Draco Malfoy Must Die

Chapter 26 - The Battle of the Lightning Struck Tower

The first thing that Harry noticed when the sickening feeling of apparition had eased was that the air was fresh, and salty. He could hear waves lapping over rocks and as he looked around himself he realised that he and Dumbledore were standing on a high, rocky outcrop.

"What do you think?" Dumbledore asked curiously.

Harry turned around and looked at the high cliff behind them, "They brought kids here for a trip?" he asked in disbelief.

"No, there is a village along the cliffs behind us,'" Dumbledore said calmly, "Muggles could not reach this rock unless they were incredibly skilled in mountaineering."

"What about a boat?" Harry asked, looking into the choppy waters.

Dumbledore shook his head, "The waves are much too violent, and the rocks too sharp. Riddle must have climbed down, using magic…and he brought two small children with him to terrorize them."

Dumbledore turned and began to walk towards the edge of the rock, and Harry followed him. They climbed down, using the crevices in the rock for foot and handholds. Once they reached the bottom Dumbledore illuminated a fissure in the cliff face and informed Harry that they would have to take a plunge to enter the cave. Harry took his cloak off, and followed Dumbledore. They swam through a narrow tunnel and emerged in a large cave.

"This is it…it has known magic," Dumbledore whispered. Harry watched in bemusement as he walked around the cave several times before eventually stopping and pressing his hand against the wall. He murmured something about a concealed entrance and pointed his wand at the wall. Whatever spell he had used revealed an archway, but it disappeared again seconds later.

Harry was still shivering as he said, "You've found it."

Dumbledore turned around, and Harry was fairly sure he had forgotten that he was there as he cast a drying charm on him. He turned back to the wall and after even more consideration he said.

"Surely not…"

"What is it sir?" Harry asked.

"I think," Dumbledore said, pulling a knife from his robes, "We must make a payment to pass."

"Blood," Harry realised quickly.

Dumbledore merely nodded and cut his arm before Harry could volunteer to do it himself. The blood spattered onto the rock, and the door appeared. Harry followed Dumbledore inside where there was a huge black lake with an eerie green tinge. Harry's bad feeling increased by tenfold as they walked around the lake in silence.

"Sir, I know it's probably stupid. But couldn't we just try a summoning charm?" Harry asked in a whisper.

"We could try," Dumbledore said simply, "Why don't you try, Harry?"

Harry frowned but raised his wand and said, more confidently than he felt, "Accio horcrux."

There was a bang and something erupted from the lake and then splashed back into it again, Harry jumped into the air in fright and hit his head off of the low roof of the cave.

"That thing in the water is something designed to come after us if we attempt to take the horcrux," Dumbledore told Harry calmly as he nursed the bump on his head.

"You knew that would happen," Harry realised.

"I knew something would happen," Dumbledore corrected him, "But that was a very good idea Harry. Now we know exactly the danger we face."

"But we don't know what that was," Harry said slowly.

"I doubt very much that what we saw in the lake was the only one," Dumbledore said cryptically as he walked onwards. Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes and didn't question him any further.

After a few minutes Dumbledore stopped and reached into mid-air, gripping something invisible. He tapped his fist with his wand and a chain appeared, which pulled a small boat to the shore where they stood.

"Is it safe with those…things…in the water?" Harry asked tentatively.

"I believe Voldemort created this boat to transport himself to the lake's centre," Dumbledore told Harry, "So yes, it is safe. However, it is likely designed to only enable one wizard to sail in it at a time. But you are under age, and unqualified so I am certain we will be fine," he assured Harry.

They climbed into the boat and it began to move towards the centre of the lake. Harry's heart was pounding, and as he stared into the depths of the water all he could think about was Lilly and how he had to get back to her, for her. He jumped when he saw something in the water, something that looked like a human body.

"Sir! I just saw a…a human hand!"

"Yes," Dumbledore replied simply as Harry's wand light illuminated the full body. A man lay upright in the water, his wide open eyes staring up at them.

Harry felt like he was going to throw up.

"We do not have to fear them just yet," Dumbledore just said calmly.

"What?" Harry asked weakly.

"They are merely floating peacefully beneath us," Dumbledore said, "And there is therefore no need to fear them."

