Okay guys. Here's the deal.

First of all. I don't feel like dealing with Harry Potter as it stands now. So I'll be writing as it stood post-fifth book. In my own interpretation, of course. But I don't own anything. Except the characters who don't appear in the books. Those are mine.

Also, please don't be mean. Constructive criticism is helpful (if something doesn't feel right, speak up!), but "you suck and everything you've ever written and ever will write sucks" is not. If that's how you feel, sod off. Kthanks.

However, I'm looking for a beta if anyone is interested.

This is a response to a challenge issued by hpgirl4ever.

Above all, enjoy! Lol

The Revered Malfoy Estate

Draco Malfoy sat perched on a ledge, overlooking the scene in the enclosed garden below him. His mother sat tersely on the edge of her seat, not at all pleased. Across from her sat a few figures, their faces shrouded by their hoods. The conversation was ominous and held in low voices, but Draco didn't mind. He knew in the back of his mind that what was being said was better that he not hear, but, being Draco, he feigned annoyance at this. He scoffed. "Mother will one day have to learn to include me in important family matters. Without my father around I am the man of the house."

A small giggle came from next to Draco. A pretty little blonde girl was perched next to him, also overlooking the scene. She was maybe two years Draco's younger, but very beautiful. He smiled a cold smile that didn't quite reach his eyes at her laugh. He hated that she laughed at him but loved to see her smile, but he could never let her know that. He dropped his smile into a frown and shot her a look. She immediately sobered up as she saw his face change. "I am very sorry." She had a thick accent, maybe Russian or Ukrainian. Draco, as though expecting her apology, nodded his head to her curtly as he turned his attention back to the room.

His mother was meeting with this girl's father and some of his associates, and had expressedly forbid Draco's presence at this meeting. He had, of course, ignored her to the best of his ability, but the sharp looks she was shooting him were getting annoying, so he stood and walked away from the ledge, toward his back door. "Come on, then." He motioned to the girl, expecting her to follow. She did, much like a lost puppy. This was too easy, so easy that it annoyed Draco. He liked girls to be a challenge. But it was no matter. This girl could still give him what he wanted.

He opened the door for her, and they entered his kitchen. "Something to drink?" He inquired, not waiting for the answer as two wine glasses zoomed over and filled themselves with a dark red, sweet wine that bore a strong resemblance to blood. He took one, and lazily watched the other float over to the girl. She accepted it, not yet taking a sip. "What shall I call you, anyhow?"

"Natalya," she replied, licking her lips and she glanced down at the red liquid. It reflected in her blue eyes. She had the most beautiful eyes, a blend of different colors that somehow made blue. They popped against pale skin. It was unusual, but Draco liked it. "Natalya Nazarenko. Thank you for the wine." She took a sip. The sweet, red liquid swished inside her mouth as she savored it for a moment, then swallowed. Draco watched the liquid slide down her throat, mesmerized. She was beautiful, no doubt about it, but she was also obviously easy. She was in a house surrounded by dark magic, and she still elected to drink the wine. She had made a stupid mistake.

Draco put his own wine down without taking a sip. He'd drugged the wine, and didn't want anything getting in the way of his own clear recollections of the event later. He turned around and pretended to busy himself with tidying the counter as he heard her take another sip. Then he heard her stumble. "Be careful. Drink up and you'll feel better." He turned to watch her tip back her glass and finish the last few drops. He reached out to take her glass, and watched as she stumbled closer to him. Grinning, he caught her in his arms, placing her glass on the counter and propping her up by placing an arm around her waist. "Shh, don't worry, I won't do anything you don't want me to."

He led her quietly to his bedroom, using a flick of his wand to make her light enough to carry up the large staircase. He laid her on the bed as she whimpered that she didn't feel well. "Please stop. You'll feel fine once you've been lying down for a bit." He rose to lock his door, placing his wand down on his desk. She was still whimpering, which was annoying. He glared, tuning her out as he busied himself with things in his room, waiting for the drugs to fully take hold. Once they did, her annoying whimpering would stop, for which he was very grateful.

Natalya had been too easy for him. She'd finished her whole glass in less then five minutes without even considering what Draco could have potentially done to it. She felt funny, and continued drinking. This girl was not satisfying to him. Even the easiest girls at Hogwarts were a bigger challenge then she had been. It truly was disappointing. He shook his head as her whimpers faded to murmurs and, eventually, to nothing. Smiling, he moved toward his bed. He could still see fear in her eyes. The eyes were always the last thing to close, for which he was glad. He liked it when they watched.

Smiling a sick and slightly twisted smile, he leaned down and planted a kiss on her forehead.

Some weeks later, on a quiet street in the dead of night, a pale blonde boy was seen wandering in through the nooks and crannies of an almost uninhabited village. He was whistling to himself, obviously pleased by some recent accomplishment.

It was on this very same night that on another quiet street, within the same hour, a dark-haired sixteen-year-old boy sat straight up in bed, as pale as though he'd seen a ghost. For in fact he had.