Latin for 'Dragon', Draco represents the dragon Heracles (Hercules) killed during his Twelve Labours. It is depicted near the Hercules constellation. In Roman mythology, the dragon was a Titan, killed by the goddess of wisdom, Minerva.

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It was an unusually dark and cloudy night, shrouding the Astronomy Tower in shadow. The moon hid behind thick clouds, and she stood in near-complete darkness.

Sobs overtook her as she sank to the ground. The huge laceration across her forearm ached, and the dozens of smaller red nicks stung like pixie bites.

Carefully, she picked out the shards, wincing each time. Some had cut through her jeans, and small maroon patches spotted the denim from where the blood seeped through.

A sharp soreness whipped across her back from where she had hit the shelf, but it was nothing compared to the knives Draco had flung at her; one by one, word by word. Knives. They dug deep into her chest, twisting.

Nothing in this world could have possibly been as painful as the thought of Draco not liking her parents, and that they had been wrong about him. Her mother, of regal beauty and serene wisdom; cinnamon-scented skin and fire-red hair. Dirty, filthy Mudblood. Her father, with kindly eyes and cutting humour; sharp tongue and arms of shelter. A bloody dolt who was stupid enough to marry her.

And all this time she had spent with Draco, the things he told her when they lay on his bed, the way he held her close to him. Had it all been a lie?

Either way, she was unable think straight right now. She squeezed her eyes shut and allowed herself to cry for a minute more.

Right. Now, she had to clean up before deciding on her next move. She pulled out her wand and touched the tip against her cuts. "Episkey." She watched as the split flesh magically pulled itself back together. Then she did the same for her legs and back.

She wrapped her arms around her knees. This all felt so familiar. It was exactly what Draco and her had done those first few nights, when they had barely known each other. How far they'd come since then, she mused silently.

She remembered noticing him since the first day of school, drawn to the mischievous twinkle in his eyes. But that quickly disappeared when he started being awful to the other students, and eventually her.

He had always been a horrible bully, but this year, he was like a wilted leaf in the winter. He never ate, his face took on a gaunt-like quality, and his eyes were lifeless. He no longer bothered squabbling with Potter anymore, and she knew how much he despised Harry.

Oh, how she had wondered about that back then! Draco only needed a friend, and they became just that. More. But this was the outcome she least expected.

The howling wind and a loud crack interrupted her thoughts. Her eyes widened at the sight of Harry and Dumbledore. Relief flooded her and she almost ran towards them, but something stopped her.

Dumbledore clutched his side as Harry stumbled to sit him down. Thinking quickly, she hid herself in the dark corner.

"Severus... Severus..." she heard Dumbledore say to Harry. "Wake him. Tell him what happened. Speak to no one else."

Harry nodded and began to back away, but the sound of the Tower door opening stopped him. "Hide yourself below, Harry," instructed Dumbledore. "Don't speak or be seen by anybody without my permission. Whatever happens, it's imperative you stay below."

Harry stared at Dumbledore uncertainly. "Harry, do as I say," the headmaster's voice was urgent. "Trust me."

Angel watched as Harry ran down below the deck. The slow footsteps grew louder and louder as they made their way up the stairs, but she couldn't see who it was. Then she heard Dumbledore's voice again, calm and measured.

"Good evening, Draco."

Her hands hands flew to her mouth to stop herself from crying out.

"What brings you here on this fine evening?"

"Who else is here?" Draco's voice rang clearly around the Tower. "I heard you talking."

"I often talk aloud to myself. I find it extraordinarily useful," Dumbledore quipped without missing a beat.

Finally, the two figures came into full view as they circled the platform. Draco had his wand aimed straight at Dumbledore. Her heart was pounding so loudly she was certain they would all hear it. She pressed herself even harder back against the corner.

"Draco, you are no assassin."

"How do you know what I am?" challenged Draco. "I've done things that would shock you!"

"Like cursing Katie Bell and hoping that in return she would bear a cursed necklace to me?" Dumbledore countered. "Like replacing a bottle of mead with one laced with poison? Forgive me, Draco, I cannot help feeling that these actions are so weak that your heart can't really have been in it."

