numbly at Professor Dumbledore. What choice did he have? If he told, Professor Dumbledore would seek legal action, and that would bring him nothing. He knew the extent of his father's control over the Ministry of Magic. He knew that the power of the Dark Lord now reached Azkaban. He knew that the only way he could win was by being part of the Dark Force, selling his soul to the Dark Lord, and then reaping his revenge from within. It would take time, but there was no other way. Besides, he no longer had a soul. His soul died with Hermione.

Professor Dumbledore' grip tightened.

"Draco, have you noticed the portrait in your room?"

Draco's face hardened, it was that damn portrait that caused him to have to kill Hermione! It was that damn prophecy that destroyed his life!

"listen to me Draco. You do not want to walk in the footsteps of Aelfred Slytherin. Do you hear me?"

Draco stared at the Professor, his eyes steely.

"It seems professor, that no one has seen fit to give me that choice. Not even Hermione."

"Draco! Aelfred Slytherin may have been one of the most powerful wizards in the world, but he had no soul. All his life he was an empty carcass, consumed by anger and hatred. He died alone, and had his bride not accepted the fruit of his sins for him, he would have forever walked the Earth in chains. The more sins you have in this life, the more Hermione will suffer. Do you want that?"

"What the hell are you talking about? Hermione is dead!' Draco roared, but for the first time since he plunged the knife into Hermione's heart, he felt something other than hate. He couldn't bear it if Hermione was going to suffer in death as well as in life. She didn't deserve it!

"Not quite Draco. Because of a promise made long ago, her soul will be forever caught between heaven and earth. She will forever weep for what could have been. She will be surrounded by whispers she could not hear, by pain she can not bear. And until someone takes her place, there she will there forever remain, until the end of time, so that you soul will not be damned to hell."

"Don't talk riddles Professor. What does this mean? Why is this happening to her? If the sins are mine, then I'll take the consequences for it. Hermione has done nothing!" Draco felt his heart sink at those words. It wasn't true. It couldn't be.

"Didn't you read the prophecy in your room, Draco. You knew this would happen."

"Why does everyone pay so much f***ing attention to a bunch of words written on a portrait. Tell me how I can help Hermione."

"Forgive, Draco. Knowing her, I know she asked that of you."

"You knew! You knew what was going to happen didn't you. You knew my father was going to force me to kill Hermione. Why didn't you stop him? Why didn't you do something about it?"

Dumbledore sighed. He sank down on into his chair.

"I know what happened centuries ago Draco, and a I knew that it would be repeated. I didn't know the specifics, the hows, the whens and whats. I didn't know enough to stop it."

Draco was silent. Then he remembered.

"It said that I can buy back her life."

"Draco, let it go."

"It said that I can go to heaven's gate and buy back her life. If everything in the prophecy has been true so far, then this must be as well. Tell me how."

"Draco, its too late. That was metaphorical. No one can bring back the dead. No one can make her heart beat once more."

"Then what's the point of having the f***ing prophecy? What's the point of you telling me this?"

Draco felt tears coming to his eyes but he forced them back. Tears weren't going to solve his problems, they weren't going to bring Hermione back. Even in her death, she would suffer. What had she ever done but love him?

"Draco, you can't change the past. Let go of your hate, allow life to take its course."

"If I let go of this, I might as well be dead. There is nothing left in me."

"Draco.."

They both sat in silence for a long while. There was nothing either of them could say. The trap had been sprung centuries ago, and there was no way that Draco could fight free from it. Unless..

"Tell me what happened"

"Excuse me?"

"Tell me why Hermione must pay for my sins. Tell me why she can't go to heaven and for once in her life have happiness. Tell me what happened centuries ago. Tell me how I can bring her back!"

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, Ms. Rowlings owns them

*sniff* poor Draco. Please read and review. Tell me what you think. I hope this makes a happy ending more conceivable.