By My Side

I'll Remember by Madonna.

Say Goodbye

Not knowing when

The truth in my whole life began

Say goodbye

Not knowing how to cry

You taught me that

And I'll remember

The strength that you gave me

Now that I'm standing on my own

I'll remember

The way that you saved me....

I'll remember

Inside I was a child

That could not mend a broken wing

Outside I looked for a way

To teach my heart to sing

And I'll remember

The love that you gave me

Now that I'm standing on my own

I'll remember

The way that you changed me......

I'll remember

I learned, to let go

Of the illusion

That we can posess

I learned, to let go

I travel in stillness

I remember happiness

I remember

I'll remember

The love that you gave me

Now that I'm standing on my own

I'll remember

The way that you changed me

I'll remember

Now I'll never be afraid to cry

Now I finally have the reason why

I'll remember.

Chapter 20.

"Eve!" her father was the first to spot her, and as soon as he said her name, the conversation that had been flowing in low, strained tones, ceased.

Eve was suddenly stationary, only a few beds into the length of the infirmary, but the penetrating stares of her father, her Headmaster and her potions teacher rendered her unable to proceed any further into the room. She considered spinning on her heal and running after Draco - to safety, but that would be cowardly, and although she'd done some pretty risky things, she knew that the Sorting Hat hadn't put her into Gryffindor for nothing.

"Well, what have you got to say for yourself?" Professor Snape demanded. He was standing beside the bed that her father was lying in, looking better already - he had clean, crisp, Hospital Wing standard issue pyjamas on, white with blue stripes, and his hair had been magically cleaned, back to it's usual greying tone. He looked almost healthy.

Professor Dumbledore stepped in before Eve had chance to speak.

"Now, now, Severus, I think we should let Eve tell the story in her own time."

Snape looked about as furious as he could be, and Eve half expected him retort angrily, but instead he just stared harder at her, and for some strange reason, that gave her the determination to speak.

"I'm sorry for leaving Hogwarts without permission, Sir," Eve said weakly, addressing the ageing headmaster.

"Eve, could you please explain what just happened?" her father asked. He was angry, shouting at her, which he rarely ever did. The last time he'd spoke to her in this manner was when she was younger - she'd walked out on the Muggle road without looking and nearly been knocked down - there was a hint of worried concern in her father's eyes and she walked closer to the bed, hoping that when she got there, his aura wouldn't feel so oppressive.

"It's a really long story dad. Are you okay?"

"Don't avoid the question, Evelyn Jane - can you please explain how you suddenly appeared at Malfoy Manor with a working portkey and personal escape route?"

Remus's glare was stony and cold, so Eve looked down at the floor. She did catch Dumbledore's eyes too though, which were twinkling with......mirth? no - surely not.

"Draco told me you were - "

"Ah yes, Draco Malfoy, you mentioned him in the dungeon. What role exactly does he play in all this?"

As Eve looked back up to her father, a look of fear on her face, there was a noise at the end of the infirmary, and everyone looked over. Madame Pomfrey came out of her office door and into the quiet ward, humming gently. When she saw they were all looking at her, and spotted Eve, she smiled.

"Hello, dear!"

"Hi," Eve returned her smile warmly. Maybe I could just make her explain for me? Eve thought.

"This should get you to sleep for a few hours, Remus," the nurse said, indicating a little vial of liquid as she neared the bed. Remus held out his hand in protest as she went to give it to him.

"I've got a story I need to hear first, I think Poppy."

"Always was a difficult patient," Madame Pomfrey tutted, directing her comment at Eve, who smiled widely beside herself.

"Eve, you were saying?" Dumbledore prodded. Eve snapped back to the uncomfortable feeling in her chest and decided to just get it overwith.

"Draco was my boyfriend," she said clearly, hoping that she didn't hear the sound of smashing glass or the shrieks of hell as she made her announcement. Of course, nothing of the sort happened, instead she was rewarded with a deathly silence and a look of pure horror from Professor Snape. He looked like he would never speak again from shock.

"Draco Malfoy?" Remus asked with disbelief as Madame Pomfrey pottered on around him, applying bandages with quiet ease and grace.

"Yes," Eve coughed, "we were seeing each other for about five months."

"I thought you were with Harry?" Remus frowned. Eve blushed deep and she could have sworn she heard a chuckle from Professor Dumbledore, but when she looked up, he was just looking impassive, as ever.

"This was before Harry," Eve said awkwardly, previously unaware that her whole relationship history was going to be trawled through.

"But........but......." Remus stuttered.

"I didn't tell you because you'd have made me stop seeing him, and I couldn't - I was in love with him."

There was a stunned silence and Eve couldn't help but fill it.

"Still am, in fact," she finished with a little smile on her face. Her father looked as though somebody had just hit him over the head with a Hippogriff.

"And it was through this connection that you located your father's whereabouts?" Dumbledore asked, before fishing in his pocket and offering out Sherbet Lemons. Eve declined hers, but answered his question.

"Yes Headmaster - Draco received a letter from his father, telling him that dad was being held captive in the dungeons of the Manor. That was when Draco came to me."

"Hang on, hang on!" Remus called, raising his hands as though to physically get the situation under control. Madame Pomfrey, who was bandaging one of his arms, tutted as she was tugged forward with the movement. Eve almost laughed at the scene. "You were going out with Lucius Malfoy's son and you didn't think to tell me?"

"It wasn't like that, Dad, I - "

"There's no excuse for it, young lady!" Remus shouted. "I thought we told each other everything! I thought you could come to me with problems and we'd discuss them and - "

"Discuss?" Eve interrupted. "How could I have discussed this topic with you, daddy? you'd have screamed and shouted, just like now, and it would have turned into an argument, not a discussion!"

"Don't try to turn this around! You went behind my back! you could have been killed! do you know how dangerous the Malfoys are?"