Harry disagreed with that and swallowed the bile that had risen in his throat, "One of them jumped, when I summoned the horcrux."

Dumbledore bowed his head, "I do not think they will be so peaceful after we have taken the horcrux," he said simply, "But like all creatures of the darkness, they fear fire and we are able to conjure it."

Harry nodded, still feeling sick and now also terrified. That wasn't something he could hide anymore. The boat reached the small island and they carefully climbed from the water. The green light that had been illuminating the whole cavern was coming from this island, more precisely it was coming from a basin that was full of an emerald liquid.

Dumbledore reached out to the liquid, but he couldn't touch it and Harry couldn't either. There was a barrier. Dumbledore began to perform complicated spells, and all Harry could do was watch fearfully. After what felt like quite some time Dumbledore spoke.

"The potion cannot be transfigured, or charmed, no changes can be made to its nature…it cannot be parted…it must be drunk."

Harry's eyes widened, "But, drinking it will kill you, and then those things will come out…and I'll…" he trailed off, unable to finish his sentence when he realised how selfish it sounded.

"No, I do not think it will kill me," Dumbledore said, "But I do believe it will do something to me that would prevent me from taking the horcrux."

"Like what?" Harry asked weakly.

"Paralyze me perhaps, or incapacitate me through pain," Dumbledore spoke softly, "I must drink it all, and if I cannot for whatever reason, you must force me to Harry. If I beg you to stop, or try to attack you, you must still ensure I drink it all."

"I will," Harry promised.

Dumbledore looked at him, and Harry was sure it was pride he saw blazing in the old man's eyes as he took a goblet and lowered it into the potion. He filled it and drank it, very quickly. Harry watched with fear as Dumbledore filled the cup again, and again. After four goblets Dumbledore staggered, but it was the first sign of weakness Harry had seen. His eyes were shut tightly, he had not opened them since he began to drink the potion. His face twitched and Harry grabbed the goblet as he lost his grip on it.

Harry then had no choice but to force feed Dumbledore the potion as he protested. He sounded like a child and he seemed terrified. Harry had promised to make him drink the potion, and he could not go back on that, he had to take the advice he had given to everyone else and not let his personal feelings get involved. The more goblets that he drank the more Dumbledore cried and shouted, and the more it killed Harry to have to do this. When it eventually came down to it, he had to tell Dumbledore that he would die, to make him drink the last goblet because he was shouting over and over again, "Just kill me!"

When he collapsed, and appeared to stop breathing Harry panicked, but thankfully he was awoken with, "Enervate."

Dumbledore rasped for water, and Harry tried desperately to give him some using aguamenti. But the water kept vanishing, and in his desperation Harry plunged the goblet into the icy lake and threw the water over Dumbledore's face. But he quickly realised that decision hadn't been the best one because one of the dead things hands was holding his wrist and dragging him into the lake.

They began to emerge from the water everywhere, hands pulled themselves out onto the rocks, and heads appeared above the water. There were men, women and children, all with dead eyes walking towards him and Harry had no idea how to stop them.

"Sectumsempra!" He tried desperately, but they were dead so no blood was spilled. The spell did little more than cause them to stumble. He took a step back as the army neared him, and stumbled into those that had approached from behind. He shouted out, but Dumbledore was lying motionlessly on the ground. He gripped his wand tightly and tried everything that he could think of to get them off of him, but he was still pulled into the icy water. He kicked and punched but they were only pulling him deeper into the lake, to his death. His life did not flash before his eyes, but he did see one face clearly through the haze, Lilly's. He heard her voice too, but she spoke Dumbledore's words, "Creatures of the dark don't like light, or fire."

Harry had been training himself, he had been working hard. But he had not prepared himself for these things, whatever they were. He had learned wordless magic, and he cast a patronus charm, thinking that if they were creatures of the dark it might work. It did, to an extent, it distracted them for a few seconds but that was long enough for him to get free of them and desperately swim out of the water. He was panting for breath as he pulled himself onto the rock, Dumbledore was just getting shakily to his feet as Harry scrambled away from the water's edge.

"RELASHIO!"

