Non Magic AU. Fem Harry (Justine)

'Hey Draco…' The little girl said while looking at the blond boy with a smile. 'Best friends forever?'

The boy, Draco, picked a flower from the meadow and gave it to the little auburn haired girl.

'Of course, Jussy!' The girl beamed at him. 'You never need to fear me leaving you!'

'That's a relieve! Because Ginny said that I was stupid and ugly and not worth your time.'

'She's just jealous, Jussy, because I am your best friend! You need not listen to her!' Justine fixed her glowing green eyes on him.

'Promise?'

'Promise!' He offered her his pinky and crossed it with hers. 'Forever!'

They did everything together. They went to the same school, took the same extracurricular activities, did the same sports, had the same friends. After graduation both of them studied at the same university. He majored in medicine, she in literature and languages.

It was also during university that Draco met Pansy Parkinson and soon the two of them became three. Pansy adored Draco and fit perfectly into their little group of friends. They finished university with high honours and soon found jobs. Draco started at a prestigious hospital in London together with Pansy while Justine started working for the government.

The lovers soon moved into a nice, large flat in a fancy part of London - near Hyde Park - while Justine found a nice flat in Greenwich to live on her own. Draco and Pansy were - at least in Justine's opinion - perfect for each other so when they announced their engagement in the 'Times' Justine wasn't surprised in the least.

Draco asked her to be his best 'man' and the couple included her a lot in their wedding preparations. She went dress shopping with Pansy and her friends - Daphne and Tracey - and suit shopping with Draco. She scouted locations for their reception and hired a photographer. She even found a quintette for the afternoon and a DJ for the evening and worked herself down on the list Pansy had given her. She tasted wine and cakes and the food that wood be served in the evening. To sum it up: Justine did everything to make their day special and perfect. She organized different surprises for the church and the evening and even found a friend that had a license for fireworks.

On the day of the wedding, a happy bride and groom left the town hall and were brought to the church with a Barouche in the early afternoon. The bride was then led inside on the arm of her husband to the thunderous but magnificent sound of the organ. A choir sang and the clergyman held a heartfelt sermon. Everyone then followed the newlyweds outside again and to the location where the reception would take place. Justine congratulated the pair and told Draco that she had to do some more things ere she could join them. He beamed at her and left with his glowing bride. Justine and the pastor then cleaned the church - sweeping all the flower petals and the rice away and dousing the many lit candles. An hour later Justine finally drove to the location - she took the underground - while rereading the speech she had prepared. Humming happily, she entered the restaurant but was stopped by the guard upon entrance.

'Good day, Miss Potter!' He nodded shortly while stopping her from entering.

'Mr. Creevy, how are you!' She asked him joyfully.

'Oh very well, Madam. My wife recovered from her labour.'

'I am so glad to hear it, Mr. Creevy! Has everyone arrived?'

'Oh yes, they are all inside. They just cut the cake.'

'Wonderful!' She went for the door but the guard blocked it. Her face fell and she looked in surprise at him. 'Whatever happened?'

'I am sorry, Miss, but the bride doesn't wish for you to join them. She expressly forbid me from letting you inside and even threatened me with the loss of my job.'

'But why? Have I done something wrong?'

'I don't think so, Miss, seeing that it was you who prepared everything. It just seemed to me that she doesn't like you very much.'

'But…' Justine started. 'She never once indicated otherwise. We have been friend for about six years. If she disliked me from the beginning, why hasn't she told me so?'

'I don't know, Miss.' he answered, a sad look on his face.

'Very well. I will leave…' She pulled a sheet of paper out of her bag. 'Please lead those people inside as soon as they come. They are important for the success of their reception!'

'Will do, Madam!'

'Thanks Mr. Creevy!' She turned around and left the lobby again. As soon as she was outside, tears pooled in her eyes and threatened to flow down on her cheeks. She tried to suppress them and started walking without looking where her feet carried her.

