We Didn't Have a Choice

60 - Draco's Beautiful Blair

Draco and I ran down the main staircase of the castle and pulled to a stop when we got our first looks at the battle. Hexes flew right and left, explosions were heard, the castle was falling apart, and the worst part of it all was the innocent people who lay unmoving or injured on the ground.

We had our wands out, but I don't think either of us had the intention of using them, at least not in a harmful way.

Draco pulled me around a corner which shielded us from the battle.

"Blair, before we go out there, just know I love you."

I kissed his lips softly and he rested his forehead on mine. "It'll be okay. Let's just lie low until it's safe for us to leave."

"If Voldemort sees you here, he'll be livid. I think we should find a way out. So many people oppose us, and if he's angry, it will only make things worse."

"Where does he think I am?" I asked.

Draco sighed and tears filled his eyes. It seemed as though he was suddenly broken. "The manor. I'm sorry," he spluttered as he fell to his knees before me.

Confused, I sat down in front of him. "Why are you sorry about that?"

"It's Astoria. My father had her take a polyjuice potion as you. I-I was in a trance, I didn't mean for anything to happen."

I wiped the tears from his face. "Just tell me what happened."

He let out a shaky sigh. "I thought she was you. I didn't mean to kiss her."

I shut my eyes slowly and sighed. I wasn't mad. Just upset.

"Please don't let this come in between us. She's not at the manor anymore. I promise, she's far from Cordelia and will never be in our lives again. It was just a temporary thing so we could all survive. I'm sorry. It wasn't my idea and it was a transe. I could never do that to you," he rambled.

I sat quietly for a moment before responding. "As long as you didn't do it purposely and you didn't enjoy it, then it's fine."

He seemed to relax at my words. "Blair, I love you. I will never do anything like that again."

And I really could not even be upset because I know it was not intentional.

I cupped his face and pulled his face to mine so I could kiss him. Except as I was leaning into him, a flash of green light bounced off the wall, catching my attention, and then everything went dark.

-

-

-

I shut my eyes as she leaned into me, except her lips never came. Instead, I felt all her weight fall onto me. I opened my eyes. Blair was slumped against me, her face buried into my chest.

"Darling?" I said quickly as I stroked her hair.

No response.

"Blair!"

Panic filled me as I went to pull her face away from my chest, except her cheeks were stone cold and the color in her face was already drained.

I felt myself go numb as I searched for any sign of life. A pulse, a breath, a heart beat, anything. Except she never moved.

A loud ringing filled my ears as I found myself collapsing over her body. I didn't even know I was sobbing because the ringing in my ears was so loud.

I did not even notice when Pansy and Blaise came to my side. One of them tried to pull me off of her, but I only clung even tighter to her body, not daring to move from her.

It just could not be real. There is no way Blair was gone.

Finally, I was ripped away from her and a pair of arms wrapped around me as I stared at her body. In her last few moments, she found out about what happened with Astoria. She is going to remember me as a cheater.

I found myself falling to the ground in a heap. I would not accept it. There was no way. The plan was for her to be kept alive. Who could have even killed her?

I looked back at Blair, again. My beautiful Blair. I stroked the stray hairs away from her face which was stone cold and pale, the same face that used to be so warm, despite our situation.

A crowd had gathered around. Pansy knelt beside me, tears in her eyes. Blaise also looked sad, but he held his composure together.

"We should bring her to the Great Hall. It's where they are bringing all the um . . ."

"Don't say it," I mumbled.

Blaise gave me a sympathetic look. "Maybe Madam Pomfrey can work some magic, though."

I sniffled and watched as one of my tears fell onto her face. I knew there was no hope, but at the same time, I was desperate. So, I picked her up bridal-style and carried her into the Great Hall, not caring about all the dirty looks I was receiving.

Blaise helped me lower her onto an empty mat. Around us sat many people mourning and spending the last few moments with those who were not going to make it. It was absolutely heartbreaking.

I lay down beside her and buried my face into her hair. Even the smell of her hair triggered me, bringing me to tears once again.

I just could not believe it. It all seemed so unreal.

When I finally have happiness, it's taken away from me. Why does this always happen to me?

I'm not sure how long I laid there for, but I finally sat up when a daunting feeling came over the castle. The room got noticeably colder as a hush fell over.

Then, his whispers filled the air. "You have all fought with courage . . ." he said.

I covered my ears as a sick feeling overcame me. This man has put me through so much. Even his voice disgusts me.

At least Blair can live in freedom from him now.

After Voldemort demanded for Harry to meet him, my mark began to burn. It was Voldemort's way of summoning the Death Eaters together. However, I did not even bother budging because I was not going to leave her side.

-

"Draco, you need to eat," coaxed Pansy as she set a tray of food beside me.

I barely lifted my face from Blair's neck. I felt too weak. Light was seeping in through the windows of the hall, alerting me that dawn had come. I must have fallen asleep because the hall was a lot busier from when I last remembered.

"I don't want to," I mumbled as I buried my face back into the comfort of Blair's hair.