Goodnight Sweet Girl

Ten: The Questionable Background of Diana Marlowe

"Severus!"

Snape jolted and sat upright, scowling at the intrusion made in part by the deputy headmistress. He looked up at the woman in red robes, her hair pulled back in a severe bun, and her face set in determination. A black eyebrow rose in curiosity as he gestured at a chair. She looked at the wooden chair and then transifigued it into a plush red office chair. Snape rolled his eyes as she took the chair.

"Yes, Minerva? What, may I ask, is the occasion for this little visit?" His words were venomous honey.

"Don't you start with me today!" she snapped and then narrowed her eyes at him. "I know there is something afoot here, and it has to do with that girl, Diana Marlowe, and the death of Draco Malfoy. And I am not leaving this room until I have answers!"

"Have you considered going to Albus?" Snape sounded uninterested and his expression was bored, but his eyes sparked with curiosity.

"I thought I might find out a few things before seeing the headmaster, and seeing as to how Miss Marlowe is your goddaughter, I thought you might be the one to inform me," she said, her eyes sparking and then she let out a snort. "Obviously the girl has problems, and she is in my house, although I think that may be some mistake. She broke Dean Thomas' nose and I heard that Mr. Weasley has suffered a black eye with regards from her. Now, Potter is smitten with her and I want to know who she is, because up until December there are no records of her, anywhere."

Severus leaned forward in his chair and regarded the woman with carefully neutral black eyes. He knew he could trust the woman, but how would she react to what he had to tell her? Curiosity over won common sense, and he'd always wondered if there was a way to give the poor woman an apoplexy.

"All right, Minerva, you're suspicions are well founded. So..." Severus paused dragging out the moment for a dramatic effect. "What is it that you wish to know?"

"Who is she? Where does she come from?"

Severus smiled, stood up, and then offered the woman some firewhisky, which she declined, before pouring a glass for himself. This promised to be a long conversation indeed.

---------

Blaise Zabini had been sulky ever since he'd heard about Draco's disappearance. He'd been practically intolerable since the news of Draco's death. According to the papers there had been a girl involved, a girl whose discription matched that of the newest Gryffindor, the one who was getting close to Potter.

Blaise rolled over in his four poster, green velvet bed curtains drawn for privacy, as he mulled over the girl. She looked amazingly like him, they could almost pass for twins, perhaps even... He shook his head at the thought. The girl couldn't be Draco... Could she? Maybe he was going mad, it was possible. People sometimes went mad when they lost the object of their unrequited love... Still who was this strange new girl? Where did she come from? Why did she seem so familiar? And why was she so much like him?

---------

"Do you expect me to believe that your goddaughter is in fact Draco Malfoy?" Minerva said and almost laughed in disbelief, but the look in Severus Snape's eyes stopped her, and the color drained from her face. "Oh dear... But how?"

"That you will have to take up with the headmaster. I assumed you would eventually be told of the situation. I'm surprised it took you so long to figure it out," Severus replied.

"And she... Malfoy is getting involved with Potter. The poor boy, if he were to ever find out..."

"He knows," he said from the top of his tumbler of firewhiskey.

He couldn't help the smug expression on his face at the look of shock on Minerva McGonagall's face. Very few people could catch her off guard, and Severus Snape was one of the privileged few. He took great satisfaction in knowing that he could unnerve the deputy headmistress so thoroughly.

"Are you saying that Harry knows about Miss Marlowe being Draco Malfoy?"

"As do Mr. Weasley and the inestimable Ms. Granger. Now shall we continue this conversation with Albus?"

Minerva nodded and the two teachers got up, and headed toward the headmaster's office.

---------

Dean Thomas had been unusually quiet since the incident when Diana Marlowe had broken his nose. His friends Seamus Finnigan and Neville Longbottom were beginning to worry about him. The incident had been weeks ago, and still Dean was acting funny about it. He kept stealing funny glances at Diana and watching her closely. And he'd come to two conclusions, Diana without a doubt liked Harry Potter, and Harry Potter returned the sentiment.

