Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter! No copyright infringement intended!

A/N:

Thank you for the lovely reviews. Here comes the new chapter.

Warning: It's turning violent - just in case you want to skip.

Living with a Quidditch Star

Chapter Seventy-One: It's only love

I opened my eyes and looked around. I found myself in a dark mouldy room with no windows. Looking down at my hands I noticed blood on them and there was its stale metallic taste on my tongue. My insides clenched.

„Hello?" I called once and turned my head several times. Slowly but surely my eyes adapted to the darkness. I sat up, moaning as my head hurt terribly, when I noticed a movement nearby.

„Draco." I whispered. „Is that you?"

There came a laugh and I froze.

„Lumos."

Several torches on the walls flared up and I gasped when I saw who was there.

„Andrew." I stammered and struggled to my feet. He walked up to me, a contemptuous expression on his face.

„Long time no see, Ally." he drawled and touched my chin to tilt my head up. I gritted my teeth and tried to avert my face but he wouldn't let me. He brushed my lips with his for a moment and I tried to push him away. Andrew let out a blood-curdling laughter.

„Where's Draco?" I ground out. „What have you done to him?"

He gave another laugh, that sent shivers down my spine.

„I'm sure, Mordax is with him." his voice seemed to change.

I felt sick all of a sudden.

„Let go of me." I barked and wriggled in his grip. He was still laughing hard. I freed myself and ran to the heavy wooden door; rattling at it I screamed,

„Draco! DRACOOO!"

„He won't hear you." came the cold voice from behind and I froze once more.

I whirled around and my mouth fell ajar.

He laughed again, while I gasped,

„Merlin."

Andrew was changing. I started to pant at the macabre scene. He gave several weird gagging sounds during the transformation, squirming and crooking oddly. His short dark hair turned white-blond and grew longer and longer. I had to grab the door handle for some support.

I squinted and when I looked at him again, his name left my lips unintentionally,

„Lucius."

„Yes, this is me, love." he drawled and drew nearer.

I swallowed convulsively.

„You've failed, my dear. You've got us sorely disappointed - all of us. I never thought you're that soft, Alessia." Lucius Malfoy continued straightforwardly, now standing right in front of me. His cold light grey eyes were resting on my face. His glare almost gave me physical pain.

Lucius touched my cheek and traced my lips with his thumb in a rough movement.

Tears started to run down my face.

„Damn it, get off my back." Draco ground out. His body was tense and he had his head inclined in a weird angle. His breathing came intermittent. His lower lip was swollen and throbbing painfully. Blood was running from one corner of his mouth and there were several bruises on his face.

He was lying on a shabby old mattress and Mordax was bending over him. The bloodsucker's eyes were glistening a fiery red as if flames were flickering frantically behind them. He had placed his long pearly white fangs in position on Draco's creamy white neck, ready to bite any moment.

„Shove off." Draco hissed, struggling in the vice-like grip, but Mordax wouldn't desist from him.

„Mordax." thundered the hoarse voice of Rochus Sartorius out of nowhere and the bloodsucker winced, then he retreated.

Draco sat up and rubbed his neck a moment, his face tense.

„What have I told you, Rochus? Remember your promise." came Narcissa Malfoy's voice and Draco froze.

„Mother, what are you doing here?" he sounded confused. „Are you alright? Did somebody hurt you?"

Rather unusual for the always countenance keeping Narcissa Malfoy, she sank down to the floor next to her son and wrapped her arms around him, kissing his hair several times.

„Oh, motherly love. How sweet." Rochus gave a dirty laugh. „However, I don't buy that from you, Cissy."

Narcissa got up, glaring at Rochus.

„Good girl." Rochus drawled and drew nearer to touch her cheek. She didn't resist.

„Remember your promise, Rochus." Narcissa said sharply. „Taking Charles was sufficient."

Sartorius leaned in and kissed her on the mouth. Narcissa gave a moan and tried to shove him away but he kept going, his eyes wide open, gazing at Draco, who knitted his brows.