A few hours later - Dinner was just served - found Draco Malfoy wondering about where his best friend could be. She had told him that it wouldn't take too long and that she would have joined them for dinner but it was already past six o'clock pm and the place to his left was still empty. He rose from his seat and walked aimlessly about the room instead of helping himself to something edible from the large buffet. His bride was cheerfully chatting with her friends while serving herself some soup. Draco walked over and kissed her cheek affectionately.

'Have you seen Jussy?'

'No, my dear. Are you sure that she is still coming?'

'She promised. And she has never broken a promise before.'

'There is a first for everything!' She smiled but somehow it was strained and did not reach her eyes. Did she know something? He shook his head. Why should she lie to him?

'I hope you are wrong!' He continued on his way to the door and walked outside. Maybe the guard knew something.

'Mr. Malfoy! I hope you have a wonderful evening so far.'

'Of course, Mr. Creevy. I just miss my friend, Justine. Have you seen her?'

'Oh I did.' He said quietly. 'She arrived just after you cut the cake!'

'Where is she? Why hasn't she come inside?' Something was terribly wrong. Jussy would never not come inside without a reason.

'As I told Miss Potter before, your wife forbid me from letting her enter.'

'My wife? But they are friends. She would never do this to me.'

'I'm sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Malfoy.'

'Why did you send her away. She had no right!'

'I have a wife and two children - one of them is a newborn - and I need my job, Mr. Malfoy.'

'Very well. I will have a word with her and find my friend.' He went inside again in search of his wife. She was still with her friends Daphne and Tracey, happily chatting about one thing and the other while spooning her soup.

'A word please, Pansy!' She fell quiet and watched him. Her friend left without protest. 'Why?'

'Why what, Darling?'

'Why send her away? Why forbid her from entering? Why are your best friends allowed to celebrate with us and my best friend isn't?'

'Oh Draco, you should have never found out. Why did you have to go out and ask that damn guard. And why did he have to be honest?'

'So it's true? I had not wanted to believe it.' He sighed. 'Why, Pansy. WHY?'

'I don't like her. Period! I never did. She was always too close to you and I always feared that you would decide otherwise and leave me to be with her. And when I saw her today in her pretty emerald dress I just lost it. She was good enough to help us with our wedding preparations but never more.'

'You know that you are quite stupid sometimes…?' She looked at him with a slightly hurt look on her face. 'I love you and I would have never left you for the woman who is like the sister I always wanted.' He took her hand into his. 'And I will go looking for her now because I don't want to continue this evening without her at my side. She is family!' Tears appeared in Pansy's eyes.

'Oh Draco. Why can't you just leave her be? I do not miss her at all!'

'Well, you know that I don't like Daphne very much. Why don't I throw her out?'

'Oh you can't do that! She is my friend!'

'But you can throw mine out?' He turned around and marched to the door. 'I will return with Justine, if you like it or not. And you will apologize!'

'Draco…!' But he was gone.

Draco walked around the district for about half an hour without finding his friend. Her mobile phone was switched off and no one had seen her. He sighed and decided on trying the nearby park. On his way there, he passed what looked like a crime scene. Two men had been arrested by a large group of police officers and some federal agents. While two other officers just zipped a plastic bag. He watched for a moment, worried about his friend but soon decided to continue to the park. Hopefully he would find her there.

Upon his entrance, all of the noises faded away and Draco followed the path towards a small pond. The leaves were already falling - it was mid-autumn - and crunching under his feet. A soft mist stood in the air and the setting sun sent her last rays to illuminate the scenery in a mysterious yellow light. He reached the pond and was relieved to see a lone figure with auburn hair standing on the small bridge, watching the birds.

'Jussy!' He said softly upon reaching her. He placed his hand on hers and gave her a soft smile. She turned her head and Draco could see the dried tear streaks on her cheeks.

'Draco!' she whispered quietly.

'I am so sorry that Pansy had the audacity to do something like this. It is quite unforgivable and somehow saddening what should have been a beautiful day.'

'Don't worry, Dray. I am hurt that she did what she did without a forewarning but if she had been honest with me, us, from the beginning something like this could have been averted.'

