Chessie – You are an awesome beta. I'm so glad that you are so willing to beta this story of mine, especially in a fandom where so few like the Draco/Cho ship.
dusty.wings – Romance? c.c I hope that patience is one of your virtues. But, don't worry, they'll get there before this fic is through…I promise.
Jasini – The chaps are long because I find myself rambling and rambling. Hopefully, I don't lose anyone along the way. Glad to hear that some people enjoy the long length though! And thanks for loving the story to bits.
Cho Malfoy – Don't worry about the last chap. I'm just glad that you're still along for the ride! And what did Draco do to Roger? You'll find out soon. ;)
DragonSweetie13 – Roger is a stupid prat, at least in my fic he is. Hope you like this chapter too!
Ferret Boy – I like to think of Roger as a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde thing. It kind of explains why he would follow Voldie. And a special thanks to you for pulling me out of my funk. Everyone in my small readership owes you big…the fic wouldn't have been continued if it weren't for your support and encouraging words. *huge hug*
nunce – It is nice to see a softer side to Draco, isn't it? Cho knows it's there. She just has to work hard to get him to let his guard down.
Cordy Says Hi – Your review made me smile when I needed it most. Kudos for spreading the D/C bug around. I hope it catches on like wildfire!
RowenaRavenclaw – Rare gift? I don't know about that! LOL! Thanks for you kind words and I hope you enjoy the chapter!
CHO – Thanks for the positive review! I hope you like this chapter!
The Teenage Angst Brigade – I know. It's so hard to resist him. He's just so…well, I don't want to get too carried away here. ;) And Jason Isaacs? Have you seen him in 'The Patriot' as Col. Tavington? TO DIE FOR!!! YUMMY EVILNESS!!! Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger have nothing on him…nothing! Also, you might want to check out Fyrie's 'The Chronicles of Lucius Malfoy' if you haven't already. It is written with Jason Isaacs in mind and is done a la Bridget Jones style. It's freaking hilarious.
Cho-kzs2 – Thanks for the words of encouragement!
EmmeralCho – Yes, soft-hearted. But he can turn it on and off like a switch, the stupid git!
Disclaimer – I don't own anything except for this silly Post-Hogwarts plot.
Chapter 9 – His Father's SonCho cautiously cast a glance over to the tall Death Eater beside her. His face expressed no emotion as he led her down a hall she had never seen. From the moment she had been fetched from the medi-ward, her mind had quickly run through the possibilities of where he could be leading her. Without much luck, she finally decided to give in to her curiosity and glanced over to the Death Eater again.
"Um…excuse me. Would you mind telling me where you are taking me?"
The Death Eater regarded her briefly before he returned his eyes to the path that was before them. Cho didn't know which was worse…being dismissed so casually or being scolded and belittled as was often the case with Madame Hinze.
She decided to abandon her efforts, reasoning to herself that she would find out soon enough where their destination was. Consequently, she allowed her eyes to take in her new surroundings. Elaborately gilded torches cast warm flickering light on the many grand portraits of old wizards and witches lining the walls of the large hall. Upon closer observation of each portrait they would pass, Cho noticed that each wizard and witch's robes bore an insignia that she recognized to be the Malfoy family crest, a stately scripted 'M' with two intertwining snakes beneath it.
The Death Eater finally came to a halt in front of a large set of double oak doors and proceeded to knock. After a muffled consent could be heard from behind the doors, the Death Eater opened them. Cho's eyes widened with awe at what she saw. Before her was a handsomely decorated room that she could only guess was the study. Her eyes immediately gravitated toward the large 18th-century mahogany desk that occupied the far wall of the room. Within the far wall were rows upon rows of tomes and books. Her eyes next traveled to the near wall where a marble-white mantle framed an impressive fireplace containing a roaring and crackling fire. Before the fire, two leather couches took center stage as they faced each other and sat atop a priceless Persian rug.
"Sir, here is the prisoner."
Draco was standing behind the desk, bent over some parchments. He scarcely lifted his head as he acknowledged their intrusion, "Yes. You are dismissed. Take post just outside. I will call when we are finished here."
"Yes sir."
