"Oh stop whimpering you insufferable brat! You're safe, no one will be able to find you here."

I felt a strong hand touch my shoulder—I flinched.

"Don't touch me!"

I heard a defeated sigh as I pulled my knees up and wrapped my arms tighter. I let the tears fall; I didn't care if my whimpers bothered him. I had never seen someone die before. A flash and he was gone. Was I not permitted a moment of shock?

"I was supposed to do it! Why'd you take that from me? That was supposed to be my task to fulfill, not yours!"

I flung myself into Severus' arms. I've never felt or shown this much emotion in my entire life. At sixteen I had only shed tears three times prior and most of that was done this past year. He wrapped his arms around me and softly patted my back.

"You're nothing more than a spoilt child Draco. You wouldn't have known what to do. You'd have failed."

His words stung.

"I would've taken his offer of protection, had you arrived alone you'd have seen my wand was lowering! Why did that thing come with them? I didn't want him at the school! I'm sure he's done damage to children—children Severus! I didn't want any of you at the school. I just, I didn't want to die."

I pulled away, wiping at my eyes with the edge of my robe and began pacing. What was to happen now? Where was I? Was I truly safe? Was Severus the only person I could trust right now?

"Draco."

What of my mother, what's going to happen to her? Father's failed and now I've failed. Surely the Dark Lord wouldn't put her in line of punishment for our mistakes—would he?

"Draco, stop pacing and sit down."

I merely fell on the couch, not caring about if it was proper or not. Albus Dumbledore was dead. The man not even two feet away from me killed him. The Dark Lord's only feared foe was now out of his way.

"Severus, I need to speak to Potter."

His jaw dropped as his eyes bulged. Perhaps that was the wrong thing to say in the situation we were in.

"What makes you think he'll even want to speak to the likes of you? You've tormented him for the past six years. Your father's tried to harm him, kill him even, what makes you think Potter will give you the time of day?"

I growled and roughly crossed my arms across my chest. I glared at him. He always had a way of making me see the error of my ways. He never spoilt me, despite what others thought. He sat down, a lot more gracefully than I had. He merely stared at me for a few seconds before leaning back in the chair.

"Are you finished your internal tantrum? Is your head clear enough to understand the reality of what's just happened?"

I nodded.

"Good. I'm going to relocate you, as long as I'm given permission. There is only one person who can vouch for you, do not mess it up. I mean that Draco. Do not roll your eyes at me, I can very well take you to the Dark Lord. You are on very thin ice, do you understand me?"

I nodded. Where was I going to go? The only person who could vouch for me is dead! Merlin, I hope he won't take me to the Dark Lord. I do not wan to take responsibility for my failed actions as well as my father's. Severus stood and with a swirl of his robes he was by his fireplace.

"I will return in a matter of minutes. If not, you will not leave this house till someone comes to get you. Do you understand? This is severely important Draco, you cannot let your childish notions of what it means to be an adult interfere. You are being forced to grow up tonight. Do not disappoint me Draco."

I didn't make out the location he disappeared to in a flash of green flames. He and I both knew I lied. He wasn't alone, the old fool wasn't alone but who was he—Potter. He has that bloody cloak he sneaks around in. But why where they there? There were brooms, where had they gone?

If Potter was there then he saw me lower my wand before that evil lot showed up. He knows I'm innocent! I didn't kill Dumbledore! He knows—he knows I'm a right selfish git for wanting to save my own arse as well as my mother. Merlin knows I've stopped caring about my father's well being.

Albus Dumbledore is dead. It's not one of his jokes, he will not bounce back up on his feet and those twinkling eyes will never…the only man who knows how cowardly I am is gone. I am just a spoilt git who only has ever looked out for myself. I cared nothing of others. The fireplace interrupted my train of thought. Severus returned with someone.

I froze on the couch, my eyes wide and glancing between Severus and the cloaked figure—surely he wouldn't have brought the Dark Lord to me? Would he?

"Draco, before I reveal who is with me, I must ask you to promise you hold your tongue. They do not need to be here and they surely do not need to be offering you help."

I could only nod. I saw a feminine hand peak out from the sleeve and push back the hood. The Weasley woman stood before me, next to Severus. She had tears still running down her cheeks but she had a fierce look of determination in her eyes. She moved to stand directly in front of me, placing her hands on her hips, looking down at me—I've never felt so pathetic before.

"Merlin knows why Albus wants you safe young man but because that's what he was trying to do before, before he died, will the Order permit you safe housing. The Order of the Phoenix supported Albus Dumbledore and all that was right. We are the Light side to this war and don't flinch at that word boy! That's what we're in the middle of, a war. That monster that came into that school hurt my eldest child tonight, my only daughter was used as a ploy through your father—no one will be thrilled with your presence. We only hope that Albus knew what he was doing when he offered to protect you."

