Author: Iris Wood

Title: Broken Ice

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters that are canon.

Pairings: DM/HP

More complete author's note is at the end.

Note: Bold Italics indicate written word.

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Chapter 1 Holiday at Hogwarts

Draco Malfoy pulled on his black gloves, the silver snake upon them a symbol of a very old lineage. No matter what anybody says, the Malfoy line is closer to the original Salazaar Slytherin blood than that half blooded fool could have possibly been.

Over the course of the thousand years, the Malfoys had been very hesitant in allowing other species to marry into the line, let alone muggles who were viewed as unworthy trash. Power and prestige was what being a Malfoy was about.

But over the course of the past two decades it has been shamed by the following of that fool as far as Draco Malfoy, heir to the Malfoy lands and name, held to be true. No matter what ideals he believed in, or how much power he was supposed to have, Draco Malfoy would have never kissed the hem of that half blooded fool with delusions of controlling the world.

No matter what his father may have believed in, Draco Malfoy only had recently cared for one thing: his approval. So a portion of Draco's childhood had been filled with the talk of the Dark Lord rising again and how the Malfoy family would be at his side.

Subject to learning the Dark Arts since he was a small boy, Draco had a large arsenal of dark magic buried deep within his psyche. The wards upon the Malfoy Manor were so strong that even the Ministry had been unable to detect them.

However, it can be said that that darkness in his soul was mirrored with his listening of tales of the Boy-Who-Lived. He was the good that was the thorn in the side of evil.

Unluckily enough for the eleven year old, he had been brushed aside by the great Harry Potter for a Weasley. They really were the opposite end of the spectrum from the Malfoys. Draco Malfoy had been snubbed for trash! But as Draco gained those early years, he was jealous that the Golden Trio had something that Draco had not: true friendship. The Slytherins in his year held one belief and that was loyalty to those who had power and that was the Malfoy name.

His was the family who had been the right arm of the Dark Lord.

However, at the end of his fifth year, everything as he knew it changed. His father had been caught; there had been no possibility of denial that it was Lucius Malfoy who had been arrested doing something he shouldn't have. It had been that Potter boy who had landed his father in Azkaban.

While it was very highly likely that the Dementors would turn and leave the prison, the Ministry of Magic had passed a new law saying that Death Eaters were to be put in a magical coma until the time of trial. About a dozen Death Eaters had been put into that coma; yet those days seemed like a lifetime ago when his grief and anger had been strong. Many things had changed for him personally and in the Wizarding World.

The young Malfoy heir fixed the clasp on his cloak. A broach held it shut, another sign of the Malfoy line. His seventh and final year at Hogwarts was half way through and the heir knew that the Malfoy family lands would be his once he graduated. Actually, they had became his after his seventeenth birthday, but he was staying at Hogwarts until he finished his schooling. Nothing would stand in his way of being his own person.

Next, the young heir slid his wand up his sleeve. He was ready to face the winter outdoors. His pants were specially made jeans from a London company which were charmed impervious to the wind. Two long sleeved thermal shirts, a wool jumper, and a thick cloak protected his body. Upon his feet were trainers that he had acquired in London before seventh year, and socks that were charmed to keep the wearers feet warm. His hands wore gloves that were dragon hide with the family crest on them. Also in his hand now he held the cap that he had received from his god father before his first year; Severus had charmed it so it would grow as he grew. In his other was the Slytherin house muffler that would be applied right before his exit into the winter.

Stepping up to the mirror in his Prefect quarters for Slytherin, he checked his own image out. The mirror made a comment that Draco chose to ignore. No one told him how to dress, or how to act, but he respected the school rules. After all, his god father was Deputy Headmaster and Draco was prone to the leniency reserved for that front. Even he was not to supposed show favoritism though it was evident. After the tragic death of Narcissa Malfoy last year, Severus Snape had become the young heir's legal guardian.

Exiting from the Prefects' room and into the Slytherin Common Room, Draco shut his door and whispered the password that locked and put the concealment charm upon it. To no one's surprise a tree had been decorated and laden with gifts from families. About a dozen plus Slytherins had remained at Hogwarts over the Christmas holiday.

