Chapter 20

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter world obviously belongs to JK Rowling and not me. Obviously.

… … … …

Draco ran quickly down the dungeon corridors in direction for the prefect's bathroom on the fifth floor. He knew that most of the Hogwarts student body would already be in the Great Hall for the Halloween feast, so he needed to hurry to reach Leila. He should have known better than to leave her with Daphne. She was supposed to be his responsibility and he had messed up. It seemed that everything the Dark Lord entrusted to him he found some way to fail. He had failed in his countless attempts to kill Dumbledore last year, and when the moment actually presented itself, he still couldn't bring himself to kill the old man. Now, he could lose Leila; but he wasn't scared because of the consequences he could face from the Dark Lord. He was scared because he couldn't imagine a life without Leila. No matter what she was to him, she needed to be alive.

Finally reaching the Grand Staircase, he took the stairs two at a time. Why did this castle have to be so damn big? He wasn't exactly sure how much of a head start Leila had on him and he hoped that he wasn't too late. Merlin, he loved that girl. It was hard to see her as broken as she was and he really should have seen this coming. He only hoped that Leila had decided against taking this extreme measure, but knowing Leila, once she made her mind up, she was going to follow through. As he ran up the stairs he passed some first years straggling to get to the Great Hall. They looked at him oddly, but he didn't have time for them.

When he finally reached the fifth floor, he rounded the corridors to head for the prefect's bathroom. He was almost to the door when he could see water beginning to trickle from underneath the bathroom door. Draco pounded on the door demanding a response from Leila, but she didn't respond. He pulled out his wand and used it to unlock the bathroom door as steam poured out of the door. Water sloshed all over the bathroom floor as Draco scanned the room for Leila. His eyes widened as he noticed her fully submerged under the water motionless. Darting through the pooled water he jumped into the pool-like tub fully clothed and pulled Leila to the surface. He pulled her limp body close to his, holding her tightly. He lowered his ear down to her mouth to listen for even the faintest sign of breathing, but no air passed through her lips. He couldn't lose her, not like this. He needed her in his life. Things might be complicated now and would probably never be normal again, but he desperately needed her alive. With Leila in his arms, he swam to the edge of the tub and pulled her out of the bath onto the flooded stone tiles. He once more pressed his ear to her lips, hoping that somehow she had started breathing; but there was nothing there to give him hope. Tears began to form in Draco's eyes and it felt like his throat was beginning to close. This couldn't be happening.

"Help!" Draco shouted.

He wasn't exactly sure what he was supposed to do, but whatever he needed to do, he had to do it quickly. Gently, he lay Leila down on the floor so that he could try and bring some life back to her lifeless body. Since she had been submerged in the water, she most likely had water blocking the airway in her body. So, he drew his wand once more and pointed it at Leila's throat.

"Anapneo!" Draco cried.

Water trickled out of Leila's mouth, but she still wasn't breathing. What the hell was he supposed to do? He pointed his wand at her and more water trickled from her mouth. She needed to breathe, so he gently tilted her back and opened her mouth. He pressed his lips on hers and breathed into her. Her chest rose and after a few seconds she began to cough. Draco helped Leila into a sitting position as she coughed up more water. With her beautiful eyes barely open, Leila looked at him.

"I hate you," Leila whispered hoarsely.

Leila then blacked-out into an unconscious state again. Draco checked her breathing to find her softly breathing. He needed to get her professional help, someone who would know better what to do than he would. He gently cradled her head in hand and kissed her forehead as several tears trickled down his cheek. Suddenly, the door to the prefect's bathroom swung open and Draco turned to see the sixth year Gryffindor Quidditch captain: Ginny Weasley. Ginny's eyes widened as she saw an unconscious and limp Leila in Draco Malfoy's arms. The red-head fumbled to find the words to say, but Draco quickly interrupted her attempt.

"Go get Madam Pomfrey from the feast and have her meet us in the hospital wing," Draco commanded.

"What happened?" Ginny asked.

"Weasley, go get her, please," Draco pleaded.

