Chapter One:

A/N: Thank you so much for reading. Reviews are appreciated :). Have an amazing day!

Draco just about had the worst summer of his life before returning to Hogwarts. He was having trouble concentrating on anything, and he was certainly not himself. Not that he had ever cared about the sorting ceremony or the feast that much, but absolutely everything had been a blur to him. He was in a trance as he stared at his plate in front of him. It only contained a half eaten apple because his mind was elsewhere. "Draco?" He heard a familiar voice call his name. He turned to see Blaise Zabini, glancing at him quizzically. "Are you alright, mate? You really should eat something."

"I'm fine, Blaise." Draco responded in a quick lie. He couldn't even let him know what was going on all the time. Besides, he never felt the need to burden others with his problems. He was very independent, and he wanted to figure this out on his own.

"The feast is over, you know…" Blaise commented. It was only then that Draco noticed the great hall was nearly empty except for a group of Ravenclaws who were comparing class schedules with excitement. "Let's go." Draco nodded in agreement as they grabbed their schedules and strolled out of the great hall. "Well, the younger Greengrass isn't looking so bad this year." Blaise Zabini said with a wink, as he walked alongside Draco back to Slytherin commons.

Draco looked forward to see Astoria leaning against the wall in a deep conversation with Theodore Nott. She had long brown hair that flowed halfway down her back. Her eyes were the colour of emeralds, and there was a clear depth to them. You could tell that she was extremely concerned over something. Her hands were tucked in the pockets of her Slytherin robes. "Don't be an idiot, Blaise." Draco replied, "Daphne is the one everyone wants. Is Astoria dating Nott?"

Blaise laughed, "Dunno." He answered with a huge smile, "But they look like they are having quite the conversation over there."

"Yeah, and it's none of our concern that Nott has time for things like lover's quarrels." Draco responded with a roll of his eyes. "Let's go," He took once last glance, and noticed that Astoria had taken Nott's hand in hers.

"One might say you are jealous, mate. Imagine that, Draco Malfoy jealous of…." Blaise began.

"Shut it, Blaise. I'm not jealous of Nott. It's just some of us have better things to be worried about than some girl." Draco snapped back, as he slid his hand on the staircase railing.

"So, I got it." Nott spoke seriously to Astoria. He didn't even have to say what he got, but she immediately understood. He was on the edge of getting the dark mark for the past year, and this summer it all came true.

"Really, Teddy?" Astoria responded, her eyes widening. She couldn't say that she was thrilled for him, but she truly wasn't surprised. The Greengrass family themselves were not Death Eaters, but they did hold a great deal of support for Voldemort. Astoria did too, but in the midst of everything happening, she wasn't sure what she believed anymore. "What was your final task?" She asked curiously.

"I had to kill someone." Nott answered numbly. "There was nothing I could do to stop it…or I would have been killed myself.

"Who?" Astoria demanded of him. It was hard to imagine. Nott was her best friend since she was two and he killed someone. She knew that was the life of a Death Eater, but it was still hard to get a grasp on reality. She was around those type of people everyday, she was supposed to be one of them.

"Percy Weasley." Nott responded, "One of the Order's lot. He was too smart. He was almost finished completing the work on inventing a potion that could kill all of us in one shot."

"Did you feel bad?" Astoria asked him sincerely.

Nott gazed in her eyes before taking a deep breath. "I don't know." He responded truthfully. Astoria gripped his hand in hers tightly.

"I'm sorry, Teddy." She said calmly, "You'll be okay though. I know I'm supposed to be used to my friends killing people. Hell, my parents have killed before, but they don't join. Anyway, just remember you're my best friend, okay?"

"Of course, Astoria." Nott added with an unsure smile. She returned the wary smile, as she noticed Draco Malfoy glimpsing their way. He looked rather angry as he walked with Blaise, and began to storm off. She shrugged, and took note that people were just going to be moody this year. There was so much going on, it was difficult to handle. She squeezed Theodore's hand before letting go and walking to the Slytherin common room side by side.

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It was three in the morning, and so much was still preventing Draco from falling asleep. The memories from summer were still etched into his mind, and they haunted him constantly.

"You either join us or die, Draco." Lucius Malfoy said sharply, "The Dark Lord gave you a task to perform, and you would be making a huge mistake if you didn't do it."

"Right, father." Draco replied, avoiding the look of his icy grey eyes back upon him. He was so sick of his father and the way he brought him up. There were some scars, mentally and physically from his father that would never fade.

"Then what is this stuff I hear from your mother about you being afraid, eh?" Lucius snarled, "You're just acting like the little baby that you are. I'm surprised the Dark Lord put so much trust in an idiot like you. You disgust me."

