Notes: HERE'S PART TWO OF MY TWO PART SPECIAL~~~~~ By the way, Draco is gonna seem super duper EXTREMELY OOC in this chapter, but if you don't like it, too bad, that's how I'm writing him. Go read a different story!

Disclaimer: Blah blah blah, same as always, I don't own harry potter(wish I did though)


sometimes it's necessary to
share those things that lurk
deep within your soul, waiting
to be released into the light
where they can wreak havoc
or build unbreakable bonds.
Sometimes it's necessary to
share them with a stranger
-anonymous


Chapter 3: Meeting the Real Draco

Above her, Draco blinked twice before chuckling and extending his long pale arm.

"This is the second time we've met this way. Do you have a habit of spacing out?"

Elizabeth gulped and took the hand offered to her, allowing Draco to pull her up to her feet. Once she had her balance, she clasped her fingers and made it her personal mission to look ANYWHERE but into Draco's alluring silver eyes.

"Thank you," she murmured, "for helping me up."

He smiled at her, and she couldn't help but look back at his face; it was like some kind of force pulling her to him.

"No problem, it's only proper of me. Nice to see that you're talking now."

"Yes. I've realized that while I'm here I'll need to speak for myself more. My friend Chelsea used to speak for me."

"Why couldn't you speak for yourself?"

She felt her cheeks redden and frowned. Why does it embarrass you so much that he wants to know about you? Don't just stand there blushing, embrace the situation! What happened to the loud, obnoxious, annoying Elizabeth that was always around Chelsea?

"I was too shy. But I'm not going to be like that anymore!"

Draco's smile widened, showing pearly white teeth. He raised a hand up to his head, sweeping stray pieces of blond hair out of his face.

"Well then, I think that we should start over, starting with the introductions that we never got around to before." he said, sticking out his hand for a handshake. "My name is Draco Malfoy."

Faking a curtsy, Elizabeth grinned before grasping his hand and shaking it with vigor. "It's a pleasure to meet you Draco, my name is Elizabeth Dratter."

Pulling his hand away, Draco turned to the side, offering her his arm. "M'lady, would you allow me to escort you to a compartment where we can converse? I am oh so curious about you."

Elizabeth put a finger to her lips, mocking the boy in front of her, before deciding to play along with his little act and placing her hand on his arm. "Why thank you kind sir. That would be wonderful. The whole purpose of my visit to this section of the train was to see you anyways."

Draco stopped walking, and turned to her, pinning her to the spot with his wondering eyes.

"Oh? And why did you need to see me?"

Elizabeth lowered her head, suddenly fascinated with the carpet below her. It was a deep mahogany red with swirling gold threads, the perfect Gryffindor carpet. Elizabeth hated it.

"I needed to apologize for running off this morning. I'm really sorry. And also, now that I've apologized, I was wondering if you would let me follow up on your offer to be friends?"

Draco stared at her for a moment, truthfully dumbfounded before bursting out laughing. He continued to laugh hard for a few minutes, clutching his stomach and drawing stares from many of the nearby compartments. While he was laughing Elizabeth felt a cold feeling growing in the pit of her stomach. He's laughing at me. He wont accept my apology. He doesn't want to be my friend. Oh this was terrible idea! Maybe Ginny was right, maybe he is just a cruel person! Though he seemed so nice...and he was playing along pretending to be a gentleman while I was a lady on her way to a ball. Ughhh! Finally, after what felt like forever for Elizabeth, he stopped, pausing to wipe tears of laughter from his eyes.

"You really are a strange girl. Were you that worried because you ran off before we got on the train? You don't need to worry at all, I wasn't mad. Well, not mad at you. I was mad at Potter and his gang for interrupting our one-sided conversation, but I wasn't mad at you. More like in awe. you sure gave the Golden Trio a beat down."

He isn't mad at me? This is great! I was so worried! I dunno why...

"And sure, I'd love to be your friend. Though, I figured that after being in the same room and having a good-natured conversation, it was just a given. I could be wrong though, my only real friend is Blaise Zabini and I take full responsibility for that."

They had reached a strangely empty compartment, and he was holding the door open for her. She scurried inside, sitting down swiftly, and watching as he sat across from her in silence. His eyes had darkened and had a far-off look in them, like he was off in his own little world.

"I should have tried to resist more. It's hard though, when you grow up with Pureblood ways molded into your mind. I realized when I came here, Muggleborns are just as good as Purebloods. Hermione Granger's been teaching me that for the past six years. Father has followers though, my ex-friends. They're always watching...ready to report to him. He wanted to make sure that I 'uphold the Malfoy line' but by following that path I've dug myself a hole so deep that I'm doomed to be the hated Draco-Ferret-Malfoy for years to come after this blasted war. Doesn't matter which side I end up fighting for in the end."

