Dark Secrets

Chapter 64:

~Jen's 21st birthday~

***Draco's POV***

I threw the useless book of curses against the wall, cursing profusely. Fifty days, Reyna, Harry and I had spent researching curses and antidotes and we had come up with nothing. Jen had been right, the only way to break the curse was to have Pierce do it.

"We can't give up. We still have time—" Reyna started, but I slammed my fist against the table.

"Don't you get it?! There's nothing we can do! Tonight, Pierce is going to kill me and then probably kidnap Jen. Or Jen won't even know that I'll be dead and will just gone on living the rest of her life thinking she's still obliged to the vow. It's over! There's nothing more we can do." I buried my face in my arms. "It's hopeless."

Harry came over and patted my back. "Then we'll come up with a new plan. We'll make sure that Pierce breaks the curse and then we'll end him, so Jen will not be tied to him anymore."

"You already know there's a loophole." I growled, looking up at him. "If there wasn't a loophole then that would have been the obvious plan."

"There's got to be another way—" Harry started but I cut him off.

"No! There's no other way! I'm a dead man!" I stood up. "Now, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to be alone for the last 10 hours of my existence."

"Come on, Draco—"

"Please." I looked them both straight in the eye. "I'll be fine. Just, bury me some place nice and have a quiet reception, if any. I doubt there will be a lot of people wanting to come to my funeral."

"Don't talk like that—"

"Let it go, Rey." Harry said, putting his hand on her shoulder. "He has a right to decide what he wants to do."

Surprisingly, tears filled Reyna's eyes and she pulled me into a tight hug. "I know, I've said a lot of mean things to you in the past about you not being good enough for Jen but I was wrong. Jen was lucky to have a man like you by her side. You're deserved a better life than this, Draco." She kissed my cheek. "I make sure Jen's safe when you're gone. I'll help her through everything, I promise."

"Thank you, Reyna." I whispered, grateful that Jen will have a friend like her to help her through my death.

Reyna wiped away her tears before dashing upstairs, leaving Harry and I.

"Potter—"

Harry pulled me into a bone-crushing hug. "I never thought I'd say this, but I'll miss you, Draco. You were a complete ass to me throughout school but you don't deserve this. I'm sorry about everything and I promise to save Jen." He pulled back and gave me a small smile. "You're a good man."

"Thanks, Harry. I have faith that you'll save her and when you do can you give this to her?" I pulled a letter out of my jacket and placed it in Harry's hands.

"Of course. Is there anyone else you want to talk to? Do you want me to send for Darl? Or Blaise?"

I shook my head. "No. I've never been very good at goodbyes. They already know how much they mean to me...plus, I don't think I could bear saying goodbye to anyone else. I guess I'm still sort of in denial."

Pity shone in Harry's eyes and he placed a hand on my shoulder. "Draco—"

"It's okay. I'll be fine. Also, tell Ginny I'm sorry for teaching Teddy all those curse words."

Harry let out a mixture of a laugh and a scoff. "You jackass."

I chuckled and smiled at him. "He's a good kid. You both are doing well raising him, all things considered. He's lucky to have you both as parents."