Draco's Redemption

Draco's Redemption

By: PurpleGothicPolish

"Potter, Weasley, Granger." Professor McGonagall gestured to Harry, Ron, and Hermione to come in as they passed her office.

"Do you reckon she found out about the exploding candy canes Fred and George sent us?" Ron whispered to Harry.

Harry shrugged; to him their Transfigurations Professor looked more worried than angry. His body tensed ready to hear the bad news he knew was waiting to be told to them.

McGonagall ushered them in, "Please, Mr. Weasley, do close the door behind you." She motioned to the overstuffed armchairs in front of her fireplace. The three friends looked around the room before cautiously sitting down. The professor remained standing, wringing her hands in front of her dark green robes. "I won't mince words, you're all old enough to be told without being talked down to: there has been a break-out at Azkaban."

Hermione let out an audible gasp and reached for Ron's hand, who sat with his mouth gaping open.

"Who was it, Professor? Who got out?" Harry was sitting at the edge of his seat ready for anything.

"All of them, all of the known Death Eaters."

"But how? How could they all get out, where were the dementors?" Hermione asked in one long breath.

"The dementors are indeed in alliance with Voldemort." Professor Dumbledore came into the office followed closely by Professor Snape. "I've feared this for some time. And now it has finally come to pass."

Harry stood then and faced Dumbledore. "Why if you thought it could happen... why didn't you try to stop it?" he spat at his mentor.

"Harry," Dumbledore answered as gently as possible, "you of all of us know you cannot stop the inevitable."

"No... no you can't." Harry said angrily, "Especially if no one tries!" he turned on his heel to look at Prof. McGonagall. "So, will they come here, then? Come after us and the rest of Dum- the rest of the D.A?"

McGonagall blanched, shocked at Harry's demeanor towards Dumbledore. "We do not know. Knowing Lucius Malfoy, however, I do not doubt it."

"But I'm sure you'll tell us the same as you always do. 'Sit nicely in the common room and let the adults deal with it all.'" Harry wheeled around again and stood toe to toe with Dumbledore. " 'But do be careful, Harry. Don't step out of bounds and certainly don't go after Voldemort yourself.' As if I could help that? He always comes and I always face him. And you- you're all always too late. We fought him all those times. And look we're still alive."

"Watch yourself, Potter," Snape stepped in front of Dumbledore and pushed Harry away, "Need I remind you it was you who stuck your nose in business you had no right to be in. It was you who never asked for help, even when it was offered. And it was the Headmaster who saved your sorry young life on more then one occasion."

"I had every right to 'put my nose in it.' It was MY life Voldemort is after. It was MY family he killed. It is after all MY destiny!" Harry stormed out of the room without thinking.

~o~

Harry had gone down several halls and climbed several staircases before he realized he wasn't completely sure as to where he was going. He also regretted how he had acted towards Dumbledore. He stood, leaning against a suit of armor, thinking of his fifth year and how Voldemort had come into his mind and made him feel such anger towards Dumbledore. Could that happen again? No, no I wouldn't let it! I was just upset that the dementors are working for Voldemort. That's all I'll apologize when I see him. He'll understand, he always does.

"Scared, Potter?" He heard an icy voice behind him. He knew of course to whom it belonged.

"If I were you, Malfoy," he turned around and saw Draco Malfoy at the base of the stairs he had just come up, "I'd be the one who was scared. I'm sure the Ministry won't take kindly to Death Eaters who break out of prison."

Malfoy smirked, "Still have faith in that old fool, Dumbledore?"

"Yes, I do," Harry answered. "I also have faith in the fact Voldemort and all his followers will die horrible deaths and rot in hell for what they've done. I only wish I'm there to see it happen." He only half meant that last part, but anger at Malfoy like so many other times, had gotten the best of him.

Draco bounded the stairs three at a time, and launched himself at Harry's knees. "You bastard!" Harry was thrown to the cold stone floor and Draco held him down, throwing punch after punch. But it didn't last long. Harry easily gained the upper hand and threw Draco across the hall.

"Forget something, Malfoy?" Harry said, reaching into his robes and took hold of his wand. Draco smiled; he had wanted Harry to make the first move.

He brought his own wand out in one quick motion; both young men held their wand hands above their heads and waited for the other to cast the first spell.

"Expelliarmus!" came a voice from behind them; both wands flew out of their hands. Hermione and Ron caught them as they flew towards them. "Are you both completely mad?" Hermione said, pocketing Harry's wand.

"Give me my wand you filthy little Mudblood!" Draco said walking threateningly towards her.

Ron quickly blocked Draco from Hermione, "Sorry, Malfoy, but I've got your wand." Draco looked a bit scared then. If it had come to wands and magic he knew he could easily defeat him; but Ron's last growth spurt made him the likely winner in hand to hand.

"You'll regret this, Weasley. You and your Mudblood girlfriend!"

"That's enough!" Professor Dumbledore yelled as he turned the corner. "Give me the wands, children. Both of them." Ron and Hermione handed them to him quickly. It was a rare and very frightening occasion when the Headmaster became so angry he yelled.

"I've heard quite enough of this Mudblood business out of you, Mr. Malfoy. We all know it doesn't matter; Miss Granger here is the perfect example of that. You don't become Head Girl by chance." Hermione blushed a bit even if she knew full well it was true. "And Harry," he said turning to a very ruffled Harry, "I'll have none of this ridiculous fighting in the halls of my school!" he handed both boys their wands and took them by the collars of their robes. He gestured to Ron and Hermione to follow him, and made his way to his office with all four students in tow.

~o~

"Sit!" Dumbledore said quite firmly when they arrived in his office. All four teenagers quickly took their seats. Draco and Harry purposely taking those furthest away from the other, and Ron and Hermione taking the chairs between the two rivals. "You four are by far the best of the best here at Hogwarts. But you all put too much in this house business, who's better then whom and other such nonsense. You all do not see that all of you need each other." All four jerked their heads up at this last sentence. "Yes, all of you." he repeated, sitting down opposite them behind his desk. "You will all save the others life. I tell you this because I know you'll better yourselves knowing it'll come to pass." He said pointedly glancing at Harry, who for the first time since his blowup in McGonagall's office, looked at the Headmaster.

"You're wrong," Draco said standing up. "I'd never save the lives of these pitiful, pathetic infidels." He went to leave, but was stopped by Professor Snape coming into the room. "Professor, thank Merlin. Potter attacked me and now the Headmaster is holding me against my will."

"Mr. Malfoy, please," Snape said, placing his hand on Malfoy's shoulder. "Do sit down." He pushed him back to his seat and guided him down into it.

"But-"

"Sorry, Malfoy, I'm behind the headmaster one-hundred percent."

Ron gawked at Snape, who gave him a look as if to say, "Bugger off!" So Ron quickly returned his attention to Dumbledore.

"We must all be prepared. Every house needs to work together, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor... and Slytherin." Dumbledore said deliberately looking from Ron, Harry and finally Draco. "Now go to your houses and pass the message around. We at Hogwarts are all a family. Not just separate houses dwelling in one. But a true FAMILY."

~o~

"Dumbledore's nuttier then I thought he was," Ron said after he, Hermione, and Harry arrived to a much quieter common room then they could remember. As always, the news traveled fast and the Gryffindors knew about the breakout before they had gotten there. "Thinking Malfoy and those other Slytherins would help against You-Know-Who."

"Oh, Ron, honestly! Voldemort! It won't kill you to say it."

"Wanna make a wager?" Ron asked looking down at Hermione, who was stroking Crookshanks.

"Well, you're right about one thing, Ron. The Headmaster has lost his mind. He always was a bit off, but to think that Malfoy would retaliate against Voldemort, or even his father?" Harry asked, a wondering look on his face.

"I think Draco's more afraid of him then of anything else in this world or the next," Hermione agreed.

"Well, what do you think we should do then, you two?" Seamus Finnigin stood looking at Hermione and Harry.

"Why are you looking at us?" Harry asked. Hermione also looked rather uncomfortable, because now all of Gryffindor house were staring at them.

"You are always the ones with the plans and such," Neville Longbottom said. "Uh... you two and Ron." He added quickly looking at Ron.

"Well, Dumbledore told us we all need to stick together. Like a family. All the houses, coming as one," Hermione answered, reaching for Ron's hand and giving it an encouraging squeeze.

"Yeah, you told us that already. And we all know that the Slytherins are as good as on You-Know-" Hermione gave Seamus a hard glare, "I mean Vol-Voldemort's side."

Hermione gave a satisfied grin while several students looked horrified.

"Yeah, but Dumbledore also said that Malfoy would-"

But Harry cut Ron off, "Dumbledore has confidence in Malfoy, but I know I don't. I'm not going out of my way to help him."

"Harry, if Dumbledore says Draco will help, then-" Hermione began, rather helplessly.

"We're talking about Draco 'Death-to-all-Mubloods' Malfoy here, Hermione. Do you really think he'll join against... Voldemort?" Ron said, rather proud of himself, he didn't like saying the name if he could help it.

"If Dumbledore says he will then I say he will." Ginny Weasley, Ron's little sister, said from Seamus' side.

"OK, you do that then," Harry said, looking angrily at the way Seamus was holding Ginny's hand. "Look, until we know more, we can only stand together. I'm talking about Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff, at least for now. Now, if you don't mind, let's go to bed." Harry headed towards the boy's dormitory. Everyone followed his lead, girls going to their own rooms. All knowing they wouldn't get much sleep that night.

