Chapter 12
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter world obviously belongs to JK Rowling and not me. Obviously.
… … … … …
Leila snuggled closer to her pillows as she began to wake. Apparently, she had been so mad that she had once again cried herself to sleep. All this emotion was too much for her. She wondered how much longer she could possibly last without her brother; but would he truly want to see her again after the lies being spread by the Daily Prophet? Surely, he knew that it was absolute rubbish; but being separated during these Dark Times could cause one to lose faith in those they love and trust most. Her feet gently padded across the room before poked her head out the door into the sitting room. A scowl spread across her face as she noticed Draco sitting on the sofa with a book in his hand before the gently roaring fire. The door slammed once more and stomped across the room.
"Must you always do that?" the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black asked.
"What's it to you, you're a portrait," Leila said disgustedly.
"I'll have you know that if you'd been at Hogwarts when I was headmaster…" Phineas Nigellus began.
"Seeing as that will never happen; I don't really care for your empty threats," Leila interrupted.
"I don't like your attitude, Potter," Phineas Nigellus responded.
"And I don't like a creepy old bloke poking about my room whenever he pleases," Leila retorted.
"You really should be nicer to me," Phineas Nigellus said.
"Why? What are you going to do? You're dead!" Leila spat.
"You forget, I know secrets that you don't want shared, Potter," Phineas Nigellus smirked.
"Are they still there?" Leila whispered.
"After the way you've treated me; you think I'm going to give you an answer?" Phineas Nigellus questioned.
"Please?" Leila choked out.
"I expect something in return otherwise…" Phineas Nigellus started.
A firm knock came at the door.
"Leila, who are you talking to?" Draco asked through the door.
"None of your concern, Malfoy!" Leila shouted.
"He doesn't know?" Phineas Nigellus smirked.
"No, he doesn't and I plan on keeping it that way!" Leila hissed.
"Leila, I demand an answer!" Draco commanded through the door.
"We're not finished here," Leila hissed to Phineas Nigellus.
Leila stomped once more over to the door and opened it to find Draco waiting outside. She rolled her eyes at him as he pushed the door open farther and walked in past her. Draco looked behind the door before walking over to the bathroom. Leila curiously followed after him. What was he looking for? Did he honestly believe that she was hiding someone in the room? She leaned up against the door frame to the bathroom as she watched him look the bathroom over. When Draco turned around his icy eyes met Leila's emerald eyes.
"I heard voices," Draco said.
"Maybe you should get your head checked at St. Mungo's. I hear that even in the Wizarding world hearing voices isn't a good thing," Leila shrugged.
"One of the voices was yours," Draco said gruffly.
"It was only a suggestion," Leila muttered.
"Who were you talking to?" Draco asked once more.
"I already told you that it's none of your concern," Leila sneered.
She turned to walk away when Draco grabbed her arm. His grasp on her arm was firm, so firm that she couldn't get away from him. He led her back into the bedroom and released her arm long enough for a quick check under the bed. When he stood back up, he turned to Leila which caused her to roll her eyes.
"Do you honestly think that I was able to sneak someone up here?" Leila scoffed.
"No, but you and your brother have been known to have quite a lucky streak," Draco responded.
"If I was that lucky I wouldn't be here," Leila mumbled.
"Then tell me," Draco said.
"No," Leila hissed.
"Leila," Draco groaned.
"The answer's still no," Leila retorted.
"For the love of Merlin, I don't know how much more of this I can handle!" Phineas Nigellus shouted.
Draco's head instantly turned toward the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black. He then looked between Leila and the portrait as he began to put the pieces together in his head. Phineas Nigellus muttered something about heading to another portrait where he wouldn't be bothered by moody adolescents before disappearing from his portrait in Leila's room. Leila folded her arms across her chest and plopped onto the armchair in her room.
"You were talking to Phineas Nigellus Black's portrait then?" Draco asked.
"Does it look like there's anyone else for me to talk to?" Leila questioned.
"I'd forgotten that his portrait was in here. He was an old Hogwarts headmaster, you know. I'm related to him," Draco said lightly.
"I already knew that he was a headmaster and that you're related to him. I'm not an imbecile," Leila muttered.
"How did you know? Did he tell you?" Draco asked.
"No, I've seen the Black family tree before," Leila said.
"How?" Draco questioned.
"You're not the only one with ties to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black that I've ever known," Leila said.
"Right, Sirius Black was…" Draco began.
"I don't want to talk about him! Especially not with you! Actually, I don't want to talk to you at all!" Leila shouted.
"Fine, but I do suggest that you freshen-up before we go downstairs," Draco sighed.
"I'm not going," Leila hissed.
