Chapter 28

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter world obviously belongs to JK Rowling and not me. Obviously.

… … … …

Leila stood up on a pedestal as the pudgy seamstress worked on the finishing touches of her wedding dress. To be honest, when she had imagined getting married (much later in her life) she had always picture a rather simple wedding dress. But as she examined herself in the mirror, the dress was intricate with details of beading and frills. She almost wondered if Draco would even be able to recognize her. The thought made Leila blush. They had only recommitted each other to their love only a few nights ago and tomorrow she was going to be his wife. The thought terrified her and excited her at the same time. From behind the divider, Daphne walked out in her long dark green bridesmaid dress.

"Almost feels like we're getting ready for the Yule Ball again," Daphne commented.

"Almost," Leila lied.

Daphne smiled and walked over to where Leila stood in front of the three-way mirror. The blonde examined herself in the mirror with a slight smile of satisfaction before turning to her friend.

"You're going to look stunning tomorrow. Draco's not going to know what hit him," Daphne said.

"I'm still not ready for this," Leila responded.

Leila jumped off the pedestal much to the dismay of the disgruntled seamstress and threw herself into the nearest armchair. The seamstress was about to yell at Leila to stand back up when Daphne asked the woman for a moment alone. After shutting the door behind the seamstress, Daphne walked over to her friend. Leila sat in the armchair with her arms folded across her chest with her eyes focused outside the window.

"Leila," Daphne said gently.

"I'm probably beginning to sound like a broken record, but I'm not ready to be married," Leila sniffled.

"Oh, please don't cry," Daphne consoled. "I thought you and Draco came to an understanding the other night."

"We did, but it doesn't mean I'm ready to be married to him for the rest of my life. Can you honestly say that right now, at this very moment, you'd be ready to walk down the aisle and marry Theo?" Leila asked.

"I don't know," Daphne sighed.

"That doesn't answer my question," Leila groaned.

"Theo and I aren't you and Draco," Daphne responded.

"How would you know? You weren't even around when there actually was a Draco and I," Leila scoffed.

"I've watched that boy chase after you for years and I watched you refuse him every time. You might not have noticed it for all those years, but he brings out a different side of you; a better side if I do say so. I might not have been there last year, but I've seen the way he looks at you now. Like you're the most precious thing he has. His love for you is clearly written across his face," Daphne asserted.

"I know he loves me and I love him too, but this is still all too fast," Leila blubbered.

Leila buried her head in her hands and sobbed. As Daphne took hold of Leila's hand Narcissa walked into the room. With one look at Leila the older woman's face softened. She walked closer to the teenage girls and quietly asked Daphne to leave her alone with Leila. Daphne reluctantly left Leila alone with her future mother-in-law. Leila still sat in the chair with her focus on the hardwood floor as Narcissa walked to the window. The older woman's back was to Leila as she began to speak.

"I know you think that I don't like you…" Narcissa began.

"It doesn't really matter what you think of me, does it?" Leila interrupted.

"But you have to understand, Draco's my only son. He's my life," Narcissa finished.

"You mean the world to him too," Leila mumbled.

"And so do you. It's hard to no longer be the only woman in your son's life," Narcissa sighed. "I know you think I've been cold to you and I have. I wanted to make sure you were worthy enough for my son."

"I'm never going to meet those standards you set for him. I'm never going to be Pansy Parkinson or Astoria Greengrass," Leila argued.

"I'm going to tell you this once and then I'm taking it to the grave…but despite what I may deem to be your shortcomings, you're probably the best match for my son. You seem to make up for my failures as a parent," Narcissa said barely above a whisper.

"Really?" Leila asked.

"You'll find this out one day, Leila, but all a mother wants for her child is for him or her to be safe and happy. It's not hard to see that you make my son the latter," Narcissa said stiffly.

Leila turned around to see Draco's mother dab at her eyes. Taking hold of her wedding dress, she stood up and walked to where Narcissa stood in front of her. Gently, she reached her hand out and touched the older woman's arm. Narcissa's eyes flashed at Leila, causing Leila to take a slight gasp for air. She hadn't really noticed before, but Narcissa had the same eyes as Sirius. It made sense seeing as the two were cousins, but there was almost something trustworthy in the older woman's eyes.

