Father of Mine, Part VIII

*sniffle* the Special Thanks section is so small! Ai, ai, ai...Anyway:

Archaic Raven: No problem for the billboard space, it was my pleasure! ^__^ A story that excellent deserves recognition.

Omniscient: He just met the girl!!! He can't be in love! But one thing's for certain, he can't stop thinking about her...hehehehe, I have a delicious plan coming up now....pain...lotsa pain...

Draco Malfoy N Harry Potter: I did say that I wasn't turning this into a romance a while back, didn't I? Have a little faith, heehee!

annakas: Here's more! Hope you like!

A/N: Boop-boop-bee-doop! I dunno, just felt like saying that. Draco's PoV.

Masquerade

For the first time in many nights, I don't think I had a bad dream. Or if I did, it was a tiny one. Praise the Lord. Or the Devil. Or whoever the hell is in charge of dreams, I don't keep track of deities. Maybe I should. Then I can possibly believe in something. The only thing I believe in right now is that if I don't become the perfect Malfoy and the prime example of Death Eater, my ass is toast. Have I already done a deal with Lucifer? Signed my soul to Satan? I suppose that's what the Dark Mark is: a contract on my life, on my soul. I doubt I have one anymore...

If I believe enough in a God, maybe I'll find redemption. Yes, redemption for all the horrible acts I've committed and the ones to come. Forgiveness for what the future will bring. And forgiveness for me. Yet there is a possibility that I won't have to raise my eyes to the ethereal plains to gain what I seek. Someone can reach out and touch me like no other person has before, and see me for what I am, not what I'll become. I know what I'll become: a killer, a Death Eater, a Man Behind a Steel Mask...my biological father, in other words. For she was not afraid to see me.

Her eyes haunted me. Everywhere I looked. The ceiling in the Great Hall was the crystalline blue. The Slytherin banner was the verdant hue. The ashes in the grate were the mysterious grey and the sunlight on the lake was the mischievous sparkle whenever she laughed. It was as if they were burned into my brain. Pansy noticed that I was staring off into space and waved her hand two inches in front of my nose. I damn near bit the bitch's head off for that, for ruining such a nice thought. I turned back to my breakfast and the rest of my table. Crabbe and Goyle were fighting over who would get the last muffin. Half the table was watching them shove each other.

Pansy wrinkled her nose at them and daintily took a taste of her orange juice. "You know, Draco, I think you should help me study," she simpered. I rolled my eyes. "On what, how to tell when a guy isn't interested in you?" I jabbed back. I was still catty about her interrupting my day dream, I suppose. I heard gentle laughing and looked around to see who it was. It was hard to tell because my two oafs were flailing around and there were people egging them on, laughing about it, or giving the Classic Slytherin Stare. I was pleased to find that one of the people I wanted to befriend was chuckling at my retort: Erik. He had his usual book with him beside his plate and was quietly observing the whole affaire as it played out.

Ingenious, really, because it was rather easy to forget he was even there. Pansy was too busy staring into her compact again to even comprehend what I said. Skank. I threw him a devious grin and he smirked back, shaking his head. "She'll never learn," I told him confidentially behind my hand. "Feed her enough crup[1] treats and she might," he replied softly. I laughed and Erik turned back to his breakfast with a small smile on his face. I guess that was a start of some sort. I'll take a leaf out of his book and do some observing of my own. All except I won't study just anyone, I'll watch the Dynamic Duo, that's what I'm calling my House mate and his sister.

I decided to wait a bit before talking to Erik, as well. Everybody knows that if you were unnoticed one day then you're Draco Malfoy's new best friend the next, it could mean two things: a) you had something I wanted or b) you were about to be ridiculed. I would have to ease into conversation and wear a friendly mask to get through the barrier he set up. Damn these people, why couldn't they just be simple!?! I glance over to the Ravenclaw table and see my tutor watching Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber over here acting like two year olds. How endearing. Finally sick of it, I jump up, grab the muffin, and stuff it in my mouth. That settled that.

They watched me out of their piggy eyes as I sat back down and swallowed. "Aw, Draco, why'd you go and do that?" Crabbe asked while Goyle pouted. I gave them a cold glare and they didn't bother to question it anymore. I grabbed my bag and made my way to Charms along with the rest of the Slytherin sixth years. Luckily for me, I don't have that much trouble with them. Kind of odd once you think about it, because Transfigurations are supposed to be a variation of Charms. Eh. I'm not going to trouble myself over it. I choose a seat behind and to the right of Erik so I can watch him unnoticed.