The spell sent a jet of sparks from his wand, it was close enough to fire to push the dead things back slightly, and Dumbledore, who was still shaky but now on his feet, conjured a whip of fire from his wand. He motioned wordlessly to Harry as the creatures were distracted by the fire, and they got back into the boat. Harry's heart was pounding as they reached the other side and he supported Dumbledore towards the exit.

"It will need blood again…" Dumbledore rasped.

"It's fine, I cut myself," Harry said, looking at a nasty gash on his arm he had gotten while trying to scramble back onto the rock, "Just tell me where to do it."

"Here," Dumbledore whispered.

Harry pressed his arm against the rock and half-dragged Dumbledore into what he had earlier called the antechamber. He helped Dumbledore into the icy water, and out of it at the other end of the tunnel. The sky which had been bright in the late afternoon sunshine was now much darker, but night had not completely fallen yet. Harry had no idea of the time as he helped Dumbledore up the rock, to the place where they had arrived.

"I can apparate us back Professor," Harry said, gripping Dumbledore tightly and spinning. They emerged into the dark high street of Hogsmeade, close to the three broomsticks. The sky was almost dark now.

"I need Severus," Dumbledore rasped as he fell to his knees, "He will know what to do…Severus."

"Alright," Harry said, "I'll get Snape."

Before Harry could leave Madam Rosmerta ran out of the three broomsticks, "You're back! I saw you apparate, thank goodness!"

"He's sick, I have to get Snape," Harry said quickly, "Can you look after him Madam Rosmerta?"

Rosmerta looked at him in horror, "No, you can't go up there alone! Haven't you seen?"

Harry frowned and followed her gaze to the castle up on the hill. Hanging in the sky above the castle, with its grotesque snake-tongue was the dark mark, casting a green light on the entire landscape.

"We must return to the castle…brooms, Rosmerta," Dumbledore said weakly.

"Behind the bar," Rosmerta said hastily.

"The Death Eaters are already here," Harry panicked, "Accio Rosmerta's brooms!"

They flew out of the door and Harry mounted one while Dumbledore shakily got onto the other. He ordered Rosmerta to send a message to the Ministry and they flew in the direction of the school as fast as they could in the warm summer night air. Dumbledore mumbled something which undid the enchantments on the castle momentarily so they could reach it. They flew over the boundary to the Astronomy Tower where the dark mark hung, and landed roughly.

"Put your cloak on," Dumbledore urged.

"No," Harry refused as footsteps approached the door to the main school.

The door flew open and Draco walked in, "Expelliarmus!" he shouted, immediately disarming Dumbledore.

"Good evening Draco," Dumbledore said calmly.

Harry stared at the Slytherin resolutely, "You don't have to do this Malfoy."

"Yes I do, Potter," Draco said shakily, "Do you see Snape anywhere? He's clearly broken his vow to my Mother!"

"Where are the others?" Harry asked, "Hermione and Lilly?"

"Downstairs, fighting the Death Eaters," Draco replied, looking Harry directly in the eye with a look that said, 'help them'.

"Malfoy-"

A shout and a bang came from below, and Draco's wand hand shook, "Potter, go! Hermione is down there!"

Harry hesitated briefly, and the door banged open and snapped shut again.

"I got him, like you asked," Daphne said breathlessly as all eyes turned to Snape.

"Please don't make me do this Uncle Severus," Draco practically whispered, which came as a shock to Harry but nobody else on the tower top.

Snape showed the smallest amount of compassion. He gripped Draco's shoulder and gently pushed him to the side before drawing his wand and pointing it at Dumbledore.

"Severus," Dumbledore sighed.

Snape's gaze was fixed on Dumbledore and Harry was sure that he saw the old man give Snape a miniscule nod.

"Severus…please," Dumbledore pleaded.

"Avada Kedavra."

It was said calmly, and quietly. But the burst of green light was as bright and violent as ever. It pushed Dumbledore back, and his lifeless body fell from the tower, almost in slow motion.

"Draco, leave now if you want to avoid being taken by the Death Eaters," Snape hissed.

Draco turned to Snape in shock.

"I know about everything that has happened this year, and if you want to escape you must go now!"

Draco nodded and opened the door to the main tower. The sounds of shouting and the bangs were louder than before and he turned to Harry, "Potter, come on!"