~o~

Draco walked through the portrait hole of his own common room, finding the Slytherins were in the middle of what looked like a pretty grand party.

"Come on, Draco!" Pansy Perkinson called, waving a black flag with a green skull on it. "Where have you been? Isn't it fabulous?" she said over the exploding fireworks someone had set off, "And I just know your father placed it all in motion. Genius runs in the family, I'm sure." She pressed herself to him.

"You've got that for sure." He said, she looked as though she had sampled someone's firewhiskey. "Have you heard anything from your parents?"

"No, of course not. Can't risk it you know."

"Yeah, of course." Draco said, nodding. He walked past her, to an armchair known to be the very best in the Slytherin common room. Where a very drunk looking first year was sitting, his head lolling from side to side. Draco took him by his tie and pulled him to the floor. The room burst into troughs of laughter at the sight. Draco took his seat and threw his right leg over the arm of the chair.

"Where the hell you've been, Malfoy? The party's nearly half-over." Crabbe, one of Draco's cronies, came over, stepping over the first year still laying in front of the chair, and handed Draco a cup full to the brim of firewhiskey.

"Had a little run in with the great Potter and his filthy little friends," Draco said turning in his chair to put his feet on the first year that was now on all fours trying to get up. "Stay," Draco commanded and the tiny boy did. He took a few healthy gulps of the fierce drink.

"You don't have to worry 'bout them much longer, they'll all be dead before this is over," Crabbe said smiling expectedly.

"Yeah." Draco's own smirk coming to his face, but soon vanished as he remembered Dumbledore's prophecy. "Dumbledore said to tell everyone that we have to work together, and be a family." After a beat, he and Crabbe laughed at this.

"He really is a crazy old dolt, isn't he?" Crabbe laughed harder.

Draco laughed too, but not as easily as before. Something else Dumbledore had said was gnawing at his brain. You will all save the others life.

"I'm going to bed," Draco said, stepping on the first years' back, and heading to his private Head Boy dorm.

"But... the party." Crabbe said weakly.

"I need to be rested for the coming months, party if you'd like Crabbe, I have plans to make." Draco said over his shoulder.

~o~

The next few days went by slowly, classes were all based in one way or the other on Defense Against the Dark Arts. History of Magic classes were all on Voldemort's last try to take over the wizarding world. Potions had all to do with making cures for various ailments and poisons. Transfiguration dealt with conjuring a tree or a wall out of twigs and pebbles in order to dodge unsavory spells. The entire school was learning as much as possible, and never had classes been so prepared and silent.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were also busy planning their own lessons for the DA, which now consisted of over half the school and was overlooked by the Headmaster himself. Even Crookshanks came to these meetings. Since the news of the breakout he had been following Hermione wherever she went, leaving her side only after she'd gone to bed, to patrol around the school grounds. Ron was most upset with this, seeing as he and Hermione hardly got any time alone as it was.

The DA meetings had been taking place in the Dining Hall, seeing as it was the largest room in the castle. Dumbledore would clear it out after dinner and the students would pair up and practice spells on one another. Harry and Dumbledore were always partnered, in order to show the students the right way of doing things, then they would walk around the room, instructing those not doing it properly. Crookshanks would also pace around the room, occasionally tripping a student by weaving through their legs. Hermione would apologize each time, saying, "That's how he shows he likes you." Then she'd scoop him up in her arms and whisper to him. He'd purr and she'd let him go on with what he had been doing.

It was at one of these DA meetings that Crookshanks held an important role in the decision of trusting Draco in the fight against Voldemort.

Everyone was preparing to learn a new spell, when the door to the hall burst open. The whole class turned, wands at the ready. Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, and several other Slytherins stood at the entrance smirking at everyone's reaction.

"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" Ron said, striding over to him, followed closely by Seamus, Michael Corner, and a few other Ravenclaws. They kept their wands held at a threatening position.

"Why don't you have any Slytherins in this class? What? Don't want us prepared for what's coming?" Draco said pushing Ron aside and walking past the rest to where Dumbledore and Harry stood.

"This club is for anyone wishing to join it," Dumbledore said casually placing a hand on Harry's shoulder, causing him to lower his wand away from Draco's face.

"Well, we wish to join. I don't understand how we hadn't been informed to it," Draco answered snidely.

"Oh, but you were, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore said, "I believe you know Mr. Judah Daniels?" He pointed out a small first year, standing behind Hannah Abbott. The same first year that Draco had pushed out of his chair the night of the party. "Judah was the only person in your house to join when it was re-announced the day after the break-out."

"Hmph." Draco walked back towards Harry, "Well, we're all members now. Please, Potter, do teach me how to defend myself."

Dumbledore walked towards the rest of the Slytherins and paired them with people from different houses. When everyone was paired off, Ron with Crabbe, and Hermione with Pansy, he said, "We're working on the anti-gravity mist charm. Some of you may be familiar with it, but for those who aren't; it will create a mist that when a person steps into it, up becomes down and vise versa." Then he waved his wand and spoke the charm. The class all followed along and soon the entire room was covered in a lovely looking grayish mist. Then there was a bit of confusion as some were turned upside down, while others, Neville Longbottom included, floated to the ceiling.

"Finite Incantatum!" Harry called, the mist dispersed while Dumbledore and Hermione caught falling students with pillows they quickly conjured.

"Well done, most of you anyway," Dumbledore smiled encouragingly to Neville, he was sure being paired with the large, and intimidating Goyle was what had flustered him. "Now let's try that one more time. Wands at the ready? One, Two, Th-"

The door slammed open again, cutting Dumbledore off. "Sorry to interrupt, Sir." Filch ran towards Dumbledore, looking more haggard then usual. He was waving a letter in his outstretched hand. "Just arrived from the Ministry, it did."

Dumbledore took the letter from Filch and opened it quickly. Harry, Ron, and Hermione took a few steps toward him, as did most of the class. "Students. There has been a sighting of several Death Eaters in Hogsmede and other nearby areas. All of you stay here, except the House Prefects, go to your houses immediately and get the rest of the students here. We'll all be spending the night in the dining hall once again. Head Boy and Girl?" Hermione and Draco stood a little straighter and both hurried towards the Headmaster. Crookshanks cantered over to Draco and weaved his way through his legs and, much to Draco's horror, jumped into his arms.

"Granger, get this furball off of me." Draco tried to writhe out of Crookshanks' hold on him, but couldn't.

Hermione reached over and pulled him off Draco. "This isn't the time, Crookshanks!" she muttered to him.

Dumbledore watched the scene, saying nothing, then, "You two go tell the staff the news, tell them to meet me in the Great Hall." He then gave Hermione and Crookshanks a little nod and turned to Harry, "You and Mr. Weasley go get Hagrid. And hurry, there isn't a moment to waste."

~o~

When the boys got back to the Great Hall, they found purple sleeping bags now filled the room, a clear path drawn to separate the boys from the girls. Harry could see Hermione and Crookshanks seated at the head of the room. The way she was glaring at her cat made him think of Mrs. Figg, the seemingly crazy cat lady who lived down the street from the Dursley's and who had watched him when they didn't want him around. Harry had discovered that she was in fact a Squib who got her information from her cats in his fifth year.

"Hey, Ron, what is Hermione doing?" Harry asked pointing to her and Crookshanks.

"Bloody hell! You don't think she's gone mental do you?" Ron asked looking worried. "Come on."

They wound their way around the sleeping bags and students to Hermione. When they arrived Crookshanks stood up and walked away with a swish of his bottlebrush tail.

"Was it something we said?" Ron asked looking after him.

"Don't be silly." Hermione grinned, apparently forgetting what she had just been doing.

"Erm, Hermione, what were you and Crookshanks, um, talking about just now." Ron asked.

"Wha-what are you talking about?" she looked a bit uncomfortable.

"Come on, it looked as though you were conversing with your cat," Ron said looking at her fiercely.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked blushing a bit.

"He's trying to figure out if you've gone crazy," Ginny said from behind him. "He did that to me the whole summer after the Chamber of Secrets incident. Like I didn't get enough odd looks from our parents and Percy, I had to have him glare at me like that."

"Ginny!"

"Well, that's what you were doing, Ronald," Ginny said taking a seat next to Hermione.

"Shouldn't you be in bed?" Harry asked her.

"Harry, I'm a prefect, remember? I should be asking you why you're still up," she said looking at him with a teasing eye.

"Funny," Harry said sarcastically.

"Hello!" Ron glowered at them. "We're talking about Hermione here and why she's talking to her cat," Ron said looking around to make sure no one was listening. But he saw Crookshanks sitting in a very unhappy Draco's lap. "Tell me that Crookshanks is just spying on him or something... I can't believe I just said that..."

Ginny laughed, but Hermione sighed. "All right, I'll tell you. Crookshanks isn't a cat."

"What?? He's an animagus?" Ron looked simply horrified, Harry was sure he was thinking of his own "pet rat" that turned out to be Peter Pettigrew, the man responsible for the Potters death.

"No," Hermione said soothingly stroking Ron's arm. "He is a cat, but he's also part kneazle."

"Oh." Ron nodded, not looking very sure.

"A kneazle is like a cat but is much more intelligent. And they can detect untrustworthy people," Ginny said, sounding a bit like Hermione in Care of Magical Creatures classes.

"I know what it is!" Ron huffed.

"You didn't seem to." Ginny said indignantly.

