Dark Days Pass But Are Never Forgotten

By: LogicalRaven

I'm exhausted. I wrote the chapter, then rewrote the chapter, then rewrote this chapter again. It still isn't perfect-- but I've come to realize perfection is a state of mind not a reality. Hope you enjoy this last thrill as we approach the final twist in the long ride. Thank you all for sticking with me through this tale. The next chapter will be the last-- and the series that started off with Lily and James will final be complete. It's odd looking back and seeing how much everything has changes-- at how much I've changed.
Thank-you... and happy reading.

Goodbye

The mood at the Academy was dim as the group of soon to be Aurors sat around watching the small clock that hung above the fireplace. Their wands were ready and their eyes were wide.

"Shouldn't we have heard something by now?" Susan asked, voicing what the other were thinking.

"The fact we haven't been summoned is probably a good thing," Noel replied as her eyes wandered towards the clock again.

The silence in the group was uncommon and uncomfortable. It had been nearly two hours since the attack on the Ministry of Magic had begun. One of the downfalls of now being a Rank XII Auror was you were rarely the first on the scene, and normally reserved for backup. Their responsible as Aurors overweighed their obligation to the Order.

"Bet you can't wait to get out there again, Potter," Michael commented with a smirk.

"Now isn't the place or time," Susan warned.

Michael rolled his eyes and began polishing his wand to pass the time.

Harry closed his eyes, he knew Susan was right. This wasn't the time or place for Michael and him to sort out their differences.

"What exactly did Master Raymer say?" Susan asked turning to Noel who was still watching the clock.

"That we were to remain in this common room until we were given further orders. He said that the situation was being assessed and that we'd soon be told what our duties are."

Harry let out a slightly irritated sound at the sound of Eros' name.

"I just want to know if everybody is alright," Susan sighed, "You'd think some news would be passed on by this point."

"Well, since we've completely made a mess of every mission we've been on… it doesn't surprise me we haven't been included," Michael said casually, "It's actually a relief."

Noel curled her lip; "If making a mess of things frightens you, you're in the wrong profession, Corner."

"Looking forward to leaving your fellow Aurors behind to run off and play little miss hero with Potter again?" Michael taunted, "Is it the only way you can get him to yourself?"

"That's enough," Harry said coldly, "I appreciate you have a problem with me, Corner—but we have to rely on one another to survive. We could be called into battle any second, and we don't need to be questioning each others intentions and abilities while we're out there."

"Michael," Susan said in a soft pleading voice.

Noel however didn't back down as easily; "Is that what your problem is. Still fancy me, do you?"

"Dream on," Michael said in a bitter voice.

"Then explain why you're acting like a child who didn't get his way? Get over the fact that I didn't desire you in the same you way you wanted me." Noel ranted. "Harry, has nothing to do with your anger. You got rejected, and you don't know how to handle it. Have you even thought for a moment what your ego is doing? You've destroyed your friendship with Harry. You've humiliated Susan and you, quite frankly, pissed me off."

"You're really full of yourself," Michael said curtly, turning his head away.

Noel narrowed her eyes; "Piss off Corner. I'd die for any of my fellow Aurors, but as far as I'm concerned you're a disgrace to the profession, and aren't worthy of my spit. Fend for yourself during battle… you'll learn it is a cold lonely road."

"Guys, this isn't the way to resolve this issue," Susan pleaded.

Michael glared at Susan; "Whose side are you on anyways?"

"It isn't about sides," Harry interjected.

"Are you done fussing amongst yourselves yet?"

All four of them jumped as the suddenly became aware of the floating green head in the flames. Tonks just stared at them with a deep look of disappointment.

"Master Tonks," Harry said quickly, "the situation."

"Is being controlled," Tonks said quickly. "We have the upper hand at present, but there is some concern another location is in danger of being attacked."

"Which location?" Harry asked.

