This chapter was actually going to be the last one, but there was so much I
wanted to write I decided to add one more, thus breaking my 10 chapter
tradition. All explanations will be in the final chapter!
Thank you so much for the reviews, I had no idea I would cause such a stir with the last chapter. I am very flattered that I created a character that people really seem to like!
PsychicOracle-It's ok, come up from the floor, have a nice cool drink (mocha frappacinos, perhaps) :)
Veala Rose Thorns, animebay-b, NayNymic and Miss Crystalix- Thank you, and I hope I don't disappoint!
Chapter X. The Sun Went Down Tomorrow, It Will Not Come Up Today
Harry froze as he realized the impact of the word that had just left Draco's mouth. He had just sacrificed their daughter...for him.
"Draco...." Harry stammered. "What are you doing?! You can't do this!"
Draco looked up with tears in his eyes. "I did."
"Well, well," Lucius remarked. "I must say, I did not expect this. You would rather spare the Golden Boy than your own flesh and blood. Although," he continued, "that is what you did to me, so I suppose I should not be surprised."
Turning to Harry, Lucius smiled. "Congratulations, Potter," he sneered. "You must be absolutely phenomenal in bed for my son to choose you over his child."
Harry strained to free himself from the Death Eaters' grip. "You evil BASTARD!"
"Now, now, Potter," Lucius stated. "After all, you should be happy. You and Draco will soon be leaving here. Even if it is without," he pointed to Ivy, "this sweet little girl."
Harry turned to Draco. "Please, you can't. She's our daughter, you can't let him kill her. Let him kill me!"
Draco slowly shook his head. "Harry, we can have other children. I can't live without you."
"Dra...no...please...not Ivy..." Harry pleaded.
Draco looked back at Lucius. "Father, I have one request."
"Yes?" Lucius asked. "And what would that be?"
" I only ask that you let me hold Ivy one more time. Let me tell her good- bye. Please."
Lucius was still for a moment, as Draco held his breath. Finally he spoke.
"Very well, but make it quick. I expect there are already others alerted to our presence by now, and I have no wish to have them find me here."
Harry cried desperately as Draco walked over to the tree, where Ivy stood chained.
Crouching to the ground, Draco put his hand up to cup his daughter's face.
"Sweetheart," he whispered. "You know that your Daddy and I love you more than anything in this world, don't you?"
Ivy nodded her head. "Yes, Mummy," she sniffed.
"Please remember that, honey, please...." Draco cried.
"Yes, Mummy, I luv you too!"
Draco leaned forward to kiss his child, dropping one arm just enough to let a small silver chain and charm fall from inside his sleeve. As carefully and secretively as he could, he slid it around her neck and fastened the clasp.
"Ivy, no matter what happens to Daddy and me, you be strong, for us, ok, sweetie?"
Ivy only nodded.
"Good." Draco kissed her on the forehead. "I love you, my baby girl. I love you so much."
Finally Draco stood up to face his father. "It's over, Lucius."
"What are you talking about..." he stammered. Until he saw it.
Glinting in the moonlight was the chain around her neck.
He couldn't get near her, much less kill her.
Lucius exploded. "Bring the both of them here!"
Instantly the Death Eaters dragged Harry and Draco to the middle of the clearing. Lucius had never meant for Harry, Draco OR Ivy to leave the forest. Draco had known this. His father would not have been happy until he had destroyed all of them.
"I should have killed all of you when I had the chance," Lucius yelled. "But no matter. I shall enjoy this. Your deaths will be enough."
Ivy pulled at the chains around her wrists until blood began to seep from beneath the metal.
"NO!" she cried."Leave 'em alone! Leave my Mummy and Daddy alone!"
Lucius raised his wand. "Good-bye, boys. Give my love to your dear parents, Potter!"
Ivy fought against the chain, her eyes beginning to glow a deep, brilliant blue. The voice that came out rattled the entire forest. "NOOOOO!"
All eyes turned to the now-shaking child, her entire body shining with a bright light, until it detonated, the chains melting away from her as the light slammed into Lucius and the Death Eaters, throwing them several feet before they crashed to the ground.
"LEAVE MY MUMMY AND DADDY ALONE!" she screamed.
Harry and Draco shielded their eyes from the blazing light that was now subsiding. Ivy ran toward her parents, the glow disappearing completely by the time she flung herself into their arms.
"Ivy.." Harry cried as he hugged her and Draco tightly, kissing her repeatedly on the cheek.
Draco looked around at the unconscious Death Eaters and Lucius.
"What," he finally whispered, "was that?!"
"I would guess," Harry smiled, "some very powerful wandless magic. We should have known. After all, she is our daughter."
Draco beamed as he hugged his child. "That's my girl."
"Harry, Draco!"
They turned around to see Ginny running into the clearing, followed closely by Professor Dumbledore, Snape, Remus and Narcissa. Ginny had informed Dumbledore of the kidnapping, and it didn't take long to narrow down the places Lucius could have gone.
Dumbledore surveyed the damage, instructing his companions to begin portkeying the Death Eaters to the Ministry. "We will deal with them there," he stated.
