Author's Note: I'll be back after 3 weeks. SO LONG, FAREWELL. I'M CRUEL AND EVIL. PLEASE ENJOY AND REVIEW WHILE I'M GONE.

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Chapter 24

Lupin was shocked to see Draco Malfoy standing in front of his door. He was with Tonks, who certainly had bad feelings for Draco, and so did he. But he forgot about his hatred as soon as he saw the body in his arms. Her pale skin, blood-red lips, and midnight-black hair.

"No," he gasped. He saw Draco's eyes red and cheeks still wet.

Draco gently placed her body on the couch. Nymphadora, Draco's cousin, cried in Lupin's shoulders.

"Who did it?"

"You-Know-Who was going to kill me, but Zabrina suddenly ran in the way," Draco's voice was shaking just as much as Lupin's. "He thought I was useless."

Lupin kneeled down and cried. Tonks held him and cried as well.

Draco stood blankly at Zabrina. She was his only friend in the beginning. She turned out to be his love, and now she's gone because of him. Because of him. She died because she was protecting him. Draco lowered his head cursed himself.

"So where will you be staying?" Tonks asked. "Clearly you can't go back to the Death Eaters."

Draco didn't say anything.

"You can stay with us, Draco."

Draco didn't say anything.

The three stood there in front of Zabrina's body, and cried.

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Draco spent his time alone. He never spoke to Lupin or Tonks, no matter how many times they tried to start a conversation.

He remembered their first Common Room conversation. It was early in the morning, and he was sleeping on the couch. Zabrina walked in front of him and sat down. They laughed about their roommates being terrible sleepers. He never knew back then, that he would fall in love with her. They were so young, and they knew nothing about this dangerous world outside the walls of Hogwarts. Then, he remembered each and every conversation they had together at midnight. He should've admitted his feelings sooner, he should've been nicer to her and not tease her as much when they were in public. He should've pushed Parkinson away whenever she sat next to him. He was terrified when he saw Lupin attack Zabrina. He carried her all the way to the Hospital Wing, and called Snape for help when he came back to get Lupin. He never forgot how shocked Zabrina was when she saw the gash on her left forearm. He remembered their dance. She was so beautiful that night, and he never forgot how nervous he was when he caught her from falling. He remembered giving her a Christmas gift, and she had it on ever since. He also remembered their first kiss. He remembered the fascinated look on her face when he showed her the parade. She was smiling so brightly that night. He remembered the birthday gift she gave him when she took him out to see the sunrise. He took out the locket from his pocket. He saw her purple eyes in the photograph. He remembered the way her eyes would sparkle whenever she found something interesting. He remembered the way she touched that old ruby on her wrist whenever she was sad. He remembered how frightened she sounded when she was in the dark. He remembered how many times he had to walk her to the bathroom back in Malfoy Manor because the house was so dark. He slept next to her every night, protecting her from whatever reason she was scared of the dark.

"Bloody idiot," he said "can't even protect herself from her father."

All he wanted to do was protect Zabrina. He wasn't on the Dark Lord's or the Order's side. He was there simply to guard Zabrina, but he couldn't even do that. He closed the locket and cried himself to sleep that night, just like he did every night after her fall.

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Lupin was more than depressed; he was more than broken. He was dying inside. His little girl was on her bed, so soft and quiet, and he never left her side. He would hold her hand, and curse himself for letting her go to Hogwarts. If only she didn't go, and stayed within his protection, she would've at least been alive. She wouldn't have had to go through all the pain, and reality, and Voldemort. Voldemort was no father, no human, no creature. He was the devil himself, walking in human form. He didn't know love, or friendship, or care. He didn't have the ability to love his own child, but Lupin loved Zabrina with all his heart. Voldemort couldn't even love his own flesh, and Lupin loved a child, who started out as a stranger, more than himself. But he couldn't do anything for his little girl. He couldn't save her, or protect her, or say a final goodbye before her last breath. He closed his eyes and kissed the back of her hand. Oh, how much he missed his child, and how sad it was that he could never see her again, even though she was right in front of him, so close yet so far.

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Voldemort sat down and closed his eyes. He stroked Nagini's head and let out a sigh.

She ran downstairs and saw his figure. He grew quite thin, and his dark handsome features were almost gone. Their eyes met.

"Tom," she gave him a polite nod.

"Athena," he did the same.

"What brings you here?"

"You already know why I'm here," Tom said in a cold voice. He's never spoken to her like that before.

"Must you do this?"

"I don't have much time." He said. "I need to kill another wizard family in a few minutes."

"Which one, the Potters?"

"Yes," he stepped closer to her. "It turns out they made a fatal mistake by trusting someone useless and fearful."

"You did the same thing." She said. "You made a mistake by trusting me."

"You weren't useless," He raised his wand, "and definitely not a mistake."

"Go ahead." she closed her eyes. "Kill me when you can."

"I only kill people if they're begging for death."

"I don't beg." She opened her eyes and glared at her old lover. He's changed so much, and it hurt to have to act so coldly to him.

"Please, that makes the killing so much more exciting."

"You may kill me now," she stepped closer to him, "but I've died years ago when you left me. The Tom I have loved is now dead, for he is not the man I see in front of me." Her face was now inches from his. "He is not this monster."

He pointed his wand at her throat. "Then I see no reason to be merciful."

She glared into his eyes and held his wand.

"Avada Kedavra." They said at the same time.

She flew back as the green lights exploded on her. He walked towards her lifeless body and closed her eyes. He took out an old necklace from his pocket, and took off hers from her neck. He gave this to her for her birthday on their seventh year at Hogwarts. She complained about his terrible taste in gifts, but never took it off ever since she put it on. He held the two together and they moved. His snake slid around her skull, and wrapped it slowly.

"Forgive me, Athena." He kissed her forehead and left, leaving the two necklaces abandoned on her left forearm.