"Mrs. Malfoy—" Leila began.

"We're going to be family, call me Narcissa," Narcissa said.

"Narcissa, I love your son. I really do; but I—I'm not ready to be married to him," Leila said firmly.

"I wasn't much older than you when I married Draco's father; these things have a way of working themselves out," Narcissa responded.

"I don't know that they can. Being forced into a marriage isn't right," Leila retorted.

"Be grateful that you're already going into this already in love. Not all couples are so lucky," Narcissa snipped.

"Narcissa?" Leila questioned.

"I love Lucius, I do. Please don't think that I don't love my husband nor that I am ungrateful for the life and son he has given me; but things weren't like that between us in the beginning. It was many months into our marriage before we even began to feel for each other what you and Draco already have. I'm not a fool that I can't see how completely smitten with each other you both are," Narcissa sobbed.

"Why are you telling me this?" Leila asked.

"You may not ever think of me as your mother and I understand why; but know that I think of you as the daughter I never had. I love my son, but I always wanted a little girl to spoil and it seems that fate has somehow answered my wish with you," Narcissa whispered.

Not entirely sure how to respond Leila gently enveloped the older woman in a hug. Narcissa at first stood stiff, but eventually relaxed in Leila's hug and hugged the young girl back.

"Now, let's finish this dress," Narcissa said.

The older woman roughly tore herself away from Leila and abruptly stood tall. Swiftly, she walked over to the door and let the seamstress and Daphne back into the room. The pudgy seamstress forced Leila back onto the pedestal as she added more intricate beading to the tulle flowered skirt. Leila stood still on the pedestal not entirely sure how she was going to process her conversation with Narcissa. The older woman had fled the room once the seamstress began to work. When after what seemed like hours, the woman finally finished the intricacies of Leila's dress, she finally allowed her to step out of it before moving on to the last alterations for Daphne's dress.

When the seamstress was done with Daphne's dress, the girls were excused from wedding duties until the next morning. Leila and Daphne walked upstairs the suite that Leila shared with Draco. The spells that had kept her in Draco's room earlier in the summer had been removed, giving her free reign over most of the house, but Leila hadn't journeyed into the house much more than the room where all the wedding stuff was taking place. As they walked into the suite, Draco walked out of Leila's room looking very deep in thought.

"Aren't you even going to say hello to your bride?" Daphne asked.

"Oh, hi," Draco said.

He looked quickly to Leila and shifted his suit coat before escaping to his own room.

"Must be getting nervous," Daphne responded.

Leila simply sighed and walked into her room with Daphne trailing behind her. The bride-to-be threw herself onto her bed and cuddled with her pillow. Daphne joined her friend on the bed looking unsure what to say.

"Leila," Daphne whispered.

"I just wish my mum could be here. She's supposed to be here to see this," Leila sighed.

"I know this has got to be hard for you," Daphne responded.

"These damn wars have cost me almost everything that I love," Leila hissed.

"It was supposed to be a surprise, but Narcissa chose lilies for your bouquet," Daphne said changing the subject.

"You're going to have to choose a side, you can't avoid it," Leila said.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Daphne retorted.

"Fine, you can avoid the subject for now; but one day you're going to have to make your decision," Leila responded.

"You make it sound like it's a simple decision," Daphne scoffed.

"It should be," Leila said.

"Why are you bringing this up now?" Daphne asked.

"Dunno, we've never really talked about it before and who knows when we'll be able to talk again like this after I'm married," Leila sighed.

Daphne was about to respond when a knock came at the door. The blonde groaned and stood up to answer the door. The door opened to reveal a slightly nervous Draco standing outside.

"What do you want?" Daphne asked.

"I was wondering if I could have Leila for the night," Draco shrugged.

"It's bad luck to see the bride…" Daphne began.

