Review offering insight to the story:

"Before I read this story I thought Draco was an egotistical self centered prat with the emotional range of a Blast-ended Skrewt. ... you are making Draco sound like the man many girls think of as the man of their dreams." - SummerThunder2004 of FanFiction net.

Thanks goes out to: Carly, taylor-leighyoung, The Future Mrs. Thomas Andrew Felton, Addicted2Love, Serpent91, Miss Spazz, SlytherinPrincess22, nosie, Emma-Rox-My-Sox, SummerThunder2004, corny's idol, Feltonluver#1, Candyluva5505, ya1ya, dhfreak, Hecate Goddess of Darkness (Gissel) and especially NeraMedia: for your always heartwarming and wonderful reviews!

Blood Is Thicker Than Tears

Chapter Seven

Draco woke up to the calm silence of morning. He hadn't heard it in so long he briefly wondered if he was still dreaming. Climbing out from beneath the covers, he stood near the window allowing the sun to warm his skin. It was a new school year and he'd have so much to look forward to; he hoped.

Walking to the bathroom, he heard the shower running and realized he was sharing it with Hermione. Calling her anything but Granger or mudblood still sounded odd to him; eventually it'd come as second nature though.

Walking to the bathroom, he heard the shower running and realized he was sharing it with Hermione. Calling her anything but Granger or still sounded odd to him; eventually it'd come as second nature though.

He only hoped his Slytherin friends would accept him as he was. Thinking it over, he came to the understanding that he really didn't have many friends. Usually, they were just the children of other pure-blood families and as a Malfoy he'd have reign over them all. He wondered if after being named Black he would still have their loyalty.

Standing by the door in deep thought, he didn't hear the shower stop, or the door open. However, he did hear the squeal escape from Hermione's mouth as she found him standing there. The sharp slam of the door made him clear his throat. "Sorry," he said. "Maybe I should've told you I was waiting?"

"Was it that obvious?" She asked, sarcastically.

He chuckled. "Are you done?'

She sighed, "Yes. Could you... turn around? I'm only wearing a towel."

Even with a door separating them, Draco had the impression that she was blushing. Turning his back from the bathroom and stepping away from it, he told her it was alright for her to come out. Slowly, a creak was heard as she pulled the door opened. He could hear her quick footsteps as she ran to her bedroom.

Laughing quietly to himself, he walked into the bathroom. Looking into the mirror, his smile slipped away. Steam had taken over most of the reflective glass, but he could clearly see himself. He hadn't realized his hair had darkened, not by much, he was still blond. His hand lifted and touched around his eyes. No longer were they a steely silver, but a warming hazel. He swiped his hand across the glass, there was still too much of Lucius staring back for his liking.

Walking over to the dripping shower, he turned the taps to his preference. Pulling his shirt off roughly and discarding his pants, he climbed beneath the pulsating water. Standing backwards to the shower head, he let the force of the water knead his tense neck and back. Sighing, he closed his eyes. It seemed like no matter where he was, as long as he was awake he couldn't escape the sadness. It was trailing him like a shadow, soon to cover him and swallow him whole.

Voices swarmed his senses, corrupting his thoughts. "You've lived with him your entire life. He raised you to be the prat you are." Harry spat at him. Nobody will understand. How can he explain that Lucius was forcing him to be the boy they knew? How could be make them see that he didn't want to be that person any more? What if he really was still that Draco? What if he was trying to believe he was better than what he was? What if he really was the son Lucius had raised and wanted?

"You find out you have a twin and all of a sudden you're good and nice?" He remembered Hermione saying. "Give me one good reason why I, or Harry, or anyone for that matter, should trust you." He couldn't really give her any reason. Just saying that he wasn't a Malfoy anymore and announcing that he'd prove it did nothing. Part of him still was Lucius's son, wasn't it? He had been raised and told how to be and what to do. What's to say that part wouldn't rise up soon? Who was to say he wasn't really just a Malfoy at heart?

He remembered Hermione saying. He couldn't really give her any reason. Just saying that he wasn't a Malfoy anymore and announcing that he'd prove it did nothing. Part of him still was Lucius's son, wasn't it? He had been raised and told how to be and what to do. What's to say that part wouldn't rise up soon? Who was to say he wasn't really just a Malfoy at heart?

"Why should we believe you anyway?" Weasley voiced with understandable doubt. "For all we know, you're working as an insider for your father." He certainly wasn't working for Lucius or the Dark Lord, but still, he was there on some false pretenses. Had his mother lived, would he have tried to be family to Harry? Should he tell his brother what happened? Or would that somehow impact Harry's decision as to whether or not he trusted Draco? He wanted to have a family not because of pity but because he was worthy of it.

