Chapter 29

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.

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As Leila and Draco stepped into the Room of Requirement, Leila reached for Draco's hand. She intertwined her fingers in his, not looking for his reaction. She was nervous. Beyond nervous, actually. Leila walked past a cabinet, a cabinet which Draco was all too familiar with, and she stopped immediately when she saw Harry's Potion's textbook. She picked the book up and thumbed through the pages.

"I hadn't even noticed that he'd gotten rid of this." Leila mumbled.

"What was that?" Draco asked.

"This is Harry's Potion's book." Leila answered.

Draco grabbed the book and examined it.

"The Chosen One isn't good enough anymore? Needs to go by the Half-blood Prince?" Draco scoffed.

"It's a used textbook, Draco; the so-called Half-blood Prince had the book before Harry." Leila sighed.

"What's Scarhead's book doing up here then?" Draco asked.

"Dunno." Leila said.

The truth was that Leila did have somewhat of an idea what the book was doing in the Room of Requirement. The spell Harry used against Draco in the bathroom was in this book. Knowing Hermione, she probably made Harry get rid of the book once she got wind that the spell that had wounded Draco was in it. Draco set the book down and looked at Leila. Leila turned slightly away and folded her arms over her chest. She wished to delay having to tell him what she knew, hoping that he would tell her first. She saw a headdress with a beautiful crown-like object. She tried to reach for it, but Draco grabbed her arm. Leila looked to Draco whose eyes never moved from her. She blushed at the intensity of Draco's gaze.

"You wanted to tell me something?" Draco asked.

"Yes." Leila said with her head hung.

"Well spit it out then, we only have about five minutes until Snape's detention." Draco said.

"Detention? I completely forgot we had detention." Leila muttered.

"Well, what is it then?" Draco drawled.

"I…I…it can wait." Leila said.

Draco raised an eyebrow and looked at her.

"Why?" Draco asked.

"Because five minutes is hardly sufficient time for this." Leila sighed.

"Sufficient for what?" Draco furthered.

"Can you please just drop it?" Leila asked.

"You're the one who dragged me in here." Draco hissed.

"And I changed my mind. I'm entitled to do so." Leila quipped.

"You're so bloody frustrating." Draco groaned.

"Am I now?" Leila hissed.

"Yes, you are." Draco retorted.

"And what exactly are you going to do about it?" Leila said narrowing her eyes.

Draco sneered and raised his fist. Leila didn't flinch; she just stood her ground as Draco dropped his hands onto her shoulders. He then pulled her closer and hungrily forced his lips on hers. This was not the reaction Leila was expecting, but she didn't refuse him. It had seemed like forever since they had actually been like this and she couldn't help but enjoy the moment. Draco's arms moved to her waist as she rested her hands on his upper-arms. An old grandfather clock in the Room of Requirement began to chime, causing Draco and Leila to break apart. Draco rested his forehead on Leila's.

"We're late." Draco drawled.

"We should probably get going then." Leila said.

Draco nodded and headed for the exit.

"Draco, wait!" Leila called after him.

Leila ran to Draco and flung her arms around him, holding onto him tightly.

"What's this for?" Draco asked.

"You know that I love you, right?" Leila asked.

"Yes." Draco said hoarsely.

"Please don't forget that." Leila whispered into his ear.

"Fine, just let go; you're choking me." Draco choked out.

"Sorry." Leila muttered, releasing Draco.

Draco and Leila made their way to Professor Snape's classroom. They received plenty of looks from those they passed. Leila was almost thankful to be in detention rather than face the rest of the student body, especially the Slytherins who were not known for their friendliness. They turned the corner to find Snape impatiently waiting outside the door for them.

"You're late." Snape drawled.

"Sorry, Professor Snape." Leila apologized.

"Since you two seem so fond of causing trouble and spending quality time with each other, it looks like we need an appropriate punishment." Snape said.

Professor Snape walked into his classroom. Leila looked at Draco, who appeared just as confused, and then followed Professor Snape inside. Boxes covered in cobwebs were stacked on the desks.

"What are these?" Draco questioned.

"These are the records of other Hogwarts wrongdoers and their punishments. Where the ink has grown faint, or the cards have suffered damage you will copy them word for word on a new card. Then alphabetize them. This will be done without magic." Professor Snape said.

"This is servants work." Draco muttered.

"This is your detention, Mister Malfoy. Mister Filch has been looking for someone to clear out these old files and Mister Potter seems incapable of doing the job alone." Snape sneered.

"Harry's working on these?" Leila asked.