"I said I was trying my best, Father." Draco demanded. He regretted now having that heart to heart conversation with his mother. She was so distressed that days, he had hardly seen her without tears falling down her cheeks. She believed Draco was too young for all of this, and did not want her son's fate to end up being dead because he couldn't kill.

"Your bloody BEST isn't good enough. If you don't perform this task, you are going to ruin everything. You're going to ruin all of our lives and our reputations."

"Actually, if I am not mistaken, you are the one that ruined your own reputation by giving Ginny Weasley that diary." Draco responded.

"Are you going to be smart with me, Draco? I believe you just made a huge mistake." Lucius roared, "CRUCIO!" And then it was just pain.

Morning finally arrived by some miracle, as Draco woke up groggily to Blaise Zabini standing above his bed. "Wake up, mate, first day of classes. What's the matter, didn't sleep well?"

"Not particularly." Draco muttered as he sat up, "What do we have first today?"

"Potions with some new professor. He was once our head of house, Slughorn." Blaise went on, "Something wrong, Draco? I'm beginning to get the idea that something happened over summer…you're not acting right."

"I'm fine, Blaise. I told you that." Draco lied as they dashed off to breakfast. Even his favorite, eggs and toast didn't make him feel any better. He was numb.

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After breakfast, Astoria threw on her school robes for classes to begin. "I still don't understand why you are in MY potions class this year?" Daphne Greengrass asked her little sister, annoyance intertwined throughout her words.

"I told you, already. I was in the top of my potions class last year, and they suggested I move up to your level. You're just mad that I'm going to be with your friends." Astoria replied rolling her eyes towards her sister.

Daphne and her sister were very much the opposites. Daphne was popular among the male population of her school, and had been with several guys in her years. She had long silvery blonde hair and aqua coloured eyes. She cared about her reputation way more than Astoria, and she was hopelessly in love with Draco Malfoy.

"No." Daphne responded annoyed, "Just leave Draco alone, alright? The last thing he needs right now is to be bothered by my baby sister, okay?"

"We both know very well that I'm not a baby, Daphne." Astoria replied calmly, "and, also, I can't guarantee that I will stay from Draco. Besides, you two don't even talk. I doubt you know anything that is going on with him, besides the information you find when you stalk him."

"I do NOT stalk him!" Daphne demanded putting a hand on her hip.

"Oh, please. I see that you follow him around, there is no fooling me. Anyway, I won't tell." Astoria shrugged, "But he may begin to notice."

Daphne gasped at her, but did not get the chance to reply. Astoria pushed past her to catch up with Theodore Nott who was walking into the potions room in front of them.

Slughorn faced the classroom as he put an assortment of ingredients on the table in front of him. "Welcome class to your sixth year of potions! I am looking forward to teaching all of you. My name is Professor Slughorn. Today I will be assigning all of you partners. We will be creating some complex potions this year, and it is recommended for safety reasons that you work in pairs." He announced, "First will be Daphne Greengrass & Theodore Nott, then Draco Malfoy & Astoria Greengrass…"

Daphne gave Astoria a killer glare as she strode over to sit besides Draco. They didn't really talk much in the past, but Astoria had to listen to her sister babbling on and on about how great he was on a daily basis. It was a bit sickening actually.

"Hey, Draco." Astoria said politely.

"Hello." Draco replied. His voice sounded a little empty, and Astoria couldn't help but feel bad for him. She wondered if he was in the same place as Nott. She watched as he blankly opened his potions book and scanned the page with his eyes. Looking up, she noticed that Professor Slughorn wrote page numbers for their first potion. They worked in almost silence; only brief exchanges of words to make sure they were doing the steps correctly. It wasn't that she didn't want to make conversation with Draco, but she didn't want to bother him. He looked distressed, and she didn't want to strain him. From knowing how difficult it was with Nott, she didn't want to force him to talk.

Draco sighed as he added the final ingredient to the potion and a counterclockwise stir to top it off. He didn't mind being paired with Astoria. It was very comfortable with her, and she didn't try to start meaningless conversation. He liked that. It was much better then being paired with someone like Daphne who never shut her mouth. It was also nice to be away from Blaise for a while, since he would probably be joking around the entire time. Draco just wasn't in the mood for that. He couldn't stop thinking about the task that Voldemort assigned him to do. This was just the life he grew up with, not necessarily the life that he always wanted to lead. He didn't want to team up with Potter, but sometimes he just wanted a peaceful life without tasks and without his life being threatened every single day.

"Nice job, you two." Slughorn commented as he examined the clear liquid of their potion, "You work well together, both star potions students I see!" He shuffled along to the next group with a bright smile on his face. Daphne had a look on her face of absolute anger when she heard these words. Astoria smiled warmly at Draco, who hardly acknowledged it. She didn't expect him to, but either way it was she thought it was a nice gesture. Slughorn finally finished checking every group's potion, and dismissed the class after assigning homework.

