There Is A Thin Line Between Hate And Love

Disclaimer: Not mine. Please don‘t sue I don‘t have any money
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Author: Catium
Beta: Moi
Rating: PG –17
Word Count: 9022
Genre: Romance/ Drama.
Status: In Progress.
Warnings: Strong Language. Smut. Slash (which should have been a warning from the beginning but I’m so stupid sometime I didn’t realise it *blushes*). Violence. Character death (don’t make this stop you from reading, please I promise it isn’t as bad as it sounds).

Summary: What happens when that thin line between hate and love starts to disappear? Starts in the Half Blood Prince then moves on to year 7. The Deathly Hallows never happened.

Author’s note: . I need to confess something. This is the last chapter in this story that is directly linked to the story line. Chapter 19 will be an epilogue. Thanks so much to everyone that have read and/or reviewed.

Chapter 18 – War

Draco opened his eyes. He sat up in the bed and looked around. Harry was sleeping quietly beside him and everything was silent in the dorm room. The time being 1’clock on school night it wasn’t wonder. Draco pulled away the curtains around Harry’s bed and stepped barefoot on the cold stone floor. He walked to the window and looked outside on the finally clear grounds. This past week the weather had warmed up so the snow had all disappeared. The moon casted it silvery shine on the environment making it look mysterious and magical.

Draco shivered. He wasn’t cold but there was something about the full moon that gave him the creeps. Normally he wasn’t afraid of the full moon like some superstitious people but now...

“Something is wrong.” Draco thought. “It is like I am supposed to remember something but what?”Draco wondered and for a while he stood there staring out the window. Then like a ghost from his past he saw, flashing before his eyes, a memory. A man sitting in a throne like chair. A man with white face, red snake like eyes and no nose. Voldemort. He was saying something. What was it? Draco closed his eyes trying to focus on this fluttering memory. What was he saying? Draco concentrated. Then like when you press the mute button on a remote for a second time he heard what Voldemort in his memory was saying. "I’m going to use Obliviation charm on you so you will forget everything I’ve told you about the plan. But when it’s time to carry it out you will remember everything and will be able to help, that is if you will still be free men. “

Draco’s eyes snapped open and he got goose bumps all over. The plan. The Dark Lord’s plan. He remembered the plan that he and Snape were supposed to be involved in, the plan Voldemort had told them about and then used some kind of Obliviation charm on them so they couldn’t rat about it if they got arrested by the enemy. They were supposed to remember it when it was time to carry it out. That meant.

“OH FUCK!” Draco screamed. He ran to his trunk and started pulling on random clothes, not caring for once about his looks. While pulling on his pants he screamed on the top of his lungs.

“WAKE UP…WAKE UP…WAKE UP!!!”

Soon the tired and raggedy heads of his dorm mates could be seen sticking out from the curtains. When Harry stuck his head out and saw Draco half way through pulling on a dark blue Kashmir jumper over black jeans.

“What’s going on love?” Harry asked Draco.

“Hurry up!” Draco urged the rest of the boys who were simply staring at him jumping around pulling on his socks.

“It’s one o’clock in the night Malfoy.” Seamus said. “You must have looked at the clock wrong we are not late for class or anything.”

“I know that bloody, motherfucking, bleeding, buggering hell DAMN IT!” Draco screamed.

Hearing Draco curse this much got Harry worried. Draco didn’t curse a lot and when he did, he usually only used damn it and bloody. Something was wrong. Harry jumped out of his bed, thankful he had managed to put on his boxers before he and Draco fell asleep earlier that night, walked up to Draco and put a firm hand on his shoulders while Draco was putting on his sneakers. He pulled Draco up so he was at his eye level and asked him calmly.

“Draco! Take a deep breath and tell me. What is going on amour?”

Draco took a deep breath said.

“Last year after me and Snape had…” Draco swallowed the lump in his throat. “Had escaped Hogwarts… that night… you know?”

“Yes I know.” Harry said calmly. “What about it.”

“We went to Him and told Him the news. When He had used Occlumency on us to make sure we were not lying to him I got…marked. Afterwards He wanted to talk to me and Snape in private.”

Harry got a sinking feeling in his stomach. What had the bastard done to his boyfriend?

“What did he do Draco? He didn’t?”

Draco realized what Harry was talking about and his eyes widened.

“Merlin no Harry!!! Nothing like that. Let us not go there. Anyway…” Draco said and went dead serious. “He told us about this plan He was working on, and Harry you know I would have told you but after he told us about it he used an Obliviation spell on us that made us forget. It was in case if we got arrested so we could not spill on the plan. Even if the Ministry or the Order used Veritaserum. He told us right before he used
the spell that we would remember this when the time came to carry out the plan so we could come to Him and help out. I just remembered this. The time to carry out this plan is now. He was probably going to do it sooner than later but I think He must have lunched it sooner than even He estimated because of me and Snape’s treachery.”

“And what is the plan Draco? He told you something about it right?”

“He did.” Draco sighed and a worried frown formed on his face. “His plan is to attack Hogwart’s, comprise it and kill everyone here that stand against him and of course to kill you. It is the beginning of the end Harry. The final battle. He is going to have His headquarters here and attack the whole Wizarding World from here. When He has finished taking over Hogwart’s and killing you He is going to take over the Ministry of Magic. Then with whole Wizarding Britain under his control he’s going to move on to…well…the whole Wizarding World.”

“Oh…bloody…hell.” Was all Harry managed to say before the doors to the boy’s dormitory were burst open and in came McGonagall and Snape.

