Sacrifice of Love Chapter 9: The Hardest Thing, a harry potter fanfic

A/N: Thank-you so much to all of the reviewers! I am so happy that you guys like the story! You guys are the best! ^_^ In this chapter I'm going to try to incorporate a song. Let me know if I do an okay job, alright? It's my first time using a song in one of my stories. Well, here goes nothing! ^_^

Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with the books. I only own the plot and any characters you don't recognize from the original HP books. Nor do I own the song 'The Hardest Thing'. It is sung by 98 degrees and belongs to the talented people who wrote it.

Chapter 9: The Hardest Thing

Draco and Emily's relationship itself was going well. The couple spent most of their free time together and continued seeing each other between classes. They still believed that hardly anyone knew about their relationship for neither of them had been ridiculed for dating someone in the opposing house.

It was now a couple of weeks later and Emily still hadn't been able to get Harry to talk to her. She had spoken to Hermione many times who promised to try and talk to Harry for her, but nothing Hermione did seemed to help.

Emily was now walking through the corridors towards Draco's head boy's room. She looked at the paintings on the walls and they returned her stare with unfriendly eyes.

"It's like they know…"she thought to herself as she pulled her sweater tighter around her shoulders. "But I'm not doing anything wrong," she said this time in a quiet voice to a painting of a wizard who looked at her with a scowl before turning his back on her.

Emily had just reached the entrance to the head boy/head girl common room when the portrait door swung open and out stepped Harry and Hermione.

"Emily!" cried Hermione with a smile before silencing herself and looking carefully at Harry.

Emily gave a small smile and a nod towards Hermione before turning to look at Harry as well.

It was like someone had put the scene into slow motion because no one moved - not even Harry. He looked a little surprised to have bumped into Emily but his face became very expressionless as he seemed to look right through her before he started to walk past her without a second glance.

"Harry, wait!" Emily rushed the words as she stared at his back which continued to move away from her. "Harry-please! Just listen to me!" But still he continued to walk away from her.

Hermione looked at Emily with a sympathetic face before running to catch up to Harry. Grabbing onto his arm and looking him in the eyes she asked, "Why won't you just talk to her? She's apologized, Harry. This is ridiculous the way this is being carried out." She spoke in a soft voice but it was still loud enough for Emily to hear.

Harry had stopped walking but still didn't look back. "I have nothing to say to her. She chose her position - not me." He spoke in a cold voice before continuing to walk down the corridor with Hermione right behind him.

Emily felt so hurt at the moment he had spoke. No one had ever spoke to her with such a cold demeanour before. She knew she deserved it though for what she had said. She hung her head sadly as she said the password to get into the common room.

The portrait swung open and allowed her entry. Emily took a deep breath and swallowed hard before continuing to Draco's room.

As soon as Draco had opened the door and she saw his handsome smile she momentarily forgot her run-in with Harry.

Emily wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his shoulder.

Draco put his arms around her waist and kissed the side of her head. He gently rubbed her back and smiled as he felt her warmth against him.

Emily shivered slightly against him and feeling this, he swooped her up into his arms.

Draco carried her into his room and placed her on his bed. Emily then placed pillows behind her against the headboard and sat with her back up against them. Draco positioned himself beside her so that his arm was around her shoulders and her head was up against him.

He caressed her hair and smiled.

Emily closed her eyes, allowing herself to feel his gentle touch - a touch that made her forget everything else that was on her mind. She cuddled up closer to him and placed a hand on his chest.

Draco continued to look down at her. Never in a million years did he think he could ever feel like this. He thought that love was nothing more than lust and sex. He thought it was all some myth that was fed to those willing to hear it. But now he knew that he was wrong. If this wasn't what love was - this feeling that he had - then he didn't know what was. It was true - he did love her. And he was almost positive that she felt the same way.

Finally Draco broke the comfortable silence that was between them. "Is everything alright? You're being so quiet." His voice was quiet but was filled with warmth. It was true - she hadn't spoken a word since she had entered the bed chambers. She was usually quite talkative and always had something to say about some event that had taken place in her day.

Emily lifted her head so that she could meet his eyes. "Yes, of course I'm fine," she forced a smile onto her face. She didn't want to upset Draco by telling him about her run in with Harry. He would always become angry if he heard that Ron and Harry were ignoring her. She didn't want him to be angry now, so she put on the best fake smile that she could.

Draco looked at her with uncertainty in his eyes. He didn't really believe her, but he thought that if something major was wrong that she'd tell him. He smiled at her as he moved his hand down to her side. "You're sure you're okay?" He wanted to get a real smile out of her so he began to tickle her side. He smirked at her attempt to squirm out of his grasp.

