The Dragon's Child Bride

A/N: Here it is, finally, finally, finally. Again, unbeta'd but still done. I meant to post this Christmas Eve, but there was a power surge at my house that blew out the modem. We finally got a new one today. Anyhow, Merry Christmas to those who celebrate and warmest generic wishes to those who don't. Please don't forget to review if you have a something to say, good, bad or a question. Your opinions mean a lot to me.

Extra A/N: As I no longer have a beta, as I have lost contact with mine, errors will be corrected as they are spotted. If someone else is interested in infrequent beta work, please let me know.

CHAPTER 34: EVERY WORD EXCEPT GOODBYE



The room was filled to capacity, and still witches and wizard continued to climb the stairs, as well as portkey and floo in.

Draco sat down in an overstuffed blue chair, pulling Laylani down on top of him, onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her. Blushing, she tried to wiggle out from his grip to find her own seat and retain some sense of propriety but Draco would have none of it. His grip tightened around her and she couldn’t get loose.

“Draco?” She whispered her cheeks flushing pink. He looked at her with sad eyes.

“Stay Princess, please.” The words were spoken so softly and forlornly; she nodded. He gave her a weak smile and held her close.

From her perch on Draco’s lap, she glanced around the room. There were so many people. Many of her professors, including Professor Snape, lined the back wall. Several red heads filled the left corner of the room; Weasleys, she was certain, at least half a dozen of them. While she knew Ginny and Ron had come from a large family, she’d never imagined just quite how large it actually was. That must have been nice, she thought idly, brothers and sisters. Well, sister.

A group of official-looking individuals in charcoal gray robes sat together near the middle, a crest that she couldn’t make out sewn on their chests. Next to them sat a weary-looking man and a man she remembered as Professor Moody. She pressed closer to Draco; she’d hoped never to see him again.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny occupied a stiff-looking sofa across from where she sat, towards the group of Weasleys; they seemed engrossed in their whispered discussion. Every once in a while one of the group would look over at her; but the moment she caught anyone’s eye, they quickly looked away. In fact, it seemed like no one would meet her eye.

“Draco,” she whispered softly, “What’s going on?” He sighed.

“You’ll find out soon enough.” Laylani frowned. That was cryptic. Before she could prod for more information, a blast of soot shot out from the fire place, and a figure stumbled out.

“Oh, oh dear. Sorry about the mess. Am I late? Evanesco!” The soot disappeared.

“Mari?”

Mrs. Kerrin looked up at her. “Ah, Laylani dear, hello.” Laylani shifted away from Draco, but he still wouldn’t let her go.

“What are you doing here?” she cast her gaze around the room. “What’s going on?” Everyone was looking at her but no one was speaking; Laylani shrank back, pressing into Draco. His arms tightened around her protectively.

Professor Dumbledore stood up from his desk at the front of the room, clearing his throat. The room became still and all eyes turned to him.

“I’m sure many of you are wondering why we’re here. Unfortunately, I have some disconcerting news. The calling has begun. The Dark Lord has begun summoning his chosen child, from what we understand, for quite some time.” A worried murmur ran through the room. Laylani glanced at Draco; his face was stoic. Dumbledore went on.

“We have no choice but to act. Kingsley,” A tall, dark man stood. “Assemble an Advanced guard. You’ll be escorting Miss Stanners to the safe house tonight. Make any necessary arrangements.” The man, Kingsley, nodded.

“Tonks, Dodge. You’re with me.” He said gruffly. A young woman and an old man nodded.

“Very well,” Dumbledore continued. “Molly, if you and your daughter would be so kind as to help Miss Stanners collect her necessary things.” The two Weasley women nodded. Mrs. Weasley smiled warmly at Laylani; she gave the woman an unsure smile in return. “Professor Snape, we’ll have to dip into your stores for some Veratiserum. We’ll need the full extent of Mister Malfoy’s knowledge of Miss Stanners condition.” Draco paled.

“Now wait just a minute-”

“This is going to be good.” Ron said with a grin. Professor Snape left the room and two very large red-headed men began to advance on Draco.

