The End

Hero

Draco Malfoy staggered and fell to the ground, spluttering blood as his jaw came in contact with a large rock. A spell had hit him on the leg leaving him paraplegic and helpless. He turned to rest on his back and shut his eyes tightly, groaning in pain.

His head felt like it was going to split into two any second and he wished more than anything else that the war would just stop. His ears were over flooded with sounds of wands firing and people screaming out in pain as the Cruciatus curse hit them. And then, who could forget the cursed Avada Kedavra? The spell that made no noise yet ironically, brought about the greatest of all pain - death.

This was the environment Draco had grown accustomed to by now, but he still held on to the small moments of peace he had had in his life and replayed them in again and again until his soul finally came to rest. But peace was never an option in this cold blooded war and so Draco never truly found it.

The earth below him shook as the war raged on around him. No one paid heed to the crumpled heap that lay on the ground.

Spells shot askew and nearly missed Draco by inches. He had to get out of here before one of them managed to eventually hit him. Draco tried to push himself up with his hands but they gave away under the weight of his body and he fell back down painfully.

So this was how it was all going to end. Draco wasn't going to die in an honourable duel but as road kill - hit by a spell that was not even meant for him.

"Protego!"

Draco felt someone lean on his chest as whoever it was shouted the spell.

"Come on. Let's get you out of here. It's not safe," said a husky voice.

Draco's eyes struggled to focus as his savior picked him up by his arms and wrapped them around his shoulders. The man was tall, much taller than Draco with shortly cropped black hair. He must have been very strong since he was able to carry Draco with absolute ease.

"A levitation spell would have gotten us here faster but it's easier to dodge spells when you're on foot," he said as he gently laid Draco on the ground.

Draco groaned in pain and searched for recognition in the man's face. He wasn't any of his fellow death eaters. Draco would know since he was their leader. His eyes darted from the man's severely torn robes to his blood stained face and finally rested upon a familiar scar on his forehead.

"Potter!" he growled as he searched his robes frantically for his wand.

"Relax Malfoy," Harry said calmly as he bandaged Draco's leg with what seemed to be ragged pieces of cloth. "You hurt yourself pretty bad in the fight. Applying pressure on your wounds will only make them worse."

Having finished bandaging, Harry had moved away from Draco into the shadows. Draco did not relax but looked around, trying to ignore the strong smell of carcass and rotting flesh that stung his nose. They were in a dark cave and they weren't alone. The source of the smell was clear as light illuminated the faces that had been in the shadows for so long. Draco nearly screamed in terror.

Everyone of them had been severely mutilated and lay groaning or unconscious on the ground. It was like being in a morgue, only these people weren't dead... yet. Draco tried to shift his gaze back to Harry who was now tending to a man with a bleeding stump.

"What do you want from me Potter?" asked Draco shakily as he pulled himself up to a sitting position.

"A 'thank you for saving my life' would be nice."

Draco laughed sourly. "And why would you want to save someone from the so called 'dark' side?"

Harry chuckled humourlessly. "You still don't get it, do you Malfoy. There are no sides. There's death, there's destruction and there's Voldemort, but there are no sides."

Draco raised his eyebrows. "Are you telling me that the great Harry Potter is passing up an opportunity to kill Draco Malfoy - the leader of all death eaters? Have you finally turned your back on winning Potter or did you have a concussion?"

Harry shook his head and walked towards the man who lay a few inches away from Draco.

"This war isn't about winning anymore Malfoy," said Harry softly as he wound shreds of cloth around his patient's head. The man looked oddly familiar. "It's about survival now. We're all that's left of the wizarding world and we've got to do what we can to survive."

Draco looked at Harry, confused. His eyes then shifted to the man beside him. Even with all that blood covering his face, there was no mistaking that flaming red hair.

"Oh God Ron! No! Please! Please!" cried Harry suddenly

Harry ran his fingers through his best friend's hair and face, tears streaming down his eyes. "You can't die Ron. You promised. You promised to be there for me through thick and thin. I need you."