When the Death Eater left the room and closed the doors, Cho offered Draco a warm smile. Indeed, some feelings for Draco had resurfaced and she couldn't help but allow them to influence her behavior around him. Though Draco never did come to see her again following her incident with Roger, Cho did see him on occasion in the medi-ward. She had even caught Draco stealing glances at her a few times. She found herself looking forward to those stolen glances and discreetly stole a few of her own.
"Thank you again for the other day. I don't know what would have become of me if you hadn't been there."
Draco left the desk and moved closer to where Cho stood by the couch. A light smirk greeted her warm smile. He took a moment before he replied, his tone calm and slightly detached, "As I told you that first night I saw you here at the Manor…as long as I am here, you will remain alive and well. Or did you forget?"
"Of course not," Cho replied, the warm smile fading slightly.
As Draco moved over to the window, Cho took the opportunity to take a closer look around the study. The rich dark hues of the room imparted a warmth and coziness that appealed to Cho immediately. For a fleeting moment, she pictured herself curled up on one of the large couches, thoroughly involved in a book, while the heat from the fire warded off the bitter cold of a winter evening. As the agreeable daydream inevitably faded, Cho joined Draco at the window and peered out of it. What she saw made her smile touch her eyes. The study provided a brilliant prospect of the great century-old oak tree. The artist's work was true in depicting its grace and grandeur as it stood watch over the Manor grounds.
"This is a breathtaking place. It must have been wonderful growing up here. The beauty and vastness of the Manor never ceases to amaze me…well, of what little I've seen of it."
"Yes, there is so much of its beauty that you have not seen. If only things weren't so…," Draco responded absently and in a near whisper, his eyes transfixed on no particular point.
Cho waited patiently for Draco to finish his statement, but after a few moments, it seemed as though he had abandoned it. As an uncomfortable and gloomy silence filled the room, it was obvious to Cho that his mind was elsewhere and that his spirits had seen better days. Determined to lighten them, Cho tried again to engage him, "Which is your favorite room?"
"This one, really," Draco responded proudly as he turned to regard the room reverently.
"It is lovely," Cho nodded in agreement.
"It was Father's study. He spent most of his time in here. But, I also find that I can find much peace and solace in the library."
"The library?" her eyes brightened at the mention of the room. The never-ending hours at the Manor would certainly seem a bit more bearable if she had books to occupy her time. "How wonderful…would you take me to go see it sometime? If it's like everything else here at the Manor, it must be at least twice the size of the library at Hogwarts."
To Cho's dismay, Draco returned his gaze to the window, his expression and demeanor now decidedly staid and somber. Cho berated herself for being so presumptuous and immediately began to retract her words, "Draco, I'm not serious. I didn't really expect you to show me around. I understand that you don't have time to –"
"You will be leaving the Manor tomorrow," Draco cut in dryly.
"Leaving the Manor? But I don't understand. Why?" shock evident in her voice.
"You don't belong here," Draco responded tersely, but then softened his tone, "you belong with the Light side and with your friends…at Hogwarts, not here."
His words didn't make any sense. Why was he allowing her to return to the Light side? After she forced her mind to think and process his words rationally, only two viable explanations came to her. Harry had either fallen in battle or he had been captured. Either way, the grim realization set in. She no longer served a purpose, and therefore, was being returned to the Light side.
As these unsettling thoughts occupied her mind, Cho unknowingly allowed one word to escape from under her breath, "Harry."
"What about Potter?"
An emotion she hadn't felt around Draco for some time now soon began to take hold of her and she closed her eyes in an effort to suppress it. However, upon hearing the contemptuous and mocking tone in Draco's retort, the anger within her boiled over and she did nothing to hold it in.
"Why don't you tell me? I was brought here for one purpose…to lure him into a trap. You admitted as much that first night, or did you forget? The only way you would let me go is if you already have him in confinement or he has fallen. Which one is it?" Cho demanded.
"Touché," Draco chuckled lightly as he moved back to the desk. "Neither is the case, really. But, since you've managed to move me with your impassioned words, I will tell you," sarcasm dripping from his voice.
Draco then presented Cho with a folded piece of parchment. "The ever-valiant Saint Potter is coming for you tomorrow. As you can clearly see, the lovesick fool has agreed to give himself up for you. The letter you have in your hands came that day while we were in the corridor…and had been unceremoniously interrupted at the most inopportune time. Fitting how it's always Potter who interferes into our affairs," Draco finished sourly.
