Cessation
Dumbledore sat silently at his house, trying to pass time the only way he knew how; patiently. He stared at the wall, and nodded his head every now and then. He was about ready to go to sleep, when he heard the cry of his owl.
"Back so soon, are you?" he called to his spotted friend. The owl landed on the couch and dropped a letter in his lap. "What's this?" he asked. He opened the letter, and read it quickly.
It was the letter he had sent Ginny the day before.
"What happened?" he roared. He glared at the owl, but saw the cause of the delay. There was a band around the leg of the owl. It was a tracking device. Some stupid Muggle had captured and clipped his bird. So what if Carmen was a Snowy Spotted Owl? It was his and his alone, and no Muggle had the right to mess with that. He waved his wand at his bird and the tag fell off. He shook his head.
"Ginny won't know what has happened. She'll be dangerous without information." With that, Dumbledore began packing for waking his patient up.
Harry and Ron had been true to their word. At dusk, they were walking with Ginny across the moors to the Malfoy tombs, better known as Stone Hedge. Before they had left, Ginny had put her wand in her cloak pocket, and a kitchen knife, in case the poison didn't work. She smiled secretly to herself. She would live with him forever.
At the same time, Harry and Ron were worried about her. She was unusually quiet, and she smiled a lot. Harry just shook his head, but Ron had a feeling that she was up to more than what she said. He watched her extra closely, and made sure she didn't hurt herself. He loved her most of his siblings, and he couldn't bear to see her in the kind of pain she was in, even though she was in love with his worst enemy, he would respect that.
"Ron… " Ginny sounded very far away when she spoke.
"I'm here."
"I love you."
"I know you do." He leaned over and hugged her. She smiled and hugged him back. She was going to miss him. After a few more minutes of silence, they reached the entrance to the tomb. It was open already.
"You guys stay here. Let me go in by myself to say good-bye to him alone. I'm a big girl, I can do it." She hugged Harry quickly, and then she hugged Ron. She let go, turned away, and practically ran into the tomb.
Callista had gone into the tomb to pay her respects to her dead would-be husband. In her hand, she clutched a bouquet of flowers. He had been such a beautiful creature. It was a shame that he was gone like that. She held her wand in front of her as a torch and saw the pale, shiny walls before her. She sighed. It was a high-vaulted, clean place, but it was so expansive. The Malfoy family had been going for so long… and now it would never continue. She sighed and widened her steps. There was something crawling on the ground, and it made her uneasy.
Ginny crept along the walls silently. It was enough that she was still using magic, but it was another thing that she was creeping in a grave to see her love. It was sad to her, really. She had never figured it would be like this, but then again, what was she going to do? The halls were big and expansive, and echoed at every slight sound. There was someone else in the tomb, she knew that. She could hear them breathing.
Callista arrived in the main chamber and saw at once Draco's body, lain out across the briar. He was dressed in a fine black suit, and his hands were crossed against his chest. His lips were pale and cold, and his eyes were closed. Callista stepped toward him and laid the flowers by his side. There were already so many other flowers in and around his grave, it seemed a little pointless to her to be putting even more flowers there, but it was the only thing she could do. The candles that surrounded the chamber cast a friendly glow in the room.
There was a noise in the far of the room, and she turned. Ginny crouched low, hidden by shadows. Her breath was shallow so that it would make little noise, but she felt as if she was still breathing too much.
"Who's there?" Callista called to the shadows. Ginny decided she would give up the chase. She was going to die anyway.
"Here I am," she said quietly, but her voice carried to the mouth of the tomb as the whisper of a butterfly.
"You, you are the girl who killed Crabbe, aren't you? It's you're fault Draco is dead. He died of a broken heart on the day of our wedding." Callista was angry and her voice was loud, but she didn't notice. Ginny shook her head and laughed silently at the girl.
"You are stupid," Ginny said softly.
"What?" Callista was very angry now. "I should kill you now, for what you did to Draco."
"Really? Maybe I should do the same to you." Ginny raised her head slowly and glared at the girl. "See, I was already married to him. I wouldn't have done anything to hurt him on purpose."