"Excuse me, if the Weasley Wars are over, can you let Hermione explain," Harry said to the siblings, who were eying one another in annoyance.

"Thank you. Now as I was saying, Crookshanks has been helping us figure out who to trust and who not to."

"Who's 'us' and why didn't you tell... US?" Ron gestured at Harry and himself.

"Well, you need to register kneazles with the Ministry and Dumbledore thought it best that as little people as possible knew."

"Why did Ginny know then?" Harry asked.

"I was the one who figured it out," Ginny said, rather proud of herself.

"After she suggested it, I went to Professor McGonagall and she confirmed our suspicions. She suggested we use him for the Order, to help discover people we shouldn't let in on our plans."

"Well, his kneazle blood must be on the Squib side, look at how he's acting towards Malfoy." Ron pointed down the hall to where Draco was trying, and failing to get Crookshanks off his lap.

"Actually, Draco was the person Dumbledore wanted Crookshanks to test out. And it looks as though he finds Draco trustworthy."

"Are you mad?!" Harry laughed, "If we don't go save your cat/kneazle thing, soon Draco will put a banishing charm on him."

"Yeah, he'd end up in Romania fighting off dragons." Ron laughed.

"I'm telling you, Crookshanks thinks he's trustworthy."

"And I'm telling you, you and your cat are both nutters." Ron said with a smile.

"Uh-oh. Malfoy alert." Ginny whispered. Ron and Harry turned around and saw Draco rushing towards them, Crookshanks practically pinned to his robes.

"I'm telling you for the last time, Granger, keep this thing away from me." Draco said yanking Crookshanks off him, tearing off his Slytherin badge in the process. "Dammit, look at what it's done! Stupid little fleabag," he pounded back to his corner.

"Still find that git trustworthy, Crookshanks?" Ron said looking into the cat's odd, ugly squashed face. Crookshanks just purred in response, looking past Ron to Draco, who was trying to attach the badge back on his robes magically, of which his attempt were proving futile.

~o~

It was past midnight, the full moon hung high in the sky, giving Hogwarts an eerie glow. Harry, coming out of the Forbidden Forest, charged towards it, wand in his hand, "I will kill them all..." he whispered. He could hear hundreds of feet pounding the grass behind him. "Remember," he said to his hooded followers, "Dumbledore and the boy are mine. They will not live to see morning."

Harry shot up from his bed; he was covered in a cold sweat. "Ron, they're here!" he yelled. Ron jumped out of bed fully dressed, his wand in clenched in his hand.

Seamus, Neville, and Dean Thomas started out of sleep, as Harry hurried to the window pulling his wand out. There were no charging Death Eaters, no moon, and no Voldemort.

"Dammit!" Harry cursed.

"What?" Ron asked, looking over his shoulder at the empty grounds. "You're mad that there's no attack?"

"No, don't you see? Voldemort is back in my head."

~o~

The next day during breakfast, Ron and Hermione were seated together. They were talking nervously about Harry, who had skipped breakfast to go to another Occlumency lesson with Professor Snape.

"He saw Voldemort attacking Hogwarts?" Hermione asked in a hushed tone.

"Well, he was just on his way to attack us, but yeah," Ron answered.

"This isn't something we should be taking lightly, Ronald," she said.

"Ooo, I love it when you say my name like that." his ears went a bit red at her saying his full name.

Hermione couldn't help but smile. She shook her head fervently, "This isn't the time, Ron. Don't you see, if Harry saw Voldemort charging the castle that could mean that Hogwarts isn't as safe as it's believed to be."

"Don't worry, there hasn't been any other sightings of Death Eaters in the area for weeks, and besides Dumbledore and McGonagall and the other teachers are putting up more barriers right after breakfast," Ron assured her.

"Why aren't they doing it now? And besides if Voldemort can get past the barriers they've got up now, what's to stop him getting past these?" Hermione glared up at the teachers' table.

"Hermione! Why did you have to go and say that? I was feeling pretty safe and then you've got to ruin it all," Ron said, his eyes wide.

"Someone's got to say these things. I think Dumbledore should take all the younger kids out of school, at least until the danger is past. I'm going to suggest it to him right now." She stood to get up, but was stopped by Draco, whose robes still had a tear where his badge had been.

"Your damned cat followed Blaise and me into our common room last night and wouldn't leave. Put a leash on that waste of fur, or I'll-" he said, glaring at Hermione.

"You'll what?" Ron said threateningly. "Put a hex on a defenseless cat, you little ferret?"

Draco glared at him, "Just keep that sodding cat the bloody hell away from me!" And he stalked back to Slytheirn House table.

"Crookshanks had better be careful. Malfoy can only be 'trusted' so much." Ron said walking with Hermione towards the teacher's table.

"Trust Crookshanks, Ron, he knows what he's doing."

"I doubt he knows Malfoy better then I do."

Dumbledore smiled as they approached, "No need, Miss Granger, owls have already been sent out to the 1st through 5th years families."

"How did you-" Hermione began but stopped herself. "Of course, Professor."

~o~

The younger students were more frightened of leaving Hogwarts then they were of Voldemort. "I don't understand," Harry heard a second year Hufflepuff say, "I thought Hogwarts was the safest place there is? I read it in Hogwarts: A History." Harry had to smile at that. The young girl reminded Harry of another student who knew and quoted everything it that particular volume.

He helped hurry the children off to the thestral-pulled carriages, which would take them to the train. "Come on now, three or four to each coach." He said trying not to push them too roughly, but just as quickly on to the carriages.

"Harry!" Colin Creevey was running towards him. "Harry, have you seen Dennis? I wanted to give him some of these candies, you know so he won't miss Hogwarts as much."

"He's in the first coach there. I made sure he got on right off."

"Thanks." Colin ran towards his brother's coach, an overloaded bag of candies bouncing with him.

Harry watched him, absentmindedly thinking he wished he had a big brother to take care of him. He snapped out of his thoughts rushing the rest of the students into the coaches. Colin came over and helped, having said what seemed to have been a tearful good-bye to his brother. "It'll turn out, Colin. Don't worry." Harry clapped him on the back. Colin nodded but didn't seem too convinced.

After all the students had been placed in the carriages, Harry, Colin, and the other older students who had helped out headed back to the castle.

Harry saw Draco walking a ways in front of him, Crookshanks nipping at his heels. Harry grinned, thinking Draco hated every moment. But then he saw something that made his eyes narrow in disbelief. Crookshanks jumped into Draco's arms, and he not only made no move to push the cat away, he scratched behind his ears and grinned down at him. "I don't believe it."

Harry turned around and ran to where Ron and Hermione walked hand in hand together. "Herm, look," He pointed to where Draco was now sitting in the grass affectionately stroking Crookshanks head to tail.

Hermione looked a bit taken aback, but quickly changed her expression to a knowing smile. "What? Why are you so shocked? You've known for weeks Malfoy could be trusted, maybe now you'll believe it." Hermione took her hand out of Ron's and walked over to where Draco and Crookshanks were.

"Your girlfriend and her cat are bloody bonkers," Harry said to Ron watching as Hermione talked to Draco, who still seemed to despise her but continued petting Crookshanks.

"No need to tell me that, mate," Ron said, bewildered.

~o~

"Well," Ron said later when Hermione and Crookshanks walked through the portrait hole into the Gryffindor common room. "What happened with the ferret?"

Hermione sat down next to the fire and crossed her arms in front of her. "He may be trustworthy in Order matters but he's still the biggest prat I've ever had the displeasure of meeting."

Harry couldn't help the grin that was slowly forming across his face. Hermione never used such language, so Malfoy had probably done something very Malfoy-like for her to react so very Ron-like. "What happened?" He began idly petting Crookshanks who had sat beside him on the floor.

"That foul creature asked if I was sending my cat to try and get him to myself," Hermione looked furious.

"He thought you fancied him?" Harry and Ron were now unsuccessfully suppressing giggles.

"It's not funny!" she said irritably. "He-he..." she trailed off biting her lower lip. Harry suddenly became serious as did Ron.

"What did he do?" Ron went to her sitting on the arm of her chair, putting his own arm around her.

"He said I didn't need to send my cat to interest him, I only needed to..." she looked uncomfortably towards Harry. "to... well..."

She leaned into Ron and whispered something in his ear that made him jump up to his feet and say, "I'll kill him, I'll bloody well kill him." He was out the portrait hole before he could finish his long list of curses.

"Harry!" Hermione yelled, gesturing for him to go after Ron.

"Oh, yeah, right." He stood up and headed out the passage after him.

"Ron!" Harry called as he saw his best friend turn the corner.

"I'd hurry dear, he looks fit to kill." said The Fat Lady from her portrait.

"Yeah, he is," he set off at a run. He called after Ron to stop but he either didn't want to hear him, or couldn't hear him in his rage. "Dammit! RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY!" Harry yelled trying his best Mrs. Weasley impression. That stopped Ron in his tracks and he turned slowly, half expecting his mother to be behind him.

"What the bloody hell'd you do that for?" Ron said his face and ears redder then Harry had ever seen them.

"You can't kill Malfoy."

"Oh, yes, I can."

"I know you can, but you shouldn't. You know you shouldn't."

"Do you know what he said to my Hermione?" Ron looked him straight in the eye. Harry shook his head stupidly. "He said-" he looked about the empty hall for anyone who might be listening. A family portrait seemed to lean in, interested. Ron rolled his eyes and bent down towards Harry's ear.

