An:  Sorry this has taken so long.  Does anybody know what it is like to relax?  Could you tell me about sometime…? I'd love to hear.  I have to "passerai trios examens AP" in the next two weeks; as well as many other things (recitals, Graduation, birthdays, and the beat goes on) Hey, West Side Story has awesome music.  Ok, i own nothing, as usual.  Even the plot could be considered convoluted.  Triste, non?

Strange as it seems

There's been a run of crazy dreams

And a man who can interpret

Could go far

Could become a star

-Andrew Lloyd Webber (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)

Dear Ginny,

Thank you for all you've done.  You have been everything to me and I only wish I could have given you what you deserved.  You loved me, Gin, when the rest of the world was afraid of me.  I guess they were right to be afraid of me, huh?  But you never wavered in your loyalty to me.  Even now, you have the courage to let Draco help me.  He told me about you believing I could be a better person.  Thank you for believing in me, Ginny; it made me realize what I am fighting for.  By the time you get this letter, I will have left school.  I am going to fight Voldermort.  But it's not some personal agenda anymore – you remember how much I always hated him?  Now, I realize that was stupid.  Tom Riddle is someone beyond hate.  Hating him was only making me like him, which I think was what you were trying to tell me all along.  I WILL destroy Tom Riddle, some way or another, but it's no longer a personal vendetta.  To kill him based on hate would be exactly what he wanted – I think I would be even more destroyed then I already was.  Scary thought, right?  But when I see you or Ron or Hermione or even Draco, I realize what I CAN be fighting for: all of you- just as you have fought for me.  And when I think of your baby, an innocent life, and the world that he would be brought into if I choose not to fight – I will not be responsible for that.  Don't worry for me Ginny.  This is what I am meant to do.  I know I have done unforgivable things, and I understand that you probably couldn't see me again.  But for what it counts, I'm sorry.  I never hated myself more then when I… when I was horrible to you Ginny.  Please, at least keep some part of me in your memories.  There couldn't be a better person to explain to the world what I was.  You will always live in my heart as the amazing person you are.  Thank you for your love, even when I was undeserving.  You truly are a Flower, and one of the best in the world.   wow, I have no paragraphing in this letter.  McGonagall would freak.  Pray for me and please don't come looking for me.  I am ready to do what I must –I have been given more then enough help by everyone here – especially you.  Thank you and I'm sorry - Harry James Potter

"Ginny?  Ginny, are you ok?"

"What?  Oh, it's you Draco."  I took no notice of the scowling Gryffindors around me.  They believed that I had caused Harry's 'breakdown', by breaking it off with him when I learned I was carrying his child.  I, of course, descended deeper into their bad graces when they realized I kept company with the eeviill, horrific, Voldermort incarnate Draco Malfoy.

            "Draco, do you think Harry is ready to fight Voldermort?"

            Draco looked searchingly at me as he thought.  "Yes.  Yes, Ginny, he's ready.  I've taught him enough and he's grown on his own as well.  Being away from you has been good for him.  I think he can destroy Voldermort, now."

            "Good.  He thinks the same thing.  I got this letter from him.  He's left.  And he doesn't want anybody to come looking for him."

            Draco just starred at an invisible spot for sometime.  Finally, he turned back to me.  "Do you want somebody to go looking for him, Gin?"

            "…No.  I know I should, but it's what he was destined to do.  If you say he's ready, then I believe you.  I just hope, oh God, I hope he'll be all right."

            "You truly are amazing, Lily Weasley.  …By the way, what's the story behind that whole name thing?"

            "Um, well, mum's best friends were Lilly Chang and Lily Potter.  Virginia is an old Weasley name.  I was named in honor of all three of the names.  Lily Virginia.  I was born the day Lily Potter died.  Two months later Lilly Chang was also killed.  Mum couldn't bear the constant reminder of her two deceased friends, and so decided to shorten Virginia to Ginny.  And there you have it.  Why do you ask?"

            "No reason.  Just curious.  Listen; take care of yourself and your baby.  I should go harass some people to keep up appearances."

