She turned on her heel as the door opened her fingers almost knotted
together, she needed out of this room, she needed to explain, how much she
wasn't her fathers daughter. Then she took in the pair who stood there, and
those that backed them and moved backwards with a low cry.

Seeing the pain on Draco's face she wished she could have undone the
movement, but she'd made her decision. She lifted her hand and beckoned them
into the room. Serverus stepped forward without qualm and the others followed
him with a little more hesitancy, having the door open helped.

"I've more than deceived you all, and I have to rectify that before I ask you
to help me"

She folded to the floor in a single movement that seemed to be more
graceful than it actually was, she watched Harry and Ron sit, Hermoine seating
herself in Ron's lap. Draco didn't sit until Serverus did, and there was
something haunted in his eyes. She didn't want him to hurt, god, for a moment
she closed her eyes revelling in the darkness behind her eyelids before opening
them to face the light, and the truth.

***

He had to watch her because Draco wasn't, he was looking at the floor,
as if it was the only thing that hadn't turned against him. Perhaps it was.
Ama was just sitting there with her eyes closed and then she opened them
again and he felt the breath freeze in his chest. The pain in those eyes was
so raw, it was as if something had cut her open and she was still bleeding.

"Professor Dumbledore said he wouldn't, couldn't trust me because I am my
fathers daughter."

Watching he saw Snape shift as if he hadn't wanted to hear this, as if
the very thought hurt him.

"Knowing who my father is would probably help you now"

He felt the nod of Hermoines head and saw it register in those eyes,
he'd thought they were just bruised, but something in them had broken now, as
if the final betrayal had happened. And looking at Malfoy's shuttered face he
thought he could make a reasonable guess at it.

She was breathing watching them as if this was to be the final time she
ever saw them, it was a frightening thought.

"I don't even know if I can say it"

Her voice was trapped and hurting, it was the most expressive he had
ever heard it. Then he watched as Snape lay a hand on her shoulder and her chin
firmed, she looked small. Suddenly as if all that was holding her up was her
pride.

"Nic Draconis is only a pseudonym, it means child of dragons, or child of the
wyrm, child of the serpent. I was born, christened if you like Amaris Riddle"

For a moment it didn't sink in, it was a muggle surname to be sure,
but nothing special, until you remembered there was only one living, to use
the term loosely, wizarding family with the name Riddle. Then he went cold all
over, she was her father daughter, no wonder Dumbledore had been worried, then
he looked at her. She was Ama, first and always, she had proved a friend, she
had trusted them with her secrets. And, the one thing he really trusted, she
seemed to be in love with Draco Malfoy.

He looked into those dying eyes and smiled, before giving her a thumbs
up, for a second a smile trembled against her mouth, then she looked across
from him. He followed with his own eyes seeing the smile on Hermoines face and
the slightly confused although worried look on Ron's before his eyes rested on
Draco, he was paler than ice at midwinter, and then he stood.

Sending a quick glance Ama's way he saw the worry in them, and it
didn't seem to be for herself, and then Draco turned to her.

"How could you not tell me this!"

She shuddered slightly before looking up to meet eyes that even he could
see were colder than the October ocean.

"I offered, you refused, my secrets were mine you said"

Draco turned and paced towards the door and then back again before
kneeling gently to cup her face with his hands.

"I know, I'll try to forgive although if I was a just person there would be
nothing to forgive"

She shook her head as if to clear it and smiled, it was beautiful
that smile, as if the weight was gone from her soul and leaning up, very gently
she put her lips against Draco's.

He watched as a shudder worked its way along Draco's spine before he
pulled away looking ever so slightly smug.

"I knew you couldn't resist me"

She swatted him gently before standing up, then looking down at herself
she frowned.

"The damn spell needs breaking before i can be of any use"

He watched Hermoine walk forward and squint through her spectacles and
then she smiled, it was her, 'I'm pleased with my own brilliance' smile and he
looked on as she murmured under her breath he caught some of the words and
shuddered, no wonder Hermoine wanted a teaching position.

Then there was a flash, it was bright enough to blind but was over in
an instant, it seemed that bright light only accompanied violent works of
magic. When his vision cleared he could see the smile on Ama's face and it wasn't
all that lovely.

"Lets get out of here then, shall we?"

Nodding he followed as she strode out of the room and down the corridor.
He wasn't all that concerned but he did want to figure out where they were going,
he wasn't to be disappointed.

"I'll make my final stand in the great hall"

"Why?"

Hermoine always asked the best questions he thought to himself allowing
a slight smile to curve his lips.

"Its her bailiwick"

To his surprise it was Snape who answered and was affirmed by Ama's
quick nod, and then a brusque gesture to continue.

"The great hall was a work of sorcery, and of course it reflects the mood of the
most powerful sorceress in residence"

He saw Hermoine twitch, but it was Ron that spoke.

"The lightning in the great hall yesterday"

Snape nodded

"Exactly, I hope there's not too many surprised students in there, its still
lunch hour"

The smirk on her face now he thought quietly would give Lucius Malfoy
nightmares, and he was sure, he'd heard a murmur of good under her breath. There
ahead of them were the doors to the great hall, the school crest upheld in gold,
he saw the look in her eyes, and reached out to restrain her, but Draco's hand
was on his arm, he looked up into flat grey eyes.

"She wont hurt anybody, she just wants to make an effect"

It was then that the oak doors, several feet thick, blew off of their
hinges.