Emily giggled as she tried to push his hand away. "Draco- stop- stop it!" She giggled more as she was finally able to roll out of his reach and off the bed. She grabbed onto a pillow as she stood on her feet with a smile on her face.

Draco also grabbed a pillow and leaped onto the bed and to the other side.

Emily swung her pillow at him, but missed, as she backed herself away from him. Within seconds she found herself up against the wall and Draco was closing in on her with his pillow grasped tightly in his hand.

"Looks like you're cornered, my dear. Nowhere to turn…" Draco took another step closer with his pillow raised.

But Emily was too quick for she quickly swung her pillow and hit him straight in the stomach. She laughed as her pillow burst, spilling many feathers and as Draco let out a small gasp. She tried to run past him but in an instant he had her by the waist and they fell to the bedroom floor - Emily landing on top of Draco.

Both were laughing. Draco placed his arms around her once again and stared into her eyes.

Emily smiled and leaned in to kiss him. Draco's hand came up to the side of her face to gently place loose strands of hair behind her ear.

As they parted, something caught Draco's eye. He took hold of the charm that was dangling from around Emily's neck and looked at it intently, "What's this?" he asked.

Emily blushed slightly as she quickly sat up causing him to release his grasp on the charm.

"Oh," she said, "It's just a necklace." She quickly placed the charm back under her shirt so that it was no longer visible.

Draco looked at her carefully but didn't say anything more. But what he couldn't figure out was where he had seen that charm before. Why did it look so familiar?

***************

In the Great Hall at supper the next day, Draco sat at his usual spot at the Slytherin table looking over at the Gryffindor table at Emily. She smiled at him when she saw him and he grinned back.

Just then, he was elbowed in the side, "What is it now? How many times have I told you not to do that?" He directed his voice to Goyle who happened to be sitting on his right. Malfoy always made sure to be his ignorant self around his housemates.

Goyle just grunted and pointed to an owl that was sitting in front of Draco's plate with a letter attached.

Malfoy untied the letter from the owl and opened it. His face turned pale as he looked down at the bottom to see who it was from. He then brought his eyes back up to the top of the letter and began to read:

Draco,

Through my sources I have been told that you are, at the present time, dating a Gryffindor student by the name of Emily Black. I must say that I am very disappointed in your choice of blood. The Blacks have always fought against our master, and I command you to break off your ties with this whore. She will only get in your way to greatness. Our master has become very disappointed with you as well. You will be considered a traitor if you continue your courtship with her.

Heed my words Draco. If you do not break it off with this tramp within the next twenty-four hours, then believe that I will do it for you. I will not have our name tainted because of you. You have already disappointed me once while you have been a death eater, Draco, do not do it again.

Father

'How dare him!' Draco thought as he crumpled the piece of parchment he had just received. His face turned red with anger and he threw the crumpled piece of parchment onto his empty plate.

He then got up from his seat and stormed out of the great hall with Crabbe and Goyle close behind.

Emily glance over just as Draco had stormed out of the hall. She grew concerned after seeing the anger in his eyes and wanted to go after him. But she knew better. Crabbe and Goyle were with him. But she knew that she wouldn't get to talk to him later because she had promised to meet Hermione in the library so that they could study for their upcoming potions test together. She then figured that she would just have to wait until tomorrow to see what it was all about.

************

The next morning Draco woke up only to find that he had fallen onto the floor sometime in the night and was now covered with sweat and was breathing rapidly.

"Shit," he said to himself as he tried to slow his breathing. He had had that dream again. That nightmare that he always had. He had been starting to have it less and less but then the one last night had been altered somewhat. And it scared him more than the others had.

He recalled the events from his dream. He had picked up the necklace - "Oh hell!" he cried. Now he knew why Emily's necklace had seemed familiar. It was the same one that was in his dream.

But that wasn't what made him nervous. The figure who held the wolf's head now had a visible face. It was his father!

"Oh, shit…" he put his face in his hands. He now understood. Almost everything made sense. Emily's necklace…his father…

Draco stood up and started to pace the room. "He will do something to her…I know he will…"

He then sat on the edge of his bed but found himself to be too fidgety to even do that. So, he got up and started to pace again. "I can't let him harm her…" Draco was thinking hard. How was he going to keep Emily from harm? There was only one way. He would have to end the relationship. But he knew that if he tried to explain what was going on to Emily, she would think that he was weak. She didn't know the real harm that she was in by going against Lucius Malfoy. And he only had a few hours to break it off. He didn't want to have to break her heart! It wasn't fair!