            "Whatever."  I smiled up at him.  A sudden current jolted through my body and I was overcome with pain.  Draco seemed to be experiencing something as well.  He looked at me and then suddenly turned and left, his entire demeanor changing in an instant.

            "Ginny."  I suddenly understood Draco's face change, as Ron sat down next to me.  I had avoided my brother as much as possible the last six weeks, but McGonagall had insisted that I begin integrating myself with my regular activities again.  She had said the horrible rumors swirling about me would only intensify if I did "not hurry back to education's call." 

            Today was my first day back at the Gryffindor table and it was not helping that Harry was not sitting with me and that Murderous Malfoy had talked civilly to me.

            "Ginny?"

            "Oh, sorry Ron.  What?"

            "Have you seen Harry?"

            "No, why?"

            "You just got his owl.  Ginny, Harry's changed since you've gotten… sick.  You should see him.  He's almost scary.  I don't know what's going on – but I don't think it's good for either of you."

            "He is scary, Ron."

            "Ginny… I know things between you and him haven't been the best; but could you at least try - for his sake?"

            "I did try, Ron.  God, I tried.  I didn't know what to do, though – I let him do all the wrong things… but the Professors helped me.  They helped Harry too."

            "What are you talking about?"

            "Oh God, Ron.  It's too hard to explain.  Harry is trying to be a good person – he was trying too hard.  He let all his anger consume him and would never show it to anyone."

            "I'm confused.  I know Harry isn't as bad as I am; but he does have a temper.  Don't you remember our fifth year when every other day he would bite my head off?"

            "Yeah.  However, that was before he found out he had to kill Voldermort.  I don't know Ron, it's difficult.  I don't even really understand it.  Just… just let him go, ok?  Don't go after him."

            "Why?  Where is he going?"

            "Ron…"  I love my brother, but how do you tell a pigheaded older brother that his best friend beat up on his little sister and is now going to kill someone to atone for the fact?  Sounds a bit dodgy.

            "Ron, listen, I have to go to class.  I've already missed too much.  I'll talk to you later, all right?"

            Ron looks as if this is anything but all right, but is unable to do anything as I have already left the table.

Draco's POV

Draco,

I've left to meet Voldermort's challenge.  Please take care of Ginny and her baby for me.  If she wants, let her show you my letter to her.  Good luck with your life.  And, well, your sessions were helpful.

Harry Potter

Draco,

Your insubordinations will no longer be tolerated.  We have received the news that you are aiding Harry Potter in his fight against the Dark Lord.  Draco, I broke Potter's former girlfriend.  I can just as easily break you.  Hope that you are having an enjoyable day.  Lucius Malfoy

I looked up from his two letters towards the Gryffindor table.  Ginny was obviously trying to placate her brother and failing miserably.  Though she was failing at this, the girl was most certainly not broken.  I smirked down at my Father's letter that was quickly disappearing.  Then I remembered the pain I had received to indicate the letters arrival, which was still slightly with me.  Which indicated that my Father was not far away.  Great.

Slowly, the Great Hall emptied.  I was left to think in silence, wondering how I had got to this point of my life.  I don't think I could have ever seen myself keeping company with a Weasel, no matter how attractive one of them could be.  But, then, I wouldn't have even admitted that there was anything remotely attractive about her – until I had seen her that day.  She had been so vulnerable. 

The fact was that she was the epitome of what everyone believes life should be.  She was good, kind and pretty and had a famous boyfriend.  Slightly submissive, but that was permissible.  She was from a pure family, who had embraced the light side.  This was a girl to look up to.  And I had always known that she knew these facts.  That was where my balanced objectivity ended, though.  I saw her as the typical power-grubbing Gryffindor, who manipulated the light to shine upon her, all the while demurely refusing it.  To me, she was almost as repulsive as Adonis himself, Harry Potter.

And then, I saw her.  And realized that she was genuine.  That her life was a form of Hell.  I, who had always prided myself on objectivity, and believed myself above most mortal gryffindors, was finally able to see that other people suffered.  And Ginny showed me how unscathed a person could be, even after horrible things.  That a person could still be pure and believe in the light.  I admired her for that.  I also saw that she could be as passionate and irrational as everyone.  And I loved her for that.  … I loved her.