Flitwick takes the role and starts on about Secrecy Charms and Trust Packs. Easy, easy...Lucius already made sure I knew about those; I had first hand experience with many of the nastier ones. Unpleasant memory, that. Erik takes his notes quietly, quickly, and goes back to observing people in the same silent manner. The November sunlight from the wide windows catches him full in the face, making his eyes light up eerily. Whoever thought that that colour blue was found in nature? Creepy, I tell ya! His sister was right, I found out with a smirk, they do have the same nose...and the same hair, and the same shaped eyes. Unlike his sister, however, Erik's eyes were cold. Lifeless, if you will, like he blocked all emotion from himself. Yep, this would be interesting.

***

On break, I sent Crabbe and Goyle after the Creevey brothers, they were annoying me again by following Potter with awed expressions on their stupid faces. I followed Erik at a distance as he went to find his Ravenclaw sister. She was in the courtyard under a weeping willow. He pulled out a little black journal and they both leaned over it as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. He pointed to something in particular and she shook her head, biting her lip in thought. He argued something back to her and she nodded, still chewing her lip and I tried edging closer. Taking the book, she frantically flipped backwards, then pointed something else out and Erik got really mad. He grabbed the book and stood up, glowering at his sister. I was taken aback by that; you never cross a Slytherin. However, she rose to the challenge and stood up as well, getting right in his face. Brotherly/sisterly love...

Erik turned away from her violently, crossing his arms and she sighed, resigned. Putting a gentle hand on his shoulder, she apologised for whatever it was she said to piss him off so much and he bowed his head, muttering something to her. Whatever it was made her laugh and he turned around again, half smile on his face. She got a devilish smirk on her face and threw her arms around him, squeezing him tight. The look on his face was so hysterical! It was something between "I can't believe she's doing this", "Get the fuck off me", and "AI! It hurts, it hurts!!" Laughing still, she let him go and gathered her bag up. Erik's nose was still wrinkled in disgust at the public display of affection as she punched him playfully on the arm and walked off. When she was gone, I walked towards him.

"Hey..." I said and he looked up in surprise. "Hey," he said back, a bit nonplussed as he picked up his bag, too. "I can't find Greg and Vince, and I figured since you're in my next class, I'd walk with you," I told him, matter of fact. He raised an eyebrow and said nothing as we began to walk towards the castle. "Who were you talking to?" I asked casually, hoping to sound mildly interested. "My sister," he said with a sigh. "Oh! She tutors me in Transfig, I think!" I say, sounding delighted. So much for easing into conversation. "Does she now," he replied boredly. "Yeah, she's really good at it, too...However, she wouldn't tell me her name and I was hoping that you would? Just so I don't have to keep calling her 'hey you' all the time."

At that, Erik smiled. It didn't reach his eyes. "How incredibly like her, then," he said with a snort, "And she'd kill me if I told you." I frowned. "Then what the fuck am I supposed to call her?" I'm very exasperated. Erik threw me the same devious grin I had given him this morning at breakfast. "Call her a shadow, for that is all she will be to you until she trusts you enough with her name." I stopped short in the hallway, causing some Hufflepuff second years to plow into my back. One scowl from me sends them scattering like chicken feed and Erik patiently waits for me to start walking again. Stupid Hufflepuffs...always getting in the way...

Herbology was canceled, happy happy joy joy, so we turned and went back to the common room. Pansy unfortunately caught up with us and I saw Erik roll his eyes in disgust. "How about helping me 'study' now, Draco?" she said heavily, bumping her shoulders into me suggestively. "I can't, I promised Crabbe and Goyle I'd practice Quidditch with them," I spit out quickly. She giggled in her annoying way and replied, "Oh, silly, they're raiding the kitchens!" I thought fast. Crap, why the hell couldn't they be around? "Uh...then...I've got to do that essay on the Acromantula colonies[2] for DADA." Pansy brightened and puffed out her chest even more and Erik looked up, shaking his head. "I've got to do that too!" she squealed.

Damn, damn, double damn! "Uh...well..." I guess my panic showed on my face because Erik cut in. "We have an Arithmancy project that's due on Tuesday and we're going to the Library to research it," he deadpanned. Pansy looked like a balloon whose air had leaked out. "Yeah, yeah! That's what we're doing!" I add quickly and she pouts even more. "Sometimes I think you don't want me around at all, Drakie..." she whined, twisting a finger in her hair. "Yes, well, we'd love to stay and chat, but it's two and a half feet of parchment that I don't want hanging over my head tonight, so if you don't mind," Erik snapped, grabbing hold of my bag and dragging me down the hall. Pansy looked after us sadly.

