Draco was crying silently. He didn't want to. He couldn't.

"Severus…please." Dumbledore pleaded, and everything went eerily quiet for a moment.

"Avada Kedavra!" Snape pointed his wand at Dumbledore, and Draco's mouth dropped. A jet of green light was heading towards us and then, Draco used his wand to throw me out of the way nonverbally. I smacked into the wall and by then was forgotten as I watched, astonished, as Dumbledore tumbled out of the tower window and fell out of sight.

Snape grabbed the bewildered and shocked Draco by the scruff of his neck and brought him to the castle window. Immediately, after looking to the bottom, Draco and Snape got away, and ran down the stairs, Bellatrix was celebrating.

As soon as the Death Eaters were gone, Harry ran over to me and held out his hand. He ripped off the invisibility cloak and I took his hand, and he yanked me up to my feet, and then we ran after them.

No words were exchanged, just an understanding of great loss. Dumbledore for all everyone, especially Harry, and Draco for me.

He had just saved my life, and now he was gone again.

We heard Bellatrix dancing on the table, kicking off silverware and such in the Great Hall, and then a huge crash echoed and I knew that giant window in the Hall had been smashed.

"This way." I muttered in the direction of the sound, and he followed.

We helped Ginny and Neville. Ginny did not seem to have any problem that her own boyfriend was clutching my hand in his.

We passed a group of Hufflepuff's who had just come up.

"Snape and Malfoy just ran past." Neville had told us.

I couldn't swallow it. All this time…

Harry let go of me and ran, shouting spells, but Snape lazily deflected all of them.

"Run Draco!" Snape said over the crackling flames of Hagrid's hut.

I saw this as an opportunity to chase down Draco.

If he got to the gates, he could Disapparate- why should be, a Death Eater, stop because he had no license?

"Draco!" I screamed. "Draco, wait!" But he just kept running, looking back, panting, his eyes wide.

"Stupefy!" I yelled, jumping over a rock, pointing my wand. I missed by inches. "Draco, I just want to talk!"

I finally caught up to him and stopped him, We were just inside the gates. "Why Draco? Why?"

He stopped all efforts of fighting and stared at me.

"Is this your way of protecting me? Leaving? You should've taken Dumbledore's deal. No one need've died tonight! We could have been safe, together…" I started to weep.

"I am protecting you!" he shouted.

"You should've let me die, you shouldn't have saved me…bet you regret it." I said ignoring his comment.

"Denise! I love you. Please know that! But if he gets you…" he cut off and gulped. "I'm done."

He'd give up if I died? Then again, I'd probably do the same. Die to be with him.

"I'm doing this for us." he wiped a tear away. He kissed me long and hard, gripping my shoulders. Then we broke apart when we heard the distant yells and screams . "Now go." he forced out, probably feeling selfish to have me near him.

"Draco, come back with me. I don't want to lose you too." It was hopeless, and tears poured down my cheeks.

"I can't…hey…don't cry. I'm not worth it…I'm not worth your tears." he then gripped my face with his hands, caressing me with his fingers. He forced me to look into his eyes. "I love you and that's all that matters. I knew since the beginning- in your first year- there'd be obstacles, the world seemed determined to break us apart huh?"

I laughed, but it was more of a sobbing laugh.

"This is one of those obstacles. Just promise me you won't go looking for trouble. Stay home. I'll come back for you." He kissed me again, more passionate, less gentle, and it was like he was afraid it would be our last. I knew he was lying about coming back. He'd probably die first. The kiss was longer then the first, but we eventually had to let go. "Go. Snape's coming. I love you, no matter what happens." He was trying to be strong for me, but I saw the tears in the back of his eyes.

"I love you too. I'll see you soon." I said, my voice quivering and then I sprinted away, back towards Harry who was with Hagrid, putting out the flames on his house.

We all walked to the crowd of people by the Astronomy Tower and Harry went in and up to Dumbledore's body. Hagrid moaned, facing the truth, and I was still sobbing. Everyone watched solemnly.

Harry took a necklace from Dumbledore and Ginny stepped out from the crowd and went to Harry, wrapping her arms around him and he sobbed into her embrace. Then I unconsciously stepped forward and joined them, wrapping my arms around them both, and leaning in, closing my eyes and holding back tears. Then Hermione and Ron joined us. Everyone else- Luna, Neville, the remainder of our friends- along with other students and the teachers raised their wands, in a farewell to Dumbledore.

I gasped and breathed into Harry's shoulder. I let more tears escape. I knew at least everyone I loved was alive. But how long could Draco stay that way? He had failed…he'd have some kind of punishment from Voldemort. But I didn't want to think about it.