Chapter 16

"NOO!"

The loud roar, almost a growl snapped them out of the stunned daze, shaking their heads slightly and directing their stares to the same side entrance Lucius stood at. Touya stood at the door, with Noelle at his side, faces bearing the same shocked visage as the students from before.

His brown-haired head shook in denial, muttering how it couldn't be, its impossible, while Noelle was back, he had just lost his sister.

"NO!" Touya spat angrily, stomping over to the stage and falling to his sister's side.

He pressed his fingers to the side of her neck, feeling for a pulse. None. He grabbed her wrist and pressed, hard against the flesh. Nothing.

"Touya…?" Athena questioned softly, her hand settling onto her boyfriend's broad, strong shoulder.

He shook his head and Athena gasped, wrenching back and holding her hand to her chest.

Makoto was practically her little sister, shit she WOULD have been her little sister after marriage… but she's…she's dead.

Athena could only stare down in Makoto's empty, dead green eyes, searching for a fighting spark in the depths, a string of life that she managed to hold throughout all of this. Millions of thoughts hit Noelle's higher then average mind, ones of maybe Makoto's pulse was so slow, it wasn't capable of being felt by hand or-or maybe it was a really deep sleep.

She was too lost in it all to see Touya get to his feet, heaving heavily and throw a deadly glare towards Lucius, eyes puffy red from tears.

"You…" the older brother whispered in a wavering breath, "YOU did this!"

The usually easy going teen went berserk, closing the distance between himself and the Malfoy in a matter of seconds, smashing his fists hard into Lucius's pale face. The younger male cried for the bastard to die, that he'd pay for his sister's death between the punches.

Everyone watched on as he continued his assault, then his small girlfriend launching herself at him and managing to rip him off the older male.

"NO ATHENA! LET ME AT THAT FUCKER!" Touya roared wildly, thrashing about while his girlfriend skillfully dodged all flying extremities.

"NO Touya! Stop." She commanded but he refused to comply, beginning to stomp back to his victim while the petite girl tried her best to slow his fast strides.

"If you love me, you'll stop."

Abruptly Touya stopped in mid-stride, causing Athena to fall back a little and land in a small heap on the ground. He turned about slowly, to look down at his girlfriend with dark anger boiling in his eyes. Athena only smiled and rose to her feet, murmuring something that caused the male to loosen up slightly.

Her face hardened and turned red in anger as she pulled away from Touya and approached Lucius with curled fists at her side.

"I hope your happy, you inconsiderate, self centered, good for nothing, BASTARD!" Athena snarled, and no one saw it coming when the small, petite girl reared back and caught the proud Malfoy with a right hook to his jaw.

Everyone gasped a little as Athena continued by hurling another punch into the man's abdomen, the former Death-eater stumbling back in shock and cradling his now sore middle. Who knew such a petite thing could hit so hard.

"Because of your close-minded, ruthless manner you've killed two, innocent people. One of them your very own SON!" she cried, swinging back hard to let the fucker feel her backhand.

She suddenly grabbed the long, fine blonde hair by the roots and gave a hard tug, the soft stuff ripping out from his skull. He cried out in pain, clutching to his stinging scalp while Athena hurled the white stuff to the ground, then spitting on it, disgusted.

"Oh Mako…"

Everybody's head turned to see Fujitaka kneeling at his daughter's fallen form, his hands raking through her brown locks. He stared down at his second child with a watery gaze, so filled with a rage and utter despair he was unable to function properly.

"Familiar isn't it?"

And everyone's head turned again to the main hall entrance, where a small girl dressed in Slytherin uniform entered, slowly walking down the long aisle between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables. Soft black hair fell on either side of her pale face, her head currently bowed now, somewhat hiding her two, coal black eyes.

Her head suddenly raised to reveal a pair of cold dark eyes, the unfathomable depths swirling with pure evil.

"Reminds you of Nadeishko's last moments?" she murmured with a sadistic grin plastered across her pale face as she stepped onto the stage.

