Author's Note: I had already re-written this and uploaded it. I had assumed that it was all good, then found it that it wasn't uploaded. Darn. So, I get to do it again. Yippee.

Chapter 8: Prelude to War

Cordelia played with the ring sitting delicately on her finger. Slow tears began to well up in her eyes. When she received this gift from Draco, she was so happy. It was as if nothing in the world would go wrong. It was like the man she loved wasn't the son of a Death Eater. She was so sad about Draco and so angry at Lucius. It was because of that evil man that things were so hard now. Something inside her wanted to hurt Lucius more than he had managed to hurt her. Professor Dumbledore warned everyone that Voldemort's forces would have to be the first to attack, so there was no confusion in the general populace of his return. She couldn't wait for that day so she could go after Lucius Malfoy.

It wasn't that she and Draco had really broken up. They just weren't together. He remained faithful to his promise and didn't have any other relationships. Pansy Parkinson wasn't all that thrilled about it, but for all Cordelia cared Parkinson could go fall off a cliff. It was an irrational feeling, but she didn't care. Everyone knew that Draco and Cordelia loved each other. It was hard to miss when at meals they would watch each other longingly. However, Draco needed to discover the truth about his father on his own.

Ron and Hermione were as sympathetic as they could be, but both wanted to strangle Draco for not choosing her. Ron more than Hermione. He still harbored a hatred for the blond. It had lessened because of Cordelia, but he jumped on any reason to hate him. This was as good a reason as any. Harry was the most sympathetic. Over the holiday, Harry had realized that he only wanted for Cordelia to be happy. For some reason, Draco made her happy when she was with him. He knew that Cordelia loved Draco.

"Hey Harry. Where are the other two Musketeers?" Cordelia managed a weak smile.

"They went down to a different compartment. Apparently, there are a lot of games going on down there."

"Why didn't you go?"

"Didn't really feel like it." He moved over to make room for his friend. "Haven't been feeling well lately. I think Voldemort's getting stronger."

"I know he is." She began to study her hands, causing Harry to notice the ring.

"Are you engaged to him now?"

"I was for a little while. Now I am not." She started to feel a tear drop falling down her face. Harry wiped it away.

"What happened?" He was waiting for her to say anything bad about Malfoy, so he could go after him.

She told him about everything that happened at the Manor. Harry watched her tell this story with more pain in her eyes. It was almost more than he could bear. He hated seeing her in so much pain. Instinctively, he reached and pulled her into a hug as she cried into his shoulder. It was so unfair that Draco had such a remarkable person. When her tears subsided, she looked up at him. "Thanks for being such a great friend." Harry nodded. "Can I ask you a question?"

Harry fought the urge to tell her that she already had. "Sure."

"Why the dove?"

"Peace. Things got really weird after the kiss and I wanted you to know that I am at peace. I have a feeling that you and I are going to be the best of friends for a long time. I didn't want to waste any of that by letting things be too awkward." She smiled the first big smile since yesterday.

"Thank you, Harry."

Since that conversation, there was an unspoken agreement that what was shared would stay between them. Harry was constantly bringing up her spirits when she had "Draco woes" and this caused them to be better friends. Harry was now watching her play mindlessly with her ring. It was an almost tragic sight to see her sitting on a patch of grass by herself in the middle of the grounds. He glanced up to see Draco approaching her and decided to observe from a casual distance. Really he was eavesdropping, but that word seemed too harsh to say.

"Cordy." Draco sat down beside her. She quickly wiped away any tears that were forming in her eyes.

"Draco." She chanced a look into his eyes. He looked just as depressed as she felt.

"I'm glad to see that you are still wearing that." The exchange seemed forced and he hated that. He remembered a time when they could enjoy the other's company without a word. Maybe it was still like that, but he felt that he had to say something to her. It had been months since they last spoke to each other and he missed her. He also knew, from his father, that Voldemort was readying his strike. Lucius had recruited Draco to be a Death Eater. Granted he hadn't finished school, but he was close enough and they needed wizards. Draco wanted to warn Cordelia, but also didn't want to because he knew that she would tell Dumbledore and the others. He just didn't want her to get hurt.

"I wouldn't dream of taking it off. You are my heart Draco." Draco said nothing in return and started to fidget. "You know that you don't have to say anything, unless you had something you really wanted to tell me."

"I just miss you." He reached for her hand and pulled her close. "I really miss you, love." He gave her a simple kiss and got up to leave. "Cordy, will you promise me that you will be careful?" She nodded as he walked away. There was something suspicious in that last statement. Was he trying to tell her that something was going to happen soon? Harry came and sat down beside her.

"I think that something's going to happen soon, Harry." She looked knowingly into his eyes. They had talked about the fact that both had been feeling Voldemort's power rising. Cordelia through her amazing gift and Harry through his connection from the scar and the whole thing about Harry's blood helping Voldemort rise.

"I think so too. Do you think that Malfoy is with them?"

"I know he is with them. One day I was sitting in the Great Hall eating an early breakfast and he walked in. There was something different about him and the only thing that could possibly have given that strong a signature is being a Death Eater." She tried to shrug off the implications of this. She might have to go against the one she loved.

Draco walked away angry at himself. How did he get into this mess? He knew that she knew that he was a Death Eater. She remained on the side she chose, and he was on the side his father made him pick. He still wasn't sure which side was the right side. All the time while he was growing up, his father raised him to appreciate the dark arts. Then there was a wonderful woman in his life that told him otherwise. It was so hard to make any sense of this.

It seemed as though Potter was filling the place that once was his. He was always at her side, helping her feel better when she was upset. They were on the same side in this war. Draco knew that he had her heart, but had been wondering if the person who would always be by her side was going to be Harry. All of this just because he was too afraid to stand up against his father. He guessed that he loved his father in a weird way . . .

Author's Note: Let's see if this puppy uploads this time. (Crosses fingers.)