"Surely your brother has told you how he spends his time in detention, Miss Potter? No? He's been clearing these out since his Saturday, which didn't keep Gryffindor from winning the Quidditch Cup. Slytherin was thwarted once again of the cup." Snape said.

Leila winced at the mention of the Quidditch Cup. This wasn't the first time they had lost to Gryffindor, and Slytherin hadn't played their first line all year.

"Don't just stand there, get started." Snape commanded.

They handed Snape their wands and grudgingly started at the bent card left in the box, which Leila assumed was left by Harry. Snape locked them in the classroom, leaving Draco, Leila, and a whole bunch of boxes.

"Servants work." Draco muttered.

Leila pulled out a card, read it and snickered. "James Potter, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew and Remus Lupin. Potter, Black, and Pettigrew apprehended for hexing Severus Snape in the corridors. Snape hung upside down in corridor covered in and leaking soap suds. Lupin apprehended as an accomplice. Double detentions."

"What's so funny?" Draco asked.

Leila handed Draco the detention card. Draco read it over and looked at Leila.

"Your father went to school with Professor Snape?" Draco asked.

"Yeah, they hated each other, and even that's saying it nicely. Didn't you know?" Leila asked.

"I knew Snape went to school with my…never mind." Draco said.

"Your?" Leila asked.

"Father was a prefect when Snape got to school, that's where they met." Draco mumbled.

Leila wasn't exactly sure how to respond. This was the first time Draco had ever even mentioned his father to her. They usually kept clear of the subject of their families. But thoughts of Lucius Malfoy and his Death Eater ties reminded Leila of Draco's ties. She couldn't keep her knowledge from him anymore.

"Draco." Leila whispered.

"Yes?" Draco asked.

"I know." Leila replied.

"Know what?" Draco asked confusedly.

"I know…" Leila said, not able to form the words.

"So you've said; but what exactly do you know?" Draco responded.

"You mutter in your sleep, you know." Leila sighed.

"And what exactly did I say?" Draco scoffed.

"Are you sure there's nothing you wish to tell me first?" Leila asked.

Leila turned toward Draco and placed her hand on his cheek. He quickly removed her hand from his face.

"What sort of game are you playing, Leila?" Draco sneered slightly.

"I'm not playing any games, Draco." Leila whispered.

"Then I don't understand." Draco said.

"You said…you said 'He's going to kill me.'" Leila faltered.

"It was only a dream, Leila. Nothing to be concerned about." Draco said.

Leila moved toward him again, this time placing her right hand on his left arm, making slow circles with her thumb where his Dark Mark should be.

"I know Draco. I know what you're trying to hide." Leila whispered, holding back tears, as she locked her emerald eyes with his icy cold ones.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Draco said slightly taken aback.

"What you're trying to be." Leila furthered.

"Leila." Draco growled.

"Voldemort's loyal follower, a Death Eater." Leila finished.

Draco shook Leila's hand off his arm. He stood up to walk away, but Leila firmly grasped his arm.

"Remove your hand." Draco hissed.

"Then tell me it isn't true." Leila said.

"It isn't true." Draco muttered.

"Show me." Leila whispered.

Draco's eyes met Leila's. His lips went thin as he reached for his right sleeve. He roughly rolled up the sleeve on his right arm. His right forearm was unblemished, just showing his pale skin.

"Happy?" Draco hissed.

Leila's fingers roamed his right forearm as she sighed.

"Why couldn't you just tell me the truth?" Leila asked.

"Well if my father…" Draco began.

"No more excuses Draco. I'm not an idiot. I've seen a Dark Mark before, so I know that they're branded onto the left forearm." Leila snapped.

Draco cringed and slowly backed away from Leila. Leila could feel her eyes beginning to well with tears, but she stood up to move closer to him. She took a deep breath to try and calm down. If Draco was ever going to say anything to her she had to be calm.

"I thought you trusted me?" Leila questioned.

"I did. I do." Draco mumbled.

"Then why won't you just admit it?" Leila hissed.

"Admit what?" Draco questioned.

"You know what." Leila retorted.

Leila looked to Draco. His bottom lip quivered and his tears threatened to spill. He quickly headed for the door, but the door was locked and he couldn't get out. He pounded his fist against the door.

"Damnit." Draco hissed.

Leila walked toward Draco and firmly grasped his arm.

"Show me." Leila said with a tear slipping down her cheek.

Draco looked at Leila, bit his lip, and slid to the floor. He folded his arms on top of his knees and buried his face. Leila could tell that he was trying to hold back his tears. He was trying not to look weak in front of her.

