/
Chapter forty
Farewells
/
The Muggle graveyard on Marvel Hill was almost deserted. The bitterly cold winter was ruling over the place, so hardly anybody bothered to visit; rather mourning in the warmth of their homes. Only one elderly lady was just leaving through the old, iron gate, leaning over the short cane, and at the edge of one row of tombstones, a young man with dark red hair was standing motionless, the early evening breeze playing with the capes of his coat. The headstone he was looking at carried the name of Hermione Granger.
His mother did not want to let him go, absurdly reasoning with possibility of running into an escaped Death Eater or even something worse. Ron had to convince her that he was only going to see Harry in the hospital. He had really been there only twenty minutes ago, like almost every other day. Quite often, he bumped into Angela visiting his friend as well. It finally looked like she was more or less okay, but that helpless expression had not left her eyes.
Lupin was still stubbornly prying details of Harry's condition from Chief Healer Starske; even though he knew as well as everyone else that it was still the same. Ron understood him though.
He himself wanted to grab some of those important Healers for their robes and shake with them until they would finally do something. He still hoped that Harry would wake up one fine day. He could not stay like this forever. He certainly would not leave him there alone, not after they had already lost Hermione…
Ron was missing her so terribly. He got used to her daily presence, her laughter and the lessons she taught him. He knew he would never meet such a kind and intelligent girl again. He remembered the days when they secretly met, their furtive touches and needless arguments. He liked to think of the Halloween ball, at which she looked so pretty.
Her passing left their trio with a gap that no one could ever fill. It would never be the same again. She always stuck by him and Harry. And how bravely she behaved in the Voldemort´s Castle! She sacrificed herself for him…
That loss left a deep void in Ron´s heart. He had no one to give the love he had for Hermione. Even though he had a family and maybe even Harry, he still felt alone. On top of that, he was tormented by remorse that Hermione had died because of him.
He felt tears of sorrow in his eyes, which had been consuming him for so many days. He closed them tightly and held back the salty flood. Then he crouched down to the gravestone, where the funeral wreaths with black ribbons were still laden, and placed between them the white lily which he had been clutching in his hand the whole time. He got it from one of the wizard shops. During this time of the year, Muggles hardly had such flowers available or they were terribly expensive.
"I love you, Hermione," he whispered, his voice trembling with undisguised sadness. "I will never forget you."
Ron slowly straightened up, thrusting his hands deep into the pockets of Percy's winter coat and headed for the exit of the cemetery with his head down. He had been gone for quite some time and he knew that his mother would definitely be already worried again.
/
"Remus!" came an urgent voice from the small but cosy kitchen of a four-room house in the suburbs of London. "Remus, you must see this!"
Remus Lupin hastily left the large living room where he had set up a crackling fire to chase the morning chill away and followed the female´s voice and the pleasant fragrance of fresh coffee. Nymphadora Tonks sat behind the table, staring at the front page of the newest Daily Prophet in her hands, her dark brown falling into her eyes. Remus was only slowly getting used to having her here. He did not used to stay in this house often; it belonged to his parents before they died. And now, he lived here with her—with Nymphadora. It still felt strange to him, but it was rather pleasant strangeness indeed.
"What's going on?" he asked mildly.
Tonks looked up at him. The wounds she had suffered during the werewolves´ attack have almost healed. However, despite the excessive care of many Healers at St. Mungo´s, it was already clear that the scars would remain visible on her body forever. Not even her Metamorphomagus´ skills could change that. At least, her face was undamaged except for a thin claw mark on her left temple. Her first full moon was also approaching and only then they would find out how serious the consequences would actually be.
"Read this," she urged, sliding the papers across the table to him.
Remus glanced over the headline saying: TRAITOR SEVERUS SNAPE CAUGHT!
"Well, that's… Great!" he commented, not without satisfaction.
"Read on," his fiancée instructed.
Remus smiled as he thought of her like that. He asked her to marry him the very night he brought her here. He finally realized that he really loved her and did not want to live without her anymore. He was actually surprised, when Nymphadora agreed. He had a vivid memory of her smile when she nodded at that question.