Harry took his eyes away from Dumbledore's falling body and rushed, along with Daphne, after Draco. They sprinted down the spiral staircase of the tower and in the corridor immediately leading from it they found a battle raging. The DA and some of the Order were both here, fighting together against the Death Eaters, who were outnumbered. There was rubble everywhere, and parts of the corridor had entirely collapsed.

They ran in blindly and threw curses in every direction that they could. Harry had just caught site of Lilly fighting a masked Death Eater when a shout diverted his attention.

"Hermione!"

Harry's head snapped towards the sound. Draco was running full-out towards Hermione, who had just been disarmed and was seconds away from being pounced on by Fenrir Greyback.

"Malfoy, no!" Harry shouted as he lunged forward.

Daphne grabbed Harry's arm and held him back, her wand was trained on Greyback. Neither of them were fast enough, however.

"DRACO!" Hermione screamed as Draco jumped in front of the werewolf, in order to give Hermione time to pick up her wand. His shield charm would normally have protected him, but Greyback smashed it in one punch and lashed out at Draco, reaching for his throat.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

The shout, fuelled with such hatred, and such bitterness came from Harry's side. It hit the werewolf square in the chest, and he fell back instantly, into a heap on the ground.

Harry turned to Daphne in shock. Her eyes were blazing as she said, "He killed my brother. He wasn't killing my best friend."

Daphne then rushed to Draco as Hermione shook his limp body and sobbed. Harry's eyes darted from the unconscious blonde, to the other side of the corridor where Lilly was still in a duel.

"What happened?" A new voice asked as Bill Weasley ran onto the scene.

"Greyback," Hermione sobbed as Draco's blood covered her hands.

Bill dropped to his knees and began to murmur some basic healing charms that did nothing more than slow the blood flow, "I'll get him to the hospital wing Hermione. Harry, there are more of them out there. Where is Dumbledore?"

"He's dead," Harry said darkly, "Snape just killed him."

Bill's eyes darkened and he threw Draco over his shoulder, "Hermione," he said, holding out his hand to her, "Come with me."

Hermione nodded and scrambled to her feet, gripping his hand as they jogged into the dusty, obscured passage to the left.

"Come on," Harry said, grabbing Daphne's blood stained hand, "Lilly's on her own up there."

As soon as the words had left his mouth he heard a scream and turned around to see that the Death Eater who Lilly had been duelling had just grabbed her and thrown her over his shoulder. They were close enough to hear him say, "The Dark Lord reserved special treatment for you, since you're Harry Potter's girlfriend."

"Lilly!" Harry shouted, running after the Death Eater and throwing all of the curses he could think of at his back. He had a shield charm up, so Harry's efforts failed, but he and Daphne still ran after him through the main battle. They threw spells around to try and help those they passed, Susan, McGonagall, Remus and Tonks were all locked in duels.

"Neville!" Harry exclaimed as he nearly tripped over his feet.

"I'm alright," Neville said as he pushed himself to his feet, "Just winded. Harry, Lilly-"

"I know," Harry said quickly, running past his friend so as not to lose the Death Eater who was carrying Lilly. As he ran around the corner he almost slipped, and when he looked down he realised sickeningly that his trainers were covered in blood. He was aware that Daphne was on his heels as they sprinted down the grand staircase, after the masked man. The school was empty which made Harry feel a little better, the common rooms had clearly been sealed off as he had hoped. This made it easier to chase the man, who they finally caught up to in the grounds, the rest of the battle raged on high up in the school. But they were a little too late.

"Petrificus Totalus," He said, freezing Lilly to the spot.

"No!" Harry shouted as he picked her up with ease and walked towards the lake, "NO!"

Daphne ran forward, she was faster than Harry. She reached the Death Eater as he threw Lilly's frozen body into the depths of the lake while he laughed about it.

"Oh, you too," He laughed, freezing Daphne and throwing her body into the lake just as Harry reached its edge. He acted on autopilot as he removed his cloak and robes and dove into the lake. You still had to breathe while petrified, how long could they both breath for? Harry wondered as he kicked his way desperately deeper and deeper into the lake. Then he saw them, their eyes wide in fear, floating side by side, sinking ever deeper.