“Everyone get dressed now!” McGonagall ordered. “Voldemort is going to attack the school soon.”

They didn’t have to be told twice. Seamus, Dean, Neville and Ron all started to get dressed in a hurry, literally throwing on their clothes.

McGongall stopped in front of Harry looked at his state of clothing and said.

“Potter really.”

Harry blushed a bit and Draco who walked quickly past McGonagall to grab his wand from Harry’s nightstand table snorted and said. “Just be glad Voldemort did not decide to launch the attack two hours sooner. Then you would not say anything about Harry standing there in his boxers.

McGonagall blushed scarlet when she knew what Draco meant and said.

“Well just get dressed Harry and grab your wand. All of you!” She ordered. “Then come down to the Great Hall. The rest of the staff is already waking up everyone. The oldest students, if they are prepared, will fight with us. That is the fifth to seventh years. Members of the Order or on their way. The Ministry is being alarmed but it might take them awhile to get here.”

“What about the rest of the students?” Harry asked. “The little one’s? How about evacuation?”

“No time I am afraid. Everyone are being awaken like I said and they are to get dressed and have their wands at a ready. When the fifth to seventh years that are willing to fight with us have left their houses dormitory’s the younger kids are to barricade the entrance not to let anyone in unless they give them a special password that is to be used under these circumstances. The prefects are also staying in the dorms. They are in charge of their houses populations and are to protect them until the bitter end…if everything goes the worst way. Otherwise until their Head of House comes to them.”

“All right.” Harry said as he started to pull on his cloak almost dressed. “What is the plan otherwise?”

“Otherwise?” McGonagall asked.

“Yes.” Harry said then added. “I am dressed should we go?”

McGonagall looked around and saw that everyone were dressed and ready.

“Yes let’s go.”

As they started to walk and everyone in the sixth and fifth years in Gryffindor joined the group down to the Great Hall Harry said.

“What I meant is… what you told me is mostly how the people not taking part in the battle are going to protect themselves. But what are we going to do? The people taking part in the battle.”

“Everyone that is willing to fight is to come the Great Hall. Once there I am going to put up and activate every single defense this castle and its grounds have. And that is not so little. Once Voldemort and his army are here it should take them a while to get through the fences and get on the grounds. Then they still have to get into the castle. And by then we hopefully will have some reinforcement from the Ministry.

“That is this?” Draco asked sounding upset. “Barricade us inside the castle like…sardines in a tin. Hoping for reinforcement?”

McGonagall turned on Draco.

“What would you have me do Mr. Malfoy?”

“Fight! Go out on the grounds and meet them…like men. Not barricade us inside the castle like scared little…”

Now McGongall got aid from an unlikely place. Snape turned on Draco hissing.

“Don’t you tell her what to do! You have never fought a battle in your life. You do not have a clue what you talk on. We are maybe four dozen grown up’s. If everyone in the Order show up and if we are optimistic and assume every single fifth, sixth and seventh year in all the houses come and fight with us then there will be little over 450 of us. Most of it children in the age of 16-18 who barely know the basics in a wizarding duel and have never fought a battle in their life. Voldemort does not only have around 500 of fully grown, fully trained Wizards in his service who most have seen battle before or least trained for it, but he also has werewolves, giants, trolls, vampires and Merlin knows what else. These are only his allies that I knew of last time He told me about His army status. He might have gotten all manners of Dark Creatures in his services since then. So in conclusion he has probably an army of around thousand persons. And to make matters worse…” Snape pointed out the window. “…the moon is full. Which means that we loose Lupin, he cannot fight because in this state he would fight against us. But Voldemort has all his Werewolves in perfect state. Full bloody moon state. And not to mention that the Vampires are always a bit more powerful on full moon and most so are most other Dark Creatures. So do you still want to go out and fight Draco hmm?”

Draco was flabbergast and all he managed to stutter was.

“Oh.”

“Yes oh Mr.Malfoy. Our only hope is that the Ministry can send reinforcement in time and that they will be able to attack Voldemort and his army from behind, then we can charge them from the castle and close them off between us.”

“I am sorry to say Draco…” Ginny had been walking quietly with the group but now she made her presence known. “…that Professor Snape is right. We do not stand a chance. But if they manage to brake into the castle.” Ginny’s normally pretty facial features got tough. “Then we will fight to the last man. There is no shame in that.”

Ginny said that as they walked through the doors to the Great Hall and her last words which she had spoken rather loudly echoed through the hall. Most of Hogwart’s fifth, sixth and seventh years were there and Order members were coming in through the fireplace behind the teachers table. When the people gathered there heard Ginny’s last words there was an applaud. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came to the group and Mr. Weasley said.

“Well put Ginny. But you are not fighting honey. Neither is you Ron.”

“Yes we are.” Both Ginny and Ron said at the same time.

“I am staying with Harry. He is my friend. I’ve stood by him through…well…almost anything. I admit that sometimes I’ve turned by back on him when he needed me most. But not now. If you do not want me to fight then you will have to force me to.” Ron said stubbornly and then he drew up his wand and pointed it slowly at his parents. “But I will have to warn you… I will fight you. You are my parents and I love and respect you. But you are not denying me this.”

Ginny didn’t know how to make her argument after such a fine speech and simply said.

“Yeah precisely. What he said. I am not leaving Harry and hiding somewhere not knowing what is happening to him or you. You two are here. There is Fred and George. Bill’s over there and Charley…”

“Is on his way.” Mrs. Weasley said.