"Before the wedding on the day of; I don't recall any superstitions about the night before," Draco retorted.

"Then it's up to her," Daphne said.

Draco and Daphne turned to Leila to look for her decision. She looked at a loss for words, but she could tell by Draco's expression that there was something he really wanted to tell her. Leila consented to Draco's request and Daphne left the suite. Before she walked out the door, she winked at Leila as if she was insinuating something that wasn't going to happen and had never happened between the couple. Reaching his hand out, Leila accepted his hand as he led her back into the sitting room. When they stopped, Draco leaned down and gently kissed Leila, leaving her thoughts swirling.

"I figured now would be the best time for your Christmas presents," Draco whispered.

"Presents? I completely forgot! Draco, I don't—" Leila began.

"I have you right now; that's all I could need. Besides, if I recall correctly last year you said one didn't forget until it was actually Christmas Day and it's only Christmas Eve," Draco responded.

"But how am I supposed to—" Leila began again.

"You'll think of something," Draco said attempting to smile.

"I love you, you know that?" Leila sighed.

Leila reached up and snaked her arm around Draco's neck pulling him closer to her. She kissed him because he was too good to her sometimes. But more importantly, she kissed him because she loved the boy standing in front of her. Draco broke the kiss with a chuckle.

"Kissing me isn't going to distract me from giving you your presents," Draco chuckled.

"A girl can try, can't she?" Leila giggled.

"Present number one is sort of a re-gift," Draco said without getting distracted.

Draco pulled out a silver necklace out of his pocket and dangled it in front of Leila's face. Leila gasped before she threw her hand over her mouth. It had been years since she had seen that necklace. Three years to be exact.

~*Flashback to Christmas 1994*~

Daphne looked down at Leila's stack of presents, which still lay unopened and smirked. She then grabbed a gift which didn't have a nametag on it.

"Look, this one doesn't have a name on it," Daphne commented.

Leila snatched the present from Daphne and shook it. With a puzzled look on her face, Leila tore at the paper revealing a small jewelry box. She carefully opened the box to find a beautiful silver necklace which had a snowflake pendant on it. Leila took the necklace out of the box and dangled it to further examine it.

"It's beautiful," Leila said.

"It will go perfectly with your dress for tonight," Daphne said.

"Thank you, Daphne," Leila said.

"It's not from me. My present is labeled, see?" Daphne grabbed another present and held it out for Leila to see.

"Then who could it be from? You know, don't you?" Leila asked.

"Perhaps," Daphne shrugged.

"Well you should tell me," Leila said.

"Do you like it?" Daphne asked.

"Of course I do," Leila said.

"Then leave it at that and wear it tonight. I'm sure you'll be the most beautiful fourth year there tonight, even if you are going alone," Daphne said.

"As I told Pansy, it's by choice," Leila said coldly.

"You don't have to tell me. I already know that Draco, Ron Weasley, and who knows how many other forsaken boys have asked you. I also know that you turned them all down because they weren't Cedric Diggory," Daphne sighed.

"Stupid Cho Chang," Leila muttered.

"Wear the necklace, look prettier than Chang, and who knows what could happen," Daphne suggested.

… … … …

Leila then slipped into her long, flowing, dark-blue dress robes and a pair of white slippers. She then looked at herself in the mirror, barely recognizing herself.

"Now for the finishing touch," Daphne said.

Daphne clasped the snowflake necklace around Leila's neck. Leila toyed with the beautiful necklace.

"Tell me who it's from," Leila said.

"Not now; right now we're ready for the ball," Daphne smiled.

… … … …

Leila bent forward, causing her necklace to swing forward, which caught Draco's eye. He smiled at her as she was about to put a bite in her mouth.

"What?" Leila asked.

"Nothing, just a beautiful necklace that you're wearing," Draco smirked.

Leila stared at him, blinking rapidly in confusion, before shaking her head and continuing with her meal. Draco just continued to smirk as he ate.

… … … …

"So Draco kissed you?" Daphne smirked.

"That's what I said," Leila hissed.

"And how do you feel about that?" Daphne asked.

