Cheers to everyone reading and reviewing! :)
Temptress - I will get back with you on that past lives thing, trust me. Avoid email at the moment due to the fact I've got 300 emails I have yet to sort out between the four email services I use :groans: I will get to it though, promise luv! (hugs her fluffy bunnies madly :giggle:)
Cosmic - :beams: hugs: glad to see you are! I think I was the one more shocked when I saw you list this fic in the Exercise 1 over at the workshop...talk about being blown over by a feather! :faints: For that I thank you and give many hugs and glomps luv. :hugs and glomps you again:
Moi - honestly, I don't know why that is. I suppose I never really thought of it, when I write it's just 'there', I don't really concentrate on how others say the same thing in different ways. Is leaving them in a err...bad thing? :shuffles:
Draco/Harry - :chuckles: No, not the end, though it is going to end soon that much I can say. I don't know how many more chaps yet, but I'm at the point where I want closure to the older fics I've written (this one, Innocence, and Reality) so I can go back and work on some other stuff, and start a new fic. Well, I could do that anyway I suppose, but I don't want to keep spreading out so thin :sigh: And I did promise I would finish this one and I will! :chuckle:
Cindy - your wish is me command luv :)
Mimi - :hugs: now no crying :wags a finger at you: then you'll start me crying! :sniffs:
Anni - :laughs: it's not easy that's for sure! I think it's because err...I have no life other than writing :giggles: honestly, other then going to too many darn doctors, I don't do anything all day long. I only work late nights between 3 and 6 AM, sleep for round 4 hours a day, and the rest...is all doing writing mainly. As for Harry...heh he is a curious one isn't he? :whistles:
Caetlyn - 100% right on that one, and the change was made from Floyd to Mick Jagger. Thanks for pointing that out. Happened that I was listening to Another Brick In the Wall when I was writing that and that's why Floyd stuck in me brain lol. And yes, I am stuck in the mid 60's to late 80's in music, you can safely say I am musically challenged because I don't know a single singer out there today. If it's not old rock, I don't know it :giggles: Give me the Beatles, Floyd, Zepplin, Frankie's Faire, Three Dog Nite, Yaz, Alphaville, Culture Club, George Michaels...all of them...anyday! :nod nod nod:
Myr - cheers! :hugs: Hoped it wouldn't be too disappointing...always worry I will be when I write :sigh:
Nagani - :groans: yes, I think that should have read more resistant, and I keep forgetting to make that change :mutters: will do that cheers for spotting it. I am trying to improve me grammar and such, that I think is me worst downfall yet despite the FAWA groups and workshops :sighs: Though after going back to fics I wrote a year ago, I can say I have vastly improved...I think :chuckle:
Shini - :grins: could be! :nod nod nod: Harry just has to be inquisitive...as Hermione would say 'It's in your blood!' :giggles: As to what type of fic It's Called A Heart is - it's a Sev/OCF angst/romance fic. In basis, Sev goes over the edge one day and threatens Harry at wand point, Albus forces him to take a sabbatical. He leaves Hogwarts for the Muggle world after confronting his mum, and accepting a place to stay from Remus since Remus and Sirius are still 'running'. (in this fic it's Remus/Sirius, though only in mention). He ends up in Muggle London and gets lost...and meets Shana, a woman that is cold, crude, short tempered, and not what she seems. She's not an MS in any way, just an OC, because I checked her against the MS 'standards'...she isn't a blue eyed, blonde haired menace trust me. Anyway, if you want to read it it's up at Stories.com. I had it posted here on FFN, but seems few enjoy Sev/OCF fics sadly :sigh:, so I pulled it and put it over there now. Let me know what you think if you do read it though alright luv? Cheers!
