Chapter 15

One of Our Own

(A/N:: Not mine)

The sound of a head hitting the wooden table hard echoed through the quiet library.

"I can't read any more. my head is going to explode if I even try." Ron's voice was muffled by the table, but loud enough to stop the other occupants of the library from staring at the strange sight in front of them that time had eventually made familiar.

Sitting at a table piled high with ancient spell books was Draco Malfoy along with his mortal enemies, Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. The air around them was frosty and tense but each man was consumed with the books and bouts of frantic note taking on the piles of parchment in front of them.

"There is nothing here. How the hell can we save her with a spell if no spell exists? What are we supposed to do?" Ron snapped anger flashing in his blue eyes before he reached over and grabbed tome, quill already poised to take notes on the secrets the book held.

"Wait Weasley." Malfoy's voice cut through Ron's mutterings. "What did you say?" His voice distracted as the gray eyes focused on the red haired youth.

"Say? I said there isn't a single bloody spell in any of these damn books. Wh--"

"No after that."

"What? No spell exists?" Harry leaned forward at the same time as Malfoy a new glean apparent in their eyes.

"Exactly." Their voices echoed through the room. Ron pinched the bridge of his nose.

"And this is good?"

Draco set aside his book and smiled for the first time in the months of their research.

"if no spell exists Weasley, we will make our own."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

My sat in the Great hall staring at the falling raindrops in the ceiling. It was March already, the year seemed to slip past her like silk through fingertips. The holidays had come and gone split between Drake and the Burrow, give her time and hope. Hope that she still had a chance at life. She watched as the three most important people in her life gathered together, put aside their mutual dislike and worked together for a common goal. A common goal they wouldn't tell her, she knew it was about her, but what it was she didn't know. When school reconvened their research continued, never excluding but not including her either.

A burst of heat welled up and spilled throughout her body, flushing her cheeks. She was so tired of heat. She allowed her hand to pass over her face, trying to wipe away the pain, the heat. To simply try to collect herself.

"My?" A tentative voice called out, breaking through her heat clouded thoughts. "Are you alright?" My opened her eyes and looked at the gryffindor first years. She smiled softly as she looked at the concerned first years she tutored.

"Of course guys, just got caught up in my thoughts. Now where did we leave off last time?"

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Josh looked with suspicion at his hero. She wasn't alright, she hadn't been alright for a long time. He watched as she stared unseeing at the ceiling. He watched as her cheeks burned red, as her eyes flashed with fire. He saw her hands shake and how she tried to find it. Tried to hide her fear.

She was trying to protect them. He looked down at the defense book and glared. She always protected them, for once somebody ought to protect her. The instant he thought it he knew the thought was right. He would protect her. SHe was the first person to talk to him at Hogwarts, the first to help him study. More than any other professor at the school she was his teacher. He would do anything for her, looking around at the other students she tutored, from that the ages, all the houses he knew. He knew that they felt the same way. Together they would help her.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Albus. Stop brooding." The old man raised his head and looked at the prim woman standing in front of the large oak desk. He ran the quill in his hand across the spine of the book in front of him and glared at his confidant.

"Minerva," his voice venmous. "To what do I owe this dubious pleasure?"

"She's fading fast Albus. There is no time for you to brood over the fact three seventeen year old boys created a spell even you couldn't think of." She snak into a plush wine colored chair, sighing as her bones creaked. "They spent months researching and then anothermonth formulating the spell. Sod it all. Ronald Weasley learned arithmancy while Potter learned gnomic runes to better analyze the stability of the casting. They are practically at NEWT level in both subjects, and could practically obtain a spell crafters degree if they thought about it." She glared at the man behind the desk, even as her heart ached for a man not ready to let go of the people he devoted the last thirty years to protect. "Stop hiding like a child and accept their work. Help them finish it, they don't know where else to go. You can help them. You can help her." She looked down at wrinkled hands, as tears filled her eyes. "This is our last chance to not let her down. We let her down for so long Albus. Her depression, her parents, the phoenix. We were supposed to protect her. To protect them all." She slowly rose from the chair mentally cursing the fact she wasn't young enough to simply force him to see the truth. "For seven years we have tried and failed to protect our own students. She has--" the normally stoic woman's voice faltered. "She has always stepped up to protect others. Not just herself and younger students. But everyone, Remus and Sirius, Hagrid and Gwap. If they needed help she gave it. Merlin above she protected Snape at her own expense. She spent what was supposed to be her childhood protecting everyone else. Now it's our turn to protect her. So stop acting like a bloody child and help the boys. They buried their animosity, now it's time for you to bury your jealosly and try not to repeat your mistakes with Sirius." She stared pointedly at him until he turned away and stormed out of the office.

