A/N: Teen rating! Fair warning, mentions certain things (Which I'm too big a prude to mention in this, yes, I'm like Hannah, I should, she really is me!)

Chapter 14

It's All About the Stupid Chosen One!

Slughorn's next party was the last one before Christmas break. It was obviously a Christmas party with all his famous old students attending and his new members of his "Slug Club."

And that old book I was using in Potions, it still worked wonders up to a point where Slughorn was raving about Harry's and my abilities with a cauldron…but as always, it was mostly ravings about Harry.

I was reading my Potions book in the library just before the party and just finished when I noticed something on the back cover. It was in the same black writing as the pages:

This Book is Property of

The Half-Blood Prince

"The Half-Blood Prince?" I asked myself, closing the book. "Who's the Half-Blood Prince?"

"Just what I'm trying to find out." Hermione's voice said on the next table over, her bushy brown head bent over a large volume.

"What's that?" I asked, pointing to the book.

"It's a book of wizard family names." Hermione said as I got up and sat next to her "I'm doing research on wizard Princes."

I creased my eyebrows together "What? I don't think there're wizarding princes, Mione." I said, looking down at the book.

"Oh, I know." Mione said, looking up at me and smiling as she handed me an old book with a piece of parchment sticking out of it "Read the page with the parchment marking it.

I nodded and opened the book, taking out the parchment and looking down at a homely looking girl of around fifteen with heavy eyebrows and a long, pallid face. I read the caption:

Eileen Prince:

Captain of the Hogwarts Gobstones Team

I creased my eyebrows together for a moment than raised them. "Eileen Prince…Prince, Mione, do you think that she's -?"

"The Half-Blood Prince?" Mione said, smiling brightly at me "Absolutely. Her mother was a Muggle, and her father was a pure-blood wizard by the name of Prince. So, therefore, she was a Half-Blood Prince!"

I blinked "Brilliant inferences, Watson!" I said, wrapping an arm around Hermione in a friendly way.

"Why, thank you, Holmes." Mione said, smirking at me. "I believe we've elucidated the case of the Half-Blood Prince."

I raised my eyebrows "You know what I'm talking about?" I asked.

"Of course! I read Sherlock Holmes when I was eight!" Hermione said brightly "I especially liked the Final Problem, where Holmes is dragged to his death -"

"By the malevolent Dr Moriarty!" Hermione and I said together, high fiving.

"You know, Mione, with your bibliophile nature, my brains and your bibliophile nature, we'd make an excellent Holmes and Watson."

"I'd be Watson, of course." Hermione said, beaming.

"And I'd be Sherlock Potter." I finished, smiling "So, Watson, have you found a date to Slughorn's party yet?" I asked.

Hermione nodded. "Why, yes, Sherlock, I have." she said brightly, putting the books away.

"Oh, Hermione Granger, you sly vixen, you!" I giggled "What's his name?" I asked.

Hermione looked both ways, handing me the book she found Eileen Prince's name in and whispered "Cormac McLaggen."

"Oh, Hermione!" I giggled again "You sure do love Quidditch players! First Krum, now McLaggen, you do, girl!" I said, patting her on the back.

"Hey, you love a Quidditch player, too, Han, look at Moriarty, oops, I mean Malfoy." I giggled "Yes, I do have an amazingly hot Slytherin bad boy, it's okay to call him Moriarty." I said before becoming serious "But, he can't come to the party because he's busy." I pouted "So I guess I'm stuck going alone."

"Oh, don't worry, Han, I'll hook you up with someone." Hermione said, smiling as I checked out the book that Hermione was looking through for all the wizard family trees (for Drosie research.).

I beamed "Thanks, Hermione." I said, hugging her.

"Anytime." Mione said, smiling.

"When you find me a date, meet me in the dungeons, don't worry, you're my friend, I'll get you in without the Slytherins calling you a Mudblood." I said, walking away.

"Ok!" Hermione called back to me as I rushed off.

I plopped myself down in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom floor and opened the book, flipping over to the surnames that started with "D"

"Dragonclaw…Dropman…here it is…Drosie." I said, flipping the page over at the sight of the name and scanning down to the trunk of the family tree.

"Thomas Drosie, wizard…order of Merlin, third class…bonded to Merissa Dursley?" I gasped, rereading the name "Muggle." I gulped "Birthed three children, Jack Drosie, currently aged seven, Jennifer Drosie, currently aged ten and Annabelle Drosie, currently sixteen and currently a sixth year Gryffindor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" I said, slamming the book closed. "I knew she was lying about being a Muggleborn!" I said, tucking the book into my book bag. "Lying, bitchy hag from hell!"