"Show me, please?" Leila whispered.

Draco refused to look at her, so she gently reached for his left arm. He didn't try to retaliate. Leila took his left arm and slowly rolled up his sleeve. She tried to watch for Draco's reaction, but he didn't look at her. She could hear him sniffling. Leila's own tears were falling freely, dropping onto Draco's arm. She could plainly see the Dark Mark on his forearm. She hesitantly moved her finger to his mark, but Draco's other hand stopped her from touching it. He looked at her with his face covered in tears.

"It's all falling apart." Draco choked out.

Draco began to shake uncontrollably. Leila unsure of what to do, reached out to him, but he quickly brushed aside her attempts to console him.

"Draco, I just want to help." Leila said.

"Help? You can't help me." Draco scoffed.

"Try me." Leila said.

Leila moved to sit on Draco's lap. She gently kissed his cheek where tears stained them. She then placed her forehead on his, trying to figure out the next step in this mess; but Draco broke the silence first.

"How long have you known?" Draco asked coldly, finally composing himself.

"I've known since the night of Slughorn's Christmas party, but you confirmed it the other night in your sleep." Leila said trying to evade how exactly she knew.

"Have you told anyone?" Draco hissed.

"Of course not." Leila responded.

"Not even Saint Potter?" Draco questioned.

"No." Leila responded.

"Dumbledore?" Draco asked.

"Why would I?" Leila asked.

"Well, why not?" Draco furthered.

"Because I love…" Leila began.

"Love? Because you love me? You're a fool to love me." Draco said.

Draco pushed Leila off him, stood up, and walked away from her. Leila bit her lip, inwardly debating whether or not to respond to his last statement. She also stood up and slowly followed after Draco.

"So now the truth comes out?" Leila retorted.

"What good is love, Leila? Look at me, look at us. Tell me what good it's done us?" Draco shouted turning around to face Leila.

"It has done us good, Draco. But if you would actually let me in…" Leila began.

"Don't even start that with me." Draco interrupted.

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

"You're always saying how I need to let you in; but when have you actually let me in?" Draco questioned.

"I've let you in." Leila said childishly.

"Really? Then when have we ever talked about your parents, Leila? I'll tell you when: never. So you get all mad and uptight when I don't want to talk about mine; but you won't talk about yours either." Draco responded.

"I didn't think you'd care." Leila shrugged.

"Didn't think I'd care? You never even gave me a chance to." Draco spat.

"It's not like it matters because as you've so brilliantly pointed out in the past, they're dead!" Leila screamed.

"Leila, I didn't mean that." Draco sighed.

"It's the truth. So what's the point in talking about something that you can't change?" Leila furthered.

Leila moved away, leaning her back against the door with her arms folded across her chest. Draco's gaze moved to the floor.

"What else do you know?" Draco asked, changing the subject.

"I know you're supposed to be doing something; but I haven't a clue as to what that could be." Leila said.

"Supposed to be doing something? Have you been spying on me for Dumbledore?" Draco hissed.

"I already told you I wasn't!" Leila cried.

"Then tell me what else you know." Draco said grabbing Leila by the arms.

"Nothing. I've told you my bit." Leila sobbed.

"How can I be sure you're not lying to me? You've obviously kept this secret from me." Draco said.

"Why would I even bother to tell you if I was lying?" Leila responded.

"Why now?" Draco asked.

"To make you see reason, Draco." Leila sighed.

"What is that exactly?" Draco asked.

"This war Draco, I don't want to be on opposite sides of it. At Hogwarts we're safe from it, we can be us. We can be Draco and Leila; but we both know that outside of here this war will tear us apart. We both have known it; we've just been fooling ourselves trying to ignore it. I don't want to lose you; I can't lose you." Leila said.

A silence came over them. Draco rested his forehead on Leila's and gazed into her beautiful emerald eyes.

"Then come with me." Draco suggested.

"You know that I can't. Voldemort killed my parents and has tried countless times to kill me and Harry." Leila said.

"But I could make sure that you're safe." Draco said.

"You can't guarantee that, Draco." Leila whispered.

"I could try." Draco choked out.

"We'd both be far safer if we went with the Order." Leila said.

"There'd be a death warrant over my head if I did. There already is one. He's going to kill me." Draco said.

"No, the Order could protect you, protect us. Dumbledore…" Leila began.

"Dumbledore's old, Leila. The Order would never accept me because of who my family is. Besides, my allegiance is to my family." Draco said.

"Then where does this leave us?" Leila asked.

