Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, but I like to pretend that I do!
Well here is the last chapter I hope you guys like it. Well actually there will be an epilogue after this, and I won't be posting thank yous for that now because of the new rule about only chapters and such things. Well, read and review if you want to see a thank you for yourself.
Chapter 21
To: Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy
Malfoy Manor
From: Miss Cecily North
Dear Narcissa,
I somehow do not believe you that Draco is dead. I know we went to the funeral, but you did not seem as sad as you should have been over the death of your only son. I know that Draco killed Lucius and that Lucius placed the Murond Curse on him and I know that Draco couldn't possibly die from it because it was only made to make him deathly ill. However, I will not press the matter of his life. I assumed from the moment that you said he was in love with that sorceress that he had to be alive and you just wanted to take the easy way out of the engagement. Have no fear though because I will not tell my parents about this charade that you insist upon keeping up. I couldn't stand being married to only half a man anyway.
Yours truly,
Cecily
Draco and Narcissa read the first letter of the post in a slight state of shock.
"Well this is news indeed, who'd have thought she'd give it up that easily?" said Draco.
"Here is the letter from WWPP," said Narcissa looking at the second letter from the post of the morning.
"Shall we open it mum?"
"I think we should," she said tearing the seal and opening the letter.
Dear Narcissa and Draco Malfoy,
Since you have asked for young master Malfoy to be placed into our program, I must ask that you would please fill out the forms that we have sent you. Once we have received them back, our program will take effect and your life will be as you say on the forms, so choose wisely.
Sincerest Wishes and best of luck with your new life,
Sarah Miles; Head of Wizarding Witness Protection Program
Narcissa pulled out two pieces of parchment that were filled with questions.
"Draco, do you still want to do this?" Narcissa inquired.
"Yes, I don't ever want the North family to get even the slightest idea of what happened. The sooner we get this done, the better."
"All right, I'll write down the answers, just tell me what you want me to write when I ask you the questions. First question: What is your full name going to be?"
"Draco Elias Lawrence."
"What is you nationality?"
"Half English, quarter French, quarter Welsh."
"Birthday?"
"May 22."
"Age?"
"18."
"Occupation?"
Draco sat for a moment in deep thought.
". . . Auror."
"Bloodline?"
Draco wasn't quite sure what he should say to this one so he went on his first impulse, "Muggleborn."
Narcissa looked at him briefly with a smile and a questioning look in her eyes.
"I figure I should be what I've tortured Hermione about for nearly six years. I owe her that much."
Narcissa smiled ta this and continued on with the questioning. After an hour, they had finished the questionnaire about himself and his family. They finally sent in the forms by owl and Draco grabbed the last thing on the pile. He knew that they were his last O. W. L. test, so he went up to his study to take the test.
~*::-::*~
Hermione had never been so depressed in her life. In her mind she had nothing left, she was completely alone and she had nowhere to go. Her mother and father were of little help to her because nothing could replace how upset she was over Draco's death. Even if he was still alive, he would be getting married to some dark witch and she couldn't do anything about it.
It was the day before graduation and everyone was busy, too busy to notice her and her pain. Harry had said that she could talk to him, but now she didn't think she could talk to anyone about it. Justin had avoided her like the plague and talked to everyone about what a whore she was whenever she was nearby. Nobody believed him of course, but they did notice that things between them had ended horribly, so they paid his rumors no mind assuming that he was still sore about Hermione.
Hermione was in her Common Room that night, looking out the window on the grounds, which were becoming soaked with rain. She smiled a bitter smile; the weather seemed to understand how she felt; the rain reflected her dreary mood.
She sat for a moment more before pulling out her wand. She looked at it and thought, 'It looks just like it did the day I bought it. It's been the only truly reliable thing in my life. So I should have the most reliable thing be the thing that finishes my last wish.' She lifted her wand and pointed it towards herself.
She never noticed as the door from one of the rooms opened and shut silently and a figure walked into the room.
"Avada - "
"Hermione?" asked the person that had stepped into the Common Room.
Hermione's breath caught. She knew that voice, but it couldn't be who she thought it was.
