Previously…

The two boys met in an embrace that would've shocked even Luna Lovegood. The Slytherin and the Gryffindor. The Chosen One and the Pureblood. Together. At last.

As they embraced, Draco heard a crunch, and to his horror, saw that the world was turning upside down.

Their piece of the balcony was crumbling and falling, separating from the rest of the tower.

And then Draco and Harry fell, together, into the darkness below.

Disaster

Draco was tumbling through the air. The wind was stinging his face, and the rain pelting against his back as he twisted against an unstoppable force. He was hurtling ever closer to the ground. He didn't know where Harry was, but he knew that within a matter of seconds, they would both be splayed across the ground, dead so soon after finding each other at last.

That is, unless he did something now. Luckily his wand had not yet fallen out of his pocket, and he still had enough energy to reach for it…

"Subsisto Cado!" He yelled with all his might. For a fleeting moment, Draco thought it hadn't worked. Was he, even now, just seconds away from death? Death, which he had so luckily escaped so many times before? He squeezed his eyes shut, praying...

Suddenly Draco was no longer falling through the air. But he hadn't hit the floor either. He opened his eyes, to see that curiously, he was levitating a few inches off the ground. He had yet again, dodged death by seconds. Another triumph by Draco Malfoy. He felt pretty good for himself.

The lake was rippling violently in the stormy winds. He squinted through the storm up at the rain-soaked castle. Apart from the fallen balcony, nothing had changed. The debris around him was, until tonight, firmly part of the Hogwarts Astronomy Tower.

Then he remembered that he hadn't been up there alone. He scanned the surrounding area looking for any trace of Harry. Suddenly - to his horror, poking out from underneath a large pile of rubble he saw a mangled cloak. On further inspection he discovered a wand and a pair of glasses that clearly belonged to a particular individual that wasn't there among the wreckage. Harry Potter was gone.

Draco looked around wildly, searching for an explanation, or a sign that Harry was safe. Just when he had found out that Harry returned Draco's feelings! Bloody typical! Just when it was going so well! He tried to stand up, but his legs gave way underneath him. His brain was in denial - in all fairness, it's not every day you fall unexpectedly off of a high, windy tower. He had come to a terrible conclusion: Harry must be in the lake. And sure enough, in the middle, Draco caught a glimpse of a splashing figure in the water; Harry was struggling, fighting for his life.

Draco sat there, frozen, he was too far away to help, his body unable to move, his mind suddenly blank, numb with panic. The Boy Who Lived, the one who had conquered over Voldemort in an unforeseen defeat against the greatest dark wizard of all time was about to die from drowning in a lake! In any other situation, Draco would've laughed.

Draco felt faint, yet he had to help. He simply could not leave him there, struggling against the might of the murky water. He made himself think. Think! Any spell! He couldn't recall one incantation. He kicked himself for not paying enough attention in class…this would teach him a lesson, and an unforgettable one at that. He couldn't think. And suddenly…he couldn't breathe.

What could he do?

All of a sudden, a light was approaching him getting quicker and quicker. He looked around, to see a brilliant flash of violet light erupting from the tip of a wand. But it wasn't directed towards Harry's direction. A fragment of the balcony that had nearly been his downfall was now turning into a colossal, dusky-coloured wolf that leapt across the water, as if in some kind of fantastic dream. The wolf seemed to dance across the water, as if the surface of the lake was as solid as the pieces of rubble surrounding Draco.

The wolf finally reached the spot where Draco had seen Harry, when it disappeared for some seconds, before it emerged carrying a dripping figure on it's back. It leapt back across the water towards Draco. It gently placed Harry back on dry land, and then with another bright flash, it transformed back into a still, solid piece of stone.

Draco looked around to see who had saved Harry. Who would be out in the grounds at this time of night? Only Hermione knew that they were missing, but how could she have foreseen that they'd fall of a balcony? And how would she have been able to get down in time? But who else was proficient enough at Transfiguration to be able to create a massive wolf out of a piece of rubble?

Draco lay down on the ground. He was suddenly so tired. His body was still in shock. What he needed was sleep… but how could he sleep when Harry was still in danger? But… it seemed so tempting. No, he thought feebly. He couldn't faint, he simply couldn't, but sleep was threatening to take over. Just before his eyes closed, he caught a glimpse of Harry. At least he was at least still alive, choking up the lake water, but alive for now. How could merely a few minutes ago have been the best moment of his life when now they both lay dying on the water's edge?

That was his last thought before the darkness engulfed him.

A/N: I'm really sorry that I left it at such a cliffhanger and then didn't update for ages!! I'd like to thank my Beta again.

Reviews:

Whisper-of-love thank you so much! Your review really lifted my spirits, and you kind of inspired me to write my next chapter because I'd forgotten about the cliffhanger! Thanks for the support! Libbie Da Adicted2Moony Loony thanks for your support again and your second review! Yeah the cliche was...well I had to! It was to tempting! MDarKspIrIt - yeah I think that was my best chapter yet...but please if this isn't as good, tell me! But I like it :P