Tearing himself away from pleasant memories, he obeyed and focused on the article…
Another Death Eater and servant of the Dark Lord – who was recently defeated by the Boy Who Lived for the second time – was successfully captured by the unit of Aurors led by Demerus Vebersky.
According to information available to public, Severus Snape was found in a rather impoverished state, the origins of which we can only speculate about. He was starving and limping, because of serious injuries caused by an unknown heavy object. To the Aurors´ surprise, the dark wizard did not fight back at all.
The Healer summoned to the pre-trial detention centre stated that Snape had apparently received Dementor's Kiss. This information alone is frightening, as until today the Ministry of Magic claimed that all the Dementors had disappeared without a trace. Yet, the wizarding patrols on the lookout had not noticed any unusual activity in the area or in other remote populated places.
Snape will be accused of allying with the Dark Lord and other Death Eaters and also of the premeditated murder of former Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. There will certainly be more suitors, including Dumbledore's brother Aberforth.
Nevertheless, according to some unnamed employees of the court, it makes no sense to judge this Death Eater due to his condition, which according to public opinion is tantamount to a death sentence; Minister of Magic Merogh is of the opposite opinion. The trial will take place on February 10th in room number 25. The court will be open to public.
Remus straightened up frowning: "That's pretty weird…" he mused.
"I think so too. Who do you think could have done this to him? I mean the injuries. Some former colleagues?"
"I don't think so… He ran off just like all other Death Eaters, they had no reason to. But I can imagine that there were definitely a few people who wanted revenge on him. And somehow, they found him."
"Hmm, you might be right..." Nymphadora agreed.
Remus pushed the newspapers away from him and placed his hands gently on her shoulders.
"We don´t have to bother with that now," he said. "But I will also go to that trial. I want to see that bastard with my own eyes. If he really ended up the way they describe it."
/
"Angela…" Daria exhaled as she discovered her friend outside the door.
"Hello," the pale brunette greeted her with a fleeting smile. However, her eyes remained clouded with sadness.
"Come in," Daria invited her quickly, so she would not freeze outside.
There was no new snow for a few days, but for the fact that it was the end of February, it was unusually cold. Angela entered the Merill´s house and hung her coat on the rack while Daria closed and secured the door.
"Would you like something? Coffee, hot tea, or something stronger?" offered Daria, who looked a bit tense. "I'd invite you to lunch, but there's still plenty of time for that..."
"No, thanks," the gloomy girl shook her head. "I just need to talk to you."
"Okay," Daria nodded with a bad hunch, leading her into the living room.
"What about your grandmother?" Angela asked politely. "How is she?"
"Sleeping," she answered slowly. "That's what she's been doing most of the time lately. She's been prescribed some sedatives."
Both girls sat down in armchairs by the fireplace. In addition to it, the house was also heated by artificial heating. After all, the Merills were more Muggles than wizards.
"What about you? Are you okay now?" Daria asked with concern.
"Yes," Angela nodded. "I don't even need to take that crazy potion anymore. I just get tired quickly…"
"You should save your strength," Daria remarked. "But as far as I heard you keep wandering somewhere…"
Angela looked at the ground and did not answer. Daria did not prompt her to speak. She waited for Angela to start on her own. She knew her enough to know when to be quiet.
"I'm leaving," her friend finally stated heavily.
Daria gaped at her in astonishment. "What are you talking about?"
"I must leave," the witch repeated quietly.
"Where do you want to go? And why?" Daria urged.
"…away. From Golden Street, from my father's house, from… all of you."
"I don´t understand…" Daria commented unhappily.
"It's hard to explain..."
"You know you can tell me anything, so try at least!"
Angela hesitated. Yes, she knew that she could always confide Daria everything. There was only one thing she did not tell her about. In her eyes, she saw interest and genuine concern. She cared about her…
Still, Angela did not want her to know what she was about to do. Daria would probably try to stop her, started persuading her, and she didn't need that. It was already hard enough.
