Hey!  Here is chapter 8.  I hope I didn't leave you guys in too much suspense.  *laughs evilly* Sry.  As always most characters belong to JK Rowling.  The ones you do not recognize are either mine or characters that belong to J.K that you never paid much attention to.  I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.  We find some . . . interesting stuff about Draco!   Ok, here it is.

The Truth that lies between the Cracks

            I stood there watching him.  He was lying on his back, looking up at the sky.  The moon was bright, the only light in the endless maze of ebony.  He looked sad and worried the unusual wrinkles in his forehead showed he was deep in thought.  I just stood watching him for a long time.  I suddenly walked out of my hiding place and stood right over him.  Looking down, I saw that his eyes were closed, a rare scene.  He was always wide awake, ready for anything that might cross his path.  "Mighty cold, Draco.  Are you aiming to freeze into a sheet of ice or what?"  He opened his eyes surprised.  He stared at me for awhile, like he was going into my head and into my soul. Like I was hoping Harry, Hermione, and Ron would do one day.  He looked like was figuring out what I was feeling, if I was mad or happy.  His eyes, I swear, frowned as if he discovered something he didn't want to.  He finally dropped his gaze, got up, and turned his back to me. 

            "Please don't be mad.  I knew you wouldn't like the gift.  Oh, I am so stupid to even think that you wanted to be my friend," He said it with such force I was almost tempted to run away from the whole scene.  But, I couldn't.  I wasn't mad.  I loved his gift.  I put my hand on his shoulder.

            "Draco," he turned around to face me, "I love the gift.  I want to be your friend.  It was very sweet of you.  Although, it must have cost a fortune!"  He laughed.  Hope spread across his face. 

            "Really?" he said quietly as if not believing me the first time. 

            "Really," I said with pure confidence.  He smiled the third real smile I have ever seen him give.  I opened my arms and he hugged me.  He was happy and so was I, but I couldn't help myself, and I got lost in his scent.  He smelt like grass, peppermint, and . . .  Draco.  He pulled away and we walked back to the castle together.  Friends. That was good right?  We didn't have to be girlfriend/boyfriend.  Draco just wanted to be friends.  I was happy but I couldn't help but feel sad at the thought that, that's all he wants us to be.  I thought he liked me more than a friend.  I guess I was wrong. 

 * * * * * * * *

            I was so happy when she said that she wanted to be my friend.  I could've screamed and yelled, but I restrained myself.  After all, I am a Slytherin.  I have to save at least some of my dignity.  I was also very happy to see that she was wearing the bracelet I bought her.  It really did look stunning on her.  I watched her finger it lightly.  She looked like she was already head over heel in love with it.  She gave a small, secret smile, as if the bracelet just whispered something that only she could hear.  She tore her eyes of the bracelet and started at me.  "Come on!  Let's get back to the common room before we both freeze!" she said.  I smiled.  I walked next to her back to the common room.  Suddenly I had an idea.

            "Hey, do you want to use the telescope with me tomorrow?  I mean because it's Saturday and all?"

            "Yes!"  She looked at me happily.

            "Ok, so around 8:00 meet me outside on the balcony?"

            "Sounds great!" she said.  I said good night to her and went up to my room.  I can't believe this is happening.  Although we are just friends, it will just take one small step to become more.  But, I won't push her because she deserves so much.  So much in fact, I am not so sure I can give it all to her.  I am not sure if it is safe to become more.  My father would be furious.  I hate how people put labels on you.  Oh, you're a deatheater and oh, you're a Weasley.  You can never be accepted as something else.  It seems like it is impossible to change your ways in this school, because no matter what you do to make people believe you changed it never works.  They will always be thinking, "you're not telling the truth", or "what's the trick?"  Trust is very important.  It takes seconds to loose, but it takes years to gain back if you are lucky. If you don't put trust in someone how will they ever trust you? 

            It's funny, my life used to be just about winning, about being the best.  I didn't care who I hurt, or how many people turned their backs on me. As long as I got what I wanted I was happy.  I only cared about gaining power, about bullying people.  I think I bullied people so they wouldn't really see the person I was.  I thought that if anyone ever saw the person I wanted to be, the person who just couldn't wait to get out, then, I would be thought of as a coward.  I only picked on Harry because, believe it or not, I wanted to be like him.  Yes, I despise him and, I think, I will always hate him, but not his character.  I don't want the fame, or the glory.  I don't even want to be the hero that saves the day.  Deep down, I wish that I was the fighting on the good side.  That I was the one everyone looked up to and trusted.  I just want to be trusted.  I wanted to live a life outside the dark and dangerous ways of the Dark Lord.  I never wanted to be a deatheater.  I just went through the training and the pain so that my father would never think that I didn't want any part in it.  Ever since I made the decision that I would never become a deatheater I have been dreading the day when I get the dark mark.  What am I going to do?  Who can I turn to and trust.  I guess my answer was right in front of me the whole time.  I will have to tell Dumbledore.  I either become a spy, or I defeat my father and Voldemort with his help.  I am a dark and dangerous man, but I will not use my skills for something completely wrong.  I feel nothing but pure hate for my father and that will never change.  I was never a son to him, just a tool to worm his way to Voldemort's side.  I am promised to be the best Deatheater anyone has ever seen.  I am supposed to have no feelings and be cold.  My job and my act are becoming more and more complex.  I have to be a certain way, and I can't let anything slip in the presence of my father. 