He had seconds to decide who to grab first, he couldn't think about it, he just had to act. So he grabbed Lilly, and he pretended to ignore the look of pain in Daphne's eyes as he kicked his way to the surface. He took the charm off so that Lilly could swim to the shore herself, then he sucked in a breath and dove underwater once more. Harry kicked with all of his might to reach the lake's depths where Daphne's body lay lifelessly, he grabbed her and pushed himself to the surface as the water began to choke him, and the dead bodies flashed through his mind. When he got her to the surface and removed the charm she wasn't breathing and her eyes were shut, "No, no, no," Harry muttered as he dragged her to the shore and lay her on the grass.

"Daphne," Lilly shivered, pressing down on her chest hard, "Daphne? Daphne!"

She grew more desperate with each push as Daphne didn't breath, "No, Daphne, no!" Lilly sobbed.

Harry pushed her to the side and acted on instinct, it might not have been wizarding, but Harry didn't know how to make someone breathe when they weren't breathing in the wizarding world. However, he did know how to do that in the muggle world; CPR.

Lilly watched fearfully, as Harry tried and tried, and on the third attempt Daphne began to choke.

"Help me sit her up, Lil," Harry said, and Lilly did. Daphne choked and coughed up the water, as if she was being sick, her eyes seemed a little unfocused but she was alive.

Harry breathed heavily, "Jesus Daphne, next time don't try and swallow the entire lake."

Daphne's mouth twitched into the smallest smile, and then her eyes slid shut.

Lilly breathed a sigh of relief, "I have to take her to the hospital wing, Harry, you have to go back. You have to go back to the fight. People were dead…there were bodies."

Harry nodded, "I know, and I love you Lilly," he said sincerely, "Whatever happens up there I love you, and I need you to promise me you'll stay in the hospital wing with Daphne. Promise me you won't go back to fight."

Lilly kissed Harry as if it was the last time she ever would. She gripped his face so tightly, she kissed him with so much emotion, and when she broke the kiss she said, "I promise."

Harry got to his feet and ran as fast as he could back into the school. The Death Eaters were fleeing and he took down as many as he could as they ran down the stairs and he ran up them. By the time he reached the wing of the school where the fight had taken place they had all gone, all that was left were the injured, the dead, and the survivors.

"Lilly?" Neville asked anxiously when he saw Harry rush in.

Harry nodded, "At the hospital wing with Daphne," he gasped, aware that he was still soaking wet.

"Susan?"

"Hospital wing," Neville said as Harry helped him to his feet. He winced, his leg had a large gaping gash in it which was bleeding profusely, "Ginny took her there."

"The hospital wing is where you should be," Harry said carefully, "Come on Nev."

"I'll be fine," Neville said through gritted teeth, "It's just a cut."

"It's a massive gash," Harry said as he supported Neville's weight, "Lean on me."

Neville groaned and did as Harry said.

"How many are dead Neville?" Harry asked quietly.

"None of us," Neville said a little shakily.

"I saw bodies on the ground," Harry said darkly as they emerged onto the grand staircase.

"Flitwick got knocked out, but he's okay. A Death Eater is dead, and Greyback," Neville groaned, "And Draco…"

"I know, I saw it happen," Harry said, feeling sick at the thought.

"Is he…"

"I think he's alive," Harry said shakily, "Bill did something to his wounds, I don't think he healed them but he stopped the bleeding a bit and took him to the hospital wing."

Neville nodded, "And Hermione and Daphne?"

"Hermione's fine, and Daphne…" Harry's voice cut off and he had to clear his throat, "She nearly drowned, she stopped breathing for a while but she's in the hospital wing."

Neville blew out a shaky breath as they reached the 6th floor landing.

"Right, that's it, I'm not taking any more tough stuff from you," Harry sighed as he conjured up a stretcher, and made it levitate, "Get on it."

"Harry, I'm fine-"

"Neville," Harry said firmly, "Get on."

Neville sighed, "Fine," he said, sounding defeated. He climbed onto the stretcher and they moved at a far better pace towards the hospital wing. Once they entered Harry deposited Neville on the bed next to Susan's, who seemed to have at least one broken bone.

Daphne seemed to be sleeping peacefully in another bed, with Lilly holding her hand. Then there was one more bed, with the curtains around it drawn. Harry walked towards it, dreading what he would find inside. He peeked around the curtains, "Hermione?"