Unconsciously, she started playing with the ring on her left hand. From some reason, she could not shake off the sickening feeling that she did not belong anywhere anymore. That she was no longer the same girl, the same friend to others. Something changed deep inside of her and she had no idea when it happened. Maybe during her captivity at the Dark Castle or even before that… The longer she pondered about it, the more she felt the urge to leave. In the end, it was not like she could not stay, at least for a big longer, she did not even want to. She did not want her remaining friends to see her like this. Broken, surrendered, lonely, scared to death of what was awaiting her…
"I can´t," she finally said with difficulty. "I can't explain it to you properly, I just… I can only tell you that I must do it for all of you – for you, Harry, Ron and…" she stopped at the last moment. She should not mention Draco in front of her. "...and I feel that the most of all I must leave for my own sake."
"Angela… Tell me, what do you have to do?" Daria insisted on the answer.
"I don´t know if we ever see each other again," Angela said instead of answering and finally looked at her. "And if we will, then… It won't be me anymore. I won't be the one you know, Daria. Actually… I'm not the friend you knew anymore already now."
"But…" Daria gasped helplessly. She didn't understand her at all. However, she also recognized that Angela was too determined to reveal more.
"I just wanted to tell you that your friendship really meant a lot to me," Angela continued strangely calmly. "You will always be my best friend."
Daria took a deep breath, hesitating only for a second. "Mine too, whatever you're going to do."
Angela fleetingly smiled at her gratefully and then got up, "I should better go now; there are still a few things I must arrange…"
Daria also stood up. All of a sudden, there was anger all on her face.
"And what about Harry? What about me? Are you just going to leave me here? Alone?!"
She gave her a sad look: "There's no other way."
"You're really not going to tell me what it's about?" Daria tried for one last time.
Angela slowly shook her head, "Sorry."
Then she walked over to Daria and hugged her tightly. Her friend answered her in the same way, swallowing the dumpling that settled in her throat. She could not imagine that Angela would be gone. She would be really left alone…
Angela pulled away and Daria tried to catch her eyes, but she dodged and turned away.
"They say you were at the Ministry for questioning," she noted tensely.
The leaving witch stood still. "Yes, I was," she confirmed quietly.
"Are they still looking for Draco?"
Angela lowered her head and just hummed something in agreement still with her back to her.
"You know about him, don't you?" Daria accused her.
Only silence replied her, but she just knew.
"You saw him, didn't you? Am I right? Where is he? What's wrong with him?" Daria urged almost desperately.
She did not get any answer for so long, that she already believed there would not be any.
"I won't break the promise I made," Angela said finally. "Take care, Daria."
She quickly made her way across the room and into the hall to the main door, probably to prevent her from asking more questions. Daria stood in the middle of the room like a statue, tears welling up in her eyes. Then she could not take it anymore and rushed after her. Angela was already dressed and reaching for the doorknob.
"Why?! Just why does everyone leave me!" she snapped in a desperate voice.
Angela turned to her and Daria shivered. She could not tell what the other girl thought from that calm, somewhat cold expression.
"Didn't I go through enough?" she continued complaining. "Wasn't it enough?!" she blurted out, trying hard not to cry. "What did I do to anyone to be punished like this?"
The suffocating silence fell upon the entrance hall.
"You're not the only one suffering," Angela said surprisingly softly after a moment, then she quickly tapped the doorknob with her wand and stepped outside.
"Angela!" Daria called loudly.
Yet, she did not even turn around. She just checked if there was anyone on the street and apparated away. Daria slammed the door, collapsed on the floor behind it, and burst into tears.
/
Angela looked around the large entrance hall with suffocating anxiety in her heart. If things were a little different, this could have been her new home. Her and Harry´s…
For a while, she motionlessly listened to catch any possible sounds within the house at Grimmauld Place, but as she had expected, it seemed to be empty. Most of Order members currently spent time with their families, since they did not have much opportunity to do so during warfare with Lord Voldemort. Buckbeak was gone as well, since Hagrid was taking care of him. The half-giant wizard refused to leave Hogwarts grounds and so the hippogriff surely enjoyed his time in the north being able to fly freely above the ruins of their school…
Supressing the flood of memories, which threatened to make her cry, she shook her head and took a deep breath.
"Kreacher! To me!" she called. "At once!"
