Chapter Fifteen

"I've only seen this once before. Look for yourself! It's the Killing Curse, no doubt about that. But look. It left a scar Albus," she said.

Dumbledore looked at her with wide eyes. He pushed his glasses up higher on his nose and moved forward. Sure enough, a small had been traced along the back of his shoulder. Dumbledore looked at Madam Pomfrey, his face grim.

"The symbol of the Sortiarm. This is impossible. Two students, the same century. It's never been heard of. It seems, Poppy, that Harry Potter is no longer the sole survivor of this curse."

Hermione who had been listening impassively the entire time, looked up, her eyes wide. "What? What do you mean?" she breathed.

"What I mean, Miss Granger is that Blaise Zabini is alive."

---

Draco dropped his wand.

"What?" he choked.

Dumbledore looked at him curiously. "I said, Mr. Malfoy, that Blaise is indeed alive."

Draco felt as if something extremely heavy had just knocked him in the head. His head swam and he broke his gaze from Dumbledore's. "Oh…" was all he managed to say.

Dumbledore turned back to Blaise's body, touching the mark gently.

"Professor," Hermione's weak and tear-threaded voice came from behind him.

"Yes, Miss Granger?"

"Professor please. Don't do this to me. Look at him. He's dead…it was the Killing Curse…it isn't possible. Please don't give me this false hope that he's alive. I can't bare it…please…don't say it if it isn't true…" Hermione sobbed. She stared at her hands, which were clenched together so tightly that her knuckles were white.

"Hermione, look at me," Dumbledore said softly, kneeling before her. Hermione slowly let her gaze rise and met Dumbledore's gentle blue eyes. "Blaise is alive."

The Professor's gaze was electrifying. A surge of power and energy was sent through Hermione's body and she suddenly felt more awake. Dumbledore's gaze still held hers. The impact of his words hit Hermione and melted through every pore of her body. She nodded, a small, very weak smile of hope forming on her face. She looked back down at her hands as Dumbledore rose.

Draco bent down and picked up his wand. A mixture of anger and terror rapidly spread through his veins. Blaise was alive. And that meant he would wake up, and when he did… Stop, he told himself firmly. Stop, and don't think about that. His hand closed around his wand so tightly he thought it might snap. As he stood, he couldn't help but ask, "how?"

Dumbledore looked at him again, and Hermione looked up too. Madam Pomfrey, who had been force-feeding Blaise some light pink liquid, looked at Dumbledore intently. Dumbledore looked at Blaise's form and answered, "Hermione."

"What?" she said, standing.

"Miss Granger, am I correct to assume that you and Mr. Zabini were involved romantically?" he asked simply.

Hermione felt a blush rise to her cheeks, but nodded nonetheless.

"Hmm. I am trusting you know the reason why Mr. Potter survived Lord Voldemort's curse, yes?"

Hermione's eyes widened slightly. She nodded again. She looked at Draco. His eyes were fixated on her. They were cold and hard, and she noticed something behind them as his eyes locked with hers. But it was gone in a flash.

"He survived because of his mother…his mother's love…" Hermione whispered, looking back at Blaise's still form.

Dumbledore nodded. He put a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Your love saved him," he said simply. "Blaise will regain consciousness soon enough. Just let him rest. Madam Pomfrey?"

The nurse looked at the Headmaster, her expression just as bewildered as Hermione's. "Yes sir?"

"Miss Granger is to have full visiting privileges until Mr. Zabini wakes up. I know this is going to be a difficult time for all of us. Excuse us," he said to Hermione and Draco. "Madam Pomfrey if you'd be so kind to come with me?" The adults left.

Hermione sank into the chair by Blaise's bed, her head in her hands. She was breathing deeply.

Draco stared at the ground for a moment, then looked up. He looked around the room as if it was the first time he was seeing it. He covered his face with his hands and pressed hard onto his temple. He looked at Hermione. She looked completely drained, but her eyes shimmered with renewed hope. He cursed silently, and turned to leave.

"Draco?" He felt his feet stick to the ground. He didn't turn around, but turned his head, looking at her over his shoulder.