“So is Percy.” Mr. Weasley added. “We had a talk a few days ago and made up.”

“I’m glad.” Ginny said her eyes filling up with tears. “Please mom and dad do not ask me to not fight when everyone else are. Look around you. Almost every single person from the Order is here. So are all the fifth, sixth and seventh years from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Please do not send me away?”

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley looked each other in the eyes and a silent agreement passed between them. Mr. Weasley sighed.

“All right but I am not happy about this. But you make strong arguments. Just…be careful both of you. All of you.” He said and looked at all his children Fred, George, Bill had walked over to them and Charley and Percy had both joined the group after flooing in just a minute before.

“Your mother and me couldn’t stand loose any of you.”

McGonagall had left the group to start putting out orders. The other Gryffindor’s had joined a group under Flitwick’s control that was teaching a really quick lesson in a Wizarding Duel, most of the student population in the hall was participating in it. Order members were running around following McGonagall’s order’s barricading the castle and getting ready for battle.

The Weasley’s, Hermione, Harry and Draco were standing in a group now. Harry and Hermione saying hello to the part of the Weasley family they didn’t see every day. Draco on the other hand got really self conscious when he realized he was standing with the whole Weasley family. The people he and his father had made a sport out of taunting throughout the years.

“Eh…Harry…I am going to…” he whispered to Harry but didn’t manage to whisper low enough and Bill who was standing next to him now noticed him.

“Oh hello. I do not believe I have met you before are you a friend of Harry’s? You look kind of familiar though…”

This got the attention of the rest of the Weasley’s and when Percy, Fred and George noticed Draco they got a really cold look on their face.

“Shit.” Draco cursed under his breath.

“Well you should now him Bill.” George started to say.

“That is the son of our family’s favorite friend.” Fred said sarcastically.

“You met him once in Gringotts, told us all about it.” George continued.

“Called him if I am not mistaken a snobbish too rich for his on good schmuck that deserved to be…what was it again? Bill you remember.”

“That deserved to have a pile of his money crash over him and squash him under it.” Bill finished the sentence for his brothers. “You are Lucius Malfoy’s son aren’t you?”

“Bingo, we have a winner.” The twins said giving Draco an evil look.

Draco didn’t know how to get out of this respectfully. Then he decided that getting out of a situation respectfully was something his father used to do. It was time to end this hostility between the Malfoy’s and the Weasley’s. Draco sighed and mumbled.

“I cannot believe I am doing this but what the hell…” Then he said out loud. “Yes I am. Draco Malfoy.” He stuck out his hand to greet Bill. “Nice to meet you. I am sorry but I am not familiar with your name eh…?”

“Bill…” Bill said suspicious.

“Ah yes the spell breaker for Gringotts. Then you must be…” Draco turned his attention to Charlie trying to dig up his name from his memory. Draco had had a conversation with Ron once asking him about his family. He had decided a while ago that if he had the opportunity to get in to the good books of all the Weasley’s at once, he would. Since the Weasley’s were the closest thing Harry had for a family, then it would mean a lot to Harry if him and the Weasley’s could get along. “Charlie right? Still working with dragons in Rumania?” Draco asked and Charlie knotted his head not sure what to make of this. “Then you must be Percy?” Draco said to Percy. “I remember you being a student here but you are employed with the Ministry of Magic now. Then there are Fred and George. I do not know which one of you is which, but I have had my fare share of your Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes… things. And of course I know Ron and Ginny. Mrs. Weasley… I had a conversation with in the end of August last year which I assume you remember?”

“I do.” Mrs. Weasley said. “And I stand by what I said then.”

“I know you do Mrs. Weasley.” Draco said politely. “And then last but not least. The head of the family.” Draco turned to Mr. Weasley. “I know you of course. You, with the Ministry department that you work at, invaded the Manor once when I was ten then again when I was twelve. I got to hear a lot about you and your family after you invaded the Manor the first time. And for the longest time what my father told me about you then, was what I thought about you. One sentence stuck with me and I used it the first time I met one of your family in person.” Draco drew a deep breath knowing he might be asking for a beating “All the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford. That was the first thing I said to your youngest son when I met him. Later I said a lot of other things, to him, Ginny, Percy even Fred and George the few times I had the guts to, a lot of them worse than this. I even made a song.” Draco saw that Fred and George clearly knowing about the song were getting pretty angry. Mr Weasley was getting dangerously red around the ears. Draco knew he would get beaten up soon if he didn‘t get to the point. “I think your wife might have told you about it.”

“Yes she did.” Mr. Weasley said angry and Draco saw that his hands were clenched to a fist and were shaking.

“Before you beat me up.” Draco said hurriedly. “And I know I deserve it. Let me tell you this first. I am sorry Mr. Weasley. I asked your wife for her forgiveness once and, well first she did not know what I was talking of, then she yelled at me for a while but then she told me that she would not forgive me until I had apologized to your children and they had forgiven me. I have already gotten that forgiveness from Ron and Ginny.” Draco looked at Ron and Ginny and they knotted their heads to agree with that. “But now I ask the rest of you. Fred, George, Percy, even Charlie and Bill all though I have never seen them before, for your forgiveness. And you. And again I ask you Mrs Weasley will you forgive me? I am sorry for what I did for your family and I want this hostility between my family, the Malfoys and yours the Weasley’s to end. Seeing as how my and the boy you consider part of your family are in a relationship then it would be nice if we could get along.” Draco ended his speech and thought “Why does it seem that I do not do anything else these last months than making speeches and asking people to forgive me? This is getting real old. Thankfully these are the last persons that I need to apologize to. So this part of my life is over.”