With the events of last year only one Slytherin would be graduating this year with him: Theodore Nott. Nott had not answered the call last year; neither had Draco, but for different reasons. In fact, only a total of five Slytherins had graduated last year with only about half the Ravenclaw class.

The rest had died in the call to the Dark Lord.

Christmas cheer had permeated the cold dungeons. Someone had hung mistletoe over the main entrance to the dorms.

The couch in front of the fireplace was charmed to wish Happy Christmas to anyone who sat upon it.

A sixth year by the name Cortez had managed a set of snowmen that went about insulting people and then wishing them a Happy Christmas; the rather brilliant work of magic was currently insulting a third year boy whose name Draco had never bothered to know.

Draco moved through the common room avoiding the second snowman. Not a single Slytherin said a word to him, only one even acknowledged his passing and that was Nott. The said young man was reading a text curled in a black chair over by the bookshelf. The two men made eye contact and briefly nodded to each other before one turned back to his book and the other continued through the entrance/exit.

Dear Sirius,

It's the holiday and right now I'm stuck at Hogwarts. Ron's with Hermione skiing in Switzerland with her family. They had finally become a couple, but a couple of what I'm just not sure of.

Ginny's here, her mum's not doing so great, but Mrs. Weasley says it's just simple aging. Mr. Weasley was attacked last month by some rogue Death Eaters. They even showed the Dark Mark in the sky afterward. Some are speculating that it's the sign of a revival of Death Eater activity. But the majority overruled the Minister's idea that something was about to happen.

What do minds think these days? First they refused to believe Voldermort had returned. It was only when Fudge had admitted to seeing him in the Ministry and resulted in Lucius Malfoy being captured did the Minister change his stance. Within that summer break the wizard world was crisscrossed by a plethora of his sightings. Reports were just that until that November day when the Death Eaters had kidnapped the Minister and his personal assistant, Percy Weasley. In theory, they portkeyed the Minister away and Percy Weasley had been touching him at that moment.

The two of them had been missing up till the holiday when an owl had delivered a package to Albus Dumbledore here at Hogwarts. Remember it well I do.

Plain and simple box, tied with a ribbon. Within the box was an ear from both Fudge and Percy with a lock of hair. When opened the Dark Mark appeared above the Headmaster's chair for all to see. It was later known that the Dark Mark had been cast upon the lobby entrance inside the Ministry of Magic and on the front door to the Daily Prophet.

With a message both vague and clear, public out cry was immediate. Clamor erupted and by New Years, Arthur Weasley had taken the position of Minister of Magic.

Poor Mrs. Weasley. One son dead and her husband had been placed in the seat of danger. Those were very dangerous times.

But enough of the past for the moment. Now won't bring back all those who had died. Now, will not bring back you, Sirius.

War changes the lives of all those who were affected and shifts the perceptions held. And my perception has changed in that year that had passed. After the death of Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall became Headmistress and Professor Snape had become Deputy Headmaster. With that new change, Snape now had different reasons to live.

But the most change I've noticed was in one Draco Malfoy. Say it, my second worst enemy for so many years. After that incident at the Ministry, yes the one where you had passed through the Veil, Lucius Malfoy had been placed in a coma after the passing of a certain magical decree last summer. That action was the last one Fudge would pass as Minister of Magic.

When the Dark Mark had appeared, my eyes immediately raced to the Slytherin table. Those at the table passed through a range of emotions and not for the first time that year my eye had become train on the Slytherin.

His eye was on his cup and his face was set. While the hall erupted in motion, Malfoy was still and it was then that I noticed he was stirring his dark drink without touching it or with his wand.

Everyone was in action and I just watched the blond. Oh Sirius! Finally after the longest moment in history, he lifted his cup to drink and his eye met mine. Even from the next table over I could see the glossiness of those pale gray eyes. His pale skin had a slight pink hue to it, and his lips were in an O while holding that cup in mid air. The Slytherin tipped his cup to me before blinking and drinking the contents.