As Cho's eyes hastily looked over the letter, her mind did not register the last part of Draco's resentful words. She desperately hoped that she had misread somehow. But, the words were very clear and her eyes had read them correctly. In ink as dark as midnight was Harry's consent to surrender himself.
With the anger exhausted, she turned imploring eyes to Draco, "Draco, please, I beg you. Don't do this. Spare Harry."
"Spare Potter? And not get revenge for Father's death? That's almost comical, Cho. He has been a thorn in my side since the day I met him and finally, thanks to my ingenious yet simple plan, he is within my grasp. I've put great effort into devising and carrying out this plan. Everything has gone accordingly and the Lordship is most pleased. Why would I abandon it now? No, I don't think I'll spare Potter," Draco finished unsympathetically.
"Draco, please," Cho pleaded again to no avail. She desperately and frantically searched for a way to save Harry. At last, one final resort came to mind and without further thought impetuously vowed, "If you spare Harry, I…I promise…I promise you that I'll remain here at the Manor for the rest of my days…with you. Please, Draco. Take me instead." Cho could scarcely believe what she was saying. But, the desperation to save Harry was so great that it seemed like the right thing to do at the time.
"Interesting. You are willing to stay here, by my side, for the rest of your life in exchange for Potter's miserable one?" Draco mused contemplatively as he seemed to seriously consider Cho's proposition.
Cho nodded resignedly and added as confirmation, "Yes. Just promise me and I will willingly stay."
"You must love him very much to make such a sacrifice."
"I don't love him. But, yes, I'm willing to make the sacr…I'm willing to stay," Cho corrected herself.
"If not him, then who do you love?" Draco asked with interest as he arched an eyebrow.
Cho averted her eyes refusing to look at Draco's inquiring grey ones.
"Hmph…mother's instinct," Draco muttered unintelligibly after a moment.
Upon hearing his mocking words, Cho looked back at Draco, but quickly averted them again when she caught sight of his eyes and the rare emotion that lay within them.
"Don't worry. I won't make you answer that." After a long pause, Draco continued, "As to your proposition, I must admit that it is rather tempting. I've often dreamt of this moment, you know," Draco whispered softly as he ran a finger lightly down Cho's cheek. Cho instinctively closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, but opened them when she felt him move away, once again towards the window.
However tender his caress felt or how sincere it seemed, the poison and bitterness in his next words managed to strip it all away, "But, if the only reason for your willingness to stay is to save Potter, then I don't want you. You'd be staying for all the wrong reasons and I would rather you leave than stay here and live a forced life with me."
"That's not true. Not all of the reasons would be wrong."
Draco turned and regarded her with skeptical eyes, "Can you honestly stand there and tell me that you would willingly choose this life…a life where you had to support a cause that conflicted with your beliefs…a life where you were forced to pledge absolute allegiance to a leader you abhor…a life with a Death Eater you don't love…if Potter's miserable life was not at stake?"
Cho looked up at Draco. Again, she was speechless. He was right. If she gave herself time to think about what she was proposing, she would have come to the same questions he had just posed. And she knew that the answer to all these questions would be a resounding 'no.'
Even the question about her love for him arrived at the same answer. Love was not something she took lightly, and although recent feelings may have stirred some sentiments in Draco's favor, they had only managed to unlock the care and fondness she felt for him, not the love. At this very moment, the only thing she could be sure about was that she cared strongly for him. But did she care enough to sacrifice her convictions? She didn't know.
"Your silence tells me all I need to know. We are two very different people. To hope or even think that we could be something else is senseless. I am a Death Eater. This is my life. This is my path. It won't change."
"But…but you told me once that you dreaded the Dark Mark's burn."
"That may be so, but that is irrelevant. Even if I wanted to escape, I couldn't. There is no escape from the Dark Lord, short of death. It seems as though my fate has been handed to me. But you, you have not been predestined for this. You have a chance to live and know a life apart from this. And it will come tomorrow."
Before Cho could protest any further, Draco had summoned the Death Eater back into the study. A single tear slid down her cheek as she closed her eyes and stepped out into the hall. The loud thud of the heavy oak doors closing behind her painfully reminded her that there would always be a barrier between herself and Draco.