"Ok, let's go." Harry said pulling his wand out and they headed towards the Slytherin dungeons.

"Stop right there, both of you!" Hermione called after them, they turned quickly and saw Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and Seamus walking towards them. "No one will be killing anyone."

"At least not tonight," Ginny said with a mischievous smile.

"Come on, mates, let's go and have a chocolate frog. We'll forget all this and go to bed," Neville said sounding as though this was about a bad test score.

"Look, you know what Dumbledore said." Hermione glared at Harry and then at Ron.

"Ok, but just because of you," Ron's anger seemed to quell just by looking at Hermione's steely gaze. "We won't kill him... tonight," he grinned at Harry.

"Besides nothing that git could've said could make it ok to kill him." Seamus said with a laugh.

"Yeah," Neville agreed. Harry leaned over and whispered something to them.

"Except that." Seamus and Neville wheeled around, wands out and were stopped only by Ginny and Hermione grabbing hold of the back of their robes.

~o~

The weeks went by with only the occasional Death Eater spotting. But nothing that was reported was ever confirmed. Classes went on even though the castle was practically empty. DA meetings were now mandatory, not that it mattered much, since everyone wanted the extra practice anyway. The spells they were learning were Auror level and surprisingly most of the students did exceptionally well. Neville Longbottom didn't let his fear of Goyle stop him anymore, he was now performing hexes as well as Ron, if not better. They also worked on fighting against the Imperio curse. Ron was getting much better at throwing it off since the fake Mad Eye Moody had put it on him in his 4th year.

Draco and Crookshanks were acting like good pals, only when Draco openly insulted Hermione did the cat take retaliation. Amazingly during DA meetings Draco didn't act so horribly towards Harry and other non-Slytherins. In fact when Crabbe had maliciously hit Ron with a Furnunculus spell, instead of laughing along with his fellow Slytherins, Draco quickly remedied it before the boils got too bad. Then he chastised Crabbe by telling him to take the classes seriously.

"He only did that to trick us into thinking he's an OK guy," Ron said later in the common room where he, Hermione, and Ginny sat alone, "or because he wanted to learn more so he can use the spells against us, later! I'm telling you, he's fooled your cat."

"Crookshanks can't be fooled!" Hermione said angrily.

"Dammit, it's not full Kneazle, it could make a mistake!"

"He knew your foul rat was really Peter Pettigrew."

"Got lucky."

"And knew Sirius wasn't really a dog and completely innocent!"

"So he was right twice, give the cat a medal!" he said sarcastically.

Before Hermione could defend her cat again, the portrait passage opened and Harry ran though, breathless.

"It's a full moon tonight!"

"So, unless Lupin's around, I don't see the problem." Ron looked at him confused.

"Oh, no!" Hermione jumped up towards Harry. "You think it might happen tonight?"

Ron suddenly realized Harry's meaning, and jumped to his feet as well, Ginny sat up on the sofa putting her book aside.

"It was a full moon in my dream! It just feels like it could be tonight," Harry said looking desperately around the room at nothing.

"Is your scar hurting?" Ginny asked sensibly.

"No," Harry answered quietly.

"Well then, calm down," she said lying back on the sofa. "Your scar hurts only if and when danger is near. If it's not hurting, there's no need to worry."

"She's got a point there, mate," Ron said watching Harry as though he'd gone completely off his rocker. He sat back in his chair still watching Harry.

"I suppose so," Harry said looking rather embarrassed.

"Sometimes my past overdone obsession with you comes in handy," Ginny said with a sly smile.

"All right then, if that bit of excitement is over," Hermione said taking a deep breath. "I think I'll do my rounds. Ron, would you...like to...help?"

Ron gave her a look of total exhaustion, only when she raised her eyebrows and grit her teeth did he catch on to her meaning. He stood up rather quickly, his ears reddening, "Right, of course, rounds." He watched her walk towards the passage, when she was out of earshot he walked past Harry and said, "We're going to go on rounds." Harry grinned and clapped him on the back.

"Obvious, isn't he?" Ginny laughed after the portrait had closed.

"Just a bit." Harry grinned again, sitting across from her. She had gone back to her book. Her hair occasionally falling in front of her face, she'd push it behind her ear, but it didn't stay there for long. She was completely unaware of Harry watching her, studying her. "Gin-?" he began.

"Hmm," she answered not looking at him.

"How's it going with you and Seamus?"

Ginny sighed. "Oh, you know me," she grinned, "didn't work out, as usual."

Harry tried to suppress his giddiness, "Can I ask you a question?" She nodded still not looking away from her book. "What you said before... about your... er..."

"My obsession with you?" she looked up at him.

Harry gave a small smirk, "Yeah. Is it... completely? What I mean to say is..." he blushed a bit as he stuttered.

"Good Merlin, Harry!" She stood then glaring at him. "If you've got something to say, then as my dear brother would say: Bloody well say it!"

But Harry said nothing; instead he stood up, grabbed her around the waist and kissed her.

~o~

"Ron!" Hermione hissed as her boyfriend nibbled on her earlobe.

"Hmm?" he murmured in response, making his teeth vibrate against her ear, which in turn made a small moan escape her throat.

"No, wait." Hermione shook herself and Ron out of the moment.

"Sorry," Ron looked a bit red in the face, which of course was nothing new. They were sitting on a desk in the deserted Charms classroom, which was their usual spot after Hermione finished her Head Girl rounds.

"It's not you," she said sweetly, leaning her head on his broad shoulder. "It's Harry."

"What?" His head shot up, making her lose her balance on his shoulder.

She smacked him hard in the chest and placed her head back where it had been. "I'm worried about him, you stupid git."

Ron couldn't help but smile at his own stupid jealousy, as he gave her knee a reassuring squeeze. "He'll be fine, we'll all be fine. Voldemort's not coming tonight."

"But he is coming, Ron," she practically whispered.

Ron could see she was getting herself upset, her fingers were twisting around themselves in her lap and she was close to gnawing off her bottom lip. "Shh..." he said, taking her trembling hands in his. "Come here," he kissed her gently first on the forehead and then on her lips.

"Oh, Ron," she threw her arms around him and cried into his chest.

He petted her hair softly and then pushed her off him so he could look her in her brown eyes, which were full of tears. "Look at me, I'm telling you we'll all be fine. I'm promising you this."

"But how can you be sure?" she spoke, her lip trembling.

"Because I know Harry can handle Voldemort. We all know that, we've all seen that. I know you're the best-damned witch in the history of Hogwarts. And I know I won't let anything bad happen to you or Harry, or Ginny, or anyone else for that matter." He took a deep breath and then added, "And I know one more thing, above all others."

"What?" Hermione said staring up at him, tears still falling freely down her face.

He wiped her check with his thumb, "I know that I love you, Hermione Granger."

"Oh Ron!" she said, again throwing her arms around him, "I love you, too."

He brought her closer to him and couldn't help the tears that fall down his own cheeks.

~o~

Harry pulled away from Ginny suddenly, "Harry? Harry what is it?" His palm was pressed to his forehead and his face was screwed up in agony. "Oh no!" she whispered. "Everyone! Get down here, now!" she screamed up the stairs to the dormitories.

"Ginny..." Harry hissed, now on his knees clutching his head in both hands.

"It'll be ok, Harry." She knelt down beside him with her arm around him. The noise of all the Gryffindors thundering down the stairs interrupted them.

"Oh, God." Neville said watching Harry writhe in pain. "It's happening."

"Quick, is everyone armed?" Ginny looked around at her fellow students, who all nodded and held up their wands. "Let's go. Seamus, you and Dean help Harry til he can keep his footing. We've got to warn the others."

~o~

The Gryffindors ran throughout the school sounding the alarm. Nearly Headless Nick took it upon himself to warn the ghosts and other non-human inhabitants of the upcoming danger. Neville, with orders from Ginny, burst into the Charms classroom interrupting Ron and Hermione's romantic moment.

"Sorry!" she said feeling rather uncomfortable. "Harry's scar is hurting."

"It's happening," Ron and Hermione said together, jumping off their desk.

They hit the floor running, quickly passing the slower boy as he shouted out, "Everyone's in the Great Hall preparing."

"When did it start?"

"'Bout five minutes ago." Neville answered as he struggled to catch up. "Ginny took command, since Harry was unable to."

"It was that bad?" Ron called over his shoulder, slowing down when they neared the Hall.

"Look for yourself." Neville said pointing to a boy lying in the middle of the room, legs splayed and hands covering his face. If Neville hadn't told them it was Harry, they never would have thought it was. He looked so small.

"Bloody hell!" Ron ran towards him, Hermione close behind.

Just when he got close enough to see his face clearly, a large solid mass blocked him. "I wouldn' if I were you, Ron," Hagrid said putting a large hand on his shoulder. "Near killed Seamus as he was comin' down with 'im." He pointed to Seamus who was nursing what looked to be the beginnings of a very impressive black eye. Ginny was standing next to him watching Harry with a worried look.

"What d'ya mean? Why'd he do that?" Ron was looking back at Harry, who still squirmed about the floor.

"Not right in the head, jus' now. Thought Seamus was V-Voldemort."

"Can't Dumbledore or Madam Pomfrey do something?" Hermione looked as though she'd begin to cry again at any moment.

"The headmaster says there ain' nothin' they can do. Says it'll pass soon enough." For the first time since Ron and Hermione had known Hagrid, it seemed he wasn't a hundred percent confident in his hero.

