I am terribly sorry for the wait. I am visiting the U.S. of A. at the moment and the friend I am staying with has had issues with her internet. But it's here now. Better Later than never.

Enjoy =)

Draco POV

Thank Merlin! I made it to the bathroom just in time. I swear I thought I was going to burst. But I thought if I left, even if it was only to pee, it might ruin things somehow. I know, stupid. Right? Tonight has been so perfect, I know it is way more than I deserve. Which is why I am all the more thankful for it.

After relieving myself I walk up to the sink and wash my hands. As I do I stare at myself in the mirror. I must say, I do look rather handsome in my tux. Although Harry looks way more handsome than I ever will. He always was more masculine than me. Even in first year when he was so small and scrawny from lack of nutrients, he was still more of a man than me. Maybe his courage is what does it for him. It must be, as I am such a coward and I look rather feminine. I think so anyway. Oh but I do love that dopey, awkward smile of my Gryffindor's. That thought makes me smile.

I study my smile in the mirror. It looks real. However despite my happiness, there is this nagging voice, almost, in the back of my head urging me to cut. As much as I want to comply... I don't want to. I roll up my sleeves and stare at my arms in the reflection. The sight alone urges me further to give in, but I won't. So before I can give it another thought, I pull down my sleeves and run out of the bathroom.

I know I am not paying attention, because run hard into Professor Severus Snape. "I am so sorry, Snape I didn't mean to run into you like that." I apologize.

The dark man raises an eyebrow, fixing his eyes on mine. "Quite." He begins. "And what gives you the right to address me so informally, Mr Draco Malfoy." He spits.

"I... I'm terribly sorry Professor." I answer, my voice evidently shaking.

"Indeed. Now follow me to my office. We need to have a little chat." I reluctantly obey.

We both sit down with only my Godfather's desk creating some distance. "What did you want to talk about, Sir?" I ask, my voice still shaken.

Snape sighs before responding. "Draco, I am very disappointed in you." Somehow I don't think that it is my Godfather speaking to me right now. "I thought, I told you to end things with Harry Potter. I warned you, that you would have to pay with his life."

Yep. It's definitely Lucius. And just as I feared that dream in the hospital wing, was more than just a dream. "But Father, please!" I beg. "Please don't hurt him... I love him." My eyes are burning with hot tears.

"You have one more chance, Draco." My father warns, as I breath a sigh of relief. "I won't hurt Potter, this time. However you my dear boy must be taught a lesson."

"As long as it doesn't hurt Harry, I don't care what happens to me. You can beat me all you wish." I state in a defeated tone.

"Oh Draco." The man sniggers. "Don't be so assuming."

I have a really bad feeling about this.

Harry POV

Shit! No! Please no! This can't be happening. Where is Draco?

"Harry, what's wrong?" Hermione asks, approaching me with Ron.

"Yeah, mate. Where's Malfoy at?"

I am so overcome with fear that I only manage to mumble, "I... I... He..."

"Well... Spit it out, Potter!" Pansy snaps. "Why would Draco spend so long in the bathroom?"

"You don't think he'd try to do himself in again do you?" Ron asks, consequently putting another bad thought in all our minds.

"I think Lucius got to him." I finally vomit out, feeling like I could actually vomit.

Pansy narrows her eyes at me. "How do you know?"

"Because I've seen this before."

"What do you mean?" Mione probes.

I shake my head frantically. "There's not time to explain. We need to hurry before it's too late." I lead the way running out of the hall as fast as my feet will let me.

"Potter! Wait!" Pansy screams. "Where is Draco? What's going on?" I ignore her questions and I keep running. Pansy, Hermione and Ron are all right on my tail. I'm glad they are all with me, it's slight difference to the dream. I only hope it's enough to stop the entirety of it from coming true.

As we draw closer to Professor Snape's office, I begin to hear what is happening. "Crucio!" I hear Snape cast. Followed by painful cries and screams coming from Draco. I wish we had went looking for him sooner. We reach the office door and I stop, frozen with the fear that I already know it's locked.

"What are you waiting for, Harry?" Ron says. "Open it mate."

"I can't. It's locked."

"How do you know?" Pansy demands.

Before I can reply Hermione points her wand at the lock on the door. "Alohomora." The door doesn't open, like I already knew it wouldn't. Hermione gives me a worried look. "What do we do now?" She asks.

I just shake my head and try to fight back the tears threatening to fall. I feel so helpless.

Suddenly I thud and Draco screams again. "Please no! Please!" I hear him cry.

I fear something terrible is about to happen and the sound of his agonizing cries causes something inside of me to snap.

I begin kick the door as hard as I can. If magic won't open it, then perhaps kicking down will. "What the bloody hell are you doing, Harry? You're gonna break the door." Ron says.

"Exactly. We need to break it down. Unless you know another way to get it open, Ron." Ron responds by kicking the door as well to speed up the process. "Hermione, do you remember that spell to get rid of Lucius temporarily?"

She nods and raises her wand ready to cast the spell. Pansy joins in with kicking the door down. "One more kick. All together." The Slytherin girl orders. "One... two... three!" We kick the door hard and it flies open. There on the other side is Draco on the floor with Snape trying to climb on top of him. As soon as he sees his he stands and aims his wand at us. However I am faster.

"Expelliarmus!" I yell, disarming him.

Then Hermione jumps in. "Enora!" The moment the spell hits Snape, a red smoke leaves his chest and exits through the stone floor. Probably Lucius going back to hell where he belongs.

