Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. I don't even own Stella, only Éostrǽl.

Four years had passed since the day of their sorting and Éostrǽl had been right. Ginny, Luna, Stella and her were the best friends imaginable. Today their fifth year at Hogwarts started. Éostrǽl walked through the train like she did that first day, trying to find her friends for she had not met them on the platform. She went on to look into the next compartment and when she saw that it was Draco Malfoy with his gang of Slytherins she wanted to go on but suddenly the train accelerated and she found herself sitting on Dracos lap.

"It's not like I don't enjoy you sitting on my lap but you're sitting on my hand too and it's rather uncomfortable."

Éostrǽl blushed, mumbled an apology and immediately left the compartment. She was confused. Draco Malfoy had never been nice to her, her entire first year he had insulted her as a mudblood, though he had stopped that eventually and went on to simply ignoring her. But he had never ever been nice though she was always friendly. Well, except for that first time they met. She didn't know why she was so friendly, he certainly didn't deserve it the way he treated everybody else, but she couldn't help it. It was part of who she was. She had been brought up, learning always to be nice to everybody and not having any prejudices. That's why she probably was the only Gryffindor who didn't hate every Slytherin without ever having met one. She preferred forming her own opinion, though she had to admit that most Slytherins actually weren't the nicest persons but she was someone who believed that noone was entirely bad nor entirely good. In her opinion there was no black and white but many shades of grey in between.

Still confused Éostrǽl finally found her friends and of course told them about her little encounter with Draco.

"I think Draco has a crush on you.", Stella exclaimed, earning stunned looks from her friends.

"He wouldn't have a crush on me! He thinks I'm a mudblood, which I kind of am and I'm in Gryffindor!" The idea of Draco being in love with her seemed simply ridiculous to her.

"Yeah, but you can't chose who you love. Even Draco Malfoy could fall in love with a mudblood Gryffindor.", Ginny supported Stellas point.

"And he doesn't tease you.", Lune added.

"But he doesn't talk to me either."

"I bet one Galleon that he's in love with you.", Stella insisted.

"So do I.", Ginny and Luna said simultaneously.

"Alright, I take that bet." Éostrǽl was completely sure that Draco could never be in love with someone like her.

"But speaking about love, guess who I got together with during the summer?", Stella asked sounding immensely happy.

"You finally got Blaise?", Ginny and Éostrǽl squeaked together. Stella had been in love with him since third grade.

"Yeah!", she almost shouted and they all let out a range of girlish screams and pulled Stella into a grouphug.

Arriving at Hogsmeade the four girls made their way to the carriages where they were joined by Blaise and Draco. The latter was rather reluctant, having to sit with the blood-traitor Ginny and Loony Lovegood but he gave Éostrǽl the hint of a smile. Of course the other three noticed that and the look they gave her clearly said "We told you so."

The year started rather eventless, though of course the atmosphere was more tense than in the previous years due to Voldemorts return.

Stella spent a lot of time with Blaise, which led to Éostrǽl, Ginny and Luna also spending a great deal of time with him and Draco. The latter kept on being surprisingly nice to Éostrǽl and though she would never admit it she began developing feelings for him. The kind and sensitive girl she was she of course noticed that something was wrong with Draco. She tried to comfort him and he actually let her. Well at least sometimes. It was complicated with the two of them. One day he gladly lay in her arms, being happy to have someone who seemed to understand him without words, and the next day he completely ignored her. This got to her way more than she wanted but after a while she just couldn't deny it anymore.

One night she was lying awake in her bed, not being able to fall asleep.

"Ginny, are you awake?"

"Hmm." was all she could hear from her friend's bed.

"I think I'm in love with Draco."

Ginny was suddenly wide awake, sitting on Éostrǽl's bed within seconds.

"You really love him?"

"Yeah, but I don't know what to do. I know you, Stella and Luna think he loves me but I still don't agree with that. I mean look at the way he treats me."

"Exactly, look at the way he treats you. Alright, from time to time he's a real jerk to you but you're the only one he actually lets near himself. You're the one he turns to when he needs comfort. And the way he looks at you just says about everything."

"Oh Ginny, how I wish that could be true."

"I think you should tell him. That's definitely the best way to find out if it's true."

"But what if he doesn't love me?"

"Then we're here for you. But I really don't think that'll be necessary. And just imagine if he does love you. Then you'd be glad that you listened to me and told him how you felt."

"I guess you're right but I still don't know if I can tell him."

"Come on Éo, you're one of the bravest people I know. You can do it."

"Thanks Ginny."

"That's what friends are for." With that Ginny hugged her friend and went back to her own bed.

The next morning Éostrǽl was even more nervous than she had been on her first day of school. She had never thought that was possible. She had decided to take Ginnys advice and tell Draco about her feelings. But first she told Stella and Luna, the four girls didn't keep any secrets from each other.

On her way out of the Great Hall after breakfast she managed to slide a piece of paper in Draco's bag saying "Meet me at the lake at 10 tonight."