Hermione looked just as unsure, but her resolve stiffened as she saw the Slytherins all watching with satisfaction as Harry continued to twist on the floor. She wished Crookshanks had finished reading all of them. Besides Malfoy and that first year Judah, who had left with the other younger students and therefore useless in this fight, he had only tested three other Slytherins and they were all deemed untrustworthy. Something which Ron and Harry didn't seem too surprised over.

"Ron!" Ginny rushed towards her brother. "Come on, you've got to get your instructions from Dumbledore."

Ron looked at his sister and for the first time in her life, he saw her as a young woman. The very thought brought him to the brink of tears. He grabbed her into a bear hug, placed a kiss on the top of her red head. "I love you, Ginny."

"Shut up, Ron." She pulled out of his brotherly hug, "No one's dying tonight. Now come on!" She turned quickly and hurried towards Dumbledore. Hermione could've sworn she saw a tear in her eye.

"Good, everyone's here," Dumbledore said as they joined the group. "Now, there's no more time to waste. I want you all to listen to what I'm about to say." He looked about the room, meeting everyone's eye. "We are a family, we will work together and help one another. Do not take undo risks. Do what you can, not what you wish you could. And above all, don't die."

As Dumbledore's speech drew to a close, Ron looked about the room at all the others. They looked as scared and as unsatisfied with his words as he was.

"Excuse me, sir?" Colin Creevy spoke up. "But what, exactly, do we do?"

"Exactly what you were taught. You may not feel ready at the present moment. But believe me you are."

No one seemed the least bit reassured. But then there was a groan behind them that made Ron and Hermione at least, cheer up a bit.

"Ohhh... Gin-Ginny?" Harry almost whispered looking from one side to the other in his position on the floor.

"Right here, Harry," she said rushing to his side. "Are you ok?"

"No," he gave a weak smile, "but I'm not writhing about in pain, so there's a plus."

"Can you stand, mate?" Ron asked taking Harry's other side, looking from him to Ginny, confused.

"Yeah...yeah I think so." Harry took a hold of Ginny and Ron's hands before lifting himself up. He gave his head a shake and scanned the room of people finally letting his gaze fall on Dumbledore. "It won't be long, Professor. But help is on the way. I felt them coming."

"Yes, I know. Hopefully they will arrive from Hogsmede shortly."

No sooner had the Professor spoke then a rush of footsteps came from above. Some students pulled out their wands, but soon dropped them to their sides. Fred and George Weasley came shooting down the staircase on their broomsticks, "Who's ready to kick some Death Eater arse?" Fred called waving his wand over his head.

Several students whooped in reply and the noise got louder as the rest of the Weasley clan came plowing down the stairs, fresh from the secret passage from Hogsmede.

"Not too late are we, Professor?" Arthur Weasley called as he gave Ginny a hug.

"No, Weasley, you're right on time. To die." Lucius Malfoy said from behind him, he stood at the door of the castle, a very strong looking Voldemort at his side.

~o~

Lucius grabbed hold of Ginny and slammed Arthur into a suit of armor knocking him unconscious. The rest of the Weasleys and Harry quickly charged towards them, but Lucius held his wand threateningly close to Ginny's neck. "I would hate to kill the best part of your family, but if you take one more step, I'll get over it."

"You hurt one hair on her head, Malfoy and you'll be in a pine box before suppertime," Bill Weasley said through clenched teeth.

"Now, now, I'm sure your mother taught you better then to bully your betters, boy." Lucius laughed.

"Lucius," Voldemort hissed beside him. "Why is your son standing over there? He should be standing beside his family."

Draco looked around and saw he was the only Slytherin left on Dumbledore's side. Crabbe, Goyle, and the rest had all stood by their parents when they had entered. "Draco! You idiot! Get over here," Lucius called. Draco stood stunned for a moment then walked towards his father. Crookshanks gave him an angry hiss, but he stood between Lucius and Voldemort all the same.

"Draco!" Hermione called disbelieving Crookshanks had made such a mistake.

"Shut it, Mudblood." Draco said through his smile. Ginny tried kicking him, but he slapped her hard across the face without thinking.

"Good boy." Voldemort patted him on the shoulder looking at Lucius proudly. "Now, let's begin shall we?" Two Death Eaters came from seemingly nowhere and grabbed hold of Dumbledore while four others grabbed Harry and Hermione. "I know where the true power lies."

"It's me you want! Leave the others out of it! Or are you too scared!" Harry yelled squirming to get out of the Death Eaters hold.

"Oh, Harry, you are a funny one." Voldemort nearly smiled.

The students and teachers held back not knowing what to do exactly and not wanting to botch the whole thing by acting without proper orders from Dumbledore.

"Come now, Headmaster, let's have a proper wizard's duel," Voldemort said glaring at Dumbledore.

"You're no match for him," Harry yelled at his enemy.

"Oh, Potter, you've developed quite a sense of humor since last we met."

"Get on with it then, Voldemort," Dumbledore said. "Have your misguided friends let go of me and my wand and we'll have a proper duel."

"Good!" he hissed, "Let him be." The Death Eaters let go of Dumbledore and Voldemort turned onto the others, "Now, if this is to be a proper, even duel, NO INTERFERENCE!" His eyes landed on Harry then to Ron, "Take hold of this one too, he's got no real power, but a nasty temper." Two more Death Eaters took hold of Ron, much to Mrs. Weasley's distress.

As Voldemort's back was turned, Dumbledore let off a stream of blue sparks towards him. As they hit him, Voldemort let out a scream of rage. "Dumbledore! You cheated." He laughed then, "Good."

Sparks, streams, fire, and smoke flared between them. Harry screamed, and tried desperately to get out of the grasp of the two large Death Eaters holding him. He couldn't see anything through the smoke that was quickly filling the room. Please, let him be ok. I know he'll defeat him. Please.

"Avada Kedavra!" There was a sudden scream and then nothing. The smoke cleared slowly revealing a man standing over another, lying dead on the floor. Everyone in the room held a collective breath as the standing man turned and began walking closer to Harry. He squinted against the smoke trying to make out who was coming towards him. Please, please, please.

"Nooooo!" Professor McGonagall bawled. The smoke had cleared, and Harry saw what he'd been dreading. Voldemort was the wizard walking to him.

~o~

Draco stood next to his father watching the smoke as the battle raged on. He was scared, and he wasn't sure as to way. Was he scared for himself if Dumbledore lived, or was he afraid Dumbledore may die? Why should I care if the old coot snuffs it? He never cared a bit for me. The Dark Lord will prevail and I will live forever in riches on his right hand, just as my father has always planned.

But fear of Voldemort crept into his heart; he was afraid of personally killing others, afraid of what would happen when he would be forced to do so. Even more powerful then all that: fear of his father. Merlin save me, I hope Dumbledore kills that psycho, and ends this nightmare forever.

"Avada Kedavra!" There was a sudden scream and then nothing. The smoke cleared slowly revealing a man standing over another, laying dead on the floor. Everyone in the room held a collective breath as the standing man turned and began walking closer to Harry. Draco squinted against the smoke trying to make out who it was. Please, please, please.

"Nooooo!" Professor McGonagall bawled. The smoke had cleared, and Draco saw what he'd been dreading. Voldemort was the wizard left standing.

Voldemort held his wand high and laughed. "I killed him, I have finally killed 'the great Albus Dumbledore'!"

The room erupted as those on both sides charged and the room was once more filled with sparks and smoke.

~o~

Harry ran towards Voldemort, his arm outstretched, wand at the ready. Voldemort was too busy basking in his victory to see Harry hurl a blasting curse at him. Voldemort was thrown through the air, hit the wall opposite, and slid down to the floor. Harry charged towards him, but was stopped by Lucius who had just hit Mrs. Weasley with an Impediment Jinx.

"You can't truly think you can win, Potter?" he said looking down at him.

"You must think I can, if you won't let me fight your master." Harry glared at him, and quickly cast a Locomotor Mortis spell and watched as he fell on his face. "No more games, Voldemort!"

Voldemort laughed his unnaturally high laugh and gave Harry a cruel smile as he stood. "Oh, Potter how does it feel? Knowing that because of me your parents, your godfather, your trusted mentor are all dead? And soon all your little friends will join them behind the veil."

"I won't let that happen."

"Oh but you have." He raised his wand to the now frozen Mrs. Weasley. "I think I'll start with this one."

"NOOOO!!" Harry yelled jumping on Voldemort. "You die today, old man."

But Voldemort just cackled again, tossing Harry easily off of him. Harry's wand flew out of his hand, Voldemort stood again and pointed it towards Molly once more. "Finite Incantatum!" Harry roared. Without his wand, Lucius' spell was ended and Molly was free again. She quickly regained control and ducked away from Voldemort's spell.

"How-?" Voldemort rounded on Harry, who was as surprised as anyone at his newfound ability. "Well, you're more special then even I knew."

"Accio wand!" Harry called and his wand flew to his hand. "Well, you learn something new everyday, Riddle."

Hatred flashed across Voldemort face at the mention of his given name. "How dare you?"

"Come on, Tom," Harry smiled, confidence filling him. "Let's end this." The two wizards stood staring at one another wands ready. If looks could kill, both men would be dead instantly.

~o~

Draco stood frozen as he watched his father battle Mrs. Weasley. Potter had thrown Voldemort into the wall, and Draco couldn't help but give him a small cheer in his mind. Kill him, Potter. Do it, now! But his father stood in his way now. Potter easily put a full body lock curse on him and he fell to the floor. Draco nearly jumped out from his hiding place then, ready to defend his father. No, Potter, can do what he likes. Just as long as he kills Voldemort. Then I'll help Father.

