Chapter 31
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, it all belongs to JK Rowling…I'm merely an obsessed fan with ideas stuck in my head.
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Leila slowly walked back to Gryffindor Tower, where she knew Hermione would be waiting for her. She didn't really want to go back there because she would be subjected to an unwanted game of twenty questions. But there was no way that she couldn't go back to the Slytherin Dungeon. Leila was almost to the Fat Lady's portrait when she heard hushed voices.
"Where did she say she was going?" Harry hissed.
"She's meeting Malfoy." Hermione said.
"Why didn't you follow her?" Harry asked.
"I'm sure that would have gone over real well." Ron said sarcastically.
Leila could feel her throat beginning to choke up and more tears were threatening to spill.
"Harry where do you think you're going?" Hermione asked.
"To find my sister." Harry hissed.
"She said she'd be gone an hour and it's been…" Hermione began.
"An hour." Leila said.
Leila appeared before Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Harry had his Invisibility Cloak in his hand, along with the Marauder's Map. Hermione had one hand on Harry's arm, as if she had been trying to hold him back.
"I'm here, there's no reason to go after me." Leila said.
The tears were slowly streaming down Leila's cheeks, but she didn't want anyone to see her crying. She kept her head down and walked past Harry, Ron, and Hermione in to Gryffindor Tower. But, Leila's attempts to hide her tears were thwarted and Harry soon ran after her.
"Leila, what did he do to you?" Harry asked.
"Give me the map, Harry." Leila said furiously.
"Why?" Harry questioned.
"Ron's right, I don't want you spying on me so just give me the damn map!" Leila shouted.
Harry reluctantly handed the Marauder's Map over to Leila. Leila tried to quickly walk away from him, but he caught up with her, trailed by Ron and Hermione. Harry grabbed her arm, and turned her toward him. The tears still streamed down Leila's face as she noticed a shocked Ron and a nervous Hermione.
"What did Malfoy do to you?" Harry asked again.
"Nothing." Leila muttered.
"He hurt you, didn't he?" Harry said.
"I told you that he did nothing! He didn't hurt me! I hurt him!" Leila screamed.
"Leila, settle down." Hermione said.
"No, I won't settle down! Do you want to know what happened Harry, do you? I just broke up with him! Yeah, that's right. I broke up with him. Does that make you happy, knowing that I broke things off with the one boy I ever loved?" Leila shouted.
Leila tore her arm from her brother's grasp and stormed upstairs to the room where she had been staying, never looking back. She could hear footsteps following her up the stairs, which she figured to be Hermione's because otherwise the stairs would have turned into a slide. She was almost to the dormitory that she was sharing with the sixth year Gryffindor girls, when Hermione finally caught up to her and stopped her from going inside.
"Leila, are you sure that you're all right?" Hermione asked.
"I'm fine." Leila said.
"Leila…" Hermione sighed.
"I said I'm fine!" Leila hissed.
Leila glared at Hermione, who in return put her hands up in defeat. Hermione opened the door to their room, where a sixth bed had been added to the room. No professor had ever confronted her about staying in Gryffindor Tower yet, but she knew without a doubt that Professor Snape wasn't happy about the arrangement. Leila flung herself onto her bed, keeping her back to Hermione. Honestly, she didn't want to talk about what happened with Draco, because then everyone would want to know why. She was looking out the window when she heard Hermione crawl into bed and the tears began to fall. She pulled out the map and looked for Draco's name; but she couldn't find it. He must be in the Room of Requirement, since that room couldn't be plotted on the map. She worked hard to convince herself that this was for the best, and drifted off into a restless sleep.
Leila walked with Hermione down to the Great Hall the next morning, only to find that Ron and Harry hadn't yet arrived. They took their places beside Ginny, who had her notes for her O.W.L.S. out. Leila reached for piece of toast as Hermione opened up a book.
"How are you doing this morning, Leila?" Hermione asked.
"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" Leila questioned.
"I think you know why." Hermione furthered.
"You don't need to worry about it." Leila said.
"What doesn't Hermione need to worry about?" Ginny asked.
"Nothing." Leila muttered.
"Nothing?" Hermione scoffed.
"I don't want to talk about it!" Leila hissed.
