Chapter 1

Draco sat in the library of the Malfoy Manor, trying to keep his mind off of everything. For the last six months, he had kept his nose in a book, hoping that maybe all the novels and different forms of literature would keep his thoughts from wandering. He was surprised that he could recall his mother's murder without flinching, as much as he missed her. He was equally surprised when he could calmly remember watching his father sacrifice himself for the girl who had peaked Draco's interest.

It was said girl that he didn't want to think about. When his father had taken the Avada curse for her, she had transformed into something resembling a small dragon. He remembered hearing his father mutter something under his breath as they watched.

Maledictum Draconis.

Curse of the Dragon. It had been embedded into her sometime before the battle. He watched, his heart breaking, as she transformed from a young, beautiful woman to something he couldn't even recognize. He stared, wondering why she had to live with such a curse. He watched her take a Snatcher into her dragon-like mouth, watched her rip him limb for limb. The woman, who normally would not have hurt a fly, was now brutally killing any Death Eater that came near her.

He remembered the flash of white next to him, watching his father run strait towards her. It was then that he noticed Fenrit Greyback, his wand pointed at the creature before them. He watched his father jump between the creature and Greyback just as a flash of green light left Greyback's wand.

What happened next shook Draco to the core, and made him wish he could forget the whole incident.

She had turned to face Greyback and Lucius, the words of the Killing Curse fresh from Greyback's mouth. Draco had fallen to his knees as his father's death, and to his horror, she had begun to nuzzle him. He thought for sure that he was going to watch his romantic interest rip his father's body to pieces. Instead, she nuzzled him a couple of times, then lifted her dragon like head and unleashed a deafening roar. She stepped over Lucius' body, took Greyback into her mouth, and ripped him like a rag doll.

Then she turned to him.

Her eyes were still the same. The transformation had not changed them. They held a look of sadness, a look of pain. She lifted the dragon-like head, sounding of another roar. He knew then it was a roar of grief. His heart had screamed for her, even as she pumped the wings that grew from her back. He watched her fly away, wondering if he would ever see her again.

He took a sip of his tea. He didn't want to remember watching her frail form distort and twist before him. He just wanted to sit and read.

A knock at the door pulled his attention away from his book. He marked the page, placing the book on the coffee table.

"Yes," he called.

"Someone is here to see you, Master," the small, scared voice answered. He sighed. He didn't want them to be scared of him. He wasn't like his father, and he never would be. He wanted to change what people thought when they heard the name Malfoy. He knew it would take a while, but he didn't think it would take this long.

"Let them in," he ordered. The door opened, and his former enemy, Harry Potter, walked in. They had become friends since his father's death, and he was glad to have at least one person he could talk to.

"Malfoy," Harry greeted. Draco nodded in response. Harry sat in one of the empty arm chairs. "How are you holding up?"

"Trying to keep my mind busy the past few months," Draco responded. He could see a smile tugging at the corners of Harry's mouth.

"Well, I do have some good news for you," he muttered. "If you want to call it good news." Draco gave Harry all of his attention.

"Is it," he began, his voice trailing off. The dark-haired man nodded. Draco felt his heart flutter in his chest, and it became hard for him to breath. "Are you sure? Maybe it's just someone who looks like her. Maybe she's-"

"Malfoy," Harry cut in calmly. "It's her. They found her in Spain. She's in rough shape, and she's not fully aware of what's going on around her. She's been calling your name since they found her." Draco bit his lip.

"Is the curse still in her," he whispered, terrified of the possible answer. Harry shook his head.

"They've got it out of her," he explained. "It wasn't in that deep, so it only took about a week."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier," Draco questioned.

"I didn't want to return her to you with that curse still in her," Harry answered. Draco closed his eyes and thanked Merlin that she was alive.

"When can I see her," he croaked.

"Whenever you're ready," Harry replied. "She's at St. Mungo's." After a few moments, Draco finally opened his silver, tearful eyes.

"Thank you."