Before Mr. And Mrs. Weasley or any of their sons could answer Draco, Ron said.

“He is being sincere about his apologise and I think you should forgive him. My and Ginny have. And honestly just that he is apologising is a miracle all by itself. He is a Malfoy after all and I think this family animosity has gone on for long enough. Wasn’t it our grandfather and his great-grandfather that started it?”

“It was.” Mr. Weasley said. “And if my wife and children are ready to forgive you then so am I.” Mr. Weasley looked at his kids. Percy knotted his head first. Then Charlie and Bill followed. Finally Fred and George looked each other in the eyes, some silent conversation going on. Finally the twins sighed dramatically and said in unison. “All right since you and our brother in spirit are an item.”

Mrs. Weasley smiled and said. “All my children forgive you. Then so do I.”

Draco smiled relieved and held out his hand for Mr.Weasley. Mr. Weasley took it.

“Our families’ riots are officially over.”

“Thank god.” Harry said and took Draco’s hand in his own. “Imagine Christmas dinner in the future if you hadn’t settle this.”

Everyone laughed and the tension subdued. Charlie, Bill, Percy, Fred and George all went to take part in the preparations for the upcoming battle and Ginny went to professor’s Flitwick’s group to learn some basics in a duel.

“So...” Mrs. Weasley said when only her, Mr.Weasley, Ron, Hermione, Harry and Draco were left standing. “...Rita Skeeter wasn’t lying in her article when she said that Slytherin girl saw you two kissing and that exposed Draco as a traitor?”

“No Mrs. Weasley.” Harry said a bit worried. “You mad?”

Mrs. Weasley chuckled. “No am I glad that you finally have someone. Even if it’s a Malfoy. I am happy for your both. Well Arthur, let’s go help out. Do they know when they are planning to attack?” She asked the Trio and Draco.

“No.” They all said.

“But soon.” Draco added. “I can feel the signal to join Him getting stronger.” He grabbed his arm.

“I see.” Was all Mrs. Weasley said and then she grabbed Mr. Weasley and they hurried away to help. Mr. Weasley all of sudden looked like he remembered something and ran back.

“Oh damn Harry I almost forgot. Which would have been terrible. We found the third last Horcrux. It was here in Hogwart’s...Ravenclaw’s diadem.” Then Mr. Weasley went away to help.

“Those were useful information but what are we supposed to do now?” Ron asked.

“Well it is obvious Ron.” Hermione said slightly annoyed by her boyfriend’s stupidity. “We need to help Harry figure out the prophecy so he can kill Voldemort.”

“And the snake. Don’t forget the snake.” Ron added.

“He will have power the Dark Lord knows not.” Harry said slowly. “I have wondered about these words a lot. Clearly these powers are the thing that is going to defeat Voldemort but I just don’t get how?” Harry whined desperate and hid his face in his palms. “How is love going to defeat Voldemort?” Harry mumbled.

Draco hugged Harry and whispered in his ear.

“I know how?”

Harry looked up.

“You do. But you don’t even know about the prophecy.

“Yes, Hermione told me a while back. She figured you had not told me about it yet.”

Harry looked at Hermione and she had the good grace to blush.

“Hermione!” Harry said a bit angry. “My prophecy, mine to tell, remember?”

“Sorry just thought he should now.” She said embarrassed.

“All right so you know.” Harry said to Draco. “Tell me.”

“No.” Draco said smug.

“What?” Harry, Hermione and Ron said all at once.

“Why won’t you tell him?” Ron asked.

“Like he so rightfully pointed out. His prophecy. He should figure it out. But I am going to give you clues. First one the power the Dark Lord knows not is in fact love. But you have another power the Dark Lord knows not. I know what it is and that is the power that is going to defeat Him.”

The Trio stared at Draco at lost for words. Draco looked at Hermione and said.

“Remember what we talked about when you told me this? That Voldemort did not understand love. Well there is another thing that Voldemort knows of but he does not respect it, and father used to say that if you do not respect something then you inadvertently underestimates it, that is what Voldemort does with this power. He looks so down on it that he...well he wants to destroy it.”

“You are seriously not going to tell me are you?” Harry asked surprised.

“No I am not.” Draco said.

“You FUCKING twit!” Ron screamed. “Voldemort might come any second now and you refuse to tell us.”

“It is not mine to tell.” Draco said.

“I don’t get it.” Hermione said to herself. “What does he mean?”

Harry didn’t say anything he couldn’t believe his boyfriend wasn’t going to help him.

“Bastard!” Ron spat. “You Slytherin’s are all alike. None of your housemates have shown up and you, the only Slytherin in this room, also refuses to help.”

“What are you on about Ron?” Draco asked.

“Look around Draco.” Harry said all of sudden. “Everyone are wearing their school cloaks and there is not a silver and green to be seen anywhere.”

Draco looked around and realising Harry and Ron were right he got really mad.

“Those fucking cowards.” He said with clenched teethes. “Not even all of them support Voldemort. They are clearly just going to suck up to whomever wins. Is this how the...” Draco stopped he was so angry that he didn’t know what to say. He thought about this and then knew what he had to do.
“I have to go.” He said.

“Why?” Harry asked and switched his anger for worries about his boyfriend.

Draco started walking towards the entrance of the Great Hall.

“We need every person we can get. Most of the older Slytherin’s can fight. I am going to get those people here.”