I slung my book bag over my shoulder, dumbfounded. Not only was Drosie not a Mudblood…but her mother was a Dursley! Could that have meant that I'm somehow related to my own worst enemy, even if by marriage?

I was still shocked by the time I reached the common room, where Monique was waiting.

"Hey, Han!" Monique said happily "I made a dress for you to wear at the party." she added, holding up a black material.

I blinked "Uh, thanks." I said, starting upstairs.

"I need you to try it on for alterations." Monique said sounding remarkably businesslike.

I blinked again, raising my eyebrows "Uh…k?" I said, walking upstairs with Monique following me, the dress flapping behind her.

Monique closed the door quickly behind her when she walked in. "Ok, strip." she ordered.

I shrugged and did what she asked, stripping down to my underwear.

"Step." Monique ordered, holding the dress open at my feet.

I stepped into the dress, rolling my eyes "Monique, I don't even have a date to this yet. Draco decided he wasn't coming with me. He was busy." I said, rolling my eyes.

"I know, but you'll still need to look pretty." Monique said, lifting the dress up over my breasts and zipping it up, letting material hang loose off my sides.

"Oh, good, just a few minor alterations." Monique said, pinning some fabric back tightly over my waist and checking the bottom.

"Ok, I can easily fix this little tightness issue." Monique said, fastening a pin to the back of the dress, where it stuck into my back.

"Skinner!" I swore. "Watch where you put those, Nique!"

"Oh, you're fine, Han, I didn't hurt you."

"I'm bleeding on it!" I said, rolling my eyes.

"Oh, it's fine, you big baby, I didn't break the skin." Monique sighed, getting on her knees with the bottom of the dress.

"Ok, this is fine." she said, standing back up. "I don't need to cut anything." she added brightly, making me take off the dress and hanging it up so I could see some sparkles "By the time the party comes around, this dress will make you look the sexiest you've ever felt or been." she added, smiling at her promise.

I gulped "I don't even have a date yet." I whimpered. "Besides, I don't want to look sexy."

Monique grinned and grabbed a bathrobe, some bath salts, candles and some bubble bath as she headed into the bathroom "Oh, trust me, Hannie-Cake, you will…you will." she said before walking into the bathroom and shutting the door.

I blinked "What the Skinner is that supposed to mean?" I muttered, sitting on my bed. "And, Nique, if you value your life, you will never call me Hannie-Cake again!" I said.

All I heard was a high, tinkling laugh and the water running in the bathtub.

I rolled my eyes "The people I associate myself with, sometimes. Holy Skinner." I muttered.

It was now the day before Slughorn's party, and Hermione hadn't lived up on her word to get me a date.

"Hey, Han!" Mione said that morning at breakfast, sitting next to me at…the Slytherin table. Unsurprisingly, all the Slytherins (bar Willow and her crew) started jeering Hermione because she was a Mudblood.

"Hey!" I shouted, glaring at them all "She's my friend and talking to me, piss off!" I ordered, making everyone fall silent. "Sorry about that, Mione. What?" I asked.

"I found you a date!" she said in a singsong voice.

"What did you say, Mudblood?" Draco spat next to me, glaring at Hermione.

"Draco!" I shouted, turning to my blond boyfriend "What have I told you about using that word?"

Draco glared at Hermione and turned to talk to Goyle, ignoring my question.

"Sorry again, Mione. You were saying?" I asked. "And before you answer, I'd like to state for the record that this date's only for Slughorn's party, unless Hermione's got a hidden plot that's trying to take me away from my sexy ass boyfriend." I said over my shoulder so Draco could hear me.

Draco kissed me "Good. Glad the Mud-I mean," Draco said, correcting himself when I glared into his eyes "the Muggleborn and I understand each other." he said before going back to talking to Goyle.

"Again, you were saying?" I asked "Who'd you hook me up with?"

"Well, I asked Harry to ask Parvati to ask Lavender to ask Ron to go with you, and so, you're going with Ron."

"WEASLEY!" Draco snapped, standing up "You honestly asked Weasley to go with my girlfriend to the party, Granger?" he added, demanding an answer from Hermione.

"Draco," I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose "It's just an as friends date. It isn't like you have competition." I added, rolling my eyes.