“Just-just wait a minute. Everyone stop!” Laylani shouted, her voice rising above the calm. All eyes turned to her. “What the hell is going on here? Why am I packing? Just where do you think I’m going?”

“Oh, Miss Stanners. Of course.” Dumbledore shook his head with a good-natured smile. “In all the commotion I’d nearly forgotten you were here.” He waved a dismissive hand to the red-headed men and they sat back down. He paused, pursing his lips and tenting his fingers. “I’m afraid we have a situation.”

Laylani frowned. A sense of dread settled in her stomach.

“A situation?”

“It would seem your fate and Harry’s are rather - precariously intertwined.”

“Oh?” she said inanely. Dumbledore paused for a moment, giving her an appraising look. He slowly turned, silently summoning a heavy black book from a back shelf. He opened the book, looking over a page with a sigh.

“The first prophecy is Mister Potter’s. The second is your own.”

Laylani’s eyebrows shot up when she heard the word ‘prophecy.’ What sort of nonsense was this? Professor Dumbledore passed the book to Professor McGonagall. Professor McGonagall solemnly handed her the book.

She looked at the book for a moment, tracing her fingers over the silver-inked drawing. She’d seen it before. Seen the book – in the Restricted Section, her first day with Draco. But there was something, somewhere else. She turned to Draco.

“Lucius has this tattoo.” Draco sighed, taking the book from her hands and opening it to the marked page.

“Read the page, love.” She gave him a wary look before turning her eyes down to read the passage. “The first one is Potter’s, the second one is yours.”

The room was silent as they watched her eyes dart back and forth across the page. After what seemed like a small eternity, she closed the book with a derisive snort.

“What is this?” she said with a laugh. “This is the kind of crap you get from fortune cookies!” Harry chuffed a bitter laugh.

“I wish.”

She shot him a look. “What?’ Harry snorted derisively.

“That ‘crap’ has been dictating my life since I was three months old.” Laylani rolled her eyes.

“It’s just gibberish.”

“Either must die at the hands of the other’? ‘Will vanquish in His failing should the equal survive’? That means nothing to you?” Laylani shrugged.

“Fine. Poetic gibberish.”

“Poetic-?” He could barely believe what she was hearing. How could she be taking this so lightly? Didn’t she understand it was his fucking life in the balance? “Well, let me spell it out for you! I have to fight a fucking megalomaniac and his goddamn army! If I don’t kill him, the world goes to hell! If I do kill him, you’ll kill me and the world still goes to hell! Does that sound like fucking gibberish to you?”

Laylani pressed tightly against Draco. She had never seen Harry angry like this; she was frightened. Draco’s hands rubbed soothingly along her back.

“Back off, Potter.” He growled.

“Don’t tell me to back off, Malfoy. If it weren’t for you, your homicidal girlfriend-”

“Don’t be so dramatic, Harry!” Laylani threw in, still pressed against her fiancé’s chest. “They’re just words; being in a book doesn’t make them true. I’m not going to kill you.”

“I’m afraid that’s not quite true, Miss Stanners.” Dumbledore said softly. Draco took a deep breath, holding it for a moment before letting it out in a silent sigh. This was it.

“The Dark Lord-” Laylani couldn’t help the soft snort of laughter. The Dark Lord?

The corners of Dumbledore’s lips pulled down; he paused and began again. “Lord Voldemort, his powers, his followers, they are very real. These prophecies are very real. Without intervention, these will come to pass.”

Draco could feel Laylani stiffen, sitting up straighter at the mention of his name. She had recognized it. Dumbledore must have realized it as well.

“Years ago, Lord Voldemort was rising into power, collecting followers who believed in his teaching, his philosophies of pureblood superiority and the elimination of muggles and muggleborns. His bid for power, and ultimately his reign of terror were cut short by our Mister Potter.” Laylani glanced Harry’s way; his eyes were fixed off in the distance. The headmaster continued. “Harry is the last hope of the wizarding world, the scar he received in Voldemort’s confrontation marks him as an equal. Neither can truly live while the other survives. Until recently we’d assumed the second prophecy had been fraudulent, as they sometimes are. You have to understand, we’d been on a fruitless search for years, but there was no hint, not a whisper of the Foreseen Child’s existence. At least, until you suddenly appeared.”

