Chapter Thirty-Seven:

(A/N. Man…poor Amanda. Everyone hates her without even knowing anything about her…Well actually all of you are wrong (muahahaha). I actually owe the idea to blonde@heart who stopped reviewing (sniff) but I still will mention her. Anyway calm down everyone this is a Draco/Hermione fic and I'm not changing that. Now take a deep breath and read on. Don't forget to review!)

Draco Malfoy hurried across the soft grass into the park behind the large Malfoy estate. A young girl with curly golden hair and bright emerald eyes smiled at him from the swings. He raced over to her and wrapped his small, slender arms around her neck. She giggled and pushed him away gently.

"Draco! I've missed you so much!" The small girl smiled enthusiastically. Draco grimaced remembering the long hours with his tutors and with his mother planning his birthday party. At the thought of his birthday he smiled.

"I'm going to be having my fifth birthday soon, Amanda. I want you to come!" He cried enthusiastically.

"But what about your Daddy? Won't he be mad? I think he'll tell us not to be friends anymore." Amanda said softly. Draco shook his head and smiled.

"We'll always be friends! I promise!" He grinned. Amanda looked at him and there was a deep wisdom in her emerald eyes well beyond her five years.

"Promises never last forever." She whispered. Draco frowned, not understanding his muggle friend's words.

"Don't worry." He said to try and clear the deep sadness from his friends face. "Everything will be alright." Amanda's face changed suddenly and she now looked more like the five year old that she was.

"You're right. Let's go play on the jungle gym!" She smiled and Draco nodded. Soon her soft spoken words were forgotten…

Draco broke out of his trance and lay down beside Hermione. He pulled her close, needing to feel her comforting warmth. He remembered vividly his birthday party, it was the last happy moment he would have in the Malfoy Manor…

Young Draco Malfoy was dressed in a brand new robe, a dark blue that brought out the rich summer-sky hue of the little boy's bright eyes. He stood at the doorway greeting the wizards and witches as they walked through the door. Suddenly the door opened and Mandy walked in, grinning from ear to ear and wearing a pretty yellow sundress.

"Happy Birthday, Draco." She said and gently kissed him on the cheek. Draco blushed and stared down at his marble floor.

"Thank you, Mandy." Draco said. The hours passed and the whole party, Draco was glued to Mandy's side. At the end of the party everyone went home and Draco went in search of his parents. They were sitting in the library.

"Did you enjoy you party, Draco?" Lucius asked in his silky voice. Draco nodded, his hair bobbing up and down.

"Yes, thank you, Father." Draco said politely, then he turned to his mother. "I'm so happy Mandy came!" He proclaimed.

"Mandy? Who is Mandy?" Lucius asked as Narcissa eyes widened. Draco ignored his mother's strange reaction and fixed his attention on his father. "Is Mandy a relative of the Goyles? I have a hard time keeping track of that family."

"Oh no, Daddy! Mandy's a muggle." Draco said proudly and smiled. Dead silence filled the room and the young boy's smile faded.

"What?" Lucius voice cut through the silence like a blade. Draco looked at his father a small frown on his face.

"Mommy didn't tell you?"

"No, Mommy didn't tell me." Lucius hissed and stood up and stalked up to his wife. "How dare you undermine my authority!"

"Please, Lucius! I thought it would be good for the boy…" Narcissa began but Lucius raised his pale hand and backhanded the lithe woman.

"Silence!" He roared. "You know nothing you worthless wench! You will never take actions like that over MY son again. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Lucius." Narcissa whispered. Lucius narrowed his eyes and pulled out his wand from the depths of his robed.

"I think some punishment is in order. Crucio." Lucius cried and Narcissa's screams tore through the air.

"No Daddy! Stop!" Draco sobbed rushing over to his mother's crumpled form. Lucius stared down at him maliciously.

"Stop crying. Malfoys never cry." Lucius snapped and stormed out of the room. Narcissa raised her head a pained look on her face.

"I think it would be better for all of us if you stopped being friends with Amanda." She rasped and Draco nodded wiping the tears from his eyes.

"Alright Mommy."