A Pair of Star-Cross'd Lovers

A Pair of Star-Cross'd Lovers

Act Three

"Ginny! Where have you been? Mum and Dad expected you this morning!"

Ginny blinked as she entered the Gryffindor Common Room, only to be greeted by Charlie Weasley's disapproving voice. "Charlie? What are you doing at Hogwarts?"

"What am I doing here? Better to ask where you have been!" Charlie settled his hands on his hips and tried to glare at his sister. Ginny would have laughed at him, but Charlie's face was blotchy, and his eyes were red, all signs that her older brother had been crying recently, and Ginny didn't wish to cause her brother any more pain.

"I needed to be by myself, Charlie. I suppose I didn't think the entire family would be here."

"Not the entire family," said Charlie, and his face softened. He reached for Ginny and they sat on one of the couches. "Just me, and Mum and Dad. You should have known that we would never have left you alone at a time like this. Weasleys stick together."

Ginny smiled weakly. "Yeah," she said. "Mum's here?"

"She and Dad are in Dumbledore's office," said Charlie. "They're just settling a few things, and then they'll collect your classwork and we'll be off - "

"What?" asked Ginny, pulling back. "I don't understand. Why are they collecting my classwork? I'll still be going to classes, won't I?"

"But we need you at home, Gin, for the ... funeral, and all," said Charlie.

"That would only be a few days!" cried Ginny. "I'll be back after!"

Charlie rested his hand on Ginny's arm. "No, Gin," he said, "you won't. That's been the plan all along, really - we're going underground. We'll stay safe until the war is over, and everything will be fine."

Ginny stared at him. "You're going to leave Harry alone? But - he's as much a Weasley as the rest of us! What about Weasleys sticking together?"

"We are supporting Harry, Gin! Bill and the twins and I won't be hiding out forever; we'll come out once you and Mum and Hermione are settled. Harry can't worry about your safety when he's trying to save the world."

"My safety? Why should Harry worry about me?"

Charlie laughed. "Oh, Gin, do you really think your relationship means so little to him?"

"We don't have a relationship," said Ginny.

Charlie shook his head, still smiling. "Ah, Gin, don't put on like that. Everyone knows that you and Harry have been secretly seeing each other since the Halloween Ball."

Ginny's mouth dropped open. "I - I don't love Harry Potter! And I'm very certain he doesn't love me. Harry is no more than a friend to me, and I'm sure he would be much aggrieved if I abandoned him now!"

"Gin, your very life is at stake," said Charlie seriously. "Half the wizarding world believes you to be Harry's girl. Stay here and you'll be dead in a week. The hide-away is a much better place for you to be, Gin. No one will be able to find you there - not even so much as an owl. You'll be perfectly safe."

"I'll be cut off from everyone!" cried Ginny.

"Of course not, Gin," said Charlie. "Bill and the twins and I will know where you are."

Ginny's heart plummeted. Sent away ... cut off from the wizarding world ... no owls could reach her ... no one would know where she was ... How will Draco know where I am? I can't hide away from him - or Harry. I can't bury myself in a hole and wait for someone else to save us.

"Make me go, and I'll come to the same end," said Ginny, standing to look down on her brother sitting on the couch. "Why are you so bound and determined to marry me off to Harry? I'd sooner marry Draco Malfoy!"

The room turned cold instantly. Charlie stared up at his sister, who shook with pent up emotion and rage. "You'll have them lose another child to the Dark, won't you, then? First Percy, and then Ron - and now you. Do you really want to kill our mother, Ginny?"

Ginny shook, staring at Charlie. "You don't understand about him, Charlie - "

Charlie's brow furrowed. "You're too upset to think clearly," he said. "This has been too much of a shock to you. First Ron's death, then learning you're to leave Hogwarts. You'll see what we're saying after a bit. Come now, it won't be so bad! We're setting up one of those Muggle tevie-lisions that Harry always talks about, and there's a few books charmed to change themselves into whatever you feel like reading - "

"I won't go," said Ginny.

"You're overreacting," answered Charlie.

"I've never been so certain about anything in my life," said Ginny, she stood and backed away from the couch. Charlie's eyes narrowed.

