Disclaimer: Don't own it!

If there were any way to describe death, it would be "wondrous". There is, depending on how you die, a huge burst of pain at the end.

Then there is that one, clear moment, where everything you've ever wanted seems to be rushing towards you. You lose all hope of ever going back, and in doing so, welcome what is to be.

Then there is peace.

Startling, beautiful, wondrous peace.

You are floating, floating on clouds, soaring higher then anyone could ever fly, and as you look down, all you can see is white, and yellow, and orange, and green, and all those other colors most people haven't even discovered yet.

And so, Draco Malfoy found himself in this position, ready to cross over, with no doubt in his mind that this was the end.

That is, until he got to the end.

There seemed to be darkness ahead, and no matter how hard he tried to veer away, something was holding him back. He closed his eyes and hit the black void.

In that moment, only the Cruciatus Curse could have surpassed the pain he was feeling now, and only just barely.

"I don't think we should have awoken him so soon, Albus. He seems to be in horrendous pain."

"Poppy, he has reason to be, seeing as it was basilisk venom running in his veins."

"But didn't Harry get bitten? He lived, and there was no pain for him!"

"Yes, Poppy dear, but Harry was fortunate enough to have Fawkes by his side and he was not wrenched back to life after he could have been declared legally dead."

Through half-lidded eyes, Draco realized he was in the Hospital Wing. There was a bandage going over his bare chest, and he could feel a bandage on his leg. Madam Pomfrey gave him a look that clearly said she didn't hate him anymore, and was rather relived he was alive.

Dumbledore smiled and leaned over the bed. "Welcome back, Master Malfoy. I trust the experience was alright?"

Draco groaned and turned over. His eyes caught a flash of red, and he lifted his head slightly. Ginny was curled up into an over-stuffed chair, her hair falling over her eyes. Draco recognized that she was sleeping.

"She hasn't left your bedside for the three days you were here, Master Malfoy." Dumbledore was smiling. "I think she was very worried for you."

"Three days?" Draco mumbled, as he opened his eyes a bit more.

Madame Pomfrey cut in. "Yes, three days. That was quite a lot of venom, and even when Dumbledore managed to get Fawkes to lend a few tears, you were gone, as I saw it. But Albus insisted we give you the potion anyways, and look at that!"

"Powerful things, phoenixes are." Dumbledore winked, and Draco managed a tired smile.

"Why wake me up? I was rather happy." He said, sitting up awkwardly. Dumbledore cast a glance at Madame Pomfrey, who huffed unhappily, but left.

"I have reason to believe, Master Malfoy, that the death of your father was a very, very bad thing."

Draco was stunned. His father was dead? He knew he had uttered the Killing Curse, but as weak as he was, wouldn't the curse have backfired?

There was, however, a very brief moment of grief. Draco's eyes did not prickle with tears, nor did his world come crashing down. It had done so two years before, and it was about time he started rebuilding it.

"What do you mean, his death was a bad thing?"

Dumbledore pulled out his wand, and summoned up a plushy armchair. He seated himself upon it, and steepled his fingers. "Lucius had apparently, despite the evidence, decided that Voldemort was still alive. He was insane, of course."

Draco snorted. Dumbledore pretended not to notice, and went on. "He had been plotting to somehow rid the world of Muggle-borns, and thus when his master returned, he would come back to a world full of Purebloods.

"Lucius set to work on the making of a creature that could fulfill his needs. He murdered many vampires, werewolves, phoenixes, griffins, chimeras, basilisks, any magical creature he could get his hands on."

"How come we didn't hear about these murders?" Draco demanded. Dumbledore gazed at him from over his spectacles.

"There are some things people should not know." He cleared his throat, and continued. "Lucius spent days, sometimes weeks in mad stupors in a hideaway whose whereabouts are still unknown. He would tear the essences and magic away from the creatures, and mix them together. Somehow, he managed to mold the magic into an ultimate Dark God.

"This being, he kept trapped inside a vial for several months. Upon deciding to use a Polyjuice Potion to get into Hogwarts, and close to you, he decided to set the being free. But first he created a binding spell, one that bound the being to kill all those not seen fit by his standards. Namely, Muggle-borns and those associated with them."

Draco stared, stunned at this piece of information. Dumbledore did not seem to notice, and continued.