"All I know is that one just helped save you," Eve said bitterly, then she looked back to Professor Dumbledore, who had been looking between the daughter and father during the exchange and couldn't help but think how alike they were.

"Mr Malfoy played a big part in the rescue operation, you say?" Dumbledore asked, still sucking on his sweet. Eve nodded. "Maybe I should call for him, in that case. We should hear his side of the story. Severus, could you......?"

"Er, Professor?" Eve intervened, "I don't suppose we could do this without Draco could we? just for now? I really want to get things sorted on my own. It was me who decided the plan, so......."

"Fair enough," Dumbledore nodded. "Please continue then."

"Draco Malfoy?" Remus muttered to no one in particular, shaking his head. Eve looked to her father, then back to her Headmaster, who nodded once again for her to continue.

"Draco sent me an owl, telling me that he knew where dad was. I hadn't spoken to him in a while, but I went along to meet him anyway."this, Eve looked to her dad, who was listening again.

"I was desperate - all I could think of was saving dad, and any help promised to me was an offer I couldn't refuse."

Addressing the group again (even Poppy had stopped bandaging to listen), Eve went on. "Draco and I made a plan to rescue dad. We had to wait the full moon out, but we created some portkeys in the time that we had available. I used - "

"You don't know how to make a portkey, do you?" Remus frowned, still sounding angry.

"No, but Draco does."

"Oh, I bet he does," Remus rolled his eyes, looking disgusted. Eve had never seen her father like this - he was usually so gentle and accepting of everyone.

"Anyway," Eve shook her head slightly - it hurt that her father was so angry, but she had to explain herself if he was ever going to understand. "I used some of father's things from his room, to tune a portkey into him, and then Draco made one that would take myself and him from the Manor, back to Hogsmeade once dad was safe. Draco opened up the fireplace in dad's room to attach it to the floo network, which is how we got into the Manor in the first place. We couldn't portkey in because of the wards, apparently."

"Yes," Dumbledore nodded, "the protective wards around Malfoy Manor are almost as strong as here, although they are designed to keep out a very different kind of foe."

Everything was eerily silent for a moment as Eve realised just how much danger she'd been in.

"I'm sorry, dad," she pleaded, looking up to him. She was standing at the bottom of his bed and she wished to get nearer, to touch him, to know he was safe, but he didn't seem ready for hugs just yet.

"Then what happened?" Remus asked, ignoring her apology.

"Draco snuck into his father's study and retrieved your wand."

Eve fished in her robes pocket for a moment then extracted the wand. She laid it down on the little hospital table that was at the end of the bed with two careful hands, as though it might break if she dropped it.

"It was simple from there - we went on through the house to the dungeons, and Draco kept watch while I went to give you the portkey. As soon as you were safe, I rejoined Draco and we left the Manor."

"Where is he now?" Remus asked, looking as though he might rip Draco apart if Eve told him he was in within 40 yards.

"He left me at the door before I came in - he should be in his common room now - probably asleep."

"I want to have a few choice words with him," Remus warned, and at this, Dumbledore openly smiled.

"I do believe that we would all like a word with this new, heroic Mr Malfoy, Remus, but before that, we must update Eve on your injuries - I'm sure she's eager to know how you are."

"Yes Sir, I am," Eve returned his smile then looked to her dad, "Dad?"

"Apart from being hurt that you never told me about your 'relationship' with Malfoy, I'm doing much better. Thank you."

Eve cast her eyes down in suitable shame.

"Well then Severus, what do you say we leave Remus and Evelyn alone - I'm sure they have much to talk about."

"Er....yes," Snape flustered. It was only then that Eve noticed he hadn't spoken a word throughout the conversation.

Dumbledore smiled and nodded to Madame Pomfrey, who got the message and patted Eve on the arm reassuringly as she went past and off back to her office. When the door was shut, Snape rounded the bed and followed the old Headmaster to the large doors at the end of the infirmary.

Eve was almost scared to see them go, and the click of the door as they left seemed pitifully loud.

For a moment, neither Remus nor Eve spoke, then they both spoke at once.

"I'm sorry dad - "

"Come here - "

They smiled lightly at their clash, then Eve nodded.

"You first," she offered.

"I said 'come here'," Remus repeated in a much softer voice. Eve practically ran to his side, where he opened out his arms and hugged her close. She latched onto him tightly, shutting her eyes and just being content that he was so close again, after being so far. "Ouch," he winced, "I'm still sore, remember."

"Oh yeah, sorry," Eve blushed, pulling away from him slowly. She reached for the chair behind her and brought it closer to the side of the bed, where she sat down, still holding on to her father's hand.

"Eve?"

She looked up from inspecting the scared lines on his wrists which were now only healed reminders of a few hours ago and smiled up at him.

"I think we need to do some serious talking, don't you?"

******

As soon as he left Eve, Draco began to panic.

All the feelings of doubt and guilt and fear that he had pushed aside in order to be strong for Eve during their mission came flooding back to him as he made his way through the windy corridors of the castle, and at one point, his heart was beating so fast that he had to stop behind a statue of a one-eyed witch to calm his breathing.

What will he do when he finds out it was me? he's bound to know - he'll check for fingerprints or DNA traces and he'll find it's me, his only son, and then he'll kill me, slowly and painfully, and shame me publicly for disgracing the family.

Trying to count from one to ten, Draco felt himself shake with very real fear.

I need to get to bed - I can't be found wandering the corridors, if I'm missing, I'm prime suspect when he quizzes everyone, because he will, then he'll find me and.......

In frustration, Draco put both of his hands over his face and leaned back against the stone cold wall. Snape will expel me for breaking school rules, Dumbledore will fry me alive for corrupting one of Gryffindors and Professor Lupin will Crucio me for ever laying my filthy, Malfoy hands on his daughter. God! what was I thinking? I should never have got Eve involved in this - I should have saved Lupin myself. They'll be grilling her for information and she'll be scared. She won't want to tell them but she has to and then..... everyone will know.