Ginny nodded her head and sloshed through the water out of the bathroom. Draco wrapped his arms tighter around Leila. He placed on arm under the crook of her knee and the other under neck, before he stood up to carry her to the hospital wing. Leila's clothes were drenched straight through, causing her to shiver in her unconscious state. Draco's clothes weren't much drier, but he pulled her closer to him to give her any extra body heat as he carried her to the hospital wing where he hoped Madam Pomfrey would know what to do with her. When he finally reached the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey wasn't there yet. Draco set Leila on a bed and gently pushed away her matted hair from her face. He then sat down on the chair beside the bed and took Leila's hand in his. Things weren't supposed to be like this. If he had only listened to reason last year all those countless times, he wouldn't be in this situation.

That night on the Astronomy Tower, he should have taken Dumbledore's offer. He had been seriously considering and had almost chosen protection, but then the Death Eaters began to storm the place before he could even do anything about it. He should have listened to Leila when she told him that she knew he was a Death Eater, she had offered him protection; yet he had stubbornly refused. If only he had acted during those moments, he wouldn't be here in this bloody situation. Several more tears slipped down Draco's cheeks, but he roughly brushed them away knowing that any minute Madam Pomfrey would be arriving. A few minutes later, Madam Pomfrey bustled into the hospital wing with Ginny Weasely trailing her. Madam Pomfrey looked somewhat shocked but quickly rushed over to Leila's bedside. She scanned over the soaking wet teenage girl to get an initial assessment.

"What happened?" Madam Pomfrey asked sternly.

"I—I found her in the prefect's bathroom. Sh—She tried—tried to dr—drown herself," Draco stuttered.

"Mister Malfoy, Miss Weasley, I must ask you both to leave," Madam Pomfrey said.

"I can't leave her," Draco said sternly.

"If he's not leaving, then I'm not either," Ginny said.

"Mister Malfoy, as Head Boy, you need to inform the Headmaster and Miss Weasley, I need you to inform Professor McGonagall. Now go," Madam Pomfrey instructed.

Draco looked at Madam Pomfrey, but conceded that Snape needed to be told. Ginny waited for Draco by the door with her arms folded across her chest. When Draco reached Ginny, both turned around to watch Madam Pomfrey moving the curtains around Leila's bedside. Draco was the first to walk away and Ginny quickly followed after.

"Malfoy!" Ginny called.

"What?" Draco hissed.

"Did—did she really try to…you know," Ginny questioned.

"What's it to you, Weasley? From what I recall, you've been nothing but a twat to her," Draco spat.

"Well she…" Ginny began.

"You of all of her closest friends should know that things aren't always as they seem," Draco interrupted.

With that Draco turned on his heel to walk away from Weasley. He needed to get away from her before he told her more than he really should. He quickly walked down the corridor in direction for the Great Hall, where Weasley was headed as well; but he had no desire to walk down with her. Meanwhile, in the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey fussed over Leila. She did everything that she could to make the poor girl comfortable, because the young girl had slipped into a coma. There was no telling how long this would last, the only thing they could do was wait for her to wake up and that was if she woke up.

… … … …

Leila lay still for a few minutes before opening her eyes. Her eyes widened as she looked up to a clear blue sunny sky while she was on the ground surrounded by a field of lilies. She was dressed in a white summer dress with her hair in long, soft, flowing curls and her feet were bare. She squished the grass between her toes. Everything seemed at peace, everything seemed right. She closed her eyes once more and let the feeling of serenity overtake for the first time in months; but truth was, she couldn't ever remember feeling so peaceful.

"What are you doing?" a male voice asked.

Leila's eyes instantly flashed open to find out who was intruding upon her peace and quiet. She could vaguely see the shadow of a figure standing somewhat over her, but the sunlight was too bright to make out who it was; so she sat up and cupped her hands on her head, surrounding her eyes. It took a moment for her to process who the person was, but when her brain clicked she gasped and instantly backed away in shock.

"Cedric?" Leila whispered.

"It's me, Leila," Cedric chuckled.

"What are you doing here?" Leila asked.

"We'll talk about that, but c'mon, let me help you up," Cedric smiled.

Cedric reached out his hand for Leila to grab. Leila looked at him hesitantly, what if this was some weird trap set-up by Voldemort? But the last thing she could remember was being underwater in the prefect's bathtub. She had tried to take her own life. Had her plan worked? Was she finally reunited with those she lost?

"I'm not going to hurt you," Cedric said.

