Chapter ten:

Darkness Falls

The day had passed and it was now dusk. Harry had used the felix felicis potion and went to gather a memory from Slughorn while Draco had gotten out of the hospital with Luna. "Want to go to the Room of Requirement to talk?" Luna asked innocently. Draco froze in his tracks at the idea of the Room of Requirement in which he had been using all year. "Actually, i much prefer the corridor." Draco insisted, knowing that he had been using the Room of Requirement for some time now for his deadly mission but what Draco didn't know was the room could be different for everyone depending on their need the room heard. "It's not very private though." Luna pointed out, she didn't want anyone to over hear them or interrupt. Draco figured that he didn't have to exactly show her anything in the room, if it was the same room he used so he caved. "Okay, let's do the Room of Requirement then. But let me grab another... shirt." he replied, noticing his cut up one. Luna smiled. "Okay." she replied. In a hurry, Draco went to the dungeons while Luna waited outside the door and grabbed another white long sleeve shirt and headed back out before Luna pulled him along to the seventh floor and entered the Room of Requirement, Luna then took a seat on the sofa.

Draco decided to change his shirt quickly, his left side facing Luna. He pulled his cut up shirt off and unfolded his new one, not noticing his dark mark was revealed to Luna, he wasn't used to having it yet, before sliding his new shirt on. Luna watched as he took off his shirt and put a new one on, unable to help herself from eyeing him head to toe before noticing the dark mark on his left arm. "What's that?" Luna asked, pointing to his arm that was now covered by a white sleeve. "My shirt sleeve." Draco played off, realizing he had unintentionally revealed his dark mark. Draco walked over to the sofa and sat down before Luna took his left arm and rolled up the sleeve. "That. It's the dark mark isn't it?" Luna asked. Draco expressed the look of guilt on his face that he had gotten caught. "Luna...you don't understand." Draco stated. Luna frowned before letting go of his arm. "Understand what? I never thought you would be a death eater. You said you don't like what your parents do." Luna explained, feeling hurt and stood up from the sofa. "I have no choice... I wasn't given a choice when you-know-who showed up on my doorstep and gave me a task. I didn't give him permission to give me this on my arm..." Draco explained in an apprehensive tone and a brooding expression.

Draco then stood up as well, taking her hand into his in order for her to look at him. "Luna, don't you see...i have to do this! Or he will kill me..." Draco stated in a desperate plea, trailing at the end in hopes that she would understand as his expression remained worried. Luna now knew why he was acting odd since the start of the year and looked ill, this is what he was going through. "What is it that you have to do?" Luna asked, breaking the mere silence. Draco couldn't reveal that aspect even to the most trustworthy person he knew. "If i tell anyone, he will kill me. Please just...tomorrow night, be somewhere safe." he warned her out of love. Luna sighed, nodding. "I believe you." she replied as she sat back down on the sofa, Draco did the same. Luna could tell that Draco wasn't like the rest of the death eaters, he wasn't vicious and hateful as they were. "I just don't want lose you because of this." Draco added before looking down at their hands. "You're not much of a threat...really." Luna replied, smiling gently as she moved in closer. Draco flashed a small, faint smile onto his lips. "Well, i suppose that's a good thing." he replied, causing Luna to give a small chuckle before easing in and kissed her softly, tenderly, showing how much he loved her. Draco knew this might be the last alone time with Luna he may have since he would most likely be leaving with the death eaters tomorrow night, so he wanted to make the best of it. It might be a memory he would have to live with for a long while. Luna kissed him back just as softly before it came passionate. Draco slowly kissed down her jaw line and down the crook of her neck slowly as he brushed back her long, blond hair and moved back to her lips before resting his head against hers gently as both of their eyes remained shut. Luna enjoyed the attention and everything Draco had done, was new for her.