Shades - yup, uncertainty is annoying that's for sure! Don't worry, all those questions will get answered, though maybe not all in one chap :chuckle: I think I've got at least 2 or 3 more chaps of this...give or take, depends on Scabbers muse at the moment :P (who's angry with me for not writing another Sirius/Peter fic yet so his glares are quite daunting I swear! :mutters:)
~~~~Chapter Fourteen: From The Darkness Comes Light~~~~
Draco was dreaming, he had to be dreaming because what he was feeling was too good to be real. The words had heard, or thought he had heard, could only be in his dreams, yet somehow he wasn't sure either. His eyes were closed, so it was highly possible he really was dreaming after all, for the voice sounded so familiar, and the arms round him at the moment were too heavenly to be real. The body that was pressed up against him, the warmth he felt, the arms wrapped round him, how could they be there except within his own mind?
A faint hint of warm breath on the back of his neck tickled him and he smiled sweetly, giving a small sigh of pure contentment. He was amazed at how real his imagination could get lately, especially in the past few weeks since he'd heard about Harry's death. At night, in that time when he was still slightly awake but almost about to sleep, where things were grey and fuzzy yet, he could still believe Harry was alive. He could still hear Harry's voice, his teases and taunts, his angers and his hatreds. In his mind's eye he could still see those expressive emerald eyes filled with coldness and mistrust. Then as sleep would finally overtake him, those words and looks would turn to whispered emotions of love. That's when Draco knew he had fallen asleep, for only in the dreamworld would Harry ever say such tender words to his enemy.
He relished those few moments of grey fuzziness though, for it kept him grounded, it kept him from falling apart and having nightmares instead. It helped him make the dreams of love better, it gave him those few precious moments of being able to think Harry was still alive, even if all Draco would ever hear were those words of hate. At least Harry would be there, and with that knowledge there would still be hope. Now though, now all of that, his hopes and dreams, even that special world of fuzziness that grounded him, was being shattered. Now those feelings of hope were invading his waking world, moving beyond the fuzziness and dreams, and he wondered how he had allowed himself to let that happen.
'Draco...' someone whispered causing Draco to shiver. He knew that voice, yet it was also different then when he had last heard it. It was a deeper, silkier voice, sounding like velvet and lace rather than the higher pitched tone that had screamed in fear or had taunted him in contempt.
Draco curled himself tighter into a ball, wishing the voice would stop tormenting him, praying it would stop giving him false hopes. 'Why? Why must you tease me like this? Even in my sleep I hear you...feel you against me...why? Why did you leave me, Harry?' he whispered sadly, not even realising he had said those words out loud.
Draco heard a sweet, low chuckle, and the arms round him tightened, drawing him closer into the warmth of the body attached to it. He felt another tickle of warmed breath against his skin, this time at his ear. 'You're not dreaming, Draco...I'm here...I'll always be here...I promise you I will...' the velvety voice whispered.
Draco breathed in sharply, afraid of those words. Squeezing his eyes tightly a tear formed and he choked back a sob. Shaking his head he tried to clear his mind of those whispered words, they were too painful. 'No...no more...I can't believe in promises from the dead. You left me, Harry...you left me alone...don't make me believe in what I can never have...the real Harry hated me...so this has to be a dream. It was all my fault...you're dead and it's all my fault...I couldn't save you...I failed you...Harry...'
Draco sobbed again, trying to push away the arms round him now, he couldn't take how good they made him feel. He didn't deserve the warmth, he didn't deserve to even have even one more moment of happiness and hope. Harry was gone and not coming back, he had failed the one person in his life he loved more than anything else. The warmth was gone then, only coldness entombed him now and he sobbed again at the sudden loss of heat against him. He felt another warm breath then, this time on his face, and he could feel someone putting a hand on his cheek. Then in a pleading whisper a voice said, 'I'm here, Draco, you didn't fail. Open you eyes and look at me...please, Draco...'
Draco wasn't sure what to do now, this couldn't be happening. The voice was so insistent, so full of pain and tenderness all at once, he found himself responding even though he didn't want to. Slowly he opened his eyes, blinking against the light and trying to focus them, and then he gave a tiny gasp of surprise. Looking back at him was a pair of eyes he knew all too well. Green eyes as vibrant and sparkling as an emerald ocean, eyes that were now filled with worry and another emotion Draco dared not think could be real. Those eyes that had always been cold and distant to him...were now filled with love...and that expression of love was for him and him alone.
