Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series. In fact, I'm kind of glad I don't. It wouldn't have been nearly as amazing at my hands as what J.K. Rowling has produced. However, at least Draco and Ginny would have ended up together.

Wow you guys! Thanks for all the reviews! I'm glad you all like it and I'll do my best not to disappoint you guys. It's the least I can do for how amazing you guys are being. Please, keep it up! It makes me want to write.

Now, I have to go to class so I'll cut this not short.

Without further ado…

Chapter 3


Draco POV

I had been five days since Father had last gone down into the dungeons. I knew him well enough to know his tactic. The Weasley girl had proven stubborn and had refused to give into him. Instead hurting her he starved her, deprived her of water and all social contact. It was torture worse than most could bear. I felt my pity for the young girl grow each time I thought about it and each time I pushed it away. I could feel no pity. Malfoy's didn't feel pity.

I had been glad when he finally headed back down the stairs, house elf on his heels with a tray in hand. I knew he would not let her die, but she would be close to death by now. It would be the second time she felt the brush of death in a single week. I felt my distaste of this lifestyle I led grow greater as I watched him descend the stairs. I waited in his study for him to come back. I wished to talk to him as soon as he was done, when he'd be in the best mood. He always was after coming from down there.

Not long later, he returned with a gloating smile on his face. "She is as stubborn as a mule but like anybody, she broke," he said triumphantly. "It's just like breaking a horse. You just have to show them who is boss. When they learn to fear you and depend on you at the same time, you gain control over them. Ginny Weasley was no different."

"I'm glad to hear it," I lied smoothly, smirking at my father. "It'll be a week tomorrow. She will be ready, yes?"

"Of course, my boy," Father said with a cold laugh. "She will be within your sheets this time tomorrow."

I nodded to him, showing my gratitude. "Good," I said firmly, smirk still in place as I rose from my chair, now assured I'd be married tomorrow. Father didn't often break his word but I wanted to make sure he'd not put the Weasley girl at death's door again. If she died, I had no idea who Father would try to marry me too. I didn't particularly want to change having to be put with Pansy for the rest of my life. No word had come yet on if she was going to marry Crabb like rumors had stated. I would not rest easy until either she or I was married to someone else.

"Oh, and Draco," Father said, pulling me from my thoughts as I reached to open the study door.

"Yes?" I asked, giving him a questioning look.

"You will be moving into the west wing of the Manor," he informed me, leaning back in his chair. "The elves are moving you're things as we speak. You'll have a fine new place to settle into. Don't worry though, the doors are going to be equipped with the strongest of barrier spells. You're young bride won't be making any attempts to run away, or at least no successful ones."

I nodded my head, knowing it was best not to argue with him. "Thank you," I acknowledged. "I'll make sure things are put away correctly."

Finally dismissing me with a wave of his hand, Father let me leave. I turned again toward the door and shut it firmly behind me, letting out a sigh as soon as it was closed. I'd been in the same room in the Manor for as long as I could remember. I was just a few rooms from my Father's master suite. I'd grown up in that room. It was spacious and elegant, a study though one door and a privet bathroom through another. It had suited me well.

Now I was to move across the Manor into an entirely other wing. It didn't bother me in the least, the move, but it irked me that Fathered ordered it without my acceptance first. It was like him though and not unexpected. The west wing hasn't been used in years. It was an entirely other home within the manor. It was set up to house family that came to live in the estate, temporarily or permanently. Now it would be my home with the Weasley girl.

I had secretly hoped that Father would move me one of the other estates we owned, for we owned many. I'd have gladly moved, wanting to get out from under the same roof as the demented man I called my father. I'd wanted to leave since that day he'd murdered Mother, the only person I could remember who'd ever truly cared about me. A bitter tasted filled my mouth as I though back on that day. I'd never forget it.

But, I had to try as I pushed the thoughts of that day out of my mind. It was best not to dwell on the past for it did me no good, only serving to anger me further. Now that I was assured that I'd be staying within the walls of Malfoy Manor, I tried to at least be grateful that I'd be in my own wing about as far from Father as I could get. That was something at least.

Letting out a small sigh, I made my way over to my new quarters. I had to disarm the basic charms on the door to get in, simply security spells that would keep my new bride from making an escape. She'd not stand a chance though, not without her wand. I'd talked with Father about that the other day. She'd not get it back unless she was very good and even then, only after she had a child. It was only then could we be assured she'd not escape in the middle of the night. She'd not be able to leave without the child and it would not be able to be taken anywhere without my permission or that of my father.

Walking into the spacious wing, I took a quick look around. The small entrance hall led straight to the sitting room. It was filled with elegant furniture all situated around a large fireplace. Two halls led off the sitting room. On one hall there was a library, a study, a formal dining room and further down a kitchen and behind that elf quarters for those sent to serve me personally. Through the other hall were three bedrooms, the master suite at the end of the hall with its own bathroom and a balcony overlooking the gardens.

Unlike my old room, the one I'd be sleeping in now was decorated with a deep blue. Everything from the walls to the bed was covered in deep shades of blue. It was a calming color and a nice change after living in a green and silver room my entire life. Even at Hogwarts I'd been surrounded by it, especially at Hogwarts. In a way, I felt this room was much more mature and suited me better. I'd not be living in a room that reminded me what I was every second of the day.

Turning from the room, I saw the house elves moving my things scurry out of my way. I ignored them and headed to the library to see what books had been put there. If none interested me I'd demand them replaced with others. Walking through the high double doors, I felt myself surrounded by towering shelves of books. One entire wall was covered with windows stretching to the ceiling and the daylight flooded in, seeming much too cheery for my current mood.