Laylani’s insides felt cold. She had been wondering, a nagging thought festering away in the back of her mind for months. Why had they taken her so very far away from everything? Why another continent? If this was true, if this was real, really real, it suddenly fell into place. Someone else had been looking for her, as well. The Dark Robes had no choice.

“Once Miss Kerrin brought the true state of your existence, we’d begun researching, hoping that we could find a loophole, an escape from your fate and that of Mister Potter’s. But - I’m afraid no such thing has been found. Although you managed to escape being put through the rights, that’s no guarantee. We’d been watching, hoping-” Dumbledore cut off with a sigh. “Despite Mister Malfoy’s efforts, you’ve been demonstrating some distressing behavior. Surveillance reported-”

“Surveillance? What do you mean surveillance?”

“For your own safety, we’ve been monitoring your behavior since late Jan-”

“Monitoring me how exactly? Who’s been doing this ‘monitoring’?”

“Well, of course your friends have been very concerned for your well-being and have reported any worrisome behavior to us, as well as your teachers. During the evenings your quarters have been monitored by the men and women you see here, stationed outside your door as well as your window.”

“So…you were spying on me?”

“Of course not, Miss Stanners. We were simply trying to protect-”

“You were looking through my window like some peeping Tom! You were spying on me!” Laylani rose from her seat and Draco had to hold her back; he pulled her down into her lap.

“Calm down, love.”

“Calm down? Calm down? Draco, they’ve been spying on me! Prying into my private life when they had no right!”

“I know love; I knew you wouldn’t like it. I tried to make sure-"

She turned suddenly in his lap, facing him. “You – you knew about this?” More than the accusation, more than the anger, it was her look of betrayal that struck him; her eyes wide in disbelief and her lips quivered without saying a word. He looked away.

“I-I mean…well, yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? How could you not tell me?”

Why hadn’t he told her? Draco was certain he’d had several very good reasons before, but now he couldn’t think of a single one. Why hadn’t he told her?

“I don’t know.” He said finally.

“You don’t know?” she asked incredulously. “You don’t know?” She jerked away from him violently, pulling out of his grip to stand in front of him “How could you – of all the things…” She trailed off with a frustrated grunt. “I trusted you!” she finally shouted.

It was probably the worst thing she could’ve said. He’d known, always known, that it had been a gift to have her trust. She had never trusted anybody, had never had anybody to trust, and yet she had allowed herself to be open and honest with him, of all people. As she had said, she had trusted him. Past tense. As in no longer did.

“Lani I…” He reached a hand for her but she stepped away; he didn’t know what to say. What could he tell her?

“Don’t.” she said flatly. “Just don’t.” She turned away, turned towards the traitors she had called friends.

“You never – none of it was real. I thought, I thought you really did like me, I thought you were my friends! You were just spying on me!”

“Laylani that’s not true! We are your friends; we just wanted to be sure everyone was safe!”

“I AM SAFE!” she screamed. “I am! I wouldn’t hurt anyone! I don’t want to kill Harry!”

“Not yet-”

“No! I don’t, not ever!” They didn't believe her; she could see it in their eyes. She could read their stares one by one and each held different parts of pity, sadness, but most of all their eyes spoke of wariness. They watched her as if she might attack at any moment. She whirled towards Draco suddenly. “You know I wouldn’t hurt him, right?” she asked desperately.

“Of course I do, love. You’d never want to hurt anyone. But, the thing is-” he paused. How could he explain it to her? “It’s not about what you want to do. It’s what you will do if given the chance.”

He thought she was a murderer too. A murderer to be. She felt dirty. She felt like a monster. She stared at her shoes, hunching over herself and wanting more than anything to disappear. To no longer exist. She could feel the tears that had been threatening before give way, sliding across her eyelashes and falling free to the floor. In the stillness of the room she could hear Draco stand.

“Laylani, you have to be honest with yourself. Your dreams-”

She stiffened, her gaze snapping upwards. “How do you know about my dreams?” Draco sighed.

“Laylani-” he took another step towards her.