Draco put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "He fought well and though I don't know him, I'm sure he was a good man," he said solemnly

"The best..." sobbed Harry

"My house was destroyed last week," Draco didn't know why he was sharing this small piece of information with Harry, but it made him feel lighter than he had in days. "The house burned down to ashes along with my wife and son."

Harry looked up wiping his eyes on his muddy sleeves. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. It's this bloody war. It's gone too far and taken over our lives. And we can do nothing about it except fight, because we have a duty - each and everyone of us. I have one of a perfect son and heir to the Malfoy throne and you have one of a hero: someone everyone turns to in times of crisis. That's our destiny and there's nothing we can do about it."

"There's always a choice Malfoy," said Harry silently

He did not elaborate further and kept silent for a long time. Draco watched Harry as he caressed Ron's head and gently wiped the blood of his face and neck. How he had changed since the last time Draco saw him in Hogwarts! His once bright green eyes had faded to a dull black and a haunted look now replaced his once adamant and cheerful expression. He was still young but he looked past fifty with the war pressing down on his shoulders and the whole world's future lying in his hands.

Draco had hated Harry from the first day of school and yet as he watched him tend to all these people, he gained a newfound respect for Harry.

Suddenly, the cave vibrated as a large voice echoed in the cave. "CRUCIO!"

Harry's head turned, his eyes now blazing with anger. "So the cowardly bastard's decided to show up after all!"

He got up to his feet; wand clutched tightly in his hands and marched out of the cave with determination.

Draco couldn't see what went on outside the cave but he could hear the two wizards dueling furiously as the light from their wand illuminated the cave. It was weird, but Draco thought Harry sounded a lot like Dumbledore. Kind and gentle yet dangerous and powerful when the time came.

There was one last cry of 'Avada Kedavra' after which the whole world had come to a standstill. The only noise that could be heard was the whistling of the wind.

After a long time, Harry walked into the cave staggering towards Draco. His face was flushed and he was grinning widely.

"It's over Malfoy. It's finally over," saying that, Harry fell down at Draco's feet breathing heavily.

Draco leaned towards Harry and turned him over. "Potter! Tell me what to do! Where are you hurt?"

Harry's laugh soon turned to a cough. "This is the end Malfoy. Of me and Voldemort."

"No, no, no! Get up Potter! The world's waiting for their hero. You have to show them your ugly face so that they can shower you with love and fame, just like old times."

Harry smiled and gripped Draco's hand tightly. Draco found himself crying. Crying for a man he never truly knew but had grown up to hate just the same. Cried for him because without, Harry Potter, he would never be alive and without him, this cursed war would never come to an end.

"Please...can you do something for me?" gasped Harry. His face was contorted with pain and it was clear that every word he said was costing him all his strength.

Draco nodded biting his lip to stop himself from screaming. "Can you tell Ginny I love her? That I always have. And Mrs. Weasley and Hermione...tell them I'm sorry...for Ron. That I tried to save him. And Lupin. Could you tell him that he's been the closest thing I've ever had to a father every since Sirius died. Could you tell them that?"

Draco's grip tightened on Harry's as he nodded and stroked his hair.

Harry smiled and closed his eyes. Draco held his hand for a long time. Long after it had turned cold and pale and Harry's chest had stopped heaving. The smile had never left his face.

Draco kept his promise to Harry. He delivered his messages to the Weasleys and Lupin. Sometimes, he would join their sorrows and cry along with them while sometimes he watched them break down as a silent by stander. He had never forgotten Harry's last few words in that cave.

It doesn't matter whether you're the son of Lucius Malfoy or the great Harry Potter. There was always a choice. It's upto you to choose your destiny. Harry Potter chose to be a hero and redefined its very meaning. The word 'hero' was no longer reserved for people who sided with good to banish evil, but for the saviors of humanity; for Harry Potter...

*