Draco had fallen head over heels in love with Luna as Luna had with Draco as well, no one had ever expected this even Draco himself - a Slytherin bully with an inner sensitive heart with an innocent Ravenclaw that most knew to be weird and odd. As Luna normally tried to see the good in people, she saw the good in Draco and tried to ignore the bad qualities, that's who exactly Draco needed. After spending a couple hours in the Room of Requirement, Luna and Draco went to dinner in the Great Hall, holding hands before separating to their tables, Hermione noticing they were back together again. Draco sat at his Slytherin table while she sat with the Gryffindors, over hearing her friends talk though she never holds grudges, she was still disappointed in Harry in almost killing Draco. "I'm positive that Malfoy is a death eater." Harry stated in confidence. Luna turned her attention at the statement while Hermione gave Harry a look. "What?" Harry stated before Hermione gestured toward Luna. "I don't think he is. I don't think he's evil to be one." Luna replied. Of course Luna knew Draco had the dark mark and was considered one because of that but she knew he wasn't one by choice and he wasn't evil like real death eaters were. Harry furrowed his eyebrows. "I'm still positive that he is." Harry declared. Hermione sighed. "Well, no one knows for certain." Hermione clarified. Luna turned her gaze onto Draco at the Slytherin table who was picking at his food with a fork, looking down before glancing over at Luna to form a light, quick smile. Once dinner was finished, Draco decided to walk Luna back to her dormitory in Ravenclaw tower, causing looks from the trio in Gryffindor. "Goodnight." Draco spoke, but before he could leave, Luna gently pulled him back and gave him a reassuring kiss on the lips; of course Luna liked the idea of being able to kiss her crush now turned boyfriend whenever she wanted. Draco smiled briefly, locking eyes with her before he headed to the Slytherin dungeons for the rest of the night.

The next day was even more added pressure for Draco knowing that tonight was the night the death eaters planned to meet him in the school. He had to plan out a cold blood execution of Dumbledore since the two attempts didn't work beforehand. The trio had been figuring out where Draco had been disappearing to the entire day and hearing about the vanishing cabinet in Borgin and Burkes meanwhile Draco found himself standing at the top of the astronomy tower during the day, thinking and planning out the what he was going to be doing for an hour or two. When Draco left the tower and entered the Great Hall for lunch, he felt very nauseous and immediately left the Great Hall towards the boys bathroom to vomit in an empty stall. Due to the stress, fear, and anxiety of his mission, it had caused his body to function abnormally. Leaving the stall, Draco looked at himself in the mirror after rinsing his mouth, noticing how pale he had become before leaving the bathroom, deciding to check into the hospital wing. Of course no one besides a few staff members knew Draco was in the hospital wing all afternoon and evening. He couldn't face Luna knowing hours later he would be considered a murderer.

As the hours passed, night fell and Draco laid in the bed at the hospital wing, staring at the ceiling. It was empty and dark in the hospital wing as Madam Pomfrey had turned in for the night. Taking this opportunity, Draco sat up, put his bare feet onto the floor and gotten his shoes back on while remaining in his black suit before leaving the hospital wing with his wand in hand. He made his way towards the Astronomy tower once again as he heard voices, including Dumbledore as Dumbledore had just returned to the school with Harry. Moments after Dumbledore urged Harry to hide and keep hidden, Draco took a breath and appeared with his wand pointing at Dumbledore. "Good evening, Draco. What brings you out on such a fine Spring evening? Or is it Summer?" Dumbledore greeted. Draco wasn't buying the small talk, he just wanted to get this over with after the year long misery he was put through. "Who else is here? I heard you talking." Draco pointed out, his eyes looking around before quickly keeping his focus on the headmaster. "I often talk aloud to myself. I find it extraordinarily useful. That which sounds sane at a whisper can seem utterly mad when said for all the world to hear. Haven't been whispering to yourself, have you, Draco?" Dumbledore replied, turning it around on Draco. Draco was rather uneasy with the situation and didn't want to do this but was forced to. "Draco, you are no assassin..." Dumbledore added, trying to convince him otherwise. "How do you know what I am? I've done things that would shock you." Draco stated, his voice was lacking confidence. Harry stayed hidden, watching the entire scene in awe. Draco was glad that Luna wasn't witnessing what he was doing. "Like cursing Katie Bell and hoping she would, in turn, bear a cursed necklace to me? Like replacing a bottle of mead with one laced with poison. Forgive me, Draco, but these are attempts so feeble I cannot help but question if your heart has been really in them. I'm curious. When Voldemort gave you this task, when he asked you to kill me, was it in a whisper?" Dumbledore refuted, merely testing Draco's true stance in the situation. Draco gripped his wand, procrastinating the killing curse that he knew but never dared to use. "He trusts me! I was chosen!" Draco states impulsively, rolling up the sleeve on his left arm, revealing his dark mark though Dumbledore barely looked at it as he didn't care much. Harry below hidden under the stairs was in shock.

