Refer to previous chapter and the beginning for disclaimers.

Shades Of Gray

By princessofplanets

E-mail: princessofplanets@hotmail.com

Part 9 / 9 (STAY TUNED FOR THE SEQUEL!)

Harry stood in shock, not willing to understand what happened. Beside him Draco had his fists clenched so tightly his nails drew blood. The silence was punctured by Hermione beginning to cry softly. While Ron attempted to soothe her, Malachi and Keigo slammed into the wall, finding it solid.

"How the hell are we supposed to get out of here?" the elf demanded, his eyes never straying from Alex's body.

Malachi was silent, studying the power with a blank expression. "The silver's left it," he commented softly. "That means that someone here is powering it. Someone with red magic."

Harry glanced down at the envelope in his hand, which had appeared there just before Alex had gathered the power to destroy Voldemort. He turned it over carefully, breaking the white seal.

Harry,

I'm giving this to you because it was with your power that this letter could be created. If you could share the important parts with everyone else, I'd really appreciate it.

First, I know that since you're reading this, I'm dead. It's strange how used to the idea I am, but after almost waiting for it for the past two months, I'm sure death is a blessing. *DON'T BLAME YOURSELF!* Harry Potter, I know you too well to think that you won't. You know, one thing I noticed before... well, you know... was that you're energy and Draco's are intertwined. I bet you didn't notice that, did you? Green and silver...

Draco... What can I say to someone who almost knows me better than I do? I trust you'll handle this, because I trust you. Thank you so much for these past years of friendship. They mean SO much to me, and it was very comforting knowing that if I ever needed it I would have a shoulder to cry on. You helped me launch the killing blow to Voldemort -- in case you were wondering.

Ron, all I can say to you is that I wish you luck getting away from your brothers! ^_^ . Seriously, though, I know you always compare yourself to them somewhere, even if it's deep down. You're a GREAT person by yourself, you just have to forget about spotlights every once in a while. Who cares if not everyone in school knows your name? Would you really want them to? Think about it. When you touch the shield, it will disappear.

Hermione, thanks for being you. For being someone I could study with, for being someone I could wake up in the middle of the night (even if we had a test the next day...), and most of all for being someone I could talk to no matter what. Though I may not have used that last one for the past few months, it's definitely one of the things I admire most about you. PLEASE, never lose your ability to listen. When you touch the roots, they'll disappear. (Do it once the magical police people -- ^_^ --, or people from Azkaban, whatever, get there.) Touch the roots binding each person as their ready to be taken away.

Professor Dumbledore, I'd like to ask you to take care of all my stuff. As I've never been to a will reading, I don't really know what they're like, but I've put a lot of thought into what I want to do with my things. As for the actual stuff, I'd like that to be donated to wherever wants it, as I don't know much about magical donation stuff. I'd like three-eighths of my bank account to go to the Weasleys, who've been like family to me, one-eighth to each: Harry, Draco, Ron, and Hermione. The last eighth can be given to another good cause, I guess... Maybe the House Elf Liberation Front... eh, Hermione? ^_^

Guys, I came to the dance tonight expecting to die. A part of me knew that Professor Dumbledore's shield thing wouldn't work, and another part of me that Voldemort's only fear now was me... His own creation... I did this for you. While I'm not sure I should say that, because I'm afraid you'll blame yourselves, it's the truth. I wanted Harry and Draco and Ron and Hermione to have a future together, even if it wasn't 'together'. You're my friends. And to quote Ai wo Shinjiteru again, "Dare mo / Shini yuku koto yurusanai kara," or "If anyone / were to die I wouldn't forgive myself."

I'm not the type who could live with it if I were the one to live because someone died to save me. Maybe that's just cowardice, and I suppose in a way it is. And, to quote the Vulcans (Ron, I don't expect you to understand this, but Draco is a secret sci-fi addict ^_^ ) "Live long and prosper." I'm sure we'll see each other again SOMEDAY! Sayonara…*

Sincerely, Alex

Harry froze as he read it. Rescanning it quickly, he said in a somewhat choked voice, "Hey, Ron, could you please touch the shield-thingy? It should disappear then." The red-haired teenager looked at him like he was crazy, though he shrugged and complied. His jaw dropped when the wall did before he turned to Harry in utter confusion.