The figure stepped into the moonlight that had filtered into the room.
"Hermione, what are you doing?"
"Draco?" she asked as she saw him clearly, looking like a pale angel in the moonlight. She didn't know what caused it to happen, but as soon as he nodded his confirmation, she fainted, there on the couch of the bay window.
Draco rushed forward and picked her up. He knew perfectly well what she was doing, he couldn't imagine why she would want to kill herself, but he knew she was quite capable of it. He rushed her off to the hospital and he was reminded of that night that she had had a flashback in the Head boy and girl hall.
~*::-::*~
Madame Pomfrey saw Draco hurriedly walking down the hall to the hospital wing with someone in his arms. "Draco, what brings you down here?"
"It's Hermione, she fainted back in the Common Room."
"Okay, bring her over here," she said leading him over to the first empty bed available. Draco noticed that there were just two others in the hospital wing. He laid Hermione down on the bed and looked to Madame Pomfrey, "Do you know what caused this to happen?"
"I don't know for sure, I just walked in and called to her. She said my name and she fainted. So I'm guessing that she was shocked to see me."
"Yes, but why would she be that surprised to see you?"
Draco wasn't about to tell what she was doing when he walked into the room. "I don't know."
They walked over to Madame Pomfrey's office. Draco stood outside the door, not quite comfortable with being in her office.
Hermione woke up several minutes later and saw Draco talking to Madame Pomfrey and then walking out of the hospital wing. She fell asleep wondering what was happening; she knew that Draco was dead. Or so she thought. She probed the school for Harry's mind waves so that she could hear what he was thinking about, and maybe talk to him with her telepathy. It was a far stretch, she knew, but she had to know.
She finally found Harry, who was sitting in his dorm and thinking about nothing really.
~*::-::*~
'Harry?' Harry looked up at the feminine voice.
He saw no one in his room and thought, 'What was that about?'
'Harry, can you hear me?'
"Well, yes," said Harry looking around.
'Harry? Can you hear me? Please answer me.'
'I did.'
'Oh, sorry. I can't hear you when you speak aloud.'
'Hermione? Is that you?' Harry was slightly shocked that Hermione was talking to him with telepathy.
'Yes. Harry I have to ask you something.'
'What is it Hermione?'
'Is Draco alive?'
"Damn, I forgot to tell her," said Harry aloud to himself.
'Harry?'
'Yes, he is. I need to tell you something.'
'Yes, what is it?'
'Well, Ginny and I visited Narcissa Malfoy the night that you visited Draco. She said that she would fake Draco's death and put him into the WWPP. And that was the night that I proposed to Gin. I knew that we had forgotten something the second she left. I'm sorry Hermione.'
'It's okay Harry, thanks. Goodnight.'
'Night Hermione.'
~*::-::*~
Hermione knew she had to find him. She hadn't found him anywhere in the school after the graduation. She walked outside and looked as many places as she could think of, and to no avail because he was no where to be found.
She walked up the hill beyond the lake after she had given up hope of finding him, and then she spotted him at the top.
"Draco!"
He wheeled, startled, and there she was, her face flushed with the exertion of the climb, her hazel eyes wide and her lips parted as she stood before him.
Draco looked past her, but saw no one. "You came alone?"
Hermione didn't answer, but came to stand so close that he could smell her hair. She faced him squarely, short and slim in the bright November sunshine. Her face was filled with wonder. "You didn't die!"
"No. There's so much left that I have to do before I die Hermione."
She shook her head and asked with a catch of her breath. "But - I thought you and Cecily . . .?"
He laughed and his eyes crinkled as he said, "Well, not anymore . . . my mother had something to do with it because she knew that Cecily was the bane of my existence, but she told me she'd never be satisfied with half a man."
"She said that?"
"Yes - and she was miserable about it too," Draco said. "My mother told her that something had come into my life, someone had come into my life, someone wonderful, but that it would make a difference in the plans . . . or basically that the engagement was off. Then when she was told that Hogwarts was going to always be where my heart belonged, she couldn't believe it." He laughed and said, "I guess the thought of marrying an Auror didn't appeal to her too much."