************
Cho sat by the window and stared out into the night-covered gardens of Malfoy Manor. The darkness concealed most of it, but it didn't really matter for her focus wasn't on anything in particular. This would be the last time that she would be able to look upon it. It had become a habit of hers. The serenity and splendor of the gardens provided her with such consolation that she had taken to seeking its solace whenever she felt distressed. This time was no different.
The prospect of going home should have cheered her up, but it didn't. Many things overshadowed the joyous occasion. One reason was Harry. She was upset at him for being the Gryffindor he was, but she was more upset with herself for being so weak when it came to her resolve. Another reason was leaving the Manor. Even though it symbolized Voldemort and the Dark side, it had been Draco's home and she felt an attachment to it she couldn't quite understand or explain. The recent hope of possibly seeing and enjoying more of it had elated her. And that had been unexpectedly taken away. But the most distressing reason was Draco. She had hurt him. His words hadn't communicated it. She knew he was far too stubborn and proud to ever own up to his feelings. But the resignation she saw in his eyes when she hadn't answered him told her more than any words ever could.
A soft, pleading voice broke through her thoughts, "Cho, as a friend, I'm asking you to tell me why you're so upset. You can't just sit there all night and not say something. I can't help unless you tell me what's bothering you."
Cho tore her eyes away from the window and looked at Draco's mother. Cho's already sad eyes became even more so. She would sorely miss Narcissa. Their next meeting had still been two more days away. But, Cho needed to see her. She needed to tell Narcissa that she didn't have two more days. She needed to tell Narcissa the torment that burdened her mind.
Just as Draco had been with her, Cho decided to be direct with Narcissa, "I'm leaving the Manor tomorrow."
Narcissa's forehead wrinkled with confusion, "Leaving? What in Merlin are you talking about?"
Cho turned to look out into the gardens as she vaguely gave an account of what had happened earlier that day, "I saw Draco today. He told me that Harry is to come for me tomorrow. Actually, it's more like an exchange. Instead of me, Draco will have Harry."
"Dear Merlin, you are serious aren't you?" Narcissa stated after having detected the despondency and hopelessness in Cho's voice.
Cho only nodded in response as a few tears found themselves at the corners of her eyes.
"Then this means that tonight will be the last time I see you," concluded Narcissa, adopting the same despondent tone.
Again, Cho merely nodded in response.
A forlorn silence filled the room as the two sat there, unable to look at the other. It was abruptly broken, however, when Narcissa unexpectedly stood up from her chair and swiftly moved toward the door.
"Narcissa, where are you going?" Cho asked in alarm.
"I'm going to see Draco. He has no right," Narcissa addressed Cho's question with determination, not even bothering to turn around while she did so.
Cho was already halfway to Narcissa, trying to stop her, "Please don't. I didn't tell you so that you could go and confront him. It won't solve anything. It will only succeed in upsetting him more than he already is. Draco is set on going through with this. Trust me when I say that he won't listen to reason. Please…I told you because we're friends and I wanted to confide in you. It is what it is, Narcissa. It's best to leave it alone. Besides, I'll be gone soon. There's no point in causing unnecessary friction between yourself and Draco over this."
Narcissa had her hand on the doorknob when Cho's pleas reached her ears. She promptly turned around to face Cho, "I'm his mother. He will listen to…wait…did you say that he was upset? What possible reason would he have to be upset? I would imagine that he would be ecstatic over this. He would finally be able to avenge Lucius' death."
"It's nothing. Please forget that I mentioned it."
"Cho, you know me better than that. Do you honestly believe that I will just forget about it, especially when it concerns Draco?"
Cho walked back over to the window. "Of course, you are right. I should have known better." After some careful deliberation, Cho insisted, "If I tell you, you must promise me that you will not go to Draco about this. It won't help matters."
"It depends," Narcissa responded without hesitation.
"Narcissa!" Cho exclaimed, flabbergasted at Narcissa's bold reply.
"Just tell me why he's upset and I promise you that I will consider not going to Draco," Narcissa replied coolly hoping to appease Cho.
Noticing Narcissa's hand still on the doorknob, Cho reluctantly gave in, "Oh, very well. Just give me a moment and I will tell you."