"Fine then," he said. "Tell it to our parents! Tell them you'd rather marry their son's murderer than the boy you claim to have loved since the day you arrived at Hogwarts - "

"No - that's not it, Charlie - you don't understand."

The door opened, and Ginny stared as Molly and Arthur Weasley entered the common room. "Ginny!" said her mother, and Ginny could see the red rims around her mother's eyes, and how her father seemed to have aged twenty years. "Darling - we were so worried!"

Ginny went straight into her mother's comforting arms. Her face buried in her mother's shoulder, Ginny thought that perhaps she might be able to tell her mother why she didn't want to leave Hogwarts - not about Draco Malfoy, of course, but simply explaining that there was another boy, and Harry had little to do with her own love life. Molly would understand, and she would say it would be all right for Ginny to stay at Hogwarts - Molly wouldn't condemn Ginny to hiding from everyone important to her.

"Mum - I - "

"Ginny has something to tell you, Mum," said Charlie cruelly, and Ginny stiffened.

"Sweetie?" asked Molly.

"I - " Ginny faltered, staring up into her mother's face. Molly looked so sad - so trusting - and so loving. Ginny almost began to tell her everything.

"Go on, then, Gin," said Charlie harshly. "Or shall I? Mum, Dad - I think you should know - "

Ginny didn't wait to hear what Charlie said. She tore herself from her mother's arms and bolted from the room, escaping into the cool hallways, racing down the stairs and nearly toppling over Harry at the base of the large staircase near the Great Hall.

"Ginny? I was looking for you," said Harry, who had fallen to his knees. Ginny scrambled up and backed away.

"No! Don't look for me! Leave me alone!"

"Gin," said Harry. "I'm sorry the way I told you - I should have had Hermione say it. She's better at that sort of thing."

"You don't get it, do you?" screamed Ginny. "Just leave me alone! Do you know they're planning our wedding up there?"

Harry straightened his glasses. "Yes," he whispered, and Ginny stared at him.

"You knew?" she whispered.

"Gin," said Harry, "it's all they've got. Your brothers - they're all going to war. I'll bet half of them don't come back. And for what it's worth, Gin - I'm probably not going to come back either. If planning our wedding makes your mum happy, Gin - your mum is the closest thing to a mother I'll ever know. If I die, I'll die knowing that she was happy thinking that she really would have me as a son someday."

"And what do I have, Harry?" said Ginny. "My favourite brother is killed, his killer, my boyfriend, has been sent away from me. I had a horrid dream this morning, Harry - I dreamt I saw Draco dead and resting in my lap, and I was only moments too late to save him. My parents still have my brothers, Harry - who do I have?"

"Me," said Harry. "I thought you had me."

"Oh, Harry," sighed Ginny. "I don't want you!" Instantly Ginny saw the hurt in Harry's eyes. She knelt beside him. "I love Draco, Harry. I'm sorry."

"Would it be so bad, if you had me and not him?" asked Harry bitterly.

"Yes," said Ginny. "Because I couldn't live my life with you and not wish I were with him instead. I'd make you miserable, Harry, just by being with you. I don't want that, and neither do you."

Harry smiled at her. "I would have tried to make you happy."

"I know."

"But you'd be happier with him, even so," continued Harry. "So I've lost you. I should never have helped you with him."

Ginny touched his cheek. "But you did. And I'll love you always for it, whatever should happen." She glanced behind her. "I have to go - I can't let my parents find me."

Harry looked confused. "But - you're going with them into hiding, aren't you?"

"No," said Ginny. "I can't. I - " She bit her lip and trembled. "I'd be living a lie, and I can't do it anymore. I haven't the strength. And I've nowhere to turn, no one who can help."

"Yes, you have," said Harry.

"Who?"

Harry smiled grimly. "Severus Snape."

***

The Potions Master had half expected to see her that day. He knew the children had spent the night in his study, but had found no sign of them when he arrived that morning. He knew the Weasley clan had arrived, and he supposed young Miss Weasley would need to return to the scene of her own crime, as it were, to escape their cloying tenderness.

So when Ginny appeared on his doorstep, he was not the least bit surprised. "Professor, I cannot do this," she said, and Snape glanced at her.