By this time, Hermione had been pulling on my sleeve and telling me to move. I broke my eye contact with Malfoy to look at her and to stand. The Dark Mark was still in the air above the Headmaster's chair. Glancing back at the Slytherin table, I searched out Malfoy again, but the table was vacant, only half eaten Danishes and dirty plates remained.

Now that time has passed since the events of sixth year, I've had time to think about everything. Everything! Thanks to Ginny who is my closest confident, even over Ron and Hermione. Oh and Draco Malfoy whose inaction has given me strength to continue to live and to train.

I will continue to be the Boy-Who-Lived and I will accept that fate. Whatever fate may have in store for me now after last years' events . But whatever happens, I will not forget to live and maybe even get to love.

The future is uncertain, but whatever happens, I want...

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Harry Potter slammed his personal journal shut. He'd heard the soft breaths of someone nearby. Without any shame, he would admit he had been writing with blinders on. Curled up in a nice chair by the fire with a blanket wrapped around him, the Boy-Who-Lived had the book propped upon his bent knees writing.

Perched right above him was Ginny Weasley with her arms crossed over the back of the chair. Her face held a light and emotion that had become his light. The youngest Weasley had remained at Hogwarts for the holiday. Her red hair's clipped back away from her face to let the bottom waterfall onto her shoulder.

"I know what you want," Ginny leaned in and whispered to him. Her voice held a teasing tone and a succulent promise.

Harry turned his head so he was inches away from her nose. They stared into each others' eyes for what seemed like an eternity.

"Then you know you can't provide," Harry whispered back in his most husky voice.

The two started giggling, the smiles lighting up both of their faces. The redhead reached down and lightly slapped Harry on the cheek.

"Mr. Potter, to think that you've been leading me on for all this time," Ginny said with a genuine smile.

"Just for the attention," Harry intoned back bringing the smile into his eyes.

Before Harry could blink, Ginny had pulled her wand and whispered an incantation that made the chair spill its contents.

The look of surprise on Harry's face was priceless. Where was Colin when he was needed? Ginny stood to the side of the righted chair with a triumphant look and stance above him.

"That was for dumping me," Ginny said in her most serious voice.

"You dumped me!" Harry said in a parallel serious voice while clutching the journal in his hands.

"You're right, I just did," Ginny laughed and held a hand out to Harry to pull him up. But instead Harry pulled her down into the floor, into his arms specifically. He wrapped his arms around her.

"What would I have done with out you, Ginerva Weasley?" Harry whispered into her ear.

"Harry James Potter," small pause, "would have killed himself." Ginny spoke low and directly into his ear. This part was directed only to one person because only one person knew this. She hugged him back.

"You're right," Harry whispered back.

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The hallways between the dungeons and the Great Hall held few people. Draco was making his way outdoors, but on a personal principle, the blond always passed by the Hall to spy upon a certain green eyed Gryffindor. Not that Draco would ever have admitted that he notices these things, but he watches and had noticed the changes through the second half of last year.

Swiftly he passed the entry to the Great Hall while noticing all four tables with a small twist of his head. Being able to take in every detail of a room with a single glance was a skill his father has taught him many years ago. It was a skill he was always thankful for learning.

The Great Hall held its usual Christmas spirit. Multiple trees were decorated: one for each house and the main one behind the teachers table. Each house had decorated a tree in its respective colors. The silver and green tree had a star placed upon it personally by Draco.

Second, the star upon the scarlet and gold tree had been placed by the green eyed Gryffindor; in fact, Draco had watched green eyes delicately levitate the star upon the tree, the said face in a sweet concentration.

Ravenclaws' had been placed by Mandy Bucklehurst. And that last house had been crowned by Hannah Abbot, who is also Head Girl this year. Head Boy this year is Anthony Goldstein, a Ravenclaw.

After a brief glance, Draco did not see that green eyed Gryffindor. Pockets of each respected house sat at their own tables with the largest group being at the Hufflepuff table. At the Head Table his Godfather was listening to a one sided conversation from the new DADA for the year. The look upon Severus's face was one of very hidden amusement.