Putting a shaking hand out he touched the other boys cheek as well, wondering what was going on. The cheek felt so real, and though it was pale in colour, it was warm to the touch, clearly showing the person before him was really there...was really alive. He was too stunned to move, all he could do is touch that cheek like it was a lifeline, as if he would wake up any moment and once again be thrust back into the real world where this boy was dead and never coming back. Finally he found his voice though he didn't know how, and whispered faintly, 'H-Harry?'
Harry smiled then and nodded, the worry and fears gone from his eyes now, leaving behind only the love and understanding. 'I'm here, Draco. I'm here...I'm real...' he said again reassuringly.
Draco didn't care how it was possible at the moment, or why the Fates had decided to tease him like this, but whatever the case was Harry was there, in front of him, alive. He knew he wasn't dreaming anymore, and before he could stop himself the weeks of pent up emotions finally hit him square in the chest. With a choked sob he flung himself out into Harry's arms, crying and shaking until he couldn't anymore. 'Oh Harry...Harry...how? How?' he sobbed over and over into Harry's chest.
Harry held him for a while, letting Draco release those emotions and all the questions first before answering back. He knew this was going to be difficult on Draco, he didn't realize just how much though honestly. He didn't care how long it would take to get Draco to calm down, they had all the time in the world at the moment. He knew his father and the others wouldn't bother them right now, they'd left the moment Harry revealed himself from under his invisibility cloak and slipped into the bed with Draco. He had seen the look in his dad's eyes when he'd done that, it wasn't anger or even amusement, just understanding, and the nod he'd received from his father gave him the courage he needed to help Draco come to terms now.
How long they sat there Harry didn't know, he just rocked Draco back and forth in his arms, holding him tightly until the tears finally melted away. Finally Harry lifted Draco's chin so he could look at him, and he could see the myriad of questions now in those slate grey watery eyes and he smiled in understanding. Then before Draco could say anything he leaned in and gently kissed Draco on the lips, a tender, chaste kiss that told Draco just how much Harry loved and needed him, and that he would never leave him again. Raising his head after a few moments, heat flowing through his body he could see Draco's eyes shining now, not from tears, but from happiness. Very softly he said, 'How...is a very long story, Draco, and it begins...with you...'
Harry then began to tell Draco everything that had happened up to that moment, only pausing to answer or collaborate things with Draco as needed. He told Draco about how he had been wandering the school and had first come across Severus, Remus and Sirius in the hidden corridor, about the feelings he had felt towards Draco and how he had shied from them, about meeting his mum and grandmum, and about finding out who he really was. He told Draco how he had ran that night in fear of the map and what he was hearing from the others, how at that moment he had been so angry at the world, and how he had felt so ill by the time he'd reached the pitch.
He told Draco he remembered collapsing there, and then only darkness, but in that darkness he remembered arms round him, and a voice coaxing him back into safety. Then he told Draco everything else, from the time he 'died', right up until this moment. How he had snuck back upstairs under his cloak after telling Hermione and Ron he wasn't in the mood to fly anymore. How he had heard Draco's whispers, and how he had to let Draco know how much he loved him in return, how he really needed to remember if those arms from his dreams were still warm and loving.
Harry grinned when Draco blushed at that, which confirmed the suspicion that Harry had had the last few nights during his dreams of those missing few days of his life. Draco admitted it was he who had said those words and had held him. He didn't know Harry was hearing him nor that he would remember, and Draco told him how he knew that he would never have had the courage to say such things to Harry otherwise. Draco also admitted he had Harry's Firebolt still, or at least he'd had it back in his dorm room if no one had taken it by now, for which Harry was really glad to hear. Then Draco told Harry everything as well, from how he had fallen with him so long ago, all the way up to what had happened with Professor Lupin at the treehouse.