Draco growled and slouched (odd for him, his was normally standing or sitting aristocratically straight.) in his seat "Fine. But if Weasley puts his slimy hands on you, I'm putting him in the hospital wing."

I smiled and kissed Draco's cheek "I wouldn't expect anything less." I said, turning to Hermione. "You got Ron to go with me?" I asked, trying not to sound like Draco at the prospect. I liked Ron, and still do, but I didn't like him like that and would have much preferred to go to the party with Draco

"Yes, I know that you and him are the least compatible but he wanted to go to the party and he's happy, even if he's going on a date with you." Hermione sighed.

"A friend-date." I corrected, rolling my eyes "In present company, we'll refer to it as a friend-date." I explained.

"Present company?" Draco scoffed "Last night I think you called me a hell of a lot more than present company as I -"

"Shut your fucking mouth!" I snapped, belting Draco around the head and turning to Hermione "Anything that Draco says about s…" I blushed "that thing…is a lie. I'm still a proud virgin."

"Blushing virgin." Draco corrected, taking a mouthful of pumpkin juice. "Just admit it to your Muggle friend, Han, we've boned. I'm getting rather sick of your prudery. Be proud! Not a lot of people have had the chance with me to be -"

"Malfoy, I believe Han." Mione said, scowling "And your behaviour is nasty. Just nasty." she added before turning to me. "Your boyfriend is such a pig!"

"I'm still here, Granger!" Draco spat, glaring at her.

"Draco, talk to your friends, you sausage smoker!" I ordered.

"Hey, you're the one that's been -" Draco said defensively, doing his cute eyebrow thing.

"Draco, get this through your idiot blond head." I said, rolling my eyes "We. Have. Not. Had. That." I said "And I'll thank you not to call me a prude anymore."

"But you won't even say sex." Draco said shrugging.

I rolled my eyes "Ok, since my overly suggestive boyfriend keeps cutting into our conversation. Tell Ron that I'll go with him. We'll talk more about tomorrow night when I don't have this flirt butting in." I said, giving Draco a cheeky glare.

"Ok, Holmes, see you." Hermione said, hugging me as she smiled.

"What? Oh, yeah!" I said, hugging Mione back "See you later, Watson." I said, winking at her before we started laughing and Hermione left.

"Flirt? Overly suggestive?" Draco asked "You know we've fucked."

"Draco, I'm not going to say this again. I would know if I wasn't a virgin anymore." I said.

Draco huffed and stood straighter "You aren't any fun." he said, rolling his eyes. "You know I'm just kidding! I would never try to copulate with you unless you wanted it." Draco leaned into my ear "And we both know you do." he added in a whisper.

I rolled my eyes and stood up "Whatever." I said "I'd better go. Monique wants 'last minute fit check' for my dress for tomorrow night." I explained, walking off. "Draco." I sighed, shaking my head. "I don't know what to do with that boy." I added.

"Monique, stop!" I moaned the next night, plugging my nose at my awful scent.

"Hannah, stop squirming!" Monique sighed, sitting me in a chair in my bathrobe "I need to make you up, do your hair, not to mention get you dressed!" she fussed, starting to brush her hair.

"I reek!" I whined, rolling my eyes as Monique unplugged my nose (she literally made me bathe in water steeped in spices and flower petals and so much She-Cat [a word that we used with Ivy, Sheila and Ramona to replace shit] to make me smell sweet with a small spice undertone, like I cared!).

"Oh, relax, Han. Just close your eyes and it'll be over soon." Monique said, rolling her eyes in the mirror.

I sighed and closed my eyes, letting Monique play with my hair and paint my face so I looked like a classy woman. Eventually I fell asleep.

I was in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, and I was in there with Harry and Draco.

"I know what you did, Malfoy, you hexed her, didn't you?" Harry demanded, glaring at Draco, who drew his wand as Harry drew his.

Draco glared at Harry "Get out of here, Potter." he spat, his voice thick.

"Why don't you make me, you stupid Death Eater?" Harry asked sneering.

"Harry, Draco, stop!" I cried, looking from Harry to Draco from my place in the middle.

"Get out, Potter!" Draco snapped, pointing his wand at my brother.

"What are you gonna do, Malfoy? Set a few Death Eater pals on me like your loser of a father did?" Harry asked.

"Harry!" I shouted, dodging a spell that Draco fired at Harry. "Draco!"

"Don't talk about my father that way, Potter!" Draco snapped angrily.

