Author's Note: I will post on here, once in a while, but rarely. I'm currently working on a novel-length fanfic (Draco/Hermione). This is the re-written long version of chapter four; sorry it took me a while. Chapter five is done and will be posted soon.

Meanwhile, why don't you check out my first book in trilogy (Draco/Hermione), the link is: http://www.thedarkarts.org/authors/viviennaelegance/ADIWF01.html

And, I did an on-off Christmas Draco/Ginny fic:

http://www.astronomytower.org/authors/viviennaelegance/UCS01.html

Author email: RebeccaSL8@Hotmail.Com (Email me, if you have any questions or want to know, when I'm updating, what I'm writing, and so forth.)

CHAPTER FOUR: Death Upon the Door

The Yule Ball arrived quicker than I would have thought. Malfoy and I had learnt to get along with each other more and more slowly, we became sort of acquaintances, not enemies and not friends, but we no longer held anything against each other - hopefully. The incident with Malfoy was forgotten and things at Hogwarts were finally returning back to normal.

I was hoping the Yule Ball would become a life-long memory for it was my last Ball at Hogwarts before I graduated, I wanted it to be the most special, full of romance - but I highly doubt that I would get it from anyone, especially Malfoy, but since, he ended up as my date, it seemed like he was my last hope. But, I thought that Malfoy would rather die than love me, and for some odd, bizarre reason - that thought saddened me.

When, it did come to the Yule Ball however, it was very special that night. One night that I would never ever forget, even if I tried my best to, for the rest of my life. But, it wasn't the fairy-tale romance special, I had hoped for. It was one completely the opposite of that - full of cruelness and bitter words and because of that something or a miracle - I could describe happened within those horrible situations. Even, the miracle managed to overcome the death that rose upon the door - and still made it special. It was indeed a night to remember…

*

On, that night, when I stepped out of my bedroom and into the common room, which Malfoy and I shared - I would always remember the expression on his face when he first saw me. It was full of admiration and impression and his mouth had dropped slightly as if he was gawping at me.

I was so scared, he was going to say a nasty remark, that he would hurt my pride and bring all my confidence down - I was so scared because of all the effort I put in to try and please him. I don't know why I did, but I think that I wanted to show who I really was, not just as the filthy Mudblood Malfoy prejudiced me by.  

I was wearing a pale upon pale, lavender pastel colored dress that was made out of complete silk, it used up all my birthday money to pay for the dress, but I fell in love with it, the moment I saw it. Can you believe that Hermione Granger cared more for something other than books for once?

I had managed to find a spell, which bewitched my hair completely straight for twenty-four hours. And, there it lay, down below my shoulders and it cascaded down my back. It also made my hair a sort of caramel brown instead of my usual dark, chocolate brown. And, it pleased me.

I put on a touch of makeup, just some glittery lilac purple eye shadow that I was given by my Muggle friend, which was put around the rim of my eyes making them look deeper and larger. And, some light, coral, pink lip-gloss finished the look.

I had to admit, I was pleased, but my efforts would have gone to waste, if a certain Slytherin didn't appreciate what I had put in to please him.

I was exceptionally impressed with Malfoy, in his black, velvet robes with its sliver trim, but then I could always count on him to look good for he was one of the wealthiest wizards alive. I'm not sure, if my mouth dropped opened when I saw him, but I think my facial expression showed up clearly on my face stating that I was impressed. Even though I was terribly nervous with waiting for his opinion.

'Well?' I asked Malfoy, when I saw him, trying to stop my hands from trembling.

'Well, what?' He replied, but he didn't say it in the spiteful way, he usually said things and I was expecting too much, if I had thought he was going to praise me. But, he didn't say anything cruel and for that, I was grateful.

I stared at him for a few seconds and then shook my head, 'Never mind. Are you ready?'

'Yes. Let's go.' Malfoy said and walked out the room with me trailing along after him. I felt like a puppy dog and I didn't like it. It was as if, Malfoy was controlling my actions and myself.