Tonks looked behind her shoulders, "Odin—behind the desk, I just saw another one. Ohhh… "

"Another what?" Noel urged as Tonks' head disappeared.

The four looked at themselves with frustration. Only moments ago they were for certain it couldn't get any worse—suddenly it just had.

"Sorry bout that," Tonk said as she reappeared, we've just cleared this room. "I don't have long so listen up. One of the Death Eaters we captured said phase two was Hogwarts. It's not much to go on, but it's a lead. You four and the Rank X's are to report to Hogwarts for defense. Headmistress McGonagall is expecting you. The students have already been rounded in their common rooms. We don't think this is a viable lead, but we can't afford not to follow up on it."

"Yes Master Tonks," Susan acknowledged.

Suddenly Tonks glanced behind again and disappeared.

"So do we go to Hogwarts now?" Michael asked.

Harry however had a different look on his face

"Harry, don't even think about it," Susan warned.

Harry sighed; "They don't have the situation under control, she barely was able to deliver our orders."

"It doesn't matter," Susan reminded. "We did get our orders. We go to Hogwarts, not the Ministry."

Cho felt her whole body shiver as she stared at the two figures that were lying before her. The tears that were streaming down her face, didn't even feel real. How could this have happened? She could still feel Eros' blood in her mouth, she could still hear the Vampire Priest's voice in her head.

"Cho."

She couldn't even look up, some how she had managed to grip Eros' fallen form.

"Cho, good lord—are you alright?"

Cho shook her head realizing she was unable to speak.

December O'Riley glanced at Kingsley who was examining Darthanayia's fallen body.

"He's dead," Kingsley said loudly.

"Cho, you have to let go of Eros," December instructed, trying to pull Cho's grip off.

"NO!" Cho shrilled, "You can't take him from me!"

"Cho, listen to me—you have to get a grip over yourself," December warned.

Cho's eyes were water logged as she attempted to breath. "I didn't mean to. I didn't want to."

"It's alright, just let go," December urged softly.

Cho's shaking hands released Eros' and December evaluated the body. She finally looked and Kingsley and nodded.

"We have to get her to St. Mungo," Kingsley warned.

Cho sighed; "No."

"Expelliarmus!" December shouted, disarming a Death Eater who immediately turn and ran.

Kingley pulled Cho to her feet and threw her head back to examine her teeth. "No fangs."

December nodded once again as she approached the doorway where she had just casted a disarming spell.

"We need to get out of here," Kingsley said suddenly as he casted a mobiliarbus charm over Eros' body.

"Agreed," December affirmed, "Best go back the way we came."

The three walked swiftly through the corridors, as swiftly as they could with Eros' corpse. Cho's breathing had calmed slightly, but the tears still streamed down her face.
It was rather uneventful, it was almost as if the enemy had disappeared.

"December? Kingsley?" Tonks asked as she raced up to them as they pasted the fountain of Brethren.

"OH NO!" Tonks said loudly as her hand flew to her face, "what happened?"

December glanced and Cho; "Raymer has fallen."

"McNair has been captured," Tonk s reported as she tried to block out the fact that her fellow Auror had be slain. "He said the Death Eaters are going to attack Hogwarts."

December chanced a glance at Kingsley; "Have we sent reinforcements to Hogwarts yet?"

"I instructed the remaining trainees to report to Hogwarts," Tonks said without emotion.

December shook her head in approval, "Good. What about the Order?"

"Lupin and Bill Weasley are still upstairs trying to control a group of Death Eaters we've trapped," Tonks reported.

Kingsley frowned; "We're the ones trapped—we're unable to disapparate from this location. We're next to useless. It's a trap."

"We've almost secured the location," Tonks argued. "The anti-disapparation charm will be lifted in a matter of hours."

"In a matter of hours, they could destroy half the magical world," Kingsley said in a harsh tone.

Cho suddenly looked up with fear in her eyes. A bad feeling had come over her and all she could whisper was the word "Harry."