"Then I shall make it easy for you." Dumbledore said, drawing his wand out. "Expelliarumus!" Draco casted immediately, having Dumbledore's wand fly out of his hand and onto the floor. Harry watched in horror as Dumbledore's wand flew out of his hand, worried about Dumbledore. "Well done, Draco. But I warn you. Killing is not nearly as easy." Dumbledore pointed out. Draco was in awe of what he was doing and hesitated every moment he got, hoping someone would takeover or even butt in and stop the scene as anxiety poured over him. As the clouds got darker, Draco knew the death eaters were on their way in through his vanishing cabinet in the Room of Requirement. "You're not alone. Are you. There are others. How?" Dumbledore speculated. A sneering smile played over Draco's lips. "The Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement." Draco replied rapidly. "That cabinet has been broken for years." Dumbledore pointed out, not seeing how it would work. "I've been mending it." Draco explained. "Ingenious. Let me guess. It has a sister. A twin." Dumbledore guessed. "In Borgin and Burkes. They form-" Draco replied, then was cut off by the headmaster. "A passage, yes. Very good... I once knew a boy years ago who made all the wrong choices. Let me help you, Draco." Dumbledore pleaded, trying to help Draco not to commit the final unforgivable curse and to preserve his innocence. "I don't want your help! Don't you see! I have to do it! I have to!" Draco exclaimed in frustration, beginning to cry as he held his wand pointed at Dumbledore. "I've got to kill you or he'll kill me." Draco added in a lower tone, almost a whisper. "Say that again, Draco. But aloud this time." Dumbledore mentioned, wanting Harry to hear Draco in order for him to understand.

Draco looked into Dumbledore's eyes and began to tremble. "I've noticed your fondness of Miss Lovegood, Draco. I believe she's a good influence, you two are quite a match." Dumbledore mentioned, another attempt to divert Draco from his stance. Draco was slowly lowering his wand at the mention of Luna, unable to fulfill the mission. Draco realized how much this would make him seem like a monster and didn't want Luna to see him as such. Before Draco could mutter a reply, someone walked in to join them. "Well now, look what we have here. Dumbledore. Wandless and alone. Cornered in his own castle. Well done, Draco." Bellatrix taunts as she walks over to Draco, egging him on to continue while other death eaters walked in. Harry got angry at the sound of Bellatrix's voice and drew his wand as he watched. "Good evening, Bellatrix. I think introductions are in order." Dumbledore responded to Bellatrix. "Love to, Albus. But I'm afraid we're on a bit of a tight schedule." Bellatrix stated in a hasty, vulgar tone before turning to Draco again. "Do it..." Bellatrix added, pushing Draco to commit the murder. Draco then raised his wand once again at Dumbledore. Harry had his own wand positioned to cast before Snape appeared behind him with his wand drawn, gestures a hush to Harry, putting a finger to his lips: "Shhh." Snape hushed, causing Harry to lower his wand before slowly leaving.