"Confused," Leila admitted.

"You do like Draco, don't you?" Daphne said.

"Of course not! He's a self-centered prat, but why would he do that?" Leila questioned.

"Perhaps it has to do with the fact that you're wearing his present," Daphne smiled.

"No, I gave his present to Dobby this morning: the earmuffs and gloves," Leila said.

"I figured you'd do something like that so I switched the nametags this morning. I saw Draco picking it out and I couldn't let you throw it aside like you do all the others," Daphne said.

"You've got to be kidding me," Leila muttered.

"You even said that you like it," Daphne responded.

… … … …

The pair walked silently together, Leila didn't even stop to argue with him as he grabbed her arm when she slipped on the stairs. He possessively kept his hand on her arm, which she was too preoccupied with her thoughts to brush off. They were almost to the common room, when Leila stopped. Draco watched her as she fumbled to unclasp the necklace. She dangled it in front of him.

"I believe this belongs to you," Leila said.

"No, I gave it to you," Draco said.

"And I can't accept it. You know that I like Cedric. So why don't you keep it? I'm sure you'll find someone you really want to give it to someday," Leila smiled.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Draco asked.

"Consider it your Christmas present; but don't expect that things have changed between you and I," Leila shrugged.

Leila grabbed his hand and gently placed the necklace in his hand. She looked at him and nodded her head. She then turned and headed into the Slytherin common room.

~*End Flashback*~

Leila's eyes watched as the snowflake pendant dangled in front of her face. Her eyes met Draco's and her eyes immediately began to tear up. He had still remembered after all these years. To think at the time, she had thought that receiving a necklace from Draco Malfoy was the absolute worst thing that could happen in the world. It seemed silly now, considering tomorrow she was going to be marrying the boy.

"Draco," Leila sighed.

"You said to give it someone I really wanted to give it to. Besides, it's always belonged to you," Draco said.

"I don't deserve this," Leila whispered.

"You're right, you deserve more," Draco responded.

"Would you quit self-deprecating yourself?" Leila questioned.

"Can I put it on you instead?" Draco asked.

Leila sighed and turned around so that her back was to him. She held her hair out of his way so that he could clasp the necklace around her neck. Once it was in place, Leila played with the snowflake pendant and turned back around to face Draco. She looked up at him and smiled.

"I always thought this was beautiful, well until I learned it was from you," Leila teased.

"You have no idea how long it took me to pick out," Draco chuckled.

"Couldn't have been easy picking out a present for someone who practically hated you," Leila said shaking her head.

"That wasn't what made it difficult. Finding something that was good enough for you on the other hand made things harder," Draco responded.

" Well, considering I love it three years later I'd say you did just fine," Leila smiled.

"And for present number two, you're going to need your coat, hat, scarf, and mittens," Draco said.

"Is my second present getting to throw snowballs at you?" Leila asked.

"You'll find out," Draco sighed.

Leila looked at Draco oddly before he pushed her to her room to grab her winter items. Draco leaned against the doorway watching her as she moved about her room.

"Should I put my boots on?" Leila asked.

"Probably be a good idea," Draco said.

"Give me a hint," Leila pleaded.

"Well, if you'd hurry up you'd find out," Draco chuckled.

With a pouty face, she turned to Draco before walking over to her wardrobe and pulling out her winter things. Quickly, she put on her knit white mittens, scarf, and hat and her green winter coat. She looked herself over in the mirror noting that her beaded bag wasn't on her vanity where she remembered placing it. Glancing back to her bedside table, she noticed that it wasn't there either.

"Ready?" Draco asked.

"Yeah, I suppose," Leila said.

Looking over her room once more for her bag as she walked to meet Draco, she couldn't spot it anywhere. Maybe she was just being paranoid. It probably fell under the bed or something. There was no reason to worry about it. Draco quickly put his coat and hat on before grabbing Leila's arm and dragging her down the corridors. He took a back staircase Leila didn't know existed. Draco kept looking behind him as if he was paranoid about something, but he never spoke a word to Leila. Once outside the manor, Draco led her through the snow-covered gardens. Leila loved the sound of the snow crunching beneath her boots, but they moved quickly.

