Love Never Dies. (Draco Malfoy Fan Fiction) (Watty Awards 2013 Winner)

Chapter 33: Wands Raised.

Rachel's POV

My mind returns to Dumbledore's death. The man who comforted me when no one did in first year. I turn back, my legs dragging me to the Astronomy Tower. I feel a hand grip my wrist. 

"Rachel, where are you going?" Draco whispers. 

I turn back to see Draco's silky blond hair and his grey eyes staring into mine. "Follow me," was I said before taking his hand in mine and going to the courtyard nearby the astronomy tower. 

There was already a group of students gathered there. I hide behind the wall that separated the scene of death from the rest of Hogwarts. I peer past the wall and I see Potter bent over Dumbledore's body, crying hard. Weasley girl was behind him, rubbing his back and comforting. I shift my attention to Dumbledore's cold and dead body. The body that once made me feel better about being in Slytherin. Dumbledore was like a grandfather to me when I was new to Hogwarts. A tear escapes my eye as I realise that the fatherly figures I ever had in my life were dead. 

That was when a professor, I couldn't tell who it was, raised her wand in tribute to Dumbledore's death. Everyone slowly raised their wands in the air, the end glowing a little white light. Another tear escapes my eye and I wipe it away with my finger. 

I take my wand out and raise it in the air. The tip glowed and the dark mark in the sky was gone and replaced by a bright light. 

George's POV

Ginny rushes Fred and I out of the common room and into the courtyard. I see everyone there but before I could say another word, Ginny rushed forward to Harry. I knew they were perfect together. Ginny liked Harry and vice versa. They were cute together, I have to admit. But it was weird having a friend like your sister. I was still protective of Ginny and trust me, I would kick Harry's ass if he ever hurt my little sister. Fred and I walk forward through the crowd, Fred leading me forward. My heart was thumping against my chest as I took in the melancholic atmosphere. I peer up to the sky and a dark mark that took the form of either clouds or smoke emerged in the sky. I gasped in terror as my head shifts to see the lifeless, cold and pale body of Dumbledore on the ground. Ginny was behind Harry, who was sobbing uncontrollably. He was dead. Dumbledore was dead. A tear escapes my eye as I saw Ginny cry too. Fred was behind me now, his hand on my shoulder comforting me. 

It's over. The Headmaster of Hogwarts is dead.

That was when a professor raised her wand and it gave off a soft white glow. I raised my wand too, without hesitation and so did everyone else. Only for a while did I see a soft glow come off from around the corner behind a wall that separated the crime scene from Hogwarts. I was curious to know who it was and I wanted to know who it was too. I try and crane my neck to see who it was but a slight shimmer of blond hair under the dim light gave me an idea who it was. It was Draco Malfoy but would Malfoy really do that? Of course not.

Rachel. 

I knew it, I knew she was still that gentle, welcoming girl I knew. She was still the lovely girl I loved. She was still Gryffindor by blood and I knew she would make a turn for the better. I smile a little before I wipe it off my face only to notice a white light shine through the sky and the dark mark gone. It was perfect. It was the perfect way to send Dumbledore off to the afterlife where he would have a better life. Everyone dispersed and it was only Harry, Ginny, Fred and I left behind. I was curious to know if it was really Rachel who raised her wand in respect too and I wasn't afraid to be attacked either. So I walk carefully behind the wall to see no one there. My heart sank a little. I was looking forward to seeing Rachel and to see how she's changed. 

I noticed her face growing paler and her collar bones sticking out more and more as the days progressed. I noticed this through those rare times I stole glances at her at the Great Hall from the Gryffindor table or between classes when she walked past me. It was sad to see what her status has been doing to her, slowly sucking her rosy health from her like a vampire drawing blood from its victim's neck. That tattoo was draining her of happiness. Well, what happiness could death eaters feel anyway? I don't think they could ever feel pity or sympathy. I don't think they could ever feel anything but hatred and negativity. But there was something about tonight that made me rethink that. I knew it was Rachel who raised her wand in respect to Dumbledore and knowing that it was her who did it made it seem so much nicer and it made me feel relieved in some ways. At least I knew somehow that it was the Rachel who still cared for the people who helped her and guided her and cared for her. 

When my mind snapped back into reality, I returned to where Fred and Harry and Ginny were standing and I smile weakly at them before they finally understood the message I was trying to convey to them. They knew when I was upset over her, and when I wasn't. It was groovy to have friends like them and a family like mine. If only Rachel was part of it. It would be perfect. But did she have friends like mine and a family too? It made me question myself if she really was happy. But she would be, wouldn't she? She was with her boyfriend and her new "family-in-laws". I sigh silently in disappointment before Fred took me away back to the Gryffindor common room where I made my way up to my dormitory and lay down there until I woke the next morning.

A/N: Hi everyone! Thank you so much for reading and for voting (if you have). Please comment on anything that can be improved on and any errors in facts based on the original Harry Potter series by J K Rowling. I hope you've enjoyed reading this chapter and that you'll look forward to the next one. Please comment and vote! Thank you xx