"I don't know." Draco sighed.

Leila wrapped her arms around his neck and drew herself close to him, burying her face in his jacket. Draco held onto her tightly as she cried in his arms. When the tears finally subsided, Leila slightly backed away to look at Draco.

"Sometimes I feel stupid for missing them." Leila whispered.

"What?" Draco asked.

"My parents, you said that I don't talk to you about them, so I will. I feel stupid because I don't remember them. So then why should I be given the right to miss them?" Leila questioned.

"They're still your parents, Leila." Draco sighed.

"And what about yours?" Leila asked.

Draco appeared to be thinking, but Leila could almost see his façade returning to his face.

"We should get back to the records." Draco muttered.

Leila sighed and picked up her quill to copy the records; but something didn't sit right with her.

"So what, we're just going to pretend that this whole conversation never happened?" Leila asked.

"Fine by me." Draco said.

"And what if I don't want to do that?" Leila asked.

Draco didn't respond because Professor Snape came back into the classroom. Saved by Snape. It was how things always went with Draco, she would make a little progress and then he would shut himself off. If Leila had been confused before, it was nothing compared to how she felt now. Draco knew that she knew, but now what? What was to become of them? Leila pulled out another record to copy: James Potter. Apprehended for trying to use an illegal substance on Mr. Filch. Potter claims the love potion was meant for Lily Evans. Detention. Her father really had been quite the trouble maker while here at Hogwarts. Leila and Draco sat silently copying the records under the watchful eye of Snape for the rest of their detention until Snape released them.

They left the classroom, but Draco went the opposite direction of the common room.

"Where are you going?" Leila asked.

"I can't tell you." Draco said.

"So you do have a mission?" Leila asked.

"I'm not talking about this anymore, Leila." Draco said coldly.

"Draco." Leila sighed.

"If you've already figured out this much then you should understand." Draco mumbled.

Draco quickly turned his back to Leila and kept walking. She walked to the Slytherin common room only to be met with stares and whispers. Leila tried hard to ignore her housemates as she headed to her room. When she got to her room she jiggled the handle to find that it had been locked. Leila pounded her fist against the door.

"This is really getting old." Leila shouted.

No response came from inside the room.

"I know you're in there Parkinson, so let me in." Leila yelled through the door.

"No." Pansy said.

"What do you mean no? This is my room too!" Leila said.

"I meant what I said, Potter. You're not allowed in because my safety is of concern." Pansy said.

"That's crap! Why don't you leave if your safety is of concern?" Leila shouted.

"The other girls feel the same way." Pansy said.

"Only because you forced them too." Leila muttered.

"What was that Potter?" Pansy sneered.

"And where exactly am I supposed to go then?" Leila asked.

"Don't know, don't care." Pansy said.

"Just let me in." Leila hissed.

"You should have thought more carefully before you stole Draco from me." Pansy said.

"I didn't steal him, he's always liked me and you know it!" Leila shouted.

"You keep telling yourself that, but things will never work between the two of you." Pansy drawled.

"Just let me in." Leila said kicking the door.

"He's only using you. You're a half-blood and nothing more, nor will you ever be." Pansy said.

"You don't know anything about Draco and me!" Leila shouted.

Pansy opened the door and looked at Leila.

"Strike a nerve, Potter?" Pansy smirked.

"Just give me five minutes to get my things and I'll be out of your hair." Leila said not wanting to get into another fight with Pansy.

"Break things off with Draco and you won't even have to leave." Pansy said.

"What goes on with Draco and I isn't any of your business." Leila hissed.

"Suit yourself; but when he breaks up with you because you're blood isn't worthy enough, just remember I told you so. Then again, you probably won't need reminding because I'll be there telling you." Pansy said.

Leila barged into the room running into Pansy, almost knocking her over to the floor. Pansy glared at Leila. The other girls: Millicent, Hestia, Flora, and Tracey were all sitting on their beds also glaring at Leila. The only one conveniently missing from the group was Daphne.

"You have five minutes." Pansy sneered.

Leila grabbed her belongings that weren't packed into her trunk and packed them. Leila had left most of her things in her trunk to stop the girls from destroying her things as they had done earlier in the year. She grabbed her pillow, dragged her trunk, and left the room without another word to Pansy or the other girls. There was only one problem: now where was she going to go? She headed out into the common room. Perhaps she could crash on a couch like she had done before. She stepped into the common room to find that the rest of the Slytherins were just like the ones she was rooming with. A fourth year tried to hex her, but Leila was quick enough to defend herself.