"Draco, where are we going?" Leila asked.

"We're almost there," Draco whispered.

They were quickly approaching a garden wall when Draco raised his left arm with his wand and they easily passed through the wall. They were outside the confines of the Manor. Leila's heart began to beat rapidly.

"Draco," Leila said.

"Hold on tight," Draco commanded.

Leila tightly held onto Draco's arm as he apparated them away. Once they reached their destination, Leila fell on her bottom onto a pile of snow as Draco landed on his feet. Draco quickly reached his hand out to help Leila up. She willingly accepted his hand as he helped her up. Once on her feet again, Leila began to dust off the snow from her body.

"You would land me in a snow pile," Leila muttered.

"Sorry, 'bout that," Draco said.

"Where did you take us?" Leila asked.

"Take a look for yourself," Draco answered.

Rolling her eyes, Leila looked around under the starlit sky. Cottages decorated for Christmas lined the cobbled road. Villagers walked through the streets in the direction for a building that appeared to be a church. Draco pointed in another direction so her eyes followed his mittened hand toward the town square. She saw some sort of memorial but it began to transform in front of her very eyes. No longer was it a boring old stone, rather four stone figures appeared. They looked like…her parents.

"Draco, where are we?" Leila questioned.

"I suppose you would have been too young to remember your hometown, love," Draco whispered.

"You mean, we're in…" Leila began.

"Godric's Hollow," Draco finished.

Leila's eyes widened as she looked at Draco, but he grabbed her mittened hand with his and led her toward the square where the statue stood. Upon closer inspection, she noticed James Potter's untidy hair and glasses with a smiling baby with a bow on her head. That must be me, Leila thought. She then turned toward the woman, Lily Potter who sat with a baby boy, Harry, in her arms. They looked like such a happy family. She turned toward Draco and flung her arms around his neck, clinging to him. He was what she had now.

"Why'd you bring me here?" Leila whispered.

"I thought you deserved to come here before we were married," Draco answered.

"They gave you permission to bring me?" Leila asked.

"No one knows," Draco shrugged.

"Won't we get in trouble?" Leila asked.

"You let me worry about that. Tonight, you worry about finding what you need here. I'll try to direct you best I can. I've apparated here a few times to make sure I knew where I was going," Draco responded.

"I love you," Leila said with tears shining in her eyes.

"I love you too," Draco whispered back.

Draco leaned down and kissed Leila's forehead before gently wiping away her tears with his mitten. They stood there for a few minutes simply holding each other as the snow began to fall. When Leila released Draco from her hug, she still held onto his hand as they walked together down the cobbled roads. Leila then awkwardly began to press her lips up to her nose. Draco looked over at her and laughed.

"What are you doing?" Draco asked.

"My nose it cold," Leila stated matter-of-factly.

"Maybe we should find somewhere to warm up," Draco suggested.

Leila nodded her head and led Draco toward the church she had seen the villagers heading to. The singing of the people echoes through the air and instantly drew Leila to the building. When Leila reached the stairs, Draco hesitated to follow.

"Let's find somewhere else," Draco whispered.

"Draco these people are Christian and its Christmas, they're not going to kick us out. We're just going to stand in the back to warm up. Besides, this way if anyone comes looking for us, I doubt they'll check a Muggle church," Leila reasoned.

"Fine," Draco muttered.

Giving him a reassuring smile, Leila opened the door to the small church and walked inside. Draco followed Leila inside and they were instantly greeted by an old Muggle man holding programs.

"It's quite full miss, but I'm sure we could find a place for you and your husband," the man said.

Leila looked at Draco and chuckled before turning to the man.

"No thank you. You see my husband here has never been to church before. It's a wonder I even got him through the door," Leila explained.

"I was the same way once, miss; but my missus explained that she just had to come to church on Christmas, been here every Christmas since, even after I lost her," the old Muggle man said.

"We're sorry for your loss," Draco inserted.