"He trusts me! I was chosen!" Draco pulled back his sleeve. Angel felt compelled to look away from the Dark Mark, but she couldn't take her eyes off the scene in front of her.

"I shall make it easy for you-" Dumbledore began to say, opening his arms, but with a flick of his wrist, Draco disarmed him so suddenly it made her jump.

She noted where Dumbledore's wand had landed. It was too far away. She wouldn't be able to get it back to him in time.

Where the bloody hell was Harry? Why wasn't he doing anything? She strained her eyes below the deck to look for him, but it was hard to see much from where she stood. Someone had to do something. Now.

Cursing herself, she pulled out her wand and stepped out from the shadows.

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"Miss Dawson." Dumbledore greeted her as if he had merely bumped into her along the hallways.

"Angel..." Draco's heart thudded against his chest. His vision was still blurry from the amount of whiskey he had downed, but it was indeed her that stood before him. "What are you doing here?" he demanded, switching the point of his wand to her instead.

"Draco... Please... don't do this."

"No... Nonono, you aren't supposed to be here! Get out of the way!"

To his dismay, she stepped in front of Dumbledore and lifted her wand at him. "I'm sorry, I can't let you do this."

His jaw clenched, and he wanted to cry again. She needed to get the hell out before they came.

"I don't want to hurt you, Angel," he threatened. He hoped his voice sounded strong, because he knew full well he would never use any sort of offensive spell on her.

"I don't want to hurt you either," she replied calmly. He felt his aim falter slightly, and he wanted to say something before the door to the Tower clattered loudly.

"Angel, please. You have to go, now," he begged, but she only shook her head.

"You're not alone," Dumbledore observed. "There are others. How?"

"The Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement. I've been mending it." His breath began to quicken now as his eyes darted from Angel to Dumbledore.

"Let me guess. It has a sister - a twin."

He tried to focus on the headmaster, but he was getting lightheaded. "At Borgin and Burkes. They form a passage."

"Ingenius! Draco, years ago, I knew a boy who made all the wrong choices. Please let me help you," Dumbledore implored.

"I don't want your help! Don't you understand? I have to do this. I have to kill you. Or he's going to kill me." Tears stung his eyes now, and the moonlight that shone through the Tower was almost blinding. "Angel, please go..." he pleaded. "Please. I can't lose you."

It was too late. His heart sank as Bellatrix and the Death Eaters appeared behind him. "Well, well, well," Bellatrix sighed amusedly. "Look what we have here."

She came up behind him, her wild curls brushing against his neck. "Well done, Draco," she said, kissing the back of his jacket. It was repulsive. He wanted to jerk his elbow backwards against her, but his arm had turned to stone, remaining locked and trained on Dumbledore.

"And who might you be, little missy?" she asked Angel, her chirpy voice laced with menace.

"Good evening, Bellatrix," Dumbledore cut in. "I think introductions are in order, don't you?"

"Love to, Albus. But I'm afraid we're on a bit of a tight schedule," she hissed, the heels of her boots thudding heavily against the wood.

"Look, Draco, they're both lined up perfectly too! Kill two birds with one stone!" She gestured to Angel and Dumbledore, giggling.

"Get out of the way," he said once more to Angel, knowing there might not be a next time that he asked. 

"Draco, I know you. This isn't you." Slowly, Angel began to move forward towards him. No, stop, he wanted to say. But she did not. The tip of his wand now touched the bare skin of her exposed throat. In the same controlled manner, she stretched out and gently held his outstretched wrist. "Put down your wand. Please."

By some sort of miracle, the Death Eaters had not jumped to attack her yet. Her freezing touch was so comforting, but his mind was dizzy and he could not quite make out her features and expression. 

Bellatrix's laughter was nails down a chalkboard. "What's this? Got yourself a little girlfriend, Draco?" Yaxley moved towards Angel, but Bellatrix raised her arm to stop him. "Go on, Draco, do it."

Greyback chortled from behind. "He doesn't have the stomach, just like his father. I'll finish them in my own way."

"No!" shrieked Bellatrix. "The Dark Lord was clear the boy is to do it!"

"Leave the girl alone, Bellatrix." Dumbledore's voice was stern and warning, but she only giggled again. "Draco, this is your moment. Do it. Go on! NOW!"