"Lucius let the creature go, trussing it to his lair, until he died. It could not leave until his death, and even then, it was to wait a few months. Exactly five, I believe."

Draco did some quick math. "So…it should come around sometime in May?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Lucius christened the being Desdemona, which means ill-fated one or misery in Greek. He had plans for her."

"Why are you telling me this?" Draco was fairly spooked at this point, as he felt the old man's stare bore into him.

"Lucius still believed there was a chance of getting you back. He made it so that the only person who could find Desdemona was a Malfoy. And seeing as your mother is not up to the job—,"

"You want me to find her." Draco interrupted. "Oh joy, I get to hunt down and find the evil creature that will kill thousands, and probably kill me in the process." He eyes Dumbledore warily. "How do I kill her?"

Dumbledore shrugged. "I haven't the faintest idea." Draco was shocked into silence, and Dumbledore turned to Ginny. "Now, Miss Weasley, you can stop pretending to be asleep. I know very well you've heard this whole conversation."

Ginny opened one eye, then the other. She blew a strand of hair of her face and pouted. "I couldn't sleep with all the talking, it's not my fault!"

Dumbledore chuckled. "No matter. I wished for you to hear this anyway." At the odd looks, he elaborated. "Another prophecy, similar to the one concerning Harry, was uncovered shortly before this. It's how we know of the plans Lucius had, and because of it, we know who Master Malfoy must take on his trip."

Ginny's eyes widened. "Me?" She squeaked. "I'm going?"

"Didn't think I would go off on a suicide mission without you, now did you, Weasley?" Draco drawled out.

Dumbledore seemed to ignore the two of them, and he went on. "I have already informed the rest of those who are to come along. They are waiting behind the hospital doors." He gave a flick of his wand, and there was the sound of a door turning. A moment later, a small crowd appeared at the foot of Draco's bed.

Blaise bounded next to him and shook his head. "Good job surviving, Draco, near gave me a heart attack when I'd found out what you'd done."

"Thanks for saving Ginny. That's twice now…" Ron seemed uncomfortable with the whole situation, and was glaring pointedly at Ginny, making sure she knew he thought it all he fault for always getting into trouble.

Harry and Hermione nodded next to him. Soleil, meanwhile, had immediately squeezed next to Ginny on the seat and was smiling brilliantly at him.

"I've got to work with them?" Draco said, eyeing the Golden trio incredulously. Dumbledore nodded.

"They were in the prophecy. They must go."

"What does this prophecy say, anyway?" Harry interrupted. Dumbledore seemed troubled by the question.

"That, I cannot tell you. I know you are upset, and you have a right to be, considering the events that happened last time I withheld a prophecy, but with this one, were I to reveal it, all would be in jeopardy indeed."

"But I have to work with them?" Draco looked at him like the Headmaster was crazy. "I have to work with them?"

"Oh, shut up, Draco." Ginny snapped. "Obviously, you do, and you'd better be fine with it. If we don't find and kill this creature, it's going to kill anyone doing anything Muggle-related, and considering your mother's new ways, that means you too."

"I saved your life, Weasley." Draco snarled at her. She smiled at him.

"And I am eternally grateful. But if you could stop being such a prat, I think Professor Dumbledore is waiting for you to accept his offer, and seeing as everyone already has—yes, Professor, I accept also—then it's all up to you."

Draco scowled at her. "I hate you."

"Ditto."

The blond slumped back into his sheets, gray eyes wandering the room. He suddenly realized, everyone there—if what Ginny had said was true and Blaise had accepted—was going to die if Desdemona came around.

Had he been in his fifth year or below, he probably wouldn't have minded so much. Except now…

He glanced at Ginny, who was staring at him defiantly. He realized then that, if he said no, she would probably manage to go anyways, and probably get killed in the process. Something twisted in his stomach, and he felt like gagging.

This was probably all his fault. Had he not stopped Ginny that day in the forest, he would still hate her. His father would still be undercover, and the Ministry might have succeeded in finding Desdemona's lair.

The people around him must have noticed the peculiar look on his face, because they were now looking at him anxiously.

Draco looked to Dumbledore, who still had no hint of emotion on his face, and nodded.

"I'll do it."

Bet you no one saw that one coming!