Harry was a bit upset about hearing how Remus had treated him, but Draco silenced him with a kiss and then told Harry he wasn't angry for what happened. He understood it had to be done, and in no uncertain terms he hoped it would work out and his father would be punished severely. Harry begged Draco's forgiveness for having to have tormented him for 'dying' like that, but again Draco wasn't upset, now he understood it all and he agreed it had been the right thing to do. In the end they just kissed for a while, everything coming together and no more regrets or fears were in their way.
A little while later a tiny cough alerted them they weren't alone, and they looked up guiltily until Draco saw who it was who had coughed, and he broke into a grin. 'Viri! You're up finally eh? Welcome back to the world of the living, cousin,' he laughed at seeing the grimace on his cousin's face.
Viridian shot Draco a half glare and shook his head to clear out the cobwebs. 'Try more like the world of the 'half dead', I'm never 'living', cousin,' he muttered now. He then noticed Harry and nodded at him, obviously not even surprised to see the dead come back to life. 'So umm...mind filling me in?'
Harry and Draco laughed then began retelling the stories, though only what was relevant for Viridian to know. 'That's basically about it, Viridian. Dad said it was the best thing to do, safer, but I swear it's getting on my nerves to be 'dead' all the time...err...no offence,' Harry said blushing at the half vampire.
Viridian chuckled and waved his hand in dismissal. 'None taken. I'm used to that, trust me. I know you're probably wondering why I wasn't surprised as hell to see you 'alive', Harry, but I didn't smell death when I woke up, only two people very much alive, and so I figured something odd had happened. Not to mention I remembered how you smelled when I saw you last, and though it's changed slightly, it's still a scent I remembered, so I knew it was you in the room. I wonder what will happen to us all now though? Draco and I will not go back to Lucius, and I'm worried for my aunt too, I hope she's all right,' he said with a worried sigh.
'You're Aunt Narcissa is perfectly fine thank you, Viridian,' a soft voice said from the doorway, causing all three boys to turn round quickly with shocked looks on their faces.
At seeing who the newcomer to the hidden ward was Draco yelled in delight got up quickly, running over to the person and hugging them tightly. 'Mum! Oh mum! You're all right!' he said happily.
Narcissa hugged her son back tightly and nodded, smiling over his head at Viridian and Harry. 'I'm fine son. I'm more resilient then people think I am. As for Lucius, he won't hurt me again...or any of us for that matter, I can promise you that,' she said quietly and everyone in the room now looked at her questioningly.
'What do you mean, Aunt Narcissa? What happened?' Viridian asked puzzled.
'Perhaps in that I can also be of assistance,' a new voice said now, and a second person came through the doorway, a smile on his face.
'Dad!' Harry said happily, and for some reason he had a sudden urge to run up and hug him as well, just as Draco had done to his mum. 'What's going on?' he asked now.
Severus hugged his son back and for the first time since all this had began he really felt that hug deep inside. It was amazing to him just how much had happened to him, to all of them really, in such a short amount of time. He gazed at his son for a moment, really taking in all that had changed with the boy, and he felt better...happier...then he ever had in his entire life. Apart from Harry's eyes, no one would think this boy had ever been 'Harry James Potter', it was strange though seeing his features combined with Lily's. Thanks to that combination though Harry actually was a very handsome boy now, and with a little pang of regret Severus wished he himself had looked like that as a child. Not that Severus hadn't changed himself as of late, he had, thanks to Remus and Sirius's insistence.
He'd removed the charm he used on his hair over a week ago, now it fell round his face looking silky and clean. He finally, after much arguing at that, had allowed Poppy fix his nose back to what it had been before he'd broken it all those years ago. Though it was still on the larger side, which made him grateful Harry had obviously inherited Lily's nose, at least it was straight again. He still refused to give up his black 'bat style' dress whilst teaching, but in private he had found a few new colours in blue, grey, red and green in his now shared wardrobe. They were gifts from Remus and Sirius and he wore them gladly during the evenings when they were alone, and sometimes even with Harry when they would have their own evening chats.
