Kaeli Monson sat in the drawing room at Malfoy Manor reading aloud while Draco lay on the couch with his eyes closed. She knew he wasn't asleep. He finely chiseled features were relaxed and he seemed peaceful. Narcissa Malfoy sat embroidering. It was an evening of class and society as always at the Manor. The door opened and Kaeli's twin brother, Dean, came into the room. He nodded to Narcissa before he took a seat in a chair barely glancing at the chair turned away from the rest of them. It was dark on the other side of the room and the only thing that could be seen of the occupant in the arm chair was an arm clothed in black. The long, thin hand rested atop a silver topped cane: The top a hissing snake. Lucius Malfoy was not happy at the moment. The door opened and a dark haired woman came in laughing. Kaeli paused in her reading at the intrusion. "Oh, and what is this? Is the dear little 'Moon' Princess reading to little Draco?"

"Desist, Bella." Lucius' voice came from the darkness. "We are enjoying a quiet evening."

"Oh, are we then?" She asked smiling at Dean. The boy looked at her very coldly. "The Dark Lord wishes to see you, Lucius."

He stood and turned to her. "Does he? Then why didn't he send for me himself? He sends my crazy sister-in-law?"

"Crazy? Me?" She asked pouting.

"Yes, you, Bella," He sneered. "Get out of my sight." He snarled at her as he strode from the room.

"You should not bait him, Bella." Narcissa said softly.

"Oh, you two, Cissy?"

"Please, Bella. I just want peace in this house." The woman said looking up from her embroidery.

"For you, Cissy, I will do as you ask." She swept from the room. "Ta-ta."

"Please, continue, Kaeli." Narcissa said nodding to her.

Kaeli continued a little faltering, but she found her voice once more glancing up at Draco. He hadn't moved, but his light eyes were looking at her. Ever since Bellatrix Lestrange had escaped Azkaban things had been almost insufferable at the Malfoy residence, especially for their wards. This was the only home that had kept the two for any long period of time and they did not want anything to mess that up.

Kaeli moved through Malfoy Manor late one night after having a bad dream. She stole into Draco's room. She could tell he was still awake staring up at the material over his four-poster bed. She slipped into the bed with him snuggling close. Anyone that knew Draco at school would not think he was the same person as he was at home.

"Did you have a bad dream?" He asked her quietly.

"Mhmm, I was in a dark place and couldn't see anything, but I smelled smoke. It was all around me and I could move."

"It wasn't real, you know. Only a dream," He tried to assure her.

"I know, but it doesn't make it any less frightening, especially when you're alone..." She swallowed. "I hated being shipped from one family to another until your mother said you would take us in..." That had been a few years ago now. The longest they'd ever stayed with anyone.

"But at least you've had your brother. I'm sure that must've helped." He reasoned. They seemed close.

"Yes, but no one wanted us until we came here...none of the other families like having us there and the other kids definitely didn't want us..." A lot of the other Slytherins looked down on Kaeli and Dean no matter how good looking they were. Draco had seen the others trying to put the twins down a peg or two like they were too proud for their own good. Most of them were the ones they had lived with out of what their parents saw as charity.

"Most others don't like having to share, I suppose." He reasoned. Draco didn't mind much though. He liked the twins being around. And so did Mother and if Father didn't well...they never would've been allowed to stay he supposed.

She rested her head against his shoulder. "Do you ever think about growing older? Maybe even getting out of school and what will happen after?"

"Sometimes," He said quietly.

"Maybe…maybe someday we'll get married…" She said just as quietly. "And I'll read to you and we'll lie awake talking at night like we are now…" He knew it took a lot for her to say that. Draco didn't say anything. He just turned onto his side and wrapped his arms around her securely. They fell asleep like that.

The next morning Lucius had returned and the look on his face told his family not to speak until spoken to. They were used to this. More often now in the light of the Dark Lord's return. They ate in silence. Draco would look up at Kaeli every now and then and exchanged a look with her. They didn't know what the Dark Lord had needed to see Lucius about, but it couldn't be good whatever it was. "How well do you know Erin Black, Draco?"

The question caught the young man by surprise. "I'm sorry?" He asked his father.

"I asked you how well you know Erin Black." His father repeated slightly perturbed.

"Not that well," He admitted. "I know of her, of course, had a few run-ins with her and Potter." He sneered a little. "I know how she's related and all, the blood traitors. And I know she shares the same ideologies as her father. She's at the top of our class. And she and Potter have had a thing since we were first years."

"The Dark Lord wants her, Draco. There's a prophecy that she will bear him a son. And that son will be the most powerful wizard ever to be born."

Draco didn't say anything. It really wasn't his affair. He knew that Black certainly would not allow that to happen. Not ever.

Lucius continued. "I will need your help, Draco. The Dark Lord wishes to acquire her before she returns to Hogwarts, should we fail at that attempt though, it will be up to you. Do you think you can handle that?"

"I think so." He said with a nod. Kaeli looked at him. She knew very well that he wasn't sure at all and he really did not want to do it.