Leila reached for the closest thing to her, which was a throw pillow, and she threw it at Draco as he walked away. He slipped out the door before it reached him, so the pillow hit the door and fell to the floor. Draco had told her earlier that Voldemort wanted to meet with her, but she certainly didn't want to see him. She would much rather be figuring out a way to destroy him, contrary to whatever lies the Prophet was spreading. She wanted to be formulating a plan with Harry. She wanted to be standing beside Ron. She wanted to be researching with Hermione. She wanted to be doing something, not just sitting here locked up all day a prisoner of Voldemort.
Hours went by and Leila began to wonder if Draco had forgotten about taking her to Voldemort or maybe he had changed his plans and decided to leave well enough alone. Leila hoped for the latter because she just wasn't up for another emotional meeting with Voldemort. Leila walked out into the sitting room to see where Draco was because he hadn't called her for dinner and her stomach was growling from hunger. When she walked into the sitting room she noticed that something was different about the room. The door which led out into the hallway was open. Leila's curiosity piqued at the prospects of the open door. A careless mistake on the part of Draco could play to her escape. She should check to make sure that there was no barrier on the doorway. If she could get past the doorway she could get through the corridor which would take her to the stairs. She reached for a pillow on the sofa and aimed if for the corridor. She needed to make sure that there was no invisible barrier blocking her escape. The pillow flew through the air and landed with a gentle thud on the carpet in the dark corridor. Now for step two, she cautiously reached a finger for the doorway. She wasn't stopped and slowly her arm exited the room. There was no barrier to harm her either. Leila quickly ran back into her room and grabbed her beaded bag. She hid the bag underneath her shirt and tucked it into her pants, making sure that it was secure and hidden. Leila took a deep breath before she ran for the door.
Leila quietly tip-toed the path that Draco had taken her on before. She knew that the stairs kept going down until they reached the ground floor, maybe even further. She didn't really have much of a plan, except an escape attempt. All she knew was that she needed to get out and away from underneath Voldemort. She walked the dark corridors until she reached the stairs. Leila froze in place. She hadn't thought the plan out past getting out of Draco's room and following the corridor to the stairs. She began to quiver slightly. Leila's thoughts flashed back to that fateful night in the cave; but Harry's words rung clearly though her head. "You can do this, Leila. You're braver than you think." She was never one to act on gut instinct or on impulse and here one of those moments lay before her. She was having second thoughts. Maybe she should just go back to Draco's room and wait. Wait for Harry to come rescue her or for him to kill Voldemort. Then, Harry's voice was in her head again. "Leila, there are times where you simply have to act, and this is definitely one of those times." Simply had to act. If Harry knew that there was even the slightest possibility to escape, he would take it. Harry would want her to take this chance. She took in one more deep breath before she quietly descended the stairs.
Her body hugged tightly to the wall as she went down the stone stairs. She was glad that the stairs weren't wooden otherwise she would've had no idea which stairs creaked when they were stepped on. The further she descended the clearer the low sounds of voices became. She hoped that she wouldn't be interrupting a Death Eater gathering, especially since she was wandless. If she only ran into Draco she might be able to outrun him and escape, otherwise she would be tortured perhaps even killed. From the cloudy night's sky view outside the window she could tell that she wasn't much farther from the ground floor. She couldn't even remember how many flights of stairs she had descended, but when a new flight began she would carefully poke her head over the banister to make sure that she was in the clear. So, she poked her head over the banister and her worst nightmare was realized: a group of Death Eaters was meeting on the next floor. Leila quickly swung her head back so that she couldn't be spotted. Had she really gotten this far only to be thwarted? She carefully poked her head over the banister once more and to her surprise no one was facing the staircase. The Death Eaters were all facing the opposite direction, while Lord Voldemort faced a side wall. Would she still be able to get away? Voldemort could potentially see her with his peripheral vision. Her heart began to race. What should she do? She knew what Harry would do and his plan wouldn't involve running back to Draco's room and hiding.
Building up all the bravery and courage she could muster, moved to the landing of the staircase when Lord Voldemort turned around. Leila's heart sunk as she froze once more into place. She was done for. Voldemort could easily hit her with an Unforgiveable from here, but her feet wouldn't budge as if they were glued to the stone. Voldemort paced in front of his Death Eaters and stopped before the Malfoy family. Draco stood between his father and mother. Voldemort narrowed his already slit eyes and turned his back to them before taking two steps away.
"Draco Malfoy, step forward," Voldemort said.
