Verina was exhausted and sat by the bedside of a girl named Katie. She looked down at her innocent face. They would move her to St. Mungos tomorrow and she would have to stay there quite a while, in fact, the girl was lucky to be alive at all. Verina brushed her hair out of her face, and began to comb it with her fingers it turned into her braiding it, and then to cleaning the girl up. " I am so sorry." she said to the girl. " I don't know who did this to you, but I am so sorry."

She quietly left the girls side, and Madame Pomfrey patted her shoulder. " You will make a good Healer, Verina. You have compassion, and love for everyone. Don't let anything or anyone hold you back, dear. Now go on with you, and get some rest it's midnight."

Verina shook her head and walked to the door. She stopped and took a breath " Madame Pomfrey do you think I am letting Draco hold me back?"

No answer. Verina turned and Madame Pomfrey was gone. It was a chilling realization Verina had come to lately. It was because of her association with death eaters that she almost got killed. Even more chilling was the fact she had begun to act like she was a Malfoy. She deserved what Bill Weasley had said to her. She didn't recognize who she had become, and it scared her. As she was looking for cottages to be close to Draco she realized she was very serious about this man she was involved in. She had given up dreams for this man. Almost died for this man. Gave up herself for this man. Was he doing the same or was he dragging her down with him? Was this what she wanted? She walked down the long and dark corridors that lead to her house. She was contemplating everything about herself, and about life. More so than that she was questioning who she was.

She thought back to the little girl lying in a bed. A girl in her own year was going to miss half her year because a curse. A curse intended for whom?

A shadow in the distance made her jump.

She drew out her wand and readied herself, but the presence wasn't threatening so she hesitated.

"Verina it's me." Draco said coming to her and she lowered her wand.

She sighed and sat down on the ground and he joined her. "This war, this growing up thing, losing our parents, and all of this. It's crazy, isn't it?"

"Yes, but it had to happen. Our generation never knew peace, really. And we can only hope to find it some way some how and create it for our children."

" I don't even want children at this point. Why bring them into this madness?" she said seriously.

" Well, Verina hopefully it will be over by the time we have children."

"Hopefully." she said taking his hand. " Let's go break some rules."

He laughed and followed her to the astronomy tower, and they lay on top of it. She sighed and watched the stars.

" I don't know who I am anymore, Draco."

" Neither do I. I used to think I knew who I was and what I wanted and all I have learned is that I know nothing."

Verina laughed " Me too."

" You can be sure about one thing though. No matter where you are, what you have done, or who you have become I will be your best friend, and I will love you until the end of time."

Verina grabbed his hand and squeezed it. A shooting star fell out of the sky as a tear hit the ground.

She couldn't say the same to him.