A/N: Here is the second installment! I hope you guys enjoy!

Just to let all of you know, that in your reviews (or you can PM me) you can request a pairing for me to write later (does not mean I will).

Rating T (for an F-bomb).

Follower

By Montley

His mother stood stoically, her arm around his shoulders.

His father said nothing, but he still glared at those around him.

He did not know what to do but stay there with them.

They were there, but still Draco felt so alone.

His parents, after all, were the only ones who cared for him.

And Bloody Fucking Harry Potter, Mudblood Granger and The Weasel had to be the ones to save his life earlier. It shamed him dreadfully, but then again, Harry had owed him from that day in the manor for not ratting him out to Bellatrix, now dead Bellatrix.

He noted Slongbottom in the corner with a gaggle of adoring fangirls, fawning over him. Slongbottom seemed to be savoring the attention, but his eyes kept averting away, not even fully enjoying it. Of course, he was now regarded as a hero, though Draco still thought of him as the fumbling buffoon.

But what had Draco done to help anyone?

He knew he had done nothing but run away from danger, fighting only those who stood in his path. Never would he admit it, but it shamed him more.

He placed his hand on his mother's hand that was resting on his shoulder. Carefully he moved it off of him, walking away from her and her outreached hand. That day there had been so much loss, death, destruction, he needed to get away, away from this place of suffering. It was odd to him that Hogwarts used to be a safe place. Would it revert back after today?

He left the broken building to get away from it all, everyone, and he stood alone in the courtyard. Everyone else was with family members or friends, mourning the deceased. The only one he had lost was Crabbe, and Crabbe deserved it, for he had behaved recklessly and evilly. Draco still missed him nonetheless.

Approaching a banister he placed his hands on it, staring into the distance that was covered with dense fog. Darkness loomed within it, and Draco wanted more than anything to evaporate into it and disappear for a while, not die, he was better than that notion, but disappear, start anew.

He leaned his head over, feeling the cool May breeze, filled with the ghosts of that day, those who were now lost in the darkness.

"I wouldn't do that," a voice called out, startling him. He turned his head and faced the small girl standing a foot behind him. Astoria Greengrass.

"I wasn't doing anything," he answered flatly and averted his head back in front of the banister. He listened to her small footsteps advancing closer to him, and suddenly she was next to him, her own tiny hands gripping onto the banister.

"I can say that I love the wind as much as anyone, but you were leaning too close off the edge. I was a tad worried," she told him; the fifth year's eyes were closed, and she listened to the air around her, her black hair lying still on her shoulders.

"Only a tad?" he remarked, his eyebrows raised.

"Yes, only a tad, I don't know you very well," she replied sullenly.

"Then let's fix that," he offered impassively.

"Are you serious?" she asked, opening her eyes and looking at him curiously.

"Why wouldn't I be?" he snapped.

"I don't know," she muttered, staring at her feet.

"Astoria, look I'm sorry, I'm just..." he started, but he realized he did not know how to finish the sentence.

"Tense?" she suggested, her eyes looking at his again, and he realized that they were hazel.

"I suppose you could say that, the war, death, loss, light versus darkness. It's all ridiculous," he babbled.
"And yet, you were with the darkness," she pointed out accusingly.

"I know, but I had no choice," he snapped again, fully aggravated. "My father was already a Death Eater, and as his son I was forced to serve from the day I was born."

"I see," she muttered.

"What about your family?" he questioned severely.

"My father always avoided You-Know-Who's calling, not wanting to have to kill anyone. But my mother said that when it came down to it, she would fight for who she thought would win. She didn't come today, nor did my father, but my sister and I fought for Harry and Professor Dumbledore. Don't be prejudice about it, I know I'm a Slytherin," Astoria answered honestly.

Draco said nothing in return but gripped further on the banister, his hands beginning to feel sore. He could feel Astoria's hazel eyes lingering on him. Suddenly, he felt a small hand cupping his cheek, forcing him to look her in the eyes. She said nothing, but planted a small kiss on his cheek, leaning her head against his pointed chin.

"Don't let yourself succumb to the darkness anymore, Draco. It's not worth it," Astoria warned, her cheeks turning red as she realized her hand was still pressed against his cheek. Slowly she removed it and walked away from him, Draco staring at her as she left.

At that moment he realized that he should follow her.

Not his gut, like he always had, but his heart.

I hope that you guys enjoyed it! Please drop a review, and if you liked the previous stories, please story alert as well!