The four Auror's arrived without any problems. The Hogwart's corridors were cleared and the entire student populations had been ordered to the Houses until the threat was lifted.

"Reminds me of the last year I was here," Susan commented as the group of six Aurors continued onward.

It did seem oddly familiar to the last years that Harry, Michael and Susan had spent at Hogwarts. It had an eerie sensation that made the most rational individual's neck hairs stand on end.

"Oh, thank heavens… I was beginning to wonder if the Ministry was sending up any reinforcements what so ever," said McGonagall as she rounded the corner. "I just received word from Alastor Moody, he said that the Ministry still had an anti-disapparation charm on it."

"We wouldn't know professor," Susan said firmly, "We were summoned straight from the Auror Academy."

"Me and Paulette will go do a quick sweep of the lower levels, that is most likely where an attack would begin," said Ralph Jones, a higher level trainee commented.

McGonagall nodded as the two Auror trainees walked onward to the stairwell leading downward.

"You four, it would probably be best if you came with me to the Great Hall," McGonagall suggested. "That is where the professors are gathered."

The four followed their former professor into the Great Hall. The tables were all pushed back against the wall and the professors were gathered in the center, all silent with scenes of worry sketched on their face.

"Harry," called a voice that sounded vaguely familiar.

Viktor Krum fit the part of a Potions Master. His long black cloak swished behind him as he approached with his eyebrows drawn together.

"Itz good to see you," Viktor greeted, "We haz met in the Great Hall, but we know little."

"You know just as must as we do, professor," Harry said quickly, as he saw Viktor sigh with frustration.

Harry glanced at Professor McGonagall, "Are the rest of the staff?"

"Yes, Mr. Potter…the are gone on …" McGongall lowered her voice to a whisper, "Order business."

Noel narrowed her eyes as she watched Harry's expression change.

"We need to sweep the school and station ourselves in the best places to defend against an attack," Harry said firmly. "Headmistress, please send the Heads of House to their students as a defense precaution. The rest of the staff should remain in the Great Hall. We'll cover the entrance and grounds. Is Hagrid still in his hut?"

"No," McGonagall said shortly. "Dumbledore requested him for a special assignment."

"I agree with Harry, defense of the students is our top priority," Susan voiced.

McGonagall glanced around at the professor and sighed with at troubled expressions; "All Heads of Houses, please report to your student, the remainder of you should remain here for further instructions. We've received no word from the Ministry, so we must go on the limited information we have received."

McGonagall then turned to Harry and Susan, "I'll be reporting to Gyrffindor in the absent of Professor Lupin. Notify me if there are any changes, all the fireplaces are linked in a closed network throughout the school."

The Headmistress turned to leave with the rest of the Heads of House professors, leaving behind only a handful to guard the Great Hall.

"Come on, we should be patrolling the grounds," Noel snapped.

The four remaining Auror trainees walked swiftly until finally reaching the main doors to the school. The grounds were massive, and it would be impossible to patrol the entire area.

"We'll split up," Michael suggested tensely. "Bones and I will take the patch near the Hogwarts Express and the Carriage route."

"I guess that leaves Noel and I the trails near the Forbidden Forest and the Greenhouse."

Susan eyes Harry and Michael nervously; "I don't know if it is a wise ideal to split… we have strength in numbers."

"The grounds are too vast, we can't cover them properly," Michael argued.

Harry glanced at Noel who was already scanning the grounds through the window; "Michael is right, we need to cover as much ground as possible. We can't let them gain the element of surprise. If they get into the castle, then it could be disastrous. Do you remember what happened our sixth year?"

"Hogwarts has many secrets," Noel said in a deep nervous voice, "If an attack comes, it will more than likely come from within. We should separate, but we shouldn't concentrate our entire efforts on the grounds."

"What do you suggest?" Harry asked.