"Come through Harry," Hermione said weakly.

Harry did so and stared at the person in the bed in shock. It was Draco Malfoy but he didn't look much like Draco Malfoy right now. Madam Pomfrey was standing by his bed, dabbing ointment onto his face. He had three, open, gaping gashes on his face, clearly made by three clawed fingernails. They missed his key features, for the most part, but his nose looked like it had been broken and reset. The gashes didn't cross his eyes, and stopped before they cut into his lips.

"Can't you heal them?" Harry asked, his voice a little cracked.

"All I can do is rub this ointment, made from powdered silver and dittany, onto the wounds," Pomfrey said, "But they may never fully heal."

"There are more, on his chest," Hermione choked out.

"But he's going to be okay," Harry said.

"He'll be permanently scarred," Pomfrey informed him.

"And he might…well Greyback is a werewolf Harry… and Draco has a bite on his shoulder," Hermione half-whispered, half-sobbed.

The curtain behind them moved and Remus slipped in, placing his hand on Hermione's shoulder, "I think it's very unlikely he'll become a werewolf Hermione. Given that Greyback was not in wolf form, and it was not a full moon…but there will be some consequences."

"What kind of consequences?" Harry asked sharply.

"He may develop some wolfish traits," Remus replied, "Especially around the full moon. Strictly speaking his blood has been contaminated…he is part werewolf. That in itself has consequences for his family life."

Hermione frowned, "His family life?"

"He will likely be disowned, by the head of the family," Remus said quietly, "His Mother is on her way, but his Father will no doubt send word from Azkaban when he finds out."

"Draco won't care about that," Hermione cried, "He's on our side, this happened to him because he's on our side! He jumped in front of Greyback to save me."

"And he will get the protection he needs from the Order," Remus assured Hermione, "As will his Mother."

Hermione frowned down at Draco's pale face, and limp body, "He tried to kill Dumbledore, the Order won't help him and you know that."

"They may-"

"Dumbledore is dead, Remus," Harry said quietly, "Snape killed him, when the rest of the order find that out, and they discover that Malfoy was supposed to do it they will not protect him. They might say they will, but would they really stop the Death Eaters?"

Remus hesitated, "No, you must be wrong…Snape…Dumbledore always trusted him."

The curtains around the bed were pulled open as the hospital wing began to get busier. McGonagall walked over, looking pale and wearing ripped robes.

"Minerva," Remus said, lowering her into a seat, "Dumbledore is dead."

"He was killed by Snape," Harry added.

"No, no…"

"I saw it happen Professor," Harry said, thinking of Dumbledore's lifeless body lying out in the grounds, abandoned there, "And I'm going to bring his body inside. He shouldn't be left out there."

"I'll come with you Potter," McGonagall said, shakily getting to her feet and steadying herself with Harry's arm.

Remus moved to join them, but Hermione grabbed his hand, "Remus, please, stay here," she begged, "I can't…" she looked down at Draco as fresh tears bubbled to the surface, "I need you here."

He looked conflicted, but Remus simply nodded and sat down next to Hermione. Harry and McGonagall walked into the grounds in silence, and Harry pretended not to notice McGonagall's tears when they saw Dumbledore's lifeless, broken body lying on the grass which was now wet. Harry had no idea of the time that had passed, but it was now late into the night, or more likely, early morning of the 1st of June.

Harry dropped to his knees next to Dumbledore and noticed something glimmering on the ground. It was the locket, and it was lying open. He scooped it up and shut it, pushing it into his pocket before McGonagall could notice what he was doing. They wordlessly lifted his body onto a stretcher and took it to the hospital wing, where he was respectfully placed behind closed curtains. Neville's leg had now been patched up, and he was sitting next to Hermione by Draco's bedside. Susan's arm was in a sling, and she too sat around his bed. Harry walked over to join them, just as Lilly and Daphne, who were supporting each other to some degree, took seats by the blonde's bed.

Harry caught Lilly's eye, and she silently got to her feet and walked to him, throwing her arms around him and holding on as tightly as she could.

"I was terrified I was going to lose you tonight," Lilly whispered in his ear.

"So was I," Harry whispered back, gently kissing her and sitting down next to Remus by Draco's bed.