Draco found himself sweating with fear, suddenly very hot in his tight jumper. Abandoning all thoughts of returning to bed and trying to get some sleep, he shook himself and made his way quickly to the Quidditch changing rooms to shower, hoping to wash away some of the fear and anger and grime that seemed to be laced within his very being. More than ever, at that moment, he wished he'd never heard the name Malfoy.

*****

"It started when I fell off my broom last year," Eve explained. "He was sweet to me, nothing like people make out. I was so lonely, all those nights on my own, and he was only a few beds away, so we got chatting."

"But he's.....well, his father is......."

"Look daddy," Eve sighed, "just because you have lycanthropy, it doesn't mean I have it too, does it?"

"No, of course not," Remus frowned.

"Well then, what makes you think that because Draco's father if a Death Eater, Draco will be too?"

There was a little silence, then Remus answered. "I get your point, but he's done some pretty wicked things over the years, to Harry, and Hermione, and Ron, to name but a few."

"Okay, so he can be nasty - I know that, and I've watched him act that way, but he's never like that with me, he's never harmed a hair on my head, and I trust him - I know he never would."

"How can you be so sure?"

"You can't explain trust, Dad, you should know that," Eve stressed, "what about my mother? she was a Slytherin - why did you trust her?"

"Ah, that was different," Remus wagged his finger.

"No, no it wasn't," Eve retorted, "people thought you were wrong for each other, that you shouldn't mixes the houses together, but you trusted her, didn't you?"

"And look how that turned out," Remus said smugly.

"Okay, so maybe that's a bad example," Eve squirmed, "but my point is that you must have loved her, if you married her and had me."

"Eve, the whole situation is difficult to explain, and one day, I will, I promise - "

"You don't need to explain anything," Eve assured him, "but I want you to trust me on this one - Draco's not so bad. How do you explain his helping me? if he's such a stereotypical evil Slytherin?"

Remus thought for a moment. Eve had a point - she was here, safe, and so was he. The person at the middle of all the saving and protecting that had been done tonight was Draco Malfoy. As much as he loved his daughter, Remus knew that she'd couldn't have completed the task on her own - her charm work wasn't strong enough and she certainly didn't know how to make portkeys and open floo networks. Although he didn't like to admit it, it seemed to Remus that the reason he was tucked up in a warm bed with his daughter beside him right now was the fact that a Malfoy had actually done a good turn.

"You don't quite understand just how rotten to the core the family are, Eve," Remus decided. Okay, so Draco had helped this time, but you couldn't erase decades of ill-doing with a single deed, could you?

"Never heard of redemption, dad?" Eve asked, now the one to look smug.

"Oi, I wouldn't be too cheeky if I were you, misses, you're still very much in the wrong here. Not only did you sneak out of school without permission, you could have been killed! Eve, you put yourself in a hell of a lot of danger!"

"Yeah, but I did it to save you!" Eve stressed. "Besides, you put yourself in danger every time to choose to go on one of the Order Of The Phoenix assignments!"

"Ah, but it's alright for me, I'm old enough to look after myself."

"So am I!" Eve spluttered, "I know that if anything happened to me, you'd be heart-broken, but did you ever stop to think that it works the other way too? Dad, you're all of my family that I've got left! Mum is off God-knows-where, Gran passed away only last year, and every time you leave me, I get a lump in my throat wondering if you'll come back!"

Remus looked thoughtfully at his little girl then sighed.

"I know, I'm sorry," he said, rubbing his face with his hand. "I spend so much time worrying about you that I forget you worry about me too."

"Well I do!" Eve said sharply, "and I know I was wrong for not telling you about Draco but.......can you imagine how you'd have reacted? I spent five months lying to everyone, and you know that I'm not normally like that, so shouldn't that tell you how serious the whole thing was?"

Remus dropped his hand back to the bedcovers and eyed Eve warily. "Just how serious was the relationship?"

Eve blushed but said, "Very. As serious as you can get."

Remus's eyes opened wide and Eve looked down at the bedcover to avoid his gaze. "I love him, and he loves me."

"I thought you said you'd split up?"

"We have," Eve looked back up again, "but tonight he told me that he still feels the same."

"So why did you break up in the first place then? if you never stopped loving one another?"

"Draco has......duties," Eve rolled her eyes. "He's betrothed to Pansy Parkinson and after the New Year's ball, Lucius ordered Draco that he was to start dating her straight away. When Draco told me, I finished it - I couldn't carry on seeing him unless I was the only one."

Remus smiled at Eve's feisty comment. This was the daughter he knew and loved, one who fought to carry out what she thought was true, one who wouldn't be put down or used by anyone, and Remus felt a catch in his throat when he realised where she'd got that from - his own mother was just the same, just as proud and strong.

"Come here," Remus laughed, then reached out to cuddle his daughter. They hugged for a moment, then Eve spoke into his chest,

"Does this mean I'm forgiven?"

"No!" Remus told her sternly, "and you still have a lot to explain. Where does poor Harry fit into all this, eh?"

Eve was suitably quiet as she sat back down on her chair.

"Harry knows about Draco."

"He what?"

"He knows."

"And I didn't?" Remus had that hurt tone in his voice again.

"I wasn't going to tell anyone but Harry caught me on the night that I finished things with Draco - I was in pieces, and he tried to put me back together again, in his own little Gryffindor way."

"Eve........I'm so......shocked, at all of this," Remus frowned.

"I know, I've been acting like a completely different human being for almost a year," Eve sighed, "I just lost it, nothing seemed to make sense when I first came here, everything was new and when Draco started being nice to me, I found something that I felt had been missing from my life," Eve smiled up at her dad, "and the thing I wanted more than anything in the world was for everyone to know how I felt, and for everyone I loved to get along, but.........life doesn't work like that, so I tried my hardest to keep everything going and it eventually fell apart. I was going out with Harry because I was sad over what happened with Draco and Harry seemed to steer me in the right direction."