Leila watched as a frightened Draco looked innocently to his mother while the other Death Eaters, including his father, all took a step backward. Lucius Malfoy put his hand on his son's arm. He held it there for a brief moment before attempting to push Draco further; but his mother tightly clutched her son's hand, so Draco simply jerked forward instead. Bellatrix looked to her sister in disbelief.
"Cissy," Bellatrix hissed.
Narcissa clenched her lips tightly together as she placed her hand on Draco's cheek. Mother looked into her son's eyes trying to be as reassuring as possible, given what could potentially become a grave situation. Draco nodded as his mother gently turned him forward. He took one step closer to Lord Voldemort, while Narcissa remained where she stood and didn't step back in line with the other Death Eaters. Leila saw Mrs. Malfoy quiver and assumed she was attempting to hide the tears that threatened to fall for her son. Voldemort turned around and looked right at Draco who shifted uncomfortably. Voldemort then slowly circled around Draco. Leila could tell that Draco was attempting to remain calm and expressionless, but she knew the situation to be daunting; but she also saw the situation for what it was: a chance to escape. Everyone's attention was focused onto Draco and Voldemort which was exactly the distraction she needed to get away.
Leila took one step down the stairs when Lord Voldemort drew his wand. He cast the Cruciatus Curse with it aimed at Draco. Draco released a growl in pain before he attempted to stifle any sounds that threatened to escape from his mouth. Voldemort released Draco from the curse which caused Draco to fall to his hands and knees and pant heavily. Leila could empathize with him; she too had felt the terrible pain inflicted by the Cruciatus Curse; but she couldn't afford to sit and watch because she would lose valuable time. She took another step down the stairs when another Cruciatus Curse hit Draco. His screams which echoed in the room caused Leila to turn her face away.
~*Flashback*~
Draco grabbed her hand that was on his head and held onto it tightly. She inhaled sharply as he took a step back from her and released her hand. She looked at him with confusion written clearly in her eyes. He looked away and closed his eyes before he took a deep breath. He then began to fumble with his Slytherin ring, twisting it back and forth. The ring slid from his finger and into his other hand. Draco then placed his ring into Leila's cupped hands.
"I—erm-I uh, I want you to have this," Draco mumbled.
Draco placed his hands around hers and closed her hand around his ring. Leila looked to him in the moonlight trying to read his unreadable expression.
"I don't understand," Leila whispered.
"I want you to have it. It belongs to you," Draco said.
"What?" Leila asked.
"Leila…I don't know how to tell you this, but I've been thinking about this a lot. I just…Merlin, I must sound like a lunatic…I, erm…I'm just going to come out with this. Please, don't laugh. I've never done this before, but I erm…I love you Leila," Draco said fumbling for words.
"Draco…" Leila whispered.
"I don't expect you to say it back or anything. I just, I just wanted to let you know. I love you Leila Potter, I probably have for a while now, but you finally gave me a chance and…wait! I probably should have asked you if you wanted my ring instead of forcing it on you…I'm such an…" Draco rambled.
"Draco," Leila said firmly.
"What?" Draco asked.
Leila wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself as close to him as she could get. Her lips met his in a passionate kiss. His arms slowly snaked around her waist. She could feel the warmth from his body on hers. When she needed a breath she pulled her lips away and left her eyes closed. When she opened her eyes, she found Draco's icy eyes staring in hers trying to find answers. Leila broke away from his gaze and moved her lips to his ear.
"I love you too, Draco Malfoy," Leila whispered for only him to hear.
"Do you really mean it?" Draco asked.
Leila fumbled to find the necklace around her neck. Sirius had given her the necklace last Christmas. It had been her mother's. Leila unclasped the necklace and slipped the ring on it. Draco's ring dangled on the chain next to the L pendant.
"Can you clasp this for me?" Leila asked.
Leila turned her back toward Draco and held her hair up. Draco then fumbled to re-clasp the necklace on Leila's neck. But his fumbling fingers eventually managed to clasp the necklace. Once the necklace was back in its rightful place she turned back around and placed her hands in his.
"I do love you, Draco. I love you more than I ever even thought possible," Leila said.
~*End Flashback*~
A tear slipped from Leila's eye. Even though Draco had been a git through most of their years at Hogwarts, he did know how to show kindness and love, something Voldemort wasn't capable of. Voldemort paraded love as a weakness. Voldemort once more released Draco from the curse. Narcissa ran forward to care for her son. Leila could easily hear the older woman's sobs as she tended to her son. Voldemort then ordered Lucius to remove his hysterical wife from Draco. Lucius walked over and roughly grabbed Narcissa's arms. He led her away despite her screaming pleas. Leila caught a glimpse of Draco who was paler than normal and lying on his back on the floor panting for breath.
"Stand, Draco," Voldemort ordered.
