Disclaimer: I don't own them, sorry.

Shorter than last chap, I know, but I needed to get this out so I can work on the next story.

Epilogue

"What do you mean his mood changed drastically?!"

Draco sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose as Weasley ranted on.

"His mood changed suddenly and without warning. Next thing I know he's running off down the hall and out the front gate."

"You've already said that!" Weasley slammed his front hands on the desk between them and Draco growled at him. Luckily, Sirius walked into the room at that moment and they both turned to him, hope gleaming brightly in the Weasley's, but only dimly in his own greyish silver orbs.

Sirius shook his head despondently. "They aren't answering their mirror."

They all looked as the floor for several long minutes. As everyone else looked outward, Draco looked inward, towards the swirling vortex of emotions in his breast. Harry's waking and subsequent disappearance had happened so quickly and unpredictably that he was still a mess of confusion, worry, and depression. Harry's glowing green eyes back in Diagon Alley before it had all started had haunted him as he had tried to sleep. Inevitably all of his attempts had failed. Now he sat here, all of his hopes for the future scattered in metaphorical ashes in the wasteland of his soul. What had gone wrong? Did every Malfoy discover that only darkness and loneliness awaited them throughout their lives?

His head shot up as a chuckling sort of hiss sounded in his ear, and he came face to face with the carving of the emerald snake on the arm of the chair. It chuckled/hissed again and Draco glanced at Black and Weasley to see them watching him with slight awe in their eyes. He looked back at the snake while he calmed himself with the knowledge that nothing in the mansion could possibly harm a Malfoy heir.

"You love the boy." It didn't come out as a question. The snake hissed it sibilantly in clear English. Draco's eyes widened as he watched it; he didn't bother looking at the other two. He knew that only he could understand the serpent. "Finally, a Malfoy has found love. Perhaps for good? Who knows? I certainly do not."

By now it had wound itself around his neck, and it licked at his ear. Something niggled at the back of his mind, something his father might have told him about this particular carving. Perhaps it his mother who had told him. Either way, Draco couldn't remember what it was, though it seemed significant. He listened closely to this emblem of Slytherin.

"You must find the boy, or be irredeemable yourself. Do not worry, you will find him. Just follow your heart. Not that that's easy for a Malfoy - only Scorpius Malfoy ever dared." With that he became lifeless, just a snake-shaped chain around his neck.

Draco stood up and clapped for a House Elf.

Preview of Chapter One of Sequel

"What do you mean, search for them?"

"A what bite?"

"We need wolfsbane potion, before the next full moon."

Draco stood on the doorstep of Hogwarts, Weasley and Black standing behind him. They had to speak to Dumbledore and tell him that they would not be able to attend their seventh year, and that two of his professors would be absent.

Alright, no responses this time, or recommendation. Please review though!