Fujitaka inched away from the girl, head shaking slowly and that only caused the little girl to cackle with dark humor.

"Oh, excuse my manners, I have completely forgotten to introduce myself, the name is Pansy Parkinson Riddle."

Harry, Hermione, and Ron gasped in shock, the girl named Pansy looking over to them with a little smirk.

"Ah yes, you've heard of my father."

"Who…?" Fujitaka asked with confusion as he got to his feet.

The dark haired girl laughed hard, shaking her head and looking at him with amusement.

"Oh? I'm surprised you could forget him, he did take away your two best friends and you're dear wife."

And he began to tremble violently, eyes wide with shocked fear.

Impossible…Voldermont couldn't have…who? Memories came flooding back…back from long ago, the time of when he was a Hogwartz student, a Gryffindor Quidditch chaser. The time of when everything was much more simpler and less painful, when it was all laughs and no worries. Hakuna matata was him and James' quote.

"Gosh," Pansy snickered with fake sympathy, "Did I hit a sensitive point there?"

She suddenly reached into one of the hidden pockets of the robe she wore, pulling out her wand. She waved it about and murmured a spell, a sudden soft light erupting from the wand's tip. It was like a projector, the light's end playing like a movie.

"You heard about Lily becoming Head Girl," Fujitaka Kinomoto commented, as he toweled off the sweat beading down his face and neck from the vigorous workout with the Quidditch team earlier.

James Potter nodded to his question, grinning wide as his mind wandered off to think of a certain red-haired beauty.

"Just shows that we're meant to be together Fooey ole man, Head Boy and Head Girl. We're destined."

Everyone stared, entranced as the images suddenly changed into another, one with a group of girls gathered in the Hufflepuff common room.

"James as Head Boy and you as Head Girl, how adorable is that?" Sonomi Daidouji teased with a grin as she ran a comb through her very long, grey mane.

"James Potter?" Lily Evans spat scathingly from the cushioned divan she lounged upon, cringing and sticking her tongue out in disgust.

"More like karma coming back to spite me."

"James isn't that bad, Lily." Nadeishko Daidouji was quick to defend, lowering the book she had been reading and setting it on the table.

"Oh dear cousin, we aren't mocking Fujitaka, just James." Sonomi noted as she pulled her long, soft mane into a neat bun.

The Hufflepuff blushed deeply, her two companions laughing at that.

"Shut up," Nadeishko commanded softly, blush deepening by the second.

The sudden clearing of someone's throat caused the trio of girls to look over and see no other then Fujitaka Kinomoto standing there.

The normally clam, collected, and every cool Gryffindor flustered for a moment, fiddling with his glasses. Then all at once, it stopped and he shot a kind smile towards the three.

"Hello ladies, sorry to interrupt but may I have a word with Nadeishko-san, please?"

"Oh! Go ahead, don't mind us!" Lily and Sonomi murmured in unison, grinning wide and sending a wicked glance to Nadeishko.

"Do you have an escort for the Yule Ball this evening, Daidouji-san?"

"Please call me Nadeishko," she insisted, blushing faintly at the titter from her two best friends behind her, Lily Evans and Sonomi Daidouji.

The painstakingly handsome Gryffindor flashed a toothy white smile, taking Nadeishko's smaller, pale hand into his larger, darker one.

"Well…Nadeishko, do you have an escort for the Yule Ball?"

The Hufflepuff's blush deepened as she suddenly couldn't meet his eyes any longer, gaze falling to the shiny marble floor beneath them.

"I-I don't have an escort, as of yet."

Unknown to her, Fujitaka grinned wide at that, feeling rather elate.

"Then please consider allowing me to do the honor?"

"I-if it please you…you may."

"Yes, yes it would." He murmured happily, "I must bid thee a farewell, Quidditch practice and I am sure James will have my head on his wall if I am late again."

"We want you to protect Harry if anything happens to us." Lily requested as she gently cradled her new born son in her hands.

Fujitaka and Nadeishko blinked from the sofa they sat on, looking at each other then back at their friends.

