Chapter seventeen:
Bravery and Truce
Draco and Luna had been in the dungeons while the battle took place while Filch remained huddled in the corner. Of course, Luna had noticed Filch cuddling his cat Mrs. Norris as well before he had screeched at her. They supposed Filch wasn't bothered too much that they were in there, since they were able to perform magic in case any death eater made its way down. When she had seen the body of Colin Creevey, it made Luna sad because to think that her friends would die tonight wouldn't be the same tomorrow. Meanwhile, Lucius Malfoy stands with Voldemort inside a covered dock as the death eaters fought, having no wand since Voldemort took his earlier. Lucius is rather worried about Draco and attempts to slowdown Voldemort. "Perhaps you can seek the boy..." Lucius trailed off before adding "Where is Draco? Shouldn't he be-" Lucius asked before being cut off by Voldemort slapping him. "The boy must come to me! Don't you understand?" Voldemort stated in anger before easing back, turning his expression into a sneer. "Draco is dead. He failed to join me with the other Slytherins, Lucius." Voldemort taunted, of course lying to be cruel. Lucius hated the thought of his son being dead, imagining how Narcissa would feel. "Bring Snape to me." Voldemort demanded. Lucius then apparated to the forest where the rest of the death eaters remained, alerting Snape before informing his wife of the news Voldemort gave him about their son. Narcissa refused to believe it.
The battle had gone on for at least a couple of hours before the voice of Voldemort had came upon everyone. "You've fought valiantly, but in vain...I do not wish this. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a terrible waste. I therefore command my forces to retreat. In their absence, dispose your dead with dignity. Harry Potter, I now speak directly to you. On this night, you have allowed your friends to die for you, rather than face me yourself. There is no greater dishonor. Join me in the Forbidden Forrest...and confront your fate. If you do not do this, I shall kill every last man, woman and child who tries to conceal you from me. You have one hour." Draco and Luna heard this from inside the dungeons as well, noticing the battle had came to an end or at least a halt. "I think it's stopped." Draco noticed. As the two stepped out of the dungeons, they noticed the rubble surrounding them of the castle along with bodies lying on the floor and the meek silence that was deafening. The students and staff that survived gathered into what was left of the great hall, covering the bodies of the dead that they found and comforting each other. Draco didn't have anyone that he would be worried about in Hogwarts aside from Luna whom was with him but Luna had her friends.
Draco walked over towards the steps of where the podium once stood and took a seat while he watched Luna go over to comfort her friends, over by the Weasleys mourning the death of Fred. Draco couldn't bare to keep watching the scene that unfolded in front of him and no matter where he looked, he saw death in the great hall. The guilt ate at him, guilt from even taking part in Voldemort's regime to begin with even though his family dragged him into it. When a couple of students looked over at him including with Harry Potter and McGonagall, as he was sitting on the steps of the podium, Draco immediately stood up and exited the great hall, heading down a broken hall before Luna noticed his exit and left as well. "Draco!" Luna shouted, causing Draco to come to a halt and turning to her. "Why did you leave?" Luna asked, concerned. Draco looked remorseful. "I can't stand being in there. Especially when im partly responsible for all this to begin with." Draco explained, obviously feeling guilty. Luna furrowed her eyebrows, feeling empathetic and grabbed Draco's hand into hers. Luna honestly didn't think Draco would ever change several years ago but now that she got to know him, she noticed he had. "It's not your fault, Draco. It's Voldemort's. You see, you didn't call for the war." Luna attempted to comfort him. Draco intertwined his fingers with hers, he honestly didn't know what to say in return. The only thing he felt was guilt.
In the meantime, Harry had made his way into the forbidden forest shortly after seeing a guilty Draco and the mourning Weasleys and faced Voldemort, being killed and coming back secretly. Narcissa, Draco's mother, was ordered to check and see if Harry was dead. Narcissa was still bitter and upset from the news Lucius received from Voldemort about Draco and she honestly wanted to get a confirmation from none other than a student that knew Draco, even if it was Harry Potter. Narcissa stood over Harry's body before kneeling down to check him. "Is he dead?" Bellatrix asked from afar. Narcissa leaned over Harry, as if she was checking his pulse. "Is he alive? Is Draco alive?" Narcissa asked in a hushed tone, almost a whisper. Harry then nodded his head gently, telling the truth that Draco was indeed alive. Narcissa was in shock but relieved at the same time. She noticed the wand on the ground beside Harry, it was Draco's wand he had in possession. Picking up the wand quickly, she then stood up and turned to face Voldemort with a flat expression. "Dead." Narcissa stated.