The tall blond patted his front for his wand frantically, obviously willing to jinx Rochus. The older man noticed it and his face distorted to a loathsome grimace, while Narcissa Malfoy pushed him away.

„Not here, Rochus." she breathed and backed off.

The confusion written over Draco's face grew.

„Mother, what is all this about?" he asked coldly.

„I tried to save you." Narcissa said quietly and averted her gaze.

„I hope you do a better job with him than with Compton." Rochus retorted venomously.

Draco furrowed his brow. Surprise was clutching his insides in a vice-like grip for a moment.

„Where is Alessia?" he then asked in a sudden fright.

„I'm sure Mordax is taking good care of her." Rochus let out another dirty laugh.

„Rochus ..." Narcissa began while Draco jumped up in a sudden raging fury, rummaging his coat for his wand.

„Shush, my little dove." Rochus drew nearer again. „Are you looking for this one?" he addressed to Draco and held out Draco's wand to the blond man, laughing again.

Draco was towering over Rochus, his hands clenched to fists. Then he tried to wrest his wand from the elder man. Rochus withdrew, juggling the wand playfully into his other hand, grinning at Draco.

„You must be very worried for your wifey and your two sons and heirs." Sartorius drawled sarcastically, a nasty grin plastered on his face. „Believe me, she's not worth it, my son."

„How dare you." Draco ground out and grabbed Rochus' robes, who let out a hoarse laugh.

„You asked for bane wort?" Lucius eyed her with disbelief. „And then you brewed the potion and took it? Without counter-checking it? Oh dear, love." He gave a laugh and touched my stomach. I winced at his touch.

„That sneaky little piece of filth at the Ministry. I never would've thought she's that vulpine. There's only one flaw in it ..."

I gave him a puzzled look,

„I don't know what you're talking about."

„It's pretty obvious, isn't it, my dear. That filthy little Mudblood has sent you to your doom by making everybody think you're pregnant."

„What?"

„You're not pregnant. It's all feigned. Through that bloody potion." Lucius grabbed my shoulders. „That's what I call a finding. Anyway, it won't help you. It comes too late. Your fate is sealed already."

'So is mine.' he thought bitterly.

Lucius knew what this meant for his own fate, as he had taken a vow a long time ago, but he dissembled his own fear masterfully. Their fate was secretly banded together essentially, like ivy to an old tree that it was winding around, irreversibly bonded to the trunk. Not even Alessia knew about their calamitous bond.

He had taken the vow back then to emphasise Alessia's reliability to the wary Dark Lord. He had taken it because of his affection toward her. He had trusted in her, but she had failed miserably by letting herself being lulled by his offspring, who was – at least externally - his carbon-copy.

Now she would be punished, she would have to bear the consequences for her failure. And he would have to too as his fate was bonded to hers.

They would have to - both of them.

I felt like fainting any moment. So I wasn't pregnant. Harry and Hermione, the Ministry, they had faked it and exposed me to danger by doing so. I shook my head, unwilling to believe this.

„No. You're lying." I whispered, shaking in his grip.

„Let's go and see what I can still do for you." Lucius Malfoy drawled patronisingly, ignoring my last words. His cold grey gaze rested on my face and I swallowed dryly at the thoughts that were flooding my brain.

Lucius leaned in, his face was very close to mine now. Tears were welling up in my eyes again. His lips touched mine for a moment and I froze, feeling blank.

„You're the only one that has ever loved me." he stated in a low voice and there seemed to resonate pain in it. „Truly, humbly and from the bottom of your heart." We both knew that he spoke the truth.

His eyes were glistening in the flickering of the torches. I mused whether I had just witnessed affection flash his face for a moment. He drew me nearer, his strong arms wrapped around my waist and I started to sob.

„Shh, my love." Lucius whispered and it felt like back then. Our cheeks touched, his was cold. I could hear him inhale my scent for a moment, he stroked my long auburn hair and I closed my eyes, while he let out a deep drawn sigh.