"Please?" James suddenly added, sending a pleading look at his best friend and former school mate.

"Of course we will." Nadeishko answered with a bright smile.

"We are the boy's God parents after all," Fujitaka murmured with a gentle smile of his own.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Lord Voldermont snickered as he watched James Potter crumble to the ground at his feet, mouth gapping slightly and eyes wide.

"James!" Lily cried in terror, pretty green eyes tearing up. Her hands reached up to cup her face and she quickly turned her heel, down the hallway to their child.

The famed Gryffindor's glasses crunched loudly beneath the Dark Lord's feet as he made his way further into the house, wand in hand and eyes glinting with a dark intent.

He entered the room just in time to see red-haired muggle run up the crib placed in the center of the room. He grinned devilishly, this would be easy.

"Avada Kedavra!"

The witch jerked back, gasping and her heart instantly stopped, her body slumping to the feet of the crib. The baby wailed, crying for his mother.

The dark warlock scowled at the crying, stepping up to the crib and glaring down at the child. Disgusting thing. He directed his wand into the crib, angling it perfectly to the baby.

"Goodbye Harry Potter."

"Petrificus Totalus!"

Voldermont stiffened and froze in a position that of a soldier saluting its commander. Then Nadeishko Kinomoto came running into the room, scooping up the child from the pillows.

Unfortunately, her magic wasn't strong enough to keep the warlock in bay long enough for her to run out of the room. Mobility returned to him and his dark eyes looked down at the short Asian girl.

"Stupid bitch, you'll die too." He muttered, pointing her wand at the two.

But before he could utter the curse, he was slammed face first into the crib, the wooden frame snapping under the sudden weight.

"GET OUT!" Fujitaka Kinomoto roared over his shoulder as he roughly kept the evil thing in a head and arm lock.

Nadeishko nodded slightly, running out of the house and onto one of the waiting flying motorcycles. It lifted off the ground then soared into the skies, away from the Potter household.

"Hawwy, can joo pass me the wed cwayon?" two-year old Makoto asked and the boy beside her quickly handed her the crayon.

Makoto's five-year old brother Touya watched over the two, drawing a picture of his own. He was just about to say something when his mother fell into the room, her eyes wide, tortured and full of fear. The dark orbs scanned the room frantically and then fell onto the children, who stared up at her concerned.

Nadeishko quickly ran to them, scooping them up and running off into another room.

"Be quiet okay?" she requested frantically, her pace quickening at the sudden thud of something getting slammed into the wall.

The young children nodded quickly, clinging to each other in support and fear. Nadeishko suddenly reached the other living room they had, the one that she told her children never to go in.

The dark-haired woman reached into her pocket and pulled out a portkey from her pocket. She then looked at Harry, eyes soft with sympathy.

"Okay Harry, you're gonna go with your uncle and aunt now." Nadeishko murmured and the little boy frowned, immediately hugging himself to her leg.

"I don't like uncle Vernon," Harry whined and with a painful sigh, Nadeishko gently detached the boy from her leg.

"I know Harry, but this is for your safety, now hold on to this."

A little hand gripped the portkey and he disappeared right before their eyes.

"We're gonna visit Harry…right mommy?" Makoto asked with eyes hopeful.

"Yes, yes hunnie," Nadeishko assured over her shoulder as she took out something from the closet.

She grabbed her children and opened a closet, placing them in. Then, she placed an invisible cloak over them, making sure they could still breath. She pulled back to get a quick look then sighed, eyes tearing up.

"I love you, you know that right?"

"Yes! We love you too," her children exclaimed in unison and their mother laughed slightly, wping away the tears collecting in her eyes.

"Now be quiet and stay in here, no matter what you hear. Wait for daddy to get you, you got that?"

They nodded.

"Okay, now I'll be back, remember wait for daddy to get you."

And with that the mother closed the door and whipped out her wand from her pocket.

"Colloportus!" she whispered and the door automatically locked. Her muscles loosened somewhat but only for a moment because they suddenly tensed up once more at the sound of something hitting against a wall.