“No!” She spun on her heel, suddenly darting over to where Harry sat on the long couch with the three other Gryffindors; a muffled clamor rose through the crowd. A large, freckled red-headed man, what could only be a Weasley relative, grabbed her hard around the waist, his grip tight and bruising. Laylani’s legs fell out from under her as she struggled towards the black-haired boy.

“It’s not true!” she said desperately. “Please Harry! You’ve got to believe me! I don’t want to kill you!” He looked panicked as she continued trying to clamor towards him. The din of the room grew to angry shouts and cries that she couldn’t bother to make sense of; her hand seized hold of Harry’s pant leg.

Come to me.

Laylani paled. She shook her head hard, trying to clear the voice from her head.

Come to me.

“They were only dreams! I’d never hurt you! Please!” More freckled hands closed around her arms as she was yanked away. She was dropped unceremoniously a few feet away, surrounded.

Come to me.

“Harry!” She’d finally begun to sob. “Harry, I’m sorry! I’m sorry I couldn’t love you back! Please, Harry please! Don’t let the do this! Tell them I wouldn’t hurt you!” She could barely be heard over the uproar. Everyone was shouting. Shouting at her, shouting at each other.

Come to me

Come to me

“Stop it!” she screamed. The room shook violently. “Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!”

Silence. The chaos around her had fallen into stillness as they stared. There were so many people and they were all staring at her. Watching her. They had always been watching her. They had to; she was dangerous. She was a monster.

With a wordless scream, she fled the room, dodging those who tried to stop her.

She ran without thinking, her only concern to get away. Away from their condemning stares, away from ridiculous prophecies, away from the voices in her head. She gasped the password desperately to the portrait in her room, slamming the painting behind her, and collapsed onto the couch in tears.

Merlin, she didn’t know, she didn’t know what to do. She was a monster; she was going to be a murderer. It was inside her. It was growing inside her and soon it would consume her. She was going to hurt people, kill everyone. Everyone she’d come to love, even if it had all been a lie. Even if it hadn’t been real – oh, God she didn’t want to hurt them. She didn’t want to hurt anyone.

Her eyes fell on the open bottle she’d left abandoned on the floor when she’d run out on Draco. Her fingers traced the bare skin where her engagement ring used to be and she sobbed. Laylani picked up the bottle and brought it to her lips. She took a long swig of the bottle; she would need courage for what she had to do. With a sob and one last swallow, she flung the bottle across the room.

Grabbing a sheet of parchment from her desk she dashed off a quick note.

***

Draco,

Goodbye. I'm sorry for everything, for all of this. Make yourself happy when I'm gone. You have such a beautiful smile.

Laylani.

***

Crossing through the bedroom she tugged at the window latch, heaving upwards to slide it open. It gave a few inches, but not nearly enough space for her to wiggle through.

She dragged her desk chair into the bedroom and with great effort, swung it against the window. The glass cracked but did not break. Taking a step back she heaved the chair against the window with all her might. It shattered through the glass, falling out the empty window frame.

She kicked out the remaining shards of glass that hung on the edges of the frame. She took a fleeting glance back to her room, to the castle, to the teachers and students. To Draco. Bracing herself against the frame, she took a deep breath and lifted herself onto the window’s edge.

Laylani took one last moment, staring into the horizon. It really was beautiful here. Her gaze slowly lowered, sweeping across Hogwarts grounds until she was finally looking down at the broken chair she’d tossed through the window, surrounded by the glittering shards of glass. She closed her eyes.

A sudden scream from behind her startled her, nearly causing her to fall. She clutched at the edges of the window frame, turning back.

Draco was there, a few steps ahead of Hermione, Harry, Ron and Ginny, who stood just outside her bedroom. Draco took a slow step forward.

“Don’t!” Laylani snapped, “Stay back.”

“Lani, come down from there.” He took another step.

“No! I c – I can’t. I have to do this.”

“No, love you don’t. You don’t have to do this. You have to come down.” Another step.

She leaned back, away from him, a precarious hold on her balance. “I can’t, I don’t…I can’t Draco. I can’t stay, I’m too far gone. I’m crazy.” There was a beat of silence. It had finally been said. “Draco, I’m crazy and I can’t do it anymore. I can’t let myself become what they say I am. I don’t-” her voice softened, “I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

“You don’t have to. You won’t. I’ll see to it, I’ll make sure-”

“You can’t protect me Draco! You can’t change what I already am.”