„Lucius, I ..." I said in a low voice and touched his shoulder.

„That doesn't matter anymore." he cut in and I wondered what he was talking about. „You've spoiled it all for the two of us, Alessia."

He withdrew, a killing glance on his face all of a sudden. My insides clenched and I tried to grab my wand, it wasn't there.

Without warning, Lucius lunged out and hit me hard in the face.

I let out a cry of pain. He hit me again. I screamed once more and touched my cheek. Blood was dripping from my chin as my lip had burst. I glared at him.

„It's supposed to look real." Lucius hissed coldly. His face had changed, his could demeanour was up again and it made me shiver. „Come now." he continued crudely and grabbed my upper arm, dragging me toward the door. „They're already waiting for us."

At the sound of two screams that seemed to have come from Alessia, Draco stormed toward the exit.

„Alessia!" he screamed at the top of his voice, he rammed the door frantically with his shoulder and kicked at it, willing to find her, to come to her rescue.

Rochus was laughing coldly,

„Young love, how heart-warming. However I would never have thought that you are that dim-witted, Draco. So different from your father ... "

Draco didn't answer.

Suddenly the door was pushed open with a bang and Draco felt like being rooted to the ground.

„Sorry for bothering you so late, Potter." Blaise said stiffly, when Harry pulled the front door shut behind himself, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

„No problem, Zabini. However, would you mind to tell me to what I owe the honour of your visit at that time of night?" Harry asked, sarcasm was resonating in his voice.

„There's no time for animosities right now, Potter." Blaise said in a low voice and looked around. Then he pushed back the left sleeve of his cloak, baring his forearm; a muscle in his jaw was jumping. „It seems to me, Potter, that the conditions have finally changed."

Harry stared down at Blaise's forearm, his face set in stone.

„Obviously." he muttered and wrenched at the door knob to enter his house again.

„Father ..." this single word lay like lead on his lips. Draco's face was mirroring a mixture of horror, disbelief and rage.

„My son." came Lucius' answer as cold as ice.

For a moment Draco was lost in thought, his mind racing ceaselessly and then it seemed like his whole world came crashing down. He swallowed convulsively and a muscle in his jaw started to jump.

Realising that he'd been fooled all along, Draco let out a laugh, raking his fingers through his hair,

„I should've known this." The expression on his face was nothing short of the icy mask his father had put up.

„Ah, I love these family reunions." Rochus drawled and laughed hoarsely, while Alessia and Lucius entered the dungeon.

Rochus circled around Alessia, the sound of his heavy boots on the stone floor was echoing from the damp walls. He pushed her several times, finally she slumped down to the floor. Draco wriggled in the grip of Mordax who was standing behind him, his pointed fangs bared.

„Well then, dear Draco, let me tell you a little story about your lovely wife. About the true reasons for her devotedness and affection."

Rochus stopped in front of Draco. The tall blond was still struggling to get rid of the vampire, who was keeping him in check.

„Once upon a time ..." Sartorius began histrionically, a nasty grin on his face. „... there was a silly school girl who fell in love with a notable wizard. She was so obsessed with the idea of winning his recognition, yes, even his heart that she decided ..." He stalled and stepped up to Alessia, who was still cowering in the opposite corner of the room.

Rochus kicked her crudely, she let out a cry of pain.

Draco screamed,

„Stop it, you filthy bastard!"

Sartorius laughed, then he turned his attention to Alessia and barked,

„That's the way it happened, isn't it?"

Alessia looked up, her face was contorted with pain but she nodded.

„Yes, she wanted his love. And ah, what a surprise, it so chanced that the Dark Lord, who is still with us ..." he stalled again at the look on Draco's face.

„Surprise, surprise, my boy. He is still with us and I can assure you that he'll rise again soon." Rochus laughed throatily and folded his hands behind his back, closing in on Alessia again.

Draco writhed in Mordax grip – in vain.