"Pretend hatred for the one you love? Harder tasks have been accomplished by weaker beings," he said mildly. Ginny stepped inside and closed the door.

"I cannot run to safety while my friends fight a war for me," she said. "How can I look myself in the mirror every day when those I have grown to love risk their lives?"

Snape looked up at her. "A very Gryffindor-like sentiment of you, Miss Weasley. And where do you propose to go? You cannot stay at Hogwarts without risking your life."

"I'll join Draco," said Ginny. "He told me where he's going, and what he will do. I can withstand anything if I'm with him."

"So you propose to tell your parents this, and expect them to send you with their blessings?"

Ginny fell silent. "I was hoping you might help."

"Where did you get that foolish notion?"

"Harry."

Snape went still. He sat for an absurdly long moment, quietly breathing, listening to the soft bubbling of the cauldron. Abruptly he stood and crossed to a shelf, picking a single book out of several dozen. He thumbed through it while walking to his supply shelves. Ginny watched as he began adding various things into the cauldron stirring and muttering to himself. After several minutes, he reached over and took her arm, pressing a pin to her wrist. A drop of blood appeared and fell into the cauldron. Ginny jerked her arm away, and clutched her wrist. Snape continued to mutter to himself, stirring, looking strange and demonic in the eerie glow of the cauldron. Finally, he filled a small vial of the opal liquid, and handed it to her.

"Go back to your tower," he said. "Tell your parents you will return to your home with them in the morning. Then, after you are in bed, drink this. You will feel cold, and you will fall into a dreamless sleep, and you will appear to be dead. After two days have passed, you will wake, and Draco will be waiting at your side to take you away from England."

Ginny took the vial in her hands, and held it close, staring at the swirling clear liquid inside.

"I will send word to Draco," continued Snape gruffly. "He is not entirely past word of mouth."

"Why help me?" asked Ginny.

Snape turned away and sat at his desk. "Sometimes love affairs end happily," he said gruffly, and impulsively, Ginny leaned over the desk and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thank you," she said softly, and left the room.

***

The moonlight streamed into the window, falling on Ginny as she knelt beside it. She held the vial in her hand, turning it in the light and watching it glimmer.

"What if it doesn't work, and I wake in the morning and are sped away to the Burrow without chance of word to my Draco," she wondered. "Or what if it works too well, and I never see him again? What if I wake before he is there, and someone realises that I am not dead? So many things could go wrong with this plan - suppose I not take this potion at all? And sit in a shelter with Mum and Hermione, and mourn my brother for ages - no!"

Draco Malfoy. If someone had told Ginny a month before that she would be drinking a Sleeping Death Draught in order to join him in exile, she would have - laughed? Cried? Or smiled mysteriously and said "Perhaps." Ginny sighed, and looked at the grounds below, covered in snow, white and innocent and clean.

My place is with him now, thought Ginny. I don't belong here anymore - I cannot wait for redemption to come to me. I'll go with Draco, where I belong.

Ginny drank.

***

Morning crept over London slowly. The fog took time to dissipate, filling the streets with an otherworldly grey glow. Despite the hour, the streets were busy with the hustle-bustle of commuters from the suburbs, deliverymen brining fresh-baked scones and coffee to the masses, and the random unsavoury character interspersed among the rest.

One such character did not stir from his post at the edge of an alley. He kept his tweed cap low, his ragged and patched coat buttoned closed. Grey eyes glanced up and down the street, scanning for something or someone. He was nearly invisible in the dusky light of morning, and most Londoners passed him without notice.

At last the man moved into the flow of traffic, allowing it to sweep him along the streets, heedless of destination. He walked straight for nearly an hour, turned right, and walked along for another hour. He paid little heed to the signs or signals, relying on luck to guide him.

London was a haven for Draco. He had appeared in the Leaky Cauldron in the early hours, before it was busy with country witches in for a day of shopping, and had been able to slip into Diagon Alley without notice. He had used the private entrance into Gringotts, reserved for special clients and open at all hours, and there gained access to his vault, where he was able to collect as much money as he could carry. From the greedy but discreet goblins, he had then changed the money into Muggle pounds (paying an exorbitant rate of exchange for the privilege of their silence).