Leila reached for his hand and he helped her to her feet. She moved to brush off any stray grass, but no stray grass stuck to her dress. Her eyes looked to a smiling Cedric, but then glanced to look at the breathtakingly beautiful scenery. She wasn't exactly sure where she was, but wherever it was, it was obviously a much better place than where she was at. If Cedric was here, she could only assume that she was in heaven, or some equivalent of it.

"Care for a walk, for old time's sake?" Cedric asked.

"I'm surprised you even remember," Leila said blushing.

"I could never forget you, Leila Potter," Cedric smiled.

"I suppose it would be hard to forget one's stalker, even in the afterlife," Leila joked.

"You weren't that bad," Cedric laughed.

"You're too kind. I missed you so much, Cedric," Leila sighed.

"I still remember the day we met; that day in the library," Cedric said.

"You took pity on a poor first year frantically searching for a book," Leila chuckled.

"That and I really wanted to meet Leila Potter," Cedric responded.

"You never told me that," Leila said.

"You never asked," Cedric quipped.

Cedric offered her another smiled as he offered his arm to Leila. She looped her arm through his and walked with him through the garden path in the lily field. They strolled for a few moments, neither of them talking. Leila was overjoyed to be reunited with Cedric once more. She didn't realize how much she had missed him until now. She didn't miss him because of her silly crush on him, but because he had been one of her dearest friends. He had always been there to solve her drama and talk her through things, especially any drama concerning Draco.

"What are we doing here, Cedric?" Leila asked.

"I think you already know the answer to that," Cedric smiled.

"Please, don't play games with me," Leila begged.

"We'll just say I'm an opening act of sorts," Cedric said.

"What?" Leila asked.

"You'll understand soon enough," Cedric chuckled.

… … … …

After Draco had told Snape that Leila was in the hospital wing, he followed the Death Eater Headmaster back to the hospital wing. Snape walked quickly, so much so that Draco could barely keep pace with him. Snape was worried about the young girl. He would never openly admit that to anyone because it was hard enough to admit it to himself. This was definitely not part of the brilliant plan to keep her safe. He could almost kick himself for leaving anyone in charge of the young girl besides himself, but sometimes it was too hard to be around her all the time. Leila was a constant reminder of Lily and what he had lost. If Lily was here now, she would probably be close to killing him for allowing any harm to come to her daughter. With his cloak billowing behind him, Snape walked into the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey sat at her desk with her head in her hands. Snape cleared his throat and Madam Pomfrey turned to look at him.

"Follow me," Madam Pomfrey said.

Madam Pomfrey stood up from her desk chair and walked in the infirmary toward the bed Draco had laid Leila on. She opened the curtains so that Snape and Draco could follow her into the makeshift room. Snape tried to keep his emotions in check, but the way Leila looked now reminded him of that night he had found her mother's dead body in Godric's Hollow. She was still, pale, and her hair was matted to her face. Snape had to look away briefly so that Draco and Madam Pomfrey couldn't tell how hard he was trying to suppress his emotions. Luckily, he was saved from their glances because the hospital wing door flung open and its slam shut echoed through the room.

"Poppy, what's this I hear about Miss Potter?" Professor McGonagall called.

Madam Pomfrey stepped outside the curtains quickly and looked to Professor McGonagall.

"I was just about to explain my assessment to the Headmaster," Madam Pomfrey said dully.

Professor McGonagall nodded curtly and followed Madam Pomfrey behind the curtain. The former Deputy Headmaster gasped at the sight of Leila's pale and still body.

"What—what happened to her?" McGonagall asked.

"From what I can tell, she tried to drown herself," Madam Pomfrey said lowly.

Draco cringed in guilt as McGonagall covered her moth with her hands and shook her head in disbelief. Snape again masked any emotions, but he too understood the implications of the once vibrant young girl attempting to take her own life. This was because of him and things weren't supposed to happen like this. His whole reasoning for suggesting Hogwarts, beside it being Dumbledore's idea, was to keep Leila safe and sound. He had obviously failed at his attempt. Obviously.

"How long until she recovers?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"There's no way to tell. It's up to her if and when she wakes up," Madam Pomfrey said.

"You—you mean there really is a chance she won't wake up?" Draco choked.