“How” Hermione asked stopping for a minute wondering about Draco’s earlier words.

“I cannot believe I am going to have to do this once again.” Draco thought half desperate half amused.

“By doing what I do best Hermione. Have a bloody speech and make them see that fighting for us is the right thing to do. I might quote Dumbledore’s speech that he held at the end of fourth year.” Draco was almost at the doors and before he left the Hall he said.

“OH...one final clue about the prophecy. First clue was that the power is not love. Second clue, it’s a power he doesn’t respect therefore he underestimates it. Third and final clue, he used to know this power. He grew up around it but he hates so much he has forgotten about it. Think Hermione where did Voldemort grow up?”
With those final words Draco left the Hall.

“Oh I see!” Hermione said and it was like a light bulb had been turned on. “Of course this is so obvious once you figure it out.”

“What Hermione?” Harry asked.

“Where did Voldemort grow up?” Hermione asked him.

“An orphanage.”

“Yes but what kind?”

“I do not know. With nuns?”

“No Harry! Where was it?”

“London.”

“What part of London."

“I don’t know.”

“Common Harry don’t be so thick.”

“Dumbledore told me he was raised up not knowing he was a wizard. So Muggle part of London?”

“YES! Harry O.K. This power. It is a power he does now of or he used to anyway. When he was a part of the Muggle world. But when he found out he was a Wizard he stopped respecting the Muggle world. He started to despise it. If you don’t respect something you often underestimate it like Draco said. What do you do if you do not respect something?"

“You are not going to tell me either are you? I don’t know Hermione?”

“No I am not. Let’s say if you didn’t respect something what would you do?”

“Nothing I guess. I wouldn’t count it in, it wouldn’t exist to me.”

“Exactly Harry. Good job. Now tell me why you think you can’t defeat Voldmort with magic.”

“Well because I don’t know enough magic to do it and every spell I know is definitely a spell he knows and I bet he knows a counter spell to it or has a shield to protect him from it.”

“Right you are. No tell me, would you protect yourself from something didn’t exist to you?”

“You can’t protect yourself from something you don’t know about that is just stup...” Harry began then he went silent and his crew wide. “Hermione! Power he knows not is a power he doesn’t have a defence against. He grew up in the Muggle world. He used to know it but now he hates it, therefore disrespects it and underestimate’s it. You don’t have a defence against something you don’t think of. And he doesn’t think anything about Muggle’s...muggle stuff. MUGGLE WEPONS.” Harry screamed on the top of his lungs. “Power he knows not. Love and Muggle weapons. I remember something from history that some wizards got killed early on with guns because magic shields couldn’t block out guns.”

“And professor Vector in Muggle Studies told us they still can’t. Nothing magical can protect you from gun bullets.”

“I can defeat Voldemort by shooting him.” Harry said.

“There are some guns in the Muggle Studies room professor Vector showed us them when we were learning about Muggle Weapons, he even demonstrated by shooting one bullet in a target he had a really strong shield around.” Hermione told him.

“We need to get one.” Harry said.

“Then let’s go and get one.” Hermione said determined.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

When Draco had left the Great Hall he had ran towards the dungeons. Now he stood outside the Slytherin entrance and was thinking.

“How am I going to get in?”

Then he looked down on his Gryffindor gold and red cloak and drew out his wand. He did a spell that changed the Gryffindor cloak to a Slytherin one.

“Better be dressed right otherwise they will not listen.” Draco opened his mouth and yelled.

“OPEN UP!!!”

From the other side of the wall someone asked.

“Who’s there?”

“IT IS OVER WE HAVE WON. NOW OPEN UP!”

The wall to the Slytherin dungeons opened up and Draco walked in. He came in and looked around the whole Slytherin house was gathered in the Common Room and were looking at him. He saw surprise in the look of most, no one had expected him.

“Who won?” One of the younger kids asked.

Draco looked at his former house mates with disinclination.

“No one. The battle hasn’t even begun.” He saw out of the corner of his eyes a group of people with Pansy in the lead who were going to pull out their wands. Draco twisted around and drew out his own wand.

“I wouldn’t do this if I were you Pansy.” He said to her calmly. “I have always been able to win you in a duel.” Then he ignored her and kept on going.

“You are all cowards. Every single one of you. You were going to hide here and wait for whoever would win this battle and suck them up so you would not get killed or send to Azkaban were you not? Do not answer me I know you were going to do this.”

“It is called self preservation Draco.” Pansy interrupted him. “And if I am not mistaken your family has always been a big fan of it so has you.”

“Well I have changed. And you do not know me as well as you think Pansy. The only self preservation I did was to lie to you all. Pretending for years I supported the Dark Lord. I even lied to myself. Do not think I betrayed you all of sudden out of a whim. The truth is I have not believed in what the Dark Lord teaches in years. I pretended to because otherwise I would have been killed. Yes Pansy self preservation. But it did not do anything for me. It let me on the wrong track. The track to this.” Draco pulled up his sleeve revealing the Dark Mark. “It turned me into a servant I did not wish to be. Do you have any idea who humiliating it is to bow and surrender yourself to someone else? That is what I had to do when I got this mark. I had to become the Dark Lords servant. No, servant is not even the right word. Slave. Because that is what you become. You have to follow his every order, every whim and if you Do not obey or manage to fulfil his order he kills you and throws you away like you are a piece of trash. That is what he did to my father when he could not fulfil his orders two years ago. He allowed my father to been thrown into Azkaban. And my father served the Dark Lord loyally for years. Then He killed my father. Not because of what he did but because of what I did. Because I turned from the Dark Lord. And I do not want this same fate for me. I do not want that fate for any of you. I do not want to see the once great house of Slytherin bowed to the dust. To become submissive slaves to a...”