After a short while, the house elf emerged from the shadow under the stairs.
"Lady… Lady Angela…" he croaked with a bow. "I had hoped that I would not… I mean that I would see you again."
"Bring me the silver necklace from my room," she ordered, ignoring his apparently hateful tone. "It´s in the first drawer of the dresser, under the clothes."
The house elf nodded, disappeared and was back within a half minute.
Angela took Draco´s gift from air as he sent it to her.
"Come closer," she ordered then, tightening her grip on the wand.
A bit reluctantly, the elf scuttled toward her and Angela crouched down to him to the same level.
"I´m afraid I must release you from House of Black services."
Kreacher´s eyes widened in shock, but before he could protest, Angela spoke again, this time, casting a Memory Charm: "Obliviate…"
She had to be thorough, so it took some time, before she was finished with the spiteful elf. When she straightened up again, Kreacher stared blankly at the spot where her face had been before. She waved with her wand again and a brown hat – forgotten by someone from the Order – landed on his head.
"Go wherever you want," she stated calmly. "You´re a free elf now. Don't ever come back here."
Kreacher just nodded and disappeared with a soft puff.
Angela exhaled in relief. It took some effort, but she managed to erase everything related to the entire history of his father´s house from his mind. Like that, he could no longer do any harm with his knowledge.
She glanced up the stairs. She was tempted to go around the upper floors for one last time, to see her former room, Harry's room, the huge lineage painting of her family, or the old photos she had once found in one of the rooms. However, she resisted it and reconsidered. What would be the point of bringing up more painful memories?
Angela turned on her heel and hastily left her father's birth house.
/
"Miss Black! Miss Black!" the tall blonde witch squealed excitedly, rushing toward her dressed in a poisonously green robe. "Finally! I´m so glad we caught up with you! Would you be so nice and provide us with a small interview for the Daily Prophet? I assure you I can even get you on the front page!"
Angela made barely five steps from the main entrance and she was already surrounded by Rita Skeeter, her photographer and some other henchman from the newspapers. She had to stop because they stood right in her way. The eager group emerged from somewhere in the hospital hall; they must have been waiting there for a long time.
"Our readers are eager to learn as much as possible about the girl who is their hero's love!" continued Skeeter in an over sweetened voice.
Angela stared at the woman in disgust, not replying. Now she was Harry´s love? What happened with the evil bitch, which bewitched him?
"For a smooth start, could you tell us how long you had to hide your love before it came out? That must have been very difficult, right?" urged the reporter with notebook in hand.
She did not feel like telling anything to this crazy reporter, who was able to turn each word upside down.
"Of course it was, I can imagine," Rita cooed on adamantly, as if she actually said something.
She could not help but react on that hypocritical statement: "I seriously doubt that."
"Oh, come on, Angela... You surely wouldn't want to deprive our readers of..."
"As far as I know, we haven't even attended the same class at Hogwarts and we aren´t acquainted in any way, so please give me a favour and call me by my last name," Angela cut her off.
"Oh, sure, but if you opened up just a little bit…"
Already more than annoyed, Angela swiftly went around her and continued her way.
"Miss Black, please!" Skeeter called, rushing after her. However, someone grabbed her elbow, pulled the reporter back and then stepped right in her way.
"Leave her alone," the tall redhead wizard hissed at Rita Skeeter grumpily.
The reporter blinked, seeing the new opportunity: "Oh, Mr Weasley…"
"Personally," Ron confirmed coldly.
"Then perhaps you could provide us with information about Mr Potter…"
"That I could not," he growled, gesturing at two Aurors already heading their way. "And as far as I know, you´re forbidden from entering this hospital, unless you are unwell yourself, by Chief Healer himself. These gentlemen will see you off."
Rita scowled at massive figures of the wizards, who appeared behind her assistants. Ron turned away from her and gave one look Angela´s figure already walking up the stairs. Then he headed for the nearest fireplace, leaving both the frowning Aurors and complaining reporter behind. He was already on his way home for dinner anyway, when he noticed her and he assumed that she would rather be with Harry alone.
/
After short hesitation, Angela rather locked the door. This time, she didn´t want to be disturbed by anyone. She pulled a chair close to Harry's bed and sat down.