"So you don't love Harry?"

"No, no, not at all," Eve shook her head, and she sounded very sure of her words. Remus thought quietly for a moment - he wondered how things had ever got so far without his knowledge and why he hadn't been around to help. Maybe if he hadn't been so unapproachable on the subject, things might have worked out better.

"So you still feel for Draco?"

Eve nodded.

"And he still feels for you?"

Another nod.

"Don't you think Harry deserves to know that, then?" Remus asked quietly, patting his daughter's arm. When Eve looked up, she had a sad kind of fear written on her face. It looked like it was crunch time.

******

Eve left her father to get some rest soon after, and she made her way back to her father's room in the staff wing with a heavy heart. At first she had thought the hard part was over, but now it seemed the hard part was only just beginning.

Dumbledore was bound to want to talk with her, and of course, with Draco. Eve pondered whether they would get a meeting together, what Draco would say, and how he would act. When he was nervous, Draco often covered over his fear with arrogance, and Eve knew this would probably be the case when he came face to face with Dumbledore. While it would be interesting to see Draco again, just to be near him, it would be uncomfortable to sit through whatever punishment Dumbledore chose to hand out to them both.

Then there was Harry.

Eve needed to speak to him as soon as possible, to clear things up. She would have to tell him the truth, about the return of her father and about her alliance with Draco - how would he react? he was bound to be hurt, and maybe a little angry. Then she'd have to break up with him, and Eve was quaking in her boots about how she would work through that one - she'd never been very good at confrontations, and although through the part year she seemed to have spent a good deal of time hurting people, it had been unconsciously, and to hurt someone on purpose was out of Eve's character.

Sometimes I wish I'd fall asleep and wake up a few days later, after everything had calmed down, Eve thought, but no such luck. I'll wake up tomorrow and have to face everyone, and their questions, and their prying eyes and I might not make it - unless Draco is there, of course.

Flopping into bed, Eve shut her eyes tight and tried not to think about all that had just happened, about how tired she was and about how much she needed a shower but was almost sleeping on her feet. Yes, Dumbledore would speak to her tomorrow and then things would be sorted out, finished and over. Hopefully then, she could get on with things.

******

There was a loud rapping sound on the door and Draco checked his watch with bleary eyes to find out it was just after seven o'clock. He'd only been asleep four hours, and the sleep he had managed to claim was fitful, yet he still had to get up and answer the door because if he left it to the others, then person at the door would be there all day - Crabbe and Goyle both slept like logs, and no one else could hear over their snores.

Fixing his hair sub-conciously, Draco dragged on his dressing gown and went to the door, to be faced with the ominous presence of his Head of House.

"Get dressed, Mr Malfoy," Snape said in a tone he usually reserved for Gryffindors, "you're wanted by the headmaster."

Draco's stomach flipped and he considered being sick right there on the floor. His pale skin managed to lose what little morning glow it had, and he stumbled back into his room to grab at his fresh clothes and pull them on.

He took less than his usual time in the bathroom, but still managed to look pristine - he had to keep up appearances. Snape was waiting for him in the common room, pacing in front of the cold, empty hearth, and they didn't speak on the entire journey to the headmaster's office - most unlike their usual time together, when they usually found something to talk about, Draco's love of Potions or the latest Daily Prophet headlines. The pupil and teacher were not as close as some suspected them to be, but they had much in common and got along quite amiably.

Today though, was a different matter, and Draco could almost feel the frosty dislike oozing from his favourite Professor. If he hadn't already known quite well and good, Draco would have been questioning Snape on the cause of this dissension by now. Instead, Draco just strode along, a little behind the Slytherin Potions master with a nasty feeling in the pit of his stomach - was he going to be thrown out? would Lucius already be in Dumbledore's study? would Professor Lupin be there?

Draco trembled inside his robes and balled his hands into fists at his sides - he wouldn't let people see that he was nervous, it wouldn't do for Dumbledore to think he'd gone soft, even if he did seem to have lost his mind in the past few days. I've heard of love being people's downfall, Draco thought, but this is just plain stupid.

Arriving at the stone gargoyle which marked the entrance to the Headmaster's office, Snape was about to utter the password when a figure came running towards them from the right, and both men looked up to see who it was.

******

Eve was rudely awoken by a house-elf at around half past six, and informed via a note that the Headmaster wished to see her in his office at seven. Eve immediately felt scared, and considered hiding under her bedcovers all day, but she eventually dragged herself up and showered quickly. By the time she was ready, it was five to seven, and she just had time to tie her shoelaces and make sure her tie was straight as she ran through the Hogwarts corridors.

As she neared the Headmaster's office, running as fast as she could, she saw two figures in the distance, and when she recognised that soft blonde hair, her heart leapt for a moment. It soon dipped when she saw Snape though, and she slowed her walk to a run.

"Morning Professor," she managed a small smile for the Potions teacher, who eyed her with a look of disdain. Eve rolled her eyes at Draco when Snape turned away, but Draco just turned away from her, and Eve felt like someone had stabbed her in the chest. What's wrong with him now? she thought. Did I imagine that kiss yesterday, in his bedroom? was I dreaming? why is he being so cold with me now?

Before Eve got any answers to her questions, however, Snape had opened the portal to Dumbledore's office, and the three figures began climbing the stairs.

******

Albus Dumbledore smiled wistfully at Fawkes, and petted his back lightly. The bird leaned into the old man's touch and then made a small, squawking sound.

All of the previous night, Dumbledore had been going through the events of the past 24 hours in his mind. He couldn't quite place the reason for his uneasy feeling, but he suspected it had something to do with the actions of a certain Slytherin pupil.