"What?" This shocked Callista. How could he have been married already? It didn't make any sense.
"Yes. Now, if you'll excuse me. I don't want your pretty head getting hurt." Ginny stepped forward, but Callista stayed in place.
"I still think you are a villain."
"You asked this upon yourself," Ginny sighed as she pulled out her wand. In a flash, a bolt of lightening had shot out from the tip of her wand and into Callista's chest. The girl looked at the spot, stunned.
"You… you killed me," she sputtered.
"I told you I would," Ginny laughed a bit, but she didn't care anymore. There was too much pain in her heart to care. She sighed and pushed the dying girl out of the way. Blood began to pour from her wound, and the blood traveled up the corridor, toward the entrance.
"My love," Ginny sighed as she sat on the briar next to Draco. She touched his face, which had taken on warmth. His cheeks were pink, and his breathing was not so shallow. "You seem to my delirious eyes almost alive." Ginny sighed and took out the small vile. The fluid was green in color, and it was heavy in her hand. She shook it a bit. "No, I am not ready for you yet," she sighed. She laughed and put it away. She leaned close to Draco and touched his face. Air escaped his lips, and that startled Ginny. She sat back and stared at him.
"You know, it almost sounded like you were trying to say my name, but I must be crazy." She shook her head and laughed a little. "I just want to sit here by your side, my love. I just want to stay here with you forever."
Dumbledore raced to the burial ground. He had never been in such a hurry in his life. Ginny was unpredictable when she was angry, and now would definitely count as a time to be angry. He approached the entrance to the tomb, and he saw two shadows disappear in the dark.
"Who's there?" he called to the forms.
"It's me," said one.
"And me," said another. Two men stepped forward. It was Harry and Ron.
"What are you two doing here?"
"We're waiting for Ginny," Ron replied as he gazed down the tunnel.
"What!" Dumbledore started down the tunnel.
"Wait, what do you mean?" Harry held out his hand and caught the professor. "What's going on?"
"Ginny is going to kill herself needlessly," Dumbledore said as he pulled out of Harry's grasp.
"Wait, what?" Ron called after the man. He shook his head and took after the professor. Harry made to go inside, but he stayed out to watch for people.
Ginny hugged Draco. He felt as though he was breathing, but she knew her mind was playing tricks on her. She lifted her head and looked at his eyelids.
"I loved how your eyes… How they sparkled and shined when you looked at me. I'm sorry it all has to end this way." Ginny touched his face once more and leaned in close to him. She kissed him softly, and was surprised at how warm he was to her touch. Draco's eyes fluttered at the touch. She felt tears running down her cheeks for the first time. Drops fell on his face, and each drop made his face twitch. It occurred to her that she hadn't stopped crying that whole day – she had just been so numb. She pulled the bottle back out of its resting place and uncorked it. The fluid was thick and smelled sweet. She shivered and swirled the contents.
"I love you," she sighed as she lifted the bottle to her lips. She opened her mouth and let the cool liquid pour down her throat. She knew it would be faster than she wanted, but she knew it would be painless and swift.
Draco's eyes opened and he stared for a moment. It felt as though he had been asleep for a very long time, and he stretched a little. He looked around, and saw Ginny sitting by him. He rejoiced. It was just like Dumbledore had said. He sat up a little.
"Ginny!" He stared at the vile in her loose hand. Her eyes were shining, and she only stared at him with disbelieving eyes. He watched her fall, and he took her in his arms quickly. "What… what's going on?"
"Draco, you're alive," she choked. She felt the sweat start and knew she was too late. "I… You were dead, so I… " Her mouth began sweating and she couldn't speak.
"No," he cried. "We're going to go away and live in Paris. We're going to have children and live to be a hundred and one." He knelt and held her. She was burning up. "I love you. You can't do this… " He felt the tears streaming down his face.
"I… I… " Ginny was choking on the sweat. Her forehead was wet, her body shook. She was so hot inside. Her mouth was full of the sweetest flavor… The world was growing dark, and all she could see was Draco's face. He was crying. She reached up with a heavy hand and touched his face. Her eyes were unseeing.
"Why?" he cried as he hugged her close.
