Dana walked through the dusty halls of the castle. She noticed that quite a few repairs would have to be made after the battle. While she walked down to the Great Hall she thought about what she had learned. She had just come back from talking to Dumbledores portatiat. As long as she didnt' disgrace Aberfroth by saying he got drunk and got some girl pregnant, it was fine to say she was related to Dumbledore. Albus also explained that he made the foolish mistake of including her in his will, and that was how the death eaters heard of her. Of course, Dana told him it was better this way, because otherwise she would have never come to Hogwarts. When she asked what he left to her, he told her his pensieve and memories. "I feel bad not being there to help you learn about the magical world," he had said. "When Albus explained what he had done, I kept track of your family and when you were born with magical powers I was the one who chose to keep you protected. With my memories, you can learn more and hopefully it will make up for all I did to you."
(now that that's out of the way)
So Dana journeyed down the marble staircase. Just as she reached the Entrance Hall Narcissa and Draco Malfoy emerged from the Great Hall. All three stopped in their tracks.
"Dana." Draco said, and took a step toward her. Likewise, Dana took a step back."Dana, just listen to me."
"Why? So you can jump all over me again? So you can just tell another lie and then go and try to murder my friends?"
"It's different now," he stammered.
"Oh, because your master is gone so you have to start sucking up so you don't get chucked in Azkaban?"
"It's not like that."
Just then, Lucious came up behind his wife. "It's that bitch!" he cried when he saw Dana. He pulled out his wand and headed toward her, but Draco put out his arm.
"Father, stop."
Lucious looked at hsi son increduosly. "What did you say to me?" he whispered.
"I said stop. Let me handle this." Lucious smirked at Dana; clearly he thought his son was going to kill her instead of him doing it.
"Okay, that's a good start," Dana told Draco. She ignored the other Malfoys. "You do need to start changing, but not by sucking up or teling lies. Actually, you shold start acting like your mother." Narcissa was shocked that she had been included. "I'm guessing a year ago she would be yelling at me and would have her wand out too, but instead she's standing back. She stopped your Auntie Bella from attacking me earlier too. So that's what you have to do now. You hav to be nice."
"You should learn to respect your superiors!" Lucious started toward Dana again, but Draco took out his own wand and disarmed his father.
"You see, Lucious, your son won't listen to you anymore, not when the one he loves is near." Dana sassed at the shocked death eater.
"Draco isn't in love with filth like you! He was only acting on the Dark Lord's orders the whole year!"
"Well, the Dark Lord ain't here anymore, so what orders is he obeying now?"
"Dana-" draco said louder, and her attention was brought back to the younger Malfoy. "That's what I need to say. You see, this is how I was brought up! It's harder for me to- to... act more like you!" Dana stared at him. He hung his head and avoided his father's gaze. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I wish we could just go back, and start over."
Dana thought. "Okay," she finally said. "I'm willing to give you a last chance, then that's it."
He smiled. "So can we kiss and make up?"
"Hah, yeah right," she replied sarcastically.
"Alright, how about a handshake?" He stretched out his arm.
Dana grabbed his hand for a moment, then let go quickly and stepped back. "Sorry, I'm ready to forgive... but it will be a little harder to forget,"
"I understand," he said, then they nodded at each other and draco led his parents out the front door. Dana nodded at Narcisssa as they passed, and she could hear Lucious's sputters at his son. Dana sighed and shook her head.