Of course, Albus had always been aware that Draco was different - after all, hadn't he taught Lucius Malfoy many times before he was instated as Headmaster and then experience his wrath in the position of School Governor? Albus knew that human nature was a very difficult thing to explain, and while he didn't make excuses for those who followed Voldemort or tried to gain power for themselves, he had a certain ounce of.....compassion for them. Lucius was just like any other minion - he'd been taught the ways of those who followed the Dark Lord just like the rest of the Malfoy line, and there were certain tendencies that Albus had watched out for when Lucius was a pupil at Hogwarts, in order to determine how much of a slippery character the man may become.

And Dumbledore had been right - Lucius was one to watch, yet treat calmly - he was acting under orders, following a way that he believed was true, and to a certain extent, Dumbledore could understand that. Lucius knew no better but Draco..........

Well, Draco was a different character indeed.

During his time at Hogwarts, Albus had encountered nothing but trouble from the youngest Malfoy - fights with a certain Mr Harry Potter, cruel, childish jokes on many members of the Hufflepuff house and general tale-telling and a arrogant, haughty nature which suggested that Draco thought he was above everyone else.

Never once in his time had Dumbledore had to deal with anything serious where Draco was concerned - hexes, charms, silly spell casting and cheeky behaviour maybe, but definitely nothing that could endanger the young boy's place here.

If Dumbledore had to describe Draco Malfoy in any way he would say that the boy was an enigma - on first sight he seemed to be trouble maker, a bully with a leaning towards the Dark Arts, yet if you look beneath the surface at the actual actions and mayhem Draco caused, you would be likely to find traces of a strong willed, yet slightly mislead young man.

Albus had thought for some time now that Draco would have to decide his fate one way or another, and while most people would expect Draco to follow in the Malfoy tradition, Dumbledore suspected that he was just stubborn enough to turn away from what was expected of him - on purpose.

Yes, to Albus, Draco was trying to prove something. Maybe it was himself, the kind of person he could be, trying to strive to be as famous as Harry Potter yet falling into the infamous category because he was trying too hard. Draco was an excellent student, second only to Hermione Granger in some subjects, and he excelled in Potions. Albus had thought many times that Draco would be a superb choice to replace Severus when the job got too much for him - Potions making was a precise art that took skill and patience, and coupled with Draco's elegance and penchant for finesse, it was no wonder that the boy beat everyone else in his year, and in the years above him for that matter, hands down.

So the break had finally come - something had happened to make Draco choose, and while Dumbledore was quietly pleased with the outcome, he would not show it because he knew that to encourage Draco was to discourage him, being the enigma that he was.

And to think that it was a girl who had turned Draco's head made Albus chuckle to himself. Ah yes, love was often the strongest magic, and most lethal.

A chiming of bells from out in the corridor let Dumbledore know that his guests were arriving. Chucking Fawkes once more under the chin, the old Headmaster sat up, adjusted his glasses and arranged some papers on his desk - it was early, but he couldn't be seen to be simply sitting here thinking.

When the door knocked, Albus called, "come in!" and was greeted with the sight of his Potions Professor, looking as sour as usual, even considering the early time and the brightness of the sun that morning.

"Ah Severus!" Dumbledore smiled, "do come in."

Snape went to stand in the corner and from behind him, both Draco and Eve appeared. Albus noted their aloof body language from each other and felt instantly saddened, yet his face stayed impassive.

"Mr Malfoy! Miss Lupin! good morning to you both - do sit down!"

*****

Eve did as the Headmaster asked her to, still pondering on whatever could be making Draco so inward and cold. He'd flinched when she'd touched him on the stairs just now, when Snape was turned away, and Eve had felt a desperate kind of longing - was everything truly lost again? just when she thought she had hope?

"Now Severus, I wonder if you would be so kind as to order the four of us some light breakfast?" Dumbledore smiled warmly at Eve and Draco, "no doubt we're all very peckish at such an early hour!"

"But Headmaster - " Snape interrupted, sounding most put out.

"Tell the house elves I sent you," Dumbledore's smile broke into a grin as he waved Snape towards the door. When the ominous figure of the Head of Slytherin house had gone, Eve felt much lighter, and grateful to the wise old man, who now sat back in his chair behind his desk and surveyed the couple with a penetrating stare.

There was a slightly uncomfortable silence, in which Draco shifted about in his seat and coughed nervously. The urge to reach out and touch Draco was almost unbearable to Eve, but she simply sat where she was, looking down at her hands that were folded in her lap, willing Dumbledore to speak, no matter what he had to say.

Final, the silence was broken.

"It was a very brave thing that the two of you did last evening," Albus said in a quiet voice, and Eve raised her head a little to look at him. He smiled kindly and she relaxed a little. "I'm aware of the immense risks that the two of you undertook, and you must be commended. However, I would like a brief reason as to why you felt the need to embark on such a task."

It was clearly time for either Draco or Eve to speak, and as Draco looked like he may never speak again from fear, Eve decided to start the ball rolling.

"I only thought about my dad - saving him was the most important thing."

Dumbledore nodded absently, eyes on Draco. It was obvious that he had known Eve's motives, they were easy to work out, but he had devised the question to get a retort from Draco, and yet the young boy didn't seem to be much concerned with speaking.

Eve could see that Draco was shaking a little, yet not enough for Dumbledore to notice. There was a kind of determined cover in his eyes and all the blond boys defences were well and truly up. It was clear to Eve that he wouldn't be giving any secrets away today, least of all to Dumbledore, and man whom Eve secretly suspected he was scared of.

"Mr Malfoy?" Dumbledore eventually said, and it took Draco a moment to take his eyes off the various paintings that adorned the office before he spoke.

"I was helping Eve," Draco replied, eyes firmly fixed on his Headmaster - he knew never to show fear by avoiding eye contact.

"I see," Dumbledore frowned, touching his beard for a moment and surveying his desk. The old man was silent for a long time, deep in thought, and when he raised his eyes once again to the couple, he looked much older than before.

"There are no secrets here, I presume?" Albus asked, waving his hand between the pair. Eve was slightly startled by the question, but answered on behalf of Draco.

