Her screams penetrate the very essence of my being.

I can hear them even in my dreams...When I'm awake, they echo through the hallways. How long must I endure this torture? How long...must she continue too suffer...She knows nothing...I tell them this but they ignore me.

"Taking pity on an old classmate, Draco?"

My father's question lingers in the air. I shrug away his cold gaze and turn

"She's just a foolish girl, father...She doesn't know where Potter is."

"Draco...It's not wise of you to show weakness, like this...especially in front of our 'guests'"

He gestures to my aunt, and her cronies, too deep in their conversation to note our existence. Probably discussing their latest torture method, I shudder involuntarily at the thought.

"...Yes, father."

I bow stiffly, and take my leave, hoping to rid myself of the torturous memories by taking a brisk walk around the grounds.

I breathe in the forest air, glad for once that father had chosen to built the Manor in the middle of nowhere, away from the bustling wizard villages and cities.

In the silence, I contemplate my existence, what I have done...What I will do and what lies ahead of me...But my train of thought is derailed once more by her piercing screams, my heart tightens and I fight against my imminent breakdown.

'Do not show weakness..'

My father's words echo in my head and steel my resolve, I bite the inside of my cheek and the pain allows me a few moments to clear my head.

I turn back to the manor, walking back to the place that causes my repetitive nightmares. Her screams grow louder, and louder as I walk through the halls of my manor, till I reach a door. Tentatively, I knock, my breath catches in my throat as her screams stop. I hear a shuffling, from behind the door, until it opens with an almost deafening sound and I am startled by the face of my 'dear' aunt, looming over me.

The crazed look she has in her eyes, confirms my worst fear, she's already started to have her 'fun'. I bite back my disgust, before sliding my features back into my familiar stoic mask.

"What!Boy.'

She snaps at me, obviously annoyed by my interruption. The words are caught in my throat, I'm utterly scared out of my wits but I manage to croak out,

"I thought...I thought I'd come to see if you'd learnt anything about P-Potter."

Aunt Bella lets out a fiendish cackle when I stutter, before shaking her head in amusement and beckoning me inside.

"Come..."

I humbly step inside, my gaze locked down, terrified of what I might see if I raised it.

"We haven't...but perhaps you'd have more luck worming things out of her."

She laughs and mockingly bows, gesturing to the blonde-haired girl, bound to the wall. I have no choice but to look up and the look in her eyes, almost makes me lower my gaze right away.

"D-Draco..?"

She says my name hesitantly...softly...Almost as if she's unsure if I'm really there or I'm just a figment of her imagination. I try to communicate to her, the regret I feel, how horrible this is for me but I don't think she sees it. Her eyes...Her beautiful eyes have lost their shine, and soon the spark of recognition I once saw in them, gives way to fear.

"C'mon then Draco, we haven't got all day.."

I hesitate, before slowly raising my wand, aiming it at the girl before me. She smiles, that little half-smile of hers, the one that makes it seem like she's got a secret that noone else knows about and my heart pounds.

Her eyes don't match her smile though, they are full of hurt...and betrayal...but also, maybe...I'm not sure if it's a figment of my imagination or not, but there's a spark of understanding in her eyes.

I slowly mouth sorry, at the girl who I once loved with all my heart before muttering an unforgivable word.

"...Crucio."