Wrapping the muffler around his neck, the Slytherin had reached his destination. It was a doorway out to the snow, out to the cold, and out to an imagined freedom.

Second, he pulled the cap up over his head and ears.

In the distance, the Entry Way clock struck two.

There was enough time between the early lunch he had taken in his Prefects room and the dinner in a few hours to accomplish what he had planned.

Finally, the Slytherin opened the door and a blast of ice cold air struck what minimal skin showed. Everything is blanketed in white snow! It covered the trees, the ground, and everywhere the eye could see, all the way down to the lake.

The snow wasn't fresh, but it wasn't an old snow.

It wasn't as good a snow as it was during the Slytherin-Gryffindor snowball fight of a few weeks ago just after the last mid-term.

Grudgingly, Draco would admit that Gryffindor won the war, but not without a couple of good strategic moves planned by himself personally.

However, his favorite strategic move of the day happened after the match. The Slytherin had strategically knocked down green eyes and landed on top of the said Gryffindor.

The rest of the seventh years had cast daggers, but Draco saw the blush and glint in those green eyes. It was the same glint that Draco himself held.

The move was well worth it.

All those layers were well necessary, comfort is a must for the amount of time Draco planned to spend outside. Blue skies were nil and white had permeated the sky as if one giant cloud.

To make his way down the snow covered path was an easy task. He simply charmed his shoes to walk upon the snow. Said charm was one he had learned in extracurricular studies. Draco had found such charms very advantageous over the long Scottish winters.

Paying only minimal attention to his steps, Draco knew the path down to the water's edge like a charm.

The weather is a dead cold. No wind blew, not a thing stirred, not even the fox that Draco knew that lived by the tree he had just passed.

Even the Forbidden Forest in the distance was white but still remained dark and ominious.

Step by step, the Slytherin left foot prints in the snow. Somehow, Draco knew that the same prints will be there on his return up, for a fresh snow was not expected that afternoon.

Finally, he arrived at his intended destination. In front of him is a tree on the bank of the lake. A couple years ago he'd spied on green eyes studying with friends under this very tree.

Since that time, Draco had found the tree to be an advantageous place to dream and make his destination as the reference point along the lake. It had also become symbolic because it was the place Draco longed to hold such familiarity with green eyes, even to the point of a recurring dream with him under that tree.

He placed a gloved hand upon that tree, as if he were able to sense or see some of the memories the tree held. Said tree was covered with snow; every branch covered completely. With one light jostle the tree would go bald.

The lake had frozen over into one giant ice shield. From his bank to the distant bank, it was completely covered in snow, at least a few inches.

It was anyone's guess as to where the Giant Squid went when the lake froze over, but it was rumored that it went and visited his distant cousin the Loch Ness monster. Really.

Pulling out his wand with his gloved fingers, he whispered an incantation that he had picked up for the winter months. Simply said, the adapted wind spell blew the snow off the ice cap from here to the distant bank.

With a huge gust of wind, the snow was displaced in a mini blizzard off to the sides. It was as if a giant muggle snow globe had been shaken and the snow settled away from his part of the lake.

Next, the young Malfoy heir stepped down to where the ice overlapped onto the shoreline. Pointing his wand down at his trainers, Draco transfigured them into a pair of ice skates. Similar to a boot, they had a cursive DM on the outside leg and the Slytherin shield on the inside leg. His pants had automatically covered the tops of his skates.

The transfiguration he'd learned in his first year. While visiting some relatives in France during his Christmas break when he was a first year, an older cousin had taught him the trick and how to skate. It had become one of those muggle things he enjoyed.

His father had never learned of this love.

Every year since, Draco ice skated during the cold winter by himself. In those few times Draco actually went home for Christmas, the young Malfoy always made time to skate around those times. Ice skating had become a tradition.

It was the main reason Draco went out.

No one had ever accompanied him out to this private pleasure.