He then slipped into Muggle London.

Draco had been in Muggle London exactly once in his life. At the age of six, he had slipped away from his parents as they lingered in the Leaky Cauldron one afternoon, and found himself in the middle of the busy streets. The automobiles, the men in trousers and not robes, the very stark and cold look of the buildings had startled him into immobility and silence, and Draco had never dared to step foot past the wizarding barriers again.

Now he was immersed in it, wearing clothes Snape had lent him, and had spent the previous day, his first of exile, wandering through the downtown area, trying to keep close to corners and dark alleys. The night he had spent huddled between a trash bin and a brick wall, shivering and watching the stars above him twinkle in the pockets between the clouds. And here, his second day of exile, he had decided to explore the outer reaches of London, perhaps to leave it altogether.

But London was larger than Draco imagined, and after the hours of walking he was still no closer to the edge of the city than he had been at the beginning of the day. A cold rain began to fall, and Draco huddled into his coat, turning the collar up and bracing himself against the wind. He was near Piccadilly Circus when he overheard a bit of conversation that chilled him to the bone.

"...Weasley girl dead ..."

Draco stopped dead in his tracks in the middle of the crossing. People streamed around him, and when the light changed and he remained where he was, honking horns filled the air. Draco moved blindly to the sidewalk and kept walking until he found himself at the Leaky Cauldron, drawn there almost by instinct. Heedless of the danger should he be recognised - for surely by now the authorities knew of his crimes - Draco went straight through the pub and into the darkest corner, where he found a copy of that day's paper and began to read.

Daughter of Ministry Official Dies

Virginia Weasley, 16, was found dead in her dormitory at Hogwarts School yesterday morning, two days after her 17-year-old brother Ronald's murder.

"Ronald Weasley's death was the direct cause of foul play," said an Auror who refused to give his name. "We suspect that Miss Weasley's death is connected to his, and have doubled efforts to locate the suspect."

When asked how officials intended to apprehend the suspect, whose name has been withheld, but has been rumoured to be a Hogwarts student in Slytherin House, officials refused to comment.

There has been much speculation on the manner of Miss Weasley's death. While most suspect poison, others are convinced Miss Weasley died at her own hand.

"My daughter would never take her own life!" said Arthur Weasley, her father. "She has everything to look forward to - a loving and supportive family, a life with Harry. You know as well as I do who is responsible!"

Miss Weasley has long been suspected as Harry Potter's girlfriend, and from this statement we can only assume such rumours were true. Mr Potter, known to the wizarding community as The Boy Who Lived, is the main defence in the Voldemort War, and could not be reached for comment.

The bodies of the Weasley children have been moved to the Weasley home prior to burial.

***

The words haunted Draco, like an endless refrain in the background.

A loving and supportive family - but for how long, had Ginny and Draco made their relationship public? If they had known in whose arms she'd spent the night after Ron's death! The family that loved and supported her in death would have shunned and disowned her in life.

A life with Harry - trapped in a sham marriage; what had happened after Draco left Hogwarts? Ginny would not have agreed to a relationship with Harry, knowing Draco waited for her. What lies or tricks had her parents played to turn her affections? Draco clenched his fist, and for half a moment wished he had killed Harry and not Ron.

You know as well as I who is responsible - Draco knew. And though his name wasn't mentioned, he knew that Arthur Weasley knew as well.

I am responsible. Weasley's right in that, but not for the same reason. I should have stayed, I should have taken her with me. And now she is dead!

The sound of laughter in the pub startled Draco, and he rose from the table and stumbled into the back alley, where he tapped on the stones and walked into Diagon Alley.

The rain fell in Diagon Alley, grey and thick. Draco was grateful for it, for it allowed him to keep his head low and avoid eye contact. He thought he saw Aurors on his trail in every window, and he hurried through the crowds to Knockturn Alley, knowing exactly where he needed to go. He stumbled up the creaking outdoor stairs to the second floor, and went in the door.

The small room was overcrowded with jars and sour smells. The dust hung thickly in the air, and when Draco coughed, he could see the dust particles scurry in the pale light of the candles on the counter.

"Apothecary!" called Draco, and his voice was hoarse.