*

As, we stepped in the ballroom, Malfoy and I, the room was blasting with happy, joyful music and people were running around and screaming having the time of their lives - until - they saw us. Suddenly, the whole atmosphere in the room changed, people stared at us and I stiffened. I couldn't suddenly breath for some strange reason…

'Malfoy,' I gasped, 'I can't…'

Malfoy grabbed my hand to steady me and I held on to it, graciously.

Swirling, thick fog clouded the room into darkness and I strained to see among it. Then, I heard a low mutter and I felt Malfoy tilt a little as if, something was being thrust to him unknowingly and he was knocked off balance. I grabbed his hand more urgently, tightening my grip, but releasing it a little when I thought I might be hurting him and cutting off his blood circulation. His hands were cold, freezing as ice.

And, then I felt a jolt and Malfoy and I joined at the hands were being thrown into another dimension.

*

We landed with a thud on a heap of the floor in some cold, dark, dreary room and the only light was shed from the pale moonlight in the narrow, slit window above on the ceiling. Otherwise, we were closed from all four corners of the room. Malfoy snatched his hand away from mine, when we landed and I had to admit I was disappointed, it had somehow given me reassurance, although I hadn't realized that I was still clutching his hand. He stood up, brushed his hands on his robes and looked around the room. I shuffled backwards until I was lying against one of the four walls, brought my legs up to my chest and huddled.

'Where are we?' I asked Malfoy, trembling from fear and cold.

I saw a pendant lay not far from where we had landed and since, I believe we had been transported from one place to another, yes, not into another dimension - the pendant had been a portkey. Since, I had the experience, with the boot from the hill near Ron's home to the site where the Quidditch World Cup had been held.

I looked over at Malfoy and I saw him sat cross-legged in the middle of the small room with his head buried in his hands, his white blonde hair cascading around his face. He looked up and saw me, while I biting my bottom lip in apprehension, 'we are at the Manor. In the dungeons,' he explained.

'Oh,' was all I said, but so quietly, I doubt that Malfoy had even heard me.

Then, we sat in silence in the middle of darkness; each small sound like the scuffing of shoes and the movement of the body was maximized several times, becoming louder each time. Then, came a different sound not made by either myself or Malfoy, it wasn't the sound of creatures, this was a sound only made by humans. Human footsteps echoing down the hall.

I looked over at Malfoy and I saw him tremble slightly. I presumed his father was making these sounds of footsteps, after all this was the Malfoy's house. Big echoing, demanding, powerful footsteps - the sound of the way men walked. I trembled too; I was after all - a Mudblood to their family. Malfoy and me seemed to be getting on, on better terms but I highly doubt his father would approve.

What was he going to do to me? Kill me? It was possible or so possible that it was true, of course, I didn't want to die, I wanted to still see my family and friends, carrying on studying at Hogwarts but, if there was no way out - I was going to die.

I wasn't scared of dying; I think Harry influenced that on me with his bravery with the Dark Lord. Ron is scared to die, I think, but if there were no choice, he wouldn't go crazy at the thought. I had a Muggle friend who was so scared to die - she wouldn't even say or talk about "death". I thought that was extremely pathetic, after all, we all have to die one day.

Then, the big, heavy door that enclosed this room behind its four walls opened and in stepped, Lucius Malfoy.

'Father,' Malfoy simply stated as he saw his father enter the room.

'Yes, son, I took matters within my own hands - as you can see,' gesturing a hand towards me, 'the Mudblood!'

What was going on? What the hell was going on? I looked at Malfoy and he averted his eyes from mine. I glared at him behind his back. Stupid Malfoy! He brought me here - I know it! He's done something - oh god - he wants to kill me!

'You want to kill me?' I squeaked out by mistake - it was only supposed to be in my thoughts!

'No, no, no, Mudblood - we want to use you - not kill you or hurt you - use you,' Lucius turned to me and said with his piercing eyes. So, cold like Malfoy's.

'Oh,' I whispered, at least I don't have to die, but use me? For what - my blood like Harry's?

I looked at Lucius and just managed to catch him say, 'Goodness, knows why, the Lord wants to use a filthy, stinking Mudblood,' under his breath.