"She's in a better place than I am; but I won't disturb you two any longer. You're welcome to come inside if you choose or stand out here," the man said.

"Thank you," Leila smiled.

"I remember when my wife and I looked as happy as you two. I wish you two the best," the man said before he walked further into the church.

Leila smiled at the man as he walked away, while Draco smiled at Leila. She turned around to find Draco with a goofy grin on his face. Her cheeks flamed ever redder under his gaze.

"What?" Leila asked.

"Nothing," Draco smiled.

The organ began to introduce a piece that Leila had once learned. The Hogwarts choir had sung this one for Christmas during her fifth year, so she knew the soprano melody all too well. A smile grew on her face as the organ's sound swelled through the small church. The congregation began to sing and Leila joined in as the organ softened.

O sleep, sweet babe,

Though the snow is cold and deep around,

By the end of the first phrase, the organ had completely stopped playing. All the harmonies were filled in by the members of the small congregation: alto, tenor, and bass as the soprano melody soared through the church. Leila continued to sing along.

Just sleep, dear babe,

Through the wind's so keen and icy sound.

Oh hush, sweet babe,

There is nothing you should fear,

Just hush, dear babe,

For my love is always here.

Draco's eyes focused on Leila as she sang along with the congregation. He had forgotten what a beautiful voice she had. Heck, he couldn't even remember the last time Leila actually sang in front of him. To him, she had the most beautiful voice in the world. She had such a clear and beautiful tone that added to the already beautiful sound coming from the singers.

And I will hold you, safe in my arms,

So no evil can touch you,

You can come to no harm.

Wake now, dear babe

Now the night is nearly through,

Wake now, sweet babe,

There's a world that's waiting here for you.

As the congregation started the repeat of the verse, Leila stopped and looked at Draco whose eyes were focused on her.

"What?" Leila chuckled.

"I like listening to you sing," Draco shrugged.

Leila chuckled once more as she wrapped her arm around Draco's midsection and rested her head on his chest. She continued to hum along with the congregation until they joined back in the words, which she joined back in too. Draco placed his arm around her shoulders, knowing that for a moment he was happy and content. The song eventually ended and the organ once more began to play.

"We should probably get going," Draco whispered.

"I think I saw graveyard next door," Leila said.

Draco nodded his head and opened the door to lead Leila outside. He carefully held onto her elbow as she walked down the stairs making sure that she didn't slip and fall. Draco then led Leila until they came to the kissing gate which served as the entrance to the graveyard. He motioned to lead Leila through, but she held onto his arm and stopped which caused him to jerk back.

"It's not called a kissing gate for nothing," Leila whispered.

With a bright smile on her face, Leila reached up and gently pecked Draco's lips before they walked through the snow drifts in the graveyard. They walked through rows of tombstones. As they walked, Leila's hand would graze across the tombstones uncovering the names of those below. In the distance, another couple searched through the small graveyard, but they were quickly walking away. If Draco noticed the other couple in the graveyard, Leila couldn't tell. Draco led her through more rows of tombstones and just as the couple was about to pass them, Leila tripped and fell face first into a fresh snow drift. Draco groaned before he leaned down and helped Leila up. She spluttered snow out of her mouth and as she looked around, the couple had seemingly disappeared. Once back on her feet, Draco held tightly to her hand and led her through a few more rows of tombstones until he suddenly came to a halt.

"They're right here," Draco whispered.

Leila held on to Draco's arm as she looked at the graves in front of her, which already had a wreath of Christmas roses placed on it.

"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death," Leila whispered.

"That's ironic," Draco muttered.

"It means that there's a life after death," Leila explained.

"Do you really believe in that?" Draco asked.

"Of course, I have to. It's the only way I'll see them again," Leila said.

"Well, for your sake I hope there is a life after death; but I know I'll be damned for sure so I'm not too sure I want there to be one," Draco responded.

"Draco, you have a good heart. You can't let your mistakes define your life," Leila sighed.

"Well, I just hope that I can start making up for them," Draco mumbled.

