A/N: Hey, thanks for all of my reviews! I love you guys! Well, this is the last full chappy…my last chappy is kinda short, it's an epilogue. So, plz r&r…cause I'm so super sad….

Chapter 31: Old Promises

Snape was sleeping when he heard a knock on his door. He knew who it was immediately. Only one person would have the audacity to wake him up this early in the morning. Snape had experienced negative feelings towards Draco's "surprise" all night, but had suppressed them because of Ebony. Now, he supposed, that she was here to tell him he was wrong.

"Yes?" he asked through the door.

"Let me in." was all she said. He complied, noting that her tone wasn't smug or happy as he had guessed it would be.

When he saw her he knew that she had fed.

On what? He wondered.

Then, he saw the dagger and he knew.

"It is done then?" he whispered.

"Yes. You were right all along. Voldemort was using him to get to me. He couldn't do it, though. His love for me allowed him to back down. My love for him allowed me to kill him." Her voice was mechanic and stiff. Snape knew she was desperately trying to hide the sorrow she felt.

He put his arms around her and soothed. His feelings for her were great, but he knew she had just lost her first and only love. And he too knew how that felt.

"I know it hurts…" he sighed as her tears came in full force,

"But the Headmaster needs to hear of this." She looked at him. Then, wiping the tears from her eyes nodded in agreement.

"Of course." They made their way to the stair case.

"Peppermint." Snape said and slowly the stair case responded.

They walked into the ante chamber in silence. Snape then knocked on a door Ebony had never noticed before. The usual door to Dumbledore's office stood directly in front of her, but there was another. Just off to the right was a slightly smaller brown door with no handle. It was a wonder Ebony had not seen it before.

That must be to his bedroom she noted as she stood there waiting. She didn't have to wait long, for the Headmaster soon emerged from the door, robes and all. Ebony realized she had never seen him in anything else.

"Yes, Severus, you wished to see me." His tone was calm, but firm.

"Something has occurred. Something of great importance." Snape told the Headmaster and motioned towards Ebony.

"Oh, yes. I can guess a great deal has happened. Let's step into my office." Dumbledore led them to through the unopened door directly in front of Ebony.

"Please it Ebony." The head master motioned.

"Now. What has happened?"

"I've done something terrible, Headmaster."

"Ah, but sometimes a horrible act is done for a worthy purpose. Sometimes intentions make all the difference."

"Well, in this care that's true. Draco Malfoy has been a Death Eater since Christmas. Voldemort was using him to get to me." She paused to gauge his reaction.

"I suspected as much, but I had no official proof."

"Draco himself told me this. He had planned to take me out for a surprise. We wee engaged." She showed him the ring, still on her finger, then continued,

"His "special surprise" was to poison me, then kill me with this." She brought out the dagger.

"Ahh." Was all Dumbledore said.

"He couldn't go through with it. He loved me too much. He confessed all this to me. As he told me this tale I realized that one of us must die. As long as Voldemort was after me either I or his Death Eaters would have to die. So, I killed him." When she finished Dumbledore remained silent. Then, he said:

"You have lost a great deal, I knew how much you cared about our late Draco, but know that others have lost as well. The path you have chosen is a long and hard one, for those others will want to avenge Draco's death."

"She can stay with me. I will protect her." Snape chimed in.

"I think that is wise for the time being. Ebony?" all eyes lit upon her.

"Yes, I'm ok with that."

"Very well, as soon as school ends you will remain under the care of the Order with Professor Snape. Now I need you to lead me to Draco's body. His family will be wanting it."

Quickly, Ebony led the two men to the spot of the picnic. The food and items were still in the exact place Ebony had left them. Draco, however, wasn't.

"He was here, I left him right here," she stammered in utter disbelief.

"I'm afraid then, that someone has taken Draco's poor body. Lucius will not be happy. We will tell him that you two were attacked and that you were the only person who made it out alive. He will not believe me, but that is what he will tell everyone else."

Dumbledore explained as they walked back to his office.

"Now, you need to be off to bed. You've had a long night." Dumbledore told her.

"I'll take her, Headmaster." And with that Snape led Ebony to the Slytherine dormitory.

"Tomorrow will be hard, but stick to Dumbledore's story, nothing else. If asked what attacked you say you don't know. If you need someone to talk to or who can comfort you, I'm here." He told her.

"Thank you."

"Your welcome." As he turned to leave, Ebony stopped him.

"Wait!" she called.

"Yes?" he turned to look at her.

"I made a promise. Draco's gone." She stated.

"And…"

"I'll be your mate." She smiled. He smiled and left. Ebony watched him go then let herself into the Slytherine Common Room.

The next day was nothing but chaotic and full of sorrow. No one could believe what happened and everyone had sympathy for Ebony. No one guessed that their story had been fake and most left Ebony alone. A few asked questions, but she was able to ward them off.

Ebony found herself in Snape's office for most of the day. She needed to be there and her other professors understood. It was lunch when Harry entered.

"Are you ok?" he asked, going to her.

"I will be."

"Nothing attacked you, did it?"

"He was a Death Eater." Was the only response.

"You killed him." Harry suddenly understood,

"Oh, Merlin."

Ebony simply closed her eyes and cried. Harry hugged her and stroked her hair.

"Lucius is here." Harry said, after a minute.

"Dumbledore refuses to let him anywhere else on campus. Lucius wants to see you, but no one will let him."

"Good." It was said with such venom that Harry was surprised.

"He forced Draco to be a Death Eater, you know. He didn't want…" she couldn't finish. Talking about him hurt too much.

"Sometimes we have to do what is necessary for our survival, whether it be right or wrong, whether it be what we want or not."