At this moment however he felt more like a 'father' then he had in the whole time since everything had been revealed. Harry in his arms hugging him, the happiness on his son's face, the love he could see not just for Draco, but for himself, melted him in all ways. He knew now the news he and Narcissa had to impart to the boys would only make things better, and he was glad he would be here to see their reactions. Nodding to Narcissa now he smiled at her and said, 'Narcy, good to see you again.'
Narcissa, who still had her arm round her son's shoulder, smiled back at Severus and nodded to him as well. 'Severus, glad to finally meet again under far better circumstances than usual. Remus and Sirius are well?' she asked.
Severus nodded. 'They'll be returning shortly, Remus got called to London a little over an hour ago for some last minute details to work out on all of this, and Sirius wanted to do some shopping whilst they were in London. Merlin only can imagine what he will pick up this time in the Muggle world,' he said with a slight groan and shook his head.
Harry laughed. 'Last time Sirius brought back a Muggle CD player and some music, drove dad batty for days trying to find a way to enchant it to play in the castle. Took Sirius forever to figure out that all he had to do was get batteries since those aren't effected by magic. Poor dad though, he had to be subjected to...err...what was that music again?' Harry asked turning to his father.
'I believe it was The Beatles amongst other things,' Severus said with a sigh.
'Oh come now, Severus, I recall back at school you enjoyed music like that. Getting old are we?' Narcissa teased.
'Wiser, not older, Narcissa. Though, I guess I did enjoy those Muggle groups back then, didn't I,' Severus said now with a sigh of remembrance of long forgotten days.
'Don't pay attention to his mumblings, Harry. As a matter of fact, I happen to know for fact that your father was secretly in love with Muggle things back in his youth. Lucius used to hate it whenever he would arrive at the Manor on that motorbike of his,' Narcissa said with a twinkle in her eye.
'Motorbike? You had a motorbike?' Harry said, then turned to his father stunned.
'Err...well...let's not go there shall we?' Severus said uncomfortably, though the look in his son's eyes told him he wasn't going to get away with that so easily. Mumbling something under his breath he groaned a moment then nodded his head. 'Oh all right, yes, I did have a motorbike. It was your godfather actually got me hooked on them believe it or not, even though he didn't know it at the time. I happened to find a picture of a motorbike he was looking at to buy and fix up, an old Ironhead Harley Sportster I believe, and that got me interested. Though personally I ended up with a Triumph 120 myself,' he grinned now.
'Whoa, I can't believe you actually like motorbikes! Do you still have yours?' Harry asked curiously.
'Yes, as a matter of fact I do still have that very same Triumph back at Snape Manor. As it happens, I've also managed to collect a few others over the years as well,' Severus said sounding as if it was no big deal to just 'collect' Muggle items like that.
'Oh stop teasing him, Severus. He loves that old Triumph, I believe it's nickname is 'The Grey Wolf' if I remember right, named after a very special wolf at that,' Narcissa said with a grin, noticing that Severus blush slightly at that release of information. 'He has no less than a hundred assorted motorbikes at the Manor these days though, ranging from the 1900's all the way through today's models. I'm surprised you haven't told Sirius about them yet, Severus. You know he would enjoy to see what you've tinkered on in your spare time.'
Severus groaned at that and shook his head. 'I'm waiting for just the right moment, Narcy. If I told him about those bikes now Remus and I would never see him again,' he said rolling his eyes.
Harry laughed and nodded in agreement. 'That's for sure! However, I don't think Sirius would ever forgive you if you don't show him them at some point, dad,' he teased.
'I will, don't you worry,' Severus nodded with a smile. 'Now, I believe we have some more important news to tell you all, so please sit down,' Severus said, and went over to sit down on a chair near Harry's bed.
Everyone found seats, Harry of course sitting next to Draco on Draco's bed, Narcissa in a chair next to Severus, and Viridian on Harry's bed. 'So what's the news, dad? Not bad I hope?' Harry asked worriedly.