Potter continued his fight with Voldemort. Screw "sportsmanship," Potter, just kill him. Quit messing about! Harry's wand flew from his hand but that didn't seem to matter. Harry is a hand wizard? Bloody hell.

Another Death Eater came to Lucius' aid, to Draco it looked like Crabbe's father. Professor Snape saw this and rushed towards Lucius before he could hex Harry from behind. No, not Snape. Draco watched as his favorite teacher, his mentor battled his father. Snape was impressive but his father was obviously the dominant wizard. They were slowly coming closer to Draco's hide out. He could hear them over the roar of battle now.

"Vile traitor!" Lucius spat at Snape.

"Just came to my senses, Malfoy," he spat back throwing off Lucius' body binding curse.

"You'll die for your disloyalty," Lucius said calmly as he cast another spell.

"Not tonight." Snape threw a stupefy spell, but Lucius reversed it and hit Snape instead.

Snape was stunned and fell to his knees, his body wobbled to each side. Lucius came right in front of him and placed his wand tip to his forehead. "As I said, traitor, you die." He took a deep breath, readying himself for the spell.

Draco stood dumbfounded for just a moment. No, no, not Snape. You can't. Not Snape. He ran out of his hiding place and to his father.

"Good, son, you can see up close what we do to traitors."

Draco stared at his father. "Please, sir, must you kill him? He's a powerful man, he could be of use to us."

"Fool boy!" Lucius struck him across the face, "You've always been weak and useless." He turned back to Snape, parting his lips, "Ava-"

"EXPELLIARMUS!!" Lucius' wand flew out of his hand and smashed against the wall with the force of Draco's spell.

"Insolent boy!" Lucius grabbed hold of Draco's robes and shook him.

Snape had regained his sense and sent magical ropes from his wand to tie Lucius up. "I'll kill you both!" The Death Eater seethed.

"Shut up, Malfoy," Snape said, sending him to the Great Hall; where the rest of the captured Death Eaters were being held.

"Thank you, Draco."

"You're welcome, Professor." Draco said unsure of what he had just done.

~o~

"You can't stop me Potter." Voldemort was standing over a bleeding Harry.

"Take a look around, Tom, we're beating you." Harry said through clenched teeth.

"You are a droll boy, Potter. I'll miss your wit." Voldemort raised his wand...

"Ferula," Harry called. A wooden rod appeared in his hand, and he swooped it under Voldemort, causing him to fall on his back. Harry took this small opening and stood uneasily. "You've caused enough misery, Tom." He held his wand to Voldemort's gray, crusty head.

Voldemort grabbed hold of Harry's wand, showing he was quicker then he looked. "Too slow, Potter." He kicked Harry in the stomach and sent him against the wall.

"Now, it's finished," Voldemort said pointing both his and the young boy's wands at the broken body of Harry Potter.

~o~

"Let me go! I have to help Harry!" Ron yelled furiously. He was laying on the floor of the Great Hall with his leg and arm in bandages. Surrounding him were other injured teachers and students. Hermione sat beside him with her head wrapped tightly in gauze, blood seeping through.

Madam Pomfrey pushed him back down roughly as he tried standing. "I'm sorry, Mr. Weasley, there's nothing we can do for him. And certainly nothing you can do, with a broken leg!"

"No, I'm supposed to be there!" Ron looked desperate. "Dumbledore... he... he said..." he tried standing again.

"Please!" Madam Pomfrey forced him back down.

The room was filled with broken and bloody bodies, from both sides. The Death Eaters had all been caught, or killed. They were all being held either by curses or magical ropes and chains.

But there were casualties on both sides. Many bodies of various sizes lay on the floor, with blood-soaked sheets covering them.

Draco sat in a vacant corner, not knowing what to do. He didn't know on what side he now belonged, or what would happen to him after all this was over. His fellow Slytherins who had joined their families, glared at him from across the room. His father, however, refused to look at him at all.

"Malfoy?" Professor Snape said as he stopped in front of him.

Draco sneered. "'Malfoy'? I don't think I'll be able to call myself that after what I've done."

Snape watched the boy's face. For seven years Snape hadn't seen much emotion cross that face, but today, it conveyed more emotions then Snape thought humanly possible. "Draco," he spoke softly, which was odd for him. "You did the right thing. You knew what had to be done and you did it. I'd surely be dead otherwise."

Draco looked up at the man before him, he was no longer the hard-nosed potions master, but a brave and grateful man who had saved him, just as Draco had done for him. "Thank you, Professor."

Snape nodded his head, and to Draco's amazement seemed to smile. "Draco, you are a courageous young man to stand against your father. If I had done that at your age, perhaps I wouldn't have been such a stupid fool to have ever followed Voldemort in the first place." His eyes darkened for just a moment, then he looked back at Draco, "I don't know if this will matter to you, but I for one am very pro-" He couldn't finish his sentence, because at that moment he fell to the ground, struck by a powerful Cruciatus curse.

There were several screams as a masked Death Eater stood, wand in hand.

"No!" Draco screamed, grabbing his own wand he shouted hexes towards the evil wizard across the room. But they were all deflected.

"You'll pay for denying your family, treacherous boy!"

"Nooo!" Draco screamed as the Death Eater sent another Cruciatus curse his way. He fell flat on his back next to Snape twisting in horrible pain.

Suddenly two voices called out "STUPEFY!" The pain Draco and Snape felt slowly faded and they shook their heads looking around the room. Professor McGonagall had set ropes to tie the Death Eater up, but it hadn't been she who stopped him.

"Who?" Draco asked weakly, sitting up.

"You owe us, Malfoy," Ron said bitterly as Hermione helped him sit back down.

"You? You saved us? Me?"

"Yes," Hermione said wearily, sitting next to Ron.

"Maybe now you'll let us out to save Harry?!" Ron yelled out at Madam Pomfrey.

"Hush, boy!" she answered looking grim. "I won't send you out to certain death."

Draco stood on shaky legs, he felt as though he and not the Death Eater had been hit with the stunning spell. He stared at Ron and Hermione as they held each other. She was crying out of fear and helplessness over Potter. He just glared at Draco. Obviously annoyed that the person he had been destined to save had been Draco and not Harry. Suddenly it hit him.

"I know what I have to do."

"Then do it, Draco," Snape said leaning against the wall, weakly.

~o~

Harry was lying on the ground in front of Hogwarts. How did I end up here?

He was bleeding from what felt like everywhere. He could feel the two broken ribs in his chest and could also feel the many bruises that were forming over his body.

Voldemort lay only a few feet away, just as broken, just as bloody, and just as bruised.

Harry looked towards the castle. The doors were no longer there, instead fractured bits of wood were scattered about the lawn. He remembered then; when Voldemort had taken his wand, he tried using a blasting spell on him. But without his wand, the spell went wild and hit him as well. Sending both through the heavy doors and on to the hard ground outside.

"Accio wand," Harry said faintly, nothing happened.

Voldemort stirred, Harry watched helplessly as his enemy sat up and incredibly stood. "Potter, you've been a fierce foe. I've enjoyed this battle quite a bit. But I must say, and I'm sure you'll agree, it goes on much too long."

"You'll never win, Riddle."

"Why must you make this worse for yourself? You could just accept your fate, but instead you insist on enraging me even more!"

"Have I 'enraged' you, Tom Riddle?" Harry smirked mockingly, he was stalling now, desperate to keep Voldemort talking, so he could buy time to regain his strength. "You see, I rather enjoy it... Tom."

"Stupid boy!" Voldemort kicked him hard in his side.

Harry bit back the urge to scream in pain, as Voldemort's foot meet his broken ribs. "Now, you're behaving like a true Muggle! Using physical violence!" Harry forced laughter. "Your father would be proud."

Voldemort roared with sheer loathing, he raised his wand and said, "This ends now."

"You keep saying that, Riddle. Yet nothing's ended." Harry laughed, standing up, his strength returning slightly, "Accio wand!" his wand now sped to him.

Before he could utter a single word of power, Voldemort hit him with a mighty bolt of energy. Harry was flung backward, he hit the ground at such a force, and he couldn't breath for what felt like hours. His strength was gone once more. Voldemort stood over Harry once more.

"A-avada Ked-Kedavra!" Draco appeared, pointing his wand at Voldemort's back. "A-avada K-Kedavra!" he repeated, the fear in his voice evident.

Voldemort flinched slightly, but it seemed to have no effect. He spun on Draco, "You! Treacherous brainless child! Did you think you could stop the great LORD VOLDEMORT?! You don't even have the courage to use such a spell! You're as sad and spineless as your father always feared you were!"

"Crucio!" At the mention of his father, Draco put all the hatred and pain he could muster into the spell. Voldemort hit the ground in pain. "Harry!? Harry, are you alright?" He didn't dare take his eye off Voldemort.

Harry lay gaping at Draco, completely flabbergasted at the sight before him.

"Stop gawking at me already, Scarhead! Stand up and finish this! You're the only one who can."

Harry shook his head and slowly stood. He limped to where Voldemort lay contorted in unimaginable pain. "Lift it," Harry said to Draco.

"You're sure?" he looked at him disbelieving.

Harry bent down and wrenched Voldemort's wand from his gnarled, bony hands. He broke it against his knee, sparks flew out and then died away. "Yes, go ahead."