"What in Merlin's name is going on?" Snape demands to know. Obviously just having snapped back to his old self. My gaze shifts to Draco who is still lying on the floor, trembling and crying. His trousers are torn beside him, leaving him in only his boxers and a ripped shirt.

Snape follows my gaze to the shaking blonde. "Draco!" He gasps, rushing to comfort the boy. He kneels beside him and tries to place a hand on his shoulder. Draco flinches at his touch and without caring about the state he is in, runs out the door. His painful sobs echoing as he does.

Without giving it a second thought I run after him. I'm terrified I know where he is going, and hoping I can make it before I'm too late this time.

Snape POV

What in Merlin's name just happened!

I blacked out again, but it can't have been for that long. All I know it something bastardly evil left me, and then I snapped back to reality. When I did Potter, Granger, Weasley and Parkinson are in my office, and Draco is in a state on the floor. I try to comfort the boy, but he flinches and runs out of the room, Potter right behind him.

"I want to know what is going on now!" I order. "And please don't leave anything out."

Miss Granger approaches me. "You may want to sit down for this, Sir." She answers, her voice full of sympathy. I do as the Gryffindor girl asks. And she continues. "Professor... are you aware of having any... blackouts?"

I nod. "I have. What do you know of them?" I ask, trying to not let my concern show.

Miss Granger looks between Miss Parkinson and Mr Weasley, the sympathetic expression not leaving her face for a second.

Granger sends the pair a nod, and Pansy steps forward, clearing her throat. "Professor Snape, Sir... we have reason to believe that you are being possessed by a very dark and evil spirit."

The moment the sentence leaves her lips I find myself holding my breath for fear that I somehow might lose it. The wheels in my head are turning and the fog of the night I was destined for death is slowly beginning to clear. However I am not sure how ready I am to learn the entire truth of that night.

"Who is the soul you believe to be taking over my physical being?" I bravely ask. I say bravely, because I know I am not going to like the answer. But I need to know... I need the closure.

"Lucius Malfoy, Sir." Ronald blurts out.

I hold my head in my hands, and I begin rubbing my temples. The ache in my head is starting to come back as my memory clears completely. It all makes sense now. That's why Draco's boggart changed into me, his father's cruelty is now in the form of myself. That is why he is so afraid of me and that is why he has been distant. "How long have you all known about this?"

"Since Draco's suicide attempt." Granger answers.

"That long! Why have none of you told me sooner?" I demand to know.

"We didn't want to upset you, Professor. Sorry." Granger apologizes.

"Does Draco know?" I ask them. The all nod. That day in my office when I asked him about his boggart, he knew. He didn't say. The only reason I can think of was that he was protecting me. Draco always underestimates how strong he is. "Draco!" I gasp, realising the state the boy had been in before he ran off.

"What... what did I do to Draco? Just now?" I ask, my voice trembling.

"Nothing... however if we didn't come when we did..." Pansy replies, refusing to finish that sentence. She doesn't need to. I can figure out what would have happened... what Lucius would have had me do. That would also mean that my hands have hurt Draco so much these past months. How could I have let Lucius in? How could I have been so weak? Poor Draco.

"Where is Draco now?" I am terrified of what Draco might do.

"He's fine.. well as fine as he can be..." Miss Parkinson responds. "Harry Potter is with him. He will make sure Draco is safe."

The thought of Draco hurting himself again, cause the damn inside me to break. I crumble of my chair onto the floor, my head in my hands and tears pouring down my face. I would have collected my tears, but this is a night I would rather forget. "I am so, so sorry." I blubber. If it wasn't for the turmoil inside me I would be mortified to be crying in front of my students. However they have taken care of my Godson when I couldn't, so I hold a strong trust and respect towards them.

Pansy kneels down beside me, placing a hand on my back. Granger then kneels beside her and sends me a sympathetic smile. I don't think Weasley knows what to do let alone what to make of what is happening. "It's okay, Sir." Miss Parkinson tries to reassure me.

"It's not. Not even a little bit. What I've done to Draco... and Merlin knows what I have or will do to you lot."

"Professor, none of this is your fault." Granger replies.

"Yeah... it's that bastard Lucius that's done all this. You had no say in any of it, Snape." The redhead retorts.

"Regardless... I know now, and it ends here." I take a few deep, steadying breaths and stand to my feet.

"Sir?" Granger asks. "Do you know what Lucius' unfinished business is?"

I nod. "Lucius Malfoy plans on becoming the next dark lord."

"We were afraid of that." Pansy interjects. "But what does Draco have to do with that?"

I sigh, painfully. Knowledge can be both a blessing and a curse. I hate knowing what the bastard plans to do to the boy, however I am glad because I know what to look out for. "In order for Lucius to resurrect himself to become the next dark lord, he needs a willing sacrifice."

"But Draco would never do that... would he?" The Slytherin girl asks.

"No, he wouldn't." I answer, shaking my head. "Which is why I think Lucius plans to make Draco take his own life."

"Bloody hell!" Weasley gasps. "So a few weeks ago that was-"

"Yes. Lucius got to him." I interrupt. "Which is why we CANNOT leave him alone. Not for a second. And we need to dispose of Lucius once and for all. Otherwise we are all doomed."

I am hoping to not have as many issues uploading the next chapter and thank you so much for sticking with it. Also thanks for the reviews, keep'em coming. I love hearing what you guys think.

Until the next chapter ;)