Elizabeth could do nothing but stare. They had only been officially friends for less than a minute and he was already delving deep into his life story. Looking into his eyes, she saw unimaginable pain and sadness, like he had been to hell and back more than once. His body was shaking slightly, and more than anything Elizabeth thought he looked like he needed a hug. Throwing caution to the wind, Elizabeth decided that for once she was going to go with her instinct. Her eyes flicked over his form and noticed that he refused to meet her eyes.

Suddenly noticing that he was going to continue talking, Elizabeth bit her lip, halting her decision to wrap her arms around him, and bringing back the hesitant feelings. He turned his head slowly to look at her, and she almost gasped. His eyes were wet, like he wanted to cry, and Elizabeth knew that this was not someone who showed emotion often, so this was a rare occurrence.

"I'm sorry...I'm not usually like this." He chuckled slightly without humor. "My whole family, a line of emotionless fools. My grandparents dead, my mother a cold woman who refuses to baby her child, me a selfish, arrogant, prat, not affected by anything and my father. Merlin, my father. You know, all I've ever wanted, was to have a family that acted like a real family. A mother who smiled and encouraged me, and someone who acted like a-" his voice began to crack up, "who acted like a real father."

His voice broke at the last statement, and Elizabeth felt her caution fly to the wind. Who cared if they hadn't been friends very long? This boy needed a hug. Pushing off her seat, she rushed forward, wrapping her arms around the blond in front of her, and embracing him tightly, not speaking a word. He continued to shake for a few moment before Elizabeth felt a small wetness in the crook of her shoulder where his face was buried. He's crying...I don't blame him. He just told a virtual stranger some of his deepest feelings. I guess that's just what you need sometimes. She shifted them slightly, pulling them both down onto the floor of the compartment and leaning her back against the bottom of the benches. He didn't cry much longer, by while he did, she rubbed circles in his back, a trick that Diana Dratter had taught her while she was still under the illusion that she wasn't adopted.

Once his silent tears turned to slight sniffles, he pulled away from her, wiping his eyes and looking away from her.

"Thank you for telling me that." She whispered, trying to keep things from becoming awkward. His eyes turned back her way, meeting up with her green orbs, and he smiled slightly.

"I believe that I should be thanking you for listening and not judging. The stories that the Hogwarts Rumor Mill will tell are enough to make you hate a person before you even talk to them."

The sparkle was back in his eyes and Elizabeth felt herself extremely elated by this fact. Now it was her turn to steer the conversation away from his past, and onto hers. She could always interrogate him about it later when/if they became closer. She didn't want to make him uncomfortable before they had a chance to get to know each other better.

"Well, since you've enlightened me on a part of your past, I think it's time I told you something about me."

He turned his entire body so he was sitting in front of her, cross-legged, with an expectant look on his face. Suddenly nervous, she started twiddling her thumbs and looked down at her own crossed legs. Weird...I tend to be doing this lately. Looking down...

Then, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Eyes darting up, she was met by a reassuring face, and she instantly felt comfortable. Relaxing her shoulders, she began telling Draco Malfoy all about finding out that she was adopted and of magical descent. He was a good listener, only interrupting to ask important questions that he couldn't suppress, and Elizabeth got the feeling that he was truly interested. For the remainder of the long ride through the Scottish country-side to Hogwarts, Elizabeth sat in a compartment with Draco, telling him her entire life story up until then, and learning some very interesting things about him as well. She never questioned him more about his family life, but she got a very good insight on his life at Hogwarts and the many wrongs he had done, just to please his father and keep himself safe. By the time the Hogwarts rolled to a stop, Elizabeth felt that she knew Draco Malfoy very well, and that he knew her even better. Along with that, she was sure that they would be wonderful friends.


"...All through the summer I kept getting letters from Crabbe and Goyle about how great it it to be a Death Eater. It sickens me Lizzy! How can they be so comfortable sharing those kind of stories with someone who isn't even one of them? If they really think that I'm ever going to join them, they are so far off the mark they're in the negative numbers."

Elizabeth smiled softly. This was the closest Draco got to talking about his home life, letters from his friends.

"Personally, I think they were dropped on their heads as children. Either that or they've been hit by one too many hexes. You really chose a right crowd to hang out with."

"It's not like I want to be buddy-buddy with them. If I don't father will beat me again."

Draco didn't seem to realize that he had just revealed a fact about his home life, because he kept talking. Elizabeth however, had definitely noticed. Now Draco's voice was tuned out by her incessantly curious thoughts.