„Why are you taking so much pain to help her?" Rochus asked without looking at Draco. The younger man paused for a moment. „She's not worth it. You'll see."

„Just shut the hell up!" Draco screamed but when Mordax grabbed his throat with one predatory movement of his hand, he fell silent. Narcissa and Alessia both gasped with horror.

„Tut-tut, my son." Rochus let out another blood-curdling laugh.

„Where was I?" he rasped and squatted down next to Alessia. He seized her chin and she gave several sobs. Rochus turned her head roughly so that she faced him.

„Ah, the Dark Lord, right. He required some remedy and therefore he needed a servant." Rochus grabbed Alessia's arm and hoicked her to her feet. She wailed.

Draco pressed his lips together and clenched his fists. His face was tense and his eyes were flickering feverishly.

„Let go of me." he growled but Mordax made no move to do so. Instead he inched nearer, licking his lips. Draco resumed wriggling frantically.

„HER!" Rochus yelled at the top of his voice and Draco froze. „She's his servant."

There was a moment of silence. Draco stared at Alessia, who shook her head and sobbed faintly,

„No. I'm not."

„Of course you are!" Rochus screamed and shook her. „You accepted the Dark Lord's order to get him the secret that Draco's holding, hoping that his father could be yours afterwards. How foolish of you to think you could ever accomplish this. Didn't you see that the Dark Lord wants to punish your beloved Lucius for his infidelity?"

Draco furrowed his brow, not averting his gaze from his wife. Tears were running down Alessia's cheeks and she was shaking her head.

„That's not so." she sobbed.

„But of course you are in love with Lucius." Rochus insisted, shaking her again. „Come on. Admit!"

Alessia clapped her hand to her mouth, crying freely now.

Draco bit his lower lip, his brow still furrowed. He had capitulated to get rid of Mordax. Slowly but surely the truth was sinking in, it was coursing his veins like a deadly venom. She was part of them. Alessia, his wife, was a Death Eater and she was in love with his father. Suddenly he felt very sick.

„Whatever! It doesn't matter anymore anyway." Rochus barked. „You're pregnant and the secret has automatically leaped at your youngest son. Remember? It's always the youngest male Malfoy that holds the secret. That's why you're useless for our mission now. We don't need you anymore, you little piece of dirt. We'll find it out in another way."

„Hold it! What are you talking about Rochus?" Draco's voice came and Alessia looked at him. His expression was unreadable and he ignored her.

„So you still haven't understood that she doesn't love you? She's done all this to get Lucius back. You were the bait and she came to catch you or more precisely the secret you held back then." Rochus said and let out a dirty laugh.

„No! You're a liar." Alessia screamed and tried to wriggle out of Sartorius' grip. „Draco, I love you. You have to believe me!" she begged, but Draco didn't look at her.

„Oh no, you're the one that's lying, my dear." Rochus purred in a fake sweet tone, he traced her lips with his index finger. She shook her head in disgust. „You've never loved him."

„That's not the truth." Alessia sobbed. Rochus pushed her again and she fell to the floor.

He hissed,

„Is that so?"

„Yes." she muttered and crawled toward Draco. „You have to believe me, Draco." she begged again.

„What is this secret you're talking about?" Draco asked, still ignoring Alessia at his feet.

„The Dark Lord needs it to resurrect. That's all I can tell you, my boy."

„I'm not your boy, Sartorius." Draco snapped, his eyes were now a dark shade of grey.

„Whatever." Rochus said and began to pace the dungeon. „Your little girl has deceived you. She's undermined your authority, your claim of leadership."

„That's not true." Alessia cried and wrapped her arms around one of Draco's legs. Mordax let out a possessive growl. „Draco, I love you more than my life. I loved you from the moment we first met. You have to believe me!" Alessia beseeched, her face wet with tears.

A muscle in Draco's jaw began to jump but he still didn't look at her.

„She has betrayed your trust to achieve her base motives. She's bad Draco. She doesn't deserve your affection. She's tried to bring you down." Sartorius' voice rose and thundered from the walls of the dungeon.

