The disclaimer is in the Prologue.

Sources come up in this chapter. Sources are a specialty in magic that each witch or wizard has. Some sources are more common than others, for example a seer has a rare source. I have called it a source, instead of a gift because the idea is that the witch or wizard gets their powers from this gift, it is their source of magic. They are an idea that is mine…all mine

The Serpent's Lair: Meet Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy

It was cold. She still wore her pajamas: a thin tank top and boxer shorts made for summer sleeping, which did nothing to keep out the cold. She huddled into a ball, trying to warm herself. From beyond iron bars she was watched by a pair of icy blue eyes.

The Dark Lord had wanted her because she was special. Lucius had chosen her once before, trying to even an ancient score. The dark lord had delved into her source and felt the power held there. It was restrained, but with proper training she could reach her full potential. His instructions were explicit: treat her poorly at first until her greed for her own well being makes her surrender and thus subdued treat her like royalty. She will be, after all, my princess. Not my prince, not Draco, but my princess. The Dark Lord had never delved into Draco's source. He said it was because Draco was too withdrawn within himself and his strengths could be seen from his father. Somehow Lucius doubted this and wondered what power Draco possessed to prevent the Dark Lord access. But he would never give in to his son by asking. That would be admitting Draco was better. Draco was not better.

Lucius walked away from Ginny's cell, making sure that his steps were heard. It would terrify her in her newly sensitized state. Shutting and locking the dungeon door behind him, he watched as the door melted into the majestically decorated wall, courtesy of his wife. Narcissa had a knack for making secret nooks and crannies. She could find magic nestled in corners and channel it in her own way. She was an admirable woman, yes; an admirable wife, no. She had needed to be taught how to be a wife. He enjoyed teaching her to be his wife.

Ginny would be Draco's project. Lucius wasn't sure if Draco was trustworthy, but he was also unsure if he wasn't and because the Dark Lord had so much faith in Draco, there was no reason to doubt the boy. He could always be controlled, just as he had been in the past. He turned the corner to the Master bedroom. It was time to wake Narcissa.

Narcissa was already up when he returned, and by the looks of it she had been for quite some time. She had already set to work beautifying herself, using her home-brewed potions from her home-grown plants and her wand to cover the bruises he had delivered the night before. He leaned against the doorframe and smiled in remembrance. She had been more unwilling than usual last night. It was almost like their wedding night. Narcissa met his gaze in the mirror, but did not stop what she was doing. Lucius knew better than to interrupt his wife when she was primping. It was the one allowance he gave her.

"Sleep well, I assume?"

"Yes." Her voice held no emotion, only a slight recognition of his presence as she began to apply her make-up the Muggle way. He never understood why she insisted on the Muggle way, even if her excuse was that the end product was nicer. She said there was more control in Muggle make-up than with make-up charms. Lucius wouldn't know.

"Good," he watched as with every stroke his wife's natural beauty returned. Narcissa was used to this constant observation of her actions. He did it to be overbearing. She endured it to survive.

He left to attend to his business, leaving a now glamorous Narcissa in a house empty of every creature but house elves and her son. She left to attend to the gardens. They were her pride and joy, and she spent every moment out in the sun gardening. As long as she didn't show the affects of being out in the sunlight or was not seen, Lucius didn't seem to notice. She grew everything she could get into the soil, among the normal flowerbeds and her potions garden. She needed the potions to hide the affects of Lucius' affection. He kept her as his pretty little pet, forbidden to leave and to disobey.

He kept a tight hand on every creature that entered under his roof. She feared her son would turn into the same sort of man Lucius was. She had so much hope for him. It hurt to have her hope clipped with every blow from Lucius' fist. Draco took a potion to hide his scars. Lucius said that Malfoys had no weakness and therefore should not show any weakness. Draco's scars were his weakness. She wasn't allowed to heal his cuts with magic. Draco's scars were caused by his father. She was often already so beaten that she couldn't help her son. Draco's weakness was his father. She was helpless against him and Draco was helpless beneath the striking hand of his father.

Draco ate breakfast alone that morning in bed. The house elf had brought it up to his room when Draco had been on the roof. He hoped the house elf wouldn't tell his father about his absence. Lucius would be most displeased that Draco had gone on the roof. It would have been an unnecessary risk to the life of the Malfoy heir, in his father's words. He barely tasted the coddled egg and buttered toast as it slid down his throat, as he faced yet another day of…nothing. He had already finished his homework from boredom and he apparated to the library so that he could get some books to take back to his room. His father had taught him how to apparate last summer, saying that he might as well learn. His father's connection to the ministry had gotten him full ability to use magic during the holidays. It wasn't actually true that students weren't allowed to do magic over the holidays. They just weren't allowed to do it in the view of Muggles. It was an old Malfoy secret, this loophole in the law but no one dared challenge the Malfoy family and if they did there were several well placed donations that could drop all inquisitions. Such is the life of rich people.

He proceeded to browse through the library as soon as he had reached there. After finding a few books he would like to read and a few books his father would like him to read he returned to his room and the fire he found there, settled into a favored green, leather armchair and proceeded to read for the rest of the day.

"Do you like the food Draco?"

"Yes mother." His dinner of roast lamb with a mushroom sauce was half gone. He didn't know if he could bring himself to finish it, but knew he would for his mother's sake. At the end of the table, Narcissa sat on the right of his father, Draco sat to the left. Dinner being a very formal affair, the family was well-dressed. Draco sat stiffly in his chair, as he usually did, nibbling at his food and waiting for his father to finish, signaling the end of dinner and the beginning of his endangered freedom.

Finally Lucius rose from the table, his family following.

"Draco, a word." Draco followed silently obedient behind his father, to his study. "I have a project for you. I have a girl the Dark Lord wishes to be subdued." Draco did not permit the surprise he felt to show to his father. He had been expecting chastisement for not being in his room. "I am allowing you to have the pleasure of subduing her. Your instructions are to be cruel to her, then treat her with the utmost kindness. She currently is held in the dungeons where you will torment her tonight. You will return tomorrow to bring her to your room where you will hold her captive. You will not permit her to escape. You will charm her necklace to prevent her from escaping. You know what charm you will need." Lucius led the way to the dungeons as Draco wracked his brains for the charm. He couldn't let his father down this time. It would be the biggest thing he had been trusted with. As he rounded the corner through the cutting cold air he spotted his victim huddled in a ball, her red hair contrasting with her blue tinged skin. Ginny Weasley lay shivering on the moldy old cot.