"I'm afraid so," Madam Pomfrey sighed.

"This never would have happened if Albus was still here," Professor McGonagall muttered.

"Do you have something you need to say, Minerva?" Snape drawled.

"Nothing that I would care to say to you," Professor McGonagall sneered. "Poppy, keep me informed on Miss Potter's condition."

With that, Professor McGonagall turned on her heel and left the hospital wing. Snape grunted and muttered something inaudible under his breath before following Professor McGonagall out. He needed to figure out what exactly he was going to tell the Dark Lord. Draco moved to the chair that was beside Leila's bed and sat in it. Madam Pomfrey eyed him warily, before returning to her office. Draco took Leila's small hand in his.

"I'm sorry," Draco whispered.

But Leila didn't respond.

"I'm an idiot. I should have listened to you when you told me to go with Dumbledore. This is all my fault," Draco continued.

He brushed another piece of hair out of Leila's face.

"I know you have every right to hate me, but I still love you. Something like that just doesn't stop," Draco sniffled.

After blinking back several tears, Draco rested his head on their entwined hands.

"I love you, Leila. I'm so sorry," Draco whispered as he began to fall asleep.

… … … …

Cedric and Leila walked arm in arm until they came to a stone bench in the middle of the lily garden. Over the bench was an archway that was trellised with lilies. Leila sat down on the bench and gazed at the lilies. She found the perfect one and picked it before she placed it behind her ear in her hair. She looked up and blushed as Cedric leaned against the archway smiling at her.

"Lilies are my favorite flower," Leila sighed.

"Because they remind you of your mother," Cedric said.

"You remember everything, don't you?" Leila chuckled.

"That and I've been keeping an eye on you since I left," Cedric smiled.

"How closely have you been watching me?" Leila cringed.

"I know about that Muggle boy, Nott, Carmichael…" Cedric began.

"All right, I get the point!" Leila groaned.

"You're stopping me because you don't want me to get to Malfoy," Cedric said.
"No I'm not," Leila said stubbornly.

"Everyone knew it was bound to happen, Leila," Cedric chuckled.

"I didn't! I—I thought…" Leila began.

"You thought what?" Cedric asked.

"It doesn't matter," Leila muttered.

Leila stood and walked a few feet down the gravel path away from Cedric. She may not have been in love with Cedric, the way she had been with Draco, but that still didn't change how she felt in the past. She had always thought that she and Cedric would end up together. Granted, it was her early adolescent life, so nothing was set in stone. But after Cedric had kissed her in the graveyard that night, she had thought for sure that she would get to mean something more to him than just a friend. Her entire fourth year she had practically day-dreamed about marrying him. It was obviously a stupid, teenage crush, but at the time it had felt so strong and the emotions so raw. It was always hard to rehash the past, but Cedric had meant so much to her. Maybe if Cedric had lived, she would have fallen in love with him and then she wouldn't be in such a complicated situation with Malfoy. Cedric walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Leila reached her hand for his hand, trying to recapture something that they had lost. It looked like she was going to have an eternity to figure things out.

"I thought that you and I would have been something more," Leila whispered.

"I know," Cedric said.

"If only I could go back and change things…" Leila began.

"Don't talk like that. Things are what they are. You can only move forward," Cedric sighed.

"How the hell am I supposed to move forward? I'm dead," Leila muttered.

"That remains to be seen," Cedric responded.

… … … …

Snape paced his office. What was he going to tell the Dark Lord? He was going to have to tell him that Leila Potter had tried to kill herself. There was no doubt in his mind that all of Hogwarts would know by morning, including the Carrow siblings. He was going to have to tell him first before the Carrows did. There had to be some sort of spin that he could take. The Dark Lord already thought that Leila was playing her part in the Second Prophecy. He stopped his pacing in front of the portrait of Dumbledore.

"This is all your fault Albus," Snape hissed. "If you wouldn't have tried the damned cursed ring on we wouldn't be in this situation."

The Dumbledore in the portrait still slept.

"Listen to me, old man!" Snape shouted.

Professor Dumbledore licked his lips and slowly woke from his chair in the portrait.

"Good evening, Severus," Dumbledore yawned.

"Good evening? Good evening? Are you crazy? Leila Potter nearly succeeded in killing herself!" Snape hissed.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he smiled.