Draco started to pant, his fists clenched.

„Good, my son, let it out. Give free reign to your rage. She doesn't deserve your love. She's betrayed you." Rochus goaded him on. „She's tried to make a fool of you – more than once."

Draco gritted his teeth, his handsome face distorted to a scary grimace. His whole body was trembling and he knew that he couldn't control his feelings any longer.

„Let go of me!" he screamed and Rochus mentioned Mordax to release Draco. Reluctantly Mordax drew back.

„Very good, Draco. You have to act out your emotions. There's no need for restraint any longer. This is your great hour. It has come. Now the ball is in your count!" Rochus' voice was hypnotic.

„Kill her!" Sartorius ordered, his words were as sharp as the silvery blade of a sword. Alessia gasped and shook her head desperately. „She doesn't deserve to live any longer. Kill her!"

Sartorius pulled Draco's wand out and threw it at the blond Quidditch player. Draco caught it casually. The sinews on the back of his hand tensed up when he clutched the handle and his knuckles turned white. Draco's eyes were flickering feverishly and he squared his jaw.

„Kill her!" Rochus' voice came again. „KILL HER!" The voice was making Alessia's head spin.

„Harry, I just received your owl." Hermione panted. „That's horrible news. Have you found out already where they are?"

Harry shook his head.

„They're in great danger, right?" Hermione continued worriedly.

Harry nodded.

„I've told you that this would happen." Ginny said in a sepulchral voice, her eyes were glistening angrily.

„Ginny, this is not the right moment for accusations. We know that we've made mistakes." Harry growled, his arms crossed in front of his chest.

„Then go and help them, make up for your mistakes!" Ginny screamed.

„Tell me that he's lying." Draco looked down at Alessia and pointed his wand at her. „Tell me that he's lying!" he screamed and Alessia winced.

She began to cry again. Draco pressed his lips together and snorted.

„I didn't know you when I met Lucius." Alessia said in a choked voice. „You're so much like him, did you know that?"

„I don't care." Draco said coldly, his wand still pointed at Alessia's throat. „Do you love him?"

„No, I don't. I really love you, with all my heart and all my soul. You've changed everything ..."

„Spare me your drivel, Alessia." Draco told her sharply.

„I'm telling the truth. I wanted to renounce the bad but it didn't work. It was a fault to join them, but I loved Lucius back then and joining them was the only chance I had. I was young and I was foolish. I know that now." Alessia sobbed again, her arms still around Draco's leg. She gave him a beseeching look.

„I don't believe it ..." Draco's voice trailed away as he shook his head. He pressed one fist to his mouth, his grey eyes seemed to water.

„There comes a point in a man's life when he has to realise what's really important. You're superior to average men, Draco. Take her life, you're entitled to do this. She's betrayed you. She put shame on your name. She's not worth being spared." Rochus' mesmerising voice resounded.

„Do it. Do it!" the raspy voice of the old man reverberated in Draco's ears. „She's in love with your father. That's outrageous!"

„Why did you do this to me?" Draco hissed at Alessia, looking desperate.

„I'm sorry, Draco, so sorry. If only I could turn back time ..." Alessia sobbed and leaned her head against his thigh. „Please forgive me!" she begged, he felt that she was trembling badly.

Draco's breath came intermittently now.

„What's the matter of this?" Narcissa addressed to Rochus, her voice sounded shrill.

„I'm just having your son pay for the fact that you are not in love with me anymore, my dove." Rochus rasped maliciously.

Narcissa snorted, while Sartorius addressed to Draco once more,

„Do it. Kill her! End this farce!"

Draco's eyes narrowed to slits and he clutched his wand.

„I'm sorry, Draco." Alessia whined. „I love you."

He pressed his lips together, unable to make the final move. His hand was trembling badly.

„Do it!" roared Rochus. „Take her life!"

Draco winced when Sartorius called,

„Damn it. I didn't expect you to be such a wimp."

