Disclaimer: Only because I have no money at all to pay any kind of law suit.

A/N: Thanks to all who've reviewed. You guys are fantastic! Anyway, just want to say unless I write another chapter today (which will be a great possibility), there won't be an update until at least Monday afternoon seeing as how the actual Harry Potter book comes out Saturday (oh joy!) and I will be busy reading with unadulterated excitement. Anyway, enjoy while you read.

The Final Battle

I held onto Cree's hand tightly as the Death Eaters scattered. The Order of the Phoenix had arrived, unannounced of course, surprising even the Dark Lord himself. We had stayed to fight for a while, but the battle became overwhelming and many of us fled. I wanted to get Cree out of there.

Someone was behind us. I could hear them pushing through the leaves behind us. Cree stumbled and fell, crying out. She had been wounded, back in the beginning when a Death Eater's spell missed an Order member and hit her. "Come on, Cree, we're almost out," I said, lifting her to her feet.

We continued to run, my arm around her waist as we stumbled through, finally breaking past the trees into an open field. There was no source of shelter in sight. And I was scared. Nineteen years old and I was either about to die or end up in Azkaban. And that would lead to taking Cree down with me, which is something I definitely didn't want. '

I didn't mind admitting to myself that I was scared. It takes a brave man to admit that he's scared. But I wouldn't, I couldn't let Cree see I was scared. "We'll Apparate, all right?" I told Cree, who had stumbled a ways away from me. "Can you hang onto me?"

"I think –" She murmured.

But it was too late. We turned as our pursuer burst through the trees behind us. "You!" I cried, angrily.

Harry Potter nodded, stepping forward. "Me," he said grimly.

We both had our wands out, aimed for fighting. Potter came closer, his mouth set in a almost hysterical grim line. His eyes moved from me to Cree. He nodded once again, his wand dropping and his free arm lifting, his hand out.

No doubt I was thoroughly confused about this turn of events. My head turned slowly towards Cree, who was looking horribly quietly. Almost as if in slow motion, she walked to me, kissing me on my cheek. "I'm sorry," she said.

I watched as she walked away from me, towards Potter. Her small hand slid into his and he pulled her against his side. They Apparated.

I couldn't move for shock and an almost incredible thing happened. . . .

My heart broke.

It was almost like I could feel it. The pain was almost unbearable. And that's when the anger sit in, hardening and taking away the pain.

She left me.

And I let her go.

It was with these thoughts that I woke up with the next morning. And it was these thoughts that kept me incredibly angry all day and I couldn't shake that anger, even after our kiss yesterday.

And when I saw her, her and her accursed smile, that anger got worse.

She noticed at first, and didn't say anything for most of the day, though I was cold-hearted to her every time my mouth opened.

Finally she had enough. It was just after and we sat in the living room, a book in both our hands, mine mostly as a way to keep me from saying something we'd both regret but then she spoke.

"What's your problem today?" she said, sounding miffed. I looked up at her. Her eyes flashed dangerously and I could almost feel the angry heat emitting off of her.

"I have no problem," I said as calm as I possibly could. What right did she have to be angry with me? "It would seem, you're the only one with the problem in this room."

"I have a problem?" She was incredulous. "I'm not the whose been walking around here like I've got ice on my shoulder. . . . Yesterday you were fine."

"Yeah, well that was yesterday." I closed my book and stood to my feet, intent on going to my room and locking myself in.

But she followed me. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Did you do something wrong? Oh just let me think about that, Cree. Let's see . . . you abandoned your family, betrayed the people who trusted you. . . ."

"Are you on about that now? I told you what happened. I thought you understood."

"How can you possibly think I understood your need for betrayal?"

"It wasn't supposed to be meant as a betrayal, Draco! I did what I had to do to protect the people I care about!"

"Apparently the people you care about are Potter, Weasley, and Mudblood Granger, because whatever you thought you were doing didn't help me!"

"You're kidding me right? Draco, if Voldemort hadn't of died eventually, everyone would have been killed! Do you really think he would have set you aside? One little foot out of place and his wand would have been in your face before you can say 'Protego'!"

"You would have been safe if you'd just followed him! Instead, you sold us all out because you were scared!"

"Scared? Scared!? I risked my life, day and night working for the Order, working for the better cause! You want to see scared Draco? Go to your room and look in the mirror! Scared doesn't describe a single thing I did! Scared is not knowing when to make the right choices! Scared is hiding behind someone bigger than yourself! So don't get made at me because I asked for help! Don't get made at me because you were to scared to do in your sixth year what I did in my fifth, you lousy coward!"

I slapped her.

I hadn't meant for it to happen, really. My hand moved as if it had it's own mind, backhanding her across her cheek.

I had been fuming, I won't deny it, but I would never, I could never hit a woman, especially not this woman. That was something my father did. Something I had often seen him do to mother. That – that wasn't me.

Cree's head had snapped to the side from the force of my blow, her long black hair swinging over to hide her face. She stayed like that for a long time, both of us probably in a horrible state of shock.

When she finally did look at me, her eyes shining from fear and anger. I could see the imprint of my hand, red and full on her cheek.

I reached for her but she jerked away from me, her breath coming out in short, rapid gasps. She spun on her heel and ran up the stairs. I called her name, going after her.

The door slammed in my face when I reached it. I knocked. "Cree, please! I didn't mean to! You know I didn't! Please, come out!"

Five minutes or so later, the door was flung open and Cree pushed past me. I noticed the duffel bag on her shoulder.

"Where are you going?" I asked, following her down the stairs.

"I'm leaving," she said, not exactly answering my question. Her voice was thick with unshed tears. "You obviously don't want me here, so I'll just go."

"No, Cree, I –" I hated begging. "Please, don't go – Cree, would you just listen to me?"

I grabbed her arm. She spun around, her wand pressing into my neck. Her eyes were fierce and cheeks were slightly flushed, making the handprint stand out slightly. "Don't you ever touch me again, Draco Malfoy," she said, her voice low and threatening. "If you do, I will not hesitate to hex you into the pits of oblivion."

She pointed her wand at the door, opening it and backing away from me. "Don't come after me."

She left me.

And I let her go.

Again.