Draco breathed in raggedly before he coughed. He then forced his body onto his feet, while his head hung and eyes remained on the floor. Voldemort jabbed his wand into Draco's chest which caused Draco to jerk backwards. Leila closed her eyes and carefully moved down another step; but the second she did Draco's screams filled the room once more. Leila covered her ears as more tears spilled from her eyes and down her cheeks. He didn't deserve this…
~*Flashback*~
"Stand up," Draco demanded.
"What for?" Leila asked.
"You owe me a real dance," Draco said.
"I owe you?" Leila asked slightly offended.
"Fine, fine. Leila Potter, can I have this dance?" Draco asked.
Leila's heart almost jumped from her chest, but she tried to play it off smoothly.
"Well, since you did ask…" Leila said.
Draco held his hand out for her to grab and she placed her hand in his. He helped her stand up. He then placed a hand on her waist and held the other one out with her small hand in it.
"Here? We're going to dance on the ledge of the fountain?" Leila asked.
"Trust me, I won't let you fall," Draco whispered.
They pair slowly danced around the ledge of the fountain. Leila's heart felt like it was going to explode with every twist and turn. This is how their first dance should have been, in love.
"You're not as bad as I remember," Leila commented.
"I've never been a bad dancer; you were just a terrible partner," Draco smirked.
Leila chuckled and Draco dipped her. She tightly clamped her hands on him, causing Draco to chuckle.
"What happened to trusting me?" Draco asked.
"I do, but I'm just taking precautions. If I'm going down, you're going down with me," Leila said.
Draco chuckled and they dance slowly ended. When they stopped moving, Draco held Leila close to him. If only he could keep her in his arms forever, the world may seem all right. If only he could always have Leila by his side, but if she knew his secrets she would probably leave him. Draco sighed and Leila looked up at him with her beautiful emerald eyes.
"I love you," Leila whispered.
Draco smiled and bent his head down to kiss her. Their lips met and for only a moment, the world seemed to stop. Leila's outside foot popped up, causing her to balance her foot on the edge of the fountain. She lost her balance, screamed, and crashed down into the fountain. Water splashed over Draco, but he was nowhere near as wet as Leila. Leila spluttered trying to get the water out of her face, while Draco watched her with an amused look on his face.
"Graceful," Draco smirked.
"Shut up, Draco, and help me up," Leila groaned.
"Why should I?" Draco teased.
"You really want to find out what happens if you don't?" Leila retorted.
Draco raised an eyebrow and placed his hand out for Leila to grab. Leila, with a glint in her eyes, grabbed his hand and pulled him into the fountain with her. Draco spluttered with all the water in his face.
"What was that for?" Draco demanded.
Leila laughed, grabbed Draco by his collar, and pressed her lips against his. His lips eagerly responded to hers. They remained in the fountain snogging. Draco brought Leila to his lap and pulled her closer, not missing a kiss.
~*End Flashback*~
Why were all her good memories of Draco pouring back to her now? He had done plenty of terrible things to her, yet she couldn't concentrate on them. She could only remember the reasons why she had loved him. It seemed that with every step she took, her heart felt the need to remind her of what she had shared with Draco. Leila roughly brushed away the tears with her sleeve as Draco lay on the floor again panting and gasping for breath. A hysterical Mrs. Malfoy was being restrained by her husband and her sister.
"My son!" Narcissa sobbed.
"Cissy, you need to trust the Dark Lord," Bellatrix reprimanded.
"You're sister's right Narcissa," Voldemort drawled.
"My Lord," Narcissa pleaded.
"Silence!" Voldemort commanded.
Narcissa's hand covered her mouth to stifle any further sobs. Leila knew she had to get out of here. The same or worse could happen to her if she didn't leave. Besides, all the resurfacing memories of Draco were almost too much to handle. She attempted to run down the stairs, but she was only down four more steps when Draco's screams erupted again.
~*Flashback*~
Leila carefully walked down to the courtyard, trying to avoid running into Filch. When she reached the courtyard she found Draco standing near the fountain, staring up at a cloudy sky; but the moon was peeking out, shining down on Draco. His pale features were intensified in the moonlight. Leila stopped to catch her breath and continued toward him. Draco turned around and smiled when he saw her. He walked toward her, picked her up, and swung her around. He then set her on the ground and kissed her.
"I've missed you, you know," Draco whispered in her ear.
"I've missed you too," Leila whispered back.
Raindrops soon began to fall from the sky. They were light at first; but quickly became heavier.
"For a while there I didn't think you'd show." Draco said.
"I told you I was coming, I was just briefly held up," Leila said.
