A Forbidden Love

Chapter Thirteen: The Beginning of the War

The next morning, at the castle, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were at the top of the Astronomy Tower mourning the loss of Dumbledore. Hermione asked the question that had been at the back of her head since the beginning of the year. "Do you think he would've done it, Draco?" Harry replied, "No, he was lowering his wand. In the end, it was Snape. It was always Snape, and I did nothing." Harry handed Hermione the locket he and Dumbledore found in the cave. "It's fake. Open it." Hermione did as she was told, and she found a note hidden inside it. "To the Dark Lord, I know I will be dead long before you read this, but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it. I face death in the hopes that when you meet your match you will be mortal once more. -R.A.B. R.A.B.?" "Don't know, but whoever they are, they have the real horcrux, which means it was all a waste. All of it." Hermione tried to mend the tension, "Ron's okay with it, you know, you and Ginny. If I were you, when he's around, I'd keep the snogging to a minimum." Harry laughed, "I'm not coming back, Hermione. I have to finish whatever Dumbledore started, and I don't know where that'll lead me, but I will let you and Ron know where I am when I can." "I've always admired your courage, Harry, but sometimes you can be really thick. You don't really think you'll be able to find all of these horcruxes by yourself, do you? You need us, Harry." "I never realized how beautiful this place was." Suddenly, an owl flew into the Astronomy Tower and dropped a note into Hermione's hands. With suspicion, she opened the note and saw it was from Draco. All three of them exchanged looks, and Hermione read it aloud. 

Dear, Potter Weasley, and Granger,

I regret to inform you about this over note, but it is the fastest way I can communicate to the three of you. Despite Snape killing Dumbledore in my place, Voldemort wasn't content with just that. Because of that happening, Meg suffered tremendously. I tried to save her as best as I could, but she couldn't make it. Please don't be angry with me. I can try to help you three find the horcruxes as best as I can, but I'm not quite sure how I will go about doing that. Again, I am deeply sorry for what has happened. No one regrets this more than I.

-Draco

After reading the note, Hermione began to sob, Harry got angry, and Ron tried to keep the two of them calm. Harry began to protest, " I SWEAR, WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON MALFOY HE WILL BE EATING SLUGS FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE!" Ron tried to get Harry to see reason, "Harry, Malfoy said he tried to save her. He loves her just as much as we do. I think we can trust his word. If you both want, we can stay at my place for a few days and work out a way for all of us to get through this." Harry and Hermione agreed. 

Meanwhile in another plane of existence, Meg found herself in a world that wasn't her own. She knew she wasn't in Wiltshire, and she wasn't in Heaven, it was sort of an in-between demension. She stood up to look at the place she was stuck in when she heard a familiar voice singing. "Can it be? Can it be Christine? What a change, you're really not a bit the cockish girl that once you were. She may not remember me, but I remember her." She turned around to see her father standing before her. She ran to embrace him and he whispered to her, "You've been so brave, sweetheart." "Father, how are you here?" "I am here because you are here." "I don't understand, what is this place?" "I was going to ask you that. Where would you say we are?" "It looks like King's Cross station in London, only cleaner and without all the trains." "King's Cross, is that right? This is, as they say, your parting. By now you must know that your powers have significantly increased, and the spell you cast was nearly successful." "So it's true, then, I do possess the power to bring down Voldemort?" "Oh yes." "But if I cast a protection spell, why did it bring me here?" "The spell you cast before Voldemort killed you, only validated itself when Draco sang the words, 'Christine, I love you." They walked for a bit and then sat on a bench; Meg continued asking questions. "I have to go back, haven't I?" "Well, that's up to you." "I have a choice?" "Oh yes. We're in King's Cross, you say. I think, if you so desired, you'd be able to board a train." "And where would it take me?" "On." "Harry, Ron, and Hermione will begin looking for the horcruxes, and they have no idea where or what any of them are. I have the answers, and Draco would be distraught if I didn't go back." "Help will always be given to those who ask for it, Christine. I've always prized myself at my ability to turn a phrase. Words are, in my not so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic, capable of inflicting pain, and remedying it. I would, in this case, amend my original statement to this, help will always be given to those who deserve it. Do not pity the dead, Christine, pity the living, and above all, those who live without love." "Father, is this all real, or is it just happening inside my head?" "Of course it's happening inside your head, Christine, but why should that mean that it isn't real? You're nearly there, my child." "You'll stay with me?" "Until the end." "I won't be able to see you." "No, I'm here you see." Erik pointed to her heart; Meg embraced her father one last time. "Stay close to me," she said while crying. He replied, "Always." 

Within seconds, Meg awoke from her deep sleep, and stroked Draco's hair. He looked up and saw she was alive, and hugged her tightly. They both began to cry harder, and Draco started asking questions. "How? What?" "I don't know how to explain it." Narcissa was next to see that Meg was alive, but suggested that all three of them keep it a secret from Voldemort for the time being. Unbeknownst to the Fantastic Four what was to come for them in the next several months.