Suddenly, Ginny could feel strength. She opened her mouth and poured forth words to the blackness that sounded like Draco. Her hand touched him, but she couldn't feel him. "I… I love you… " she gagged. Her hand fell to his collar and she clutched it. "I can't see," she cried to the darkness. "I can't see you!" Her tears poured from her glossy eyes and she rolled on her side. Draco lifted her toward him and hugged her close.
"No, not now. You'll be okay," he whispered to her. She moved her head a little, trying to find him. Her hands slapped around.
"I can't feel you, Draco!" she cried. She remembered his face, his love, and her heart swelled. "Forgive me," she whispered as she felt the strength leaving her.
"I love you," he managed as he watched her dying. "I forgive you."
"I… I… " Ginny made gurgling noises as she slowly drowned. "I… " Her fingers twitched. "Love… " Her glazed eyes lost the light. Draco stared at her and felt his heart shattering. She was dead. Ginny was dead. She was gone.
"No," he whimpered softly as he hugged her close. He didn't believe it, how could he? It was a dream, a nightmare. She was waiting for him when he woke up… Draco looked at her and knew it was no dream. He leaned in and kissed her slowly. It was more than he could bear. It would drive him insane.
"What is going on?" Dumbledore shouted as he raced into the room. He stopped and stared in horror. Callista was dead, Ginny was dead. This was awful. He turned around and pulled Ron with him.
"What's going on!" Ron shouted. He wanted to know what had happened to his sister.
"Not now!" Dumbledore shouted back as he pulled Ron away from what he knew he didn't want to see. Ron shook his head and apperated to the Ministry. Someone official was going to investigate this.
Draco stared after them and shook his head. He wouldn't live for them. He only lived for her, and now that she was dead, he simply wouldn't live anymore either. He kissed her lips, hoping some poison would still be there for him.
"What is this?" he whispered as he touched her face. "You didn't leave any for me, how rude." He shook his head and wiped away some of the tears from her face. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." He touched her waist and felt for her wand, and instead found a knife. He gingerly unfolded her robes and pulled it out. It was a regular, sharp kitchen knife. It would work for its purpose today. He stared at it and it glinted in the candle light.
"Which way?" Someone shouted at the chamber door.
"This way," Ron shouted. Draco heard the steps and knew he had little time.
"Oh happy dagger, this is your sheath; there rust and let me die." Draco looked to the heavens and thrust the knife into his heart. In a painless second he dropped beside Ginny, his blood pouring all over the fresh flowers.
"What is this!" Seamus shouted as he stepped into the chamber. "There is the blood of the Paris girl, and there is her body." He walked farther in the room. Ron and Harry followed behind him. He was the only official they knew of that would come on such short notice. "Oh my God," he breathed. Seamus stopped and stared at the briar in the middle of the room.
"Draco has been dead a whole day, and yet there he lays, with fresh blood pouring out of him. And there, beside him, is Ginny. Harry, Ron, go and raise everyone. The Malfoys, the Weasleys, the Minister, everyone. Send in Dumbledore. I know he's out there somewhere." Seamus shook his head and stared at the dead people.
"I'm here," Dumbledore called from the head of the chamber.
"Stay." It was all Seamus could manage.
"What is going on?" Fudge was there. He had brought several others with him. "It's late, and I was about to head to bed. What is going on?" Just then, the Malfoys entered the chamber with Snape following close behind. He said nothing, for his eyes saw what his mind least wanted.
"What in the hell is going on? One of our servants came in and cried that Draco was dead, that I should come and see him at once. What is the cause of this? He is already dead!" Lucius was fuming.
"Haven't we had enough pain for one night?" Narcissa shuddered. She stopped when her eyes grazed Callista's dead form.
"What is going on!" Fudge shouted.
Seamus spoke quietly. "Well, there is the Paris girl, and she's dead. There is Ginny, dead. There is Draco, said to have been dead, but lying warm and freshly killed. What say you to that?"
"Find the people who would know the most about these murders," Fudge began calmly.
"There is Dumbledore, and here is Harry," Seamus pointed.