"No Sir, none that I know of," she quickly glared at Draco with a look that was probably more familiar on Hermione's face, and Draco finally returned her glance before shaking his head. He was clearly also taken back by the change of conversation direction, but at least it had eased him.

"Very well then," Dumbledore sat back and steepled his fingers in front of him, "we can all be very candid with each other. Draco, I assume you realise the depth of trouble you would be in should your father find out exactly who it was that released Remus Lupin?"

"Yes Sir," Draco answered quietly, eyes on his lap now. Eve felt sorry for him, watching him suffer - she knew he was bound to find this humiliating.

"In that case you understand what grave action you have taken."

"Yes, Sir," Draco mumbled again.

"I want you to know that here at Hogwarts, you are safe. There will always be a place here for you, should details of this matter leak out."

"Thank you, Sir."

"However," Dumbledore smiled to lighten the atmosphere, "no one need know that this business took place. I have spoken to Remus, and together we have agreed that he will tell Ministry Officials that he was unconscious and does not remember the identity of his rescuer. He will inform anyone who asks that he simply woke up in Hogsmeade, and proceeded to ask Madame Rosmerta for help in arriving back at the castle."

There was silence, and Eve smiled at Dumbledore. Draco still had his head down though, and Albus frowned slightly.

"Is that clear?" he asked softly. Draco eventually looked up.

"What will Professor Lupin say about where he was held?"

Eve almost gasped - she hadn't realised that there would be consequences for Lucius too.

"He will answer any questions truthfully. I cannot protect your father, Draco, he chooses his own actions."

Draco paled and swallowed loudly, before nodding slowly and returning his eyes to the floor.

"So we are agreed?" Dumbledore smiled, "the true details of last evening will not go beyond the select group of people already informed?"

"Agreed," Draco said firmly, then looked at Eve, who was hesitating.

"Something wrong, Eve?" the Headmaster asked gently.

"I - well, I was wondering if I could tell just one person, Sir."

"And whom would that be?" Dumbledore frowned. Draco looked simply horrified.

"Harry, Sir, Harry Potter."

"Potter?" Draco exclaimed, and Eve bit her lip when she looked at him.

"I can't lie to him anymore Draco, it's not fair on him, he's - "

"He hates me!" Draco frowned, "how could you put me in danger like that?"

"Harry won't tell anyone!" Eve assured.

"How do you know?" Draco retorted quickly. Albus, who was watching the exchange, settled more into his chair.

"Oh what's he going to do, Draco? run to your father and snitch on you?" Eve asked sarcastically. "Harry will just be pleased my dad is safe again!"

"I thought you were......" Draco began, but realised that Dumbledore was listening and looked slightly uncomfortable for a moment. The statement was too important to leave though, so he went on regardless. "I thought you were finishing things with him?"

"I am," Eve blushed, catching Dumbledore smiling from the corner of her eye, "but I need to tell him the truth because it's only fair - Harry's been very good to me."

Draco had a nasty retort on his lips, expressing what he thought of Harry in no uncertain terms, but he bit his tongue because of the Headmaster and gave Eve a scowl before sitting back in his seat and directing his eyes elsewhere.

Eve felt hurt, and sad - she wanted to sort things out with Draco right now, but the conversation was clearly over for him.

When Albus was sure the teenagers had finished their tiff, he nodded slightly at Eve and said, "You may tell Harry, I'm sure he'll keep our confidences."

"Thank you, Professor," Eve gave a small smile.

"Well," Dumbledore sighed, "I think that is everything - under normal circumstances of course, I would issue some form of punishment regarding your stray from school grounds, but I think we can wave the formalities just this once," the old man had a twinkle in his eye and Eve's smile broke into a grin. "Now, I wonder where Professor Snape has got to with our breakfast?"

******

"Draco!" Eve called as they left the Headmaster's office and returned to the corridor, half an hour and a hefty breakfast later. "Draco please! I need to talk to you!"

"Leave me alone," Draco sighed, walking away determinedly, but Eve wasn't having any of that, and as it was still early and the corridors still empty, she ran to get in front of him and when he walked into her, she stopped him with a firm kiss to his lips.

For a moment, Draco tried to pull away, but Eve held him there with her hands on his wrists, and he soon relaxed into the kiss. No matter how much he pretended to be angry, or how scared he felt, his body couldn't betray him, and when she was up this close, he couldn't help but give in.

Eve, who hadn't exactly been planning to kiss Draco, ended things almost as soon as they got interesting.

"I have to tell Harry," she said quietly, speaking into his lips because she was still so close.

"What if he.......?" Draco whispered, sounding scared and desperate. Eve held on more tightly to his wrists to make him feel safe.

"He won't, I promise you, he's not like that."

"What's going to happen?" Draco asked, and Eve was momentarily confused at the conversation shift.

"Happen?"

"Between us."

"Oh," Eve sighed, pressing her body closer to his.

"I......I want you," Draco said in a low, sad voice.

"I want you too," Eve smiled, lifting her hand up to cup the side of his face.

"Are we back together then?" Draco asked hopefully.

Eve hesitated. It felt so right to say yes, like giving in, opening up that door to paradise again that held long nights of making love and exploring kisses on the sofa that made your legs turn to jelly.

But...........

"Dump Pansy, and yes," Eve said plainly, but not harshly. She then felt Draco sigh against her chest.

"I can't, you know I can't."

"You said we'd be together," Eve whispered, moving her hand down to rest on his neck, slipping one finger inside the collar of his shirt - it was all so familiar, so comfortable and warm and.........right.

"We will," Draco replied, shutting his eyes at her gentle touch. No one had ever touched him like that before, with so much aching love and promise.

"When?" Eve asked quietly, yet with a demanding tone as she fitted their bodies in closer alignment with each other. She heard a hitch in Draco's breathing but moved her face away when he went to kiss her.