Leila quickly stood up from the table, heading out of the Great Hall. She tried pushing past the students who were now filing into the Great Hall, but she ran into someone and fell to the floor. Leila muttered an apology before looking to see who was on the ground beside her: Draco. This had to be the first time she had seen him at breakfast all week, but Leila quickly shook-off her thoughts to look at Draco. He was scowling, trying to get off the ground. He stood up and walked a few feet to where Leila sat.
"You're pathetic, Potter." Draco hissed.
Draco quickly steered away to the Slytherin table, leaving Leila still on the ground. Leila pushed herself up and practically ran out of the Great Hall. She crossed her arms, trying to keep everything in, the emotions and the tears. Leila could almost feel the stares of the students she was passing; she didn't know where she was going, but she couldn't be there. She could hear the patter of footsteps running after her. Leila didn't want to wait. She walked until she found an empty corridor. She leaned up against a wall and slid down the floor until she hit the floor. She collapsed onto the floor in tears. The footsteps continued down the hall and they sounded like they were getting closer to where Leila lay heaped on the floor. She tried to bury her face; but she could feel a pair of strong arms wrap around her. Leila looked up to find Harry on floor beside her.
Harry looked at her with sympathy in his eyes. Leila could only assume that we had witnessed the exchange between her and Draco; but Leila had missed seeing him as tears had blinded her as she had rushed from the Great Hall. Leila wrapped her arms around her brother's neck and sobbed into his chest. Harry just held her, and let her cry. Leila felt stupid for getting so worked up over something like this. She was glad that Harry had found her; no matter how much tension there was between the two, what it came down to was they were all each other had left and sometimes the only thing she needed was her big brother. When Leila's tears finally subsided she wiped her eyes and looked to her brother.
"I'm sorry." Harry whispered.
"He hates me." Leila sniffled.
"He hates me too." Harry said.
"But you don't understand." Leila muttered.
"I can't ever even begin to understand you and Malfoy, but if he can't get over whatever it is, then he's not worth it." Harry said.
"You've never liked Draco." Leila said.
"I didn't mean just Malfoy. I meant guys in general." Harry furthered.
"You never seemed to care before." Leila added.
"I've always cared Leila. But you know that you're the only family I have left. I can't lose you to him. But sometimes I'm afraid that I already have." Harry said.
"You've never lost me, Harry; and you never will. Just like you said, you're the only family I have left. No guy, or girl in your case, is going to ruin that. You're stuck with me." Leila half-smiled.
Leila chuckled through her final tears and leaned over to hug her brother, who wrapped his arms around his sister. The twins sat there in silence for a few minutes before Harry decided that the two would go to the kitchens and visit Dobby for breakfast, thereby avoiding Malfoy. Malfoy's name was not mentioned all weekend by her brother, for which she was thankful for, but it seemed that Leila had picked up on Harry's old obsession of checking the map for Draco. Every night, while she knew Hermione was asleep she would pull out the map and look for Draco's name. Sometimes she found it and sometimes she didn't. Leila hoped that Draco was safe and was being careful. As the days went by, she saw little of Draco, but the little she did see of him was glares, sneers, and taunts from the Slytherins who were all too happy about the break-up.
One June day, a knock came on the door during Professor Slughorn's Potion's lesson. Slughorn was busy explaining Harry's decline in Potions was due to his love life, so Leila welcomed the interruption. Slughorn welcomed the visitor, Dennis Creevey, who was carrying a note for Leila.
"Now, what's the interruption for Mister Creevey?" Slughorn asked.
"Leila Potter's supposed to meet with Professor Dumbledore, sir. Now, sir." Dennis said feebly.
The Slytherins "Ooh"'d as if Leila was in trouble, but Leila instantly looked to Draco, who had managed to show up to class. Draco glared at her, while cracking his knuckles. Leila took notice that his right hand was still noticeably missing his Slytherin ring; which Leila still held fastened around her neck. Professor Slughorn excused Leila, while Harry looked at her wishing that he could go, too. When Leila came upon Professor Dumbledore's office, she said the password written on the parchment, and entered. Leila hadn't been in Professor Dumbledore's office with him for quite some time. It was always Harry, whom he was giving private lessons to, which always made Leila slightly jealous. Leila looked around the room to find that almost nothing in the office had been changed since the last time she had been in there, except Professor Dumbledore's pensieve was out. Leila took a seat in a chair and waited for the headmaster.
"Leila, I see Mister Creevey found you with my note." Dumbledore said.
"Yes, sir." Leila said.