His father has beat him? Obviously on more than one occasion if he said 'Again.' What kind of a twisted evil man could do that to his child! I would hate to have a father like him...Wait, what if I do? I mean, there's always the possibility. Dumbledore refused to tell me my last name and he wouldn't say why, just that it wasn't important now and that it would be later. What if it's for my own protection because I'm the long lost daughter of one of Voldemort's innermost Death Eaters! Dumbledore did say that my parents were dead...but what if my birth parents were part of Voldemort's circle! I can't be a Death Eater's child! There's just no way! Actually...now that I think about it there's actually a high possibility that I am! Why else wouldn't Dumbledore tell me? UGGGHHHHHH!

"...izzy. Lizzy. ELIZABETH!"

Elizabeth jumped, hitting her head on to the ceiling of the carriage she and Draco we sitting in, and groaned loudly. After she finished rubbing the now aching top of her cranium, she turned to the other passenger in the compartment and glared.

"What the bloody hell was that for?" she growled at the laughing boy across from her. "If you're finished laughing, I suggest you sit up before I hurt you."

Something about her tone must have scared the blond Slytherin, because he was immediately in a seated position, no traces of a smile on his face after her statement. She raised an eyebrow, frown still in place, until her face broke out into joy and she leaned over, patting Draco on the head.

"What a good boy you are, listening to Master's commands immediately! Such a good boy! I'll have to express my gratitude to your trainers." She said in the sweetest voice she could muster. Then it was her turn to fall over from laughter. The now sullen boy scowled at her, before crossing his arms.

"I was just trying to get your attention to tell you that we've arrived at the gate, oh Oblivious One. We're getting off."

Elizabeth blinked before looking out the window and seeing that they had indeed stopped moving.

"You're right. We are here! Thanks for telling me~"

As if nothing had phased her, Elizabeth pushed the door open, knocking over poor Professor Flitwick who had been going around checking the carriages, and jumped out into the night. Letting out a string of tinkling laughter, Elizabeth spun in circles, trying to take in the sights around her all at the same time. Suddenly, she noticed Luna and Ginny walking up toward the castle a few yards away from her. Turning to Draco who was just stepping down from the Thestral drawn carriage (for some reason Elizabeth could see them), Elizabeth put on her best puppy dog eyes.

"Please please please Draco? Can I ditch you and go walk with Ginny and Luna?"

Elizabeth had told Draco how she felt that she could be good friends with the two girls, and surprisingly, Draco hadn't seemed to have a problem with it. She had questioned him about it, and he reminded her about how he was always acting under a facade while he was in Hogwarts. As it turned out, he had never had a problem with Ginny Weasley or Luna Lovegood. And, though he extremely disliked them and claimed that he still would have even if he wasn't pretending to be the good little Slytherin his father wanted, Draco didn't hate the Golden Trio either.

With a sigh, Draco nodded.

"I'm not the boss of you life, Lizzy. It's not like it's my job to go around telling you who you can or cannot hang out with. You don't have to ask me."

Elizabeth grinned and reached up to pat his cheek lightly.

"I know, but I worry about you Draco. If I didn't know that you could go off and find Blaise, I would feel absolutely terrible about leaving you all alone. Goodbye now, i have to catch up with Luna and Ginny before they get to the doors. Some short wizard named Flitwick is going to show me to Dumbledore's office before the feast so i can be privately sorted. Bye!"

With one last glance, she sped off up the hill to her other set of new found friends, smiling all the way. Being at Hogwarts won't be too bad. Draco said that if we're in different houses, we can have mock fights every day as long as we don't get in too much trouble. Plus, I've got Ginny and Luna as friends. I'll have to write to Chelsea, she'll be so proud of me. Heck, I'm proud of myself! Look out Hogwarts, Elizabeth No-Last-Name-For-Now-But-Will-Be-Going-By-Dratter is here!

Then, talking and laughing with Luna and Ginny, Elizabeth entered Hogwarts through the giant oak doors, unaware of what challenges the future would bring.


Notes: YAY! I updated AND I updated with two chapters~~~ I'm quite pleased with these actually...especially this one~ I know Elizabeth kind of had a character change too, but it's just her opening up to Draco and being her real self~ Hope you guys like it, please review! I love reviews, they make me super happy. But please don't yell at me for taking so long to update! I've been busy, but I got to it when I could. If I really felt that being a slacker, you might not have seen an update for months! Remember, constructive criticism is always welcome, and if you noticed any grammar errors please tell me so I can fix them. My chapters are only briefly spell checked, so there's bound to be some mistakes! Just make sure that if you notice that anything is amiss you tell me~
Next chapter is Elizabeth's Sorting, and I think we might learn some more about Elizabeth's past. Not sure yet. Though I'm sure all you smart people out there are already working your brains off to try and figure out who her parents are xD (it's not really that hard -_-)

Love always, Emmy~