"Give me some time?" Draco asked, still whispering in the quiet of the lonely corridor, the sun streaming in through the high, stained glass windows and casting colourful spectrums of light on the old stone walls. "I need to work something out - a plan."

Eve nodded, believing him with every piece of her heart, then let herself be swept back up into another kiss. Draco took full advantage this time, freeing his hands and wrapping them tightly around her so that they were pressed together from head to toe.

They stayed locked together like that for a few moments before the breakfast bell sounded somewhere in the distance and disturbed their peace.

They left without speaking a word to each other.

******

"Eve!" Hermione grinned, and rushed to her friend. The girls embraced, and by this time everyone in the Great Hall was looking. Harry and Ron appeared behind Hermione, both smiling.

"You heard then?" Eve asked, the excitement that should have been there all along since her father's return finally bubbling to the surface.

"McGonagall told us this morning," Ron beamed.

"Have you been to see him yet?" Harry asked.

"Yeah," Eve nodded, "and he's doing just fine."

"Did he tell you what happened to him?" Hermione frowned as they made their way to their seats for breakfast.

"We didn't talk much about that," Eve lied, "I was just so glad to see him."

"So everything's okay again?" Harry asked. Eve simply nodded.

Everyone started to eat, and when they realised that Eve wasn't, Ron asked her why.

"I had breakfast with Dad," Eve explained. "In fact, I think I'll go for a walk before class. You fancy coming, Harry?"

Harry looked delighted to be asked, and smiled instantly.

"Sure," he shrugged, grabbing a few pieces of toast.

The couple left a smiling Ron and Hermione and left the Great Hall in silence.

"So when do we get to go and see him?" Harry asked as they made their way to the main doors. Eve didn't answer until they were outside in the fresh sunshine - it looked like it was going to be a bright, hot day again.

"Soon, I think. He's looking much better."

"Oh, good," Harry smiled.

Eve's stomach hurt with nerves, so she figured she'd better get it over with before Harry started talking again.

"Harry?"

"Hmm?" he spoke through his toast.

"There's something I need to tell you."

"Oh?" Harry frowned, wiping any crumbs away from his mouth.

"It's about dad. It's a long story, but its got to be a secret, okay? You can't tell anyone the truth, not even Ron or Hermione."

Harry nodded, intrigued.

Eve took a deep breath then related the story, exactly as it was, from beginning to end, finishing at the part where she left Dumbledore's office and cutting out the kiss in Draco's bedroom - some things Harry didn't need to know. She did tell him about her conversation with Draco yesterday though, and watched his face fall as the truth hit him.

"I'm.......I'm really sorry," she apologised, feeling utterly uncomfortable. They'd been walking and talking so long that they'd reached the lake already, and it was about time to start returning to the castle.

"So what happened to Pansy?" Harry asked with a hint of bitterness in his voice.

"Nothing, her and Draco are still together. I'm not going out with him Harry, but I can't deny my feelings anymore - I still like him and it's not fair on either me or you if I try to pretend I don't care about him."

"But......." Harry frowned. He couldn't quite comprehend everything - she hadn't been cheating on him, and if he was honest with himself, he'd known things were over between them for a long time, since her dad went missing, which seemed like weeks ago already, yet he was still feeling hurt.

Okay, so their relationship hadn't been the best ever in existence, but he'd enjoyed it, and while he'd suspected that Eve still had feelings for Malfoy, he had hoped that they could make things good enough for her to forget.

Obviously not.

"So you're finishing things with me?" Harry asked quietly, and he sounded so pathetic that Eve wanted to throw her arms around him and nurse him.

"I.......I think it's best, don't you?" Eve replied tentatively.

"I can't make you feel anything that you don't," Harry sighed, "and I won't lecture you on your decisions, but we're still friends, and I want you to know that.......well, I don't think he's worth it."

Eve smiled a little.

"I know you don't, and part of me questions that factor too, but I love him, and I can't help it - sometimes your heart just decides for itself, you know?"

Harry looked sadly at her.

"I know," he sighed.

"But.......we're still friends?" Eve asked hopefully. She knew she was asking a lot, and maybe it wasn't quite fair to put this on him now, but she felt scared and she needed to know.

"Yeah, of course," Harry shrugged. "No hard feelings?"

"No hard feelings," Eve repeated with a bright smile, and then lent forward and gave him a little kiss on his cheek.

Harry blushed, then checked his watch nervously.

"We'd best get back," he said, "or we'll be late for lessons."

******

It was late evening before Eve got a chance to go and see her father again. He was up in bed now, reading an ancient looking book and squinting in the half-light.

"Hey dad!" Eve called. Remus looked up and smiled when he saw her.

"Hello. I hear you've been busy!"

"Busy?" Eve frowned, planting a little kiss on his cheek, changing the flowers in the vase on his bedside table then sitting down in the empty seat beside him.

"Albus said you had a meeting with him this morning, then Minerva popped in and told me that she'd seen you to check everything was well - quite in demand, aren't we?"

"That's not all I've been up to," Eve sighed, leaning forward on the bed covers. She went on to tell her dad all about her meeting with Harry at breakfast.

"Poor boy," Remus sighed, "sounds like he took it pretty hard."

"I felt so horrible for doing it to him, but......."

"I know," Remus smiled gently, "these things have to be done - at least you're straight now, you're not lying anymore, and you know where your feelings lie."

"Yeah," Eve rolled her eyes, "but fat lot of good that does me."

"What do you mean?" Remus asked, sounding concerned.

"I spoke to Draco again this morning - he still hasn't finished with Pansy and he's asked me to give him some time. Apparently he needs to sort out 'a plan'."

Remus bit his tongue, holding back the comment that he knew he shouldn't make. He didn't approve of Draco Malfoy, no matter what the boy had done or what Albus has said earlier when he'd visited. To Remus, it wouldn't matter if Draco had saved a million people, he still wouldn't be good enough for Eve.

"We I've got an idea," Remus finally said.