Draco looked at Harry, then ended the spell and took a step back.

"This, Tom, is where it truly ends." Harry pointed his wand at the Dark Lord, "AVADA KEDAVRA!!!" All the pain Harry had felt throughout his life was put into that spell. The loss of his parents, the torture of living with the Durselys, Cedric, Sirius, Dumbledore... every bit of hatred in his life he gave it back to the man who had caused it. Voldemort died instantly, and in that same moment, a great weight was lifted from "The Boy Who Lived".

Yet just as that weight was lifted, another replaced it just as quickly. His famous scar ripped open once more and he howled in pain before falling unconscious to the ground next to his evil counterpart.

~o~

Draco sat in the nearly empty Dining Hall. It had been weeks since the Great Battle, as the Daily Prophet had dubbed it, and Draco was an outcast. No one could believe his story that he had saved Harry Potter. He had spent these last few weeks stalking about the castle, alone and friendless. No one bothered talking to him, they didn't know what to say, and many headed the other way when he'd turn into a hall. He wanted desperately to stay confined in the deserted Slytherin Common Room, but Snape had encouraged him to get out and not help perpetuate people's fears. He hadn't felt completely comfortable in the dorms anyway; he no longer felt like a true Slytherin, he no longer embodied what the Great Salazar Slytherin had in mind for the perfect student.

He sat at the empty Slytherin table, trying to pretend he didn't know or care about the furtive stares from the remaining children. The doors opened and Ron Weasley hobbled in on his crutches. Bloody Hell, just what I need! Draco thought bitterly to himself. Ron stumbled a bit as he headed to the Gryffindor table. You'd think after nearly a month he'd be able to walk with those things! Why doesn't he have Madam Pomfrey fix that leg anyway?

Granger greeted him with a warm smile and a quick kiss. Draco couldn't help himself; he felt a twinge of jealousy just then. Not that he wanted Granger, the mere thought chilled him and he shuddered. But he did wish he had someone, anyone to care when he walked through the door, but no one did.

He had helped Potter save the entire wizarding world from Voldemort, and had gotten no recognition for it. Except for those who claimed to be his friends, when he was still Lucius Malfoy's son. Now he was just Draco. Draco the Traitor, Draco the Back-stabber, he was lower then dirt. I might as well be a Mudblood. He shuddered again.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Anthony Goldstein, a Ravenclaw, walked over to Draco. "If it isn't Lord Malfoy."

"Bugger off," Draco said through clenched teeth.

"Ohhh, poor Malfoy, he lost all his friends to Azkaban. Or are you more upset because your daddy doesn't love you anymore, if he ever did, that is." Anthony leaned down and put his face close to Draco's, much to close for his liking. "Gonna cry Little Malfoy?"

"I said: Bugger off, Goldstein." he stood.

"Come on Malfoy! You forgot all your bodyguard goons are rotting in Azkaban! You gonna fight your own battles for once?"

"I helped kill Voldemort, you think you're a bigger challenge?"

"Oh get off it, Malfoy! No one believes you!"

Draco shoved him hard; the larger boy was slammed against the Gryffindor table. He jumped back towards Draco spitting curses as he did. He punched Draco across the face, his head snapped back. Draco returned the punch and soon the two boys were rolling on the floor between the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables.

The fight didn't last too long; two strong arms split the two apart and pulled them to their feet. "All right, Ron, you want to have a go at him too?" Anthony asked as Ron took hold of Draco. The smaller boy looked frightened as Ron looked at him maliciously.

"Well, actually," Ron pushed Draco away, and took an unsteady step towards the other boy. "I was thinking 'bout something more like this." Ron drew his closed fist behind him and slammed it into the Ravenclaw's face. He fell over on his back. "Are you really that thick, Goldstein?" Ron stood over him. "Malfoy risked his life, and helped save us all. Now get off your stupid arse and get out of here." The Ravenclaw ran away looking over his shoulder at Ron and Draco, a black eye already forming.

Hermione walked over to Ron and handed him his abandoned crutches. "That was rather mature of you, Ronald. Must you always hit those who don't know any better?"

"You didn't have to do that, Weasley. I could have handled him fine myself." Draco held his jaw tenderly.

"Yeah, right, Malfoy, he was twice your size. And you're welcome." Ron glowered at him.

"Draco, you should go to the hospital ward." Hermione looked concerned at the cut over his eye.

"I'm fine."

"Really, you should. It looks awful-"

"Dammit, Granger, I said I'm fine. So you can stop acting as if you care."

"Shut it, Malfoy." Ron stepped up to him. "She's trying to help you, but if you're too dense to see that-"

"Yeah, you two are full of compassion."

"Know what, next time you're about to get your prissy arse kicked, I'm just gonna sit back and enjoy the show. No matter what happens you'll always be a grade 'A' prat."

"Only the very best, Weasel," Draco closed the gap between them, "not that you'd know anything about it."

"You two are impossible!" Hermione yelled pulling Ron away from Draco. "Did you forget your leg's still broken?" She nudged it with her foot.

"Bloody hell, woman!" Ron winced in pain. "I told you I'm not fixing anything til Harry-"

"He's awake!" Ginny ran into the Hall almost out of breath. "Harry's-Harry's awake!!"

~o~

"One at a time! One at a time, please! He just woke up from a three-week coma! I'll won't allow the whole school in at once!" Madam Pomfrey was yelling as students tried pushing past her.

"Please, ma'am. May we go in first? Together?" Hermione asked timidly gesturing to herself and Ron.

"Oh, very well! I don't know why I bother speaking at all!" she said sounding rather unhappy about it.

Ron and Hermione rushed past the nurse and burst through the hospital ward doors.

"Harry!" they called out together running to his bedside.

"Guys..." Harry tried sitting up, but soon gave up.

"Here, let us." Hermione gestured to Ron, who helped Harry stay up while she rearranged his pillows.

"How d'ya feel, mate?" Ron asked as he propped Harry against his newly arranged pillows.

"Oh, fabulous. I highly recommend comas. Clears the mind quite nicely." Harry gave a vague smile. "No one's told me, how is everyone? Did we all pull through? I've only seen Madam Pomfrey and Ginny and she rushed off before she could tell me any news." Ron and Hermione gave each other uneasy looks. "What?" he asked anxiously, "Who?"

Ron cleared his throat, "Colin," he said just over a whisper.

"No. No, not Colin? But he... dammit." Harry could feel tears stinging his eyes. He blinked them back furiously. "Anyone else?"

"Su Li, Hannah Abbot, Ernie, Tracy Davies, Theodore Nott," Ron listed the names of three friends and two Slytherins.

"And Professors Sinistra, Vector, and Flitwick." Hermione looked positively depressed.

Harry stared at the wall across from him. Ron and Hermione's words echoing in his mind. Colin, Su Li, Hannah Abbot, Ernie... Professors Sinistra, Vector, and Flitwick...

"Harry?"

Colin, Su Li, Hannah Abbot, Ernie... Professors Sinistra, Vector, and Flitwick...

"Harry?"

Colin, Su Li, Hannah Abbot, Ernie... Professors Sinistra, Vector, and Flitwick...

"Harry!!"

"Hmm, yes? What?" he turned to Hermione.

"Are you ok?" she asked her eyes brimming with tears.

"Yes, I'm just fine. But Colin, Dumbledore, all the rest! They're gone. Lost their lives for me! But that's ok, because me? 'The boy who bloody lived?' He lived... again. I live while everyone around me dies!"

"Harry don't be like that," she began, patting his shoulder.

He pulled away from her touch, "You know what, Hermione? Why don't you tell me how to be then?" His voice was raising on it's own accord, anger filling him. "After everything, they're all dead!"

"Not everyone," Ron said softly, feeling a bit hurt.

"Ron!" Hermione hissed.

Harry felt worse, "Guys, I'm... I'm just tired. Maybe you should just go."

"Sure," Ron said dejectedly. And he and Hermione walked out with their heads held down.

"Bloody hell." Harry's tears fell freely as the door closed behind his friends.

~o~

Harry awoke to find the room pitch black, except for a sliver of white moonlight. He looked to the window in which the light was coming in. There sitting in a large armchair was a man, his silver hair highlighted by the beam from the quarter moon. He looked over at Harry, his eyes twinkling as if the very stars lived behind them, "Hello, Harry."

"Professor? Professor Dumbledore?" Harry jumped out of bed and ran towards his mentor. "Is it really you? Are-are you a ghost?"

"Yes, and no." he gave a merry chuckle. "I'm not a ghost, I am really me, but this isn't necessarily real." He gestured about the room.

"What do you mean?"

"You're dreaming, my dear boy. I came to tell you something very important." His face was serious but his eyes still gave off the same giddiness they always had.

"What is it, Professor?"

"You were wondering what the point was to all of your fighting. If I, along with Mr. Creevey, and the others had to die. Harry, I don't say this to anger you, or treat you as a simple child. But you should know the point by now."

"Sir, of course I know the point. I helped save the Wizarding world. I know I did the right thing. What you, my parents, Sirius would have wanted. But... I would have rather died then all of you." He looked down at his feet.

"And that, young Potter, is what makes you a true hero." Dumbledore watched as he reluctantly raised his eyes to face him again. "But, your work isn't done yet."

Harry's face fell, "What?!"

"You must finish what you began that night. All that you began."

"Please, sir. I... I thought I did."

