14th June (cont'd…)

"What did he say to you?" Ron and Hermione bombarded me as soon as Harry disappeared. I gathered my thoughts and tried to formulate a plan of action in my head. Maura had prepared me for this. I just need to be logical. And breathe.

I put my game face on, "'Mione send those messages as soon as you can."

"I've already done it," she said, holding up the fake Galleon, "what did Harry say?"

"You both already know what Harry asked me to do…" I said, taking a seat and immediately changing my mind, standing again, finishing off my coffee, "Ron, can we take a look at the map?"

Ron opened the parchment and tapped it with his wand, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

The three of us quickly located Snape's office, but he wasn't there. Nor was he in his classroom. Draco wasn't in the Slytherin Common Room, but that's what we were expecting.

"Ah-ha!" I pointed, "Snape's leaving the teacher's lounge!"

"And Malfoy…" I watched Ron's finger glide over the Seventh Floor corridor, in search of his name. The last of the stragglers had now gone to bed and we were able to open the map to its full extent, having tidied away our books. Hermione, Ron and I took a section of the map each and searched it with a fine tooth comb. It was frustrating. I knew I couldn't get into the Room of Requirement, but I also knew that if I didn't get to Draco in time, something bad could happen. Or maybe his plan is well underway…

Neville rubbed his eyes, pulling his cardigan around himself, "There's an emergency? For the DA?"

Ron took Neville to the side and explained what was happening. Hermione ran up the stairs to get Ginny. I continued to pour over the map. There is definitely power in numbers in this sort of situation. Minutes stretched into an hour and all eyes were searching for people acting suspiciously after hours.

"Come on Draco, come on…" I repeated over and over as I stared at the place the Room of Requirement would be positioned. I felt the mounting pressure on my shoulders to find Draco and shut his operation down. My head filled with a list of possibilities, each progressively sinister.

"I found your coin, Kathryn," Hermione said, snatching my attention from the developing nightmare scene in my imagination, "By the way you're talking, you're going to be splitting from us…"

I glanced up from the Marauders Map, taking the coin and putting it securely into my pocket, "Harry was right, I've got to find him before it's too late."

"No, Kit-Kat! You're going to get yourself killed!"

"Draco won't kill me." I stated confidently, "How many times do I have to tell you?"

Ginny, instead of backing down said a very valid point, "And what if he's got company?"

I swallowed hard, "Then I'd better start praying." I looked down at the map.

"Harry told me to split this up between us…" Ron told Ginny and Neville, "It's the Felix Felicis."

"There he is." I pointed frantically at the map, "He's alone and he's coming right this way!"

I took a deep breath and looked at my friends, "Look, you know the score: if things go tits up, tell George I love him. 'Mione, there's parchment in my diary, it's for the Order, to use in emergencies. If you see anything out of the ordinary, write 'HELP' in capital letters. They will see the ink, even if you can't, okay?"

"Yeah!" Hermione looked terrified.

"Kathryn -" Ron tried to hand me the bottle of Felix Felicis, "take some."

I shook my head, pushing his hands away, "There's not enough to go around, and I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to you guys." I looked to Neville, "Don't do anything stupid if you see Bellatrix, leave her to me, okay? We have some unfinished business to tend to."

I ran out the portrait door without giving them the chance to argue or taking time to overthink it as I bumped into Luna with her wide eyes fixed on me.

"Hey!" I said quickly, "I've got to go, but the others are in there, if you're responding to -?" Luna held up her coin but I didn't stay around long enough to see her in. I had already wasted so much time.

I walked purposely in the direction of the Room of Requirement, taking calming breaths as I walked, realising that it would be stupid of me to see Draco without first trying to figure out what to say. How could I explain the reason for me being out of Gryffindor Tower after hours? How could I convince him to talk to me?

"Kathryn? What are you doing out here?" I heard a panicked voice belonging to none other than that of Draco Malfoy. I zoned back to reality and glanced up, to see him rushing towards me, "You can't be out, not tonight." He said hurriedly.

"What?" I played it cool, "Why? What's going on?"

Draco's face grew paler and paler, he glanced over his shoulder multiple times. He was certainly on edge, "You can't be seen, you're supposed to be dead."

I blinked at him, "Draco, you're not making any sense…"

His eyes were full of fear as he took my hand and hurriedly tugged me down a flight of stairs. I was so taken aback by his sudden contact, he usually pulled away from my grasp, in fact, recently he avoided me completely. He brought me into a disused classroom on the sixth floor and closed the door, using the colloportus spell to lock it.

"Draco what's going on?" I asked for what felt like the thousandth time. It was only when he was certain the door was locked did he turn and face me.

"In the Hospital Wing you told me that you love me." he stared into my eyes as he said it.

I smiled, "I don't make a habit of telling just anyone, you know."

"I love you too." He blurted and after the words left his lips, he seemed calmer.

I tried to hide the smile that emerged on my face, but it was pointless.