I had felt the electricity between us for some time now.  However, I had not realized the extent of my feelings until now.  Could she love me as well?  Or, rather, would she love me as well?  I would denounce many things for her, namely my father.

I was not a death eater.  I had seen how weak my Father was next to Voldermort, and determined when I was only thirteen that I would never be second-in-command.  I did not want to be a boot-licker, which was essentially what Death Eater's were.  It's ironic that a vice – pride- and not a virtue - kept me from serving "His Eminence."  Uncle Snape knew my viewpoint and often used me for menial spying jobs.  I did not spy on the Death Eaters because I rejected the dark, but because I rejected my Father.

My Father…the pain still had not completely subsided.  God.  He was ingenious, I'd give him that.  He knew how much I hated it when he hurt Mother.  He gave me a part of her pain, letting me know that I could not protect her from him.  He also always gave a signal for when he was near, as he claimed it would keep me strong.  I had believed in him and in his pain, until I saw him hurting Mother.  Battered women are just my downfall, I guess.

"Draco."

"Father."

So he had finally decided to show himself.  "Where is the insufferable Potter, Draco?  I hope that you have been training him falsely?"

"No, Father.  I want the Dark Lord to face an opponent he is worthy of."

"And you believe that you are worthy, Draco."

"No."

Father nodded slowly.  "You are right in that assumption.  Tell me, Draco, do you know of the youngest Weasley?  Yes, you do… I believe you received a hex from her sometime on the past?"  His lips lifted slowly, amused at the thought that a girl could better his weak child.  "I promised you that I would take care of that young girl.  And I was allowed to do so, directly on the Dark Lords orders.  I will enjoy telling Harry Potter about this."

"So… why is the Dark Lord targeting Weasley?"

"My son, so oblivious," Father chuckled happily, "she is -" a sudden gasp muted the rest of his sentence.  "Draco, I am being summoned.  You are to come with me.  To prove your loyalty to the Dark Lord."

"Pardon?"

"Well, Draco, your loyalty has been in question lately.  You are to become a Death Eater at twenty, you know that.  The Dark Lord just wants your loyalty proved, and he asked me to bring you with me the next time I was summoned.  Strange time he has picked, though.  Come."

We were quickly whirled through the air, and dropped brutally onto the ground.  At least, I was.  My father managed to land upright.  A dark circle of mosquitoes were already buzzing about their master, as bloodthirsty as ever.  And there in the center, stood Voldermort and Harry Potter.  They looked very well matched.

"My Followers: I have brought you here today to witness the final downfall of Harry Potter.  I believe that he is now ready to embrace the dark side."  Voldermort paused.  "See how our young friend does not react as he used to.  No vehement dissention will be heard from him tonight, will it Potter?"

We had shared many sessions on this.  The number one thing Harry had needed to overcome was his own emotion.  He needed to learn how to hold it and let it out at appropriate times, in appropriate ways.  Tonight he needed the force of anger that he had beat Ginny with, but the anger needed to be pure.  Unlike the anger he had used in the past, this anger could not be directed inwardly.  He could not contain it.  He needed to give his anger to the people who deserved it.

For a long time, he had blamed himself.  That blame gave way to anger and when he was no longer able to keep it in check; it came out in torrents, directed at those he loved best.  I had tried to help him overcome that.  Today was his test.  It would be interesting to see what he had learned.

"Sir," he began, using the protocol I had taught him, "I would only be too happy to bargain with you.  However, that was not my intention in coming here tonight.  My intention was to have a duel.  Might we?"  I was impressed.  Harry had grown a lot.  Through seven years, he had grown darker and introspective, as well as intelligent, but he had always missed the refinement he needed to mask his feelings toward the world.  Apparently, he had now picked that one up as well.

"Very well, lad, I could do for a bit of sport.  I hope that you have improved since we last met?"