About half way to the Library, he lets go and gives me a Look. "Drakie?" he questioned. I took a sudden interest in my sleeves. "Let me try again: Drakie?" he reiterated. "Ohhh, shut it, you," I said quietly while shooting him a dirty look, "I hate that nickname but she insists on calling me it." We walk a few more yards in silence, then he just pronounces, "Drakie" in a nauseated voice. I glance at him and we both started laughing unconstrained. We didn't stop until we reached the Library and were forced to quiet down. We took a table in the back, far away from Madam Pince.

"I already finished all my Arithmancy," I said, more to break the awkward silence more than anything else. "Me too," he returned, "But you needed an excuse desperately and I know for a fact that she doesn't have Arithmancy. Plus, she wouldn't be caught dead in a place where you actually get work done." I nod and sit back in my chair, thinking. "Tell me more about you and your sister."

Erik raises an eyebrow and regards me for a moment. Maybe he won't tell me anything at all. "What do you want to know?" he says finally. "Why the two of you are in different Houses, for one thing," I answer back. "I don't why, either. You'd have to ask her why she's in Ravenclaw."

"Oh." Silence for another minute. "Which one of you is older and by how much?"

"She is, by a month and eight days." I scoff at that. "That's impossible! A day I can understand, but a month? I don't buy it." He shrugs nonchalantly. "Fine, then, don't believe it, but it's the truth." More silence. "But how?" I burst out, unable to contain my curiosity. He smirked at me and I made myself subdue. "You know for a fact that my family is reputed to be pureblood, Slytherin, and dark, right?" I nod. "Then you probably know first hand that not all Dark wizards are entirely faithful to their wives." Of course. I could kick myself, I should have known..."Then how do you know that you're brother and sister?" I can't help asking.

"We were both a few months old at the time. Whichever of us was the illegit one was given to Father just before his harlot died from some 'unknown reason'. Bullshit, if you ask me, I think Mother found out and confronted him about it, then he killed his wench himself and took whichever of us was the product of his waywardness. Mother decided that it would be best if we had playmates growing up, so that's why we live together."

I was stunned. And I thought I had a bad early life; they didn't even know who their real mother was! At least I knew my parents were my own, if nothing else. "You put it so eloquently," I say delicately. Again, he snorts. "How else is there to say it?" he countered. I shrugged at him, then, "I don't suppose either of you knows which one is the bastard, then." It was a statement, not a question. Erik nodded his agreement, then added, "Mother and Father never speak of it. We asked once and only once. Mother told us that much and then slapped us both for having the cheek to ask. "

I lean my elbows on the table, trying to comprehend everything. All the thoughts whirled around my head, making me dizzy and I had to put my head on my hand. My mistake, because my sleeves fell down and my Mark was shown to everyone with in the area. Erik's eyes narrowed shrewdly as I frantically pulled my robe sleeves over it. I turn my voice to ice. "Speak one word of that to anybody else and your head will be mine on a pike," I threatened. There is a suspicious twinkle to his eyes that wasn't there before. "Oh, rest assured, I won't say or do anything about it. Father's in the process of trying to get me and my sister into it."

"I pity the fool who willingly puts his children up for slaughter," I mutter darkly, meriting a sardonic grin from my companion. And damn it all to hell, he still didn't say her name. "If it makes you feel any better, I haven't told anyone that story before. At all. And I don't think I have to ask you more then once to do the same for me...Or 'your head will be mine on a pike'," he said mockingly. "Deal," I said and put out my hand. "Deal," he agreed and we shook on it. The bell rang, signaling us to get to Lunch. Erik got up in his quiet way of his and made for the door. I sat still, reflecting.

Obviously I wasn't the only one who wore a mask to hide themselves.

Obviously people weren't as apparent as I'd thought.

I leaned way back in the chair and ended up falling over backwards.

Obviously this chair didn't know how to stay upright.

Erik turned back at the bang from the chair and shook his head, smiling again. "Draco, aren't you coming? We'll be late to lunch!" Quickly, I righted the chair, snatched my bag, and walked over to meet him, smiling sheepishly at myself. "C'mon, you," he said in his quiet voice. We walked to the Great Hall together.

And most obviously of all, I had a new friend.

A/N: How many Gryffindors does it take to change a light bulb? Three. One to change it heroically, one to be the useless sidekick, and one to research it.

How many Slytherins does it take to change a light bulb? None, they let the Gryffindors do the dirty work.

Ok, that was dumb, yeah, I know...

[1] Crups are found in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, by Newt Scamander and the awesome JK Rowling.

[2] Same thing as [1] except it's Acromantulas in this case, not crups.