“Our Lord.” Pansy interrupted again. “Is the last heir to Slytherin, we as true Slytherin’s own him our loyalty and...”

“OUR LORD!” Draco yelled to get the attention away from Pansy. “Isn’t even a pureblood. His father was a muggle.”
People in the room gasped in surprise.
“Our Lord...” Draco spat. “...our Lord’s real name is Tom Marvolo Riddle His father was a rich Muggle heir that His mother, who was insane because of inbreed in the family, was in love with but could not get. Her brother and father were also insane. Our Lord’s family inbreeded throughout the century’s so they wouldn’t thin out the great Slytherin blood. That left the whole posterity insane. Pride left them poorer than the Weasley’s... “Sorry what has to be done.” Draco apologized to the Weasley’s in his head.” ...because our Lord’s ancestors were too proud of their heritage to work. Finally our Lord’s mother used a potion to get our Lord’s father in love with her. When she got pregnant she took the potion off him because she was crazy enough to think he might love her for real and he left her. She gave birth to our Lord and then she died. Her brother and father were both in Azkaban for a while. Her father died there and finally her brother unable to take care of himself starved to death after he was released. So the final descendant was put in a Muggle Orphanage where he grew up went to Hogwart’s when he turned eleven, soon showed he was just insane as his ancestors. The Slytherin blood is inbreeded and finally adulterate, insane and done for. Harry Potter will defeat the Dark Lord and what will you do then?”

No one answered him. Even Pansy was so stunned by this information that she didn’t know what to say.
“Is this the man you want to serve? Slytherin blood or not? Self preservation, slyness, scheming all those and more ill words has been used to describe Slytherin but I think it is time we change that. Do we really want to be considered the bad house in Hogwart’s forever. The house no one wants to be sorted in. Tell me how many of you did not want to be sorted here?”

Around ninety people raised their hands but Draco could tell a lot of people weren’t raising their hands because they were afraid. “At least some people are honest that is a beginning. Let us speak the home truth now... pure blood is over... there are maybe two dozen Wizards families in the world that can truly say that they are Pure Bloods. But there are lot more families that can call themselves evil, sly, self preserving and that...not the pure blood...that is how people are sorted into Slytherin now a days. If the sorting hat was still only sorting Pure Bloods in to Slytherin then there would be five persons in this house. And now it is time for a change. We should stop living in the past. Screw pure blood, screw self preservation and screw the Dark Lord. He is sailing under false pretences anyway. Let us change how the world looks at the once great house of Slytherin. And I say once because what you are doing right now hiding like cowards...if Salazar Slytherin could see you he would turn in his grave. Dumbledore once told us that when the time would come, we would be able to choose between what is right and what is easy. Let us stop choosing the easy way and start choosing to do what is right and then we can truly call our house great again. I have chosen to do what is right. It was not easy but it was worth it. I found the love of my live. Imagine what might be awaiting you. Now choose.” Draco ended his speech and looked at his house mates who were still staring at him.

“Where do I come up with these speeches? I swear to Merlin this was the last one.”

Pansy stepped forward. “Draco I am not one hundred percent poor blood. When He finds out I am dead. I thought if I served Him well enough He might overlook it but now I know he won’t. I am with you.” She went and stood next to Draco. Soon others followed and before long most of the Slytherins fifth, sixth and seventh years were standing next to Draco. In fact there were only four persons that didn’t join Draco. One fifth year, one sixth year Theodore Nott and Millicent Bulstrode.

Draco asked them.

“Are you two going to wait here or are you planning to join the battle.”

“Self preservation mate.” Nott said. “I am not risking my arse for Harry Potter or the Dark Lord.”

“Fine then, your choice. Do not open up for anyone unless he gives you the secret password. Even if that person yells “we won open up”.” Draco said. “You are Slytherin’s for Merlin’s sake do not be so trusting. Let’s go.” He said to the rest of the Slytherin’s joining him and they went to the Great Hall.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Harry, Ron and Hermione were back in the Great Hall after breaking into the Muggle Studies room and finding a gun. Now they stood next to McGonagall, Snape and other Order members and were explaining their discovery.

“A gun?” McGonagall said for the fifth time. “A gun? You are going to kill the greatest Dark Wizard alive with a gun?”

“Yes he is.” Hermione said. “We are sure about this, it is going to work Professor.”

“For our sake’s I hope so.” McGonagall sighed “Now. Everyone gather around I am going to tell you how we are going to fight when Voldemort manages to brake in...” McGonagall started to say and everyone circled around her.

“Professor you are not going to start without us are you?”

Everyone turned around as Draco walked in the Great Hall with what looked at first sight like almost all of Slytherin’s fifth, sixth and seventh years. The Slytherin’s joined the group of people gathered around McGonagall. Draco walked, feeling rather pleased with himself, up to McGonagall and said.

“I brought you some reinforcement. One hundred and three of them to be correct. There were four that did not want to join us.”

McGonagall looked at the Slytherin’s and asked Draco.

“Are they sure they won’t turn on...”

“I am sure.” Draco interrupted her, and then said a bit louder. “If any of you Slytherins betray us I swear to Merlin I will return from the grave and hunt every single one of you with vengeance. You got that?”