"Who calls me?" said a voice from a dark corner, and a bent old man shuffled into the light. He made his way to the counter and looked at Draco with a pair of rheumy red eyes.

Draco slammed his hand on the counter, and when he removed it, there was a pile of gold resting there. "A poison, old man," he said. "One that moves quickly and with little pain."

The man's eyes gleamed as he saw the pile of gold, and his fingers, swollen with arthritis, twitched with eagerness. He licked his lips and said, "Such mortal drugs I have indeed, my dear boy, but for one as young as you - I have heard tell of a young murderer on the run - "

Draco was still for half a moment before reaching to snatch the gold away. But the old man, despite his age, was quicker and the money was gone before Draco could blink. In its place was a single vial of clear liquid, sealed with wax. Draco took the vial and held it up, his fingers trembling.

"Put it in any liquid and drink it all," said the man. "If you had the strength of twenty men, it would dispatch you straight to heaven or hell; it's your choice."

Draco stared at the vial in his hand and then looked at the old man, counting the coins gleefully.

"You have sold me my poison, old man," said Draco, "just as I have sold you yours. Enjoy your wealth, and may it bring you the same comfort this cordial brings me."

The old man scarcely heard Draco's words, and never noticed when the young man left the shop.

***

It seemed all of Britain was in mourning that day, for it rained everywhere. Or at least so it seemed to the owl which arrived near dinnertime to Hogwarts, a letter tied securely to its leg. The owl glided into the Great Hall, finally collapsing at the Head Table before the empty seat of Severus Snape. All eyes were on the owl, as Albus Dumbledore reached over and plucked the letter from it. He looked at the address, and raised his eyes. Without a word, the Headmaster rose and exited the hall, and walked swiftly to the dungeons, straight to the office of Severus Snape.

"Headmaster," said Snape, looking up from his desk. "To what do I owe this most pleasant surprise?"

"An owl delivered this for you at dinner, Severus," said the Headmaster, handing him the parchment. "Your handwriting, but not your name."

Severus took the parchment, and paled. "Headmaster - Albus - I ..."

"Don't, Severus," said Dumbledore tiredly. He sat in the chair. "I thought you might have harboured the boy against my wrath, true. But to send him a note so soon after exile? Severus, you are a smarter man than that."

"I thought I was, sir, yes," said Severus. "I did send Malfoy away, and have aided him in hiding. But it appears that he has outsmarted me and found a new dwelling."

"But to owl him now, Severus?"

"Open the letter, Headmaster."

Silence as Dumbledore scanned the words. Snape watched as the blue eyes moved back and forth, finally resting on the final lines, and then looked up at Severus.

"Where were they to go, Severus?"

"Anywhere, Albus, that is sufficiently far enough away to be safe."

"You approve of their match."

"I am the one who gave her the sleeping draught, Albus," said Snape. "And sent the letter so Malfoy would not think her dead and despair - " Snape's eyes widened. "The letter that rests in your hand..."

"Mr Malfoy will have heard by now of Miss Weasley," said Dumbledore.

Snape sprang up. "I must find him. I must warn him. Who knows what he will do, thinking she is dead."

"Where did you send him?"

"London."

Dumbledore stood. "Then to London we shall go."

"Albus - "

"This is my affair as well, Severus. Draco ran because of my edict. So you are not wholly responsible for these events. Come, we will look for him together."

***

Dark. The rain fell, and the room was illuminated with lightning. As it died away, the roll of thunder filled the room.

Harry blinked, waking suddenly. It was eerily stilled in the room, and he quickly moved to light the candle on the nightstand. The flickering light was enough to shine on the body on the bed, and Harry sat on the chair next to it.

She was pretty, even in death. Her cheeks remained rosy, her skin flush, as though she'd only just laid down for a nap. Harry brushed a bit of hair back from her forehead and sighed.

"Ginny," he whispered. "Why'd I send you to him? He has only brought you to death."

Even as he spoke the words, Harry wasn't sure if he meant Draco Malfoy or Severus Snape. Harry knew it didn't matter. He had sent Ginny to Draco to clear up their kiss; he had told her that Snape might help her when she had fallen in love with the blond villain.