"No!" Lucius roared. "Look, Narcissa, see how our son bleeds."
"What is going on!" Arthur shouted as he entered the chamber. "I thought I was done with you, Lucius!" Ron entered the room and stood beside Harry. He didn't want to be there. His baby sister, one of his closest friends, was dead. He wasn't sure about his nerves. Harry was shaken, but he had retreated inside his shell. Both couldn't speak.
"Arthur, please. Something more pressing calls your attention. Look yonder." Fudge pointed to the briar.
"What, no, not Ginny," Arthur shook his head. "What a manner is this? To beat even your father to the grave!"
"Hold your tongue for now, you old fool, until we can settle this for sure. Bring the people who are most suspected in these murders."
"I will come forward," Dumbledore said quietly. "I had the greatest and least greatest part in this."
"Explain yourself," Fudge prompted.
"I'll be brief. You see, Ginny and Draco were married, mostly on my part. The day they were married was the same day Hermione and Crabbe were killed. This sent Ginny into banishment, and that was why Draco was sad. To get rid of his pain, you sought to have him married as fast as possible to Callista. This was when Draco came to me and begged me to help him, or else he would have killed himself right there at my house. So, I gave him a sleeping potion and told him to take it at home."
"Then I wrote a letter to Ginny, trying to tell her of what was going on, because on Draco's awakening they were to flee to France. However, the letter never made it to her, and so she came here. From there I can only assume that she killed Callista, and then killed herself. I came in a short while later, to stop such an action, but I was too late. I pulled Ron out of the room so he would be spared, and in that moment, Draco killed himself. Snape knew about the marriage, but not the drugs, and so I take full responsibility of these deaths."
"That is all right, Albus," Fudge said kindly. "It is not your fault that they are dead. You only aided in it, but were really not a part of it. Tell me, who else was here?"
"I was," Harry said as he stepped forward. "There was a letter delivered today, unsigned, and it told of Draco's death. It sent Ginny wild, and I fetched Ron, because he is the only person I know who can calm her down. From there, she seemed fine. I did find a letter that she tucked in my jacket. It said that she was going to slay herself to be with her love forever… " Harry's eyes grew misty and he turned away. He threw the letter at Fudge and the man caught it. He read it quickly.
"It is true. Now, where are they? Malfoy, Weasley, show yourselves!" The families stepped forward. "I hope you are all proud of yourselves. You have lost your children because of your stupid hatred. What was it even good for? Do you even remember why you were fighting?" Both shook their heads guiltily. "I thought so. I have lost the best Auror, and that was because I turned my back on this problem. We have all paid the price for our stupidity." Fudge was about to say more, but no words would come to him.
"Arthur," Lucius choked. "I am sorry for hating you. It was stupid of me. Forgive me, for my son's sake. It is all I can give you."
"But I will do more. I will raise Draco's statue, and make it so that he lives on forever in the wizarding world."
"And together shall Draco and Ginny lay forever. Such poor sacrifices of our enmity!" Arthur rushed forward and clasped the old man in a hug.
Fudge turned around and talked to his assistants. "Come, there is still much to be discussed. Some will be pardoned, and others punished." He turned around and saw the two families hugging and grieving together. "Never was there a sadder story," he said sadly. Seamus nodded and turned his back also. Harry and Ron went forward and joined in the grieving, for it was terribly sad to them. At that moment, everyone swore never to fight again.
The blue light surrounded Ginny and she felt so warm and glorious. She could feel again, and she could see again. There were so many people around her, it was outrageous. No one was old, no one was young. Everyone was perfect. She glanced around. There was Hermione, talking to Merlin; there was Crabbe, laughing with Goyle. Her heart fell. She was dead, and she would be alone forever.
She sighed and set her steps toward Hermione, when a warm hand fell over her eyes and stopped her. Her mind raced at who it could be, and before she could think anything else, a warm mouth placed itself over hers. She pulled away and pushed the hand away, and smiled.
"I knew it was you," she laughed. She hugged him tight and ran her fingers through his hair. "Together, forever," she laughed.
"I love you," Draco sighed as he pulled her close to him.
"I love you."
la fin