Draco smirked and leaned in to kiss her again. Leila could feel the raindrops falling on her cheek. She didn't want her time with Draco to end and she could feel tears beginning to spring from her eyes. It was hard to tell the tears from the rain. Leila suddenly, backed away from Draco and gazed into his eyes.
"I love you so much, Draco," Leila whispered.
"I love you too," Draco said, pushing a strand of her hair from her face.
"And that's what makes this even harder," Leila mumbled.
"What was that?" Draco asked.
"Do you know what the most beautiful form of love is?" Leila asked.
Draco shrugged, apparently confused by the question asked of him.
"Sacrifice," Leila said.
"I don't understand," Draco said.
"My father died to protect his family. My mother sacrificed herself to protect me and Harry," Leila continued.
"I'm afraid I'm not following," Draco said.
"And that's what I'm going to do for you. Don't say anything just yet. The whole point of love is to put someone else's needs above your own. I'm not going to die or anything, at least not yet anyways; but I want you to focus on you. I'm not supporting Voldemort; but I'm supporting you. Just please don't let me be wrong about you. I know that you won't do anything to hurt me intentionally, so that should mean Harry's safe from whatever you're doing, for now. And I know that somewhere you're a good person Draco; you're just too scared to let it show. And I really don't want you to die," Leila finished bursting into tears.
Leila grabbed Draco's hand and kissed it; clinging to it tightly. Draco slowly backed away from Leila, letting her words finally sink in. The rain began falling harder as did Leila's tears.
"I need you to be safe…"
~*End Flashback*~
Leila's hands flew to her mouth as she too attempted to stifle any cries. The whole reason she had broken-up with Draco was in hopes that he could stay safe and here he was on the floor writhing in pain before Lord Voldemort. The very thing she had tried to prevent was happening. That night must have been so painful for him and Leila's sacrifice was all for nothing. Draco's screams stopped and were replaced by dry heaves as he collapsed to the floor. Through her tears she watched Lord Voldemort walk over to where Draco lay. He placed his dirty foot on Draco's cheek and pushed his face with it.
"Lord Voldemort is merciful Draco. Do you wish me to put you out of your misery?" Voldemort spoke.
"My—my Lord," Lucius Malfoy spoke softly.
"It would only be one simple curse," Voldemort continued ignoring Lucius. "How about it Draco? Is that what you want?"
Leila listened carefully for Draco's answer but she heard nothing.
"Well then, I'll take your silence as a 'yes,'" Voldemort said.
Lord Voldemort raised his wand once more. The next moments were such a blur to Leila that she could barely comprehend what was happening. Harry's voice once again played in her head, "Leila, there are times where you simply have to act, and this is definitely one of those times." As Voldemort prepared to kill Draco, Leila ran from the stairs across the room pushing several Death Eaters out of the way until she reached Draco. She then flung her body over his raggedly-breathing body and clung to him tightly. She couldn't let him die. She had once told him that the most perfect form of love was sacrifice and as much as she hated to admit it, she still loved him or at least what they used to be. She needed him to be safe. Leila wiped her tears against Draco's chest as he groaned in pain.
"You are like your filthy muggle mother after all," Voldemort chuckled. "Willing to throw everything away and for what, love?"
"He doesn't deserve to die," Leila said through gritted teeth.
"Don't you understand that it's you who's caused him to suffer?" Voldemort asked.
"No, you did this," Leila hissed.
"Don't you see that it was part of my plan? I told Draco to leave the door open and take the guards down. I knew that like you're brother you'd attempt some form of escape, but I must confess that I was beginning to think you wouldn't show," Voldemort said.
"And how is any of that my fault?" Leila questioned.
"Didn't you realize that with every step you took I cursed Draco? I knew where you were the entire time," Voldemort drawled.
"Why did you do this?" Leila cried.
"I needed to know how far you were willing to go for young Draco," Voldemort confessed.
"And what now?" Leila asked.
Voldemort looked to Bellatrix and nodded. She stepped forward and aimed her wand at Leila. Leila knew what was coming; her body began to writhe in pain. She clenched her teeth while still clinging to Draco to brace the pain. Bellatrix released the curse causing Leila to gasp for air. Narcissa moved forward and dragged her son away from Leila's grasp, leaving Leila panting on the floor alone.
"You are a fool, Leila Potter. Love will get you nowhere and the sooner you figure that out the easier things will be for you," Voldemort whispered to her.
Bellatrix cackled once more and Leila felt the brunt of another Cruciatus Curse. She tried to hold onto her screams but they were soon released causing the room to echo with the sound of her voice. She tried to hold onto consciousness, but it was too much for her and she faded into blackness.