Brooding, I paced the room looking for books that interested me, all the while my mind miles away, or rather two floors down in a small cell in the dungeon. I'd be married in no less than a day and it still felt very surreal. Now, my parents had been married simply to combine two strong families to make an even stronger one. Uniting the Blacks and the Malfoys had been a strong alliance. Father had actually been promised my mother's older sister, at least until the woman had run off with a muggle-born and shamed her family.

When that had happened, my father simply married the next in line. They held no love for each other, though I knew my mother had grown to care for the man she was married too. But even she, in later years, realized the kind of man he was. She never fought him though, never tried to leave. I think deep down she really did love him. But their marriage had not happened because of love. It had been an alliance of too pureblood families and nothing more. I'd never had any doubt mine would be the same. But I'd never imagined the Weasley's would be my in-laws.

Finally settling on a book about potions, I settled myself into an armchair by the fire the elves had lit as I wandered the room. Determined to drown out my thoughts, I ordered some firewhisky brought to me and I opened the book. Between the distraction the pages brought and the dulling effects of the drink, I soon forgot about my troubles.

But, hours later, I lay in bed thinking on them once again and this time with a throbbing headache. I wanted to get more firewhisky to drown out my thoughts once again but I knew it was the reason for the pounding in my head. Instead, I lay there thinking about the next day and what would happen. I'd marry Ginny Weasley. She'd be forced into my home, my bed, and bear my children. The idea didn't sit well for me. She was a blood traitor after all and, especially after what my father had done to her, she would hate me even more. It would not be a peaceful marriage.

I'd always imagined my wife would be a meek, timid woman who would blend into the background and obey me like Mother obeyed Father. I'd never imagined I'd have to marry a rebellious woman that hated me probably almost as much as she hated the Dark Lord himself, possibly more so after tomorrow. I had no doubt she would fight me tooth and nail, it was who she was. Even as a small eleven year old she'd stood up to me that day in the bookshop, so long ago, and she continued to be like that all through school. She wasn't timid or meek in any way.

As if my life weren't already difficult enough what with fighting a war I didn't want to fight. I was one of the most valued followers of a man I hated. I had been forced to kill people I had no reason to want to harm. I couldn't let my father see any of my conflicted emotions. I had to put on a mask even in my own home. I was forced to be someone I simply wasn't. And now to top it off, I'd have to deal with a wife I didn't want.

Groaning, I rolled over and pressed my face into my feather pillow, willing my thoughts away in hopes for a good night's sleep or at least a night where the faces of those I'd killed didn't haunt my mind. It wasn't long after that I slipped into a fitful sleep, face still in my pillow.

~!~!~!~

I awoke with a start, my skin covered in sweat and my head pounding. Sitting up abruptly, I tried desperately to return to reality, still seeing the faces of the dead swimming in my head as my nightmare faded into oblivion. I put my face in my hands, letting out a groan. No matter what, not even in sleep could I escape.

Looking over at the clock, I saw that I still had a few hours before breakfast would be served in the dining hall. Father would wish me to join him, despite the fact I now had my own dining room to myself. No, I'd eat with him still until I married, and even then he'd expect me and my new bride to join him on occasion. Sighing, I pushed the covers away from me, knowing I'd get no more sleep tonight.

Instead I headed into my new bathroom and turned on the tap for the shower. Only after the water was hot and the room filling with the steam did I step in, letting the warm jets of water wash over me, taking the nightmare down the drain with the water running off my skin. I put my face against the cool tiled wall, sighing as the water pounded on my tense shoulders. Slowly though, the tension eased and I finished my shower quickly.

Again I found myself in the library, determined to loose myself in a book. This time though, I forwent the firewhisky. It would not do to have my brain addled by the drink on such a day as this. Instead I turned to the pages of the book in my hand, my mind soaking in the information on the pages as the words helped me while away the hours.

"Young Master Malfoy," and elf squeaked, pulling me from my book sometime later. "Master Malfoy wishes you to join him for breakfast, sir."

Sighing I put down the book and dismissed the elf. Only after putting on my mask of happy arrogance my father had grown to expect from me, did I leave the safety of my quarters. I made my way quickly to the dining hall where I found my father waiting for me, the table already lain out with food.

"Draco," Father greeted, motioning me to take the seat at his left side. "I trust you slept well in your new accommodations?"

"Yes quite," I lied, giving him a smirk. "The place will suit me well after today."

He gave a malicious grin and nodded his agreement. "Yes, and about today," he started, motioning for me to begin eating. "You will be ready by eleven this afternoon. The wedding will take place in the Grand Ball Room at noon today, followed by lunch. Everyone will be attending; even the Dark Lord himself will grace us with his presence. It is a good sign that he approves so highly of this union. The Weasley girls past offences against him will be forgotten should she be good to you, prove an able wife and bare children."

I nodded, putting some food onto my plate, thinking. Knowing the Dark Lord would be there today made the event even more annoying. I didn't like being around the man that was more vile even than my father. I'd hoped it would be simple and quick, easily gotten out of the way. I should have known that Father would want to make a spectacle of it. I sighed inwardly, all the while smirking. "It's good to hear," I said without a hint of my hidden emotions. "I'll be ready."


Well, how was it? If it came off as a bit confusing, then I accomplished what I tried to do. I was trying to show Draco's conflicting emotions, confusion, and pain. He's a troubled man who does not get know is place, or at least not a good place. How did you think I did?

Oh, and sorry it wasn't longer. The next one will be bigger, I promise!

Well, keep up the amazing reviews you guys and remember that a happy author writes better and faster! So review and make me happy!