Christmas came and passed, but Draco hardly noticed. It was all to alike for him, nothing out of the ordinary. The manor decorated, everything formal, getting new things- that occurred on a daily basis for him, not just at designated holidays.

He spent a lot of time outdoors. There was deep snow on the ground, and the temperature was nearly unbearable, but he didn't care. He couldn't stand to be in his father's presence for long periods of time. All he would want to do was talk more and more about Draco joining him, an idea Draco no longer knew if he could consider.

Although it was bitterly cold, the skies were blue and the sun was bright. He wandered over the hills and through the fields on the property, never feeling more alone. She was everywhere he looked. The bright red holly berries peeking through on the shrubs were her hair running through his fingers, soft and thick. The dark bark of the trees reflected onto the icy surface of the lake was her eyes, secretly gazing intently at him from across the hall.

She hadn't been on the train, which left an unsettled feeling in his stomach. It meant something, but just what he was too scared to think about. The last time he had seen her, they had just slept together for the first time. She was rushing to redress, slipping her black boots back onto her little feet, promising to see him on the train, whatever it took. He had never loved her more. Her absence had to mean something had gone terribly wrong- her brothers, Potter, and Granger were noticeably missing as well. Rumors and whispers had flown around the Slytherin elites on the rain. Pansy had slipped into the seat next to his, grabbing his hand and whispering into his ear, "Word is that Arthur Weasley finally got what's been coming to him," making his heart sink surprisingly.

He could also tell from the way his father had been carrying himself. As usual, he was very busy and preoccupied, slipping in and out of the house, receiving many private visitors in his study, but somehow seeming to stand a little taller, as if he had achieved some sickening victory. He had also not lain a hand on Draco since had had come home, an obvious sign of lack of stress.

Draco wandered into his frosty garden, sitting on a snow-covered bench. He couldn't help but feel conflicted about it. Ginny was the only person who he loved, along with his mother, whether he liked it or not. Somehow, he had fallen under her spell. Her father, though, was a meddling, fool who seemed to have no pride or ambition whatsoever. If something had happened to him, and had not killed him of course, they maybe it would be the right thing to finally set the man straight. But any pain to him would mean pain for Ginny, who regardless of everything she had gone through at such a young age, still somehow managed to love everyone with a passion Draco marveled in. If she was feeling any pain, Draco didn't know if he could stand to see that.

It was growing dark, and with regret, Draco moved himself inside. A house elf helped him remove his coverings and ushered him in front of the fire in the living room.

"Here, sir, you must warm yourself," she sqeaked.

"Make me a cup of tea," Draco demanded, sitting in a chair.

The elf scurried away to meet his request. Draco sighed and leafed through a book sitting on the table next to him. For the first time, he wanted to return to school. Days passed slowly in the manor.

"Draco! Honey! There you are!" His mother drawled from the doorway.

Draco felt his body tense. She was wonderful, there was no denying that, but he was not in the mood to see her. It depressed him even more. Since he had left, she had started drinking even more, often falling asleep with a glass in her hand before noon. He almost couldn't blame her. His father had left an obvious show of bruises all along her arms and neck that not even she could hide anymore.

She staggered towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck before sitting down into the chair next to his, a grim frown on her face.

"What is it, mother," Draco asked slightly impatiently.

"Your father would like to see you now in his study," she replied, a pitying look on her pretty face. "Good luck, son."

Draco's heart was hammering in his chest. Why now? What did his father want with him? Reluctantly, he rose and slowly made his way through the house. Desperately, he tried to put himself in the right mindset. She had changed him and his ideas so much, he wasn't sure how he could handle himself in front of his father.

The two engraved mahogany doors that concealed his father's study loomed in front of Draco, as if showing him the fate that awaited him inside. The carvings were intricate and ancient, just as the house was. There were pictures of knights, princes, and one large one in the middle of a dragon, along with the Malfoy family crest. Draco reached towards a gold knob and pushed the door open.

Lucius was sitting by the fire, his eyes glued on the door where Draco stood. "Come in, son," he said menacingly.

Draco strode towards the chair next to his father, feigning self confidence. He had seen this mood many times before. First, his father would give him some lecture, probably on the way he had been conducting himself, and then the beating would come. He had some trouble figuring out just what he had done to deserve it, however. Usually it was fairly obvious. He left his broom out of the shed again. He was rude to a guest. He didn't do well on his exams. But now, he had barely been home, and he certainly hadn't done anything bad while he was there.

With an angry glare, Lucius considered his son for a minute, sipping the drink in his hand. His gaze made Draco even more nervous. Sweat started to develop on his upper lip, but he was too scared to try to wipe it off.

"So... something has occurred, as I am sure you have noticed," his father began.

"What has happened?" Draco asked.

A chuckle escaped from Lucius, causing Draco's blood to run cold. "Oh son, don't tell me you don't know? All of your little friends at school must know!"

Shaking his head back and forth, Draco muttered, "Sorry."

A look of disgust crossed Lucius's face as he considered his son, and then changed to a look of triumph as he turned his view to the window. "Arthur Weasley has been attacked, and the Dark Lord is responsible. He nearly died, but unfortunately, Potter has ruined it." His brow retracted at this.

"That's excellent." Draco swallowed. It was worse than he thought. Not only was her father hurt, but Harry was involved somehow too.

"Yes, it is excellent. It's more excellent than we could have imagined, actually. It is time you know- there is a plan in action. One that will make the Dark Lord more powerful than ever before, and more power for him means more glory to the Malfoy. Of course, I can't go into too much detail just for you, but do know this- I don't think Potter will live to see his sixth year."

His father's mouth twisted into a huge smile, and Draco had to resist the overwhelming urge to vomit. He let his father have his moment of glory, and then the attention turned back to him.

"I am curious, however, to why it is you didn't know," he said slowly, eyes penetrating into Draco's own.

"I told you, father, nobody was sure."

"Oh, but that's not what I've heard. I've been talking to some of my friends, Draco- the Parkinsons, the Goyles, the Crabbes, and they all share a similar story. Now you had better tell me, Draco, just what it is that you're up to that is keeping you so distant and distracted from the people who you are supposed to be fraternizing with! Don't you realize how important these relationships are?! And you just waste it all, doing something stupid that keeps you away from these people! Son, just what are you doing in that blasted school?"

As he spoke, his voice grew louder and he grew more animated until he was standing, shouting right into Draco's face. Draco recoiled and stopped trying to hide his fear. He didn't know how to respond to his father. Nothing he could say would make him understand what he was really going through. He couldn't even make up a creative lie. Had he been that obvious? He had been trying to make an effort to still socialize with all the right people, but she had just grown more important.

"I.... I don't know, father...," he mumbled.

Livid, Lucius raised his hand and struck Draco across his face. Pain rushed towards his face, and he could feel a red mark growing.

"You better give me an answer! You're bringing shame to this family, something we cannot afford at a time like this! You are a disgrace to the Malfoy name!"

Draco closed his eyes, thinking only of Ginny, and let all the words and fists fly at him. A half an hour later, he was significantly more bruised, but he didn't feel broken. He knew that despite everything his father could do to him, right now he had her. She understood what it was like to be him. She understood all he had to go through. Her past held darkness and evilness that he could only imagine, and she was still so strong. She gave him strength to forget it all.

[A/N- Sorry, I know it's short. I just didn't have a lot to write for Draco right now. Next will be longer, I'll try. Update in a day or two. Thanks for all the kind reviews. xxx alee]