"May I assume that you're wondering why I pulled you early from what I'm sure was a fascinating lesson by Professor Slughorn?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"It really wasn't all that fascinating." Leila answered.
"No? Then may I inquire as to you and the Malfoy boy?" Dumbledore asked.
"There's nothing there to inquire about." Leila said shifting her gaze to the floor.
"I know that you and he are no longer, how do you young people say it... An item? But, that does not mean your journey together is finished." Dumbledore said cryptically.
"We haven't spoken since that night, unless he hurls an insult at me. He's better off without me; I mean after all he is a Dea-he's incapable of love. We're both better off this way. There is no more journey; it ended the night we broke-up." Leila said.
"Just because one is good at masking his or her emotions, does not make them incapable of love. I didn't miss the change you made in Mister Malfoy, nor did he, I'm going to assume." Dumbledore said.
"I'm sorry Professor, I'm not in the mood to talk about Draco Malfoy; so can you please tell me why you've brought me here?" Leila asked.
"Straight and to the point, much like your father. But first, if I may distract you once more; I must ask you; have you had any other dreams, like the one you had earlier in the year, lately?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
Leila pondered over Dumbledore's question. Nothing really stood out in her mind; but lately her thoughts and dreams had been centered on Draco. She hadn't had any other dreams like that; at least not that she could remember. But those dreams scared her. She knew without a doubt that her last dream had been about Draco.
"No sir." Leila said truthfully.
"Very well then. Without further interruption, I'm sure that you have been jealous over the lessons I have been giving your brother. Am I correct?" Dumbledore asked.
"Erm…well…yes, sir." Leila sighed.
"I figured as much. I did not do this to make you jealous, but rather for safety reasons." Dumbledore said.
"Safety reasons?" Leila asked.
"Earlier in the year, when I knew of your budding romance with Mister Malfoy, I wanted to protect you, him, as well as myself. I must admit, it was a bit selfish; but it was done with good intentions. As you surely know, Mister Malfoy has not been too fond of me lately, and I didn't want to risk any information accidentally passing to him." Dumbledore said.
"But Harry always told me what happened anyways." Leila said.
"Yes, but hearing things second-hand is always different than hearing them first-hand. I also assumed that Mister Malfoy was never too keen on hearing anything of Harry." Professor Dumbledore added.
"No, we always fought about him." Leila sighed.
"I don't want you to think that I didn't want you included; but as an old man I feared the worst. Now, seeing as your relationship with Mister Malfoy has, would you say, fizzled out? I think you would be a valuable asset to what Harry and I are doing. So, please consider this as me trying to make amends with you." Professor Dumbledore finished.
Leila looked up at Professor Dumbledore, who smiled at her. Leila slowly stood up and walked closer to Professor Dumbledore.
"And how are you going to do that?" Leila asked.
"You have one of two options. You may either view in my pensieve everything that Harry has seen or we may discuss what Harry has told you. The choice is yours." Dumbledore said.
Leila glanced over to the pensieve and felt a surge of curiosity and jealousy at the same time; but she should put faith in her brother. He was after all, "The Chosen One." Leila took a step closer to the penseive to find that it was occupied already with memories.
"Can we discuss and if things don't make sense, then can I view the memories?" Leila asked.
"A compromise. Well thought out. So ask away." Professor Dumbledore said.
"So Voldemort created horcruxes. Exactly how many did he create?" Leila asked.
"I believe there to be seven." Dumbledore answered.
"Tom Riddle's diary was one, and a ring which belonged to Voldemort's mother, correct?" Leila continued.
"Yes, to both accounts." Dumbledore added.
"But that's only two, what about the other five?" Leila asked.
"I think this may help to clear things up." Dumbledore said.
Professor Dumbledore ushered Leila to the pensieve. Leila breathed deeply, and leaned forward, slowly plunging into the silvery liquid. She watched an exchange between Hephzibah Smith and Tom Riddle, who was employed at Borgin and Burkes. She watched as he handled a cup with a badger engraved on it and locket with an ornate serpentine S. Leila didn't watch much more because she was soon released from the memory in the pensieve. Leila looked to Dumbledore, who was examining where the Sorting Hat was placed, beside the sword of Godric Gryffindor.
"I don't understand, sir." Leila said.
"I believe you do, Leila." Professor Dumbledore said.
"Why are you being so cryptic? I thought you said we could discuss this?" Leila asked.
