A/N: This story is taking place during their third year at Hogwarts. I in no way, shape, or form own any part of Harry Potter, their characters, story lines, or anything else related to HP. Thank you for checking out my story!

Early Mornings

6:32.

His alarm clock was not even awake yet when his mother glided into his room. The bright sun shown through his eyelids as his mother waved her wand to pull his curtains back. He attempted to cover his face with his black satin sheets but they vanished within his grasp.

"It is time to rise, my dear. Father will be up soon and you must be ready to greet him." He could hear the fear in her voice. He didn't want to see him either. Ever since he started at Hogwarts he hated returning to the Manor. The walls seemed to carry more secrets each time he returned.

"Mum...it is not even seven yet. You know father doesn't wake before nine-"

"But it is the last day to go and retrieve your school supplies," Narcissa interrupted. He stared blankly at his mother. "Please, get dressed so that we are ready when your father is ready." At this last statement she turned on her heels and glided out of his room down the hall. Was it really time to go back? Back to his half brained entourage and the painfully annoying Gryffindor trio? He exhaled, dragged his feet to his bathroom and began getting ready. He smirked in the mirror after drying his face off with a dark emerald towel. At least he doesn't have a hideous scar across his forehead.

At nine his father came down to join them for breakfast. Draco continued to look at his food and avoid any sort of conversation with his father. They had been drifting apart and Lucius seemed too preoccupied in his mind to want to talk to his son anyways. They finished their meal in silence, occasionally hearing one of the house elves scurry past to clean up fallen food or to pick up the Daily Prophet Lucius carelessly dropped on the floor. As Draco went to stand up his father gave him a look that went straight through his body. His father's cold eyes made him uneasy and he was unsure how his father expected him to act. He sat back down without breaking eye contact. Sitting up straight he tried to fight the urge to look down at his lap.

"Sirius Black has escaped Azkaban. They have even informed the muggle world. What a pathetic group of individuals. Can't even contain one person and expect a bunch of low scum to help with their search. Sad excuse of a ministry we have. If I was in the ministry..." He trailed off and got lost in his thought. Draco still could not read how to respond so he sat quietly, waiting to see if he could read any of his father's cues. Suddenly his father's cold eyes were back on him. "We must go to Diagonal Alley to get your school supplies. I hope we don't run into any scum there either."

"I wish to not run into the Weasley family either. Everyone from that family is bloody annoying" Draco scoffed as he searched his father's eyes for approval. With no response he stood up from the table and excused himself. He went up to his room, changed into a fitted black shirt and jeans, and packed his wand in his pocket. He arrived downstairs to hear his dad mumbling crazily about work he had to finish. After the awkward breakfast with his family he was more than happy to spend some time with only his mother. He pushed open the heavy oak door to find his mother bowing to Lucius as he apparated away. Narcissa quickly straightened up and returned to her poised self. "Shall we head to Madam Malkin's first?"

After thirty minutes of fitting for new robes, over an hour in Flourish and Blotts waiting for the manager to control his new Care for Magical Creatures book, and twenty minutes in a store for Narcissa to admire enchanted jewelry he was ready for a break. He had only seen Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs so he really could not complain too loudly. But as he sat down at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor he knew his day was doomed. All he wanted was a nice peaceful day with his mother before leaving again for four months but the Gryffindors always ruin everything.

"Why would buy that thing after it tried to kill Scabbers!?" He could hear Ron screaming and already had a headache. Some witty comments came to mind but he decided to keep his mouth full of ice cream and tried to ignore them. He was making side glances trying to not make it obvious. Harry was his normal self, trying to calm Ron down about...well everything. Ron was exploding at Granger who looked as if she could care less about Ron's feelings and...she looked different. Did she get taller? Or maybe she changed her hair. The normal lion's mane was gone and soft, subtle curls were in its place. She looked pretty good for a, "mudblood" he whispered under his breathe. He quickly noticed his mother's facial expression. He stared for too long. "Now Draco," she started quietly. "That is no way to talk about a lady." She was half smirking and his stomach felt queasy. "Mum, you can't possibly imagine I would find anything about her attractive. She's annoying, cares too much about her grades, and is a mud blood. There is no way!"

"Oh stop being like your father, Draco. While blood lineage is important it is okay to have feelings. Just don't act on them. She has feelings too you know. She is still a human being."

"Stop it,mother. Do not start to fill your head with stupid ideas of me liking someone like that." Draco spat, now feeling too sick to finish his ice cream. Why was he having this conversation with his mother? She didn't understand what it was like to have Granger in class. Hand always raised, always knowing the answers, teachers always praising her. At least he had Snape on his side. At least he understood what he was talking about.

Finally the Golden Trio left and he felt relief. He quickly changed the subject and started talking to his mom about a new broomstick he saw in a shop window. After pleading he gave up, accepting defeat since he did get a new broom last year.

After a few quick stops in random stores they arrived back at the Manor. He brought his things to his room and decided to start packing his books in his trunk. He removed various articles from last year and placed them either in the trash or in a safe place. He placed his new robes, books, parchment, and other supplies in his trunk. He found his permission form to Hogsmeade on his desk and quickly shoved it into one of the pockets of his new robes. He found a few Galleons in the pocket which he quietly thanked his mother. Closing the trunk with a lock he collapsed on his bed. As he began drifting to sleep his mind began to wander back to Granger and how she had changed. She couldn't use a magical charm to make herself look better. Maybe she was using one of those weird heat contraptions he saw in a beauty shop while walking through muggle London. Or maybe she was starting to wear makeup. He quickly shot up and shook his head. No more thoughts of Granger, he mumbled as he took one hand through his hair.

"It is dinner time, dear" Narcissa spoke softly with a smile. Draco rolled his eyes and shifted his weight to his feet. As he exited the room he stared strongly at his mother. "Not a word to father" he pointed fearing what she might say. "Draco, dear. I may not look too bright but I do understand your father's feelings towards...certain people. Your secret is safe with me." She finished with a wink. His stomach began twisting once more dreading his last few hours at home. He began counting down the minutes until they would reach Platform 9 and 3/4 and he could escape the torment of his mother's cheerful attitude toward him.

A/N:Thank you for reading my first chapter...ever! Any reviews would be fantastic. Thanks a million!

-Rae