Weasley voiced with understandable doubt. He certainly wasn't working for Lucius or the Dark Lord, but still, he was there on some false pretenses. Had his mother lived, would he have tried to be family to Harry? Should he tell his brother what happened? Or would that somehow impact Harry's decision as to whether or not he trusted Draco? He wanted to have a family not because of pity but because he was worthy of it.

A sharp knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. "Yes?" He asked.

"It's getting late, are you going to breakfast or will you be showering all morning?" She asked, with a hint of laughter in her voice.

He smiled, shaking his head. Turning around he turned off the shower, realizing he had washed his hair and been done for quite some time. Stepping out, he wrapped a green towel around his waist. "I'll be out in a moment. Thank you."

Stepping up to the sink, Draco started brushing his teeth. His eyes landing on the steamed mirror again, this time it was far too covered for him to see his face. Lifting his hand, toothbrush hanging haphazardly from his mouth, he swiped at the glass. Staring at himself; new eyes, dark hair, white tooth paste on his lip; he realized that this was the beginning of the new him. Smiling, losing the brush in the process, he turned back to finishing up his morning routine.

Walking out of the bathroom, he was met with wide-eyed Hermione quickly turning away, a red tinge to her cheeks. Chuckling, he walked to his room and dressed quickly. Letting his hair dry and deciding not to slick it back like his father had always told him to, he walked out in his fresh robes.

"You're still here?" He asked surprised.

"It seems I am," She answered.

Looking around, he didn't know what to make of the situation. Before he could ask questions, the door swung open and his raven haired brother walked in. "What's taking you so long?" He asked, staring at the smiling brunette.

"I thought I'd wait for Draco and we could all walk down together." She announced. Her eyebrows high as if waiting for them to tell her it wasn't going to happen.

"Oh," Harry said slowly. "Well, lets go then."

Standing in shock, Draco simply nodded. Following them to the door, his books beneath his arms, he wasn't surprised to see Weasley scowl as he exited. "Morning Ron," he attempted.

Eyes slitted, he just nodded, a lopsided smirk on his face. "Yeah, right." Turning to Hermione, he sighed. "Are you ready? I've been waiting here going hungry!"

Rolling her eyes, she laughed. "I'm sure you weren't starving to death."

Walking down the halls, Draco didn't know what to make of the stares being directed at him. He vaguely heard the small fight going on between Hermione and Weasley, which was to be expected since it seemed that was what their friendship was made up of. Harry walked quietly, his brow furrowed.

Turning to his silent brother, his mouth fell open to say something but his mind was blank.

"When do you suppose Dumbledore will tell us we'll be spending time together?" Asked Harry.

"What's that?" Weasley questioned. "He's making you spend time with him?" He continued to talk as if Draco wasn't there at all. "Blimey, you'd think he'd at least give you a decision."

With a sharp slap over the head from Hermione, Ron slammed his mouth shut, staring glumly ahead.

Draco stopped, "I'll see you later." He announced, before turning from them and walking a different way. He could hear their voices behind him.

"Why did you have to do that?" Hermione asked angrily.

"Come on 'Mione, you know as well as I do, he doesn't belong with us." Weasley answered annoyed.

Feeling his throat closing off, Draco stopped in the boys' bathroom for a moment. Pushing open a stall door roughly, he locked it, leaning his head against the cold steel. Clenching his jaw, he suppressed the need to break something.

"Why so sad?" Asked the childish and high voice of Moaning Myrtle.

"Go away," he said, irritated.

She harrumphed, "I was only trying to help, no need to snap." Rolling her eyes, she disappeared through a wall.

Sighing, Draco swallowed away the pain building inside of him. Psyching himself up for the day, he left the room and walked to the Great Hall. He left his face emotionless. There was no patented scowl but he wasn't smiling either. He would not let his classmates see his weakness but he would let them see some change. Sitting down in the center of the table, he filled his plate and ate in silence. Acknowledging their Slytherin Prince's mood, the rest of the table kept their mouths shut.

Looking across, he found Harry staring back. A simple nod was all that was passed before he turned back to Weasley who was waving his arms around frantically. Beside his brother sat Hermione, who smiled at him briefly, easily ignoring Parvati Patil and her insatiable gossip. He found himself smiling back at her, finding it oddly comforting.

Classes were filled with confused silence as he was recognized as Draco Black now. Amongst all of the students were the questions they never dare ask him directly. Part of him was still happy that he was too powerful for anybody to ask him the reason to his new last name. He didn't want to explain. In fact, he didn't know how to clarify without announcing that he was Harry's unknown brother. Even Blaise Zabini, who was known for having a big mouth and not keeping his questions to himself, did not ask Draco.

By the end of the day, he felt as if a huge load had finally lifted from his shoulders. No longer having to feel their stares at his back, never in the eye, he slumped onto the couch. There was far more homework than he cared to think about and all he wanted to do was let sleep take everything away again. However, life was not that good. Noticing he had a guest, Draco sat up to see Dumbledore in front of him.