Noel glanced at Michael before speaking; " The dungeons are already being patrolled. Two of us should take the upper corridors and two of us should scan the grounds."

"I don't like the idea of us separating," Susan voice.

Michael seemed to not hear her; "Fine, you and Potter take the grounds—Bones and I will patrol the upper level corridors. Any sign of anything out of the ordinary send up red shrieking flares."

Michael and Harry didn't wait for discussion to ensue, each immediately turned and started in opposite directions.

"WAIT!" Susan said loudly, but neither boy seemed phased.

Noel sighed; "Just go Bones. It's safer this way."

Susan gave Noel a protesting look but still departed as she followed Michael who was already at the base of the main staircase.

Noel turned back towards her own partner. Harry pulled the latch on the main door and a cool draft touched their face. It was still early September. School had barely been in session a week.

The sun was slowly starting to fade in the distance as the two stepped outside and pushed the door closed behind them. Both stood completely overtaken—neither sure where to begin.

"We should probably start near the forest," Harry finally said with a touch on uncertainty in his voice.

Noel glanced around with a rigid look; "Which way?"

Harry took the lead, naturally being more versed with Hogwarts. The Giant Squid let one of his tentacles hit with water with a loud splash as the two walked past. It seemed to be the only indication of life.

The moment seemed to tense even more as the two proceeded closer to the forest.

"Seems off, doesn't it," Harry commented.

Noel didn't respond as her eyes remained trained on the situation.

"Noel?" Harry asked as he noticed Noel seemed to be in a world of her own.

She let out a long sign then cut her eyes in his direction; "This is just one phase."

"One phase?" Harry asked.

Suddenly Noel glanced up towards the rising moon; "Look!"

The moon was shielded by a dark green sign, a sign they both knew too well.

"They're trying to shake the very foundations our world is based on," Harry said with a frustrated voice.

Noel nodded; "I fear that this is just a small phase. We're isolated, if we were faced with a full out attack, we'd be powerless to stop it."

"If an attack began, others would come to our aid," Harry argued.

Noel shook her head; "They could have easily placed an anit-disapparation charm on the Ministry. Why do you think we were sent here?"

"They would be trapping themselves as well," Harry deduced.

Noel shook her head again; "They've found away around that… I know for a fact."

"You know for a fact?" Harry asked questionably.

"Yes, just trust me," Noel said sharply.

Harry eyed Noel for a moment then pressed forward. The Dark Forest was growing as quiet as the grounds. Harry couldn't help but be reminded of his time there, and wondered if the creatures he had once encountered would recall him.

Noel nudged him slightly, "We should split up."

"Are you mad?" Harry asked.

"We can't cover the area properly," Noel argued.

Harry frowned; "We aren't separating."

"LOOK OUT!" Noel said loudly as Harry's quick reflexes found him on the ground, a cruse soaring over his head.

Noel aimed her own wand, "Expelliarmus."

Harry rolled quickly over on his back and sat up, aiming his wand in the general direction Noel had just sent her disarming spell.

"What did you see?" Harry asked quickly in a rushed voice.

Noel pointed; "In the tree line!"

Harry stumbled slightly as he rose to his feet, not daring to turn his back to the area of the attack. Noel narrowed her eyes as he moved forward.

"We should get back-up," Harry suggested.

Noel glanced at him; "What back-up?"

Harry raised his wand and sent up a series of shrieking flares then turned a gave Noel a look.

"The happy couple," said a bitter voice from behind them.

"You," Noel hissed as Draco Malfoy appeared cool and collective with his wand playfully toying between his fingers.

"Me," Draco jeered.

Harry aimed his wand dangerously at Malfoy; "I knew I'd face you here, Malfoy."

Draco sighed; "Better lines, Potter. I expected much more creativity from you. Noel speaks so highly of you, don't you love?"

Harry blinked, as he looked a Noel whose face was burning with wrath.