Dumbledore smiled, and then Harry felt himself being pulled away from him. "No! Wait! Dumbledore!"

"Remember Harry, those you love never truly leave you..." Dumbledore's voice echoed.

~o~

Harry snapped awake, he was lying in his hospital bed, his body still ached in pain. Even in my dreams he still talks in riddles! He reached for his glasses, carefully moving his body as little as possible. As he put them on he looked to where Dumbledore had sat.

He's still there!

"Professor?!" The man turned to face him, his gray eyes reflected by the moonlight.

"Potter?" Draco choked out. Harry could see the trails of tears running down his face, illuminated by the glowing moon. Draco quickly wiped them away.

"Oh, I... I thought you were someone else." Harry's body relaxed back into the bed.

"Dumbledore?" Harry stared at Draco, "Yeah, he came to me too. Told me to come here. I figured I'd better do as a dead man tells me. Sorry if you don't feel special anymore."

"I've never felt special a day in my life, Draco, nor did I ever claim I was," Harry said angrily.

"Oh, don't get your scar in a twist, Pothead!" He frowned, and looked out the window again. "I suppose the Professor told you to finish what you started too, ah?"

Harry nodded wordlessly, then when he realized Draco wouldn't look at him he said, "What d'you think he meant by that?"

"I'm guessing he meant an alliance, or at least a truce. Between us." Draco turned to Harry, searching his face for any sign of agreement.

"I was hoping he just meant my kissing Ginny..." he said to himself, "but I guess he could've meant that, too."

"You made a move on the junior weasel?"

Harry regretted letting that slip instantly. "What?" he asked trying to sound as though he had no idea what Draco meant.

He smirked, "Don't worry, Saint Potter, I won't tell anyone, I've no one to tell anyway." His smirk faded, and his face darkened, his eyes once more illuminating the moonlight.

"Yeah, Madam Pomfrey told me about the other Slytherins."

"It doesn't really matter, I always knew they weren't my friends. How many Slytherins can you trust, ya know? They only wanted to be around for the connections my father had. Now, there's no connection, no family, no father."

"He... disowned you?"

"Not like he had much of a choice, not with my stopping him from killing Snape. Then I made matters worse by saving your scrawny arse from Voldemort."

Harry didn't stop the grin that formed. "Like I needed your help anyway."

"Oh sure, you had him right where you wanted him, then?" Draco's smirk returned.

"Oh yes, see I gave him a false sense of confidence, and if you hadn't of gotten your bloody nose in it I would've dispatched of him easily enough." Harry said sarcastically.

Draco laughed, "How hard did you hit that soft, scarred head of yours?"

The two rivals laughed heartily at one another. But when they realized they hadn't hated each other for more then a few moments, an odd awkwardness settled between them, and they sat in silence for a while.

Harry was the one who broke the tension, "What... what about your mother?"

Draco's face screwed itself up in a picture of disappointment and hurt. "Ran off when she heard father had been caught. Never gave me a second thought I'm sure. I shouldn't be surprised. She never was the maternal type. Got more love from Dobby and the other house elves then both parents combined. Of course that was before I learned how to be a total prat to them and everyone else." Harry watched as Draco blinked back tears angrily. "I suppose I'm another Voldemort orphan as well then, Potter, you, me, and Longbottom."

"That's the saddest sounding club I ever heard of!! Whatever shall our official song sound like?" Harry joked. Draco laughed again, and Harry joined in more easily this time.

~o~

Harry walked into the Gryffindor common room, with the help of Ginny, and was bombarded with hoots and whistles. It had been a few days since he'd woken from his coma, and Madam Pomfrey had begrudgingly allowed him to return to his dorm.

"You look much better, Harry!" Hermione said giving him a gentle hug.

"Thanks, but I'm not china, you can hug a little tighter," she did. Harry still felt a bit ashamed of how he'd treated her and Ron. When she stepped back he said, "Listen, Herm, I'm really-"

"Don't worry, Harry. I understand." She gave a warm smile, and he knew she truly did.

"Where's Ron?" Harry searched the room for the familiar freckled face of his best friend.

Hermione gave a rather annoyed look Harry knew was reserved only for when Ron did something Hermione found to be totally unforgivable, like copy homework. "He's off sulking. Merlin only knows why. When Gin told us you were coming back, he got up and stormed out." She looked as though she didn't mean to say that last part.

"Still a bit steamed at me then?" Harry frowned.

"You know my brother, he can hold a grudge as well as a hippogriff!" Ginny's face mirrored Hermione's.

"And to think you haven't even told him about you two." Hermione grinned then.

Harry's head snapped up to face Hermione and then Ginny. "Oh, don't look so surprised! I had to tell her, she's my best friend!" Ginny said laughing.

"But still..."

"Oh, hush, Harry!" Hermione giggled. "Besides you should go find that idiot mate of yours."

"Don't say it like that, Herm, he's your boyfriend after all." Harry laughed.

"Merlin only knows why." She continued laughing.

"All right, I'm guessing I know where he is. I'll go talk to him, if I don't come back, then you know I told him 'bout us, Gin."

"Don't joke it might happen!" Ginny smirked. "Are you sure you can make it on your own?"

"Oh," Harry grinned mischievously, "I can walk fine, I just wanted an excuse for you to put your hands on me."

"You are a dirty, dirty boy!"

"Yes, I am," Harry gave her a quick kiss and headed to the portrait hole.

~o~

Harry found Ron skipping stones, from a safe distance, at the Giant Squid in the lake.

"I'd be careful if I were you," Harry said as he joined him. "He can squirt pretty far."

"Yeah, well, so can I," Ron joked as he angrily threw more stones, coming alarmingly close to the sea monster.

"I'll take your word on that one." Harry smiled, but it quickly faded when he saw Ron's face was set in a deep scowl. "So... you weren't in the common room."

"Nope." Ron threw another stone.

"I've already apologized to Hermione, I'm sorry that I blew up at you."

"Oh, come on, Harry!" Ron chucked the rest of the stones into the lake, a few bouncing off the squid's back before landing in the lake with a 'PLUNK'. "I don't care about that! I know you were upset about Colin and everyone else, we all are. Hell, I blew up a few times. My dad's still in a strup that he got knocked out before the fight even began and that the rest of the Order were off on a wild Death Eater chase! I'm not out here throwing rocks at a monster because of that! I can understand that. But what I can't understand, is my going to the hospital ward after you threw me out and seeing you and that evil little ferret, Malfoy, chatting and giggling like two old ladies at tea!"

"Oh, bloody hell, you're jealous!" he bellowed, not being able to stop a slight laugh, "And we never giggled."

Ron's face instantly turned a deep Gryffindor red, "I am not jealous! I just don't like it!"

"In other words: you're jealous." Harry stopped laughing for Ron's benefit.

"FINE! All right, fine! I am! Happy, now?" He picked up a handful of stones and continued beating the Squid with them.

"Ron," Harry put his hands in his pockets, suddenly a bit uncomfortable. "You and I will always be best mates. But Draco and I went though similar things. He's lost his family; he's got no friends. Just like me when I first got to Hogwarts. Besides I owe him. He saved my life! You remember what Dumbledore told me when I found out my dad saved Snape's life? 'When a wizard saves another wizard's life, a bond is formed. Forever.' So instead of being like Snape, who still resents my dad. I'm going to at least try to make an alliance with Draco."

"Hell, I saved Malfoy, me and Hermione. We saved him when Ollivander tried killing him and Snape, and I don't feel any different towards him. In fact I hate him even more." His face clouded in a dark shadow of disgust.

"Well, I guess you're a bit like Snape then, aren't you. I thought you'd be better then that."

"Did you just say I was like Snape?" his face even darker.

"Yes!" Harry took a deep breath before continuing. "Draco told me about your saving him, twice. Thought maybe you'd grown up a bit. Was I wrong?"

Ron's face softened a bit. "Anthony wasn't gonna kill him."

"You still saved his precious face from being bloodied up to badly."

"It's still weird, you calling him 'Draco'."

"I know, but we're all grown up, at least I hope so. We're all leaving here soon. Dumbledore was right, we do put too much in this House business."

"Yeah, that's why every single one of those snake bastards took up with Voldemort!"

"And we'll all be leaving Hogwarts soon," Harry said ignoring Ron's comment. "Draco will be going to the Auror Academy along with us."

"He'll make a fine Auror, all he has to do is visit what's left of his family and arrest them."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Wouldn't it be nice if we could get along, especially with Draco learning all those new hexes and curses."

"I'm never gonna like that ridiculous nancy-boy," he said angrily, but Harry could see he was calming down, his face was more pink then red anyway.

Harry laughed, "I'm not asking you to, I'm just saying try to get along with him."

"I'll try, I really will, if it means this much to you. But I'm telling you right now, if he says one cross word about me or my family or Hermione, I'm turning him into a ferret and this time it'll stick."

Harry laughed as the image of the amazing bouncing ferret-Malfoy popped into his head. "All right, fair enough, if you don't mention his less then perfect family yourself."

Ron nodded.

"You forgive me for befriending him, then?"

Ron thought about this for a moment. "All right."

Harry clapped him on the back and they headed for the castle as the sun set behind the forest. "So, you reckon if you can accept me and Draco as friends, you can handle anything?"

"Oh definitely! Nothing can be as bad as that! Everything else will be a breeze from here on out."

"Glad to hear that," Harry grinned. "So, I guess it's time to tell you about my new girlfriend..."

~THE END~