Harry cast a spell non verbally, which Draco repelled in equal silence. Soon enough, it was a duel.

"Boys, stop! Stop!" I cried, ducking for cover under a sink.

But they didn't stop. It was like I was ignored.

In fact, I don't think anyone but me tried to say a word until Draco snarled at Harry and turned to me.

"Hannah, get out of here!" he ordered before glaring at Harry and pointing his wand.

"SECTUMSEMPRA!" Harry bellowed, waving his wand wildly in Draco's direction.

Blood. That's all I saw coming from Draco as he collapsed.

"DRACO!" I screamed.

I jolted awake when Monique touched my arm.

I shook my head. Bad dream. I told myself. It was just a bad dream.

"Careful!" Monique said, holding my chin steady "I just finished your hair! Get in your dress, please!" she said, making me step into the black fabric.

I was zipped up and forced into black stilettos that made me look about an inch taller than I really was.

"Wow, Han, you look sexy!" Willow said, coming in through the door.

I paled and stood up to look in the mirror. And I hated to say that Willow was right.

The dress as I've mentioned was black and slim, floor length with one strap for my left shoulder. There were little sparkly things that were on the top of it and I looked like I had a figure again, except with a larger bust. (I was inwardly scratching the black corset that Monique made me wear underneath. Definitely not a sexy act.).

My hair looked messy and wavy. Some of it was pulled back into a small braid while the rest flowed down softly onto my exposed back and shoulders.

My face looked flawless. My eyes were tinted with midnight blue and lined with metallic silver eyeliner. My lips looked plump and inviting in the red lipstick that Monique put on me unconsciously.

"There. You look perfect!" Monique said, handing me a black clutch with a snakeskin pattern on it. "Now go have fun!" she said, pushing me out the door.

"No! No!" I said, embarrassed. "Draco's out there and I look like a hussy!"

"I'll bring him up if you don't go down!" Monique said, crossing her arms.

I moaned "Oh, fine, but make it quick and painless." I said sadly.

Monique smirked and rushed out the door, then I heard yelling.

"Fellow Slytherins!"

"God, Monique, don't put me in the spotlight looking like this!"

"I give you, Hannah Potter!"

"Nique I am going to slaughter you!" I whispered when Willow pushed me out to the wolf whistles of the Slytherin boys.

"Hey! She's mine!" Draco shouted, glaring at Nott, who was leading the pack of wolves.

I glared at Monique as I walked down the stairs "Sleep with one eye open tonight." I whispered.

"Oh, you know you'll be too busy in Malfoy's dorm to murder me." Monique whispered.

I groaned. "I'll get you for this." I said before putting on a smile and walking down into the common room.

"Well, well," Draco whistled "My girlfriend's gotten herself sexy."

I put my manicured hands on my hips. "Say that again." I challenged.

"What? You look sexy." Draco said, holding his hands up before becoming serious "You tell that Weasley that if he puts his hands on you, so help me -"

Draco was cut off by a knock on the common room door and Ron's voice saying "Han? It's me! I don't know the password, let me in!"

"Emily, let Ron in, please." I said to Emily Davies, who smirked at me and opened the door for Ron to enter.

"Wow, Han…" Ron said, looking me up and down, staring at my breasts "you look sexy."

Draco took Ron by the shoulders and slammed Ron into the wall, putting his face into Ron's shocked one.

"Look here, Weasley, I don't like you. I don't like your face, and I don't like you hanging around my girlfriend like this. But, seeing as I'm unavailable to escort this fine woman to her party, you are going to. And you're going to show her a fun evening. And you are going to behave! If she comes back to me damaged, or touched, or hurt in any way, you're gonna get it! Am I clear, Weasel-Breath?"

"Yes, M-Malfoy." Ron stammered "C-Crystal clear."

"Good. Remember what I said. And that goes for staring at her breasts, too. Those," Draco said, nodding to my chest "are mine. Only mine. Understand?"

Ron nodded.

"Good. Ok, Hannah." Draco said, pulling off of Ron and kissing my forehead "Have fun and I'll see you when you get back."

I smiled and kissed Draco "Yes you will." I said, completely ignoring the fact that he just referred to me like I was a car instead of a girl. "Come on, Ron!" I said, walking out the common room door, Ron in tow.

"You really do look nice, Hannah." Ron said, smirking at me.

"Thank you." I blushed.

When Ron and I got there, Ron made a bee line straight for Harry and the food, leaving me alone.