“You aren’t. You aren’t yet!” Hermione threw in. “You haven’t been put through the rites yet. There might be a chance-”

“A chance?” Laylani laughed scornfully. “Hermione, if there was only a chance that you wouldn’t destroy everything and everyone you loved what would you do?” She turned back, facing outside.

“Laylani, you can’t do this!” Hermione went on. “What about all the people who care about you? Everyone whose been working so hard to make sure you were safe?”

“Everyone who was spying on me, you mean.” Laylani didn’t bother to turn around. “They’ll be fine, they don’t need me. It’ll make their lives easier.” She closed her eyes, bracing herself to jump.

“What about me Lani?” Draco’s voice was soft, and close. Laylani tightened her grip on the frame, refusing to give in to everything inside her that said she should turn and face him. “Will I be fine without you? Am I just supposed to carry on like I haven’t lost the one true love of my life? Will my life be easier then?”

“Draco…” It wasn’t fair; this was the right thing, this would keep everyone safe.

“Laylani, please come down. Please Princess. We’ll figure this out. We’ll find a way to make things work. But you have to try.”

Laylani gave in and cast one last sad look over her shoulder. She was just inches out of his reach. “I did try, and now I give up.” Shutting her eyes, she let go of the window frame and felt herself fall forward, giving in with her body and soul to the empty air around her.

“NO!”

A strong had grabbed onto her bicep, slipping down as it resisted her momentum forward until it latched into a vice-like grip around her wrist, followed by another hand slapping hard against her skin as it closed just around the first. Her free-fall came to a jerking halt and she slammed hard into the solid stones of the castle.

“No!” she screamed bucking and kicking, trying to shake herself loose. “Let go! Let me go! It’s the only way!”

Draco said nothing, fighting to keep a solid grip on her. He cast a scathing look over his shoulder to where the four Gryffindors stood uselessly.

“Feel free to jump in at any time!” he spat. It took a moment for his words to sink in but they spurred Harry into motion. Shaking his head clear he dashed over to the window and within a few moments managed to catch hold of her other flailing hand.

Laylani felt the slow tugging as she began to slide up the castle wall. No! This wasn’t how it was supposed to- she couldn’t keep them safe if she went on. This, all of it, it had to stop now!

It came to her, one brilliant fleeting moment of clarity, but that was all she needed. Desperately drawing her focus, she whispered the incantation under her breath.

Draco and Harry continued taking slow steps back, pulling her back to the safety of solid ground. Hermione tutted and drew her wand.

“Just wait a moment; you’re dragging her against the stone walls. Wingardium-” Harry suddenly jumped back with a startled cry, knocking into Hermione and she dropped her wand. Harry turned over his hands to look at his red palms.

“She burnt me! Her skin – it burnt me!”

“It’s not going to work, Laylani,” Draco grit out, ignoring the flaring pain in his hands. “You’ll have to burn my hands off before I let you go!”

She ignored him, fighting to keep her focus chanting the spell again and again under her breath and her skin burned hotter and hotter.

“Goddammit Laylani!” Draco groaned. “Stop it!” He could feel his grip slipping. The pain was intense and it was only getting worse.

“Help me!” he called over his shoulder desperately. His grip was beginning to slide. He was going to drop her. He was going to lose her.

Crying out in agony, he felt her hand slide free of his.

“LANI!”

“Wingardium Leviosa!”

Laylani stopped, her body hovering just inches above the ground. Slowly she began to rise. She began to scream and flail, struggling against her invisible bonds.

Hermione fought to keep control of the spell with Ron’s wand, guiding her friend through the window despite Laylani’s resistance. She’d dropped her wand when she’d collided with Harry, and it had rolled far under the bed, out of her reach. With only seconds to make a decision she’d grabbed Ron’s wand from his hand, rushing to the window to cast the spell. Unable to continue without her own wand, she let Laylani drop onto the bed, Ron and Harry quickly pouncing on her to keep her from making an attempt for the window.