He glanced across the blonde boy's body to Daphne, "Are you alright?"

"Fine," Daphne replied calmly, "Just a bit of oxygen deprivation, it will sort itself out in a few days."

"Good," Harry said, turning his gaze to Draco, whose open gashes were already beginning to close themselves.

"What happened while Dumbledore and I were gone?"

Bill walked over from where Pomfrey had been attending to some minor injuries of his. He had Tonks behind him, "Tonks, Remus and I were patrolling the corridors, with Minerva and Filius. In the event something happened while Dumbledore wasn't here."

Hermione turned tearfully to Harry, "You weren't back by the time dinner was over so we called the DA to arms, and told Professor McGonagall what was happening. She locked the common rooms down, and told the others, including Snape."

McGonagall looked tearful, "I had no idea…no idea. I thought he would help us."

"It wasn't your fault Professor," Harry said honestly.

"We were guarding the Room of Requirement," Lilly said, "And the Death Eaters came out and slipped past us, invisible."

"I saw them heading towards the Astronomy Tower," Bill said, "And I informed the others. We followed them up there, they put their mark in the sky and then it all kicked off."

"And then I got Snape," Daphne said quietly, "I pulled him from the fight and told him Draco was with Dumbledore. We ran to the Astronomy Tower, and he killed Dumbledore when Draco said, please don't make me do it."

"He killed Dumbledore so Draco didn't have to," Hermione whispered.

"He's only a boy," McGonagall sighed.

"But something odd did happen," Harry said, looking up, "Dumbledore asked him to do it. He said, please Severus, like he was begging him to do it."

"You knew he was dying Professor, didn't you?" Lilly asked McGonagall, "From the curse that blackened his hand?"

"Yes, I did," McGonagall said honestly, "But I did not know that he intended for Snape to kill him."

"So what side is Snape on then?" Remus asked angrily, "Because he fled, with the Death Eaters!"

"I do not know," McGonagall said quietly, "But he always has been a very good Occlumens so we may never know."

Suddenly the weight of it all hit Harry, and he just wanted to sleep. But he couldn't, there were other burning things that had to be done. The locket, had to be hidden away, the sword had to be taken from Dumbledore's office before the Ministry arrived.

"I…I have to go," Harry said weakly, squeezing Hermione's shoulder as he walked past her, "But I'll be back."

Before anyone could question him he left the hospital wing, and he had only gotten to the grand staircase when Lilly jogged up next to him, her breathing still a little heavy from her near death experience.

"Where are we going then?" She asked, her usual optimistic tone dropped, in light of all that had happened today.

"Dumbledore copied the sword of Gryffindor," Harry said as Lilly slipped her hand into his, "It's in his office. I have to get it into the passage before the Ministry get here."

"Did he take you to find a horcrux?" Lilly asked softly.

Harry nodded numbly, "Do you think Malfoy…"

"I think the next few months are going to be really hard for him," Lilly cut in, "But he's going to live, and Hermione won't leave him."

Harry gripped her hand tightly, and thanked all of his lucky stars as they walked to Dumbledore's office together.

The hospital wing had been very quiet as everybody sat around Draco's bed, waiting for him to wake up. This was interrupted sometime in the very early morning when the doors slammed open and the sound of heels clicking frantically across the floor drew them all to their senses.

Narcissa Malfoy did not look like her usual put together self as she ran towards her son's bedside. She wore simple black robes, and her face was bare of make-up. Her hair, usually pulled into an uptight bun, was loose and fell to her mid-back. She had an almost manic look in her eye as she reached his bedside and sank to her knees by it.

"Draco," She sobbed, her hand gently tracing the side of his face, "My boy, my son!"

Hermione glanced anxiously at Remus.

"Narcissa, take this calming draught," Remus said gently, as he pulled a phial from his robes, "It will help."

Narcissa took the phial with a shaky hand and drank it. Her hands stopped shaking, and she took a breath, turning her steely gaze to Remus.

"Tell me honestly Remus, how bad is it?" She asked coolly.

Remus calmly spoke to her, "The cuts will close because Madam Pomfrey has applied powdered silver and dittany to them. But they may never entirely heal. There will always be scars, if he's lucky they will gradually fade to light pink. Around the full moon he will take on wolfish qualities, he will have a temper and he may be aggressive. He will probably always have a taste for meat that is rare, or raw from now onwards."