By the time it was nine Éostrǽl was dying with nervousness. She was in her dorm with Ginny, Stella and Luna, getting ready for her "date" with Draco. She actually didn't really want to dress up, she still wasn't into stuff like that but Ginny and Stella talked her into at least not wearing her favourite sweater, which admittedly didn't really underline her female features. They got her to wear a thin dark-blue blouse, which made her eyes sparkle, but they couldn't talk her into wearing a skirt for once, she insisted on her jeans. None of them had ever seen her wearing a dress or a skirt. She didn't even attend the Yule Ball two years ago though she got asked by two or three boys but she just had enough of balls and dresses for a lifetime from her home. She always said that the only time they'll see her wearing a dress would be her wedding day.

Eventually it was a quarter to ten and Éostrǽl made her way down to the lake. At exactly ten she could hear footsteps behind her but she didn't dare turn around. All of the sudden Draco was standing next to her, she hadn't thought he was that near.

"Hi.", he said.

"Hi.", she mumbled, blushed and looked down at her feet but Draco cupped her chin with his hand, lifted her head up and looked her right into the eyes which only made her blush even more. She tried to look away but his grip was too firm, not in a violent way but gently.

"Why did you ask me to come here?", he asked.

She tried to think of a way to get out of this but then she decided to simply take the risk and tell him.

"Because I wanted to tell you that I love you."

Before she had any idea what was happening his lips landed on hers and he kissed her passionately. She was surprised for a split second but then she kissed him back. He gently opened her mouth with his tongue. His entwined with hers and they were standing there by the lake for minutes, only parting once so he could tell her that he loved her too, until he pushed her against a tree, the kiss becoming more intense, longing and wild. She pulled her legs around his hip at the same time as she started to unbutton his shirt. She was sure heaven couldn't be any better than this. But her happiness didn't last as long as she would have wished. She was now lying on the ground, her head resting on Draco's bare chest. She had no idea what had just happened. Well, technically she of course did, she had slept with Draco Malfoy but she was really astonished about that. Sure she didn't believe in the whole "If you're in love you gotta marry immediately before anything can happen"-thing anymore like she had at home and she didn't want that anymore either. She had become an almost normal girl who wanted to have a relationship first but still she never thought she'd sleep with anyone before she was married, especially not on the very first night. But it had happened and she was happy, until she saw the Dark Mark on Draco's left arm. She gasped and draw back a bit. He looked at her questioningly, then followed her gaze. A look of horror appeared on his face.

"It's not what it looks like."

"It looks like you became a Death-Eater.", she said that more calmly than she'd expected.

"Well yes, but I didn't have a choice."

"There's always a choice!"

"Not this time. He threatened to kill you if I didn't do what he wanted. I had to obey to protect you because I could never forgive myself if anything happened to you because of me."

"Is that true?"

"Yes honey, I swear. I didn't want this. Not anymore. Before I met you I was cold and exactly how my father expected me to be. But than you came into my life and despite me always insulting you you were nice to me and I couldn't help but like you. And I changed because you made me see that I'm not who everybody thinks I am. You made me see that I didn't have to be like my father, that I could be my own person."

"I'm glad I made you see all of that but what are you gonna do about you being a Death-Eater? I don't want you to get into any trouble because of me."

"It's a little too late for that."

"What do you mean?"

"I have to kill Dumbledore or he's going to kill you."

"WHAT? But that's... You can't kill him!"

"If I have to chose between him and you it's always gonna be you."

"Well, I'm flattered but still."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Can't we talk to Dumbledore? I'm sure he'll know a way out."

"That doesn't even sound like a half bad idea.", he said while already getting up and starting to get dressed. She did the same and together they walked up to the castle, hands entwined.

Dumbledore didn't even seem to be surprised to see the two students walk into his office at this late hour. He smiled at them and then asked: "What can I do for you?"

Draco told him the whole story and when he finished they both looked expectantly at Dumbledore.

"Ah yes, you see I am already informed about your destiny Mr. Malfoy and I am inclined to help you but first you have to swear not to tell anyone about what I am going to tell you now. Not even Ms. Weasley, Ms. Lovegood, Ms. Hedland or Mr. Zabini."

They looked surprised but swore not to tell anyone.

"Well then, I am already dying." They both gasped at that but Dumbledore simply went on. "I have a curse on me and I am going to die within a year. I arranged for Prof. Snape to kill me so that you Mr. Malfoy won't have to. I see that it's rather important that Voldemort thinks you're on his side so I suggest you continue with repairing the Vanishing Cabinet and when the time has came you'll face and disarm me but before you even have the chance to kill me Prof. Snape will do it. That way it won't look as if you failed. But it is very important that noone knows that Prof. Snape killed me because I asked him to, Voldemort has to think that he is his servant."

Éostrǽl and Draco both were quite for a while, completely astonished about what they had just heard.

"Alright since that is settled I think the two of you should get some sleep."

"Thank you Professor.", they said together and left the Headmaster's office but they didn't go to bed. They stayed up talking all night, Éostrǽl told him who she really was and he promised to keep it secret.