Draco staggered back from the window, the pain in his hands forgotten. He blinked hard once, twice. Hermione laid a tentative hand on his shoulder.

“Malfoy?”

He flung his arms around her, pulling her close in a tight hug. Unsure what to do, she patted his back awkwardly.

“Thank you.” He whispered. “Thank you.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It was a struggle to get Laylani down to the infirmary. There was a silent agreement between the other five that Laylani could not be trusted to walk there. They had assumed the easiest option was to levitate her there, but she had fought them every step of the way. She screamed incoherently, flailing and kicking, grabbing at everything she could get her hands on to slow them down.

She made one last desperate attempt to defy them by clinging to the frame of the double doors, scrabbling to keep her grip as they tried to pry her away. One of her nails ripped against the doors heavy hinges and began to bleed. Draco swallowed hard, and tried not to be sick at the sight of her bloody nail caught in the hinges. Finally they managed to pry her away and floated her down to one of the metal cots.

Professors Dumbledore and Snape were somehow already awaiting them. With a wave of his wand, the old man threw up walls of heavy curtains, surrounding the bed, himself and the potions master. Draco stepped forward when Madame Pomfrey placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Let them work, Mister Malfoy. Why don’t we have a look at your hands?” It took a moment for him to remember; he looked down at his palms, an angry red that had begun to blister and peel.

“Oh. Right.” He followed without protest as the medi-witch led him to her office.

He heard screaming, shouting and crying. Things being thrown, things being broken. More than once Draco had attempted to get up and find out exactly what the hell was going on behind the heavy curtain, and each time Madame Pomfrey stopped him.

“We’re not quite done with your hands yet, Mister Malfoy. Please sit down.” She paused. “I’m sure she’s fine dear. They’re fully trained wizards; they wouldn’t let any harm come to her.” Draco nodded grimly; he wasn’t so sure about Snape.

Finally there was silence. Professor Snape stepped out from behind the curtain. Draco stood up; Madame Pomfrey said nothing.

“Is she alright? Did you…” He didn’t even know what he was asking.

“She’s fine. She’s resting. The Headmaster has apprised her of the situation. She’ll be leaving shortly.” Draco’s heart seized in his chest.

“Can I see her?” Snape shook his head,

“I don’t think-”

“Very well Mister Malfoy.” Dumbledore spoke softly, pulling the curtain aside. Smiling in relief, Draco brushed past the old wizard, stopping a few steps short of the iron cot where Laylani lay. She was on her back, both her hands and feet pressed against the railings of the bed and he realized she’d been magically restrained. Her hair was damp, stringy with the sweat of her exertion; her limbs were limp. She looked weary and yet, somehow calm, even peaceful. He shot a questioning glance to the Headmaster.

“Miss Stanners has been administered a calming draught.” Draco nodded. That was probably best. He approached the bed.

“Hi.” Laylani said quietly. He sat down at her bedside.

“Hullo.” She stretched out her fingers towards him and he placed his hand over hers.

“Can she at least have her hands free?” he called out irritably, speaking to no one in particular.

“Very well.” Dumbledore said solemnly. He waved his wand once and Laylani’s hands pulled away from the iron rails of the bed.

Laylani gave Draco a tired smile. “Thanks.” He managed a weak smile in return. It faded quickly.

“I’m sorry.” He said suddenly. “I’m sorry. This-this is entirely my fault. I tried to keep everything together, to keep us together-”

“I know,” Laylani said quietly. “Draco, it’s not your fault what I am. This-” she gestured around them. “Just…is. You couldn’t stop this anymore than you could stop the sun from rising.” He said nothing, and they were silent for a moment. “They said that I’m going to have to go away.”

“Yeah.”

“It might, well, it might be a long time until we see each other again.” Draco nodded quietly, his lips pressed in a narrow line. “So I just,” She paused, “I just wanted to tell you that if something happens, I mean, with someone else…that’s okay. I’d understand.” He looked positively aghast.

“I’m insulted you’d even think that!” he said sharply. “I’ve found you and I’ve had you and I don’t want anyone else.” Laylani blushed slightly at the loud declaration; Dumbledore looked away. “You’re not allowed to have anyone either!” he added hotly.