"We can; but you're a bright witch, Leila. You already know what you claim to not understand." Professor Dumbledore answered.
"I understand why he'd be after a Slytherin locket, Voldemort was his descendant; but I have no idea why he'd be after a cup from Hufflepuff. Besides, what do these have to do with Horcruxes?" Leila asked.
Professor Dumbledore simply gave her a look, which told her that she should already know the answer.
"He made both of those items into Horcruxes?" Leila gasped.
"Voldemort, much like you and Harry, believed that Hogwarts was his home. He would kill and he did kill to get his hands on any items from the Founders." Dumbledore said.
"But what about the sword?" Leila asked.
"Only a true Gryffindor can obtain the sword; and Lord Voldemort possessed none of the qualities valued by Godric Gryffindor." Dumbledore answered.
"A locket and a cup are a good start, but how do we find them? Unless…unless that's where you've been going when you leave the school. You've been searching for them, haven't you?" Leila asked.
"Guilty." Professor Dumbledore smiled.
"So, like Harry said, if one destroys all of the Horcruxes, Voldemort can be destroyed?" Leila asked.
"That is correct." Dumbledore said.
"Have you found any yet?" Leila asked.
"I believe a time will come shortly when I will require Harry's assistance, and I ask that you be present as well." Professor Dumbledore said.
"You really want me to come?" Leila asked.
"You are a more than capable witch; and there is a bond between twins like you and Harry which even I cannot properly explain." Professor Dumbledore replied.
Leila didn't respond, instead she focused her gaze on the Sorting Hat. There were times she wondered how the hat could have placed her in Slytherin; but then there were other times where the choice completely made sense. It seemed as if Dumbledore was reading her thoughts.
"Just because you were placed in Slytherin does not mean that you don't have the qualities of, shall we say, a Gryffindor." Professor Dumbledore said.
"It's not like it matters." Leila mattered.
"It does matter, Leila. Your parents would be proud of the young woman you've become. You may not see what I see; but I see a girl who is very much like her parents; but is still her own person." Professor Dumbledore said.
"Thank you, sir." Leila muttered.
"Speaking of Gryffindor, Professor Snape is absolutely livid that you've been residing in Gryffindor Tower." Professor Dumbledore began.
"He knows? You know?" Leila asked.
"Of course, there is very little going on at Hogwarts which I don't already know; besides, who else do you think placed a sixth bed in the room?" Dumbledore asked.
"You do have good points." Leila sighed.
"I just wished to tell you that you are welcome in Gryffindor Tower. Just remember that you were placed in Slytherin for a reason, even if that reason is not yet known to you. Now, off you go. I'm sure your brother will be waiting for you." Dumbledore smiled.
Leila nodded and walked slowly toward the door. She glanced back to find Professor Dumbledore watching her as she left, with a smile still stuck on his face. She quickly turned around and left. Just as Dumbledore had predicted, Harry was waiting for her outside the stone gargoyle, no Ron and Hermione in tow. Harry looked up at Leila as she descended the stairs.
"What was that about?" Harry asked.
"He just wanted to make sure I was well-informed about what you had seen." Leila said.
"That's all?" Harry asked.
"And to tell me that when he does find a horcrux, I'll be coming along." Leila whispered.
"Good. I've been wondering about that. I may be "The Chosen One" but I know that I'll need you there with me." Harry said.
Harry and Leila headed back for the Fat Lady and Gryffindor Tower. Harry decided to tell her what she had missed in Potions: Hermione took notes for her and Draco had been asked to stay behind. Leila shrugged as if she didn't care; but she did find it curious that Draco had to stay behind. When Snape had been the Potion's professor, Draco seemed to have a knack for Potions. Leila, not watching where she was walking, tripped over Harry's foot, causing her to fall to the floor ungracefully. Harry grabbed her book bag and helped her up. At just that moment, Draco came swaggering through the corridor spying Harry and Leila. Draco narrowed his eyes.
"You would go crawling back to him." Draco sneered.
"I happen to be her brother." Harry hissed back.
Draco glared between the twins. Harry drew his wand, causing Draco to draw his. Leila recognized this all too familiar scene, only this time she was sure that Draco wouldn't care whom he hexed. Leila grabbed Harry's arm and pushed it down.
"It's not worth it, Harry." Leila whispered.
"You're right. He's just a piece of scum." Harry muttered.
"Harry." Leila hissed.