Albus looked down at the parchment on his desk and narrowed his eyes and the clear ink lines.

"Something just isn't right with it." Over his shoulder Fawkes trilled anxiously. As if struck by inspiration Dumbledore's eyes widened as he began to sketch directly on top of the parchment Potter had given him. This was it. The answer to the spell.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Drake stood in the Great Hall with his arm around My's shoulders ignoring the glares that Harry kept sending at their entwined fingers.

"Alright Miss Granger, the spell is more complicated than other spells we've done and for proper focus we have the diagramming. It's centered over the magical convergence of the school. Hogwarts was built over a cross of four of the strongest lay lines in scotland. The center of the pentacle is on the intersection." Dumbledore pointed to where she would stand, the faint lines shimmered with the fumes of the potion the created them. "The principles of the spell stand at the five corners and any others will be even;y spaced about the outside circle."

Drake glared. "Others?" His voice was dangerous. Dumbledore turned to him.

"Anyone that loves her is welcome to help Mr. Malfoy." His voice was solemn.

"Sir?" My's voice was quiet. She was tired, so very tired. "What is this spell? Where was it found?"

Drake spoke up. "It's a deritive of a binding spell utilizing the magic of the school and the emotions of the caster."

"Who are the primary casters?" Harry stepped forward.

"Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape, Ron Malfoy and I are all the primaries."

Her lips quirked in a small smile. "Thank you all."

"We will perform the spell in three days at the new moon."

"Yes, Professor. It's gravitational pull ought to help in the full bindings of the magic." He turned to My, a deep intimacy left for everyone to see. "Dance?" Her eyes filled with tears and she pressed her face to his chest. She nodded against the softness of his shirt and the two left the hall together.

Ron and Harry looked at each other and a mutual decision was made without another word. They allowed her to walk away without another word.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

My opened the door to her room three days later to see Snape scowling at her.

"Professor Snape?" My felt her heart begin to race. In his black robe, hair limp around a sallow face he was reminiscent of death. An angel of death coming to take her away.

"Miss Granger, the new moon is rising and there is just a short time frame--"

She nodded, eyes worried. She grabbed a soft oversized jumper and pulled it over her head. The fine fabric screamed Malfoy even as it settled around her falling to her mid thigh, sleeves falling down and over her fingertips. Taking a calming breathe she followed the taciturn man from the tower.

Unable to stay silent any longer she spoke "Professor," her voice despite the meekness in her tone it shattered the silence that had enveloped them. "Will this work?"

"I don't know Miss Granger. As much as I wish I knew I don't."

She nodded to herself and they continued walking down the stone hallway the usual sounds of children laughing and learning conspicuously absent.

As they approached the main part of the castle a familiar blond head turned a corner and appeared to be waiting for her. Snape nodded his head at his student and left the two of them alone.

He looked down at her and smiled crookedly at her before opening his arms. She stepped forward and let herself collapse into his arms, finally allowing her muscles to relax in the safety he represented.

She spoke into his chest, voice muffled by the rich fabric covering his body. "I've missed you. Missed having your arms around me. Missed sleeping in your arms at night." She looked up into his eyes. "I've missed you Drake."

He used his thumb to wipe away the sparkling tears on her cheeks. "I've missed you too love. I had to make sure that this was right though. I need you with me and I'll do what ever I have to keep you with me." He took her hand in his and began walking. 'We have to hurry though. Our window is short and I want us to go dancing tonight. I want to remember what it is to not have a care in the world and to loose myself in your eyes and in the beat." She smiled at him, as they walked into the Great Hall together.

My's jaw dropped as Drake looked around in shock at all the people present. His eyes were cold with rage and contempt, tempered by a deep streak of urgency and fear.

"What are they doing here?" He demanded. "This was supposed to be private."

Drake glared at all the people, tightening his grip around My's waist before sending her to sit with a smile. Harry looked around at all the people. The hope in his eyes evident to everyone in the room.