"Ron!" I said, raising my hands in the air. I sighed when he ignored me.

"Having fun?" Hermione asked me.

I sighed and sat down at a table "I just got here and Ron ditched me for some chicken wings." I said, rolling my eyes.

"Weasleys." Hermione and I said together, laughing.

"How's it with McLaggen?" I asked.

Hermione huffed "Awful!" she said "Everything that comes out of his mouth is Quidditch! I've been treated all night to A Thousand Great Saves Made by Cormac McLaggen. He hasn't even asked me anything about myself!"

I sighed "My date hasn't even talked to me since we arrived." I said "I think I win."

Hermione laughed "As always, Holmes."

I smirked "As always, Watson." I confirmed. "You look nice tonight." I said, taking notice that Mione had straightened her hair and was wearing a lovely dress.

"Oh, thanks, you too." Mione said, beaming at me.

I grinned "Thanks." I said, blushing. "Want a Butterbeer?" I asked.

"Yeah, sure." Mione said, smiling.

"No need, girls." Luna Lovegood's voice said behind me "I already brought some." she said, handing me and Hermione a bottle each.

"Wow, thanks, Luna!" I said, taking the bottle and taking a swig from it as Luna sat down. "I thought you were here with Harry?" I asked.

"Oh, I was." Luna said, shaking her head "But he ran into Ronald and went to talk to him." Luna explained "That explains why you're here alone, Hannah."

"I know." I grumped "Ron ditched me the moment we walked in for Harry and a pile of chicken wings."

Luna laughed "Oh, yes, that must have been the Wrackspurts. They must have drawn him in."

Hermione and I laughed.

"Hey, it looks like fun over here, mind if I join in?" Ginny asked behind Luna, clutching a bottle of Butterbeer.

"Hey, no, we don't mind. Especially because you brought your own drink!" I said, making Hermione and Luna laugh.

About an hour and a half into the party, Hermione, Luna and I and then later Sheila were having a ball together as Ron and Harry did Skinner knew what and McLaggen went looking for Hermione.

"And so then I told Smith," Ginny said, laughing "to take that mic and shove it up his ass!"

Hermione, Luna, Sheila, Ginny and I burst out laughing.

"I would have made him do lines, had I been paying attention!" I said, doing an imitation of Zacharias Smith writing "I…must…not…slime…up…the…Quidditch…commentating…mic…with…my…slimy…gitness." I said, snickering.

The girls just broke up laughing as someone shouted "Get your stinking hands off me, you filthy Squib!"

I turned around, still laughing, only to stop when I saw who said it.

It was Draco, dressed in a black suit and he was grabbed by the arm by Argus Filch, the caretaker and head disciplinarian.

"Professor Slughorn, sir. I've found this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party." Filch said.

"Ok, ok, I was gate crashing!" Draco said, glaring at Filch "Happy?"

"Excuse me, girls." I said, getting up and turning to Draco "I'll take him for a moment, Mr Filch, if you don't mind." I said, looking at Filch, who let him go. "Draco, honey, I want a word in the corridor…" I said, grabbing Draco's arm and walking out "now!"

"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!" Draco shouted as I walked out into the corridor and shut the door behind me, looking up at Draco and crossing my arms.

"What the hell are you doing?" I demanded.

"Recovering from your talons!" Draco said, rubbing his arm.

"No!" I snapped "When you were dragged in by Filch! I thought you had homework to do!"

"I did!" Draco protested "I finished earlier than I expected and decided to go exploring."

I crossed my arms and glared at Draco "I'm not buying, try again." I said coldly.

Draco huffed "That's the only story I'm giving you." he said.

I looked him in the face for a couple of moments and suddenly realized what changed in it.

He seemed to be more pale, there were dark bags under his eyes and he honestly looked ill. I ignored it and suddenly realized what he would have been up to.

"I know just what you were doing!" I said, poking Draco in the chest.

"What?" he asked, looking left and right.

"You were…checking to make sure Ron kept his hands off me!" I said, rolling my eyes. "That near brush with trouble was a waste of time, dragon. Ron ditched me just after we arrived.

"I was?" Draco asked "Oh, yeah, right, I was. Oh, Weasley ditched you. I guess someone's getting a hex in their future." he added before smiling down at me "I'm sorry your night was ruined because of me."

I shook my head "It's fine." I said, rolling my eyes. "I was actually chatting away with Sheila, Hermione, Luna and Ginny until you came in, so we're ok."