"Oh yeah?" Eve sounded hopeful.

"Yeah, how about you throw yourself into your school work? that will take your mind off things."

"Oh dad!" Eve whined.

"It's nearly your O.W.Ls," Remus reminded her.

"I know that, Hermione tells me about it every five minutes in case I've forgotten, but thinking about school work doesn't help me stop thinking about Draco."

"You've got plenty of time to sort out your love life," Remus said with warning in his eyes, so maybe you should buckle down and - " he was cut off by a tapping at the window.

Eve turned to see a plain brown Post Owl hovering by the window latch and she rushed to let the bird in, but when the owl deposited the letter, she was sincerely sorry she had been so eager to welcome the bird.

Lying in her open palm was a red Howler with her name written on it. She looked up to her father's face and he was smiling brightly, his shoulders shaking a little with quiet laughter.

"Better open it before it bursts," he said helpfully. Eve scowled at him then opened the letter with careful fingers. She lifted the flap at the back but then the letter snapped open itself and she jumped back.

The pieces of envelope formed a mouth, and Sirius's booming voice filled the room,

"Eve Lupin! you silly, silly, foolish girl! What the hell were you thinking? Following the likes of Malfoy to his father's Manor in the dead of night? Are you stupid? didn't your father and your Gran teach you anything? The Malfoys are a bad lot, Eve! The best thing with their kind is to stay away! Do you hear me? Now you'd better look after your father for me until I get back to Hogwarts - and look after yourself!"

Eve stood quite still with shock while the Howler tore itself to pieces and fell on the bed before her. When Eve looked to Remus, he was chuckling madly.

"You.......you told him then?" Eve stuttered.

"He was just slightly worried about you," Remus grinned.

"But......but I saved you didn't I?"

"Yeah, and he's only worried, not angry."

"Sounded angry to me," Eve muttered, returning to her father's bed where he opened his arms to her and gave her a big cuddle.

"Something tells me that while Sirius thinks it's okay for him to be a Marauder, it's not so good for you," Remus laughed.

"I'm sorry dad, I didn't mean to put myself in danger, I just - "

"Shush," Remus comforted her, "it's over now, we're all safe again, there's nothing to worry about, and when Sirius gets back he'll just be pleased to see you, he never stays angry for long - except with Severus of course."

Eve huddled in closer to her dad and shut her eyes as he held her tightly. She was safe here, and while there seemed to be a wealth of loathsome events to come, at least her dad was back, and he knew now - no more secrets, and no more lies.

Epilogue

"You're joking me!" Eve laughed, settling into a seat next to Harry at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall.

"Honestly, I can't think of a worse candidate, but Lavender says he gets her vote," Hermione said in her very official voice.

"Vote for what?" Ron asked, leaning into his girlfriend and stealing a roast potato from her plate.

Hermione looked slightly affronted for a moment but as she was about to retort, Dumbledore stood up and the whole Hall went silent. The group of four friends at the Gryffindor table looked up to the staff table and watched Dumbledore expectantly as he surveyed the room.

"Another year.....gone," Albus said wistfully, and Eve turned to Harry, who returned the smile of the girl beside him. "Sometimes it can seem that life passes us so quickly, we don't appreciate what time we do have - this year we have seen ups," Dumbledore indicated the Quidditch trophy sat at the top of the Gyffindor table, "and downs, but through this all we have faith - in the people we love, and those who love us. Each year we learn lessons, and as we learn lessons, we grow - it's important to remember that we all make mistakes, it's how we deal with them that counts."

At this, Eve cast her eyes across the Hall to Draco, sat amongst his Slytherin friends with a bored kind of look on his face.

It was a month since the rescue mission, and they hadn't spoken since the day outside Dumbledore's office. Things had gone on as normal after Remus's return, yet Eve was still in the dark as to what went on between Draco and his father. There had been no mention of the failed hostage situation since, and only one small, contained Death Eater outbreak in South London.

Eve was still waiting for Draco's plan, some sign that he would carry out his promise, and she believed with all her heart that he would. Things had been difficult at first with Harry, but now they were slowly righting themselves and on today, the last day of term, Eve felt closest to her friends.

Everyone was leaving on the early Hogwarts Express tomorrow, but Eve and her father would be staying at Hogwarts for the summer. Sometimes Eve felt panicked that Draco was leaving before they had sorted everything out, but she knew she had to be patient - Draco needed time, there was a lot he had to decide, a lot he had to chose from.

After all, Eve had plenty of time - a whole summer to brood on what she had, where she wanted to aim for next year and which subject to drop. Her O.W.L results hadn't exactly been the best in the school, but she had done her best under the circumstances, and her father had been pleased, so she wasn't too concerned.

It was probably going to be a long summer, but Sirius was visiting, and Ron had mentioned that maybe the four of them could meet up in Hogsmeade at some point, seen as Hermione was staying at the Burrow for a few weeks. Harry and Eve had been teasing them, saying that they couldn't spend longer than a few minutes apart, but secretly Eve thought it was sweet, and she often looked at the way Ron and Hermione got along and felt a spark of jealousy that it wasn't her and Draco. Things had changed a lot in the past few months, and now she often talked to her dad about Draco, but she knew that everyone had a long way to go before they were friends.

Dumbledore was just finishing his speech as Eve snapped out of her reverie, and was just in time to raise her glass with everyone else. They drank to the holidays and to the prospect of the new school year, and as everyone began to clap, Eve smiled up at her father, who gave her a quick wave.

It was as she was about to return her eyes to Harry and note to him that Ginny and Seamus were sitting quite closely that she caught Dumbledore looking at the Slytherin table. When Eve followed his eyes, she saw that he was looking at Draco, who was clapping along with everyone else. Eve saw Dumbledore nod at Draco, and a smile grew easily on her face when she saw Draco acknowledge the Headmaster's nod and return it.

Maybe things were going to work out after all.

-------------------------- The End.