"You know secrets can't be kept at Hogwart's Malfoy. In fact its' the best way for everyone in the school to find out. Besides, why does it matter? They are here to help."

The blond man snarled, "We. Don't. Need. Their. Help. We can do it on our own."

Ron looked at the faded girl sitting in a chair eyes closed. She looked so much paler than she had even three days ago. A ghostly pallor had spread across her features except for the twin spots of burning color across her cheekbones. "We can't Malfoy. We need all the help we can get."

"No we don't. I want them gone."

A new voice broke through their heated fight; it was young but filled with conviction and fire. "Shut up Malfoy. This isn't about you. It's about her. We all love her too. We are going to help and if you don't like it you can bloody well sod off." It was Josh. "I know I'm not going to." Despite the truth behind the words the delivery was shaky, not often does a first year tell the Slytherin Prince to sod off.

"Well said Mr. Willis." Dumbledore's voice spoke. He looked down at the boy. "Although I am sure that Miss Granger wouldn't approve of such strong language from you." Josh blushed and the staring contest between the four boys was broken. "Come along, it's time." He walked over to My and helped her to her feet.

Together they walked to the pentagram painted in potion in the center of the room. He placed her in the center and kissed her cheek. All around her people stood and moved to stand at their pre-assigned places. All ready to save their friend.

Drake looked at the ceiling in the hall and watched as the stars shone down on them.

"Now." He cried and all the lights were extinguished, except the gentle light of star-shine. He took out his wand and pointed it at her, all the others following suit.

He inhaled deeply and began to speak, "With my love I bind you, with my magic I anchor you, and with my power I command you." He exhaled and began to speak the words of the spell, the familiar French spilling off of his tongue. "Mon amour vous liera. Ma magie vous ancrera. Ma puissance vous fera le séjour" He kept his eyes trained on her as he spoke, "amour," from the tip of his wand a beam of white light arced across the gap between them and sank into My's body. For an instant her eyes glowed white and her body sagged. With out stopping Drake began and joined in perfect unison by a visably grim Harry. His emerald eyes locked on her. "Mon amour vous liera. Ma magie vous ancrera. Ma puissance vous fera le séjour."

"Soeur"

Another beam of light joined the one connecting Malfoy. Ron spoke and added his voice to the growing wave of power. "Mon amour vous liera. Ma magie vous ancrera. Ma puissance vous fera le séjour"

"Soeur"

Dumbledore, than Snape joined.

"Fille"

"Sauveur" The light was beginning to glow around her, an aura of pure unselfish love and power. The outer ring began to speak along with the center star. McGonagall, Flitwick, Vector, and Remus Lupin.

"Enfant"

"Idéal"

"Cadeau"

"Héros"

All around the circle students began to commit their magic, their love, their power to anchor their friend to the earth.

"Ami"

"Inspiration"

"Mentor"

"Professeur"

Josh Willis was the last to speak. He modulated his voice to match the tone and cadence of Malfoy's voice and spoke. "Mon amour vous liera. Ma magie vous ancrera. Ma puissance vous fera le séjour"

"Mère"

His white beam joined others and the casters fell silent watching and the object of such intense power rose up from the floor, giddy at the power contained under her skin before collapsing to the ground with a crash even as fire crawled along her skin.

Those watching were horrified as the flames rose from her body to crackle and leap across her skin. A fierce magical battle was being waged between the magic trying to bind, and the magic desperately trying to maintain the freedom of a millennium.

Finally the battle paused and the flames sank beneath her skin once more. Still she lay there a crumpled heap, unable to do anything but take harsh labored breaths.

Drake closed his eyes and pointed his wand to the air. "As I will it, so shall it be." Around him, the others said it in unison, and the bond holding them to the circle was released.

Drake stepped forward and pulled the unconscious girl in his arms. Simply holding her close to his body helped to sooth his unease. He looked at the Headmaster and her friends, his eyes guarded.

"The moment is soon." He looked at Ron. "Please alert those you think deserve to know." He looked down at the unconscious girl and walked out of the hall ignoring everyone but the girl in his arms.

A/N: I used babelfish for the translation. I wanted latin but I couldn't find a single decent translation. If anyone knows latin or a good translating site let me know and I'll probably repost with the corrections.

On another note: I hate to do this, but as the second to last chapter of the story that has become my baby...if you read it, please review. let me know what you think, if only to feed my own ego.