"You don't... want me?"

"No."

My eyes shot open, my hands flying to my ears to block the voice. But it was no use. It kept echoing in my head. No. No. No. No one wanted you. Worthless and vain. No one needs you. Jump... Jump...

I knew one thing was true: No one wanted me.

I tore the covers off and grabbed my Slytherin green robe, walking down the dormitory steps to the Common Room. Ever since I was a little girl, Mum had been watching over me, making sure I never got hurt. I always knew that one day I would, always knew that she couldn't protect me from everything. Whenever my feelings were upset, she'd sit me down in front of the fire with a cup of hot tea and she'd just hum a lullaby.

Now she wasn't here. I sat in front of the fire empty-handed in the silent room. No lullaby. No tea.

"Why don't they want me?" I muttered to myself, confused. I was beautiful. Nearly everyone drolled over me. But not one wanted me for a wife. No one wanted me for a girlfriend. I was a one night stand kind of thing. They all promised they'd be different. Always promised they'd be around.

They all lied.

"Because they're idiots."

I jumped, caught unaware by the presence of someone else in the room. Draco. "How do you sneak up on me all the time?" I grumbled to myself.

"You just drop your guard around me," he said cockily.

I rolled my eyes, turning to face the fire, "I hate you."

"I know."

A smile tugged my lips at that. The flames crackled once more, casting long shadows across the room. "What are you doing down here? It's past midnight."

"I could ask you the same, Snape."

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eyes to see the bags under his eyes. He hadn't slept either. "Nightmares. I've been getting them since the war started... Mum's worried sick... Dad's off to the Dark Lord..."

"Same," Draco Malfoy muttered.

I pulled my robe closer to me, my knees tucking up against my chest as we were silent. Ever brilliant, the fire crackled.

"He's going to Mark you, isn't he?" I said softly.

Draco glanced at me, nodding, a sad smile on his face, "Yeah. He probably will."

I bit my lip, nodding, "I don't know if he'll pick me. I'm not much of a fighter, you know? But... if he does, I won't really have a choice. It's either do or die with him."

Pale, Draco nodded, "Yeah."

I rested my chin on my knee, "I don't want to kill people... I might want to kill Potter, but I don't... I don't want anyone to die."

Draco glanced at me, "Not even Thomas?"

A felt white hot anger flood through me, "He's getting it later," I muttered. "Mark my words, Malfoy."

Malfoy chuckled quietly, "You should have hexed them right there."

"I figured," I smirked, "that when they couldn't sit down in class, they'd get more points off."

"Quite well thought out, aren't you?" Malfoy teased lightly. "Why aren't you a 'Claw?"

I shrugged, and the robe dropped. I reached for it, but Malfoy had already replaced it on my shoulders.

"My father's back home," Draco informed me after my robe was secure around my shoulders. I glanced at him, in surprise. He didn't seem too happy about this. His biceps ripped under the thin white t-shirt that clearly showed off his well-toned form. His green pajama pants looked nearly blue in the firelight.

"You don't sound happy," I observed.

He shrugged, "It means that big things are going to happen with the Dark Lord."

"Oh...Oh," I understood. With his father home, he'd be given the Mark, no questions asked.

"You're quite lucky your father is the Dark Lord's right hand man."

"While I'm lucky, it's also not a good thing," I told him. "The Dark Lord requested my presence at a meeting over the summer, near June. Apparently I had spying potential."

Draco winced, "Oh."

I smirked a bit at that. "Yeah, oh. I'm barely sixteen. How am I supposed to spy on anyone? I stand out in a crowd..."

"Yeah, you most certainly do," Draco muttered and I don't think he meant for me to hear. "Look, I'm really sorry about what I said last week."

"I know I'm unbearable," I told him. "Dad says it all the time. My ex dumped me because he didn't want me. I mean, you aren't the first one to say it."

"I didn't mean it like that," the silver Slytherin Prince insisted. "I meant, you look like you're frigid, but... you're not so bad once you get to know you."

I rolled my eyes, "That makes me feel loads better."

He chuckled, "It should."

"Well it doesn't," I sighed.

It was silent for only one second before Draco lept to his feet, "Come on." I stared up at him, in confusion. His hand was bent down to me, and I raised my own, taking it. After he hoisted me to my feet, he started to pull me from the Common Room.

"This is ridiculous, Malfoy," I insisted. "Where are you taking me?"

"You'll see," He called over his shoulder. I pulled the robe around me as we climbed nearly a mountain of steps. "Do you trust me?"

"No, why in my right mind would I-" I answered, laughing a little at the expression he gave me, and not finishing. Merlin, he better not be taking me into a broom closet to snog me... He'd get an elbow where it hurts, that's for sure.

Thanks to SlytherinBaby98 and her sister:P (You guys are really keeping me motivated about this story:P) Review, everyone, please?

Disclaimer: (For the entire story) I do not own the rights to Harry Potter, nor any of the other characters, or aspects of their world. J.K. Rowling, the brilliant, magnificent mastermind of this fantastical world does. J.K., I wish you were my godmother... I don't think I'd ever shut up about Harry Potter when in your presence... Anyway, the plot belongs to SlytherinBaby98 and myself, so you can't use that! (: Cheers

- Wynde