[AN: Sorry for the long gap between updates, Finals came for college and those took priority. The next chapter will be something to look forward to, I hope you've enjoyed the story. We see our resoloution in the next chapter. Thanks for all the good reviews, please leave some more. Also, be sure to check out my new story "The Coming Darkness" which will begin after this story is completed. Enjoy!!!

Chapter IX: If just for this moment [PT2

Harry looked all around him, fear welling up inside his core like the smell of death was filling his nostrils. He desperately looked around at the bodies of the dead, now rising from the lake- their glossy eyes all focused on him. They lumbered ever forward, outstretched hands dropping flesh as they reached towards him.

Harry grasped his wand, and despaired, for he felt as helpless now as he first had when he tried his first spell. "Incarcerous!" He shouted, one or two Inferi fell victim to his spell, and they were soon succeeded by more and more bodies of the undead. "Petrificus Totalus! Petrificus Totalus!" He screamed, time and time again he watched as the Inferi pressed closer to him and the fallen form of Dumbledore.

Harry recoiled as a scaly hand lashed out, just mere inches from his nose. Without noticing, Dumbledore had risen from his potion induced stupor, and Harry felt an energizing heat flow all around him. Harry looked around and was cowed by the impressive figure of Albus Dumbledore. His eyes shone with a wild insanity, and his lined face was taught with concentration. His glasses were slightly askew, but he appeared as though sight was not necessary for his spell. His wand was issuing a lariat of fire, and the Inferi were retreating back into the depths of the lake.

"Harry, to me!" Dumbledore ordered, directing the lariat around himself and Harry. Harry came to the side of his headmaster and together they walked back to the boat, which Harry entered first.

Once they had reached the safety of the anti-chamber of the cave Harry apologized to Dumbledore.

"Sir, I'm so sorry, I had forgotten! Fire!"

"It is fine, Harry." Dumbledore said weakly, his eyes drooping down to the cave.

"Sir, will you be ok?"
"I may not be able to apparate us back, Harry…" Dumbledore said resting against a wall.

"Don't worry sir, I'll get us back."

"I am not worried, Harry, I am with you."

Harry felt a great wave of admiration for his headmaster in this moment, as Dumbledore gripped onto his outstretched arm. Harry concentrated harder than he ever had on his destination, and with a turn of his ankle, he felt the uncomfortable darkness suck them in.

Harry knew it had worked, the salty air was gone and there were no crashing waves. Harry opened his eyes, searching their landing. They were in fact back at Hogsmeade, and Harry looked to Dumbledore. "Sir! Sir we've made it!" Harry screamed joyously, he had actually apparate successfully.

But Dumbledore's eyes were closed, and he was falling asleep where he stood, Harry grabbed him to steady the headmaster. Harry heard the rushing of feet and looked up, he was scared to see Madame Rosmerta rushing towards him and Dumbledore. "What's wrong?" Harry asked, in shock.

"Professor Dumbledore!" She looked down at Dumbledore, who was slowly coming back to himself.

"What is wrong, Rosmerta?" Dumbledore said dreamily.

"It's the Death Eaters! They've infiltrated the school!" Rosmerta said urgently.

Dumbledore seemed to come alive upon hearing this, and it was with terror that Harry cast his eyes towards his school. There hanging in the sky, an unwelcome sigil, was the Dark Mark, wavering in the air, a green serpent and skull. It's deathly dance reminded Harry why it was always cast. Murder had occurred.

"Rosmerta, we need brooms." Dumbledore rose to his full height, energized by this awful sign.

"I'll go fetch them,…" Rosmerta started.

"No, Harry can get them." Dumbledore spoke determinedly.

"Accio Rosmerta Brooms!" Harry shouted, flicking his wand, as two brooms came hurtling towards them. Harry leapt onto his and was surprised, for with the agility of a man far younger than he, Dumbledore leapt too onto his broom.