Shuffling feet and more thuds, then someone fell into the room, that someone was Voldermont.

"Give me the child," he demanded, directing his powerful wand towards the girl.

She trembled slightly in fear, whimpering then forced herself to stop, face hardening with determination.

"Go to hell!"

The warlock blinked then cackled with dark laughter, his head rearing back. Then, it all stopped and he sneered down at the witch, grinning savage and cruel, evil to the core.

"Ladies first!"

And as he was about to mutter the deadly killing spell, he was slammed into the ground.

"Get out Nadeishko!" Fujitaka cried as he snatched the dark lord's wand out of his hand and through it across the room.

She refused, she would not leave without her husband and children out of harms way.

Meanwhile, the two males traded deadly blows and kicks, Fujitaka hurling insults while Voldermont snickered and suddenly his wand returned to him.

"WATCH OUT!"

But it was too late, the evil warlock uttered the spell and Fujitaka began to levitate in mid-air, then was thrown out of the room.

Nadeishko got to her feet, running to the door but it quickly shut in front of her. Sudden pounds on the door were heard, then screams o

"Give me the boy," Voldermont grumbled and the stubborn woman shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Never, NEVER!" she screeched with a scowl and other man grinned darkly.

"Flagrate!"

The streams of fire surrounded Nadeishko, leaving searing marks across her pale skin. She began to scream in abject torture, crumpling to the floor and trying to make the pain stop.

"NADEISHKO!" came Fujitaka's roar as he proceeded to pound in vain on the door, practically slamming his whole body against the wood. But it would not give way.

He growled slightly and frantically felt about his pockets, searching for his wand. YES! The brunette pulled back and pointed at the door, yelling,

"ALOHOMORA!"

And magically the door unlocked and Fujitaka came rushing in, just in time to see the puffs of smoke fade away to reveal his trembling wife. She was curled into a ball, blood, burns, and blistered tainting her pale skin.

"Nadeishko…" he mumbled, falling to her side and scooping up her pain-wracked form. She whimpered and moaned in pain, clinging helplessly to her husband. She moaned for him to make the pain stop, make it all go away/

The evil man who had inflicted this only chuckled, amused by their pain. Sadistic bastard he was.

"Couldn't protect your friends, couldn't protect your wife. Pitiful." He spat before he disappeared from sight.

Fujitaka, who stared at where the Dark Lord once stood, curled into a fetile position, rocking back and forth, trying best to fight back a sob. It was true, he couldn't protect his wife or best friends. Friends who were practically his family. He had failed them, he was too late.

"Fujitaka!" Nadeishko suddenly gasped and the dark-haired man quickly pushed aside his self loathing, very gently lifted her up slightly against his chest, her body limp in his grasp

"Shhh, shh…save your energy Deishi…" Fujitaka whispered, large pools of tears gathering at the edges of his eyes.

Nadeishko had promised to Lily to protect Harry if anything was to happen to her and she had intended to keep that promise at all costs. The cost however, was her very own life.

"Fufu…p-protect the children, ddon't let Voldermont win…" she gasped, chest heaving with the effort.

"I promise," he quickly assured, cradling her in his arms and holding her close to his chest.

A blood-covered hand reached up to cup the pained man's cheek, caressing it gently.

"I-I lo-love yo—"

Body jerked once and her hand slumped her side, dead while her husband waited eagerly for her to finish. Flashes of fear and apprehension surfaced on Fujitaka's brown eyes as he began to shake his head wildly, denying it.

"No, no, NO!" He cried, drawing his wife to his chest and squeezing her tight trying to revive her, stir her, bring her back from death.

The images suddenly dissipated, the bright light returning to the wand. All people could do was stare, swallowing heavily and trying to process all the images they had just scene. Half of them stared at the stage in front of the room while the rest glanced at Harry, who was practically shaking with shock and fear.

"It's quite a shocker that Harry over there is still alive, what with your stupidity." Pansy sneered with a tone of amusement lacing her words.