Severus shook his head and carefully chose the words he was going to use next, though he knew the news he had would be taken gladly no matter how he really said it. 'It seems, that for once in their pathetic lives, the Ministry has decided to...err...act quickly on certain...situations.'
'What situations, Professor?' Draco asked curiously.
'Please, call me Severus, Draco, it's not like we're in class at the moment, and under the circumstances...' Severus said grinning now as his gaze slid over Harry and Draco who were holding hands, 'it would only be the right thing to do. I very well can't have my future son-in-law calling me Professor day long now can I?'
Draco blushed (which Harry privately thought was very sexy on him), and nodded at Severus. 'Er...sure...ummm...Severus,' he said hesitantly, not even wanting to touch the comment about the son-in-law idea yet. That was just moving faster than he wanted to go at the moment.
'So spill it already, what's the deal with the Ministry?' Viridian said now looking from Severus to his aunt and then back to Severus.
'Quite a bit has actually happened in the past four hours since you got back to the school, especially in the past almost two hours since you woke up, Draco,' Severus said.
'It's been that long already? Seems like a minute ago when I woke back up,' Draco said quietly, and looked at Harry lovingly.
'I know, time sure does fly doesn't it,' Harry said softly and pulled Draco into his arms. Looking back at his father he said, 'What can possible happen in just a few hours though?'
'A lot, if you want it to, son,' Severus chuckled. 'After Arthur, Arabella and Alastor brought Draco and Viridian back over five hours ago, much has taken place within the Ministry. Fudge is no longer Minister of Magic, he was ousted and pronounced unfit to serve his office further by refusing to acknowledge the return of Voldemort these past near three years.'
'Whaaat? How? Is it true? Fudge is out? Who's the new Minister?' Viridian said quickly.
'Someone whom I know will make you very happy,' Severus said with a smile, 'Arthur Weasley has been unanimously sworn in as of three hours ago as the new Minister of Magic. About time I say too.'
Harry let out a whoop of joy and beamed brightly. 'All right! Way to go Mr. Weasley! Does Ron know yet? Oh wait...no he couldn't know or he'd have told me when I saw him a bit ago...is someone going to tell him?' Harry asked in a rush.
Severus laughed and nodded his head. 'All ready been done, his mother personally came to the school to tell him and young Ms. Weasley over an hour ago. He wanted to come see you right away, Harry, but I told him he could stop in later tonight if you'd like him too. I told him you were resting at the moment and wasn't to be disturbed.'
Harry blushed slightly, remembering exactly why he didn't want to be disturbed, and then nodded at his father. 'That would be great, I'd love to see him and Hermione. I felt kind of bad I shoved them off earlier, so that'll make up for it. Besides, I have a hell of lot of explaining to do myself to them,' he sighed.
Severus nodded in understanding. 'I'm sure everything will work out, even if it takes time, son, I know how much your friends mean to you. You're important to them as well, and I doubt such a thing as your choices and who fell in love with will end that friendship,' he said quietly.
Harry nodded and gave him a nervous smile. 'You're right, they can both be a pain sometimes, but we've all been through a lot together and always have stayed strong friends. I really don't think much more can shock them actually, not after finding out I was your son!' he giggled now.
Severus laughed and nodded. 'Truer words never spoken. However, that's not all the news we have for you now,' he said, and glanced at Narcissa to pick up the conversation.
'Mum? What does he mean by that?' Draco asked curiously.
Narcissa smiled at her son, and was so very grateful that Draco had found his dreams and they had come true. 'It's...it's about your father, Draco, that I'm here now,' she said hesitantly.
'Lucius? What about him?' Draco said with a slight frown.
Narcissa knew the news she would now tell her son and nephew probably would be taken well, so she continued without fear. 'Not more than half an hour after Arthur was instated as Minister of Magic, he issued a warrant to search Malfoy Manor, and arrest Lucius for several things, including the murder of one Harry James Potter. Currently he is sitting in the Ministry's high security gaol in London, awaiting a trial.'