They took off and sped across the night sky, Dumbledore muttering ferociously under his breath, as their brooms began to vibrate intensely. Harry realized that Dumbledore was surely releasing the protective charms around the school. He watched him carefully, ready to catch him should he fall off his broom, but his eyes were still focused on the Dark Mark. The Mark was right about the Astronomy Tower, Harry wondered if it was there that the death had occurred.

They landed on the tower and Dumbledore let his broom fall to the ground. "Harry, put on your invisibility cloak now, please." Harry did as he was asked, and it was just fastened around his neck when the door leading to the Astronomy Tower burst open. Harry went for his wand just as he heard a voice shout "Expelliarmus!" Harry felt his body go rigid, and his mind raced with confusion. Expelliarmus wasn't a freezing spell. Harry watched as Dumbledore's wand flew from his hand and circle the air without restraint. Harry realized what had happened, for whatever reason, Dumbledore had non-verbally immobilized him.

Harry landed silently against the stone turrets of the tower, and looked to the doorway, at whom had been able to disarm Dumbledore, which Death Eater would it be, Harry wondered. Harry saw him walking silently to Dumbledore, his perfectly pointed nose and blindingly blonde hair swirling in the moonlight. His cold steel eyes desperate with longing, and his Dark Mark boldly exposed on his forearm, which held a shaking wand.

"Good Evening, Draco." Dumbledore said, with a hint of sleepiness in his voice, as he slid back into the stone wall.

Draco glanced from side to side, carefully examining the tower. "Who else is here, Dumbledore?" Malfoy said, eyeing the headmaster as he slid along the wall.

"I could ask the same of you, Draco. Surely, you are not acting alone?" Dumbledore spoke, and Harry felt an insane fury as he watched the boy he loved act so abnormally.

Draco glanced up to the Dark Mark and a smile worthy of a lunatic crossed Draco's face. "No, no old man. There are Death Eaters here tonight."

"Very interesting, Draco. I admit, I did not think it was possible."

"Shows what you know, that's what you get for underestimating young wizards!"

"You have proven me wrong, I applaud you…or I would, if my hands were capable." Dumbledore said, looking down at his withered black hand. "But, Draco. Where are they now?"

"They ran into your Phoenix lot, they're battling now,…but it's ok. They're dueling. There's been a death. A few of your lot. Romilda Vane is dead, along with that Weasley blood traitor."

Dumbledore's eyes flashed with sadness, surely he had never expected something this bad to occur. Harry was stunned, was this really the boy he had come to love?! Hadn't Draco just boasted that Romilda, who truthfully enough was a little twisted - though still human, dead? And who did Draco mean, by the Weasley Blood Traitor? What if it had been Ron. Harry fought desperately to move, but he couldn't muster the energy to.

"I've got a job to do now, and you can join them."

Dumbledore nodded his head and was almost double over now. "Well, of course you do. I will say then, do what you must, Dear Draco."

Draco stared in silence at the defeated wizard kneeling almost before him. Nobody moved for a long time, Draco's wand continued to point at the heart of Dumbledore. From the levels below, Harry bore witness to the sounds of battle. Cries of shielding charms, and curses of death.

"Draco, my dear boy, you are no killer."

"Oh yeah? And just how do you know that!" Draco said, childishly, quickly realizing how foolish he sounded. "You don't know what I've done this year!" He said, recovering from his response.

"Oh but I do. You have tried with exceeding desperation, to kill me all year. You have failed at this so well, in fact, that I must wonder; do you really believe in what you are fighting for?"

"I have! I do! That's why I have Death Eaters in your school tonight!"
"Perhaps you should get on with the job then, before one of them comes and steals your glory. Where would that leave your family then, Draco?" Dumbledore said, his blue eyes filling with tears.

Draco seemed to flush in the green light of the Dark Mark, and Harry noticed his wand drop ever so slightly.

"For, after all, I am completely defenseless. You have disarmed me, I'm terribly weakened and you have a wand pointing directly at my heart. Even a stunning spell could likely kill me at this range. You could kill me now, or …"

"Or what!" Draco spat at the old man.

"or, we could discuss your options for survival."

"Options! Are you outside your mind?" Draco said, circling Dumbledore now, in sweeping arcs. "I don't have any options! You want to hear my options? I kill you, or he'll kill my family! Everyone I love!"