Hermione stared at him, "An Auror!"
He seemed embarrassed, and the smile he gave her wasn't very strong. He dropped it, and his face was honest and open in some new way. "I'm so ignorant Hermione! Here I've wasted my life, and now I stand here saying I'm going to be an Auror! Isn't that the most insane thing you've ever heard of?"
"No."
He stared at her. "You - you don't think so?"
"Draco Malfoy!" Hermione said with a gust of emotion, "I expect you can do just about anything you set your mind to!"
His mouth dropped open, and he stared at her. "Why, I've never done anything right in my whole life Hermione! Look at what I did to you, and -!"
She put her hand on his lips, and he felt her tremble. "Hush! I want to ask you a question. Do you love me with all your heart?"
He took her hand from his lips with his own and placed a light kiss on the backside, but did not release it. "Yes!" he said firmly.
She nodded, and made attempt to reclaim her hand. He stared at her, stirred as always by the angelic beauty of her face. "Hermione, I wish that you and I - " he broke off suddenly, and then dropped her hand.
"I have another question for you," she said and her voice was so unsteady that he looked up quickly.
"Another question? What is it Hermione?"
She swallowed and her voice trembled as she whispered, "Would - would you marry me?"
He stared at her, thinking he had misunderstood, but she returned his look, her eyes shining like diamonds.
"But - what about you and Justin Finch-Fletchley?"
She shook her head saying, "He told me he needed more than half a woman! He said . . ." She turned away from him and her voice was so soft he had to lean forward to hear it - " . . .he said that any fool could see I was still in love with you - just like I always have been."
A great joy filled his heart, and he turned her around. He looked down at her and she tried to smile saying with a sob, "And he was - he was right! I'll always love you!"
She tried to turn and run, but his strong arms made her captive, and he waited until she grew calm.
"I love you Hermione Morgan, and I would be honored to marry you," he whispered in her ear. Then he kissed her, and there was union as they held each other, their lips sealing what they felt in their hearts.
Finally he pulled his head back, and there was light of pure joy in his brilliant, stormy-gray eyes, and a wide smile on his lips.
Well here is the last chapter I hope you guys like it. Well actually there will be an epilogue after this, and I won't be posting thank yous for that now because of the new rule about only chapters and such things. Well, read and review if you want to see a thank you for yourself.
Chapter 21
To: Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy
Malfoy Manor
From: Miss Cecily North
Dear Narcissa,
I somehow do not believe you that Draco is dead. I know we went to the funeral, but you did not seem as sad as you should have been over the death of your only son. I know that Draco killed Lucius and that Lucius placed the Murond Curse on him and I know that Draco couldn't possibly die from it because it was only made to make him deathly ill. However, I will not press the matter of his life. I assumed from the moment that you said he was in love with that sorceress that he had to be alive and you just wanted to take the easy way out of the engagement. Have no fear though because I will not tell my parents about this charade that you insist upon keeping up. I couldn't stand being married to only half a man anyway.
Yours truly,
Cecily
Draco and Narcissa read the first letter of the post in a slight state of shock.
"Well this is news indeed, who'd have thought she'd give it up that easily?" said Draco.
"Here is the letter from WWPP," said Narcissa looking at the second letter from the post of the morning.
"Shall we open it mum?"
"I think we should," she said tearing the seal and opening the letter.
Dear Narcissa and Draco Malfoy,
Since you have asked for young master Malfoy to be placed into our program, I must ask that you would please fill out the forms that we have sent you. Once we have received them back, our program will take effect and your life will be as you say on the forms, so choose wisely.
Sincerest Wishes and best of luck with your new life,
Sarah Miles; Head of Wizarding Witness Protection Program
Narcissa pulled out two pieces of parchment that were filled with questions.
"Draco, do you still want to do this?" Narcissa inquired.
"Yes, I don't ever want the North family to get even the slightest idea of what happened. The sooner we get this done, the better."
"All right, I'll write down the answers, just tell me what you want me to write when I ask you the questions. First question: What is your full name going to be?"
"Draco Elias Lawrence."
"What is you nationality?"
"Half English, quarter French, quarter Welsh."