Fujitaka was cradling his head, body curling into a fetal position as he began to tremble violently.

He had dealt with it, it was behind him. He didn't have horrible nightmares of their deaths playing out in his head every night. And then here comes the child of the bastard who had inflicted all this pain, bringing it back to haunt him, show him how he had failed so miserably.

But then…the good memories came rolling back. Ones of the discussions between he and James about how they would grow up and have their kids be the best Quidditch players in the world. Ones of the hair-brained schemes concocted between he, Rooney (Remus), and Sirius on how to win Lily over for James. Ones of him and Nadeishko, their first time, their wedding, their children.

Determination suddenly coursed through Fujitaka's veins, he had failed all those times before, but not this time. Not his daughter.

"No," he grumbled, getting to his feet and staggering somewhat, "Not this time."

The dark-haired girl laughed in shocked amusement at the older male's words, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Please, old man. You can't fight me. Plus, you propably haven't used your wand in ages, to floored with the memories of Hogwartz with Potter and your wife." She spat but the brown-haired man shook his head, reaching into his pockets and pulling out the old wand.

"It appears you shall be joining you're wife and friends sooner then expected," she murmured, easing back into a fighting position and angling her wand towards Fujitaka.

But before any spells could be cast, a beam of light came flying down and struck Voldermont's offspring in the back. She arched back in shock, eyes wide as she let out a loud, almost inhumane screech.

Then a pink blur came flying by, past the wounded girl and stopped in front of Fujitaka. It was Sakura and Syaoron, floating in mid-air on her Star Wand. She had obviously used the Fly Card.

"Sakura!" Touya came running up, concerned and he quickly looked about her frame for any wounds.

She didn't respond however pensive, pained stare peering over at her sister's fallen form. She didn't want to battle right now, she wanted to curl up around her sister and cry. But with a supporting squeeze from Syaoron's strong arm that was wrapped around her waist, she pushed those thoughts aside. Defeat the bitch who did this first.

"You damned bitch!" The dark haired girl snapped angrily, gripping onto her wounded back. She suddenly reared back and hurled her wand out, pointing it in Sakura's direction.

"Ignitio!"

Tennis size balls came flying out of the tip of the wand, hurling towards Sakura's direction. Syaoron was quick to move in and push her out of its deadly path, the flames hitting a standing flag and searing the fabric to ashes.

Touya and Syaoron unsheathed their mighty swords, falling into a fighting position. They were ready for a battle to death with this bitch, she's done too much to be forgiven or spared in their opinions.

"Stupefy!"

Before the feisty wrench could react, she was suddenly overcome with a numbing feeling that sent her into an unconscious state. The young males turned to see Fujitaka towering above them, his wand jutting out towards where the fallen girl stood.

The wand remained pointing until the outstretched hand suddenly retracted and fell limply to his side. A good percentage of him wanted to kill her, utter the same curse her father had said, the one that had taken so many lives away. But he couldn't. He'd be condemned to Azkaban forever, leaving his children alone to fend on their own and he had promised his Nadeishko he wouldn't. And he would not, nor EVER break any promise made to his love. Never.

"I'm proud of you Fujitaka," Dumbledore commented as his hand fell onto the younger male's shoulder, squeezing slightly. He glanced up at the old headmaster, nodding slightly with agreement.

Suddenly Draco and Makoto's fallen forms began to glow with a soft, green light. The soft light grew brighter and brighter, then all at once, beams shot out from their bodies, so bright and intense, it forced all the spectators to shield their eyes in protection. Then, with one more bright flash of light, it slowly began to fade.

Their bodies still lay prone on the stage floor, same positions as before and unmoving. Out of no where, Makoto's back arches, chest heaving loudly as her eyes snapped out. She gasps then coughs repeatedly, as if just revived from nearly drowning. Draco does the same.

His eyes slowly ease open to stare at the person next to him, though she was too much in a coughed, gasping frenzy to notice him. Ice blue eyes grew really wide as they realized Makoto was coughing, gasping, still alive. He quickly pulled her close, hugging her tightly and whispering fiercely in her hair how sorry he was and how much he loved her.