"That was not what I mean Remus," Narcissa said quietly, as tears fell down her beautiful face, "How will this affect his life? His prospects?"

"He'll never be able to be a Quidditch player like he's always dreamed," Hermione practically whispered.

Narcissa's head snapped to the side and her eyes focused on Hermione, "And who are you?"

"Hermione Granger."

Narcissa's eyes flashed with recognition, "And what are you to my son?"

"Try the only thing that's been keeping your son from doing something incredibly stupid for the last 6 months," Neville cut in.

Narcissa looked down to Hermione's hand which was clasping Draco's.

"The International Quidditch Association have rules on those with werewolf or vampire blood in their system," Hermione said in a whisper, "They can acquire extra human strength and speed. Therefore they cannot play Quidditch…or work as Aurors, or work in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement…the prejudices are still so strong…all of the things he wanted to do…he can't do them anymore."

Narcissa had been watching Hermione carefully as she spoke, and to Hermione's surprise the older woman placed her hand on top of hers, "But he is alive."

They were all quite stunned by this development, but Hermione couldn't help but think that it changed nothing. He would still be on the run from the Death Eaters, and they would still be able to track him. This dismal thought however, made something click in her mind.

"Why was Greyback not a Death Eater?" Hermione asked quickly.

"The Dark Lord cannot make a werewolf into a Death Eater," Narcissa answered, looking quite startled, "The mark only imprints itself onto pure-bloods or half-bloods, not people who he deems as lesser."

Hermione let go of Draco's hand and pulled his left sleeve up, gasping when she did. When the others saw what was on his left forearm they were just as stunned. Where the mark had been there was a large, odd-shaped mark that looked distinctively like a burn.

"He has werewolf blood," Hermione breathed, "He's not a Death Eater! He can run, and Voldemort can't track him."

Narcissa stared at her sons arm, she traced her hand along the burn-like mark, and she appeared to be close to tears once more, "Miss. Granger, my son has an opportunity to leave this life. He has a chance to make sure he does not become his Father. Please, once he is well enough, make him run, make him leave."

"I will," Hermione promised.

Narcissa squeezed Hermione's hand, and Madam Pomfrey arrived by Draco's bed.

"I understand that the circumstances are difficult tonight, but all of my patients need rest! Longbottom, Bones, and Greengrass, go to your own beds now please," Pomfrey said authoritively.

Not wanting to argue with the matron they did so, Bill lingered with Professor McGonagall close to Dumbledore's body as Hagrid came into the room crying loudly. Remus and Tonks walked away from the bedside, lingering nearby.

"He was always such a handsome little boy," Narcissa said, tracing Draco's face, "I used to sit and gaze at him when he was little…and when he grew up, he grew into such a handsome young man, and now…"

"He still is," Hermione said, her hand in Draco's once more.

Narcissa turned to look at Hermione in surprise.

"Scars don't make him any less handsome," Hermione said quietly, as she stared at his face, "They only show the world that he's brave as I always knew he was."

Narcissa smiled very slightly, "Are you in love with my son, Miss. Granger?"

Hermione's cheeks didn't even tinge pink, "I am Mrs. Malfoy. It wouldn't matter to me if he had become a full werewolf, I don't care what he is or what he looks like. I fell in love with a Death Eater, and I could have fallen in love with a werewolf just as easily as long as that werewolf was Draco."

"See!" Tonks said, in a strained whisper from across the wing, "She loved him even though he was a Death Eater, and she still wants to be with him now that he's been bitten!"

Remus looked incredibly embarrassed, "Draco's situation is different, he will probably never transform, he is not a full werewolf-"

"But I don't care either, I don't care Remus!" Tonks shouted, a little manically, "I've told you a million times-"

"And I have told you! I am too old, and too poor for you. You deserve someone young, and whole," Remus said, aware that the entire hospital wing were watching this exchange.

"You can't change what your heart wants Remus," Hermione said quietly, "And if Tonks wants you then nothing will change that."

"And look at my son, Remus," Narcissa said softly, "Young men do not always remain whole."

TBC :)