Ivy looked up to see her Grandmother beside the elder wizard.
"Gam-ma!" she exclaimed, standing to run toward her.
No one noticed Lucius beginning to stir, wand in hand.
Ivy pulled away from her parents just as something caught the moonlight as it fell from her neck to the ground.
Draco and Harry saw Lucius raise his wand toward the running child, the protection of the charm no longer with her.
"AVADA KEDAVA!"
The words left two mouths at the same time, one from Lucius, and one from Harry as he brought his wand toward the elder Malfoy.
Seconds later, everyone had run to the clearing, run to the now-still body lying on the ground. Everyone stood silent, hardly daring to believe it was true. Harry had killed Lucius, but it was not in time to stop the spell that had hit Draco.
"Mummy?" Ivy whispered softly. "Mummy, wake up."
Harry dropped to his knees beside the blond. Draco had managed to throw himself between the bolt and Ivy, saving his daughter, but taking the full blow of the killing spell.
"Oh, gods, no..." Harry cried. "Not my Draco, please."
Ivy ran her hands across Draco's face, tears falling onto his cheeks. "Mummy!"
Narcissa broke from the group to kneel beside her son. "My baby..." she murmured.
No one said a word for an eternity, until Narcissa finally broke the silence.
"Harry?" she whispered.
Harry looked up to face her. "Yes?"
"First of all, I want to thank you for loving my son, and for giving me the joy of my granddaughter for four years. Your love has been the best thing that ever happened to Draco."
"I couldn't save him...not this time..." Harry cried.
Narcissa took his hand in hers. "You did, Harry. More than you know, you saved him."
She wrapped her arms around her granddaughter. "He loved his child more than life itself, as it should be. Harry," she continued, "please, tell him, I loved him as much. He will understand."
"What...."
"Ivy, go to your Daddy, ok?" Narcissa smiled. "And remember, I loved you too."
Ivy wrapped her arms around her grandmother. "I luv you too, Gam-ma."
Harry picked up Ivy as Narcissa knelt down closer to Draco.
"I gave you life once," she whispered. "Now, I give you mine."
"Narciss...." Harry began, but stopped as she looked upward, drawing in a breath that seemed to last forever, her body glowing, much as Ivy's had, before leaning down to place her mouth over Draco's, forcing the air into his lungs, his body, the glow slowly leaving Narcissa even as Draco's began to take on the faint light. As the last of the breath was gone, Draco opened his eyes, even as Narcissa closed hers forever.
End of Chapter X.
A/N: The title of the chapter comes from the song "Never Gonna Be The Same" on Courtney Love's CD 'America's Sweetheart'. GE
Thank you so much for the reviews, I had no idea I would cause such a stir with the last chapter. I am very flattered that I created a character that people really seem to like!
PsychicOracle-It's ok, come up from the floor, have a nice cool drink (mocha frappacinos, perhaps) :)
Veala Rose Thorns, animebay-b, NayNymic and Miss Crystalix- Thank you, and I hope I don't disappoint!
Chapter X. The Sun Went Down Tomorrow, It Will Not Come Up Today
Harry froze as he realized the impact of the word that had just left Draco's mouth. He had just sacrificed their daughter...for him.
"Draco...." Harry stammered. "What are you doing?! You can't do this!"
Draco looked up with tears in his eyes. "I did."
"Well, well," Lucius remarked. "I must say, I did not expect this. You would rather spare the Golden Boy than your own flesh and blood. Although," he continued, "that is what you did to me, so I suppose I should not be surprised."
Turning to Harry, Lucius smiled. "Congratulations, Potter," he sneered. "You must be absolutely phenomenal in bed for my son to choose you over his child."
Harry strained to free himself from the Death Eaters' grip. "You evil BASTARD!"
"Now, now, Potter," Lucius stated. "After all, you should be happy. You and Draco will soon be leaving here. Even if it is without," he pointed to Ivy, "this sweet little girl."
Harry turned to Draco. "Please, you can't. She's our daughter, you can't let him kill her. Let him kill me!"
Draco slowly shook his head. "Harry, we can have other children. I can't live without you."
"Dra...no...please...not Ivy..." Harry pleaded.
Draco looked back at Lucius. "Father, I have one request."
"Yes?" Lucius asked. "And what would that be?"
" I only ask that you let me hold Ivy one more time. Let me tell her good- bye. Please."
Lucius was still for a moment, as Draco held his breath. Finally he spoke.
"Very well, but make it quick. I expect there are already others alerted to our presence by now, and I have no wish to have them find me here."
Harry cried desperately as Draco walked over to the tree, where Ivy stood chained.
Crouching to the ground, Draco put his hand up to cup his daughter's face.
"Sweetheart," he whispered. "You know that your Daddy and I love you more than anything in this world, don't you?"
Ivy nodded her head. "Yes, Mummy," she sniffed.
"Please remember that, honey, please...." Draco cried.
"Yes, Mummy, I luv you too!"
Draco leaned forward to kiss his child, dropping one arm just enough to let a small silver chain and charm fall from inside his sleeve. As carefully and secretively as he could, he slid it around her neck and fastened the clasp.