"Looks like that idea's a no." Leila muttered.

Leila slowly wandered the castle, with no destination in mind. She had to stop every so often because her trunk would get too heavy to haul around. She eventually decided that the safest place for her would be far away from the Slytherins as she could get, she headed for the seventh floor. Harry, Hermione, and Ron walked out into the hall where Leila lay on the floor in front of the Gryffindor common room. Leila lay there staring at the ceiling, with her arms crossed under her head. Her wand was carelessly thrown beside her.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked.

"Counting the cobwebs." Leila sighed.

"Cobwebs?" Ron asked slightly terrified.

"I'm surprised that you're still around considering how many of them there are." Leila said.

Ron whimpered and Hermione rolled her eyes. Harry and Hermione walked closer to where Leila lay on the floor, while Ron hesitantly stared up at the ceiling.

"What exactly are you doing outside our common room?" Hermione asked.

"I don't have anywhere else to go. Besides, it's warmer up here than the dungeons. It's a simple principle that hot air rises…" Leila began.

"What did your lot do now?" Ron asked looking away from the cobwebs.

"My lot?" Leila questioned.

"I think what Ron meant is the Slytherins." Hermione said.

"She knows what I meant." Ron muttered.

Leila sat up to look at the three Gryffindors before her.

"How did you know I was out here? You should have been asleep." Leila said.

"Well Harry…" Ron began.

"I didn't do anything wrong." Harry muttered.

"Harry was watching for Draco on the Marauder's Map and noticed your dot outside our common room. He told Ron and they both came downstairs where I was finishing up an article I was reading." Hermione said.

"You're still watching him?" Leila asked looking at her brother.

"He's up to something Leila, I just know it. I wouldn't be surprised if he has you bewitched." Harry said.

Leila bit her lip in frustration. She didn't like that her brother was accusing her, but she too knew Draco was up to something, and it wasn't proving easy to get her brother off his Draco's back. She didn't like that Draco was doing Voldemort's bidding, but she didn't want to see him harmed. She knew that if he failed…Leila smacked her head. That's what Draco had meant, that she should understand. The more time Draco spent with her, the less time he had at whatever he was supposed to be doing. No matter how terrible the thing was that Draco was doing, it was not worth him dying over. Seeing as he was too stubborn and set in his ways to side with the light, he desperately needed to complete whatever task lay before him. Leila decided to change the subject off Draco.

"Slytherins aren't the friendliest of people…" Leila began.

"You've always known that." Harry interrupted.

"But why are you here exactly?" Ron asked.

"Well, I'm forbidden from my room and the common room isn't exactly an ideal place either, unless I enjoy being hexed behind my back. It could just be me, but the floor is a vast improvement, if you ask my opinion." Leila rambled.

"Well that leaves you two options: either you stay on the floor or come inside with us." Hermione said.

"I thought that's there's rules against sleeping in other Houses that aren't your own." Ron whispered.

"That's because there is. Besides, there's no room in our room. Ours is a mess." Harry said.

"She won't be staying in your room; she'd be staying in mine. There isn't a specific rule against that, granted it would be bending a few rules. Anyways, I'm sure Professor McGonagall would prefer that to her stalking outside the Gryffindor common room." Hermione said.

"Can you strangle Lav in your sleep for me?" Ron asked.

"Doesn't look like I get a say in the matter, do I?" Leila mumbled.

"We're only trying to help." Harry said through gritted teeth.

"I understand that. I was merely commenting that I don't get an opinion." Leila said.

"If it means so much to you then go crawl back to your boyfriend that is if you two are still together." Harry spat.

"Harry, just stop…" Leila began.

"Fine, just stay there for all I care." Harry hissed.

Harry shouted the password and stormed back into Gryffindor tower. Ron looked torn, but followed after Harry. Only Hermione remained with Leila. Leila sighed and watched her brother leave.

"Just when I thought things were getting better." Leila sighed.

"They are. Harry's the one that noticed you out here; he cares about you and doesn't want you getting hurt. That's why this is so hard for him. He's conflicted because he's still mad at you too. Keeping your relationship with Draco behind his back wasn't exactly a trustworthy thing. And don't you dare take that as me siding with him, I'm breaking school rules for you." Hermione said.

"I thought you said you were only bending the rules." Leila commented.

"Oh shut up." Hermione said shaking her head.

Hermione pushed a strand of hair out of her face and put her hand out for Leila to grab. Leila took Hermione's hand and stood up. Both girls grabbed Leila's things and headed into the Gryffindor common room.