"You're happy that she nearly succeeded?" Snape questioned.

"I would say that it was more than nearly succeeding, Severus. She did briefly succeed," Dumbledore said.

"How does that make this better? I was supposed to protect her and now you're telling me that she actually did die?" Snape hissed.

"Severus, everything is going according to plan. Maybe even better than planned," Dumbledore smiled gently.

"I thought you were crazy alive, but I swear on Merlin that death has only made things worse," Snape muttered.

Dumbledore chuckled as Snape glared at him.

"And what do I tell the Dark Lord?" Snape hissed.

"The truth," Dumbledore said.

"And what about Lily—erm—Leila?" Snape questioned.

"The choice is hers, Severus," Dumbledore answered.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Snape sneered.

Suddenly Snape's forearm began to burn. He groaned at the burning sensation in his arm.

"Duty calls, Severus," Dumbledore smiled.

Snape rolled his eyes and headed for the door. He needed to leave the grounds in order to apparate to Malfoy Manor, where his meeting with the Dark Lord was imminent.

… … … …

Leila turned around to face Cedric before placing a hand on his cheek. He wrapped his hand around hers, but she couldn't feel its warmth. It was almost as if this wasn't real.

"Do you think that in a different life, there could have been an us?" Leila asked.

"Maybe, but let's not dwell on that. I don't have much longer," Cedric said.

"What could possibly be interrupting eternity?" Leila scoffed.
"Something you've been waiting for," Cedric smiled.

A clear soprano voice began to fill the silence. The melody she sang without words was hauntingly familiar. Leila looked at Cedric in confusion. What was going on? Cedric leaned forward and placed an empty kiss on Leila's forehead.

"I love you, Leila," Cedric whispered.

"Did you love me when you were alive?" Leila choked out.

"I think I did," Cedric said.

"Then why did you date Cho? Didn't you know how much that hurt me?" Leila sniffled.

"I never meant to hurt you. I just thought that I had more time," Cedric sighed.

"There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think of you," Leila whispered.

"I know, but it's okay to find someone else. You don't have to feel guilty about it," Cedric said.

"Why do you keep phrasing things like that?" Leila questioned.

"You have a beautiful heart, Leila. Don't hide it," Cedric responded.

Cedric wrapped his arms around Leila and held her close for a moment as the melody from the mesmerizing voice became closer and clearer.

"Good bye, Leila. I'll see you again someday," Cedric whispered.

Leila closed her eyes tightly, not wanting this to end. But when she opened her eyes, Cedric was no longer there. Instead, she found just what Cedric had said. Something she had been waiting for.

… … … …

Morning broke and Draco was still in the hospital wing sleeping in the chair with his hand entwined with Leila's. Madam Pomfrey walked over and gently shook him awake. Draco jumped straight-up in his chair.

"Mister Malfoy, I suggest you go to your dormitory and get some sleep," Madam Pomfrey said.

"I can't leave her," Draco muttered.

"If her condition changes…" Madam Pomfrey began.

"She's my responsibility. I can't leave her alone with you," Draco hissed.

"But you can leave her with me," Professor Snape drawled.

Snape walked into the curtained area and Draco's eyes widened.

"Go to Slytherin dungeon, Draco," Snape commanded.

"But Headmaster…"Draco began.

"After what happened, you're going to need your strength," Snape said.

Draco nodded knowingly: the Dark Lord was surely going to punish him. When? He wasn't exactly sure. He would either be called to meet the Dark Lord or a punishment would be waiting for him upon his next return to Malfoy Manor at Christmas break. Either way, punishment was sure to happen. He slowly released Leila's hand and walked to the curtains. He looked back at an unconscious Leila as Snape took the seat he had once occupied before leaving the hospital wing for the Slytherin dungeon. From what he could tell it was breakfast time because all the students were heading in direction for the Great Hall. He received many glares and whispers quickly spread as he walked past them. By now, word of Leila's suicide attempt had probably reached most of Hogwarts and Ginny Weasley was to blame. He didn't want anything to do with the rumors that she had probably started about Leila.