Still there were strange things about Diana. For one thing she wasn't the average girl, because she could obviously hit like any seasoned beater, and although she appeared delicate she had a right temperament, that many of the Gryffindors had witnessed. And strangely enough the girl could get away with murder during Snape's classes, and Snape never made allowances for Gryffindors. She also ate with a healthy appetite that rivaled Ron Weasley's, swore like any good seasoned sailor, and she prefered trousers to skirts. And if her behavior and preferences in clothing weren't odd enough, she bore an uncanny resemblance to the deceased Draco Malfoy. Not only that, but she vehemently defended his honor if anyone so much as breathed a word against him.

Dean's brows knitted together as he mulled over the possibilities. Who was Diana Marlowe? She suddenly shows up at Hogwarts and Draco Malfoy disappeared. Lucius Malfoy had mentioned a girl being in his son's bed on the day of his son's disappearance, the girl's description matching Diana Marlowe. What did it all mean? Did the death of Draco Malfoy make way for an heir that had been hidden away?

Dean's head jerked up as Seamus gave his shoulder a good shaking to get his attention. "What was all that thinking about? You've been acting funny ever since that chit that's got Potter's knickers in a twist decked you. Come one, out with it."

"Naw, mate, you'd think I was daft," Dean said with a shake of his head.

"We wouldn't," Neville piped up.

Dean let out a deep breath. "All right. That girl, Diana Marlowe. She's a funny sort. I mean, don't you think it odd that she shows up as an exchange student and Draco Malfoy suddenly disappears? And look at her! She looks just like him. If I didn't know better I'd think they were twins. And no one seems to know anything about her. Maybe she's not Diana Marlowe, but Diana Malfoy, and maybe that is why Draco Malfoy is dead."

"What?" Neville let out in a rush of air.

Seamus looked at his friend, taking in the speculations. "You know, his da did mention a girl what matched her description, but he never mentioned it being his daughter."

"Maybe because no one was supposed to know about her. I mean think on it. What if she killed Draco so that she could be the Malfoy heir?"

Neville's eyes widened as he gulped. "And what if she's trying to get Harry, you know for You-Know-Who?"

"And what if she is Draco Malfoy," Seamus said with a laugh.

"Ah, Seamus! I'm being serious!" Dean sighed.

"Sure you are," Seamus said with a roll of his eyes. "Look you're still sore about her breaking your nose. Just leave off. Besides Harry is the one we should worry about being daft, he's actually going after her. She's a fine filly no doubt, but there'll be no breaking that temper she's got."

"I'm telling you, there's something off with her!" Dean snapped.

"Maybe," Neville said, "But what can we do about it? Harry's the one that seems to know her best, him, Ron, and Hermione."

"Ron!" Dean shouted with a snap of his fingers. "He's been sort of funny toward her, all nervous and twitchy."

"Well have you seen the girl? I'm surprised Harry is able to speak around her! And that voice. Every time she opens her mouth I could fall in love," Seamus' voice had a whimsical air to it.

"You're right! Who has a voice like that?" Dean pointed out.

"But why would she defend Malfoy if she killed him?" Neville asked.

"How should I know? To throw us off? Or maybe they were close when they were younger and driven apart when he got sent to Hogwarts," Dean suggested.

"But where has she been these past seven years? It's obvious she's not a squib. I mean she's as powerful as Malfoy was, and she's good in potions. Look at how Snape is always complimenting her work," Neville, ever the voice of reason, offered.

Seamus just looked at his friends and shook his head. Diana Marlowe was just a pretty exchange student with a bad temper and a crush on Harry Potter, and that was all. He'd had enough of Dean's conspiracy theory, and walked off to leave Dean and Neville to continue mulling over what was none of their business.

---------

Blaise sat up in bed and realized what he had to do. He had to question Diana Marlowe about her involvement, if any, with Draco. It was the only way to ease the guilt... And the regret.

Blaise got out of bed. Slipped on his boots and ran an experienced immaculate and cultured hand down his sweater smoothing non-existant wrinkles. He checked his appearance in a mirror, noting that every strand of his dark hair was in place and his eyes were sharp.