'The trial is mainly formality, Draco, he's going to be found guilty, of that I can assure you,' Severus said quietly. 'Thanks to the information from Remus, your letter, and other testimonies, including Narcissa's and my own...Lucius will be going away for a very long time, if not get the Dementors Kiss for his actions.'
Harry, Draco and Viridian all stared at Severus and Narcissa in shock. Harry knew something was going on concerning Lucius Malfoy, but he hadn't a clue that any of this was going to happen. What they were hearing was just too good to be true, Lucius really was going to pay for everything he had done, and this time he wouldn't be able to buy his way out of it. 'Oh Merlin...I can't believe it, tell me I'm not still dreaming...' Draco half whispered in awe.
Narcissa chuckled. 'You're not dreaming, my son, it's all real. There will be a lot of new changes now, and this is only the first step. Of course, the best changes won't happen until we can finally defeat Voldemort once and for all, which is yet another step in the plans now, and one we have much to discuss on.'
'Oh...why does that prat have to always make things so difficult,' Viridian grumbled. 'Do we have to discuss him now, Aunt Narcissa?'
'No, we can hold off on those plans for a little longer. Meanwhile, Dumbledore has so kindly extended his permission so that I may come and see you whenever you'd like me to, Draco. Though I dare say at the moment you will have your own plans,' she said knowingly, causing both Harry and Draco to blush. 'Now, now don't look like that boys, I was once young and in love myself, I know what needing special time alone is like,' she chuckled.
'Why do I find that so hard to believe,' Viridian said dryly, then sheepishly added on, 'err...not that you weren't young, Aunt Narcissa, but umm...I mean in love and all...'
Narcissa smiled softly. 'There was once a time , long ago before I married Lucius that I was deeply in love with someone. He was everything to me as I was to him, we loved each other so much, but he wasn't good enough for my family you see. He didn't have a lot of money or power, and his blood-line was only about a hundred years old compared to my own. He was a very simple man with simple tastes, but I loved him anyway, but when my parents found out about us they forbade me to see him again. I was packed off to Lucius before I could even say another word,' she sighed.
'What happened to him, do you know? Do you still love him?' Draco asked curiously.
'Yes, I do still love him, though I don't know if he still loves me, I have not seen nor spoken to him in over twenty years now. From what I'm told though, a lot has happened to him over the years, and I don't know if...if he even still remembers who I am now, or that he was ever in love with me. The last letter I wrote to him explaining why I could never see him again...it probably tore him apart, I'm sure it did. He was never a very strong or courageous person, and though I told him I would always love him, I knew it would break his heart that he wasn't worthy enough for my family. I often wonder if I had only defied my parents...perhaps I could have saved him somehow' she said sadly.
'Can I ask who it was at least?' Draco said.
Narcissa gazed at her son thoughtfully for a moment, then her gaze turned to Harry, and it was at him that her eyes became the saddest of all. 'I'm so very sorry, Harry. If I had known what was to happen, if I had not been so weak and all...' she said with a slight trace of tears, unable to continue.
'Mum?' Draco said now worriedly.
Narcissa sniffed back a few tears and shook her head sadly, her gaze still on Harry. 'I guess you should know the truth. It was really my fault that Lily and James died that night, that they were betrayed like they were.'
'I don't understand, why would you say that?' Harry asked confused.
Narcissa sighed as new tears formed in her pain-filled eyes, and she swallowed slightly before continuing. 'Because, Harry...the man I was...and Merlin forgive me...still am...in love with, the man who loved me with all his heart, who promised me that he would always love me and be there for me and take care of me...the man who I thought was the most kind, considerate, patient, loving and understand man on earth...the man I had no choice but to hurt in the end...was none other then...Peter Michael Pettigrew...'
September 17, 2002 6:05 PM ©Piriotessa/Piri Lupin-Snape/Piri Malfoy