Draco and Luna had ended up walking nearby the great hall entrance before the death eaters along with Hagrid carrying Harry and Voldemort made their way to the broken down castle. Everyone then came out of the great hall and stood in front of the castle as they watched the group approach. Draco stood by Luna, keeping her hand in his tightly as he spotted his parents in the front of the death eaters - he knew once they spotted him, they would expect him to come over. Ginny Weasley stood in front of the students next to Neville Longbottom as everyone watched the death eaters approached the castle. "Who is that? Hagrid's carrying... Neville, who is it?" Ginny asked in disbelief. Voldemort approached the center in between the Hogwarts students, family and staff and his following of death eaters. "Harry Potter...is dead!" Voldemort stated in delight. "No!" Ginny shouted as she lunged at Voldemort before her father, Arthur Weasley, held her back in time. Draco shook his head slightly at her move, knowing Voldemort would've killed her. "Silence! Stupid girl!" Voldemort stated as he seemed violated for a moment, before turning back to his crowd of death eaters. "Harry Potter is dead!" Voldemort repeated, celebrating his conquer before letting out a mocking laugh and turned to face the students, family and staff of Hogwarts. "From this day forth...you'll put your faith in me...Harry Potter is dead! And now it's the time to declare yourself. Come forward and join us...or die!" Voldemort declared. Neville held the sorting hat, looked down at it once he heard a noise come from it before peeking in to notice a sword inside but remained quiet for the moment.
Lucius and Narcissa spotted Draco in the crowd in front of the castle, taking this moment to reconcile with their son. "Draco!" Lucius shouted hoarsely. Draco noticed his father's call for him but simply ignored it, remaining silent. "Draco." Lucius called out once again but to no avail, Draco ignored it again, standing in the same place and giving side glances at his fellow classmates that were looking at him. Draco wanted to stay with his classmates and more so with his girlfriend, not wanting to be separated from her. "Draco. Come." Narcissa called out this time. Draco knew he couldn't ignore his mother. His heart dropped when he had to let go of Luna's hand, looking down as he left the crowd of students and walked over towards his parents, looking guilty before Voldemort stopped him. Luna watched in sadness, knowing he was put on the spot and pressured. "Well done, Draco. Well done!" Voldemort greeted, awkwardly giving Draco a welcoming hug, Draco remaining emotionless and stiff. Narcissa was furious that Voldemort lied to her family about her son's life but she knew her revenge would soon happen. Draco then stepped away from Voldemort and walked over to his parents where Lucius placed his hand on Draco's shoulders and Narcissa wrapped an arm around his waist, bringing him closely over to their side.
Draco looked at Luna from the otherside, still feeling guilty and worried now about leaving her there by herself but Draco wouldn't want Luna to be part of the death eaters, she was perfect the way she is. Narcissa had then handed Draco his wand she had taken from Harry back in the forest, having Draco grip it tightly even though he still had his mother's in his possession. Neville had then began limping forward while holding the sorting hat and the death eaters began laughing. "Well, I must say I'd hope for better...and who might you be, young man?" Voldemort remarked, humored. "Neville Longbottom." Neville replied. The death eaters laughed once again. "Well, Neville, I'm sure we can find a place for you in our ranks..." Voldemort said in a mocking tone. Neville took the mocking and laughter. "I'd like to say something." Neville stated. Voldemort's expression fell flat. "Well, Neville, I'm sure we'd all be fascinated to hear what you have to say." Voldemort stated, unamused as he gripped his wand. "Doesn't matter that Harry is gone..." Neville began before Seamus Finnigan butted in. "Stand down, Neville!" Seamus warned, not wanting Neville to get himself killed. "People die everyday!" Neville began as he faced Seamus for a moment, then looked back at Voldemort and the death eaters. "Friends, family.Yeah, we lost Harry tonight. He's still with us. In here." Neville explained, patting his chest where his heart was located. "So is Fred, Remus, Tonks...all of them. They didn't die in vain. But you will! Because you're wrong! Harry's heart did beat for us. For all of us! It's not over!" Neville added, drawing out the Gryffindor sword from the sorting hat.
As Voldemort kept his focus on Neville, Harry then rolled out of Hagrid's arms and landed on the ground, alive. With a split second decision, Draco, with his wand in hand, ran over to Harry. "Potter!" Draco shouted, tossing Harry his own wand his mother retrieved for him before he ran clear across the courtyard and over to where the students were, leaving his parents stunned and worried. Luna widened her eyes at the move Draco made, keeping everyone in awe. Voldemort was left stunned and caught off guard by what had unfolded as Harry gripped the wand Draco had tossed to him and attempted to attack Nagini. "Confringo!" Harry casted at the snake before running off down an outside corridor as Voldemort casted spells at Harry out of anger, one reflecting off of the sword at Neville, sending Neville flying. As the crowd scattered, death eaters vanishing and some staying to fight, Lucius and Narcissa stayed there worrisome and defenseless, looking around for Draco. Voldemort was focused on Harry which didn't endanger the Malfoys. Nobody expected Draco to ever be brave enough to make a move like that in order to help his rival, but it happened. Draco looked for Luna and once finding her, he took her hand into his and looked for ways out of the castle. "We need to leave, immediately." Draco stated, taking out his mother's wand. Luna followed him down the empty hallway but didn't want to leave her friends. "I don't want to abandon my friends." Luna stated, causing Draco to stop and look at her. "Promise me I'll see you again." Draco stated, locking eyes with Luna. Luna smiled softly as she cupped his cheek with her hand in silence. Draco then crashed his lips against hers, kissing her passionately yet emotionally for a moment before Luna pulled back to look at him. "Come fight with me." Luna suggested, looking into his eyes.