He closed his eyes and let out a sigh, remembering how when they were alone Draco used to come up behind him whenever he stood before the mirror and smoothed the wrinkles from his shirt or robes, and when he tilted his head to the side Draco would kiss the smooth skin of the neck that he offered. A shiver ran up Blaise's spine. The funeral had been hard to get through. It was closed casket, and seemed almost surreal. Draco was too full of life and ambition for it all to be gone so quickly, for it all to be over for good.

When Blaise opened his eyes a few tears escaped and ran down his cheeks. He quickly and roughly brushed them away, and suddenly felt choked as he recalled the memory of how he'd ruined things. If only he'd been more rational. He never should have gone to Lucius with their relationship. He should have known that Draco had a reason for wanting to keep things between them a secret.

He brought his fist down on the dresser. "Damn it all. I never thought I was betraying us. I'll never be able to say I'm sorry, and I'll never be able to tell you how much I loved you. You arrogant sodding prick! Why couldn't you leave things as they were meant to be? Why did you have to go and get killed! Damn you Draco Malfoy! Damn you!"

"Blaise?"

He turned at the sound of his name coming from the lips of Pansy Parkinson. She was a voluptious girl, not beautiful by any means, but pretty with honey colored hair and a presence that screamed to be known.

"What do you want Parkinson?" he managed to say.

She narrowed her eyes at him and a small smile tugged at her full red painted lips. "I couldn't help but overhear your little outburst. I never would have thought that you and Draco were lovers. Perhaps that is why he refused our betrothal on the day he disappeared. So you were his little secret for all of these years? The reason why he pushed me away? Well, now I know why I wasn't his type."

Blaise looked at her for a moment. "What? Draco and I... We were over almost a year ago."

"Don't lie to me, Zabini. His father sent word to my parents about Draco refusing our marriage arrangement, because he was pining over a lover," she spat.

"Why would I lie about my relationship with a..." Blaise had started out with a good tempo but he couldn't bring himself to refer to Draco as a dead man.

"Dead man?" Pansy said with a smirk. "I don't know. Perhaps to protect yourself?"

"I don't have to tell you anything."

"You don't have to. I already know that you were in love with him. Did he love you?" Pansy asked with a snort of contempt.

Blaise looked down at the floor and then looked up, meeting Pansy's blue eyes with the darkest gaze Pansy had ever seen. Ice ran through Pansy's blood as his words rang in the air.

"Draco couldn't love me. I don't know who his heart belonged to, but I have an idea as to whom it might have been."

Pansy turned away from that gaze, some of her bravery returning to her. "Oh, and who would this mysterious love of his life be?"

"I would never tell you," he growled and then pushed her out of his way as he left the room, the Slytherin common room, and the dungeons, and he didn't stop until he reached the portrait of the fat lady who guarded the entrance of Gryffindor tower. He'd managed to follow some first years once and learned where it was located.

He was desperate, desperate to see Diana Marlowe and find his peace with Draco Malfoy once and for all.

---------

"Albus!" Minerva McGonagall's voice rang through the air. "How could you?! Interfering with the life of that poor boy and... Well! Look at the mess you've made! And about the effect this has on Malfoy or even Potter for that matter!"

"It's always the precious Potter with you," Snape interjected.

"Oh stuff yourself you snarky curmudgeon!" Minerva snapped, and Snape was so caught off guard that he managed to looked offended.

"Minerva, what's done is done, and may never be undone. Draco Malfoy is, and shall remain, a woman for the rest of his days," Albus said and then held up his hand when he noticed the deputy headmistress preparing to speak again. "And I have noticed his interest in our young Mr. Potter."

"As you have put it, Draco is now a girl, why refer to her as him?" Minerva said.

"Because before this incident he spent eighteen years as a boy and young man. The new body does not change who he is inside and inside he still thinks and obviously reacts like a young man. You notice he favors trousers and boots to skirts and high heels? And I'm sure that his reaction to Mr. Thomas some weeks ago shows that he is still driven to act predominantly male when prevoked."

"If he is so predominantly male as you claim, then why is he so interested in Potter?" Minerva shot back.

Snape fidgeted and both the deputity headmistress and the headmaster turned to the esteemed and snarky Potions Master, a twinkle burning fierce in Dumbledore's eyes. Snape gave his collar a pull under the glare from McGonagall and accepted the glass of water offered to him by the headmaster.