The sharp quills on the left side of the bed were automatically recording Harry´s heartbeat and breathing. It was the only proof of the fact that Harry was still alive, since he was motionless as always and his pale face reminded a corpse.
It was already dark outside and the room was lit by dim, fluorescent light. Recently, wizards have been making some concessions regarding their life with Muggle conveniences.
"I came to say goodbye, Harry," she finally made herself to start talking. "You suspected that, didn't you? That one day I will leave you..."
Harry's expression did not change in the slightest. Angela considered it easier to look at her own fingers; she couldn't bear the sight of that absent expression.
"I have to do it, otherwise everyone…" she suddenly stopped. "No, that is not true. You don´t deserve lies… It's not just to protect others, even though it is my fault that they´re in danger. It´s that strange feeling that I don't belong here. It´s getting stronger every day, pushing me go leave. As if I had nothing to do here."
The room fell silent for a moment, before she continued quietly.
"You knew that I was hiding something from you. I also promised you that one day you will find out what it was. And now, I'm sorry that I can't tell you to your face. I want you to know why I'm leaving you. But it's too late, for us, as well as for many other things…"
She didn't even know why she was saying all that out loud. Maybe, she hoped that somehow, Harry could hear her, or feel her at least. However, she needed to get it all out. She had to say it, even if Harry did not perceive it, otherwise she would suffocate.
"I came because I wanted to tell you for one last time how much I love you, Harry," she whispered, tears stinging in her eyes. "You came for me, all the way to Voldemort himself. You risked so much and you made it. When you had asked me back then, if I thought that you would survive the fight with the Dark Lord, I was afraid to believe in a good ending, but I didn't tell you. I wanted to support you somehow, but I didn´t know how. And meanwhile… You turned out to be a hero to everyone. But… Why did you pay such a high a price for it? Why did you go somewhere where I can't follow you?"
Angela could not stop the tears from escaping from the corners of her eyes anymore. She looked up to her boyfriend´s face again. From some reason, she figured that Harry was hovering precariously between life and death. She wanted to believe he could make it back to the world of living, but…
"It breaks me that I will have to remain in this uncertainty. If you ever wake up, what will you think of me when I'm not here?"
With a shaky exhale, she got up and sat carefully on the edge of his bed. Taking his cold hand, she squeezed it tightly.
"The only true happiness I've ever had was you. You are the first true love of my life, Harry. And I must believe you know that," overwhelmed by emotions, Angela's voice was breaking. It pained her to leave him like that. There were many hard things she had to do before during her short life, but this one was the hardest of all. "Please, do not forget me. I…I want you to remember me as I was until now."
Then she leaned down and kissed Harry's cold lips tenderly. How she would like to see his emerald eyes full of love again... But after this night, even if they met again, it won´t be possible. Taking a deep breath, she straightened up.
She stood up from the bed and then took something out of her coat pocket. It was a silver dragon pendant on a long chain.
"I know you really didn't like this," she said with a small smile. "But I'll leave it here for you anyway..." she placed the chain on the bedside table. "Don´t be mad at me, okay? I will not be able to wear it anymore anyway," she added quietly. "Just as this…"
As the last thing, with her hands shaking, she slowly pulled the ring Harry gave her for Christmas off her finger.
"I'll leave it here for you as well..." she sighed and placed it on the bedside table next to the chain. Trembling all over, she stroked his hand one last time. "Goodbye Harry."
Then she turned away as quickly as she could, unlocked the door, and left the room without looking back. As she walked away from him down the hall, she had to force her every step and the corridor seemed endless…
"Angela…"
Distractedly, she looked up. It was Remus Lupin.
"What's going on? Something´s up with Harry?" Lupin was honestly scared as he saw her painfully contorted face.
She shook her head faintly: "No… His state is still the same. I just…" she breathed in and out slowly. "It´s nothing... Say hello to Tonks for me."
"I will," Remus promised thoughtfully.
The young daughter of his deceased friend just nodded her goodbye and quickly left.