"You know I'd do anything for you," he continued, his eyes still fixed on mine, his hand now reached out, giving my fingers a gentle squeeze which I returned, looking down in response to his tender touch, "which means I'd do anything to protect you." He grew tense again.

"Draco, you're really starting to freak me out…" I tried to steady my breathing, but his sense of urgency and the fear visibly radiating throughout his body was telling me that he had done something really bad, "What's going on?"

Draco ignored my question, "I couldn't bear it if I lost you."

He lifted my chin with a finger, our eyes met and were locked into position. I daren't look away, I implored for him to talk to me, I searched for the answers, tried to show him he could trust me.

"I could die tonight." He said in barely a whisper, "And I'm scared."

I bit my lower lip instinctively, "Let me help you…" I gave his hand a prolonged squeeze.

"You can't…" his lower lip wobbled and I felt myself crumble with him, "it's me, I have to do it… If I don't do it, he'll kill me."

"What have you been asked to do?" I asked very slowly and measuredly.

"He's punishing Father by punishing me…" he said, "that day you met Bella, at home, do you remember?"

I nodded, "Of course I do." I thought back to the noticeable change in atmosphere from one day to the next. Bellatrix was ecstatic and both Draco and Narcissa looked both shocked and anxious, "What has Vold – The Dark Lord asked you to do?"

"It was me; I planted the cursed necklace on Katie Bell, using Madam Rosmerta..." tears started to fall down Draco's cheeks at his admission, "I was the one who told Rosmerta to add the poison to the mead… And I'm the one who's just fixed the Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement. The pair is in Borgin and Burkes. It's only a matter of time until the other Death Eaters get here…" he roughly wiped his face with his robe sleeve.

I reached up, wiping away the tears with my thumbs as his body shook with fear. I tried to process his confession and swallowed hard as I realised, "You – you've been asked to kill Dumbledore."

Draco's eyes met mine instantly. I knew I was right. He didn't need to say anything to confirm. He had been forbidden to speak of it and now he didn't need to break his promise.

"I'm sorry for lying to you…" his voice was thick with emotion as he sniffed, reading my expression as I recounted all those times he'd lied to my face and I never questioned him, "I was trying to protect you. It's been haunting me, because I knew you trusted me and I broke that…" he took a deep breath, "I'm so sorry…"

I felt a tear run down my cheek. I was a fool for believing him, for trusting his every word, like a stupid sheep. A chill ran up my spine. I felt so betrayed.

"Please don't cry…" he said, delicately wiping away my tears in return, "I've watched you suffer all year and I should have been there for you, but I couldn't tell you, because you'd try and talk me out of it… But you understand now, don't you? If I don't do this, he'll kill mother and father, and then he'll come and find you…"

"Oh Draco…" I took a shaky breath, sniffing.

"I wish I could take away your pain…" he said, his hands cupping my face, "I want you to know that I never wanted to hurt you. I want you to remember me for the good times we shared; you got to know the real me. And I know you feel this connection between us too, you always see the best in me and I want you to know that no matter what happens tonight that I really do love you."

My chin was now wobbling uncontrollably, "I can't lose you -"

"Shhhh!" his chin wobbled as he stroked my cheeks, capturing my face in his mind before his grey eyes fell on my brown ones once again.

I held his stare as I felt compelled to say, "I trust that you'll do the right thing. And no matter what happens, you'll always have me on your side."

He nodded, "You have no idea how good it feels to hear you say that." He managed a small smile, and I knew that the boy I spend that summer with was still there. He was my companion and friend, and now I know he's more than that. We're connected, the two of us.

"Draco, look." I indicated the scar on my left forearm, rolling up my sleeve, and reached out to do the same with his. We compared the marks that had been given and how differently things would have turned out if Voldemort hadn't received that summons, "We're in this together, you and me. Let me help. I'll do -"

Draco's eyes dropped to my lips and I found myself unable to speak, his right hand fell to my waist as he pulled me close. Our bodies touched, his face centimetres from mine. I could feel his breath on my cheek as his other hand lifted my chin a little further, the gap separating us slowly closed and his lips met mine. I closed my eyes; it was gentle at first, loving… tender… it's like he'd been waiting for this moment for a long time. He deepened the kiss, his tongue meeting mine, hungry to experience all of me, as though tasting me was like coming up for air after condemning himself to drowning. I'll admit I kissed him back, whilst he didn't feel like home, there was a familiarity between us that had been missing before as I held him... And this felt a lot like goodbye.

"Thank you." he whispered into my ear as we embraced. The two of us breathing in the others scent, like it was the last time we were going to have the chance, "Please know that I'm doing this to protect you." he looked up at something I couldn't see or hear, his hands left my body and he backed off slowly, "They've arrived. Stay here. Stay safe. Save yourself."

He opened the door and closed it tight behind him, "Colloportus." I heard him say.

"Draco!" I called out, "Draco! What are you doing?"

There was no response.

"Draco!" I screamed, "Please! Let me help you!"

He was gone. I gasped, trying to get air into my lungs as I cried my heart out. He didn't give me a chance to say goodbye. He left me behind, to save me.