"Well, we have plenty of time discuss our feelings. I don't believe any help will be coming from the Ministry any time soon," Draco commented. "Might as well lower your wand, Potter… the forest is full of my followers. All their wands pointed directly at you."

"Screw you, Malfoy," Harry spat.

Draco smirked; "What exactly do you see in this guy?"

Noel narrowed her eyes; "I have no idea what you're playing at."

"Our negotiation continues," Draco interrupted. "Do you remember the terms, or need I remind you?"

"I denied your terms. Just as I've denied you!" Noel stated firmly.

Harry looked a bit puzzled, but didn't waver; "Are you insane? Have you completely lost it this time, Malfoy?"

"It's your call, Noel. You know what I'm capable of doing," Draco warned.

Noel's eyes scanned the forest; "It won't be real. It would be a lie. We both know it would be."

"Do I look like someone who cares about what's real? All I have to do is snap my fingers. I'll even let you choose the way it happened," Draco said in a cooler voice.

"Noel, what are you talking about?" Harry asked, his wand falling a bit from its aim at Malfoy's chest.

Draco glanced at the sky; "The waxing gibbous moon… remember my warning."

Noel opened her mouth to speak but Draco was now nodding towards the forest. A red curse flew inches above Harry's head causing him to spin around rapidly.

"Wait," Noel said suddenly.

Malfoy sneered: "Bloody idiots, I told them no stunners."

"Alright!" Noel said through her gritted teeth; "You have a deal."

Draco smiled broadly: "Done."

"I have your word?" Noel hissed.

"As a wizard," Draco replied.

Harry suddenly felt realization trickle down upon him and in a moment of rage he charged, catching Malfoy in the stomach and pinning him to the ground.

"Harry, stop!" Noel yelled as she reached out to stop him a moment too late.

Draco delivered a sharp blow across Harry's face before seizing his wand. He aimed it directly at Harry's head, as the two drew in deep breaths of hate.

"You said I had your word!" Noel snapped, fearing that a step towards them would prove disastrous.

Harry chances a glance at Noel; "I don't know what you promise him, but I can't let you do it. Not on my behalf."

"Just shut-up, Potter. I know what I'm doing," Noel warned.

Draco's eyes pierced through Harry; "You're lucky, Potter. I'd like nothing better then to strike you down dead."

"Then do it," Harry dared.

The Dark Mark was now high in the sky, casting a green glow over the scene. The moment continued in a tense instant. As the two sworn enemies stared at each other, another decided to act. Noel finally drew her wand and aimed it at Draco.

"We had a deal, Malfoy," Noel said boldly; "I don't intend to go back on my end, but I'll destroy you if you go back on yours."

"You love him, you love this pathetic fool before me. You love him so deeply you're willing to sacrifice your freedom for his worthless half blooded life," Draco taunted. "Why? What can he offer you that I can't?"

Noel drew a sharp breath as the truth of Draco's words stung her skin.

"Something that is beyond your ability to comprehend. Release my partner. I'm not going to warn you again."

Malfoy looked hard a Noel before slowly lowering his wand and taking a step backwards. Harry's eyes were now trained on Noel, unsure if Malfoy's words were a ploy or truth.

"The terms have changes," Malfoy said in a serious voice. "You'll leave this life, Potter knows to much for you to remain."

"That is your fault," Noel spat acidly; "The deal remains as it was designed and presented."

" Regreten Sorwin."

A dark cloud seemed to engulf Noel from behind as her knees found the ground. Her eyes grew wide with fear as Harry reached out to keep her from falling forward. Her last moments seem to pass like a single raindrop. Her body drew in it's last breath as her mouth desperately tried to confess her last words to Harry. However, he never heard them before her body feel limp.

"NO!" Draco raged, turning his wand towards the forest line.

Harry took in a surreal breath as he tried to wake Noel in a vain attempt. Words failed him as her small form remained lifeless.

Draco charged towards the forest with the intent of punishment clear on his face.