His arm ached. There were two of each before him now, the figures melting in and out of one another in a mess of blurry light. They were too close together.

He could not do it. He could not say the spell. Not in front of Angel, and certainly not when he might hit her.

"No." It was another voice. They all turned.

"Professor Snape?" Angel called in shock.

"Severus." Dumbledore was looking at Snape with a strange expression. "Please."

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

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She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the blow. Instead, there was a sickening thud as the spell hit Dumbledore in the chest and blasted him over the balcony.

Everything that followed felt like it was happening in slow motion.

She dashed to the railing, feeling as if she was running ten thousand metres underwater. Her arm reached out to pull Dumbledore in, missing him by inches. Unable to look away, she watched in horror as the headmaster fell to his death.

Then her back hit the floor as Bellatrix shoved her, tottering to look over the railings with a wicked grin plastered on her face.

Draco rushed forward, but Snape caught him by the scruff of his jacket. He struggled, crying out her name.

Snape did not look back as he dragged Draco away, the Death Eaters following closely behind. Greyback flashed her an evil grimace, one that almost resembled a smile, before they disappeared down the stairs.

In a stupor, she forced herself onto her feet. She did not know why or how. All she knew was that she was running. Running after Draco.

He was shouting her name, fighting Snape's restraints. She called out for him as she chased them all the way back to the castle, their voices bouncing around the corridors. Her legs pumped tirelessly, forcing her body forward against its will as she tried to keep up with them, but they were too fast. With every step she took forward, they seemed to take two.

Then, for a moment, Draco managed to wrench himself from Snape. He turned and ran back towards her. They collided, and he pushed something into her hands; small and sharp against the flesh of her palms.

"Please don't forget me." His breath was still laced with alcohol, but his silver eyes were clear as they bore into hers. She paused, her skin burning where he had touched her.

Snape tore him away from her once more, and she watched as the distance between them grew. Then, she was running after them again.

The party turned into the Great Hall, and she was about to follow before a pair of strong arms pulled her back by the waist. She screamed and cried, delirious as she struggled violently. She had to stop Draco from going with them.

"Angel! Angel, stop!" Someone was shaking her. As if someone had lifted a bag off her head, she snapped back to reality, finding herself looking right into Harry's ocean blue eyes.

She stared at him in shock until a loud blast shook the castle. Debris exploded from the entrance of the Hall. Harry instinctively shielded her with his body as glass, wood, and stray candles came flying out, littering the ground like confetti.

"Harry," she broke away from him. "We have to get him back! Draco. He didn't want this! He wasn't going to, I promise! Professor Snape... He- he was the one who killed Dumbledore. We have to get Draco back!"

She got to her feet again, but Harry held onto her arm. "No," he said firmly. "You stay. I'll go. I have a bigger snake to deal with anyway."

He sat her back on the ground before stalking off and disappearing through the doors. There was a pattering of shoes in the corridors behind. Help was coming. She lay on the floor, panting as she waited.

It was only then she unfurled her fingers to reveal what Draco had given her.

The silver Hippogriff, rearing on its stand, magnificent wings reaching for the heavens.

Please don't forget me.

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"Silence, you fool, or I will not hesitate to go after Miss Dawson myself." Snape's tone was severe as he tugged sharply on Draco's jacket. "Thanks to you two, now half the school is awake."

They stalked out of the castle and into the Forbidden Forest. Bellatrix skipped alongside him in, humming to herself in maniacal glee.

As they made their way towards Hagrid's Hut, he heard Harry calling from behind them.

"Snape! He trusted you!"

This seemed to stop Snape in his tracks when another loud explosion sounded. Hagrid's hut burst into roaring flames. "Go on!" The grip released on his jacket and he stumbled to the ground.

The heat from the fire singed his skin as he heaved bile over the soil. Dumbledore was dead and they - he - had almost killed Angel. He might never see her again. He was a monster; hideous, rotten, evil.

The skull on his wrist smirked back at him, the snake joining in the laughter. In a frenzy, he tore at the tattoo. White hot pain seared through his flesh as his nails drew blood.

He will never be able to get rid of this. This was him, forever. His identity. His being. His soul.

With great effort, he climbed back onto his feet and blindly followed Bellatrix and the rest back to Malfoy Manor.