Immediately Keigo, Malachi, Madame Pomfrey, Draco, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Professor Dumbledore rushed forward to the fallen girl. Malachi had to firmly hold the frantic elf back, though he did it easily while Madame Pomfrey examined her. "She's dead," she murmured softly. She stepped back as the vampire released Keigo. The raven-haired man rushed towards her, pushing himself into the inner circle. Draco glared at him as he reached out and grabbed her cold hand, pressing it tightly to his chest. Then the silvery-haired blonde froze as he saw his friend's chest rise and fall weakly as she *breathed*.

Draco's arms, which had been tightly holding Harry to him, loosened in disbelief. Hermione's eyes were wide in an almost fear-like way, while Ron still hadn't moved from his position with his face buried in the genius's hair. "Is it possible?" she whispered.

"Dray?" Harry asked softly. "Are you okay?" His lover's body had become even more tense since they had sat near her.

"Look!" he whispered fiercely in response. As the raven-haired teenager followed his gaze, he gaped discovering his other friend's breathing.

"MADAME POMFREY!" he screamed, calling the witch over in a hurry.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It's amazing how normal things can get, Harry thought to himself as he glanced up from his Charms homework. He was doing it in the Hospital wing with Draco as usual, where Alex's still form had lay for almost seven months with no change in her coma-like condition. Both boys' heads shot up as they heard yelling moving toward the door.

"Albus, you have had this girl here for far too long! She's taking up valuable bed space! Think of all the injured students that could be here in her place!" Harry recognized the voice of Cornelius Fudge easily, and could picture his angry purple face with the same ease. He rolled his eyes at his comment, however; all the other beds in the Hospital wing were open. The door opened as Fudge stormed into the room.

Alex lifted her eyelids slightly, though even that small task seemed like attempting to lift boulders. Her already pounding headache grew as she heard the Minister of Magic and the Headmaster argue. Am I dead? she asked herself. No, she decided almost immediately as she lifted her arm slightly. Not even hell would hurt this much.

"This girl killed Voldemort! She's a hero!"

"Harry defeated Voldemort almost fifteen years ago!"

A moan escaped her choked voice as the blonde attempted to rise, pain shooting through her body. "Alex!" The younger of the two fifteen-year-olds hurled at her, slamming her body once again into the mattress. The girl managed to smother the whimper of agony, but she couldn't keep her body from tensing.

"Oh my God, you're all right!" Harry murmured in her ear as he hugged her tighter. "I don't believe it!"

"Star, you're stealing my boyfriend from me!" Draco said hoarsely. When Harry backed off he stepped forward slowly. "He's mine, you know." Alex smiled weakly as he came over and gave her a gentle hug.

"Yeah, I know," she whispered. More than you could imagine. She refused the urge to look longingly in the Gryffindor seeker's direction, knowing Draco's quick eyes would catch the look. Just then, Ron and Hermione burst into the room.

"ALEX!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Alex shifted uncomfortably in the hard seat of the train. Her friends were caught up in each other's eyes, none noticing her discomfort. After a month of coddling, the blonde had had enough and had forcibly told her friends that she was fine before the end of the year celebration. She had been distinctly aware of the whisperings and the people avoiding her in the hallways like the plague, both of which her friends attempted to protect her from. And now that she had come to her decision, she was unaware as to how to break the news to her friends. She contemplated the idea on the seemingly long ride back to London, saying nothing even as the group of five gathered their trunks and disembarked off the train.

"See you guys next fall!" Hermione said cheerfully, pulling Alex into a reluctant hug as she pecked each boy quickly on the cheek.

"Harry, you're coming to my house later this summer, right?" Ron inquired.

"Definitely!" he agreed with a grin.