Leila reached up and kissed Draco on the cheek before she dropped to her knees. Tears freely fell from her eyes as she gazed at the headstone which belonged to her parents. For a few moments, she focused on what could have been. The other siblings she could have had. The happy home she could have had…but she remembered her conversation with her mother. She needed to focus on now and not dwell on the past. When she wiped away the stray tears, she stood up and held tightly onto Draco's arm once more. They both looked at James and Lily's graves as Leila began to hum once more. This time, she hummed a more familiar Muggle Christmas carol: Silent Night; but when she came to the last two lines her voice feebly sang them aloud.

Sleep in heavenly peace! Sleep in heavenly peace!

Leila rubbed her face against Draco's sleeve when she finished singing and he bent his head down and kissed the top of Leila's head.

"We have one more place we need to see," Draco whispered.

"Where it all changed," Leila whispered back.

"But I need to give you your third present first," Draco said. "It's actually not mine to give, seeing as it rightfully belongs to you."

Out of his jacket Draco pulled out her beaded bag. He placed it in Leila's hand as she looked to him with a confused look on her face; but he reached his hand back into his coat. His mittened hand pulled a wand out of his jacket: her wand. Leila gasped at the sight of her wand, something she hadn't seen since the night of Bill and Fleur's wedding. He handed her wand back to her which she firmly grasped in her wand hand. She instantly felt the power she had been missing for months surge through her.

"Why are you giving this to me?" Leila asked.

"It belongs to you," Draco shrugged.

"Draco, you're acting very odd," Leila responded.

"Come, we need to hurry to get there," Draco said.

"Draco," Leila groaned.

But Draco didn't listen. Instead, he tightly gripped her hand and practically ran with her through the graveyard for the kissing gate. Once outside the graveyard, he still continued to run and drag Leila behind him. Were the Death Eaters already trailing them and he wanted to make sure that she saw the house before they were caught? That seemed to be the only logical explanation in her mind. They ran through a small alleyway when Draco suddenly came to a halt. He looked straight ahead. Leila could instantly tell that this was the house where she had once lived. The place was in disarray and the hedges grown over. The place looked like it had been left in disrepair ever since that fateful night. But suddenly, something caught Leila's eye. Two people were standing outside the gate. Her eyes squinted as the couple looked around, but she instantly recognized who they were.

"It's Harry and Hermione," Leila gasped.

Leila looked to Draco, whose eyes were focused on the snow on the cobbled streets. Leila tried to look at him, but he refused to make eye contact. She reached for his hand, which caused his eyes to meet hers.

"Draco, what is this?" Leila asked.

"Leila, I understand why you did what you did last year when you broke up with me. You were willing to sacrifice your happiness and even more to make sure that I was safe. So this is my sacrifice for you. Go to your brother and get the hell out of here," Draco said.

"You knew they were going to be here," Leila responded.

"Leila, please, just go," Draco responded.

"What about you?" Leila asked.

"That's none of your concern," Draco answered.

"But Draco, if you go back without me…" Leila began.

"I'll face whatever consequences the Dark Lord has for me willingly, knowing that you're happy," Draco said.

With tears forming once again in her eyes, Leila pressed her hand in her mitten onto Draco's cheek.

"That's bravery you know, very Gryffindor of you," Leila whispered.

"You've changed me, you know that," Draco whispered back.

"Then I'm not leaving you," Leila said.

"Go on, Leila," Draco begged.

"I love you for this, but I can't let you go back by yourself. Either you come with me or I go back with you," Leila argued.

"Stop being so stubborn," Draco responded.

"Draco, why don't you? For once in your life make the right choice and come with me," Leila pleaded.

Draco sighed and looked into Leila's emerald eyes searching for the right decision, a decision he had only moments to make. His options were to leave everything he knew to follow Saint Potter, or return to what he had always known. Either way, he was sure to face the wrath of Voldemort…but this decision seemed oddly familiar. Like that night on the Astronomy tower, and he felt that same pressure weighing down on him. He knew what he should have chosen then, but was he capable of choosing the right thing now?!