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you upset. I just wanted to know you’d be…happy. While we’re apart.”

“I won’t.” He said flatly, squeezing her hand. “I’m going to be absolutely miserable until I see you again.” She gave him a tired smile.

“Well, that’s good to know, because I’ll be miserable too.” Another stretch of silence.

“Draco?”

“Yes, love?”

“I know I know I messed up today, bad. But I just, can I, I mean do you still-” Her fingers traced over her bare ring finger, reflexively looking to turn her engagement ring like she usually did. She sighed. Draco couldn’t help but smile. He pulled her engagement ring from his pocket and leaned over to slide it onto her finger.

“I definitely still do.” Laylani smiled, squeezing his hand. She looked thoughtfully at him for a moment; her smile faded some.

“I’m…I don’t think I’ll be here for your birthday.” He shook his head.

“That doesn’t-”

“No, wait. I got you something. It’s in my wardrobe – it’s all wrapped and everything. Promise me you’ll open it on your birthday?” He smiled.

“I promise.” She smiled. Dumbledore cleared his throat.

“Mister Malfoy, Miss Stanners, it’s time to leave.” Laylani suddenly threw her arms around Draco’s neck and it was now that the tears finally came.

“I don’t want to go.” She whispered against his skin.

“I know, I know love. I don’t want you to go either. Everything’s going to be alright, okay?” He tipped up her chin; she sniffled and nodded. He kissed her.

“I love you.” He said, pulling away.

“I love you too.” Three people entered the room solemnly in single file, two men and a woman carrying Laylani’s book bag, Draco’s half-blood cousin; he could never be bothered to remember her name. He imagined the bag held the contents that Mrs. Weasley had deemed necessary for Laylani’s leave.

“Miss Stanners, the Advance Guard will be escorting you to the designated apparition point and from there on you will be flown to an unplottable safe house. That will be your new residence until further notice.” Laylani nodded and Dumbledore waved his wand, and her legs were released from their bonds.

She sat up slowly and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Draco stood up and took her hand, helping her to her feet. She slid her feet into her shoes and Draco held out her jumper and helped her slip it on. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders for a moment and held her tightly, his lips blushing against her temple. He dropped his arms slowly. Laylani turned to Dumbledore.

“Do you know how long…?” He shook his head. “Oh.” She took a deep breath. “Alright then.” She turned back to Draco. “I guess this is goodbye.”

“Only for now.” She forced a smile and nodded.

“Right.” She said insincerely. She went to turn away and he grabbed her shoulders.

“I mean that Princess. The moment it’s safe, the moment I’m able, I’m going to find you and nothing is ever going to keep us apart again.”

“You promise?’ she asked softly.

“I promise.”

“Miss Stanners?”

“I’m coming.” She sighed. She lifted herself on her toes and gave Draco a last kiss. “Bye.”

“Bye.”

Laylani stepped up towards the Aurors. The first, a tall, dark man, Kingsley, offered her his hand with a polite smile. She shook it.

“Follow me please.” He said grimly; she nodded. He turned on his heel and left the room abruptly. She followed him, and the two other Aurors trailed directly behind her. Draco waited a moment before following, and stopped to wait at the curtains edge. Laylani had stopped and was speaking softly with Hermione. He couldn’t make out the words.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was all Laylani could do to keep herself together. She could do this; she had to do this, for Draco. She crossed through the room, trying to keep her head high. She nearly walked right past Hermione and the others, but a nagging thought in the back of her mind gave her pause. She stopped short and took a step back, turning to the Head Girl

“Look…I know you don’t like him, but if you could, just for me, look after Draco? Make sure nothing happens to him if you can. I know you don’t like him but… he’s all I’ve got, everything I have in the world, and I just-” Her eyes started to tear and she drew a shaky breath. “Please?” Hermione nodded, wiping her eyes. Laylani gave her a weak smile. “Thanks.”

She was gently prodded from behind. “We have to leave.” The man said softly. Laylani sighed.

“I know.” They continued forward.

Laylani stopped one last time at the door. She turned.

