This was a story I'd forgotten about, so I revamped it a little :D I hope you likey!

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, I just like to play with his character and his world a little... ^.^

Chapter One

-Draco POV-

The day that started out as ordinary as any other ended with an extraordinary night. It was during the holidays, after my mother threw one of her famous balls. The official reason was my birthday but there were only two people my age; Pansy and Blaise.

"What a handsome son Narcissa, why have I not met him before?" That was the daughter of the brother of the Count Mordrey, Paula. She had been a friend of my mother's for two years or so but she had never been to one of the holiday balls before therefore never meeting me. She wasn't much of a looker; she was plump and owned at least two chins. Her beady eyes peered at me in a way that made my skin crawl and her taste in fashion left a lot to be desired. Now, I may not be an expert on fashion but a bright orange dress with a pink shawl? Even I knew that the hippy stage was over but someone must have neglected to tell this woman. I wondered, for the hundredth time, how on earth my mother could have befriended such a person. But I kept my mouth shut and braved the woman. After a conversation of meaningless chatter, my mother waltzed me around the room, introducing me to other people for new meaningless conversations. But after a while my mother smiled, satisfied, and let me know that I could mingle.

I headed straight for the corner where Pansy and Blaise stood; making faces at me as I moved across the room. I don't know why, but my friends draw great pleasure in trying to make me laugh. I suppose the old adage was correct; small things did indeed amuse small minds. I didn't let my annoyance show as I welcomed them to my home, they had been here a few times, already, and their parents were in cahoots with mine. Then I led them up to my room on the second floor of the mansion.

"Thanks Drake," - I winced at the nickname - "Your mother's parties are awfully stuffy." Pansy was, as usual, oblivious to the normal decorum expected of the offspring of full blood wizards and witches. The only reason we were friends was because it was expected of me.

"They aren't that bad Draco," Blaise said as he nudged Pansy, who had the grace to blush. Blaise was a man after my own heart; he knew what was expected of him and gave it one hundred percent. He knew of my predicament with my father and he had helped me through the times when I would have broken down.

"Thanks Blaise," I acknowledged as I sat in a green chair in the corner of my room. Blaise and Pansy took the hint and seated themselves in the other two chairs, also green. "So what have you two been up to?"

Pansy took the liberty to discuss every little detail of her holidays, from the name of her hotel in Ireland to the colour of the soap in her hotel in France. Blaise and I, of course, didn't bat an eyelid the whole time but I'm sure I looked as relieved as him when the tedious rant was over.

"I had a great time." she finished, "How about you Blaise?"

Blaise blinked and smiled, "Great thanks. I went to a magic convention in Glasgow with my parents. It was all about Transfiguration and modern applications."

I perked up; Blaise was always attending conventions with his parents. The information he gathered was always interesting. We chatted about this particular convention for a bit until Pansy yawned, "Boys, boys, when are you going to learn that this stuff is boring with a capital B?"

Blaise frowned at her, "Well Pansy, would you rather go back down to the 'stuffy' party?"

She shook her head, not catching the undertone of sarcasm, "No, you know that. But let's talk about something that isn't dreadfully dull."

I looked at her with carefully disguised loathing, "What do you suggest we talk about, Pansy?"

"How about, boys?"

Blaise shot me an amused glance. He knew about my sexuality, Pansy, oblivious as usual, had no idea.

Blaise came to my aid, "No Pansy, take a look around, we are guys. Why the hell would we want to talk about boys?"

Pansy shrugged, "I dunno."

The conversation ceased for a long pause. I was glad for the silence. Silence had become my solace, away from the parties, away from the yelling of my father and away from the disapproving whispers I heard at Hogwarts. Silence and darkness were the two things that I had come to seek. My father disappeared in darkness and silence and I could fool myself into thinking that I controlled my life. My desires meant nothing to my father. I was his son, his object to do his bidding. He treated me like a carbon copy of himself. I talked to people he wanted me to talk to, treated people the way he dictated to treat them and did whatever he wished. I had learnt from an early age not to displease him by being myself.

When I was five, I had attended a Muggle preschool. My father wished me to see what it was like to mix among them. He told me to be withdrawn, I wasn't allowed to play, I wasn't allowed to have fun, I was to sit in the corner and observe. A boy, Liam I think his name was, had approached me and extended the hand of friendship in the form of a book. He sat beside me and read it to me. Soon, I was absorbed in the tale and became the little boy I was. When we finished the book he dragged me over to some blocks and we created castles, towers and bridges. When I returned home that night, I was full of excitement. For the first time in my life, I enjoyed life. My mother saw the change in me and fostered it, but told me never to reveal this side of me to my father. But being five I just didn't understand. My father caught me playing with a stuffed dragon Mother had given me. He ripped the toy from my hands and destroyed it with a wave of his wand. I saw the toy go up in a puff of smoke and screamed, before crying pitifully. My father yelled at me to stop crying, but I didn't. Then he did something I would never forget. "Crucio!" he yelled, waving his wand at me. More pain than I'd ever experienced in my young life tore through my body. Every part of my body was in agony, even parts of me I didn't know I had. I screamed in pain, I was no longer crying, the pain was too intense for me too feel anything as trivial as sadness.

"Earth to Draco." I snapped to attention as Blaise waving his hand up and down in front of my face.

I frowned and looked at him, "Hmm?"

"I just said we have to go."

"So soon?"

Blaise nodded and waved, "See you at school."

I nodded and waved in return, "See you."

I watched Blaise and Pansy leave the room, the remembered pain still imprinted in my brain.

-End Draco POV-