My Love For You

Chapter 17: Operation: Save Dumbledore

"Y-You-You're joking, right?" I stuttered after he told us. He shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged. "Oh my God..." I clung to Harry's arm as I felt the tears falling down my cheeks. "So, you really are a Death Eater."

"No," Draco replied sternly, "I'll never be one of them. I don't want to do this." He bit his lip and looked down at his feet. "He'll k-kill me... He'll kill my Mum...."

Harry grabbed his arm and smiled. "Well, we'll make sure he doesn't do that. You're our friend still, right? We're here for you."

Draco looked up at me and then Harry and then back at me. "I don't deserve to be your friend, guys." He sighed. "I was awful to both of you, and now this. You needn't do anything."

I wrapped my arms around Draco to hug him. "You promised that you would be kind to us and be a good person. I trusted your answer. And I know deep down you still believe that. I trust you."

We all left the bathroom, ready to face Dumbledore's death plot and how we could save him.

~~~

That night, Harry had gone out with Dumbledore to find Slytherin's locket, the next Horcrux in line after Riddle's diary and Marvolo's ring.

I hid in the Astronomy Tower, as Draco, Harry, and I planned. I pulled out my book as I waited for the boys and the Death Eaters.

Finally, Dumbledore and Harry apparated at the top, and Harry ran to my side, covering us with the Cloak as Draco marched his way up the stairs to Dumbledore. I stumbled a bit as we bustled around to better look at Dumbledore, and his head whipped in our direction. Fuck. I adjusted the Cloak over Harry and me, but now we knew he had noticed us.

The Death Eaters were already wreaking havoc outside. I could feel Harry tense beside me as I heard Bellatrix's cackling voice. Soon, they started to make their way up the Astronomy Tower stairs.

"Well done, Draco~" hummed Bellatrix.

"Good evening, Bellatrix," greets Dumbledore, "I think introductions are in order, don't you?"

"I'd love to, Albus. But I'm afraid we're on a tight schedule." She purrs.

The surrounding Death Eaters start egging Draco on. "Do it!" "He doesn't have the stomach." "Just like his father."

"Let me finish him in my way." Bellatrix offers.

"No," Snape adds sternly, "The Dark Lord asked Draco to do it, so he must."

Bellatrix whines, "Come on, Draco! Now!"

"Severus...." Dumbledore whispers, "Please."

Snape raises his wand; I slap my hand to my mouth to cover my gasp, and Harry hugs me. "Avada Kedavra," whispers Snape, and the light leaves Dumbledore's eyes. His body falls through the center of the Tower stairs. Down, down, down.

I have to hold myself back from shrieking in absolute grief and terror. Harry shoves my face into his shoulder to muffle my weeping. "Come on," Harry whispers as the Death Eaters drag Draco down the stairs, "We have to follow them, Kiara."

We shuffle behind them with the Cloak over us until we reach the entrance to the Tower. Harry calls out to Snape, "Hey, Professor!" Snape whipped around to face him. "You just killed Professor Dumbledore. You killed him!"

"Potter! Parks! You two get back in the castle! Now!" He says sternly, but I hear a hint of concern behind it.

I brush my tears away and scream, "You betrayed him! How can you live with yourself?!"

"I said," he started again, "Go back inside!"

We continued to stand our ground, and Bellatrix stepped up, raising her wand. "Crucio!" Harry and I fell to the ground, writhing in what felt like an endless agony.

"Stop!" Snape yelled, and she quit it. "He belongs to the Dark Lord."

Bellatrix giggled. "Well, in that case," she strode over to me and grabbed me, "We can do whatever we'd like to her."

"No!" Harry and Draco yelled in unison, "Don't hurt her!"

"Oh~," Bellatrix cackled, "So, this is the pretty little lady my nephew likes, hmm~?" Draco blushed a bright pink and turned away. "Oh, hush, darling. I'm not going to hurt your crush." She turned to Harry, "I'm hurting Potter's little girlfriend."

Harry scowled, "You let her go or I'll–"

"You'll what?" She cackled again, mocking him, "Potter's going to kill me, isn't he?" Before she could make another move, I stomped my boot heel onto her foot, and she yelped, allowing me to get away and run back into Harry's arms. "You little bitch," her eyes bulged threateningly, "I'll get you for that."

"Enough, Bella," Snape rolled his eyes, "We have to get Draco out of here."

"Fine," she huffed, turning on her heel to head back to the Vanishing Cabinet.

~~~

As soon as she was far enough away, Harry spoke up again. "You still betrayed him, Professor! You betrayed us!"

He whipped around once again and gritted his teeth. "I helped you. Do you know your Potions textbook? Of course, you do! That was mine!"

"What, do you know the Half-Blood Prince?"

He sighed, "Harry, I am the Half-Blood Prince." He then whipped back around, dragging Draco with him.

I clutched onto Harry, and we collapsed to the ground in grief. Dumbledore was gone. He was gone. And now Professor Snape has confirmed our fears of himself since our first year.

~~~