Draco figured if he couldn't get her to leave with him, he would have to fight side by side with her. After all, more than half the death eaters had fled anyway. Walking into the great hall together, Luna and Draco got their wands ready and went in, fighting death eaters and even helping friends with their duels. Draco watched Bellatrix begin fighting Ginny, knew that Ginny wasn't as strong as his aunt was. Just as Draco was about to interfere with that duel, Molly Weasley stepped in to defend her daughter. Bellatrix noticed her nephew, Draco, fighting alongside Luna and felt that betrayal. "Not my daughter, you bitch!" Molly spat out. Bellatrix's focus that was on Draco, whom she planned to target next, had turned to Molly and she laughed devilishly before they dueled. Molly had ended up defeating Bellatrix, killing her. Ron and Hermione were out trying to kill Nagini while Harry battled Voldemort. The fighting continued until the very last death eater was defeated - besides Draco's parents who weren't fighting, Neville having killed Nagini with the sword. Then everyone went out to watch Harry battle Voldemort in the courtyard. Once Draco and Luna stepped out to watch, Draco's parents immediately went to Draco's side in order to pull him from the school but Draco refused, staying with Luna as his parents gave up and stayed by his side watching the intense scene lasted for at least five minutes before Harry had defeated Voldemort, catching the elder wand.
It was silent among everyone for the first few minutes of the victory before everyone clapped and cheered on Harry. Eventually everyone gathered in the great hall where students and their families along with staff were getting treated for their injuries along with mourning the losses. Everyone was exhausted from fighting all night long and there was brief chatter. Harry had reunited with Ron and Hermione, letting them know what Draco had done in which they saw from a distance. As Draco and Luna entered the great hall, Harry decided to walk over and stopped behind them. "Malfoy..." Harry addressed. Draco turned around to face his rival. "Potter." Draco simply said back. Harry took out Draco's wand from his side and held it out to Draco. Luna watched on as Ron and Hermione did as well, Ginny noticed from across the room. "Thanks for that. Thought id return it to you." Harry stated. Draco took his wand back and nodded, he honestly wasn't expecting to be thanked by his rival. "Eh, no problem..." Draco replied. A truce was practically made in that moment between Draco and Harry. Luna was happy to see two people she cared about finally be able to get along. Harry had turned to walk away before Draco spoke, causing him to stop in his tracks. "Just so you know, that wasn't the only time i had helped you." Draco confessed, he had done so twice, only one other Harry knew. Harry turned around to look at Draco, curious at what he was meaning. "Yeah, back at the manor. I knew that." Harry pointed out. Draco glanced at his surroundings before looking back to Harry. "Before that. Back in second year." Draco pointed out back. Harry furrowed his eyebrows. "Second year?" Harry questioned. Hermione and Ron overheard this and walked up behind him. "What about second year?" Hermione butted in. Draco glanced at Hermione for a second before back to Harry. "You didn't think Granger stuffed that note into her hand the second day she had been petrified, did you?" Draco asked curiously, studying their reactions. Hermione knew she didn't but had no idea about the note at the time, figured the boys found it out from her research she explained to them verbally.
"You put that note about the pipes in her hand?" Harry asked. Draco flashed a crooked smile at their recognition. "Yes. You see, i overheard many things at home since they always had meetings. I just didn't want to get caught if i helped." Draco explained. Harry thought about it and it had seemed to add up about a page about basilisks and the writing of the word 'pipes'. "Right. Well, thanks for that too." Harry said humbly. Draco then flickered a tiny smile before watching the trio exit the great hall. "i didn't know you did those, Draco." Luna stated, she knew she had a good feeling about Draco and that he wasn't evil as some painted him to be because of his parent's choices. "Surprise." Draco said humorously, causing Luna to chuckle. Lucius and Narcissa then found Draco again. "Draco, we must get home." Narcissa stated. Draco looked at his parents. "Mum, dad...this is my girlfriend, Luna Lovegood." Draco introduced officially. Luna smiled at his mother. "It's nice to officially meet you." Luna said. Lucius rolled his eyes. "Best we not let the aurors get a head start, son. Come along, Draco." Lucius said arrogantly. Narcissa elbowed Lucius for his remark before looking at Luna. "Nice to meet you as well, Luna. Call me Narcissa, and welcome to the family." Narcissa greeted. The Malfoys departed the school while Luna stayed with her friends. Luna took a seat on a unfolded chair as Neville sat next to her. "What a day huh?" Neville stated. Luna smiled. "Yes, quite extraordinary." Luna replied. Neville knew that Luna was with Draco but he had to at least tell her how he felt. "I like you, you know. I'm mad for you." Neville confessed. Luna was a little caught off guard but took it as a compliment. "Neville, you know i see you as a friend. I care for you but i love Draco." Luna explained. Neville nodded, understanding. "I understand. I just wanted to put it out there. Friends is good, yeah." Neville stated, awkward. Luna ended up going back home to her father an hour later as the summer would commence and rebuild would begin. Trials would begin as well for those associated with the death eaters.