"Well, Severus, what do you know?" McGonagall's words were sharp.

"As you are aware, I am the boy's, Draco's godfather, and he has shared many confidences with me over the years. I doubt if you are aware that he was in a relationship with Blaise Zabini up until a year ago. When his father found out about it both Draco and Zabini were punished severely because of it. So it is not entirely impossible to believe that Draco's interest in Potter is geniune if not tasteless and illfounded," Severus concluded with a look of disgust.

"Well, what can we do about this?" Minerva said and gave Albus a sharp look. "Can the stone be destroyed?"

"Minerva, my dear, all we can do is allow things to run their course. The stone may be destroyed, but its will has already been done. There is no undoing this. And for once I regret having meddled, but I must say that it has had some unexpected, if not pleasant, results," the headmaster spoke and again his eyes twinkled.

---------

Blaise was lurking near the portrait when he noticed it fly open and an angry seventh year Gryffindor stormed out, headed in the direction of the library. It appeared to be Finnigan. Blaise quickly darted out and entered the Gryffindor common room before reason returned or the portrait closed. Once inside all eyes turned to him. There was a sharp intake of breath and then someone, obviously a Weasley with his bright red hair, came up to him, poking him in the chest and demanding to know why he was there.

Blaise gave him a sharp look. "It is not your concern Weasley. I just need to see Diana Marlowe. I have a matter I wish to discuss with her and it is of great import."

"And what would a Slytherin like you want with her? And how did you get in here?" Weasley continued.

"If you must know, I want to know her connection to Draco Malfoy's death. She had to be the one there that day. Now if you don't tell me where I can find her I will hex you and everyone in my way!" Blaise snapped.

As the tensions mounted higher a shouting and shoving match between the Slytherin and the Weasley broke out. Insults and fists were thrown, and the noise reached the seventh year prefect's room, where Draco was sketching Harry as he lay on the bed posing for the blond.

They suddenly heard the commotion as Hermione rushed into the room and said a Slytherin was in the common room and Ron was fighting with him. Harry jumped off of the bed and the graphite pencil in Draco's hand slipped from his grasp and fell to the floor. He put down the sketchpad and soon Harry and Draco were in the common room. Draco's eyes widened as he recognized the Slytherin and shouted, "Blaise?!"

The dark haired boy stopped in the middle of punching Ron in the stomach and looked up. The redhead however did not stop until his fist came into contact with his foe's nose, from which blood gushed after the sickening sound of a snap. Draco ran to where Blaise fell and quickly assessed the boy's injuries before sending a glare in Ron's direction. Harry simply watched with the rest of the stunned Gryffindor's as 'Diana' pushed strands of dark hair out of the Slytherin's face and then smoothed the wrinkles in his sweater.

The Slytherin looked up at the girl in shock as he realized that Draco wasn't dead, this beautiful girl was his Draco. He let out a hitched breath, sat up and threw his arms around the girl. He didn't care about the tears coursing from his eyes or the blood gushing from his nose as he showered the girl's fair face in messy kisses. The room was now silent as everyone watched and then the Slytherin spoke.

"Oh, Gods, Draco, you're alive! I never thought I would have the chance to say all the things I should have. I am so sorry. For everything. I never should have gone to your father. If I had known," Blaise said and then his voice cracked.

What shocked the Gryffindors even more was when 'Diana' returned the embrace and rubbed the boy's back in comfort. "Blaise that was a year ago. It's over. It's been over for a year."

The boy drew back from the girl's arms and looked up into her silvery gray eyes. "I know, but I had to tell you that I love you. I knew we were over the moment I saw your sketchbook. You left it out one night, and I saw everything. That is why I told your father. I never thought he would..." The boy leaned forward and brushed his hand along Draco's back. He should have been able to feel the raised scar tissue, but it wasn't there. "Where are they?"

"A second chance gave me a fresh start. The scars are still with me, just no longer in my flesh," she whispered.

Blaise finally looked the girl over from head to toe as if taking her in for the first time. "What happened to you?"

The girl shrugged. "I am not entirely sure, but it cannot be undone, and truth be told I wouldn't undo, not after all I've gained from it," she said with a sigh and then turned to look up at Harry Potter.