"He doesn't have the stomach, just like his father. Let me finish him. In my own way." Greyback sneered, causing Draco to look back at him before moving his attention back to Dumbledore. "No! The Dark Lord was clear. The boy's to do it!" Bellatrix spat towards Greyback before looking back to her nephew. "Go on, Draco. Now!" Bellatrix rushed Draco. Once again Draco raises his wand, his hand trembling with fear, not wanting to do this. "No." Snape stated as he appeared from behind Bellatrix and Draco, walking to Draco's right and caused Draco to lower his wand - this was the moment he was hoping for, an easy break from doing this murder. "Severus..." Dumbledore muttered. Harry watched on, nervous and scared. "Well, look who's here. Hogwarts own Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Come to see the slaughter?" Bellatrix mocked as she laughed devilishly. "Severus... please." Dumbledore insisted, having discussed this in secret with Snape on doing the favor to keep Draco from Azkaban. "I gave my word. I made a vow..." Snape trailed off, having it mean to both Dumbledore, Draco and Bellatrix as he didn't clarify it. Snape then raised his wand quickly, pointing at Dumbledore, pushing himself to do this. "Avada Kedavra!" Snape casted the unforgivable killing curse. The green light hit Dumbledore and then Dumbledore fell from the tower, dead. Harry was upset and angry. Draco was stunned, staring where Dumbledore once stood as the death eaters made their way out of the tower. "You can no longer stay here." Snape stated to Draco before he takes him by the scruff of the neck, forces him through the door, then follows before leading Draco and Bellatrix down the spiraling staircase. As they exited the castle around the corner, the students in pajamas and robes peer at the emerald sky, then turn and stare curiously at their teacher and the band of death eaters.

Luna was outside as well, noticing Draco leaving with them, locking eyes with Draco for a split second, who had a fearful expression, before Draco had to continue walking. Luna knew that Draco had no choice as he told her before but she didn't know that he was plotting to kill Dumbledore the entire time nor did she know if he even killed the headmaster himself. Bellatrix leered at a tiny first year, leans close to frighten the child. "Boo." she scares the first year before running off. An auror turns and is blasted off his feet as Snape and the others appear down to the grounds towards Hagrid's hut. Draco stands there, looking back at Luna for another moment. "Draco! Draco!" Bellatrix shouted before she shoves him as she walked by. "They'll kill you if you stay." she stated in a teasing tone before lighting the hut fire. Snape looks back at a shouting voice to see Harry sprinting towards him as Draco watched the scene play out as Harry casted spells and attempted to cast the cruciatus curse but failed against Snape as Snape blocked each one, including his own spell. Draco watched as Snape peered over Harry before kicking away his wand and left to join the rest of the death eaters before having to run through the forbidden forest that was dark and vanishing. Draco was upset and afraid of what had just happened and knowing he couldn't return to Hogwarts, he wasn't sure if he would ever see Luna again. He wasn't sure on what she had thought of him now as the students mourned the death of their headmaster.

They headed to Malfoy manor to meet with Voldemort. The meeting with Voldemort, verifying the mission was complete had gone well and Voldemort was rather impressed but knew Snape was the one to fulfill the mission, putting his full trust in him but decided that he will break Lucius out of Azkaban. After the death eaters and Voldemort left the mansion, Draco was left there alone with his mother, Narcissa. "Good news, Draco. Your father will be out soon." Narcissa stated, noticing her son's shock as he stayed at the table. Draco was overwhelmed with what happened the entire night; no longer welcomed at Hogwarts, almost used the killing curse on the headmaster, headmaster killed because of him and the possibility of never able to see Luna again. He didn't know what the following year would hold.

Meanwhile, after the mourning of Dumbledore happened, Luna found Harry with Ron and Hermione the following morning in the Great Hall, it was silent up until her arrival. Sitting at the Gryffindor table, Luna noticed their attention was on her, as she was dating the one who was part of Dumbledore's murder though they all knew Snape had killed Dumbledore directly, Harry made it clear that night on who done it. "Do you think Malfoy would've done it?" Ron asked curiously, breaking the silence. Luna didn't witness it either but saw the fearful look on Draco's face when he left. "No, he was lowering his wand. I don't think he would've done it." Harry confessed. Luna was relieved, she knew Draco wasn't evil. The end of the school year went by and the students were sent home for the summer, some unsure of returning to Hogwarts.