/
It was already several hours after dark. In a secluded area of protected land quite far from London, a tall shadow sneaked around one of the grand tombs. The bright moonlight then caught him standing at one of the few tombstones nearby. During the day, one could make out the name 'Lucius Malfoy' on it.
"He paid for what he did, Father. I took our revenge on him," the shadow whispered into the graveyard silence. "He finally got what he deserved."
Then the young wizard looked up to the moon, hanging above as the huge reflector.
"I let him live for now," he continued quietly. "I'll kill him one day, but only after he spends years of live without a soul. I promise."
Then Draco Malfoy turned away from the cold stones and left, as unseen and unheard as he had come.
/
Angela had no assurance that she would ever come back to Golden Street again, so she closed and secured all the windows, cleaned up the kitchen and turned off the electricity. The whole house had already been surrounded with strong protective spells, so she could skip that part.
With her wand lit, she walked around the rooms for one last time. She stopped at the door to her mother's room. Hesitating a little, she went inside. Her eyes ran over the bed, massive wardrobe and table, before she ended up looking at the picture on the wall, behind which she once found her mother´s letter. Something occurred to her remembering it.
She did not feel up to writing a teary letter, because that was certainly how it would ended up, but there was another way to let Harry know what happened to her if he ever wakes up…
/
After taking the steep stairs, Draco noticed that someone was already in the attic, waiting. And there was currently only one person who that could be.
Angela was standing by his dormer window with the shutters open, a bright half-moon illuminating her slender figure. The winter sky had been so clear lately…
He approached her quietly from behind. It took a moment before she heard his breath and turned to face him.
"Hi..." she greeted softly.
He nodded in response and stood next to her. They both looked out at the white garden and the landscape beyond.
"Daria was asking about you," Angela said first. "She realized that I somehow know about you. But I didn't tell her anything..."
There was silence again for a long moment.
"What do you want from me, Angela?" Draco asked dryly then.
She glanced at him and gave up talking about Daria.
"I'd like to ask you for something," she replied quietly.
He turned to her questioningly. Angela pulled out a tiny glass bottle with fluffy, light contents that looked like mist from her coat pocket.
He recognized it right away: "That's a…"
"One of my memories," she confirmed his assumption.
When Draco did not move, she grabbed his hand and pressed the bottle into it.
"Why are you giving it to me?" he asked. "What memory is that?"
"When… If Harry wakes up," Angela began slowly. "I'd like you to give it to him. I´m sure the news of it will be in all the papers, so it won't be a problem for you to find out."
"All right, but… Why me?"
"You´re the only one I´m willing to trust with this," Angela responded simply.
Draco looked down and remained silent.
"You can look at it too, if you want," she suggested quietly.
"More like only if Potter lets me, which is highly unlikely."
"You can see it before you give it to him," she pointed out calmly.
"Well, even if he wakes up and I would want to give it to him, how do you imagine I´d do that? He will definitely be guarded, and I in particular…"
Angela was already reaching inside her pocket again.
"That's why I will entrust you with this as well," she stated, handing him a piece of folded parchment.
Draco unfolded it and read the address written on it: Grimmauld Place Twelve.
"Harry wrote that, he gave it to me once for emergencies. It's the address of the Order of the Phoenix headquarters. I suppose he will definitely be there," Angela explained.
"You really trust me that much?" Draco asked with a narrowed gaze.
"Yes," she agreed firmly.
"Okay," he nodded his head slowly. "I'll do it."
"Thanks," she smiled with relief, but then she turned back outside, serious again. "You won't even ask why I don't wait and give it to him myself?"
"You're leaving for good, aren't you?" he asked instead of answering.
Angela nodded heavily. She was not surprised he realized her intention.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
It surprised her he asked and she appreciated it, but she shook her head slightly. Draco noticed the strange glint in her eyes, but said nothing.
"Though I will give you a promise, Draco…" Angela said, turning to him again. "If I get through what awaits me, I won't stop until I find out how you can be helped."
"What do you mean?"
"I believe that there´s some kind of curse on you that carries along with the unicorn blood. And if the curse doesn't kill, it can be broken somehow. Therefore, I'll be looking. I'll have plenty of time for that... And when I figure something out, I'll let you know with this."