When he finally reached the Slytherin dungeon, he found the common room empty. He headed for the dormitories, but instead of walking toward the boys' dormitory, he pulled out his wand and muttered a spell so that he could walk into the girls' dormitory. He walked until he came to the seventh year girls' dormitory and opened the door. The room was empty, except for Daphne Greengrass. She looked up and Draco and instantly got to her feet.

"How is she?" Daphne asked.

"Dunno," Draco shrugged.

"I'm so sorry, Draco. I should have gone with her. I should have…" Daphne began.

"Daphne, I'd like a moment in here alone," Draco said.

"Yeah, of course," Daphne said disappointedly.

As Daphne walked by, she squeezed Draco's arm with her hand before walking out of the room. He walked over to Leila's bed and looked at the note she had left once more. The paper crumpled in his clenched fist. He should have known better. He should have somehow stopped this before it happened. With his other hand he raked his fingers through his hair. Why didn't he see this coming? He knew something was off with Leila, but not this bad. His head turned to the alcove Leila often sat at and stared into the Black lake through the window. He stood up and walked over to the alcove and sat down. It was a bit awkward sitting down into the spot made for Leila's small frame. Looking out through the window, he could see what entrance Leila. It was beautiful out there and it almost seemed to draw one closer toward it.

Draco shifted uncomfortably and his hand knocked Leila's photograph album from a pile. He reached for it and looked through its pages. He had paged through this book once before, when Leila had first arrived at Malfoy Manor. But this time, it seemed different. This time he was looking through this book for something about Leila. Something that could tell him what he didn't. This album only showed him happy pictures of James and Lily Potter, some of them with Leila and her brother Harry. Leila had never gotten a chance to know them. As dysfunctional as his own family was, he couldn't imagine growing up never knowing them. Leila was so strong. She hardly ever made mention of her parents and tried to make things look like they were fine, even if they weren't. Leila was a far stronger person than he was, or at least she was.

He looked at the pile of books before him, which was topped with a heart-shaped music box. He opened the music box and found his Slytherin ring hidden inside. A slight smile found its way on Draco's face. Even after the huge fight over his ring, she had still kept it. It must have meant something to her, but after everything that had happened he didn't have a reason to hope. Leila had said that she hated him. He needed to make things right with her. He still loved her and yet he botched things up once again. It seemed that was all he was good at when it came to his relationship with Leila: botching things up. Gently shutting the music box, he reached for once of the books in the pile in front of him. Opening the book, he found a piece of parchment in Leila's familiar scrawl.

A puzzled look overcame his face. What was this book she had taken notes on? The heading read "Horcruxes." What the hell was a bloody Horcrux? He turned to the book where it was defined as a means of which to obtain immortality. Why would Leila have a book like this? He thumbed through the book and instantly knew that it was a book on Dark Magic. He knew Leila would never use a book like this. She was far too Light. Looking back at the parchment he saw the words "Tom Riddle's diary." Draco gasped. From what Leila had said, his father had slipped that diary into Ginny Weasley's cauldron in Diagon Alley before second year. He also knew that the Dark Lord's original name was Tom Riddle. He instantly closed the book not wanting to read farther. He knew Leila's secret as well as the Dark Lord's. The Dark Lord was immortal and if Leila knew about them, her brother and his Gryffindor friends more than likely knew about them. But now the question became, what was he going to do with the information that he had uncovered?

… … … …

"Mum!" Leila whispered.

Leila ran through the lilies in the direction for her mother. Her mother smiled and walked closer toward her daughter. Leila flung her arms around her mother as tears began to flow from her eyes. Even Lily's eyes were brimming with tears as she held her daughter for the first time in sixteen years.

"Oh my baby girl, my brave, brave baby girl," Lily whispered.

"I can hardly believe I'm seeing you," Leila sniffled.

"You're turned out to be so beautiful," Lily smiled.

"You're prettier than I imagined," Leila attempted to smile back.

Lily moved to wipe away the tears that were streaming down Leila's cheeks and Leila chuckled.

"Where's Dad?" Leila asked.

"Now wasn't his time; but he says hello and that he loves you very much," Lily said.

"Can't we go see him?" Leila asked.

"Not now, we don't have much time," Lily responded.

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Leila groaned.

"Probably, because it's the truth," Lily smiled.

"I don't understand," Leila said.

"That's why I'm here, to help you," Lily answered.