Harry moved a small piece of hair from Noel's face, noticing for the first time how truly delicate she was. He placed a quick kiss on her forehead before lowering her to the ground.

"NO!" Draco raged again. " Avada Kedavra "

A heavily cloaked form fell from the shield of the trees to the ground in a dead thump.

"Who is responsible, come forth!" Draco demanded.

"I am responsible."

Draco's face faltered as his conscience struggled between loyalty and anger.

"A blood traitor, my son?" Lucius turned to the remaining Death Eaters as his pasty skin seemed to glow under the green moon light. "You know your assignment, leaves us."

"Father," Draco choked out.

Harry was now back on his feet with his wand aimed forward.

"Crucio," Lucius Malfoy said quickly as he aimed his wand toward Harry.

"Father!" Draco said viciously as Harry dodged the curse. "She was no blood traitor!"

Lucius turned towards his son with a puzzled look; "What were you thinking? You were willing to risk everything our cause has worked for… for what? A woman who didn't even want you."

"It didn't matter what she wanted; "Draco ranted; "I wanted her. I had the situation in control, nothing was risked."

"Everything was risked. Our allies are now in Diagon Alley securing it for our future—YOUR FUTURE!" Lucius roared.

"She was my future!" Draco spat back.

" Crucio," Lucius cursed as Draco fell to the ground shrieking in pain.

Harry was back on his feet as he watched Lucius place his own son under an unforgivable. Harry aimed his wand, ""Expelliarmus."

Lucius' wand flew from his hand. He turned his coal red eyes towards Harry as Draco collapsed on the ground, shaking.

"Such a fool," Lucius hissed, "Didn't you realize that you could not defeat the Dragon Lord."

"I learned long ago, nobody is above defeat," Harry said bravely, standing defensively with his wand in his hand.

Lucius glanced at Draco; "This is how a true leader leads."

"Father! NO!" Draco screamed.

" Regreten Sorwin," Lucius said in a cold tone as he moved his hand in an strange ancient movement.

Harry filched as the cloud of dark fog engulfed him, ripping at his soul. He felt his mind scream, and his blood boil to the point of burning the insides of his veins. He could hear Draco's voice screaming. Then suddenly his body collapsed, but he barely felt it. He could taste the dirt against his cheek, as his body was suddenly engulfed by a frigid cold.

"What the hell?" Draco bawled as his father's body suddenly started to wither. His skin became even thinner and melted against his bones. His eyes feel back into his head as his mouth suddenly came together to form a haunted cavity.

Harry lifted his head, the feeling of dread had completely engulfed him and the sounds coming from the monster were the things nightmares were made of. It was the most grotesque creature he could have ever imagined.

The Dementor reached out towards Harry as he raised his wand and shouted at the top of his lungs; "Expecto Patronum."

The white stag faithfully charged towards the newly born Dementor catching the creature in the stomach and forcing it to the ground. It's wispy hoofs tore into the creature as the stag pawed the ground in a frantic motion.

Draco turned his head towards Harry. His eyes were filled with tears.

"YOU!" Draco raged turning towards Harry, as the patronus continued to paw at the fallen Dementor.

"YOU KILLED MY FATHER!" Draco screamed as he aimed his wand at Harry.

"Crucio."

Harry felt his already exhausted body shiver under the sensation of a thousand knifes piercing into his skin. He let out a yelp of pain as his body withered.

Draco kept his wand focus as his face contorted with rage.

Suddenly Harry closed his eyes and gripped his wand tightly. With all the energy he could focus he drove the curse off and knocked Draco to his feet. Exhausted Harry barely had the strength to rise to his knees.

Draco pushed his body up on his elbows just in time to catch Harry's eyes. Both boys raised their wands towards one another and froze. Years of hate raced between them.

"You killed my father, Potter," Malfoy spat.

Harry glanced at Noel; "We're even! He killed my partner."