"I killed you as surely as anyone," said Harry quietly. "I should have confronted Malfoy myself. I sent you into the serpent's den, my Ginny. If you are dead, it is because I was afraid to face your fears for you."

The lightening flashed again, and with it, Harry heard a noise on the sloping roof outside Ginny's window. He stood quickly, his nerves taught, and slipped into the closet, leaving the door ajar, determined to see who approached.

The window rattled as the intruder fought with the lock. At last it was wrenched open and in slipped Draco Malfoy. Wet and heavy, he fell to the floor in a heap, and there rested a moment before rising to his knees and crawling to the bed where the girl lay.

"Ginny," he whispered, and rested his hand on hers. "I dreamt such a strange dream, my love. I dreamt you came and found me dead, and breathed life into me with a kiss. And now the tables are turned, and I find you here."

Draco leaned over her and kissed her lips. "Cold," he murmured. "And no life in you. Still as beautiful as the day I kissed you in the stables and made you mine."

"She's not yours, Malfoy," said a voice behind him, and Draco laid his head on Ginny's stomach. He did not need to turn around to know who it was.

"Potter."

"She was yours in life, but no longer," said Harry coldly. "You brought her to this end."

"I did," said Draco quietly, and he stood and faced Harry. "I did this. I should have taken her with me, or stayed. I ran like a coward. And now I'll take the coward's way out."

Harry paled. "No - Malfoy - you don't mean - "

Draco glared at him. "You don't mean to stop me, Potter? This isn't your affair any longer. Why should you care if I kill myself?"

"She wouldn't have wanted that," said Harry. Draco laughed.

"You didn't know her like I did, Potter," said Draco. "You were too busy saving the world to pay much attention to her. And as long as I'm alive, you can keep pretending that she's yours in death. You can say to yourself that I killed her. 'There goes Malfoy, he's off living life and happy, he didn't truly love Ginny like I do.' Well, sod off, Potter, I won't give you the satisfaction."

"You'll kill yourself to spite me?" asked Harry.

"It has nothing to do with you, Potter."

"It has everything to do with me!"

"The world doesn't revolve around you, you git!" shouted Draco. "Ginny is dead and I killed her - and I'd rather not have to wake up every morning with that sitting on my chest!"

"Malfoy, listen," said Harry, taking a step forward, but Draco pointed his wand at him.

"Not another step closer, Potter," he said calmly. Harry froze.

"You're an idiot, Malfoy."

"I know," said Draco. "If I'd been smarter, I could have prevented you from seeing me. Better, I could have kept Ginny from dying, or not blasted her brother across the hall. I could have made sure she didn't fall in love with me, or kept her from kissing me in the greenhouse. None of this would have happened, if I'd been careful. She would still be alive, she might have even married you, Potter. But she'd still never be yours."

Harry looked at the girl on the bed. The candle flickered over her face; he almost thought he saw her fingers move. He blinked, and looked again at Malfoy, who still had his back to her. And suddenly, everything made sense. "Malfoy," he began.

"We can't change fate, Potter," said Draco dully. "Her fate was to die by my hand, and if I can't share my life with her, at least I can share her death."

"Draco," said Harry urgently. "Listen - " Harry took a step forward, and Draco did not hesitate.

"Stupefy!"

Harry fell with a thump on the floor. Draco checked to make sure Harry still breathed.

"I cannot add you to my list, Potter," said Draco. "You loved her, too. Take your own advice, because I cannot."

Draco turned back to the bed, and sat by the girl lying there. "Ginny," he whispered, and held her hand tightly. "I didn't kill him, Ginny. I know you'd want him to live. I did that right, even if I screwed up everything else. He'll live to fight another day, and maybe he'll forgive me someday for loving you."

Draco took the vial from his cloak and ran his fingers across the smooth glass. "Perhaps it's better like this, Ginny. We never could really have had a life together. We'd always be running from enemies, or defending ourselves from family, or we might have learned to hate each other for the hell our love had brought to us. But now ... "

Draco held up the vial, and tipped its contents back into his throat.