Snape walked in and tapped Draco on the shoulder "I should like a word with you, Draco."

Draco closed his eyes quickly and nodded "I'll see you in the common room, Spitfire." Draco said, kissing the top of my head quickly before walking off with Snape.

I rolled my eyes "Dracos." I muttered before going back to the party and sitting with my friends, which now consisted of Luna, Hermione, Ginny, Sheila, Ivy and She-Cat.

"Hey, guys!" I said.

After a while, everyone left to find their dates, all but me. My date was still busy with Harry and so were all my friends and most of the people at the party. No, wait, scratch that. All the people at the party were obsessed over my brother The Chosen One.

I got up, glaring at my brother and left, heading up to the Astronomy Tower, passing along the seventh floor corridor along the way.

"Harmonia Nectere Passus." the voice said.

"Who's there?" I squeaked, pulling out my wand.

"Harmonia Nectere Passus."

I gulped and thought I really need to know who's in there and what he's doing. When suddenly, a door appeared.

Holy Skinner! I thought, grabbing my Invisibility Cloak, putting it on and walking into the Room of Requirement.

It wasn't the Room that I remembered using for the DA meetings. It was a room full of random crap and cabinets that reached the far depths.

And still the voice continued.

"Harmonia Nectere PassusHarmonia Nectere Passus."

I snuck around until I found the source of the murmuring voice and gasped, hiding behind a cabinet.

It was Draco. His wand was out and pointed at the cabinet I was hiding behind, muttering that spell.

I looked around, it didn't seem like he was doing anything bad minus loose a little sleep, so I turned around and gasped. My heel…it made a clicking sound that snapped Draco out of whatever trance he was in.

"Who's there?" he demanded.

I gasped and took off my heels and started running for my life. The last thing I needed was to get caught.

When I got out of that brush with certain trouble, I went up to the Astronomy Tower to think…well…more like cry silently.

Everyone cared about Harry. Everyone loved Harry. Everyone wanted to get to know Harry. It was always about Harry! And Hannah, you may ask? What about Hannah?

No one cared about me. No one loved me. No one wanted to get to know me. It was never about me. It was always Harry and that little raven haired girl next to him.

I took my handkerchief and wiped my eyes, marvelling that Monique's makeup stayed on even when I was feeling my worst.

"Han?"

Skinner. I knew that voice, I looked up and paled. "Uh…yeah?" I asked, clearing my throat of all emotion.

"Blaise went back to the common room but you weren't with him." Draco said.

I paled. "Shit." I muttered. I hadn't realized that I was up there for so long.

"What's wrong, Spitfire?" Draco asked, stepping up onto the balcony with me and wrapping me in his arms. "You mad that I crashed the party?"

I shook my head.

"Mad that Snape had to talk to me?" Draco tried again.

I shook my head. "No…it's Harry." I croaked, wiping my eyes "Or as everyone's calling him now, the Chosen One." I said, putting emphasis on the two words I loathed the most.

"What about your brother?" Draco asked, holding me tightly. "Tell me."

I took a deep breath and started "Everyone cares about him more than me! They don't care what I do, how many times I face him or if I live or die! They just care about Harry. Precious Harry and that stupid prophecy nobody's ever heard about him being the one to destroy him. They just want him, and they push me to one side for someone else to handle." I started crying "No one loves me."

"No…" Draco said gently, wrapping his arms around me tighter as I cried "that's not true. Someone loves you." he said.

I sniffed "Who?" I asked, my voice thick.

Draco kissed me softly "Me." he whispered "And when they push you aside for someone else to handle…that someone else is always going to be me."

I felt a little better, but I still eventually wound up crying until I was good and ready to pass out.

Draco grinned and played with my messy black hair as I buried my face into his chest and let the silence bar his heartbeat wash over me as I started falling asleep.

Draco picked me up and started carrying me out of the tower, singing all the while:

"I remember tears streaming down your face when I said I'll never let you go.

When all those shadows almost killed your light.

And I remember you said don't leave me here alone.

But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight.

Just close your eyes, the sun is going down.

You'll be all right, no one can hurt you now.

Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound.

Don't you dare look out your window, darling, everything's on fire.

The war outside our door keeps raging on.

Hold on to this lullaby.

Even when the music's gone.

Gone."

And I was gone. Sound asleep in the arms of someone who loved me, but the words still rang through my mind, in Draco's voice this time:

"Harmonia Nectere Passus."