Hermione stood up and walked over to him. Her face was still tear stained. Draco fought the urge to wipe her tears away. She stood in front of him and looked at him. Her eyes bore into his and Draco felt a strange emotion sweep over him. Guilt. She moved forward slightly, her eyes still fixed on his. Draco's body tensed as she slowly put her arms around his neck. He couldn't move.

"Thank you," she muttered. She let him go, looking at him again, and moved towards the chair again.

"Hermione?" Draco finally found his voice.

"Hmm?"

"Don't thank me. I don't deserve it." And with that, he was gone, leaving a slightly surprised Hermione sitting by Blaise's lifeless body.

---

Hermione closed her hand around Blaise's, breathing deeply. A calm sense of relief had come over her. He was alive, even if it was barely. She sat wondering at what Dumbledore had said. Her love had saved him. Did that mean Blaise was indebted to her. She didn't want that. She leaned back in the chair, massaging the side of her temple. Maybe his being a Sortiarm had something to do with his survival.

She couldn't think of this anymore. It was hurting her head too much. She closed her eyes, and with her hand still in Blaise's, she let herself fall asleep.

---

It was impossible. He was fuming. No one could have survived that curse…no one besides Potter, and he didn't count. No Sortiarm had ever survived it, this he knew for a fact.

He was sitting alone in the Common Room. He was on the couch, with his legs propped up on the coffee table in the corner of the room. He was furious. He stood up, running his hands angrily through his now tousled hair. He couldn't understand how this was possible. Blaise was supposed to be dead. That was the deal. It should have worked…nothing…nothing should have prevented it. He had gotten that promise in blood. His own blood, and Blaise's, and his.

Something had changed the terms of their agreement without his consent and he wasn't just about to sit around and let that happen. Blaise was meant to die. No one else could have done it, and it didn't work. He was determined in his fury. This had gone beyond Hermione and his mixed emotions. He had given up a part of him, given his life and soul, and for what? For the Blood Bond to fail him. It wasn't going to happen. He kicked the table over, punching the wall. He felt his face moisten. He was crying. This couldn't be happening. He moved over to the window and threw it open. Climbing onto the ledge, he took a deep breath, remembering his lessons. He focused his body and his mind. He knew he could do it. He took a step forward, allowing his body to float in midair. He was going to see the person behind all the misery in his life, the person who had fooled him, taken his power and his choice, and the person that had indirectly let Hermione fall into Blaise's arms. Rejuvenated with new hate, he opened his eyes; eyes that were now filled with determination, anger, and power. Eyes that were now gold.

The contract was broken. His power was back.

---

Hey guys…Sorry it took so long. I was debating putting that last scene in there. I know this chapter is short…I promise they'll get longer. Hope you like it.

Xoxphoenix: aww thanks so much!! It's always great to see I've got a new reader!! Hope you like this chapter.

Rini08: haha sorry for the delay

iMnOtReAlLYcRaZy: )..here ya go lol…btw love ur username lol

beetle-shell: aw thanks!! I cant tell if it was draco or not. But you will find out.

Charlotte: thanks!

Lightmoon-angel: aww thanks!!!! I hope this chapter answered that question lol

SeverusSnape'sLove: are you sure it was Draco?

Skittles Taste the Rainbow: haha hope you aren't mad…but as I've said, it may or may not have been Draco. At this point, everyone thinks it is…I'll leave it at that.

likewise4me: I'll try!! Lol..too much trouble lol

u-r-only-my-shadow: harry survived because of the reasons in the books. But you find out why Dumbledore thinks blaise is still alive here..but Hermione's POV obviously raises the question of his position as a Sortiarm having something to do with it for Blaise. We'll see.

Ps

You'll be surprised about Hermione and Draco, lets just leave it there.

SoMe wEirDo: I think ur the first one whos sympathized with Draco lol

Twitchy the Squirrel: Dumbledore at this point, is like everyone else. He has his beliefs…I'm just gonna point out that Draco, in this story, isn't completely bad. And Hermione believes him when he says he didn't do it. She a Sortiarm too. I know I haven't explained the full extent of the Sortiarmus powers but I will…lets just say its important that she believes him.

LE Evarlier: its kind of the point to not know, but I can try.