--In Memory of Harry Potter--
Author's Notes: I really should be doing my assignment for university... sigh I swear if it wasn't for the last minute I would get nothing done.
Harry could not believe his luck. Jessica's timing was excellent, although now he had put himself in a predicament. He had started telling a story that ends the same however he told it; that he was Harry Potter and that Voldemort was still alive. So now he had to make some quick decisions. He could either try and bluff his way out of the hole that he dug for himself, or he could tell the whole story from beginning to end, the truth.
The truth can be a dangerous thing, someone had told him once, and they were not wrong. While it was safe to tell everyone who was present in the room now... What if Wormtail just happened to be lucky enough to find somewhere in the vicinity where he could over hear the conversation. What if Voldemort was to find out.
Harry sighed as he realised that he had been holding on to the false hope that the group, in the confusion, might not of heard what he had said. Unfortunately for him, it was apparent in the groups expression that he had been asking for too much.
"Malfoy's dead" Sirius questioned, his full attention focused on Harry. He nodded in reply as he thought up different ways of getting himself out of answering the questions that were fast approaching.
"How could you possibly know that" Snape snarled glaring suspiciously,
"He haunts me" Harry said shrugging, as though its an everyday thing and Severus' mouth dropped open.
"Did you kill him?" Sirius asked carefully. It was very rare for a ghost to haunt a person rather than a place, but when they did, it was usually because the hauntee was the one who murdered them, but this time, that was not the case.
Harry laughed, "No, I didn't have the pleasure"
Jessica looked at James. "Why would you want to kill Malfoy?" She asked frowning.
Harry held back a laugh. "Cause he's an annoying git mainly," He answered grinning at her widely, "It was bad enough when he was alive, let alone being stuck with him now."
"Your so kind" came another voice, "Such a brave and caring person,"
Sirius, Snape and Hermione all jumped and turned around and came face to face with what was left of Malfoy. Hermione's hand moved to her mouth, Snape gaped at him and Sirius had frozen. "So you've given up being a secret have you?" Draco asked Harry
"Perhaps, I've not made that decision yet, but if you could go have a quick look around it would be appreciated" Harry said to Draco who disappeared instantly. Harry smiled inwardly as he realised that Malfoy had known that Harry wanted him to find out where in the school Wormtail was.
The group remained silent as they waited for the ghost to return. Harry frowned, "Well?" He said to no one in particular.
"You know, that really freaks me out" Malfoy said, "I'm a ghost, but you knowing when I'm in the room really scares me"
Harry rolled his eyes, "Where?" He asked.
"Kitchens, surprise surprise, although he can't be too happy, dobby's chasing after him with a broomstick... It's actually quite funny." Malfoy said. "So have you made a decision yet?"
Harry sighed "I don't think I'm a good enough liar to get away with anything but the truth." He said "Now if it was you here, we would have no problems."
"Thank you, I take extreme pride in my ability to tell lies well" Draco said
"I know" Harry laughed rolling his eyes.
"Is anyone else confused?" Sirius asked his question aimed particularly at Hermione and Snape.
"We are lacking certain details" Severus said, "The first and probably most important being when Mr Malfoy here died."
"What?" Draco questioned turning to face Snape.
"They want to know when you died Draco" Harry said
"Oh," He said then he turned and faced the group. "I died during the so-called final battle, although it really wasn't very final"
"Are you saying Voldemort is still alive" Said another voice causing everyone to turn. Dumbledore was seated in an armchair on the other side of the room, meaning that he had entered the room some time during the conversation without being noticed.
"That is the long and short of it." Draco said to Dumbledore.
"That's not true!" Jessica said stubbornly "My Daddy died getting rid of him"
"I agree with Jessica, if we know anything about that battle its that both Voldemort and Potter died" Snape said,
Malfoy's eyes narrowed "Yeah yeah, you also thought I joined the 'dark side' but that's a whole lot of crap"
"language" Hermione muttered.
"Whatever, anyway Voldemort isn't very alive but he is still amongst the living, in a manner of speaking. Mind you Harry did give him a good run for his money, thus why you haven't seen him in a while."
"I think you better tell us the story from beginning to end" Dumbledore said looking at Malfoy over his half-moon glasses
"I don't think I can do that as well as my friend here." Draco said a smirk appearing on his ghostly face. If looks could kill, and Draco wasn't already dead, the look he received from Harry for that comment could have sent Draco straight to hell in a matter of seconds. Harry had been enjoying the fact that the focus was not on him.
"Why would he know?" Sirius asked carefully looking at Harry
"Who is he exactly?" Snape asked not really caring that the person he was referring to was sitting in front of him.
Harry rolled his eyes then cleared his throat. "I am right here you know" He said glaring at Snape in particular.
It was obvious that Hermione's mind was working overtime "I thought there was only two people that was at the final battle" She said carefully biting her lip
"That's right, oh and there was a whole lot of death eaters" James said
"So who are you?" Hermione asked suspiciously
"Oh come on Hermione, you can't tell me that you haven't worked it out yet" Draco said The silence that followed caused Draco to sigh in exasperation. "That is the one and only Harry Potter"
