Now that Blaise was there Draco's life had suddenly got a lot better. He had someone to talk to in lessons, during meals and whenever he had free time. It made his quality of life much better. He had never said it but he had been lonely and miserable before Blaise returned. The digs made about him and his family had been slowly wearing him down and he found himself cutting more than he ever had before. He had been more depressed recently than he had been during the worst times with his father, the times when he thought death would be better than this life. Even then he had hope and ever since school had begun he had found himself hopeless. Blaise's arrival had given him joy and hope, someone to talk to and to laugh with, although he would never outwardly show it. His life had never been a good one but it was starting to get better.
**
Draco looked at each scar on his left arm surrounding the Dark Mark, each scar symbolised someone he had killed; he had healed all the other ones.
FLASHBACK
It was Draco's 15th birthday. He hadn't done much and had been allowed a lie in for an hour and, therefore, had gotten out of bed at 7:30. He had done his morning work and then showered, dressed and proceeded downstairs for breakfast with his parents but when he got to the dining room he was pleasantly surprised to see only his mother there.
"Good morning Mother," he said pleasantly. "Where's Father today?"
"Out," his mother replied sadly, "preparing one of your birthday presents."
"Oh," Draco sighed, "I see. One of those presents."
"The worst yet," she answered, head hung.
"You mean…? But I can't, I'm not ready to…" Draco stuttered, shocked by this revelation.
"I am sorry Draco," his mother whispered, tears in her eyes.
"It isn't your fault mother, it's his."
They finished their breakfast in silence, their faces not betraying their misery to anyone but each other.
"Your father gave you permission to open your other presents before he returns as you will be busy once he has."
"Yes Mother," Draco replied, still thinking about what he would have to do. "If that is what Father wants."
He stood from his chair and moved to where his mother was sitting to pull out her chair and help her rise. He then led her to the family drawing room and led her to a chair before seating himself. She summoned a House Elf and with a click of its fingers Draco's birthday presents piled on the floor in front of him.
He slowly and tidily opened his presents, thanking his mother and kissing her on the cheek after each one. Some of the presents were practical, such as the new robes and dress robes, and others were recreational, like his new broom and books. They were all tasteful and expensive.
After spending some time with his mother he had to gone to put away his presents and to begin to read one of his new books. His mother had really bought him Shakespeare's sonnets and Poe but it seemed to everyone but the two of them to be a book of spells and a book of Wizard poetry. His mother had always given him disguised Muggle poetry and music and Draco had found that he liked it despite what his father had always said about Muggles.
Once he finished putting away his books he heard his father arrive and went downstairs, apprehensive and solemn. His father was there at the bottom of the stairs, being as cold and distant to Draco and Narcissa as he always was.
"Come Draco," he said once he realised his son had arrived. "Your present is waiting for you."
His father turned and walked towards the dungeons and with one last look at his mother Draco followed his father down to the cells. When they got down into the dungeons Draco followed Lucius to the last cell where a Muggle man was sitting. As Draco and Lucius came into the view the man stood up and came forward to hold the bars and with pleading eyes beg them to let him go for the sake of his family.
Lucius handed Draco his wand and Draco held it in his hand before looking up and pointing it at the man. He looked straight into the man's eyes and mentally apologised for what he was about to do and asked his forgiveness.
"Avada Kedavra," Draco cast, hoping it would work and put the man out of his misery and into a better place.
The man crumpled to the ground and Lucius placed his hand on Draco's shoulder.
"Well done."
FLASHBACK
Draco remembered how after his father had left he had collapsed on the ground in front of the cell and the dead man.
"Oh Merlin!" he had cried. "What have I done?"
Then he had heard a sound and soon his mother was there holding him, comforting him, reminding him that neither of them had a choice.
He trailed his fingers along the slightly raised scar on his arm.
"It wasn't my fault," he muttered but he still didn't believe it.
He thought about his life now. He had people who cared about him. He had Blaise, Sev, his mother, Tonks and, he hoped, Ginny. He wasn't hurting people anymore. He didn't need the knife.
"No more," he muttered. "No more."
**
Ginny was out walking by the Great Lake when she saw a shadowy figure by the edge of the lake in front of her. As the cloud covering the moon moved, Ginny saw a glint of silver hair and knew that the figure was Draco. She slowly got closer until she was standing behind a tree near him.
Ginny watched as Draco drew the knife she had seen him holding in the common room from his robes and, after looking at it for some time, threw it into the lake. He began to walk away and then turned around and said something. Ginny watched as the knife flew back out of the water and into Draco's hand. He pocketed it and then turned and walked back into the castle.
"What was all that about?" Ginny asked herself before shrugging and heading back into the castle herself.