Rochus flicked his wand at Alessia,

„Crucio!"

Alessia screamed in pain and jerked oddly.

„Dear me, Rochus, what are you doing?" Narcissa called, her voice sounded choked.

Draco let out a sharp breath and let his wand sink. He was just about to squat down next to Alessia, when Rochus screamed,

„Tell him the truth!"

He waved his wand at Alessia again.

„Kill me! I'm not worth it." Alessia told Draco and he froze at the scary look on her face, that was contorted with agony. She didn't sound like she was herself. Draco swallowed convulsively and rose his wand again.

„Please! Release me from my misery."

Draco started to pant, his brow was furrowed and his eyes had widened in horror.

„Kill me!" Alessia's voice came again.

Draco's knuckles turned white as he seized the wand. Tears were now running down his face, he hadn't really cried in years but now the spell was broken.

„No." he whispered in a choked voice. „You don't mean it."

„Do it!" Rochus demanded coldly. „She's begging you, don't you see?"

There came a scream of fright and Draco stalled.

Lucius had grabbed hold of Narcissa.

„Stop it!" he called, while Narcissa clawed his forearm that was wrapped tightly around her neck.

Rochus, whose face was set in stone now, waved his wand and Alessia or more precisely her empty shell began to implore again,

„Do it. Kill me."

„Don't do it, Draco!" Lucius ordered coldly, his wand pointed at Narcissa's heart. „She loves you."

Draco whirled around, his eyes even wider now, his heart racing.

„That's a lie." Rochus spat. With a trembling hand, Draco rubbed his sweaty forehead.

„What are you doing, Lucius?" Rochus asked and drew nearer.

„Stay where you are!" Lucius warned and tightened his grip on Narcissa, who gave a choked moan. „Or I'll jinx her." he threatened.

Rochus stopped in the middle of his movement, then he turned his attention to Alessia again. He waved his wand at her once more, willing to finally sacrifice her to free Narcissa.

„Kill me, Draco! Redeem me!" Alessia begged and grabbed her husband's arm to get his attention.

Draco looked at her and rose his wand. You could tell that he was torn between right and wrong. The look on her face sent a stinging pain through his body.

Draco reached out for her face, his hand was trembling while Alessia sobbed. Draco bit his lip, unable to see her suffering. When he finally touched her cheek, she cringed and screamed at the top of her voice, obviously in pain. He drew back his hand, his brow furrowed.

„What are you doing to her?" he yelled and Rochus laughed.

„I'm doing nothing to her. It's you. You've hurt her with your touch ... Go and redeem her. It's your last chance."

Draco let out a deep-drawn sigh and clutched his wand, turning to face Alessia again, who had crumpled up on the floor, her arms wrapped around her prominent stomach. Draco's insides clenched again.

„But ..." he gasped and Rochus laughed again.

„It's either your son and heir or you, Draco. That's something you'd better understand." Sartorius drawled. „Now do hurry up! I don't have the whole night."

Draco looked at his parents, hoping for their help, but his mother just stared at him, desperately trying to take air. His father on the other hand, ground out,

„Don't do it." Draco didn't know that he was begging for his own life. „Don't take her life. You'd never forgive yourself doing this."

Draco blinked away the tears that were rising in his eyes. His father was right, he couldn't shoulder this blame. He couldn't do this.

„What is it, Draco? Don't listen to what your father says. He's worthless, just as your wife. He's betrayed you too. He's betrayed you and your beloved mother." Rochus mesmerised.

„No." retorted Draco.

„Do it." came Alessia's faint voice again and Draco froze once more. „Please ..." her voice died away and Draco swung around to look at her, she was having seizures now.

„She's in great pain." Rochus stated and Draco stared at him in horror. „Help her. Redeem her from all this."

„No! Don't do it, Draco. He's lying. She's fine, it's just the curse ..." Lucius called.

„I've had it, Lucius." Rochus ground out all of a sudden and waved his wand furiously at his fellow Death Eater.