***

It was like swimming upwards in murky waters, trying to reach the light at the surface. She heard the roaring of waves, like her ears were filled with water. She heard voices, shouting too, and a thump. Draco. Ginny struggled to open her eyes and fought desperately to wake. Her body fought her; her limbs refused to move. Every breath hurt, and it felt like a weight rested on her chest.

"Help me," Ginny whispered, but her lips barely moved. She felt numb and stupid. "Help." Dimly, Ginny heard her own voice whisper, and she tried furiously to open her eyes.

The candle still flickered by her bed, and Ginny focused on the flame. I'm awake. I'm alive. I'm at home, and it's nearly over.

Ginny blinked, and her fingers fluttered as feeling gradually returned to them. They closed around another hand, and gripped the other set of fingers.

"Draco," she whispered, and all at once she had returned to herself. She pushed the weight on her chest away, and sat up, feeling something fall onto her legs.

Draco Malfoy lay in Ginny's lap, his eyes closed and dark, his cheeks pale and his lips red. Ginny smiled brightly and touched his cheek.

"Draco! Wake up, love, I'm here," she said softly, and frowned as her fingers rested on his quickly cooling face. "Draco - darling - you're so..." She jerked her fingers away, and began to shake. "No. No - he said he'd tell you. He said you'd know I only slept." Ginny looked around her room wildly, and choked back a sob, resting her hand on his. Clumsily she picked up his hand, and the vial fell out of it. She picked it up and sniffed, recognising the smell. "Poison," she whispered. "And empty - not leaving any for me! Perhaps there is still some on your lips - "

Ginny leaned and kissed him. "Your lips are warm, but dry," she murmured. She kissed him again, and was about to descend in a flurry of kisses when a noise on the roof outside startled her. Her hand fell on Draco's wand.

"They can't keep us apart any longer," she whispered to the boy. Ginny lifted the wand, and pointed it at herself.

***

The flash of green light nearly knocked the two men off the roof. Severus Snape's mouth dropped open, and he let out a strangled cry. Dumbledore rested a hand on his arm.

"It may not be too late, Severus."

"It is already too late," the younger man said, and surged forwards to the window, breaking it open with a shatter of glass. The two men climbed into the room and saw the three prone bodies before them.

Severus was white-lipped. "I have killed them all," he said. "I thought to save them both, and I have failed."

Dumbledore knelt by Harry. "He is not dead, Severus," he said. "Merely stunned."

Severus fell against the window frame. "Not dead."

The door flew open, and Charlie Weasley stepped into the room, followed by Hermione. "What is going on here?" he began angrily, and his eyes fell on the bed. "Oh, God!"

Hermione cried out and flew to Harry's side. Harry began to stir, and opened his eyes. He looked first at Hermione and Dumbledore, and then at the bed.

"Oh, God," he moaned. "It's done."

"What is going on here?" boomed another voice. Mr and Mrs Weasley appeared in the doorway. Mrs Weasley saw the tableau on the bed and flew to it, gathering Ginny away from Draco and holding the girl in her arms. Mr Weasley stood by Charlie, his knuckles turning white.

"Your daughter is dead," said Dumbledore shortly, "and though this is hardly new to you, she has only died just now and at her own hand. For she loved her enemy and was loved by him, and they have found in death the togetherness they could not have had in life."

"Malfoy," said Charlie bitterly. "Leave it to him to destroy everything - "

"Oh, Charlie!" cried Hermione.

Snape spoke, his voice gruff. "Stop it, Weasley. See what trouble comes of hatred? Your family has been destroyed with love."

"He could have destroyed us all!"

"But he didn't," said Harry. "He came to kill himself, to be with Ginny. And he could have killed me when I tried to stop him. Instead, he stunned me."

"Love has saved us here," said Dumbledore. "Harry, twice saved by love, is twice blessed by it. And through Draco and Ginny's sacrifice, is twice reminded of the responsibility he bears to ensure good triumphs for the continuation of love to exist."

Harry, supported by Hermione, rose. Dumbledore looked at the tableau before him - Mrs Weasley cradling her daughter's body, and Mr Weasley resting his hand on Draco's forehead; Snape staring forlornly ahead and the two young students standing resolutely, supporting each other.

"The story is not over," the old wizard said. "It has only just begun."

Finis