"You have no idea."  The slightest shadow of emotion crossed Harry's face and then vanished.  The two wizards prepared to duel.

Harry's POV

I raised my hand, staring at the man who helped me destroy myself.  He also was helping me redeem myself.  "I'm ready, sir."  I tried not to notice the spectators around us.  This fight was ultimately between him and me.

"Harry Potter.  You know that we can not duel each other.  However, my loyal followers know my wishes."  The snake man turned to address his followers.  "Who among you is worthy to duel the Potter boy?"  His red eyes scanned the crowd.

"Master.  May I come forward?"

Voldermort's face twisted into something near a smile.  "Lucius, come forward."

"Master, I wish to duel him; but I believe my son should, to prove his loyalty."

"Wonderful!  What do you say, Potter?  Never mind, it doesn't matter.  I understand that you and young Malfoy are quite the rivals at school."

"We are."  Draco starred at me and I looked back.  We wore the identical blank expressions of feigned hatred.  "However, he is not worthy of me."

Voldermort smirked.  "Potter, you are becoming a more a slytherin everyday."

"Thank you."  If there was one thing I had learned from Draco, it was that type casting could not work.  He had showed me my own typecast of the open, naïve, lovable hero and I had typecast him in my first year, along with all the other students in the slytherin house.  Yet it was the lovable hero who used the curses against someone he loved.  It had shamed me so much, even as I had cast the spells.  In my muggle school, I had once heard the anecdote of a sad man: he wanted to forget how ashamed he was, so he drank.  What was he ashamed of?  Drinking.  (a/n:  i believe the credit of that anecdote goes to St. Exupery in The Little Prince)    That sad man was much what I was.  But no longer.  I still loved Ginny with all of my heart and all of my soul; but I saw the impossibilities between us.

I was not a fool, either. I knew that Ginny was having a Malfoy baby, but I also saw the way Draco defended Ginny.  I saw the way he stayed near to her.  I saw the way he watched her.  I saw how angry he was at me for doing what I had done to her.  He was what I wish I could be to her.  They would be good together.

"Malfoy, I don't want to waste my energy on you.  My girlfriend could beat you in a duel.  Save your energy for her."  I said caustically, hoping he'd understand the underlying meaning.

I was not expecting the vicious cackle of the senior Malfoy.  "Potter, your girl friend is not that hard to overcome."  I stared at his smirking face, slowly realizing who had truly compromised Ginny.  "Yes, Potter.  I would know."  He nodded again, vigorously, seeming to replay time in his head.

I watched as Draco tensed, looking ready to fight.  It was funny how I was standing here, coldly, and Draco was ready to fight anyone who had done anything to someone he loved.  Our role reversal was complete.

I turned to Voldermort.  "Say, Voldie, do you think we could settle this over a few warm butterbeers?"

The monster I had addressed, tensed.  "You know, you've really got to loosen up.  All these years of boot-licking has really made you spineless.  I mean you can't even take a minor criticism without avada-ing someone."

"Mr. Potter, you are insolent.  Soon you will wish that I would just … avada you."  Lips curling, he snapped his fingers.  Instantly the circle around him tightened.  The two Malfoys, I, and Voldermort stood in the middle.

"Hey, Lord whatever – don't you think it's a bit weak of you to let someone else handle my disposal?  Won't that upset your status as Head Baddy?"

The monster starred at me, and for a moment looked undefined.  "Potter, I dislike your insolence.  You could be great, you know.  All it would take Potter… all it would take is a test.  Prove to me that you are a worthy heir.  I have seen you duel, you are capable.  I have seen you grow colder thru the years.  You only have one obstacle now, Harry.  If you can overcome it, then I will shape you – I will make you mine.  We can rule the world together."

I looked at the man in front of me.  He honestly thought he was offering me something great.  And the funny part was, part of my soul recognized that I may have accepted his terms had it been yet a few short months ago.  It would have been a stupid move – but I am famous for them.  Now, I knew how idiotic I had been. 

"What must I overcome?"

"You must destroy your girlfriend.  My faithful servant has already helped in her undoing.  All you need do is finish the job."