"Birthday?"
"May 22."
"Age?"
"18."
"Occupation?"
Draco sat for a moment in deep thought.
". . . Auror."
"Bloodline?"
Draco wasn't quite sure what he should say to this one so he went on his first impulse, "Muggleborn."
Narcissa looked at him briefly with a smile and a questioning look in her eyes.
"I figure I should be what I've tortured Hermione about for nearly six years. I owe her that much."
Narcissa smiled ta this and continued on with the questioning. After an hour, they had finished the questionnaire about himself and his family. They finally sent in the forms by owl and Draco grabbed the last thing on the pile. He knew that they were his last O. W. L. test, so he went up to his study to take the test.
~*::-::*~
Hermione had never been so depressed in her life. In her mind she had nothing left, she was completely alone and she had nowhere to go. Her mother and father were of little help to her because nothing could replace how upset she was over Draco's death. Even if he was still alive, he would be getting married to some dark witch and she couldn't do anything about it.
It was the day before graduation and everyone was busy, too busy to notice her and her pain. Harry had said that she could talk to him, but now she didn't think she could talk to anyone about it. Justin had avoided her like the plague and talked to everyone about what a whore she was whenever she was nearby. Nobody believed him of course, but they did notice that things between them had ended horribly, so they paid his rumors no mind assuming that he was still sore about Hermione.
Hermione was in her Common Room that night, looking out the window on the grounds, which were becoming soaked with rain. She smiled a bitter smile; the weather seemed to understand how she felt; the rain reflected her dreary mood.
She sat for a moment more before pulling out her wand. She looked at it and thought, 'It looks just like it did the day I bought it. It's been the only truly reliable thing in my life. So I should have the most reliable thing be the thing that finishes my last wish.' She lifted her wand and pointed it towards herself.
She never noticed as the door from one of the rooms opened and shut silently and a figure walked into the room.
"Avada - "
"Hermione?" asked the person that had stepped into the Common Room.
Hermione's breath caught. She knew that voice, but it couldn't be who she thought it was.
The figure stepped into the moonlight that had filtered into the room.
"Hermione, what are you doing?"
"Draco?" she asked as she saw him clearly, looking like a pale angel in the moonlight. She didn't know what caused it to happen, but as soon as he nodded his confirmation, she fainted, there on the couch of the bay window.
Draco rushed forward and picked her up. He knew perfectly well what she was doing, he couldn't imagine why she would want to kill herself, but he knew she was quite capable of it. He rushed her off to the hospital and he was reminded of that night that she had had a flashback in the Head boy and girl hall.
~*::-::*~
Madame Pomfrey saw Draco hurriedly walking down the hall to the hospital wing with someone in his arms. "Draco, what brings you down here?"
"It's Hermione, she fainted back in the Common Room."
"Okay, bring her over here," she said leading him over to the first empty bed available. Draco noticed that there were just two others in the hospital wing. He laid Hermione down on the bed and looked to Madame Pomfrey, "Do you know what caused this to happen?"
"I don't know for sure, I just walked in and called to her. She said my name and she fainted. So I'm guessing that she was shocked to see me."
"Yes, but why would she be that surprised to see you?"
Draco wasn't about to tell what she was doing when he walked into the room. "I don't know."
They walked over to Madame Pomfrey's office. Draco stood outside the door, not quite comfortable with being in her office.
Hermione woke up several minutes later and saw Draco talking to Madame Pomfrey and then walking out of the hospital wing. She fell asleep wondering what was happening; she knew that Draco was dead. Or so she thought. She probed the school for Harry's mind waves so that she could hear what he was thinking about, and maybe talk to him with her telepathy. It was a far stretch, she knew, but she had to know.
She finally found Harry, who was sitting in his dorm and thinking about nothing really.
~*::-::*~
'Harry?' Harry looked up at the feminine voice.
He saw no one in his room and thought, 'What was that about?'
'Harry, can you hear me?'
"Well, yes," said Harry looking around.
'Harry? Can you hear me? Please answer me.'
'I did.'
'Oh, sorry. I can't hear you when you speak aloud.'