She raised her left hand and pulled her sleeve down. The bracelet he had once given her gleamed there.
"Though, it must not be made of silver, so..." she reached into her pocket for one last time and pulled out two identical bracelets, just made of white gold.
Draco stared at them wordlessly for a moment, and then met Angela´s eyes. She looked away and he understood. He knew enough of her continuous troubles to realize what she was about to do.
Angela pulled the silver bracelet off her wrist and handed it back to him along with the new one. Draco slowly took them both over. He also took off his original and put it in his pocket next to the vial and the papyrus. Then he looked at his left wrist.
"You really believe it could be reversed?" he asked quietly.
"Yes. And you should believe it too. You don't deserve this, Draco."
Uncertainly, she stepped closer to him and, albeit with shaky arms, but firmly, hugged him.
"I hope to see you soon, little Dragon, no matter what I become," she whispered hoarsely. "I want to repay my debt to you."
After a moment, Draco´s hands raised hesitantly, as if he did not know what to do with them, before he gently patted her back.
Then she pulled away from him and turned to leave.
Angela? his voice echoed in her mind.
She remained standing and after a moment, turned back to him. He was looking at her, but she couldn't see his face, which was hidden in the shadows.
Thanks... I don't believe it, but thanks anyway.
She smiled at him tenderly. You'll thank me when it will be really you again, Draco.
Then she turned away for good and went down the stairs. After a while, Draco did not even hear her footsteps anymore.
He reached into his pocket and felt a small bottle, a piece of papyrus and bracelets under his fingers. He thought of her sad expression and promised himself that if there would be a chance, he would definitely do what she asked of him.
/
A few minutes spent in the snowy, deeply frozen forest were enough for Angela to start shivering. Although she wore the warm coat and scarf tightly wrapped around her neck. More or less aimlessly, she kept making a path from her tracks through the so far untouched snow. They did not tell her where exactly she should go, so she assumed that they will find her anyway...
The soft neigh made her raise her head. A few meters in front of her, silver bodies shone in the darkness of the night – the unicorns. There were four of them. She took a few more steps to get closer to them. The biggest one of the herd came out to meet her. It was Monarchaz, his family tailing behind him. His foals had already grown considerably, but they still cautiously clung to their mother's side.
You do not have to do this, Successor of Elessandra, Monarchaz spoke in her mind.
She eyed the beautiful creature gloomily. I have no choice, she concluded.
To do something like this just for us…
No. It is a part of it, but I´m not doing it just because of you and safety of all unicorns.
Do you believe they will keep their promise?
Yes. They swore an oath.
I know. I was there, the unicorn replied reluctantly. Yet, still…
I understand your doubts, but there was nothing more I could do for you…
Monarchaz nodded with his noble head slowly.
You can die in the process, he pointed out after a moment.
She supressed a tired sigh. As if she did not know that. But if she broke her own Oath to them, she would have died anyway.
Everyone has to die sometime. And if that time is coming for me now, so be it.
The unicorn did not say anything else. Angela slowly approached him and held out her hand. She stroked his soft fur along his nostrils. It was warm and calming to feel it under her fingers. He did not budge and she smiled weakly. How beautiful these creatures were… Now was probably her last chance to ask.
Do you know anything about the unicorn blood curse?
Monarchaz withdrew and she let her hand drop.
Yes. Anyone who dares to drink our blood must bear it. It is a punishment for wanting to defy death.
Can it be reversed?
The unicorn watched her questioningly for a moment, as if trying to guess what her intentions were.
As far as I know, no. I've never heard of it.
Angela hunched over. She did not ask any more questions. She would have to figure it out some other way.
The next time we meet, you will be our enemy, the unicorn spoke again.
I know that very well, she replied seriously. Avoid me then if possible.
I understand. Farewell, then, successor of Elessandra.
/
She continued wandering through the dense forest for a much longer time. A few times, she already thought she was lost. Yet, in the end, they emerged from the dark, so suddenly it startled her.
They held small torches in their hands, but she realized it was more for her than for themselves. Vampires could see at night as well as during the day. One of them gave her a commanding gesture, so she went after them.
