Dark Secrets

Chapter 49:

Draco and I stayed in the hidden room for hours. We both went through books and papers but neither of us could figure out how to break the curse. We figured out that on my twenty-first birthday at the exact time I was born would also be the time that Draco died, if we didn't figure out how to break the curse. I continued to thumb through the book in my hand when Draco called my name. I looked up at him and he was holding a sheet of paper in his hand.

"I think Dumbledore left you another clue." Draco said, handing me the piece of paper.

I took the piece of paper and read through it. Second notch, third row

I sighed. Why couldn't Dumbledore leave any straight forward answers? We found the hidden room, isn't that good enough to get some straight forward answers? I looked up at the bookcase in front of me and narrowed my eyes.  There were notches in the wood. I stood up and walked over to the book case. I counted three rows up and found the second notch in. A book was placed directly above the notch and I pulled it out. I opened the book and a note fell out of it.

Dear Jennifer,

If you are reading this than I must be dead and you are coming up on your twenty-first birthday. I'm sorry that I couldn't tell you all this in person but hopefully this letter will clear up any confusion. I assume that I at least told you the nature of the curse before passing, so I'll explain what you have to do to break it. To break the curse you must find out what family cursed our family. Then you must get a member of that family to willingly agree to break the curse and go through a retrial that can only be performed on a blue moon. I've charted the blue moons and the next one is supposed to appear on your twenty-first birthday. I was unable to figure out which family cursed our family but if you pick up where I left off you should be able to figure out who the family is, long before your twenty-first birthday. I hope this letter cleared up most of you questions. I'm sorry I couldn't be here to help you. I love you, Jennifer. Don't worry, you won't have to go through any more loss. I have faith that you will be able to break this curse where I failed.

~Grandpa

I read through the note and handed it to Draco to read through.

"This is good news right?" Draco asked, handing the note back to me after he read through it.

I nodded. "He answered some of our questions, we just need to figure out who cursed my family." I yawned.

"You should get some rest. We've been going at this for almost six hours now and it's nearly midnight."

I nodded, not realizing until now how exhausted I was. It's been a long day and all I wanted to do was curl up next to Draco in my bed. I placed the book down on Dumbledore's desk and Draco intertwined our fingers. I fought to keep my eyes open and Draco noticed. He elegantly captured me into his arms so I was cradled to his chest. Draco kissed my head and led us out of the dark room. Before we were even out of the dark corridor I had already fallen into a deep sleep.

****

I woke up curled up next to Draco in a large, plush bed. Afternoon light was trying to sneak through the thick curtains but the room remained dark. I craned my head up to look at Draco's sleeping features. My head was resting on his chest and our limps were tangled together under the silk sheets. I loved waking up with Draco beside me. I loved that he was the first thing I saw in the morning. A girl could get used to it. I brushed a hair out of his eyes and ran my finger softly down his face. He looked so relaxed like this.

For most of the time I've known him he'd never been this relaxed. With the war going on and all the things he had to deal with in sixth year, I don't think he ever relaxed. And now my family curse is going to ruin this. Draco doesn't need anymore bad things to happen in his life. We've both been through hell and fate doesn't want to let up on us. I cradled his cheek in my hand, I wasn't going to give up on us. We will find a way to break this curse, we always found a way. I kissed Draco's cheek lightly and a smile twitched onto his face. Draco's eyes fluttered open and he smirked cheekily at me.