“Yes sir.” The Slytherins said.

“I lay some ground rules on the way here.” Draco told McGonagall.

“Right then.” McGonagall said. “This is how we are going to do this. When Voldemort and his army manages to break in we will fight, everyone...take out as many of the enemy as you can...”

“Eh...professor.” Ron interrupted “May I have a word with you.”

“We are running rather thin on time Mr. Weasley.” McGonagall all but hissed.

“I know professor but...” Ron walked up to McGongall and started whispering in her ear. After a minute he had stopped and McGongall looked up.

“I like your plan Ronald. We are going with it. Explain it.”

“M...me?” Ron stuttered.

“Yes you.”

“O.K.” Ron said unsure not used to getting the attention from so many people “So...eh...here is the plan.”
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Half an hour later Voldemort and his army were outside the gates of Hogwarts. Voldemort, with the snake at his feet, started at the Gates and the Castle beyond it and spoke.

“Go and examine the defences. Brake them down if you can, otherwise I will.” He ordered a division of Death Eaters.

The Death Eaters went to the gate and soon returned.

“The gate is open my lord and the defences are done. We can walk right in. The whole Hogwarts’ is asleep.”One of the Death Eaters said

“We will catch them unprepared. Asleep.” Voldemort said a cold smile dancing across his lips. He ordered the army to advance and soon the whole army was standing outside the entrance doors to the castle. Voldemort did spells and the doors opened quietly.

“You wait outside.” Voldemort ordered the Dark Creatures in his army. “We go in.” He told his Death Eaters. They walked slowly up the steps, the snake slithering before them, and came inside the dimly lit Entrance Hall.

“We should split up and each take one of the Houses my lord.” One of the Death Eaters suggested.

Another whispered to him. “I don’t like this, my Lord, this is too easy.”

Before Voldemort could answer either of them, all lights got turned on and before anyone on either side could think half a thought the battle was under way.
___________________________________________________________________________

Ron’s plan had been really simple, an ambush. Make Voldemort think he was going to win this war easily. Allowing his and his army to come all the way inside the castle. Then attack them. Everyone was to fight in pairs and take out as many of the enemy as they could.

All lights had been turned off and the extra ward’s taken down so Voldemort could get in more easily all except the wards that were going to stop Voldemort and his army for reaching further inside the Castle but the Entrance and Great Hall. When the group, scattered around the Entrance Hall heard the footsteps outside the castle Draco whispered to Harry.

“You are going to have to kill the snake first remember that. Don’t let Him see you until you have. Use the gun.”

They heard the doors open and footsteps moving up the stairs and inside the Entrance Hall.

“Draco.” Harry said. “If we don’t...”

“Do not say it Harry.” Draco asked him “I love you mon chéri.” Draco mouthed as the heard one of the Death Eaters say something in a low voice to Voldemort.

“I love you amour.” Harry mouthed back.

Then the lights were lit and Harry was gone looking for the Snake. The battle became fierce almost right away.
Draco looked around and everywhere he looked he saw Order members and students in pairs fighting with two to four Death Eaters. He saw Dark Creatures coming through the doors and joining the fight. Draco scanned the room looking for one particular person. And there he was...Voldemort looking around like he was trying to find someone.

Draco stepped away from the wall, walked towards Voldemort and yelled over the battle roar.

“You looking for someone?”

Voldemort saw him and smiled that cold smile that gave Draco the creeps.

Draco turned and ran into the Great Hall, thinking about getting Voldemort as far away from Harry as he could.

“I just need to hang in there long enough, for Harry to kill the snake.” Draco thought as Voldemort and ten of his closest Death Eaters followed him inside the Great Hall. Then Voldemort casted the Cruciatus curse at Draco.

When it hit Draco he yelled and collapsed on the floor.

Draco couldn’t think. It was like he was being ripped apart cell by cell.

“How can anyone handle this?” Draco thought through the pain.

Voldemort and his Death Eaters surrounded Draco. Voldmort lifted the curse and Draco tried to rise up but fell to the floor again.

“Oh...the poor...little...faggot!” One of the Death Eaters, a women, said and took of her mask.

“Aunt Be...” Draco started to say but Bellatrix yelled at him maniacally.

“You are NOT...related to me. You traitor! Can we play with him my Lord?” Bellatrix asked Voldemort.

“Not before I am done with him.” Voldemort said coldly and raised his wand again.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Harry ran around the Entrance Hall holding the gun. Dodging curses, Death Eaters and Dark Creatures looking for that snake.

“Where is that Merlin damned snake?” Harry thought and the thought had barely escaped him when he saw the Snake. The heart sank in his chest. The snake had cornered Fred and was preparing to bite him. Harry ran forward and pointed the gun at the snake’s head. As the snake got ready to strike Harry pulled the trigger and as soon as the gun shot was heard the Snake was lying on the floor...dead. Half his head had blown off and Harry could see a dark smoke rising through out of the body vanishing in thin air.

“And then there was one.” Harry thought grimly.

“Wow...” Fred breathed. “That was close...I was sure I was a goner. Thanks for this Harry.”

“Anytime” Harry said smiling and as he watched Fred running back into the battle he saw into the Great Hall. He saw Voldemort and his Death Eaters surrounding someone who was lying on the floor. Then that person tried to get up and Harry saw a flash of blond hair. Harry watched as Voldemort casted a curse at Draco and Draco clearly reaching his limit passed out.

“Draco...NO!!!” Harry screamed and started to fight his way towards Voldemort standing in the Great Hall. When he got close enough for Voldemort to hear him he screamed.