That just made me really angry. I wasn't a filthy, stinking Mudblood! To them, I was, but I'm not, I'm a witch that just comes from a muggle-born family - not someone with dirty blood! And, I definitely don't smell! They do!

I gathered myself together and asked haughtily, 'Use me for what?'

'Now, we don't want to spoil the surprise - do we, Draco?'

'Mmmm,' was all I heard from Malfoy.

'Pardon, son?'

'Mmmm,' came the reply again, I could tell that Lucius wasn't exactly pleased at not being acknowledged by his only son. I presumed, only, after all, I had never heard of any mention of any other siblings.

'I will not tolerate disrespect, son!' Lucius said angrily through gritted teeth, he whipped out his wand and pointed it at Draco, 'Crucio!'

Malfoy doubled up on the floor, his body withering in pain and I saw sweat glisten on his forehead. He didn't scream in agony, he didn't say anything at all, not a sound and I deeply admired him for that. His hands clutched his body on agony and torture and he huddled himself in the middle of the room, his head down and his mouth screwed and fists clenched.

Then, came the sound of hurrying footsteps down the hall, quick, light and in desperation. Lucius must have heard them as well, for he stopped the agony Malfoy was going through and turned to see the owner of the footsteps that had disrupted him.

I looked over at Malfoy; he panted trying to regain his breath while his skin shined with perspiration. He looked like a small, forlorn child. So, lost. All, completely skin and bone, huddled together on the floor. In his eyes, I saw a tear, which Malfoy blinked back quickly. And, he stared up at the pale moon above through the small window.

I felt so sorry for Malfoy then, I felt his pain and misery he had gone through as a young child, endless torturing from his father.

I hated Lucius at that moment, even more than the Dark Lord for taking away Harry's parents lives away. No father should torture their children and watch with glee at the sight of it. That is not the way of teaching and discipline. I hated Lucius with so much rage; it surprised me and all for Malfoy.

'STOP!' A woman's voice screamed through my thoughts and I turned to the owner of that voice who had also been the owner of the hurried footsteps - Narcissa Malfoy, Malfoy's mother.

I watched as she rushed over to Malfoy and cradled him in her arms, whispering softly, comforting him as if he was a little baby. Malfoy looked sadly at his mother, he seemed so deprived of love. No wonder - he and his mother must have had their lives controlled by Lucius. No wonder - Malfoy was such a cold person full of prejudice and hatred.

Lucius stomped over to the cozy, loving family scene and yanked Narcissa to her feet and dragged her over to the door.

'What do you think you are doing? Coming down here and disturbing me!' Lucius yelled in her face.

'You can't hurt our son!' I heard her whisper meekly, cowering at her husband's anger.

'I bloody well can! I bloody well can do whatever I like.'

Narcissa stood up, squared her shoulders, stood her ground and said boldly, 'No, you can't!'

'I can, I had this child!' Lucius roared with rage at his wife.

'I had this child; I went through nine months to have this child. Our son, not some any old person! Our son! Not someone you can torture! I've had enough for these past seventeen years watching you, hurt him, he'll be scarred for life, if you carry on!' She shrieked losing her self-control. I deeply admired her for standing up to him and I believe it was her first time because Lucius was taken back and because of what she said - standing up for her only son, she had to pay.

'You'll pay!' Lucius snarled.

And, Draco Malfoy watched as his father pointed his wand at his own wife and muttered, 'Avada Kedavra!'

Draco watched his father kill his own mother.

I watched as Narcissa screamed and fell to the ground, and I watched Malfoy's expression, his eyes wide full of torment at the death of his mother - the only one who loved him enough to care for him. He will be scarred for life after this. And, for the first time in seven years, I saw Draco Malfoy cry as he bent his head down, eyes closed and a drop of water fell to the ground.

'Mrs. Malfoy?' I whispered as I crept over to her dead body, so white, eyes opened with shock. I put my fingers on her eyelids and closed her eyes as a sob erupted from within me and a tear trickled from my eyes.

And, no husband should ever kill his wife.