Narcissa removed her hand and complied with Cho's request. She moved back to her chair next to the window and waited patiently.
"Do you remember how I told you that I hated Draco?" Cho started apprehensively.
Narcissa nodded attentively, "Yes, I do. It's been difficult, but I've tried my best not to bring the subject up again. I didn't want to upset you further than I did the last time we spoke of it."
"And do you recall how you told me that as long as I felt something that it was better than nothing…that the hate was still something?" Narcissa nodded again. "Well, you were right. In spite of myself, the hate slowly changed into something else."
"Yes?…Into?"
Wringing her hands nervously, Cho revealed, "Well, as time progressed and as Draco's demeanor towards me softened somewhat, feelings from the past began to resurface and I found myself caring for Draco again."
"I understand. Even though it is obvious that there are feelings on both sides, he has chosen to follow his allegiance to Him rather than follow his heart," Narcissa stated solemnly as she realized her son's foolishness.
"Well, yes, more or less," as soon as the words had left her mouth, she inwardly scolded herself for not putting an end to the conversation.
Narcissa turned curious eyes onto Cho, "Is there something else?" Cho averted her eyes as she had done earlier with Draco. "All I ask if for you to be completely forthright with me."
After a few moments, Cho returned her gaze to Narcissa and further revealed, "When Draco told me about Harry, I had asked him to spare Harry. Of course, he refused. Out of desperation, I then offered myself in place of Harry. I offered to stay here at the Manor for the rest of my life. At first, Draco seemed to take to the idea. But I was wrong. He told me that he didn't want me. He didn't want me if the only reason was to save Harry. When I couldn't deny it, he told me that he would rather let me go than force me to stay here and live with him, a Death Eater I didn't love."
"But, I thought feelings had come back. You just told me you cared for him," Narcissa countered, obviously confused.
"And that's all true. I know that I care about him…very much. But, he's right. I don't love him. Please understand. I have to be fair to him. There were countless times when Harry tried to persuade me to marry him. But, I repeatedly refused. Do you know why, Narcissa?"
"Because you didn't love him."
Cho smiled and took Narcissa's hands into hers, "Yes, thank you. I have finally found the one person who understands that what I feel for Harry is not love but a deep friendship. Marriage is built on love, friendship, and so much more, not on friendship alone, no matter how deep the friendship may be. No one, not even Harry, could understand this. My repeated refusal was my way of being fair to him. He deserves more than a friend…so much more…and so does Draco."
"But, in time…in time, you could grow to love Draco again. You did once. Feelings like the one you had for him don't just die and never come back," Narcissa argued, trying to convince herself, more so than Cho, that all hope was not lost.
"I don't know. I may have felt it once for Draco, but I'm not positive that I will feel that for him again. The fact that he is a Death Eater and follows Voldemort is very difficult for me to just overlook. I need more time, and unfortunately, time is the one thing I don't have," Cho finished sensibly.
Narcissa smiled kindly, "Of course. I understand. You have your reservations. You could never see yourself compromising your beliefs, especially for someone you don't fully believe warrants such a compromise. I understand all this and I want to tell you something. Something that I hope will help you make that decision should you ever be required to do so. I have only shared this with the few people I hold dear to me and trust unquestioningly. Of course, Draco does not know what I'm about to tell you and I hope that he never finds out. You may think that it is something that I've fabricated just to sway you, but please believe that this is something that happened and was very real."
"Of course. I would not divulge your confidence. Whatever it is that you want to share with me, I will gladly listen," Cho reassured Narcissa.
"It's about Lucius…and I…when we were first married. Our first year of marriage…wait…I must go further back…back to when we were at Hogwarts together. We were both in the Slytherin house, only I was three years younger than Lucius. Growing up, I had heard about the Malfoys. The Malfoys were one of the oldest wizarding families. They were inexplicably wealthy and very high on the social strata. Admittedly, Lucius was the arrogant and pretentious Malfoy heir to many who knew him at Hogwarts. There is no doubt that he lived up to his notorious reputation. To me, however, he was more than that. He treated me differently…like I was special and I did feel special whenever I was around him. When Lucius graduated, he traveled for the next few years while I diligently remained at Hogwarts. His correspondence was superb and it felt like he had never left. With both of our families' blessings, we got married a couple of years after I had finished my education at Hogwarts. Looking back, you could say that our courtship had been rather smooth."