„There, this must be the entrance." Harry called and waved the other Aurors nearer.

„Follow me!" he demanded and climbed into the remains of Lucius Malfoy's shattered marble sarcophagus.

The dark hooded figures followed Harry quickly and disappeared in the gap.

„Avada Kedavra!"

Draco gasped and Narcissa screamed when Lucius slumped down to the floor but Draco froze when he heard Alessia's choked scream,

„No!"

He whirled around, she lay there in front of him, not moving and all limp.

„Alessia! No!" Draco shrieked and flung his arms around her, shaking her frantically. „What have you done?" he screamed, pressing Alessia to his chest.

Sartorius laughed maliciously.

„Ally, stay with me. Ally!" Draco's voice cracked while he rocked her. „Stay with me! I need you." He bend down to listen whether her heart was still beating, calling, „I love you!"

The surroundings seemed to blur and tears were running down his cheeks.

„Ally!" he sobbed.

The door flew open with one loud bang and Aurors bored their way into the small room, Rochus tried to escape but he was jinxed immediately.

„Sir, get away from her so that I can help her." a woman's voice came from behind. Draco was still holding Alessia in a tight embrace. The healer pushed Draco aside. „Mr Malfoy, let me help her!"

He panted and let go of his wife reluctantly.

„I think I'm losing her!" called the woman and more healers approached the scene.

Draco cowered on the floor, shaking with sobs. The babel of voices was buzzing in his ears but he didn't really listen to them.

„We have to get her to St Mungo's. Quick!"

It was the moment when the torches died down and darkness cast a veil over the whole scene like the coldness that was flooding Draco's body now.

He felt like his heart was torn apart. He cried freely but the pain wouldn't fade. He struck at the floor with his fists to relieve the pain – in vain.

Worry and grief, sorrow and pain were engulfing him in a sickening mixture and he felt like losing his mind any moment.

A painful blankness spread out in his body and the truth needed time to sink in.

Sobbing and panting for air he curled up on the shabby mattress, praying for the pain to fade away soon.

„Draco, mate!" came a voice from afar through the fog that seemed to engulf him. Someone grabbed his shoulder and shook him.

„Leave me alone." he gasped, flailing desperately and in deep pain.

„Hey, Draco. Get up!" there was this voice again, but Draco's senses were still fogged. „Man, we're going to be late!" The man gave him another nudge.

Draco opened his eyes, slowly. His eyes still unfocused, he turned his head to look around, bright sunlight was almost blinding him. All the pain and fear were gone.

Numbly he sat up and looked down at his hands and his shirt. There was no blood anymore. His gaze stopped at the wedding band on his finger for a moment and his hands started to shake. Letting out a sigh, he ran them through his hair.

„Where am I?" he asked.

„What's wrong with you?" came Blaise's voice again. „Are you having a hangover?"

Draco furrowed his brow and rubbed his face with his hands. Then he looked at his best friend since childhood days, asking once more,

„Where am I?"

„You're in your office, man. It seems you've spend the night on the sofa. Your secretary just let me in." Blaise said and let out a breathy laugh. „Come on, hurry up now. The Hogwarts Express leaves in thirty minutes and we don't want to be late. This is a great day."

Draco squared his shoulders and gave a moan, then he got up from the sofa, walking over to a wall cupboard, his senses still fogged. He opened its door and looked into the mirror, letting out another moan at the sight. He looked a mess. His hair was dishevelled, his white shirt was badly crumpled and he had black circles around his eyes. His complexion had a sickly greyish tinge.

Draco took a deep breath and changed his shirt.

„You're definitely working too much lately." Blaise stated from somewhere behind. Draco replied with a growl, while he buttoned up the new shirt.

„Come on, let's go!" Blaise urged and handed Draco his travelling cloak, then they stormed off.

„Rose is so excited to finally go to Hogwarts." Hermione told them and smiled. „Oh, I still remember when we first got there." Ron put his arm around his wife's shoulder and grinned.