They led her further and further into the depths of the forest and it seemed like an eternity to her, before a steep rock wall began to rise in front of them. That surprised her. She had never heard of any such huge rocks in the Forbidden Forest.
The vampires accompanied her until they reached the guarded entrance. Two massive figures let them enter the dark corridor, watching Angela with cold looks. Only the torches in hands of two vampires cast a feeble light on the hard walls. However, it was surprisingly dry and warm there.
Even though she tried to fight against it, she was damn afraid. However, there was no one else but herself to blame for all this. Originally, she would not have to come until summer, but she had to find Snape´s hideout and vampires were the best chance she had for it. Unfortunately, they wanted something back...
Focusing on the fact, that this meant safety for everyone she knew, she forced herself to keep going. The vampires led her deep inside, though caves and tunnels, down a sloping passage. Then, quite unexpectedly, they appeared in a huge space. It was so vast that she could not see its ceiling or the opposite side in the shadows, as it was only very dimly lit.
Her guides led her to the right, to a smaller side cave connected to it, commanded her to enter and remained standing in front of it. Inside, sitting in a comfortable armchair, there was Lynx. His sharp eyes fell upon her the second Angela went through the entrance.
"So, you came," he welcomed her with a predatory grin, which made her shiver. He got up and swiftly approached Angela´s side. She took in a shaky breath, when he placed his hard hands on her shoulders and his husky voice whispered into her ear. "Be assured I will enjoy this a lot, little witch."
/
At first, there was only darkness and nothingness all around. He saw nothing, heard nothing, felt nothing. He did not even think of anything.
Then it slowly started to clear up. From no particular place, just everywhere at once. Everything brightened up, until the blinding light surrounded him so thickly that could not see, quite the same as before through the darkness. Then, it started getting dark again. Everything around darkened to complete blackness.
He had no idea how much time had passed since then. Then all of the sudden, a narrow circle of light appeared in front of him. He was drawn to it by an unknown force. The circle grew larger and larger until it outgrew him by a good two meters. He walked through it without feeling or seeing anything under his feet.
He got even further. Then he remained standing in a that peculiarly circular space. Quiet voices began to echo all around him, the eerie whispering of many, many voices. Then most of them started to die down and only a few remained. And they belonged to people he knew while they were alive.
"Harry… Harry… Harry Potter…"
He tried to find the source of those voices, but still could not see anything in the clear light. The voices slowly died down until only one remained.
"Harry…"
He tried to speak but it was as if he had no mouth. So, he just thought it.
"Mum?"
He had heard her voice once or twice in his life, but he still recognized her.
"Yes, Harry… You have the right as one of the few to choose… Life or death."
"What exactly does that mean?" he asked.
"You are on the narrow line between life and death. You can still come back. Or stay. What will you choose?"
"I'd like to stay."
"Are you really sure?"
"Yes."
"Oh, Harry. You don't belong here yet."
"But…"
"I'm telling you the truth, darling."
"Is Dad here too?"
"Of course," his father's voice came from nowhere.
"And Sirius?" Harry continued to ask.
"Yes, Harry," he heard his godfather´s reply.
"Hermione?" he blurted impatiently.
"I'm here, Harry," came a soft voice from further away.
He felt so free and happy. They were all there. Everyone he lost. Even if he could only hear them, he knew they were all really here.
"I want to stay…" he said again.
"What about Ron?" Sirius reminded him. "Or Remus?"
"And Angela?" Hermione added.
"What's wrong with them?" Harry did not understand.
"They're still hoping you'll come back, Harry. Don't you feel it?" his mother answered him again.
Harry was silent.
"You don't belong here yet."
"You don't belong..."
"It's up to you."
"Come back."
"But you can stay here with us..."
The voices again began to whisper one over the other until they merged into one noisy stream. He closed his eyes, but the bright light was still there. He did not want to go back to where he had experienced so much pain.
He did not want to face such a hard, cruel life again. But his beloved ones were right. There were still those who remained behind. Could he just leave them like this?
"Harry, how did you decide?" his father's voice overtook everyone else.
And then there was silence, which only he could break.