"So by killing me, Voldemort will spare Harry's life?" Dumbledore said, with a knowing look in his eye, Harry's eyes were focused on Draco now, and he saw Draco blush deeply in the green light.

"You don't know what you are talking about." Draco said, renewing his stance and pointing his wand at the tip of Dumbledores' nose.

"I know of the matters of the heart, Draco. And Voldemort will kill everyone dear to you, regardless of whom you may or may not murder tonight. Miss Granger is included in that number, as you so kindly warned her in your fourth year."

"I may or may not kill? Don't make me laugh! I am going to kill you." Draco hissed, face not looking so certain now.

"Come, dear boy, let us have no further pretense on that. You have had several long minutes to kill me and you have not done so. Draco, I can offer you protection, you needn't be bound to Voldemort."

Harry watched in amazement and pride as Draco dropped his wand, Harry knew that Draco wouldn't disappoint him!

The door burst open and three hooded figures entered the ramparts of the tower. Harry recognized one of them as Fenrir Greyback, the legendary werewolf whom had first bit Remus Lupin. His grizzled main dripped with sweat and he reeked of dirt and sweat. "Dumblydore…all cornered and wandless. Well done, Draco! Well done, indeed!" He hacked out a laugh, which sounded like a dying wail.

Two shorter Death Eaters poked each other and laughed as they pointed at Dumbledore, who had fallen completely down to the floor now. "Happy to see us, Dumby?" The female Death Eater cried, laughing like a lunatic.

"Amycus, Alecto," Dumbledore said, motioning to the two shorter Death Eaters. "no, I cannot honestly say I am pleased to see you. And I am quite surprised that Mister Malfoy here would invite a werewolf for this party, knowing how violent his tendencies can get when he is playful."

Harry appreciated how scared Draco looked now, he was sure that Draco hadn't actually invited Greyback, and Draco looked helpless as Greyback approached him. "C'mon Draco…" Greyback hissed. "do the old man. I'll have what's left eh, the Dark Lord promised!"

The sounds of combat were reaching a crescendo, as Harry could clearly hear "Reducto! Impervius!" Spells from below, sounded as though they were right on the stairs themselves. Hope was not all lost, it seemed.

"Now, Draco! Now is the time, do it!" Amycus yelled at Draco, hopping up and down, looking very much like a young child. Draco merely looked at Dumbledore, his wand dropping now.

"Fine! Get out of the way boy! I'll do it since you won't!" Greyback snarled, knocking Draco to the ground just beside Harry. Draco felt next to him and felt Harry's invisible, though still tangible, shoe. Draco looked surprised and his eyes filled with shame, knowing that his lover was witnessing his most horrible moment.

"No!" Alecto yelled. "The boy is to do it!" Alecto blasted Greyback away, causing the werewolf to have mild scorch marks on his outstretched furry hands.

The werewolf growled and approached the Death Eater, as though it were an answered prayer; Severus Snape burst triumphantly through the door. His black eyes searched the scene frantically, eyeing the two brooms and the fallen Headmaster.

"Snape! Good you're here!" Greyback snarled. "We've got a problem, the boy won't kill Dumby and Alecto won't let me do the job!"

"I can kill him!" Shouted Amycus, as Greyback started shouting louder than Amycus could hope to. Another voice was heard though, a weaker voice, coming from the dusty floor of the tower.

"Severus…please…" Dumbledore pleaded, as his glasses sat lopsided on his crooked nose. "Please…Severus…"

Snape's face was contorted in rage as he looked at Dumbledore, his features becoming harsh as he bared his teeth. Severus pointed his wand not at Greyback, Amycus, or Alecto…but at Dumbledore's heart. "Avada Kedavra!" The jet of green light sped from the tip of Severus' wand and hit Dumbledore directly in the chest, and his body was lifted from the dusty floor and his body arched in mid-air. It reached it's apex, and then Albus Dumbledore fell from the Astronomy Tower to the very cold and waiting grounds of Hogwarts.