"Ivy, no matter what happens to Daddy and me, you be strong, for us, ok, sweetie?"
Ivy only nodded.
"Good." Draco kissed her on the forehead. "I love you, my baby girl. I love you so much."
Finally Draco stood up to face his father. "It's over, Lucius."
"What are you talking about..." he stammered. Until he saw it.
Glinting in the moonlight was the chain around her neck.
He couldn't get near her, much less kill her.
Lucius exploded. "Bring the both of them here!"
Instantly the Death Eaters dragged Harry and Draco to the middle of the clearing. Lucius had never meant for Harry, Draco OR Ivy to leave the forest. Draco had known this. His father would not have been happy until he had destroyed all of them.
"I should have killed all of you when I had the chance," Lucius yelled. "But no matter. I shall enjoy this. Your deaths will be enough."
Ivy pulled at the chains around her wrists until blood began to seep from beneath the metal.
"NO!" she cried."Leave 'em alone! Leave my Mummy and Daddy alone!"
Lucius raised his wand. "Good-bye, boys. Give my love to your dear parents, Potter!"
Ivy fought against the chain, her eyes beginning to glow a deep, brilliant blue. The voice that came out rattled the entire forest. "NOOOOO!"
All eyes turned to the now-shaking child, her entire body shining with a bright light, until it detonated, the chains melting away from her as the light slammed into Lucius and the Death Eaters, throwing them several feet before they crashed to the ground.
"LEAVE MY MUMMY AND DADDY ALONE!" she screamed.
Harry and Draco shielded their eyes from the blazing light that was now subsiding. Ivy ran toward her parents, the glow disappearing completely by the time she flung herself into their arms.
"Ivy.." Harry cried as he hugged her and Draco tightly, kissing her repeatedly on the cheek.
Draco looked around at the unconscious Death Eaters and Lucius.
"What," he finally whispered, "was that?!"
"I would guess," Harry smiled, "some very powerful wandless magic. We should have known. After all, she is our daughter."
Draco beamed as he hugged his child. "That's my girl."
"Harry, Draco!"
They turned around to see Ginny running into the clearing, followed closely by Professor Dumbledore, Snape, Remus and Narcissa. Ginny had informed Dumbledore of the kidnapping, and it didn't take long to narrow down the places Lucius could have gone.
Dumbledore surveyed the damage, instructing his companions to begin portkeying the Death Eaters to the Ministry. "We will deal with them there," he stated.
Ivy looked up to see her Grandmother beside the elder wizard.
"Gam-ma!" she exclaimed, standing to run toward her.
No one noticed Lucius beginning to stir, wand in hand.
Ivy pulled away from her parents just as something caught the moonlight as it fell from her neck to the ground.
Draco and Harry saw Lucius raise his wand toward the running child, the protection of the charm no longer with her.
"AVADA KEDAVA!"
The words left two mouths at the same time, one from Lucius, and one from Harry as he brought his wand toward the elder Malfoy.
Seconds later, everyone had run to the clearing, run to the now-still body lying on the ground. Everyone stood silent, hardly daring to believe it was true. Harry had killed Lucius, but it was not in time to stop the spell that had hit Draco.
"Mummy?" Ivy whispered softly. "Mummy, wake up."
Harry dropped to his knees beside the blond. Draco had managed to throw himself between the bolt and Ivy, saving his daughter, but taking the full blow of the killing spell.
"Oh, gods, no..." Harry cried. "Not my Draco, please."
Ivy ran her hands across Draco's face, tears falling onto his cheeks. "Mummy!"
Narcissa broke from the group to kneel beside her son. "My baby..." she murmured.
No one said a word for an eternity, until Narcissa finally broke the silence.
"Harry?" she whispered.
Harry looked up to face her. "Yes?"
"First of all, I want to thank you for loving my son, and for giving me the joy of my granddaughter for four years. Your love has been the best thing that ever happened to Draco."
"I couldn't save him...not this time..." Harry cried.
Narcissa took his hand in hers. "You did, Harry. More than you know, you saved him."
She wrapped her arms around her granddaughter. "He loved his child more than life itself, as it should be. Harry," she continued, "please, tell him, I loved him as much. He will understand."
"What...."
"Ivy, go to your Daddy, ok?" Narcissa smiled. "And remember, I loved you too."
Ivy wrapped her arms around her grandmother. "I luv you too, Gam-ma."
Harry picked up Ivy as Narcissa knelt down closer to Draco.
"I gave you life once," she whispered. "Now, I give you mine."
"Narciss...." Harry began, but stopped as she looked upward, drawing in a breath that seemed to last forever, her body glowing, much as Ivy's had, before leaning down to place her mouth over Draco's, forcing the air into his lungs, his body, the glow slowly leaving Narcissa even as Draco's began to take on the faint light. As the last of the breath was gone, Draco opened his eyes, even as Narcissa closed hers forever.
End of Chapter X.
A/N: The title of the chapter comes from the song "Never Gonna Be The Same" on Courtney Love's CD 'America's Sweetheart'. GE