"I'll give you that, Potter, at least you have more guts than she does, but that may prove to be your downfall." Draco sneered.
Draco turned his back to them and began to walk away. Leila moved to lunge at him; but Harry held Leila back.
"He's not worth it, Leila." Harry whispered.
"And stay the hell away from me, both of you." Draco shouted down the corridor.
Draco disappeared around the corner, and Leila realized that Harry was still holding her back. Harry slowly released Leila, making sure that she wasn't going to take off after Malfoy. Leila breathed deeply and looked to her brother. A few tears slipped down her cheek, which Harry wiped away.
"I don't understand why he's being so nasty." Leila sighed.
"He's always been nasty." Harry responded.
"Not to me; but then again, he trusted me and then I broke his trust by breaking up with him." Leila sniffled.
"Why'd you break things off with him, anyway?" Harry asked.
"I don't want to talk about it. I just want things to go back to normal." Leila mumbled.
"This used to be normal." Harry said.
"I just want him not to hate me." Leila sighed.
Harry side-hugged his sister and led her back to Gryffindor Tower. When they entered the common room, Leila headed up to her bed to take a nap. Her talk with Dumbledore and seeing Draco had drained her emotionally. She quickly fell into a deep, restless sleep. The dream she had earlier in the summer began playing in her head.
It was dark, but there were voices whispering. Above the whispers, a woman could be heard "He's only a boy." Suddenly, everything became silent and someone's screams disturbed the silence. Then an arm, marked with the Dark Mark appeared. A hand clutched the marked arm. That hand had a Hogwarts ring with an emerald gem. The dream faded into darkness with faint crying.
Then the scene changed.
A cabinet, like the one in Borgin and Burkes appeared, with a blanket carelessly thrown beside it. The scene went dark again; but this time she could hear whooping; cheerful whooping belonging to none other than Draco Malfoy.
"It's only a dream…It's only a dream." Leila muttered.
Leila awoke to Hermione shoving her awake. Hermione had a look of nervousness plastered to her face, while Leila was clutching her necklace, which still contained Draco's ring. Even though she had ended things with him; she couldn't bring herself to remove it from the chain.
"What's the matter?" Leila asked.
"You were dreaming." Hermione stated.
"So?" Leila asked.
"It looked like the dreams Harry had." Hermione said slowly.
"I don't have a connection with Voldemort. I'm not 'The Chosen One.' It's nothing to worry about." Leila said.
"Harry warned me earlier in the year that you were having dreams, so don't try and hide this from me." Hermione said.
"Really, it was nothing Hermione." Leila sighed.
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked.
"Positive." Leila nodded.
Hermione reluctantly accepted Leila's answer and then dragged her to the library. The library was always full of fifth years, who were in the middle of their O.W.L.s. Leila knew that this was Hermione's way of distracting her from thinking of Draco, but she also knew that Hermione was up to something. Leila wondered if she was looking up something on dreams.
"I found something!" Hermione cried.
"Found what?" Leila asked.
"Come on, we need to go." Hermione called.
"It's not about dreams is it?" Leila asked.
Leila watched as Hermione frantically shoved her books into her bag and walk to Madam Pince to check-out an old newspaper. Hermione, then hurriedly walked to Gryffindor Tower, not explaining anything to Leila. Hermione and Leila walked into Gryffindor Tower, and immediately spotted Harry and Ron sitting beside a window in the common room. Harry had his Herbology book open upside down, while Ron was doodling on a piece of parchment. Hermione dragged Leila over to where the boys sat, and plopped into the seat between Harry and Ron, leaving Leila standing.
"We wanted to talk to you, Harry." Hermione said.
"We?" Leila hissed.
"All right, I wanted to talk with you, Harry." Hermione said.
"What about? Harry asked suspiciously.
"The so-called Half-Blood Prince." Hermione said slowly.
"Oh, not again. Will you please drop it?" Harry groaned.
"No, I'm not dropping it until you've heard me out. Now, I've been trying to find a bit about who might make a hobby of inventing Dark spells –"Hermione said firmly.
"He didn't make a hobby of it –"Harry shot back.
"He! He! Who says it's a he?" Hermione questioned.
Harry looked around the room to make sure that no one could possibly be listening to their conversation. He then cast a Muffliato spell, just in case. Ron, who was seated closest to where Leila was standing, leaned over to whisper to her.
