A/N: Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up. My computer has been in the shop, but it's back now.

Mom lowered her voice to a whisper.

"After this school year you'll be able to escape everything. With the Dark Lord gone you now have no reason to be afraid of running. Take Eponine with you. Run away to New York and get small part time jobs with the Ministry there. Then audition for Broadway. With your skills they'd be crazy to not take you."

"What about Father?"

"What about him? He probably assumes that you'll run. Besides, he has Robert."

Robert is my brother. I already told you about him.

"Now you're father is going to try and arrange a marriage for you during the summer. Wedding arrangements are mainly what this event is about. So please don't be a fool like I was. Don't fall in love, because all of these young men are just like their fathers. Annie and I learned this the hard way."

"You don't have to worry about that."

"Now, you've never traveled by muggle plane before so on your last night of school I will send you a plane ticket with information on when and how to get to the air port. When the Beauxbatons Express brings you and Eponine back to the station on the last day of school, follow the directions that I have sent you. Eponine will have a copy of them as well. We'll convince your fathers that you've insisted on coming home by yourselves, because it's been your dream since your first day at Beauxbatons."

"But what about you?"

"I'll be fine. I've lasted this far. It's not too late for you. Just remember, whatever happens this summer and school year, you will escape from it. I know you hate doing this, but just grin and bare it."

"Won't that look suspicious?"

"Do you want your last few memories of your father to be unhappy ones? Put up a small fight like you always do, but let your father win."

"All right."

I sighed heavily. I hated letting Father win arguments with me. It gave him all the more reason to boss me around.

The next afternoon all of our luggage was sent to Malfoy Manor by magic. We were expected to make a grand entrance by arriving in a lemozine. It was a way for the men to show off their money.

Eponine had to go with her family, so I was stuck with my clan of psychos and mother. I brought with me a dance magazine to block them out. It got tiring listening to them talk for long periods of time.

When we finally got there I closed the magazine and father snatched it from me.

"You will not shame this family with muggle items such as this!" He snarled as he shoved it in a hidden compartment under the seat.

"You call this a family?!" I snarled back as I reached for the compartment.

He grabbed my wrist and squeezed it.

"You will not embarrass me in front of my people, girl. If you don't hold your tongue for this week then it will be your last."

"You always say that. Remember last summer when you said that and I talked about nothing but how nice muggles are to all of your friends?"

"Yes and you paid for it didn't you?"

"Yes, but you didn't kill me!"

"That's only because I need you."

"For what?"

"You'll see! Now come on! Let us go!"

He walked out of the lemozine followed by Mother. Then Robert and Katie. I ignored the pain in my wrist as I stepped out of the lemozine. I smiled my fake, but believable, smile and began one long week of acting.

I made my way in between Robert and Katie. We walked up to Lucius, Narcissa, and a very handsome young man. He looked about my age with blond hair that would have looked even better if it wasn't glued to his head. He had perfect muscles and a perfect body that could have been more perfect if he was wearing something more free then a tuxedo.

"Robert, Katie, and Cosette, meet our son, Draco." Lucius said.

We all shook his hand and said a polite hello. When I shook his hand I saw something in his eyes. Something that told me he was acting as well and that he didn't want to be there either. He had looked as if he had the same anger that I had.

When he looked back I think he saw right through me too. We both smiled, but they weren't forced or fake. I decided to be nice to him, but I knew to stay away. I didn't want him to get in my way of running away to America with Eponine. No one was going to get in the way of that.



A/N: So what do you think? Please review!