"Great, then we'll – "

"Guys, it'll be goodbye for more than the summer," Alex said quickly, pushing out the words before she became too cowardly to say them.

"What?" Hermione asked, sounding worried.

"Yeah, what are you talking about?" Ron inquired with a furrowed brow.

"Alex…"

"I'm not coming back next year," the blonde said, her quiet voice filling the silence after Harry said her name. "I'm leaving Hogwarts."

"Why?" Hermione questioned.

"Hermione… I killed someone! I… I can't just come back like nothing happened." She sighed. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Plus I finally have a chance to travel!"

"Can you do that?" Ron asked with disbelief.

"I can and did." She added as an afterthought, "And will."

"Alex, you can't go!" Draco protested softly. "Who'll help me with my Transfiguration homework? Who'll help me tell my mother I'm gay?"

"Harry and everyone can help you with that," she murmured softly. "You don't need me, Draco."

"Yes, I – "

"GET OVER HERE, BOY!" The silvery-blonde haired boy was cut off by Vernon Dursley's shout. "DON'T MAKE US LATE FOR DINNER!"

"Hermione," Mrs. Granger said in her gentle voice. She stared at Alex for a moment in discomfort, pulling her daughter away from her slightly, making the blonde girl wince. "Honey, we're ready to go. We have your trunk all packed. We should be going now."

"Ron!" Mr. Weasley called. He beckoned his son over to him. "We're just waiting on you, come on!"

"Master Draco, sir, Mistress Malfoy, sir, she is waiting for you she is, sir." A house elf bowed nervously in front of Draco, glancing back at a tall, cold woman. When Harry glanced at him he shook his head sorrowfully.

"Damn you, Alexandra Star," he whispered in her ear as he pulled her into a hug. "How dare you leave?" Not giving her a chance to reply he released her and started walking off toward his mother.

Harry flinched as he heard his uncle bellow again. "Bye, Alex," he murmured as he pecked her lightly on the cheek. "I hope wherever you are you're happy." Nodding to her quickly, he rushed off, dragging his trunk and Hedwig behind him.

Hermione pulled her into a tighter hug than before. "Whatever you do, be happy," she agreed with the seeker. She pulled away quickly, sensing the blonde's discomfort as she turned to leave with her mother. "AND WRITE!"

Ron shook her hand awkwardly. "Enjoy wherever you go."

"Thanks," she murmured, tightening her grip on his hand. "I really appreciate it, Ron. You've been a great friend."

"Thanks." His dad called him once again, and Ron turned to leave. "Come back and visit sometime, Alex. You'll always be welcome at our house, no matter how short the notice."

Tears formed in her eyes, though she quickly blinked them away as her last friend left her. There, standing alone in the middle of a muggle train station, Alex Star cut her last bonds to the wizarding world.

~*OWARI*~

~*END*~

You know, I don't even like elves. *Stops and considers this.* I think I only made Keigo one so that he could be immortal and that would produce more conflict for Keigo and Celeste. Hmm… I've got to tell Angel (my particularly sick-minded friend) that she and my other friend, Lee-chan (you can read some of her poetry and LotR under Lee-chan) aren't allowed to talk about Legolas anymore. They're affecting me subconsciously. I'm already adding a form of elves into my book for a short period to make them happy… *SIGH!*

Also if you want to read a creative writing piece (meaning original work) my friend Spirit-of-Magic has good work. He isn't very far into his story, but I've heard the basic story/plot line and it sounds good.

* Sayonara, for those of you who have been misinformed about Japanese, when used between close friends is an extremely heartfelt term because it's saying goodbye. That particular form of goodbye is also saying that you don't expect to see the person again, or if you do it won't be for a long, long time. Saying things like 'Ja' or 'Ja ne' is similar to saying 'bye' or 'see you later'.

Also the Japanese vowels are pronounced differently. A equals ah, e equals a (as in fade), i equals e as in need, o is pretty much the same, and u is oo as in food, ex. Oo-sah-gee is Usagi, which means rabbit. ^_^ .