Slipping his wand back up his sleeve, the young Malfoy stepped onto the ice. Even though he only skated once or twice a year, Draco had become a skilled skater.

Ice skating gave Malfoy a chance to be alone and not have any concerns: no worries out here, just him and the winter around him. His mind could wander on whatever subject he wished. With each simple movement, Draco felt himself relaxing mentally.

Last year, Draco had skated the day after Christmas; that day was forever scared by the Dark Mark appeared above the Headmaster's chair.

He'd skated in an attempt to forget how much his life had changed.

His dad was in a magical coma, no longer a presence, an influence, or a factor in how he lived his life.

Despite what other people might have believed, Draco did love his father and wanted his father's approval.

So, the Slytherin studied to be top in the class, become a Seeker on the team, accepted being a Prefect, and had become top of the Inquisitorial Squad under that bitch Umbridge, not that he liked that bitch anymore than anyone else did.

One minor reason was that she had banned the Gryffindor Seeker from his team. His only real competition had been exiled from the game; after all, that was a constant goal: to beat Harry Potter.

When the Dark Mark had appeared, Draco had been lost in memories about his father.

Learning to ride a broom.

Falling out of a tree on the manor proper and his father reprimanding him and then kissing the bruise better.

Spending time as a family with his relatives in France before he started Hogwarts.

When sitting upon his knee listening to tales of the Dark Lord and the Boy-Who-Lived, Draco's admiration for Harry Potter had first been seeded. When the boy had rejected his hand for a Weasley, Draco made it his lot in life to still be a part of the boy's life, not as a friend but as one to spice up his life.

Just as the Great Hall erupted in motion, Draco had lifted his coffee and was surprised to make eye contact with the boy. Grey eyes met the green orbs and Draco felt his entire world stop.

Even if it only lasted for a few seconds, Draco knew that the boy had just seen something privy to his soul.

Draco had tipped the coffee toward the Gryffindor in a salute. Then that Granger girl pulled his attention away and Draco used the moment to follow the orders of returning to the dorms.

Christmas had been just a week after that snowball fight and when Draco had brought himself upon the boy. He had been quite amused at the look upon Potter's face with Draco face less then a foot above him. Potter's friends had pulled the Slytherin off the other boy and they pushed him away, but not without cracking an insult at him. A slight blush upon Potter's face was the only thing Draco cared about. He was just so cute with his glasses askew and that blush. The moment was well worth it.

It was with that thought of cute that Draco spun back around to face Hogwarts and that tree. He slowly skated backwards facing the shore with about a hundred meters separating him from the shore.

Twisting his right foot slightly, Draco felt a difference in the ice beneath him.

With a movement of his left foot, Draco heard the cracking of the ice beneath him. Changing his balance to still his movement, he felt himself freeze.

His eyes widened as the ice beneath his skates splintered.

Before he could blink, he felt the ice cold water sting his eyes and face.

It was like nothing he had ever felt before.

It enveloped him in an icy embrace.

Weighed down by his cloaks' heaviness, Draco moved his arms to try and do something.

But he found he could do nothing.

The cold invaded his lungs and the Slytherin blacked out.

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Yes, it's another story from Iris Wood. But with this one I promise to finish it. It has great potential. Many chapters are planned out and about a total of three parts to the series, which I haven't thought of a name yet.

I've only ice skated a couple times in my life, after all, I live in Central Florida. (Lots of free time on my hands due to the hurricane to write this). Sorry that most of this fic is Draco centric, but I can assure readers that Harry will play a very large role in the series.

Any errors with this story are mine.

Please forgive me if the spacing is a little off. I work better with paragraphs and professional writing. Separating paragraphs in the style of fan fiction was a little hard for me. That may also be why when my other fics are examined, the style maybe a little unconventional.

Before anybody asks about more details on the Sixth year events, things will be revealed at my own leisure.

No, Ginny and Harry were never a couple. It could be said that they are beyond friends.

If there was any doubt in anybody's mind, Sirius Black is dead. At the moment .

Please, PLEASE hit the little review button down below.