The next few weeks went by like a blur. Soon end of the year exams would be approching. Hazel was excited and nervous about graduating. She wished her parents could see her now. She didn't know if she could handle seeing everyone else's smiling parents at the ceremony, welcoming their sons and daughters into their loving, alive, arms.

Since summer was on its way, the weather was beautiful and Hazel caught herself taking long walks outside after dinner. The lake's surface was like a beautiful canvas on which the sky painted its soul on every evening. Like life, it was ever changing. Hazel would often just sit on her favorite moss covered rock back near the forrest and just gaze for hours on end into the softly rippleing water. She felt some sort of connection to the evening. The serene stillness it possessed. No one could hurt her here. Not in her own heaven.

It was another lonely day for Hazel, and graduation was just around the corner. She had feel feeling pretty down lately seeing as all her friends had abandonded her. And draco was always acting as if he didnt know her in the halls. She knew their love was a secret. But sometimes it hurt when she didnt recive any smiles or waves from students passing in the halls. But she was becomeing used to it, almost numb to the pain.

As Hazelwas walking back to her dormitories after lunch she was about to turn up a flight of grey stone stairs when she felt something take hold of her arm. she turned suddenly bumping into a warm body.

"Yes?" she asked curiously, taking a step back so she could stand comfortably.

The tall blond boy standing in front of her seemed almost shocked from her calm response. "Well...I dont know." He almost blushed a bit at these last words.

"Oh.. so you just decided to follow me and take ahold of my arm for no reason?" she added with a small laugh. it wasnt a real laugh from deep down though. She hadn't laughed like that for a long time. It was almost as if she was tired inside, like when a person gets old and its their time to go.

"No..I just.. well wanted to see you." She had never seen him stutter over her before like this.

She let out a faint laugh that was almost sarcastic.

"What?" he asked getting slightly annoyed. He had just said a very revealing comment and all she could do is laugh.

"Now? You want to see me now? Where were you when i needed you? When everyone left my side. When i was alone," the smile on her face vanished. she was about to turn and walk away when he took her soft delecate hand in his pulling her back.

She was about to say something when he put his hand over her mouth. He just looked at her taking in everything about her. He hadn't realized how much he missed her. He mentally kicked himself for having so much pride.

Faintly she spoke and he noticed her lips were quivering." I gotta go..." she looked so hurt, standing there, eyes down, her soft lips pouting.

He lifted up her chin with his hand so she was looking at him. slowly he leaned in and placed a small yet promising kiss that he would remeber until he died. When he let go of her hand she stood there for a moment before turning and walking away, leaving him standing there at the bottom of the stairs looking after her.

/o/o/

Hazel finished eating dinner early and went outside for her daily walk with the evening. when she stepped out of the towering wooden entrance doors she started walking towards the lake. but she noticed something was different about tonight. the waters were dead and grey, not moving. then hearing a noise behind her she quickly turned and faced the castle again.

Hazel saw a figure emerge from the shadows of a nearby tree and he advanced on her. Having no where to run she stood still and when he was feet away from her, she saw something shimmer in his hand. He ran at her; the knife out in plain site.

She screamed into the lonely night but not a sound came out. She felt the cold steel cut through soft skin and the world became dark.

Falling to the ground she griped her stomach feeling the blood slowly trickle over her fingers. "No…" she gasped.

He leaned over and hissed in her ear "I loved you…"

In her mind she started putting the peices of the puzzle together... the letter on the brick, the curse in the hall, and all the other things that seemed out of place. They all connected to this. Someone wanted her dead...

Just as these thoughts were running through her mind, her vision became blurry and she saw another figure racing over to where she lay on the ground in a puddle of her own blood.

"NO! HAZEL…" he leaned over her and took her in his arms holding her close to his chest. "Don't leave me!" and then quieter "I love you…"

In the last moments of her life she smiled up at this boy and he kissed her softly on her shaking lips. "I.. know…I.." but the last words never made it.

The sky filled with dark clouds and raindrops fell on his face hiding his tears. He held the soft limp body in his tight embrace.

Looking up the boy turned to face the murderer against the wall. "You!" he gasped. "But.. why?!" His voice was a mixture of hate, confusion, and greif.

The figure against the wall just fell to his knees sobbing.

When a crowd started to appear many people gasped at the scene they were witnessing:

Harry Potter sitting against the wall with a knife covered in blood in his hands with a blank expression on his face, and Draco Malfoy holding the cold limp body of Hazel Stirling, sitting in a small pool of red that constantly grew.

The world seemed to end at that moment.

And so she left this world, in the arms of the one she loved, having gone through much more than any girl her age should have; but now her suffering was over, as someone else's was just beggining....

/o/o/o/

Yes it's finally over! And sorry to all of you who wanted a happy ending… but this is what you get. I think I'm going to write a parody now or something with the help of Ems. And I hope you enjoyed 'A Secret Past'. Review!