Over the next couple of days neither my mother nor I talked about what was happening. We both stuck to safe subjects; nothing about my father or the divorce, nothing about why I was no longer living at home, about how she had lied to me, for her own gain. Safe, that is, until my schooling came up. I almost lied to her and said everything was great, but there had been enough lies. She didn't take it well.

After yelling at me for about a minute, surprisingly, she hugged me. "I'm sorry I've done this to you Draco. If I hadn't overreacted, you wouldn't have been put under all this stress. However, since I won't be able to help you myself, I'll simply hire you a tutor." She proclaimed happily. That was my mother in nutshell; nothing seemed to faze her for long. And that was what I normally loved about her. However, at that moment....

I felt my world tilt. "No mother, please! That's really not necessary!" I replied, maybe a little too hastily. Did she think I was home for good?

"Are you sure?" She looked at me suspiciously.

"Yes. I've simply gotten out of the habit of studying. I'll pull my grade up on my own." But she still looked worried.

"And what about the suspension; I have never known you to cause trouble, Draco."

"It was an accident. I wasn't trying to sound the alarm. I just leaned on the door." A feeble lie.

"You're not acting out, are you?"

"No. It was an accident." Yes, Potter was an accident waiting to happen. I tried to push him to the back of my mind; and I had gotten so good at not thinking of him recently, damn it!

"If you're sure." I was relieved that she finally dropped the subject. "Now, come help me make dinner."

I almost cringed.

Now I had to tell her I wasn't stay.

I let her talk while I ate, trying to come up with a way to break it easily, but in the end I decided to be blunt.

I put my fork down. "Mother." I said, interrupting her.

"Yes." She frowned slightly at having been stopped.

"You do know I'm going back to my god-father's at the end of the week?"

"What do you mean 'going back', Draco? You're home." Her face instantly reddened and I knew tears were coming.

"I'm not ready to come home. I need some time away." From you. I had more or less forgiven her, but my own mother had sold me out.

"Draco, you can't! I need you." In that moment my mother seemed like a little girl to me. I knew that she loved me, but she also lonely.

"You'll be fine."

"You should be here." My mother interjected, quietly.

"I can't change schools again right now. I don't want to. Besides, I needed to grow up and leave the house at some point."

"Will you reconsider, after you graduate?" She asked after a moment of thinking.

"I'll think about it." Before I could finish, she had gotten up from her seat and was hugging me.

"Thank you."

It was Friday and it was time for me to go back home, to Severus'. My mind was full of more questions than answers. But it was time to go back. Back to everything....

Although I did get a late birthday present -or early- either way, my parents had bought it before my 'coming out'.

I had my back packed, full of extra clothes that hadn't had when I got there. My mother had decided I would be her new shopping buddy, against my will, as I was her gay son. I really wanted to have a sister at that moment.... But would I really wish my parents on anybody?

Finally ready to go, I met my mother in her room to say my goodbyes. She wouldn't let go of me for at least a minute.

"Letting you go was the worst things I ever did. I know I've apologized, but I just want to say it again. I'm sorry Draco." She pulled away, still holding on. "Promise me that you're still my son. That this won't be the last time I see you?"

My anger at her had cooled at this point. Her actions still irritated me but I did love my mother. "Of course." And I hugged her back and I felt like a kid again. It was comforting, but it didn't last.

She walked me to the front door, opening it for me. Only there wasn't a limo or taxi in the driveway. At first I wondered who it belonged to; I knew it wasn't one my fathers. It was too... sporty. I turned around and my mother was holding out a set of keys.

"It's mine?" I could hardly believe it and my breath had caught in my throat.

"Happy belated birthday, Draco" She said smiling.

"Thank you!" And I was hugging her again. A car?! Wait. "I don't have a license." I told my mother, confused.

"You were practicing with your father... before. I know you'll be fine. Just drive slowly. And I'll call Severus to help you get one. And please do so as soon as possible." She gave me a pointed look. "And call me when you get there."

Driving slowly... would be impossible. I was practically drooling. A new sleek black sports car....

But I managed, after getting lost a couple times and praying the whole time I wouldn't be pulled over.

Things were quiet after I returned. Severus and I went on like we always had our argument before my mother's call was forgotten for the moment. And my mother had talked to Severus, who agreed to take me to get my license during the winter break as long as I was ready. Although of course, I was no longer allowed to drive my car until then.