"But the bliss I felt began to fade after our first year of marriage. Lucius began to behave strangely. He often disappeared without so much as a word and when I would press him as to his whereabouts, he was very elusive. I feared the worst. I was certain that he was cheating on me and that our fairytale marriage was about to fall apart. I was crushed and livid. I didn't very much appreciate being lied to and decided to confront Lucius. What he told me was far worse than what I had suspected him of. He wasn't concealing other women. He was concealing his involvement with Him."
"While I was at Hogwarts, His reign and following were rising slowly but steadily. In a matter of only a few years, this had changed. His following began to rise at an alarming rate and much of the wizarding world was on edge. Lucius found himself intrigued and mesmerized by the power that had been promised to him once he would become a follower. The power's allure combined with his unadulterated hatred for all non-purebloods drove him to obsession and he poured much of his family's money and influence into it. I was, to say the least, incensed that he had endangered both of our lives in such a way. I had even threatened to leave him."
"But, Lucius was a charmer. He knew my weakness and used it to his advantage…a true Slytherin. He used my love and loyalty to him to turn me around…to make me see his side of it…to tempt me with what we could accomplish together with the power that was promised to him. The same weakness that allowed the depression to claim me once Lucius died was the very same weakness that allowed Lucius to sway my beliefs and I stayed with him. Against my better judgment, I let my love for Lucius and the vow I made to him as a wife change me into something I now detest," Narcissa finished darkly, her downcast eyes suggesting some shame.
Cho was at a loss for words. At last, she reasoned, "You were young and impressionable. Lucius saw this and he manipulated you. The important thing is that you realize that it was wrong." After a brief moment, Cho perceptively added, "It's truly scary how similar Draco is to Lucius…he truly is his father's son."
"Yes, Draco is very much Lucius' son," Narcissa acknowledged. "But, as much as I hate what Lucius did to me and what I became as a result of branding myself with the Dark Mark, I can truthfully say that I would have done no differently if I could go back and change history. I knew that the love we shared was real. I knew that if I turned my back on Lucius that I could never really love another. I would have lived a righteous life, but a life without the one person that meant more to me at the time than my own life. Dear Merlin, would you listen to me? I sound like such a pathetic hopeless romantic," Narcissa pronounced, mildly embarrassed.
To make light of Narcissa's embarrassment, Cho smiled, "And this world could use more romantics like yourself, especially now. Maybe one day I will be able to experience the kind of love you and Lucius shared."
"I believe that you've already found it. It's true that the road to it is much rougher, but I know that you and Draco can pull through it."
"Narcissa, please, I don't want to spend our last moments together arguing," Cho softly pleaded.
"Of course, it's just that it's so hard for me not to comment," Narcissa conceded.
Taking both of Narcissa's hands into hers, Cho nodded, "I know it must be difficult for you and I thank you for trying. Now, no more worries. I will be fine. And you and Draco will be fine."
"As long as Draco is safe, I will be fine, but are you positive that you will be all right?" Narcissa asked worriedly.
"Yes. I've managed before. I'll manage again," Cho replied, feigning a confidence she didn't necessarily feel. As a yawn snuck up on Cho, she confessed, "I fear that my body is telling me to get some rest although I doubt my mind will be able to comply."
Narcissa proceeded to pull Cho into a hug, "Please keep yourself safe. I will always be thinking of you. Whatever the outcome of this cursed war is, I will hold out hope that one day we'll be able to talk like this again."
"I would like that, Narcissa. I would like that very much," Cho professed as they both walked toward the oil painting.
After one final hug and farewell, Cho climbed through the painting and headed down the dark passage towards Draco's room for one last time.
A/N: Dude! Will these two ever get together? Doesn't look too likely at this moment, does it? Again the interaction b/w Draco and Cho was the most difficult part for this chap (that's what took me so long). Guest appearance for Chapter 10…Mr. Harry James Potter…or as Draco prefers…Saint Potter. Don't kill me, but I have a feeling chap 10 is gonna take a while. But, I will get it up as soon as I can get my muse into gear. Got nice words? Got great feedback? Got constructive criticism? Please share in your review…thanks!