As Night Falls (Third Book in the Things Not Seen Series) *Completed*

Chapter 9

"Here eat some of this," Christina said thrusting chocolate out to Aria.

Aria had woken up in the middle of the night with a long line of terrible dreams and had come in to Christina's room to talk to someone.

Aria took the chocolate and took a few small bites of it. After she had finished it, Pansy woke up and shooed Aria out of the room. Aria walked out and down the long stairwells that for some reason seemed to love changing directions on her. After about 20 minutes of dealing with the moving staircases, she found her way back to the Great Hall where she found that she was the first one to arrive for breakfast. The tables were empty and as were the seats. Aria sat in complete silence for an hour and a half before Crabbe and Goyle showed up to stuff their faces with donuts and sausage.

Harry and Ron arrived shortly after Crabbe and Goyle. Hermione followed carrying a pile of books and about 30 pieces of parchment. Lavender and Parvati joined Aria at the Gryffindor table. They must have fallen asleep at the library. Aria was jumping up and looking over her shoulder constantly as if she were expecting something to be waiting there for her.

Christina woke up feeling still very tired. She had tried to console her sister all night long as she continued to have horrible nightmares. She threw on her robes and slowly trudged down the seeminly endless steps on the staircases.

She began down the hallway but stopped dead in her tracks and leaned up against a wall to listen to what she thought was a conversation between teachers. She inched closer to the door and reached for the handle but drew her hand back deciding it a good idea to stay out of it. A deep but clear voice spoke up in the silence.

"So when the time comes, the boy must die?"

"Yes," came the soft whisper of the other voice.

Footsteps shuffled towards the door and Christina backed away quickly but the footsteps ceased and she inched closer once again.

"I know that the Malfoy boy has been appointed to kill me Severus," and right then Christina recognized the voice.

It was that of Professor Dumbledore's. She slid down the wall and sat deep in thought on the icy floor. Is this why Draco had been so distant? Because he was appointed to kill the only hope for Voldemort's end. Her head was pounding with all these fresh questions and doubts. She was so lost that she drowned out the rest of the conversation and even missed the sound of the door creaking open.

Professor Snape exited and looked down at Christina. His emotions were racing as evidenced by the awkward look on his face. "Lestrange. What are you doing here? Were you snooping?"

"No."

"No, what?"

"No Professor."

"I suggest that you head back to the Great Hall. I'm sure that Mr. Malfoy will be waiting for you along with your dark haired know it all sister."

Christina began to walk down the hall with Snape trailing behind her. She could faintly make out him whispering something behind her. "It should have been you."

"What was that Professor?" she said as she spun around and came to a halt.

"Eyes forward Miss Lestrange and do continue. After all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day."

Christina faced forward and continued into the hall without another word. She found her seat next to Draco and Aria crossed over to the seat next to her and sat down.

"Any reason that you needed to be escourted here by Snape?"

"He caught me listening in on one of his conversations. And he said one of the most peculiar things."

"What did he say?"

"He said it should have been you. It was really weird. What should have been me?"

"Don't you know why he hates you so much?' Draco asked.

"Oh so are we on speaking terms now?" she said with a nasty tone.

"You were born on the same night as Harry Potter. You could have been a part of the prophecy but you weren't chosen and because of that Snape could never forgive you. That is also why he hates Neville because he was born in the same time period as you and Harry."

"That's a bunch of crap. Hey I need to talk to you," she said motioning for Draco to follow her.

Christina let them into the very room that Dumbledore and Snape had had their previous conversation. Draco followed her in and closed the door behind them.

"What's up?" he said choking on his words slightly.

"I know."

"What do you know?"

"I overheard Snape and Dumbledore. I know what you have to do."

"And what is that?"

"You've been chosen to kill Dumbledore."

Draco was at a loss for words. He stood motionless not sure what to say or do. Christina stepped closer to him and began once again in a sympathetic voice "Draco... it's okay. You don't have to do this."

"No! You don't understand. He chose me. He trusts me."

"Draco I do understand. I was chosen to fulfill an impossible task such as that one."

"Christina...."

"I won't let this ruin your life. When the time comes, I'll be the one to do it."

"No! I can't make you do that!"

"And who's going to stop me? Draco, I've already lost everything. You have more to lose than I do."

"Christina I won't let you."

"I know what it's like Draco. It ruined my life for the longest time. I can't let the same thing happen to you. Do you know what it's like to lose everything? Because I won't let that happen to you."

"But if you do this... they can have you killed. Then I will truly lose everything."

At that very moment, Draco leaned in and kissed Christina. He pulled back for a moment but only to whisper in her ear. "And I won't lose you."