He threw his head back in frustration and pounded his fist onto his desk. "Damn him!" he cried out loud.

Later that day, Emily snuck away from the Gryffindor common room to go see Draco. She had just attempted to talk to Ron, but that hadn't gone well at all. He lost his temper and had called her some really hurtful names. She tried to defend herself but she silently took in Ron's tongue lashing. She was quite grateful that there was no one else in the common room at the time but them.

Her eyes threatened to give way to tears but she fought it because she reminded herself that she would soon be swept into the arms of someone whom she loved. But just the same - she was still determined to get on good terms with Harry and Ron.

She said the password to the portrait hole and went inside.

She smiled as Draco opened the door and wrapped her arms around his neck to greet him in a hug. But she soon let go when she didn't feel his arms wrap around her in return like they usually did.

She looked up into his eyes and took in his facial features. Something was very wrong. "What is it?" she asked as she followed him into the room. Draco was avoiding her eyes for a reason that she didn't know.

Draco swallowed hard. "I have to talk to you," his voice was very quiet.

Emily stepped forward and tried to take his hands but he pulled out of her grasp. When he did that, she became somewhat afraid and took a step back herself.

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do

To look you in the eye and tell you I don't love you

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to lie

To show no emotion when you start to cry

I can't let you see what you mean to me

When my hands are tied and my heart's not free

We're not meant to be

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do

To turn around and walk away pretending I don't love you

"I -" Draco couldn't quite get the words out the first time. He opened his mouth once again and then closed it, looking down at his hands. But then he looked straight into Emily's eyes.

She noticed that they were very dull - almost completely deprived of life.

"I think that we should end our relationship…" he was careful to keep eye contact - though hard as it was - so that she would know that he wasn't joking around.

Emily was stunned. She shook her head, "You're kidding, right?"

I know that we'll meet again

Fate has a place and time

So you can get on with your life

I've got to be cruel to be kind

Like Dr. Zhivago

All my love I'll be sending

And you will never know

Cause there can be no happy ending

Draco shook his head 'no'.

Emily stepped forward and reached for his hands her chin quivering. "No," she whispered. "You can't be serious?"

Draco pulled away from her again which answered her question.

Tears were welling up in the corner of her eyes. "Why? Was it something I did? Something I didn't do?" She looked at him with pleading eyes. "Please tell me?"

Draco looked at her with his expressionless face, "I just don't think it will work out. I don't feel…anything for you anymore." Draco gritted his teeth.

"What…?" Emily couldn't believe what she was hearing. "But I thought…I thought you felt the same way I did?" She lowered her head as the tears started to come. She couldn't fight them anymore. Her heart had completely shattered when she heard those words.

Draco fought the urge to run over to her and hold her and tell her that it was all a lie. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her - oh by Merlin did he ever love her. But he couldn't so anything about it. He didn't want her harmed - he knew that Lucius would kill her if he had reason to.

Maybe another time, another day

As much as I want to, I can't stay

I've made up my mind

There is no turning back

She's been good to me

And she deserves better than that

"Was it a lie? Was it all a lie?" Emily looked up at him through tears. Her face was flushed and she was standing closer to him now.

Draco's eyes began to water with tears of his own but Emily didn't seem to notice because of her own clouding her vision. But he didn't answer her. 'No it wasn't! None of it was! I cared for you and I still do!' his mind was screaming.

But Emily wasn't a mind reader. She shook her head as she looked him square in the eye, "I can't believe you played me for a fool. I can't believe I actually fell in love with you. Harry was right. I was so stupid for not listening to him!" She was still crying but she was yelling through her tears. "I ruined my relationship with my friends for you!" Emily looked at him for a moment longer before breaking down once again and running out of the room.

Draco collapsed onto his bed and let the tears come from his eyes. He couldn't ever remember crying before but his heart broke when he saw her cry and he just couldn't take that pain. 'I'm sorry…' he whispered as if she was still there but his apology went unheard. He was then filled with a profound anger. "Damn it!" he pounded his fist onto his nightstand in frustration.

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do

To look you in the eye and tell you I don't love you

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to lie

To show no emotion when you start to cry

I can't let you see what you mean to me

When my hands are tied

And my heart's not free

We're not meant to be

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do

To turn around and walk away pretending I don't love you.

A/N: Well, what did you think? I'm actually kind of proud of that chapter. It's my longest too I think! Yah! Well, please tell me what you thought, okay guys? Bye! ^_^