The Slytherin followed her gaze and closed his eyes against the pain. "That's what I thought Draco. I just hope this makes you happy."

The blonde nodded and then gray eyes widened. "Blaise, I should have let Weasley beat you to death! You bastard! How in the hell did you know it was me!"

Draco then socked him in the shoulder and Blaise fell back with the force of the blow. Blaise smirked as he rubbed his aching shoulder. "Draco Lucius Malfoy, I would have recognized you, even if you'd been trapped in Weasley's body. We were too close, and I cared too much to not recognize you."

Draco stood up and offered a hand to the Slytherin. Blaise took the hand and allowed Draco to pull him up. Finally the two looked around. Hermione was giving them a worried look, Ron was looking angry and curious, and Harry simply watched the interaction between the two. It was obvious that they were former lovers. The rest of the Gryffindors simply stared in openmouthed shock until Dean Thomas pushed through the throng and stood directly before Draco.

"Malfoy? But how? You can't be Malfoy, he's dead. You might be some long lost heir, but you can't be Draco Malfoy," he said.

Draco kneed the boy in the groin and smirked as the boy slid to the floor. "I think I just gave you all the proof you needed." Draco put an arm around Blaise's shoulder intent on escorting him to the hospital wing, considering that the Slytherin had a limp. What in the hell had Weasley done to him? Draco turned to Harry and asked, "Care to help me get him to the hospital wing?"

Harry nodded and flanked Blaise on his left and wrapped an arm about the boy's shoulders like Draco had done, and between the two of them they helped Blaise to the hospital wing.

Once they took care of Blaise they walked back to Gryffindor tower, neither of them speaking. It was obvious that the secret was now out. Everyone would soon know that Diana Marlowe was in fact Draco Malfoy. They walked into Gryffindor tower together, Harry's hands firm on Draco's shoulder, the two walking into the tower with their heads held high. Silence hung thick in the air. Harry noticed Hermione with her hand on Ron's chest to keep him seated in one the of the red chairs by the fire. Harry nodded toward her and then he followed Draco upstairs and to the seventh year girl's prefect room.

Draco muttered the password and once they were inside he went over to his four-poster, sat down with a heavy sigh, and let his head fall forward into his hands. After taking a deep breath he looked back up and noticed Harry standing before him.

"Care to talk about it?" Harry asked as he knelt to be eye level with the blonde.

"It's all over. I am going to be the laughing stock of the entire school. Shamed beyond all repair and this will ruin you. How can you even stand to be around me now? What are they going to say, and dear gods, I don't even want to think about how the other Slytherins will react. I can imagine the mockfest that Pansy would organize, especially after I snubbed our marriage arrangement. Tomorrow I will face utter humiliation," Draco said and then looked up at Harry, gray eyes locking with green, as his delicate fingers pushed a strand of that unruly black hair out of the ruggedly handsome face of the boy kneeling before him. "But you don't have to. I'll understand. Just break it off with me now. Start yelling, throw open the door, storm out, and slam it. That's all you have to do, and you'll be free."

Harry looked at him incredulously. "How can you say that? Damn you! One little obstacle and you are willing to throw me, us, away?"

"Potter I would destroy you! Can't you see it's better this way?" Draco snapped.

"And can't you see that I don't care about what they think! It won't be better! It will rip us both apart. I am not whole without you!" And with that Potter gently captured the delicate face in his work roughened hands, and pressed his lips firmly against Draco's.

Slowly he got up off of his knees, not daring to break the kiss, and moved forward, pressing Draco's back into the mattress as he hung over the boy trapped in a girl's body. He finally relented and drew back once he had Draco straddled on the bed beneath him. Draco looked up at the dark haired boy, anger and fear battling in his gray eyes.

"What do you think you are doing?" he asked waspishly.

Harry leaned down again, gently nipped at the soft lobe of Draco's ear, eliciting a moan from the blond, and then he began to trail kisses down the blond's throat, pausing over the pulse, and flicking out his tongue to taste the fair skin of the blonde. His hands had moved to either side of Draco's head, pressing down heavily on the mattress, bearing the majority of his weight.