"What's she getting at?" Ron asked.
"Haven't a clue." Leila whispered.
"We've been through this. Prince. Hermione. Prince!" Harry said crossly.
"Right! Look at that! Look at the picture!" Hermione exclaimed.
Hermione pulled out a very old piece of newsprint from her bag, the one she had checked out in the library, and slammed it down on the table in front of Harry. Harry carefully grabbed the photograph to examine it; leaving both Ron and Leila curious to what he was holding. Hermione sat beside him looking somewhat smug, while Harry looked rather bored.
"So? It's only dull story about an interschool Gobstone competition." Harry said.
"Her name was Eileen Prince. Prince. Harry!" Hermione furthered.
Harry looked at Hermione and then burst out laughing. Ron and Leila looked at each other cluelessly, so Leila reached for the photograph which Harry had released in his outburst.
"No way." Harry scoffed.
"What?" Hermione questioned.
"You think she was the Half-Blood Prince? Oh, come on!" Harry said.
"Well, why not?" Hermione began.
As Hermione began her long-winded statement about how Eileen Prince could be the Half-Blood Prince, Leila noticed an owl perched outside the window next to Harry. Leila slowly moved behind Harry and opened the window. She retrieved the parchment, with an all too familiar scrawl.
Meet me by the lake.
Leila's heart leapt; but was brought back to the conversation between Hermione and Harry.
"The truth is that you don't think a girl would have been clever enough!" Hermione said angrily.
"How can I have Leila for a sister and have hung round with you for five years and not think girls are clever? It's the way he writes, I just know the Prince was a bloke, I can tell. This girls hasn't got anything to do with it." Harry said.
"I've used the book, and I would have to agree with Harry. The writing is horrible and miniscule, but now that I think of it, somewhat familiar." Leila added.
"Where did you get this anyway?" Harry asked.
"Three guesses where." Ron muttered.
"The library. There's a whole collection of old Prophets up there. Well, I'm going to find out more about Eileen Prince if I can." Hermione said predictably.
"Enjoy yourself." Harry said irritably.
"I will." Hermione said narrowing her eyes.
Hermione then stomped to the portrait hole and turned back to the three still in the corner.
"And the first place I'll look is records of old Potions awards!" Hermione shouted across the common room.
Hermione swung the door open and left hastily, leaving an irritated Harry, a confused Ron, and a preoccupied Leila. Leila's hand clutched the note. She didn't want Harry to notice that she had received it, so she crumpled it up and shoved it in her pocket. Now all she needed was a distraction. Leila slowly made her way across the common room, trying to avoid being caught by Ron and Harry. She was almost to the portrait hole, when Jimmy Peakes blocked her path, holding a scroll of parchment. Leila hesitantly took it from him, while he made his way over to Harry. She opened the parchment and immediately noticed it to be from Dumbledore. She then looked to Harry. Harry gave her a knowing look and walked straight for her.
"Come on, we need to go." Harry said.
"I'll meet you there." Leila said.
"What's more important than this?" Harry asked.
"I need to use the bathroom." Leila whispered.
"Hurry up, then." Harry said.
Harry quickly walked past her heading in the direction of Dumbledore's office. Leila took off in the direction of the bathrooms, but quickly detoured to make her way down to the lake. She ran all the way to the lake. She found a blonde boy standing there, staring out at the lake, which shone like glass in the moonlight. He shoved his hands in his pockets and didn't notice Leila running toward him. Leila stopped suddenly.
"Draco." Leila whispered.
Draco turned to Leila, surprised to see her. He quickly walked over to her. Leila's heart beat faster every step closer to her that he got. No matter how nasty he had been to her over the past few weeks, she still loved him with all her heart. Draco stopped in front of her and hesitantly placed his hand on her cheek. Leila wrapped her hand around his, trying to keep from bursting with happiness.
"I had to see you one last time." Draco said.
"What? Why?" Leila asked.
"I—I'm sorry." Draco stuttered.
"Sorry for what?" Leila questioned.
Draco quickly pressed his lips onto hers, causing her head to swim and to gasp for breath. Without another word Draco ran back to the castle. Leila called after him, only for him to go move faster. Leila placed her fingers where his lips had met hers, wishing that they were still there and confused by this stunt of Draco's. A single tear fell down her cheek, and Leila hurried back to the castle, not to find Draco, but to meet up with Harry and Professor Dumbledore.