It is a dark November evening and a large manor house looms up out at you behind a forest or tall trees.

You fly up above the forest, higher, higher, until you are exactly level with the top floor of the mansion, all rooms are lit.

You go towards the window directly in front of you and a dimly lit room becomes clearer. You see a boy, with his back to you, standing in front of a mirror. He is wearing a miniature three-piece to fit a seven-year old and he appears to be struggling with something.

The boy is Draco Malfoy and he is preparing for a special dinner to which his father insisted he attends. Draco does not like his father's dinner parties, they are like a death trap to him, like a snake- It sits there silently, watching you closely, just waiting for you to stumble and trip then it strikes out and spears you with poison…

Draco knows he shouldn't think things like that. His father is always telling him that he has an overactive imagination.

Draco also knows that when he is at a dinner party, it is best to stay silent and keep his head down. Then the snake might ignore him and leave him alone…

Draco is becoming frustrated now, pulling and pulling at something around his neck getting angry and panicked.

The thing is a tie. The one he was given for his birthday. The one Papa took away from him; deeming to be "Only for special occasions."

It was such an occasion tonight, possibly the only one of the year that Draco would be aloud to put such a beautiful thing around his neck.

Father's birthday.

But he'd only be able to wear it if he could actually tie the bloody thing! What would his father say if he knew Draco couldn't even put a tie on? He cringed, just imagining Papa's disgusted expression.

"Pathetic." He'd say, "You are pathetic" Then he'd sneer and walk away, leaving Draco standing there, feeling worthless and dejected.

Maybe Mama would help him…maybe she wouldn't. Maybe she couldn't care less if her son's tie was tied properly or not. Draco slumps miserably down on his bed, tie slung, rejected, around his neck.

He knows his mother doesn't want him. Papa tells him so often enough and simply the looks she gives him occasionally were enough to prove it to him.

But that was okay.

It's just how things were.

How they have always been.

And Draco knows that some things will never change.

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A/N: Helloo! I wrote this on a whim, just a random thing, but PLEASE REVIEW and let me know what you think. And if you haven't read my longer fic- HelpMe! Please do!

Luv Lilyxxx