Hunger was in those green eyes and Draco swallowed thickly as he felt Harry's growing arousal pressing into his feminine thighs. Something in his throat and chest tightened and warmth began to pool in his stomach, a strange glowing warmth that demanded satisfaction.

The hunger in those green eyes broke Draco's resolve. He ran his hands in Harry's dark hair and dragged Harry's head back up and into a kiss of hunger, desperation, want. And as the kiss grew more heated Draco's hand drifted down to the hem of Harry's sweater, and then slid under the sweater until he felt the heat of Harry's taunt stomach and hard chest beneath his fingertips, and felt the reverbaration of Harry's response emitting low from the dark boy's throat.

Harry broke away from the kiss and quickly pulled off his sweater, much to the appreciation of Draco, and tossed it haphazardly, not giving a damn where it landed. His hands, equally curious, ran lightly over the silky material of the button up shirt Draco wore. His fingers awkwardly fumbled with the buttons. Draco grabbed Harry's shaky hands and then began to unbutton the shirt himself. Harry leaned back a bit as Draco sat up beneath him and took off the shirt. Then Harry reached behind the blonde and fumbled with the clasps of the bra until he had removed it.

Harry's throat tightened at the sight of Draco's body, the luscious curves and crevices that demanded exploration, and Harry was happy to oblige. He took those milky breasts into his hands, gently kneading them, and then feeling more bold, he leaned down taking the peak of one into his mouth and suckling it. Draco arched his back and a gasp followed by a low moan escaped his lips, his hands fluttered wildly to Harry's trousers, as he unbuttoned them and partook in the longest unzipping of his life. Harry suddenly paused in his administrations when Draco's hand slipped into his pants and he let out a moan as those delicate fingers curled around him.

He looked at the blonde, surprise in his green eyes, and he noticed the amusement and challenge in the gray eyes of his new lover. He got up, but before Draco could protest he realized that Harry was removing his trousers. Draco then unbuttoned and unzipped his own trousers, but stopped when Harry put a hand over his.

"Let me," Harry whispered huskily and finished unzipping Draco's black trousers and began to pull them slowly off of the blonde, his fingers skimming down the blonde's legs, until he finally pulled off the trousers. Harry noticed the black lace panties with a raised eyebrow, to which Draco smirked. Harry then moved with the grace of a cat back up the length of Draco's body, which surprised Draco as he never thought Harry could possess such grace.

"Wonder's never cease with you, Potter," Draco moaned as he ran a hand through the dark unruly hair and brought Harry down for another kiss, and then took the dark haired boy by surprise as he rolled them over so Harry was pinned beneath him. Harry looked up at the blond questioningly. Draco leaned down and captured his lips into a kiss and then pulled back, gently tugging on Harry's bottom lip until finally releasing it.

"Sometimes I like it better when you are beneath me," Draco breathed against Harry's ear, and then nipped it. "Why, do you have a problem with it?"

Harry twisted his leg around Draco's managing to over power the blonde, and rolled them over again so that he was on top. Draco tried to protest, but Harry smiled down at him. "This is your first time, please let me have control this one time."

"My first time!" Draco snorted.

"Yes, your first time making love," Harry said and then pressed his lips against Draco's and pulled back a moment later, leaving the blonde frustrated. "This may hurt a bit, getting past your barriers, but I promise to be gentle and patient. Oh, and this is your first time in this body. I don't want to hurt you."

Draco leaned up, one of his hands reaching around the back of Harry's neck, fingers splaying into the dark hair at the boy's nape. Delicately massaging the scalp there, as his other hand trailed down Harry's chest and stopped, fingers curling around the waist band of Harry's white and red striped cotton boxers. Harry looked down into the silvery gray eyes, and licked his lips, biting back the moan building at the back of his throat. He closed his eyes for the briefest moment and felt Draco's hand slip beneath his boxers once again, but he took the delicate wrist in his hand before the blonde could go any further and his green eyes snapped opened.

"Are you sure you want this?" he asked.

He saw Draco smile and then reach up and take away his glasses, to set them down on the nightstand, and then that soft melodic voice, that had become Draco's voice, whispered the one word that broke Harry's shaky resolve.

"Yes."