“Goodbye. Don’t worry about me, please. Everything will be fine.” Laylani put on her bravest smile, looking directly to Draco. “It’s going to be alright.” He nodded, putting on a brave smile of his own. She waved one last time and slipped through the doors and out of sight. The last of the Aurors crossed through the threshold and the door closed shut silently.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It seemed so trite now, but Harry couldn’t seem to calm the rapid pounding of his heart. It had unfolded like some sort of nightmare, as if it hadn’t quite been real. He’d never seen someone lose their sanity before, nor had he known it could happen so quickly.

When she had launched herself at him, even as Charlie restrained her, he’d feared for his safety; and then she had said -it- had announced his foolish declaration of love to the entire room, and then all he could think of was Ginny. His eyes searched her out immediately; his heart seized in his chest.

He’d watched as the concern for her friend melted from her features to be replaced by hurt. Her eyes met his for a moment and then her expression forced into indifference and she looked away.

He’d been trying for days to get near to her again, to find an opportunity to get her alone and tell her how he felt. But it seemed no matter how hard he tried, he could barely get within ten feet of her. It was as if she was going out of her way to avoid him.

It had begun to consume him: how had he botched this up? What had he done wrong? He and Ginny had always been friends; had his advances somehow ruined it? He cared for Ginny, more than he ever had for anyone, but he would rather have her friendship than nothing at all.

He watched Laylani follow Tonks and Elphias Doge, with Kingsley bringing up the rear as they filed out of the infirmary. It was almost anticlimactic how quietly she slipped out of his life.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ginny was first to leave the room, not saying a word to the others. Harry followed after her, and Ron went after him. Snape and Dumbledore began removing the curtain, and cleaning up the evidence of Laylani’s struggle. Draco walked slowly over to one of the small windows overlooking the school’s front lawns. He leaned against the wall, angling himself to get a view, albeit a poor one, of the school’s front doors.

After several long moments, the doors finally opened to Laylani and a troupe of Aurors. They no longer walked in single file, instead the Aurors had arranged themselves to surround her; she was so much smaller than them. His eyes followed them across the school’s front lawn and towards the gates. The group paused as the heavy gates swung open, and he could see Laylani’s tiny form turn back towards the school and wave. Though he couldn’t see any detail, he knew she was wearing her brave smile. He couldn’t help a small smile in return as he waved back, though he doubted she could see him; she knew he was watching. She turned back after a moment, and the group continued through the gates, down the path and around the bend out of sight. He waited a moment. There was nothing.

She was really gone.

A light hand touched his shoulder and he started, recoiling from the form of Hermione Granger.

“Are you alright, Malfoy?”

“Fine, Granger.” He sneered, striding towards the door. “Fucking peachy.” He left without looking back.

Hermione sighed quietly to herself. This was going to be a hard promise to keep.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The group walked in silence as they moved into a copse of trees, presumably to apparate. Occasionally the woman would look over at her with a reassuring smile. Laylani tried hard to keep her forced smile in place, at least until she was alone. It wasn’t their fault she had to be isolated; there was no sense in burdening them with her misery.

The group delved further into the trees where the brush was thick.

It was so soft, she almost hadn’t heard it. The snap of a twig underfoot. The three around her scrambled for their wands but they weren’t quick enough.

“REDUCTO!” The witch next to her was thrown backwards, crashing against a thick oak tree with a terrible ‘CRACK’ that could only be bones breaking. Laylani screamed as the woman collapsed on the ground, unmoving. Black figures began to close in around them. Laylani’s screams fell silent.

The Dark Robes.

They had found her.

She couldn’t run. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t even cry out. All Laylani could do was watch in silent horror as the events unfolded around her.

The old man to her left drew his wand. “STUPE-"

“AVADA KEDAVRA!” The old man crumpled, falling to the ground, lifeless.

It could almost be described as a sense of calmness as the Dark Robes closed in around her. Wasn’t there another Auror? Hadn’t she had three guards? Laylani turned towards where the man had been behind her, wondering if he’d been killed without her notice.

Kingsley smiled.

“Stupefy.” The rush of magic hit her chest hard, making her step back with its force even as her knees buckled. Then the world went black.