'Hermione? Is that you?' Harry was slightly shocked that Hermione was talking to him with telepathy.
'Yes. Harry I have to ask you something.'
'What is it Hermione?'
'Is Draco alive?'
"Damn, I forgot to tell her," said Harry aloud to himself.
'Harry?'
'Yes, he is. I need to tell you something.'
'Yes, what is it?'
'Well, Ginny and I visited Narcissa Malfoy the night that you visited Draco. She said that she would fake Draco's death and put him into the WWPP. And that was the night that I proposed to Gin. I knew that we had forgotten something the second she left. I'm sorry Hermione.'
'It's okay Harry, thanks. Goodnight.'
'Night Hermione.'
~*::-::*~
Hermione knew she had to find him. She hadn't found him anywhere in the school after the graduation. She walked outside and looked as many places as she could think of, and to no avail because he was no where to be found.
She walked up the hill beyond the lake after she had given up hope of finding him, and then she spotted him at the top.
"Draco!"
He wheeled, startled, and there she was, her face flushed with the exertion of the climb, her hazel eyes wide and her lips parted as she stood before him.
Draco looked past her, but saw no one. "You came alone?"
Hermione didn't answer, but came to stand so close that he could smell her hair. She faced him squarely, short and slim in the bright November sunshine. Her face was filled with wonder. "You didn't die!"
"No. There's so much left that I have to do before I die Hermione."
She shook her head and asked with a catch of her breath. "But - I thought you and Cecily . . .?"
He laughed and his eyes crinkled as he said, "Well, not anymore . . . my mother had something to do with it because she knew that Cecily was the bane of my existence, but she told me she'd never be satisfied with half a man."
"She said that?"
"Yes - and she was miserable about it too," Draco said. "My mother told her that something had come into my life, someone had come into my life, someone wonderful, but that it would make a difference in the plans . . . or basically that the engagement was off. Then when she was told that Hogwarts was going to always be where my heart belonged, she couldn't believe it." He laughed and said, "I guess the thought of marrying an Auror didn't appeal to her too much."
Hermione stared at him, "An Auror!"
He seemed embarrassed, and the smile he gave her wasn't very strong. He dropped it, and his face was honest and open in some new way. "I'm so ignorant Hermione! Here I've wasted my life, and now I stand here saying I'm going to be an Auror! Isn't that the most insane thing you've ever heard of?"
"No."
He stared at her. "You - you don't think so?"
"Draco Malfoy!" Hermione said with a gust of emotion, "I expect you can do just about anything you set your mind to!"
His mouth dropped open, and he stared at her. "Why, I've never done anything right in my whole life Hermione! Look at what I did to you, and -!"
She put her hand on his lips, and he felt her tremble. "Hush! I want to ask you a question. Do you love me with all your heart?"
He took her hand from his lips with his own and placed a light kiss on the backside, but did not release it. "Yes!" he said firmly.
She nodded, and made attempt to reclaim her hand. He stared at her, stirred as always by the angelic beauty of her face. "Hermione, I wish that you and I - " he broke off suddenly, and then dropped her hand.
"I have another question for you," she said and her voice was so unsteady that he looked up quickly.
"Another question? What is it Hermione?"
She swallowed and her voice trembled as she whispered, "Would - would you marry me?"
He stared at her, thinking he had misunderstood, but she returned his look, her eyes shining like diamonds.
"But - what about you and Justin Finch-Fletchley?"
She shook her head saying, "He told me he needed more than half a woman! He said . . ." She turned away from him and her voice was so soft he had to lean forward to hear it - " . . .he said that any fool could see I was still in love with you - just like I always have been."
A great joy filled his heart, and he turned her around. He looked down at her and she tried to smile saying with a sob, "And he was - he was right! I'll always love you!"
She tried to turn and run, but his strong arms made her captive, and he waited until she grew calm.
"I love you Hermione Morgan, and I would be honored to marry you," he whispered in her ear. Then he kissed her, and there was union as they held each other, their lips sealing what they felt in their hearts.
Finally he pulled his head back, and there was light of pure joy in his brilliant, stormy-gray eyes, and a wide smile on his lips.