She could only allow him to continue his verbal apologies as he clung to her for dear life, fearing she'd vanish if he released her or revert back to the sleep of death.

Now hot damn, this was the millionth time this hour an a half they were floored with utter shock. And just when they were about to recover, shit, here comes something else that sends them into a vortex of complete and utter astonished shock.

Three little orbs of light floated in front of Fujitaka and Dumbledore, swirling around in a graceful movement, almost as if they were dancing. Ribbons of light began to unravel and then, with a final flash, the light faded to reveal James Potter, Lily Potter, and Nadeishko Kinomoto.

A chorus of stunned gasps and dropping jaws occurred through out the audience. The color from Fujitaka's peach complexion drained, leaving him as white as freshly fallen snow.

"James, Lily, Nadeishko?" Fujitaka whimpered, voice trembling with emotion.

The ghostly form of his wife smiled warmly in his direction, suddenly appearing at his side, her arm looping around his.

"Oh Fufu…" she murmured, gently weaving her arms around his trembling form.

"Missed me that much, eh Fooey?" James joked with a wry smile and his best friend managed a snicker in mid sob, wiping away the falling tears.

"I told you Harry Potter would be a famous name," he remarked, watery gaze falling onto the just turned eighteen year old with a smile.

James shrugged though, kicking at his heel with a cocky little smirk.

"With me as his father? Eyy…it was destined."

The two old best friends shared a good laugh while their wives sighed, rolling their eyes.

"They never change eh, Lil?"

The red-haired woman shrugged helplessly, entwining her arm with her husband's.

"Gotta love em for it, Nadee."

Their was a good period of where the four reunited best friends only stared at each other, smiling affectionately at each other. Pieces of a puzzle complete once more.

"Not to seem ungrateful, but how are you guys back?" Fujitaka questioned with a tilted head, face curious.

"Well…" James started but Lily was quick to finish.

"Since all of Voldermont's evil was suppressed and because of our good deeds, we were granted another chance at life once more from the kindness of Merlin and Clow Reed themselves. They agreed to one condition however, that we would not seek vengeance on anything or anyone affiliated with Tom Riddle."

"Oh…" Fujitaka mumbled, shaking his head in acceptance while his brain tried to work out all the newly given information.

"I know, she's a wonder to me too."

This won him a painful stomp on his foot, which of course James yelped in pain and lutched onto the wounded appendage, whimpering how they had just gotten back and here was pain coming to rear its ugly head once more.

"M-mother, father?" Harry questioned with doubt etched into every corner of his green eyes.

Lily and James looked over at their son, one who had done without them for the past eighteen years, one who they were torn away from so unmercilessly.

Uncomfortable silence as Harry stared up at his parents. He couldn't quite figure out what he felt whether it be rage, despair, joy, or anything in between. Being reunited with your parents for the first time wasn't exactly a casual thing.

But he quickly found himself hugging his parents tightly, practically on the verge of crying. The two embraced their son, rubbing his back slightly and saying it was okay.

"You've become a real man," Lily commented softly, gently raking her fingers through Harry's dark, black locks.

"Such a handsome boy, you look just like your father!" she exclaimed with a slight laugh as tears streamed down her transparent cheeks.

"But you have your mother's eyes," James added with a warm smile.

Meanwhile, the Kinomoto's were having a reunion of their own.

Sakura and Touya were clinging to their mother, babbling on about what she had missed, tears of joy trickling down Sakura's face while Touya tried his best nto to cry, claiming something was stuck in his eye the whole time.

She looked over at her othe child, then gestured for her other two offspring to stop talking, walking over to Makoto. Makoto was still on the floor, curled about Draco's frame as he embraced her tightly.

"He loves you very much Makoto, he gave up his own life for you."

The brown-haired girl pulled back enough to look up, staring at her mother.

"MOM!"

Makoto was quick to get to her feet, throwing herself into Nadeishko's hold. The older woman smiled and embraced the younger girl gently, gently placing her cheek onto her brown head.

