a/n Thank you to all of my reviewers, I' glad you're enjoying the story!
Draco watched as Hermione rounded the corner and disappeared from view. He felt horrible, the pain was evident in her eyes, and it was tearing him apart. He was the cause of her pain, she would be better off without him, but honestly Draco didn't think he had the power to let her go. There was no way he would be able to ever let her go. Thinking that there was something that he had to do, Draco left the school and walked into the forest. After he made sure that he was far enough into the forest that the Hogwarts' defensive spells couldn't reach him, he apperated to Malfoy Manor.
"Draco darling how are you?" Draco looked into his mother's eyes as she opened the door smiling.
"Fine mother, I'm here on business," she nodded and let him in. Of course that was a lie, what Draco really wanted to do was what he always did when he had too much on his mind; read Dark Arts books.
Making his way to their extensive library, Draco plopped down onto an arm chair with one of his favorite books. It was dedicated wholly to describing the Dark Lord and everything about him. The author had of course been killed and Draco now held one of the last remaining copies in the world. Opening the book to where he left off Draco began to read:
The Dark Lord or other wise known as Voldemort seems to be almighty and powerful. Some say there is no escaping his wishes, but I'm here to tell you other wise. The Dark Lord does in fact have a weakness, and that is a young boy who is to be born. I have sat down with Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of witch craft and wizardry to talk about something called the prophecy. There has been a rumor of a prophecy, but had been hushed up. The fact is there is a prophecy that tells us a boy yet to be born will have the power to kill Voldemort. What has not been heard of is a second prophecy that states what will happen in the last battle. As Dumbledore tells me what is to come I realize that the only way to describe this is to write it word for word.
The boy that the Dark Lord has marked as his equal will stand in what will be known as the last battle. One will survive while the other will die. The Dark Lord will have his followers and the boy will have his power, the power of love. He will stand with his friends, but in the end one will make the final decision, one will make the final call, one will tilt the battle to either way, and this one will make a grave sacrifice for their side.
Draco shivered a little and stood up to put the book away, but not before a note fell from between the pages of the book and onto the floor. Stooping low, Draco picked it up and unraveled it.
If you are reading this, it means that I the author of this book am dead. Never will I know whether this note has fallen into the right hands, but I must trust my instinct and tell you what needs to be said. The final battle, I am the sole person who knows when the final battle will take place. I have put a spell on this book, so the note will only fall out the day before the final battle. I trust you to tell Albus Dumbledore, whoever you are. Quick, before it is too late.
Draco dropped the letter to the floor stunned. Who was he going to tell? His father? Or Dumbledore? Choices, choices, choices and more choices, why was he always the one to make them? Taking a deep breath Draco strode out of the room, he knew what he was going to do.
He apperated back to the forest and made his way into the castle. Once he reached it he found Dumbledore's office and if luck might have it Dumbledore strode out of it.
"Ah, Draco how may I help you?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled slightly.
"Professor, I have information that might interest you." Dumbledore nodded and gestured to his office.
"I'll be right with you," he went to leave.
"No sir! Trust me, this is more important." Dumbledore gave him an inquiring look.
"Fine, but we must be quick about it." Draco followed him into his office. "Now, what is so important that I can't even step out to go to a certain situation that needs my immediate attendance?"
"I was reading a book in my father's library, I think you know it. It is called Voldemort." Dumbledore's eyes flashed wide. "My father saved one of the copies and I was reading it when a note came out," Draco took a deep breath, hoping that he was doing the right thing. "It said that the final battle is tomorrow." Dumbledore took a quick intake of breath.
"I can certainly see why this is important. Thank you Draco, this is a lot of help. I appreciate you doing this for me.
"I wasn't doing this for you," Draco said truthfully.
"Ah, then thank you for doing this for Miss Granger," Dumbledore laughed at the astonishment on Draco's face. "Nothing that happens in Hogwarts goes unnoticed by me. I have to say though; I was taken by surprise when I first saw it. Now out! I believe you have something to Miss Granger… and her friends." Draco nodded and left the room quickly.
After Hermione had left Draco, she wanted to go do some thinking, but wound up back in the Gryffindor common room. She had some questions to ask Harry.
"Hey Hermione, how did it go with Malfoy?" Harry asked looking up as she came in.
Hermione shrugged. "Harry why are you so level headed about this?" Harry grinned at her.
"To tell the truth I wasn't too happy about it at first, but then Ginny told me it was alright and not to worry. You could take care of yourself, then after a few days, I just you know accepted it."
"Ginny?" Hermione asked her eyebrows raised.
"Well she was with me when I saw you and she just smiled and tugged me away." Hermione glared at him.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"Well I, I…" Hermione laughed at Harry's obvious nervousness.
"It doesn't matter, you did tell me now."
"Better late then never I always say." Harry said smiling and Hermione smiled too.
"Yeah, better late then…" She stopped and realized all her questions were answered. Draco did tell her, he was late, but he did tell her. "Harry I have to go bye!" Hermione turned around to leave the room, but not before giving Harry a hurried hug.
Draco walked through the Gryffindor portrait hall. The Fat Lady had let him in; she had had too much wine. Suddenly he wished he hadn't come in, he had walked in just in time to see Hermione hug Boy-Wonder. Hermione turned around and saw him.
"Draco how did you get in here?" She was startled, but didn't seem upset any more.
"Fat Lady is drunk," he muttered.
"Not again," Hermione rolled her eyes. By the way she was acting Draco knew that the hg was nothing, but he still didn't like the thought of Potter hugging his Hermione.
"I came to tell you and your friends something." Hermione pulled him over as Potter got up to go get Weasel. Great, just what I need to deal with, Draco thought darkly.
"What is he doing here!" Draco looked up to see Weasley coming down the stairs.
"Ron, Draco is here to tell us something," it was rather funny to see Weasel start sputtering and turn red, Draco thought.
"Draco? Draco?" He sputtered.
"Yes, that is my name." Draco said smirking.
"When did you start calling him that?" Draco hid a laugh.
"Weasley, why don't you just sit down, so I can tell you what Dumbledore wanted me to."
At the sound of Dumbledore's name Draco noticed the Golden trio fell silent and Weasel even sat down.
"Well I found a note that said that the final battle would take place tomorrow. And before you start thinking that I'm lying remember that Dumbledore trusts me and that the note was magic from someone Dumbledore knew personally." Weasley shut his mouth and so did Potter.
"Draco, where is the note now?" Hermione asked him and suddenly Draco stiffened. He had left the note on the floor of the library.
Just as Draco was telling Hermione, Harry and Ron about the message, Lucius Malfoy walked into the library looking for his son. His wife had told him he had come by. A note lay on the floor and he quickly read it. Smiling he apperated to his Lord, he had some very interesting news.
a/n So who did you like it? I hope you enjoyed it. Well Happy Thanksgiving. Please review.