'Yes. I abhor dishonesty and she lied to me for seven years, Jussy. I don't know what I should think of it. Of her.'

'I can't help you there, Draco. I know that you love her…'

'I do love her! But she broke my trust, Jussy, and I don't know if I will ever be able to completely trust her again without doubting myself. Who knows what else she lied about.' Justine was silent for a while and watched the glittering surface instead.

'I can't help you there, Draco! You have to find out on your own.' She finally said. 'But remember that you have some good friends should you need help along the way.'

'That's right. I can always come to you!' A pained expression appeared on her face.

'If she lets you come visiting me…'

'I dare her to forbid me!' He looked a bit angered. 'You are my best friend!'

'And I always will be. Even if I am not around as much anymore…'

'Oh Jussy, don't talk like that! All will be well, I promise you!' He took hold of her hand. 'And now let us return to our wedding party.'

'You go without me, Draco. It is better that way.' A sad smile appeared on her face. 'Your bride will be happier and you will have less drama.'

'Oh Jussy. I don't care about her opinion. I don't like Daphne but she is still there celebrating with my wife. Do I make a fuss about it?'

'No. You've never been the one to make one.'

'See? Now come one.' He pulled her away from the balustrade.

'I can't, Draco.'

'But why not?' She looked torn but shook her head.

'It would not be right. You can show me the photos afterwards.'

'Jussy…'

'I insist, Draco! Go and enjoy your party!' He let go of her hand.

'If you are sure?'

'I am!' She smiled now. 'Just tell Pansy that I hope she will be able to forgive herself one day!'

'I will tell her. I promise!'

'Thank you!' She kissed his cheek affectionately. Draco smiled at her one last time ere turning around and walking all the way back to the restaurant.

Justine watched him leave, new tears on her cheek. But this time they were not for her but for him.

'Draco, you're back!' Pansy cried and hugged her husband. 'It took you some time but it seems to me that you didn't find her!'

'Oh, I did but Jussy didn't come with me.'

'And she calls herself your best friend! I told you that she didn't want to celebrate with us!'

'But she did want to! She is just doing it for you, Pansy.'

'For me? Why?'

'Because you dislike her and do not want her here. She cares. And you don't.'

'Pah.' She turned her nose up. 'What does she know?'

'More than you. I should tell you something, by the way.'

'Really? And what may that be?'

'Jussy hopes that you will be able to forgive yourself one day.'

'Why? Whatever need I forgive me for?'

'I don't know. She wasn't very specific!'

'Oh well. I shall ignore it for the moment.'

'You do so if it makes you happy!'

'Yesterday evening, a tragedy happened in the _ part of London. During the manhunt of two internationally wanted criminals, a young woman was killed in the crossfire. Justine Potter, who was out for a walk in the nearby park, was mortally wounded by a bullet of a Federal Agent, that was originally aimed at the criminal, Igor Karkaroff. The police and the ambulance were called immediately but the young woman died around 6pm in the arms of the Federal Agent. Any aid came to late. The criminals were detained and brought into custody at the MI6. The family of Justine Potter, who worked for the Government, was informed immediately and is arranging her funeral, that will be opened to the public.'

Draco's teacup clattered onto his plate and spilled its contents on the table, a look of horror on his face. Pansys knife crashed onto the floor with a loud clang, tears of guilt, shame and regret running over her pretty face. Tracey just stared at the TV Screen with a wide opened mouth while Daphne looked at Pansy with accusing eyes.

'It can't be her!' Draco was heard murmuring again and again. 'I have been talking with her and she was very much alive!'

'Draco,' Daphne whispered. 'It was past six o'clock when you left. They say she died at six. Maybe you just imagined your meeting and your conversation!'

'No. She was very real, thank you!' He looked back at the TV but was confronted with short sequences of CCTV-Cameras that showed Justine being shot in the chest. 'It must not be her!' Tears pooled in the corners of his eyes and spilled over his pale cheeks. 'Oh Justine…'