What if Draco had helped Dumbledore instead of just standing there in Chapter 27 of Half-Blood Prince? What would have changed? Would Dumbledore have survived? Here's my alternate ending to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

"Malfoy was showing less resolution than ever. Her looked terrified as he started into Dumbledore's face, which was even paler, and rather lower that usual, as he had slid so far down the rampart wall."

Looking about him, the blonde Slytherin's dull gray eyes burst into life as he turned away from Dumbledore, his wand arm becoming steadier. "Expelliarmus!" He shouted, the Death Eaters's wands flying from their hands and crashing against the wall, shattering. Greyback leapt to his feet, pouncing at Draco, who shouted "Petrificus totalus" in time to keep the werewolf from landing on him.

The remaining Death Eaters started backing away slowly, now unarmed and frightened of the sixteen-year-old wizard before them. Looking at them, Draco body-bound them all and locked the astronomy tower door, hoping it would give him more time. He heard a thump from behind him and spun only to see that the headmaster was now collapsed, lying on the floor. Draco pocketed his wand and went over to Dumbledore.

"Get away from him, Malfoy," came an all too familiar voice.

"Potter, when'd you get here? Always the one to make an appearance when you're not needed nor wanted, aren't you?"

"I've been here the entire time, Malfoy. I've been hiding."

"And you're supposed to be the courageous one."

"Shut your mouth, Malfoy."

"I just saved his life."

"You were going to kill him."

"If you were here, Potter, you'd have realized that I wasn't going to do anything of the sort."

Harry seemed at a loss for words. Draco had him there; he never had actually done anything to hurt Dumbledore. In fact, Draco was right. He had just saved him. Sighing in defeat, Harry said, "Help me get him under my cloak, we'll get him to his office unseen." Malfoy looked at Harry skeptically, as Harry went and grabbed his cloak from the corner. "It's an invisibility cloak, Malfoy. I would have thought you would have seen one before." Harry laid it over Dumbledore, making sure he was completely covered then tapped him with his wand. "Locomotor Dumbledore," the body of the headmaster was now floating.

"Always the show off, aren't you, Potter?"

"Shut it Malfoy."

"So how do you propose we get you out of here? It's not normal for us to be buddy-buddy, you know."

"I'll run ahead, act like you're chasing me. We'll run to Dumbledore's office. The password is toffee éclairs. It'll probably close behind me. I'll keep Dumbledore floating, you just worry about not letting anything hit him."

"Always were Dumbledore's favorite, weren't you Potter? You even know the password to his office."

Harry remained quiet for several seconds before responding, "Malfoy, right now is not the time. We need to get moving." He unlocked the door and looked around, making sure there was no one on the steps. "Let's go." Harry took off at a sprint, keeping his want pointed at Dumbledore's invisible body floating in front of him.

Malfoy was genuinely impressed, but didn't let it show as he took off after Harry, shouting hollow threats and curses, missing him on purpose.

Mmk… that's my start on my alternate ending… there'll b about 3 more chapters… that makes sense, since this is "Chapter 27" then theres 28-30 left... they're gunna b short, but I need to figure out how im gunna have all the stuff that happens in the book happen w/out having certain things happen… I know… confusing, but bare with me… and no, im not abandoning Par Amour… I just need to get this out of my system first…

HTT