A/N:Thanks so much for all the reviews! keep reviewin, though, or withholding will be nesscesary:P Love you all! :3

The Great Hall seemed deafening as Draco stood outside, his heart pounding in his chest. Never before had his father put him in a situation like this, so Draco had no beginning of an idea as to what he would have to do to seem normal. Usually after his encounters

he would escape to his rooms for hours at a time, but with the Dark Mark ceremony he was sure all the faculty knew of was approaching, therefore his presence proved him innocent.

What would his fellow Slytherins say? Would they notice he'd been crying? Did they already know because of his behavior or their parents' connections with Lucius? Questions alike banged their way around in Draco's head, and he fought to keep his expression neutral as he strode inside the doors, missing the inquiring looks form all tables but his own, his destination clearly on his radar.

Pansy looked almost shocked as he sat down, so late to breakfast that Snape was probably glaring at him, but Draco paid him no mind, instead risking a glance at the Dumbledore. Safe, for now. To his chargrin Snape chose instead to rise from his seat at the head table and walked briskly over to him, stopping at his side and glarig down his hawkish nose.

''Mr. Malfoy, do you have any idea of the turmoil you caused by sleeping in? Thanks to your tardiness, Dumbledore has insisted I change all your curriculum so that you will be in no way able to escape without him or McGonagall knowing! There was almost a search party sent out after you to ensure your presence. Are you happy?'' Snape hissed down at him, making Draco's blood boil and tears well at the mention of sleeping in. Reigning in his emotions, he snapped, ''Happy? As if you have any idea...'' he trailed off, not wanting to give way to the humiliation of the situation. ''Never mind.''

''Fine then, continue your breakfast and go on to class. You have charms with the Gryffindors. Don't be late.'' His Godfather warned, his irritation plain.

''No worries, Sev, I'm already finished.'' he bit as he stood and stomped out of the Hall, just barely managing to escape behind a tapestry before the tears fell freely.


Harry watched from the Gryffindor table with his friends as a stress-ridden Malfoy came into the Great Hall and took his seat at the Slytherin table, not left in peace long before Snape marched over to him, unhappiness at the situation evident. Everyone knew the silent rule for the present 6th and 7th year Slytherins: Be where expected to be, on time. And Malfoy had just broken that rule.

Ron apparently couldn't contain his merriment at a Slytherin getting busted, and chose to laugh uproariously with Dean and Seamus at the ''bloody hilarious irony'' of the situation, not paying the retreating Malfoy any attention.

Harry soon followed on behind, mumbling an excuse to Hermione as she nodded, not taking her focus away from her book.

Not finding anyone in the Entrance Hall or left corridors, Harry went on to Charms, barely outside before the bell rang.


As Flitwick droned on about a new water charm they would be researching, Draco stared out the window, his usual attentiveness amiss. He had always wanted to impress Lucius with his school-work, but could never measure up to Granger, the Gryffindor Geek.

He ached in all sorts of places, and cuts and bruises twinged unhappily whenever he would fidget in his hard-backed chair. His mark itched, and he wanted to curl up and sleep from exhaustion right there in the Charms classroom.

The worst part of it all was that he had to sit next to a different Gryffindor every period, thanks to 'his' fuck-up of the day, in his godfather's eyes. It seemed that no matter how much he preened and showed off to others, he was never good enough for the ones he cared about. Neighbor to him was Seamus Finnigan, who just then blew up his fact sheets and quill with a practice water charm, for christsakes!

It was going to be a Long day.


Transfiguration proved uneventful, between his semi-decent partner (Thomas) and the blundering idiot (Weasley) that dragged away McGonagall's glare long enough for Draco to take a deep breath and wonder why in the hell everyone's anger was directed at him. It wasn't his fault, and it certainly wasn't like he asked to be a plaything for his father, the Dark Lord, and all of his followers in-between! Of course, none of them could know about that, since to take the slave mark you had to be willing, which under circumstances, Draco was. And no one could find that out, because while it wasn't the Dark Mark, it was almost twice as horrific to bear. Lucky for him, that wouldn't happen..until he got paired with the world's worst Potion-trainee, besides Weasley and Longbottom (thank Merlin he wasn't partners with that oaf).


Slouching in his seat was not an option under his godfather's stern gaze. Potter was seated next to him, supposedly just as miserable as Draco was about the now-permanent arrangement. Potter, like the blundering idiot he was, just had to put in newt's tail instead Barn owl feathers, creating and causing a new toxic acid to spray from the cauldron, all over Draco's left arm and robes as he threw an arm up over his face. Snape cursed and hastened over to them, at once trying to disrobe Draco, realizing what he was doing, he cried out and thrashed wildly, trying to get away. When at last all but his jeans and jumper came off, Draco cringed and tucked his arms up under his shirt, trying and failing to hide most of the bruises his generous torturer left for him. Quiet blanketed the room. Afraid to move, Draco instead kept his head firmly low, until Snape growled low in his throat and grabbed ahold of his collar, baring the rest of his throat. He knew his Mark shimmered, an emerald dragon surrounded by gaelic binding symbols gleaming; his damning permanent collar.