I went back to school and things were pretty much the same. I wasn't too far behind in most classes and had improved some in English. The only thing that was odd was Potter's absence. I hadn't seen him since I had returned, which was a couple of days ago. Weasley and Granger, who apparently believed Potter and I were friends, were more worried than usual (they always worried). Potter told Granger that he was sick over a week ago and hasn't been seen since.

They weren't too bad, I guess. It wasn't like I had anyone else to talk to. So, I talked to them on a couple more occasions, along with a girl named Pansy Parkinson, who I think has a crush on me. Go figure. Blake had taken to ignoring me, thankfully. I should have felt relieved about that, but, honestly, it just made me nervous.

Severus gets... odd when I bring my father up, although he encourages me to talk to him. He's particularly edgy when my father comes up. He still hasn't called or come to see me. My mother hasn't heard from him either. Severus just says that he probably knows I'm in good company; but then I have to wonder... does he? Is he off with his old lover or someone new? Does he not care that he has a son?

Still, sometimes I think Severus knew something that my mother wouldn't tell me. After all, he is an 'old family friend'. And gay, as far as I could tell (he does claim to have slept with Potter). But my father couldn't be... could he?

My mother and I were still talking. I managed to convince her to hire a new cook, a man named Thomas.

I was working on homework when my phone rang. Who knows this number? I wondered as I didn't recognize the number. However, I quickly remembered that I had given it to Potter at the end of our last study session. Why the hell would he be calling me? Instantly I was pissed, remembering our last encounter.

"Hello?" I heard on the other end. Wait, that wasn't Potter's....

"Weasley? How-" I was cut off quickly.

"I asked Harry."

"Okay... but why are you calling me. No offense." I was slightly irritated; it wasn't everyday you were called by someone you barely know.

"Well, we're friends... I guess." I could tell that he definitely had another reason for calling. Weasley was an ok guy, but we weren't close.

"Weasley, *why* are you calling?" I asked again, thinking of hanging up.

"Ok, Ok! Um, have you seen Harry by any chance? You see, he was acting odd right after you left."

I nearly sighed in frustration. Him again! "No, I haven't seen him." I almost yelled over the phone. "Couldn't you have waited until tomorrow?"

"Sorry I asked, but I didn't want to worry Hermione."

"She's already worried." I cut him off.

"Any more worried." Weasley corrected himself, sounding exasperated. "I think something strange is happening with Harry. He shouldn't be sick this long and even if he was, I would think he would call Hermione or me. I even asked Blake," I heard a slight gag on the other end, "but that dick just said Harry's sick. And I don't believe him for an instant. And Harry's uncle hung up on me when I called. Would you help-"

"No. The last time I got involved I got suspended, so no. Plus there's nothing in it for me." I didn't mean to sound like a heartless bastard, but I honestly didn't care. So Potter had gotten himself in trouble again, so what. It was nothing new.

"Fuck you, Malfoy. I was hoping that you were a decent guy, but I guess I was wrong. You know, Harry seemed to really like you before, but I'm hoping it was just a passing fancy. He doesn't need another bastard in his life." Weasley hung up on me.

/Potter liked me?/ I refused to believe it. He might, and I emphasize 'might', have wanted to screw me, but like me? No. And even if he did, Potter was nothing but trouble. Next time I saw him I would probably get arrested or expelled instead of suspended, with my luck.

To hell with you Potter. Fuck you, and your boyfriend.

My phone rang again. I considered drowning it in the toilet, but answered it again instead. If it was Weasley calling about Potter, again, I would strang…

"Malfoy?" It was rough, but I would recognize that voice anywhere, Potter.

"Potter."

He was quiet on the other end, for a few moments, but then I finally spoke again. "Good. It's you."

"Was there a reason you called?" My teeth were clenched so tight my jaw hurt.

Pause. "...Yeah. Can you get Professor Snape to pick me up?"

"Pick you up." I suddenly wondered if there was something still between them. Which would mean my father wasn't with Severus. I didn't know if that made me feel any better.

"Yeah, Um... I don't have a lot of time to talk, so please listen. I'm in jail."

Jail, great.

Updated: 12/9/2008