"Oh mother…" she whimpered in her chest, tears streaming down the sides of her face.

The grey-haired witch smiled slightly, murmuring her daughter's name and continuing to hug her. Her purple eyes suddenly wandered down to the now sitting Draco, who was staring blankly in front of him.

"And you, Draco Malfoy…" she began, gently easing herself out of Makoto's hold. She smiled kindly down at the young male, outstretching her hand.

Draco blinked a bit, confused, but accepted her hand, allowing it to pull him back to his feet.

"You've put my daughter on cloud 9, you truly are something amazing. You're gallant acts in protecting her are astonishing." Nadeishko then flashed a toothy smile, leaning in to whisper,

"You'd make her a fine husband,"

That comment caused the two to blush deeply, Makoto exclaiming "MOM!" in abashment. Her mother giggled and continued to murmur how fine they would be together, in happy marriage, further embarrassing her middle child. She had only been back a few minutes and here she was, embarrassing the fuck out of her.

"And you know Makoto has the cutest little birth mark on her tushie? It's in the shape of a thunderbolt!" Nadeishko babbled on, completely unaware to her daughter's burning face.

"Oh I know," Draco murmured with a smug grin and Makoto whipped around to give him a hard, red-hot glare prettying much saying 'shut the fuck up or you won't be seeing that birth mark for quite some DAMN time.'

The only caused the blue-eyed boy to laugh, as Makoto fruitlessly tried to reach behind herself to grab onto the risqué talking teen.

"Nadeishko!"

The grey-haired, pale skinned woman turned slightly and beamed brightly.

"Headmaster!" She squealed, running up to him and practically tackling the old man.

Dumbledore laughed half heartedly and gently hugged her back, patting her head.

"It's good to have you back, Miss Daidouji—Kinomoto I mean."

While the student and teacher caught up, Draco had pulled Makoto off to the side, embracing her tightly.

"I'm sorry about all of this." Draco murmured with his eyes shut, tone laced with sincere regret.

"Well I'm not," Makoto beamed brightly, face practically glowing with joy.

"All of this would never have happened. I mean my mother would never have come back and look! Everyone's happy!"

Draco laughed and shook his head in astonishment, how Makoto always managed to stay up-beat about this stuff just floored him speechless.

There was a time of them just embracing, smiling wide and listening to the fervent chatter of the reunited families and their students.

"You're mom is right." Draco suddenly said as he tilted his up to look at the high, vaulting ceiling.

Makoto blinked and looked up at the ceiling as well, head tilting to the side.

"About what?"

He grinned then lowered his head, diving for her perfectly exposed neck. She gasped slightly and tried to pull away, but he kept his hold tight.

"Draco! STOP!" she squeaked between giggles, her hands pushing fruitlessly against the chest that was seemingly made of iron.

He stopped and pulled his head away from her throat, hovering his face a few centimeters from hers.

"That I'd be a great husband."

Her green eyes grew really, really, ultra wide as she understood the hidden meaning under the words. She gulped twice then shook her head, smirking slightly and crossing her arms over her chest.

"You call THAT a proposal?"

At that, Draco chuckled slightly as he brushed his lips against hers gently, repeating the motion twice then resting his forehead against hers.

"Nah…more like a promise of some sorts. It's a little early for us to be talking about the whole rice and church stuff."

Quite suddenly, Makoto launched herself at Draco, wrapping her arms around his thick neck and showering his handsome face with feather soft kisses.

If this was what was in store for the future, he could DEFINITELY get used to this.

(the chase ends)

If you don't get the last statement, then wow. Haha.

Athena Kyle: what can I say? You're an ultra cool sweet heart who's helped me through it all. You're ownage pie, i hearts you. 3 Thanks for everything!

Forbidden Smiles: a faithful reviewer. Thanks for taking time to add your insight on the story, it's really helped me a lot.

Elara: aww! You're so effins sweet my teeth hurt. Thank you!

Thanks to everyone.

Yes, there's a sequel coming out.