"See you tomorrow, Draco." Astoria said as she gathered her books together.

"Bye." Draco answered quickly after a pause.

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Classes had ended for the day, so Astoria and Theodore were sitting near the lake as they skipped rocks. It was not dark yet, but the sky was gradually dimming, and there was one single star glimmering in the sky above.

"Hey, Teddy…" Astoria began, "Do you know if Draco is involved with the Death Eater stuff?"

"Yes." He answered, "He doesn't really have much of a choice. Rumor is that The Dark Lord has given him a certain task to perform this year, or he will get killed."

"I guess that explains why he seemed so numb during potions class today." Astoria replied, "I hope he's okay."

"Me too. Knowing the position his father is in all, I'll bet it's one hell of a task." Theodore told her. "Just don't tell anyone this. I'm obviously not supposed to be spreading death eater news all around."

"Don't worry. You know you can always trust me." Astoria lightly smiled at him as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "I am so sorry for everything. You are going to be okay."

"I hope so, Astoria. I really do." He felt her tears beginning to soak his shirt, and he held her closer. There was no way he was going to let her see him weak, but he was holding back tears himself. These were difficult times.

They were lucky to have each other, and they both knew it too well. When Theodore was two he moved into a new mansion, which just so happened to be next door to where Astoria lived. They were instant best friends, and have been ever since. It is a great friendship because they really understand each other on a deep level. Plus, they are just too similar in the fact that they are so stubborn. The sky grew dark and the moon became their only light. The pair of best friends held on to each other tight until they had to go back at curfew.

When they arrived back at the Slytherin common room, Daphne was sitting with her legs crossed on a plush green coloured couch. There was a book on her lap, but she wasn't reading it.

"Where in the world have you been?" Daphne asked, "I wanted to talk to you."

"I was out by the lake with Teddy. What do you want?" Astoria questioned. She always wanted something, and they never had a genuine conversation. There is a reason why they were both placed in Slytherin.

"Well, I saw you talking with Draco for a while during potions," she began with a grimace, "And I wanted to know if he said anything about where he was going to be tonight…I can't seem to find him anywhere."

"I have no idea, sorry Daph. He didn't mention anything. But I really suggest you give up with the stalking." Astoria told her, "I don't think he is interested in talking to anyone." She remembered the pure hurt that was captured in his voice.

"You're just saying that because you want him all to yourself!"

"I don't think that's the case. I just can tell he doesn't seem like he wants to talk to anyone right now. Sorry to break the bad news to you."

"We'll see about that, Astoria." Daphne snapped, picking up her book and heading off to the girl's dorms. Theodore already went to sleep, so it was just Astoria here by herself. Her eyes focused on the cackling flames of the fireplace as she drifted off to sleep.

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"Have you thought of a way to perform your task?" Lucius Malfoy asked. His father's head was floating in the fire of Snape's corridors.

"A few things." Draco replied dully. "I'll be fine."

Lucius gave him a skeptical gaze, "Our reputation is on the line, Draco. You better think this over. I'll check in soon again." His father's face faded within the flames as Draco buried his face in his hands. He always knew it would come to this day, where he would have his final task in becoming a Death Eater. It should be easy, right? Nott killed Percy Weasley, and it didn't seem to cause him too much grief. He should be able to just gather up the courage and kill. He would never admit it to anyone, but he was afraid. Even if he did perform his task, he was subjected to a life of being a Death Eater. It was a life of just killing and torturing over and over. He was finding himself trapped in an endless cycle, and he didn't know what to do. If he didn't perform the task, he would end up dead. Draco did not feel like going back to Slytherin commons tonight. The last thing he felt like was Daphne bombarding him with questions and Blaise with his carefree smile. He made sure his wand was in his pocket as he walked back. After speaking the password clearly, he entered the portrait hole. It was past curfew and he saw only one person that had not yet went up to their dorms. Astoria Greengrass was sitting on the couch, with her knees pulled up to her chest. She was still in her school robes, and she sat upright at the sound of the portrait hole opening. "Oh...Draco, you scared me." She said in a low voice that was almost a whisper

"Sorry. I didn't think anyone would still be out here. I thought everyone went to bed." Draco told her. "Well, goodnight, I guess."

"Goodnight, Draco." Astoria said with a small smile. Draco was almost to the stairs when she stopped him. "I hope you are okay." She told him in a gentle voice.

Draco turned around to see her gazing at him with a serious but genuine expression. Her eyes were almost teary in the slight light of the fire. "I'm fine." He concluded as he continued to walk on. "But, thanks."

"Always." Astoria replied, but she wasn't sure if he could still hear her. She didn't know how much her words truly meant to Draco when she said them. It was going to be a long year.