„Albus feels just the same. James did so too, last year." Ginny stated and ruffled the hair of her younger son. „And Lily is aching to go with them. She just doesn't want to stay behind alone with us."

„Just like you did." Ron teased and began to laugh, Harry joined in.

„Daddy!" Scorpius exclaimed all of a sudden and broke away from his mother.

„Scorpius!" she called and craned her neck to find him in all the jumble on the platform.

„I'll see you later." she said to the others and hurried to catch up with Scorpius, who had vanished in the crowd.

„Scorpius, where's your mother?" Draco asked sternly when his son - who was his mini-me, except for his eyes, that had the colour of his mother's - rushed up to him, flinging his arms around his father's waist, beaming.

„She's over there with Mr and Mrs Potter and Mr and Mrs Weasley, father." Scorpius panted and fondly looked up at Draco, his cheeks red, strands of hair in his face.

Draco craned his neck to catch a glimpse of his wife, his expression tense. Then Draco caught sight of Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny staring at him, nodded curtly and turned away again*, when there came a woman's voice from behind,

„Blaise, darling, there you are. We already thought you wouldn't make it."

His insides were clenching painfully for a moment.

„Hi Draco." Sindy Zabini said and drew him into a hug to peck him on both cheeks, he gave in stiffly, overwhelmed by the situation.

„Sindy, I'm so glad you're fine." Draco gave her a smile. The blonde woman eyed him warily.

Then she withdrew and twined her fingers with Blaise, who gave her a short kiss.

„I had to go and pick him up. He was still at his office." Blaise said and smirked.

„I see." Sindy said sternly and arched a brow at Draco. „You're still burning the midnight oil, huh? Do you realise that your wife's an angel, Draco? I wouldn't be that patient. You should go and take her on a holiday."

Then she turned her head, looking for her son,

„Raban, stay here with us, please!"

The tall handsome boy with the curly black hair joined them again. Blaise placed his hands on the boy's shoulders, asking,

„Already nervous, Raban?"

„Yes, father." answered the boy.

„So am I." admitted Scorpius Malfoy and looked at his father.

„There's no need to." Draco told him stiffly, displeased with his son's openness.

„There you are, Scorpius. Don't you ever run away again. Do you hear me?" her voice surprised Draco and his insides gave a lurch. He swung around; he had to do a double take at her. A sudden heat rushed up his chest and his face and his heart seemed to have skipped several beats.

She wore a light summer dress and looked ravishing to him, pushing the cart with Scorpius' equipment toward them.

„Baby, I didn't know you're here! I'm glad you've made it." Alessia beamed at him and wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a gentle kiss.

Draco closed his eyes and inhaled her scent for a moment, he touched her soft long hair with his fingertips, his heart was racing and an indescribable feeling of relief was flooding his whole body.

„Hi Sindy, hi Blaise. How are you?" she asked when she withdrew, while Draco put his arm around her shoulder, swearing to himself that he'd never let her go again. Meanwhile their sons were quarreling about whose owl was the better one.

Alessia and their friends were engaged in a little conversation, but Draco stole a peek at her left forearm.

In contrast to his it was perfectly flawless. Her skin was creamy and soft and he felt the urge to kiss her while another warm wave of relief was washing over him.

„Are you alright, baby?" Ally asked when she noticed his glances. Looking at him with her large green eyes, she licked her lips, then she gave him a loving smile. Fondly she brushed a strand of his fair hair, that had fallen to his face, back, eyeing him intensely.

„Hm?" she whispered, tilting her head slightly to the left, furrowing her brow worriedly, not averting her gaze. She stroked his cheek.

„It's only love." Draco whispered and Alessia beamed at him. Draco locked on to her green gaze for a moment, then he drew her into a hug and kissed her.

Knowing that she was alright made him the luckiest man in the world.

THE END

* From J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, p. 605

Thank you for encouraging me to finish this and all your support. Thank you for sticking to the story till the end. I'd love to hear from you. Let me know what you think about the story and its end. I appreciate it very much. :)