“I will kill you for touching my boyfriend you bastard.”

Voldemort turned his head and looked at Harry. He laughed and then he yelled making his voice louder with magic.

“Everyone stop fighting. Or do you want to miss the final battle between the Great Lord Voldemort and the Boy Who Lived.

Both sides stopped fighting and everyone gathered in the Great Hall.

Harry barely noticed this, he had hidden the gun in his cloak sleeve and was looking Voldemort straight in the eyes.

When everyone had gathered around them Voldemort said in a low voice that still was heard throughout the Hall.
“Now watch.”

Harry looked around and saw Ron and Hermione standing next to Bellatrix and a Death Eater that hadn’t taken of his mask. To occupied in watching him and Voldemort to notice whom they were standing next to. Everywhere he looked he could see the faces of his family and friends. Draco was lying unconscious on the floor, Mrs. Weasley had managed to drag him outside the circle and was tending to him.

Harry looked back at Voldemort as he raised his wand over his head.

As quick as the wind Harry drew out his gun and fired one shot. Watching as the bullet hit Voldemort in the chest. Watching as Voldemort gasped, his wand falling from his grasp, watching as Voldemort went down to his knees, feeling his chest and looking at his blood covered hands Voldemort asked.

“How?”

Voldemort looked up and Harry smiled bitterly waving the gun slightly.

“Power the Dark Lord knows not. Muggle weapons...guns. There is not a magic shield in the world that can protect you from it.” Harry spat and pointed his gun at Voldemort again.

“That one was for my parents.”

Harry fired the gun the second time hitting Voldemort in the chest again.

“This one’s for Sirius.”

Voldemort started laughing. “You can’t kill me.” He coughed. “I have made myself immortal.”

“Oh you mean with your Horcruxes right?” Harry asked him.

Voldmort eyes widened comically.

“Sorry... we kind of destroyed them all.” Harry said and shot the gun for the third time hitting the chest.
“And this is for everyone else you have ever killed. Now die you evil bastard.” Harry finally said and as Voldemort drew his final breaths on this earth, Harry saw that He had realised all of his Horcruxes were in fact gone.

“No...” Was Voldemort’s last word, as He fell to the floor dead. His body dissolved right away leaving nothing behind.

Upon seeing their Lord killed the Death Eaters one by one surrendered, dropping their wands to the floor and getting down on their knees, hands in the air. The Dark Creatures all ran from the Great Hall.

Before anyone could do or say anything a big commotion could be heard from the fireplace in the Great Hall and people started to floo through it.

“I guess these are our reinforcement from the Ministry. McGonagall said breaking the silence. She walked to the people standing next to the fireplace looking at the scene, and started explaining everything.

The next half an hour Ministry officials, Order members and even student’s were busy cuffing the Death Eaters. In an hour every Death Eater had been put in custody and were to be trialled soon. The Second War against Voldemort was over. The victory of the Light was complete.

When every Death Eater had been moved away Harry finally managed to find Mrs. Weasley who was still trying to wake up an unconscious Draco.

“I will take care of him Mrs. Weasley thank you.” Harry said.

“Oh Harry.” Mrs. Weasley hugged Harry. “Congratulations. You won. This is over.”

“We won, Mrs. Weasley. I think you should look for your husband and children now.” Harry said to her.

“Oh Arthur came to me. They are all fine. Almost everyone are. We lost some but, and I know it is ugly to say this, none that we know...thank god. But there are still some families that lost their children.” Mrs. Weasley sighed. “But no wars are won without sacrifices I am afraid... Now I am going to look for them. Arthur said they would be over there.” And with that Mrs. Weasley left Harry and still unconscious Draco.

Madam Pomfrey came over to them and did a quick diagnosing spell on Draco.

“You wake him up Harry he is fine.” She said hurriedly and told Harry the spell, bustling away.

Harry bent over Draco and took him in his arm. He did the spell as he whispered in his ear.

“Draco... it is over. The war is over...”

Harry smiled as Draco opened his eyes.

“And we won.” Draco stated.

“How did you know?” Harry asked as Draco started to get up and Harry grabbed his arm to help him.

“Well first of all...” Draco said as he got on his feet but still needed Harry to support him. “We would not been having this conversation if we had not won the war. Second I would not feel this way if I am dead. Man the Cruciatus curse is a bitch.”

Harry chuckled and said.

“I love you so much Draco Malfoy.”

“I am going to ask him” Harry thought and then said out loud

“Draco, would you consider spending the rest of your life with me? I cannot think of my life without you. Marry me?”

Draco couldn’t believe his ears. The love of his life was proposing to him.

“Yes.” Draco said thrilled and they kissed profoundly. “I would like nothing more.” Draco said as they broke the kiss but then added “Well there is one thing I would like more right now.

“What?” Harry asked him happy.

“Sleep.” Was all Draco said and Harry laughed.

As they were getting out of the Great Hall and heading for Harry’s bed Draco said

“You know Harry? If someone would have told me four years ago that I would fall in love with Harry Potter and he would fall in love with me. And that we would kill Voldemort together and then live happily ever after, I would have considered that person mentally unstable. But it’s clear to me now that there is a thin line between hate and love.

TBC

Author’s note: This is it folk. The last chapter directly linked to the story line. The last one will be an epilogue. Tell me what you thought of this chapter. I personally hate how long Draco’s speeches’ always get. I just can’t control it. What do you think? Review please and let me know.