"She was to be my wife!" Draco screamed; "You have no idea of the loss I've suffered."

Harry blinked; "She would never have married you. You're insane!"

"What do you think she just agreed to! Why do you think I agreed to spare your life!" Draco raged on.

Harry frowned, not allowing his wand to waiver; "Why would she do that?"

"Because she loved you!" Draco shrieked without a moment's hesitation, "She loved you and look what it got her! She's dead!"

Harry's face fell as his mind raced; "You're lying!"

"Am I?" Draco taunted; "Why would I lie about something like that, Potter?"

"You're asking me to understand your screwed up mind. How the hell should I know! Noel was my partner that was all. She wasn't the type of person to make the sort of deals you speak."

"Ask yourself, you heard her with her own ears!" Draco retorted.

Harry chanced a glance at Noel, "She tricked you into a wizards bond. That is why your father's reverse patronum didn't work."

Draco seemed confused by Harry's logic; "What do you mean?"

"Exactly that—you're bound by your word as a wizards," Harry explained. "What did you promise her for exchange for her vow."

"Like I'd tell you, Potter," Draco hissed.

"Was it my life?" Harry asked.

"If it was, it means little now. She's dead. I'm free of my bond and my word."

Harry smirked; "If that were so… I'd already be dead."

Draco's eyes narrowed; "Then I'll deliver a fate worse than death to you."

"Don't you threaten me!" Harry bellowed. "I have the upper hand in this situation, Malfoy."

"Do you?" Draco taunted. "Do you know the orders that have been instructed to be carried out? I might be unable to kill you—but I can kill everything and everyone you love. I can make you suffer where you'll beg for death."

Harry drew in a deep breath; "Not if I kill you first."

"Kill me and you've sealed Cho Chang's death warrant," Draco warned.

Harry's felt his wand falter; "Why should I trust you?"

"Because you don't have a choice."

Harry felt his heart racing knowing the next words he spoke would be those of regret; "What are your terms?"

"Run," Draco sneered; "Run and go into hiding where nobody can find you. Leave behind everything and leave no trace of the famous Harry Potter."

"Do I look insane," Harry said bitterly; "Why would I do that."

"Because you don't have a choice. My father is dead, or as good as dead. The rising is no longer a threat. My only goal is to make you disappear," Malfoy continued in a voice of twisted hate; "If you stay… I'll continue my father's work—following the footsteps he didn't won't prove to difficult of a task."

"And kill everybody I love," Harry hissed.

"Worse… I'll torture them I'll make them suffer for the suffering you've caused me," Draco cried; "I'll kill you, Potter, even if it isn't by my own wand."

"Unless I agree to your terms," Harry snapped. "I have my own terms!"

"You aren't in any position to be making demands," Draco snapped.

"And neither are you!" Harry retorted; "You go into hiding as well. Not only do you spare those close to me—you spare the entire wizading world. You let the balance in magic happen."

Draco sneered; "Are you insane?"

"Probably," Harry teased; "I won't make my offer again."

"As long as you are alive, Potter. I promise that your demands will be met—if mine are also," Draco spat acidly, not letting his wand move off its target on Harry's chest.

"Agreed," Harry affirmed.

The air seemed to build around them, signaling something had chanced in the wizarding world they knew. The moon reappeared and the sound returned.
Lucius Malfoy remained motionless in his naked Dementor form. His soulless rot could be smelt.

Malfoy glanced once more at Harry before lowering his wand and disappareating. Harry felt the air in his lungs get heavy. His word was pulling him away. Free will no longer existed.

"HARRY!" Michael Corner cried as he and Susan ran across the grounds.

"MY GOD!" Michael continued; "What happened?"

Harry felt his words fail him as his eyes began to brim with tears of regret.

"Tell Cho, I love her…" Harry began, "Tell her I'm sorry."

And just like that… Harry Potter was gone.

Next Update: July 14th