"Good evening, Draco." He greeted.

"Evening, Professor."

Looking around, the wise man's eyes shined. "No problems today? With your new surname?"

He shook his head. "I'm sure many have questions, but I wasn't asked any." He shrugged.

"Well, I come bearing news." He smiled. "I have decided when you and Harry will be meeting."

"Really?" He asked; half enthused, half scared.

"I know that Miss. Granger has been doing her own part to get you two closer." Dumbledore mentioned.

Draco nodded, smiling lightly. "It hasn't changed much."

"Give it time." Clasping his hands in front of him, he looked away. His thoughts far away from the Head Common Room. "He hasn't had any real family since Sirius. Now he has no living family he can rely on, other than you."

Understanding how his brother must feel, but knowing he wasn't ready to tell anyone about his mother, he simply nodded.

"In any case, you and he will be meeting Saturday." The Headmaster announced, coming back to the news at hand.

"But aren't we allowed to go to Hogsmeade this weekend?" he asked.

"Yes." He smiled. "You can either go to Hogsmeade where all the students will be, or stay here where hardly anyone will be present." His eyes twinkled.

"I understand." He stood up from the couch. "Thank you, sir."

"For what, dear boy? It is all on the two of you to gain each others' trust." Turning, he walked to the door, his robes swishing. "Don't forget patrolling tonight. You and Miss. Granger best remind the prefects which areas they'll be watching over."

"Yes, sir." He said.

The door closed quietly as he left.

Just then, Hermione entered the Common Room. "He looked pleasantly happy." She said of Dumbledore.

"Harry and I will be meeting this Saturday," he told her, in a slight daze.

"Really?" She asked. "I assume because everyone will be away at Hogsmeade."

There was no doubt why she was the smartest witch. She certainly came to conclusions far faster than he did. Nodding, he sat back down on the couch. "Can you believe how much homework we have?"

She chuckled, "You sound just like Ron."

He smirked, "Well, he has a point. It's the first day." He sighed. "Plus we have patrolling."

"I'm already half done," she announced happily.

Draco rolled his eyes, "Why am I not surprised?"

"Oh shut up," she said. "It's not as if you don't do your homework."

He sighed, "I might not tonight."

"Why?" She asked, her brow furrowing. "It's not that much. Patrolling is only for an hour and you don't have to do that for some time yet."

"I know." He exhaled loudly. "I'm just tired is all."

"It has been a long day. I can't even count how many people were staring at you wondering why you're Draco Black now." She laughed. "It's certainly taken part of the attention away from Harry and his mysterious brother."

"If they were half as smart as you they would've made the connection already." He said, smiling at the fire. Hearing only silence, he looked back at her shocked expression. "What?"

"I'm just... surprised. I've never heard you compliment anyone unless you were being sarcastic." She shook her head.

His face fell slightly.

"Not that I didn't think you were capable of it," She tried to recover. "I'm sorry, I kind of ruined that didn't I?"

Draco shrugged, standing from the couch. "I'm going to start my homework." He left for his room.

Finding the thought of working to be pointless, he crawled onto his bed and stared at the dark green cover above. Maybe he wasn't ready for what was going to happen. It was possible that he wasn't strong enough to kill Lucius or be a Potter. As much as he had made fun of Harry, he knew that he was by far the bravest boy he'd ever known. What if he was nothing like his brother? What if he wasn't anything more than a cowering child?

He wondered what Lucius was doing. Getting an army together to kill him perhaps. Waiting for the right moment to fly in his window and strangle him in his sleep maybe.

Draco sighed loudly. School for the next while would be long and tiring. As Head boy he had a reputation to uphold. He had to set an example as being smart and hard working. He had to show them all that it wasn't his former father's money paying for his grades.

Then again, he couldn't really prove that, given that nobody knew his father wasn't Lucius Malfoy. He wondered just how long it'd be before people realized that he was a Potter. Was he proud to be a Potter? Possibly more so than being a Malfoy. But what did he have now that he didn't have before? He was basically alone. He had a brother who wasn't ready to acknowledge him. His own room, meaning there was nothing but his thoughts to haunt him. And his place as Head boy which meant keeping up an appearance. What made him better off than before?

A knock at the door, made him turn away, blinking at his stinging eyes. "Yes?"

The door opened to reveal Hermione. "I just...I wanted to see that you were alright." She smiled softly.

What did he have now that he didn't have before? Someone who cared.


A/N Please review. I really appreciated everyone who wrote me after my last post. I hope you will all do so again. I hope you liked this chapter, I'll be writing another again soon. So, just press the small purplish button and tell me what you think. Please!

-Amanda