"Why do you choose her?"

"Because she is strong, Harry Potter.  She could destroy us all."

"Ginny?"  I sneered.

"No.  Lily Virginia.  She is a Flower, Potter.  She is strong.  I recognized that when she was only a baby.  When Molly Weasley became pregnant again, I cast a spell on her.  Pettigrew had told me of her pregnancy and I was doing everything I could to destroy all the people who had decided to disagree with me.  This spell, if it had been effective, would have killed Molly Weasley and her baby, leaving the rest of her family in shambles.  They would have been easy to get too after she had left the scene.  However, the baby decided to enter the world the day I killed your useless parents.  My magic slipped from me and the spell weakened.  However, a tiny bit of my magic remained inside that baby."

"What Pettigrew failed to inform me was that Molly Weasley was related – however distantly to Narcissa Black.  Of course, I myself should have realized this – but the Weasleys had fallen so far away from pureblood standards…  Anyway, girls are not common in the Weasley family; but the odds were against me.  The girl was born, with my magic and the Flower blood of her own family.  I tried to destroy her when she was an 11 year old brat, but she fought me for a year.  And then!  She made an alliance with you.  But, now, Potter you can destroy her."

"Why do you want to do this to her?  Why not someone more worthy?"

Voldermort nearly growled with impatience.  "Because Potter.  My mother was a Flower.  I cannot fight them well.  And they have so much goodness in them that others gravitate towards them.  It's all a ploy really.  Not to mention the fact that a child of a Flower is destined to kill me.  But I can change destiny."  He became almost maniacal as he finished speaking.

I nodded at him.  "It's sad, Mr. Riddle, what you've become.  I was once more like you; but good people were able to stop my transformation.  However, you're completed.  You are no longer human."

He laughed.  "No.  I am not human, am I Potter?  I am something much better then mortal.  I am POWERFUL."  He grinned at me as he spoke, never raising his voice from above a whisper, yet dominance radiating from him.

"I know.  But if you are as powerful as you say, you will allow your followers to disband.  You will take one of their wands, as will I.  And we will fight with those.  I would never, ever, want to be anything like you.  I am human and I am proud of that.  I have made so many mistakes and done so many things wrong, and people still accept me and love me.  Because in me, they see themselves.  That is why we love other human beings; because we recognize our faults, our failings, our ambitions, our hopes.  We know that together we can fight – and if we are separated, we know that there are others like us, rooting for us, loving for us.  And nothing can change that."
            "You are wrong Potter.  Humans are evil and greedy. They care of nothing but their own self-being.  Have you ever actually seen one human being come completely to the aid of another?  No, I know you haven't.  For I have been at most of your worst moments; and you have always been alone."  He echoed my old thoughts and feelings uncannily well.

"He is not alone now."  Draco walked to me.  "I am here for him."  I watched as Draco disregarded his own rules and came to defend me.  His father looked at him furiously.  "You're pathetic, Draco, and no son of mine."  Lucius raised his wand.  "Avada Ke-"

"NO!" 

I blocked the light of his wand, feeling it impound through me and knock me unto Draco as we both feel backwards. 

"Say it now, Harry, the connection is broken.  Voldermorts wand is down.  SAY IT, Harry, and mean it.  If you don't, he will kill Ginny."

I raised my wand.  "Avada Kedevra."  Voldermort reeled backward as the spell hurtled towards him.  His faithful cowered away as he looked to them for protection.  And then, he fell.  He was no more.  Soon, I would join him.

"Draco, I always loved her.  But you can live for her.  Love her, Draco."

And time runs out again on our heroes.   Thanks to everybody who has continually checked up on this.  My apologies to everyone.   I didn't realize how long it had been since I updated.  I hate people who do that and I am one of the worst offenders.  (However, no one is quite as bad as JKJ)  Please review.  I believe there is only one short chapter left and I promise that it will come soon.  Thanks so much to all of the awesome reviewers – and if you hate it, which I understand, please tell me what can be done to improve – if anything.  Thanks and Review!