Lily gently released her daughter, but Leila reached out and grabbed a hold of her mother's arm. She had spent 16 years without her mother and she wasn't about to lose her now. Lily chuckled at Leila's actions and softly patted Leila's hand. The mother and daughter began to stroll through the lily field silently, until Lily began to hum. She hummed that same beautiful tone Leila had heard earlier. Then it clicked!

"That's the song from my music box!" Leila gasped.

"I used to sing that to you and Harry almost every night," Lily sighed.

"Is Harry with Dad then?" Leila asked.

"Sweetheart, Harry's still alive," Lily said.

"But I thought…"Leila began.

"Only what Voldemort wanted you to think," Lily interrupted.

"Does Voldemort have Harry?" Leila asked.

"No, Hermione Granger knocked some sense into him. She's a bright young girl, I like her. Pity it took you two so long to become friends," Lily said.

"Not you too," Leila groaned.

"I would have thought that I raised you better," Lily said shaking her head.

"But you didn't raise me. You left that job to Aunt Petunia," Leila said.

"I have never left you, Leila Mae Potter. I have always been with you, even if you can't see me," Lily reprimanded.

"That was kind of scary," Leila said.

"What was?" Lily questioned.

"My mother using my middle name," Leila chuckled.

Lily rolled her eyes at her daughter's comment causing Leila to smile. Lily's face then took on a serious look and Leila looked at her mother confusedly.

"What?" Leila asked.

"I'm so sorry you've had to go through so much. That was never the life that I wanted for you," Lily sighed.

"But I'm with you now," Leila smiled.

"Oh sweetheart, you have so much more to live for," Lily said.

"But I drowned myself, I can't go back," Leila explained.

"Are you sure?" Lily asked.

"Well, the last thing I remember is…" Leila began and then quickly stopped.

"Is what, Leila?" Lily furthered.

"Is telling Draco Malfoy that I hated him. He—he saved me," Leila said.

"He did," Lily smiled.

"Why are you smiling? He's such an obnoxious and arrogant prat! Who do I need to remind you: kidnapped me!" Leila said.

"His heart is in the right place, even if his actions don't show it," Lily said.

"You're defending him? I think I've gone nutter," Leila muttered.

"He reminds me a bit of someone I once knew," Lily smiled.

"I can't hear this," Leila said covering her ears.

"I'm done, I'm done," Lily chuckled.

"No more talking about Draco?" Leila asked.

"If that's what you want," Lily nodded.

"It is," Leila said stubbornly.

"Then back to my point, since erm—someone—rescued you from the prefect's bath, you have a choice to make," Lily said.

"What kind of choice?" Leila asked.

"I think you already know," Lily answered.

"To go back or?" Leila asked.

"Go on," Lily replied.

Leila sighed and released her mother to sit down in the lilies. She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on her knees. She had a choice in the matter.

"What will happen if I decide to go on?" Leila asked.

"I can't tell you the future, Leila. But know that Harry is still hunting Horcruxes," Lily said.

"But the Second Prophecy…" Leila began.

"Sure, they might predict what's to come, but they're never quite clear. I believe that we make our own destiny," Lily interrupted.

"Easy for you to say, you're dead. Besides, you died because of a prophecy," Leila added.

"I died to protect my children. I don't regret saving you and Harry. I love you both so much," Lily said.

"But say I did go back, I'd still be Voldemort's captive," Leila groaned.

"True," Lily nodded.

"And Snape isn't making things any easier," Leila moaned.

"Don't be so hard on him," Lily sighed.

"He's the reason you're dead!" Leila shouted.

"I accepted my fate. Now is time for you to decide yours," Lily said.

Lily and Leila's emerald eyes locked on each other's. Once more, tears began to form in Leila's eyes.

"But I finally got you back," Leila sniffled.

"I've never left you sweetheart. I'm always with you. Right here," Lily said.

Lily placed her hand above the place where Leila's heart would be. This reminded Leila of the time Sirius used the same gesture to Harry. Leila wrapped her hand over her mother's hand.

"I love you, Mum," Leila sniffled once more.

"I love you too my precious daughter," Lily whispered.

Lily bent down and placed a gentle kiss on Leila's forehead. Leila reached for her mother and clung tightly to her, because she knew the path she was going to choose.