I spared a fleeting glance towards Severus; he looked shocked at the words that had come out of her mouth. She was rumored to be the kindest woman he had ever met. Without warning she pulled me to my feet and pulled me into a hug.

"Severus will escort you to the room I've prepared for you."

She turned her attention to Severus now.

"No one is there, you almost missed me. The rest are at Hogwarts. I ask you stay with him Severus. I'll find his mother. Keep him safe."

With a loud crack she was gone. He strode to a desk in the corner—I just realize we were in his home. He tore a bit of parchment and scribbled something on it. He walked towards the fireplace.

"Come Draco."

Two weeks it was just Severus and I in the Ancient and Noble House of Black. A dimwitted house elf worshiped the ground I walked and next to Severus, a hideous portrait of someone I was related to were the only sources of conversation. I had explored every square inch of this house, due to the sole fact I had Black blood in my veins. I was in the tapestry room when I heard them—two male voices.

"…steady now, steady! Don't need you hurting yourself, are you quite ready to see?"

I heard a soft chuckle.

"I know where I am Remus, there's no need to make it a surprise."

Another soft, yet deeper laugh.

"I know Harry, I just thought, well we could all use a good laugh, especially now. He'd be proud of you, they all would. You kno—what are you doing here? I thought you were to leave after you've dropped off, erm, well?"

"You! GET OUT! You have no right being here! Get out!"

I heard shuffling and the rough sound of someone being restrained.

"Harry!"

"Harry!"

"No Remus, that man killed Dumbledore!"

I peeked through the crack in the door, glad to be in the shadows. Lupin had Potter in a rather difficult position, but Potter wasn't giving up. Severus was standing a few paces away. The look in Potter's eyes could kill.

"Where is he Snape? Where's Malfoy? Molly told me he was here, where is he? Malfoy, where are you, show yourself!"

I quietly opened the door and stepped out into the hall. I couldn't bring myself to look at either Lupin or Potter, instead focusing on Severus' feet and making my way to his side. Shame written all over my posture. With no warning I was roughly pinned to the wall, and I felt a harsh breath flit across my face. Green eyes were mere inches from my own, full of hatred.

"I was there. I know what happened. Lowering your wand does not make up for anything that's happened. If I weren't in a binding spell, I'd have tackled you to the ground the moment I saw you raise your wand at him. Your face would've been unrecognizable and your hair would've been stained red. You don't deserve the kindness Dumbledore's requested we show you. You're safe, our part is done. You will cook for yourself, Kreacher will not help you, and I will make that a clear order. You will clean up after yourself and you will make yourself scarce when I am here. Understood?"

His eyes narrowed as I nodded. He shoved me into the wall once again before storming off and up the stairs. I felt eyes on me, glancing at the two men only a few feet away I glanced down at my shoes.

"Dra—"

"Don't Severus. Just don't."

I went up the stairs to the room I was housed in. I locked the door behind me as I made way towards my bed. Severus was able to retrieve my trunk and a few of my belongings. I still hadn't heard word of my mother, my father was still locked in Azkaban and Severus, he's done what was asked of him. I heard a crash and then other noises of objects being smashed against a wall.

I threw myself across the bed, all of my frustrations have caught up. I heard footsteps outside in the hall as the first tears welled up in my eyes. The door across the hall opened and closed—Severus was retiring for the evening. Footsteps continued down the hall to where Potter was destroying whatever he could get his hands on it seemed—a knock broke the streak of crashes.

"Go away Remus!"

I heard a defeated sigh and footsteps return down the hall, they paused at my door before heading up the next flight of stairs. I cast a silencing spell and all noise ceased to exist outside of my room. I cried for the tenth time since arriving at this house. I had no idea what to do. Both sides of this war had a vendetta against me.

The only things I've been able to feel have been guilt and an immense amount of shame. I had no right to be here, despite my bloodline, this house belonged to Potter—it was passed on to him. I'm a missing person, one whom I believe my mother is the only one to care about. I let my tears fall freely, the sobs wracking my body as I clutch so desperately to the pillows provided me.

Severus' words came back to me as I drifted off to sleep; You are being forced to grow up tonight. I couldn't even do that.

Like I need to be starting another story! I entered this in HPOne-Shot contest in Mibba but I've decided I want to turn it into a chaptered story. So here's the start and as you can see, I've got plenty of options to go with the direction of this story! :D PS: I own NOTHING.