            I never had any real friends.  Crabbe and Goyle were just people I could order around.  They never really say anything and what they do say is very unintelligent and unimportant.  My life, I guess you could say, is not the best.  I have only lived a life inside a circle of hatred and unfairness.  I was never able to wonder outside of the circle.  It imprisoned me to a life that I am so sure is not worth living.  So, how could anyone expect anything different?  My life is not happy and is filled with darkness.  That's why it is so important to me that Ginny likes me and becomes my friend.

            As I was lying down on my bed, sleep claimed me, this time with pure good thoughts.  I finally did the right thing.  About time! 

* * * * * * *

I woke up early this morning.  I decided to get up.  I got dressed and knocked on Draco's door.  I wanted to know if he wanted to go to the Great Hall with me.  When he opened the door he was fully dressed.   He looked striking as always.  He was wearing a forest green log sleeved shirt and black pants.  I looked at his face.  His hair was free and fell into his face.  It gave him that don't mess with me kind of look.  Very sexy.  Finally I realized that I came to ask him something.  "Oh, uh, Dr-Draco do you want to go to the Great Hall with me?"  I diverted my eyes to the floor.  Suddenly the color of the carpet took me by great interest.  I heard him laugh.  "I would love to," he stated.  We walked silently down to the Great Hall.

            There were few people this early.  The tables were empty except for a few faces I didn't recognize.  The enchanted ceiling was a clear blue sky, with giant, fluffy clouds.  I just wanted to reach up and touch one.  As we passed the three tables before the Slytherin's, Professor Dumbledore stopped us, "Ah, Draco, Ginny, just the people I wanted to see."  I glanced at Draco and he shrugged his shoulders. 

            "What is it, Headmaster Dumbledore?" I asked.  His eyes sparkled with unknown secrets. 

            "Well, the other houses seem to be having trouble", he paused, a slight frown on his lips, "so", he said more happily, "we are going to extend this a little longer."  He pointed to Draco and me. 

            "Oh, that's fine," I said.  Truth was I was excited.  I could spend more time with Draco.  Dumbledore waved his hand as if dismissing us in a polite way and Draco and I made our way to our seats.  I looked back at Dumbledore.  He looked deep and thought.  His brow was lined with wrinkles, and I wondered what he could be worrying about.  Although, I did not miss the look of happiness he gave me when he saw me walk in with Draco.        

            I sat down next to Draco.  "Hear that?  I get to spend more time with you!  You know you. The real you." I said. 

Draco looked at me innocently and said, "I have no idea what you are talking about!  This is the real me," he stated matter of factly, but I saw he was smiling.  We ate breakfast.  Today was the last day of break and students would be coming back around twelve.  Draco and I walked back to the common room. 

"Well, what do you want to do?" I asked.  

He thought for a moment then said, "Come with me, I want to show you something." 

"Okay," I said as he led me to his room.  I sat on his bed while he was looking for something in his trunk. 

"Ahh, here it is!" he said.  He pulled out a black, flat box.  He placed it on his desk and beckoned me to come over.  I shared his chair with him, well; it was more like a bench only smaller.  As he showed me his laptop, I had trouble concentrating on it and not on how close we were.  He didn't seem to mind so I tried to shrug the feeling off.  Of course I knew what it was.  My father bought one home one day.  He was very well with it.  He new a lot about those kinds of things. 

            "So, Draco, I guess you don't hate Muggle things like everyone says you do, do you?"

He sighed, "No, I don't.  I actually think some of the inventions are pretty cool.  It's just . . . could you not tell anyone because . . . well, I don't really want anyone to know?"  I looked at him interested.  I could tell he was lying about. I didn't press the subject though, he was probably just embarrassed.

"Technically it is magical because electricity is not allowed at Hogwarts. It wouldn't work anywhere near the castle if it weren't run on special magic."

"Okay," I said.  He smiled.  I told Draco I had to go and left to tell my tale to Jill and Kate. 

I found them eating an early lunch at the great hall.  We all sat at the Gryffindor Table.  They wanted to hear everything.  So, I told them everything from the beginning.  I only left out the part of me being sad because he just wanted to be friends.  It took a long time and soon the Hall of filled with students coming back from the break.  Katie and Jill did not looked surprised that we were just friends and if they were they hid it well.  Just then I remembered that Katie had not mentioned the bracelet to me earlier that day.  She probably all ready knew.  I had a couple paragraphs left on my report for transfiguration and told Kate and Jill I had to go.  I went down the halls and into my room.  I was sitting on my desk when I noticed a red rose lying on my bed.  It had a small card and said:

Dear Ginny,

                        Can't wait to see you tonight at eight.  Dress warm, it's supposed to get chilly.  Don't forget to lock your doors!

                                                Draco.

I smiled.  I couldn't help myself.  He was concerned about me!  I can't believe he snuck in here!  I twirled the rose in my hand.  I walked back to my desk and placed the rose next to me.  The next few hours that it took me to my report were a blur, and I am still not quite sure what I wrote. 

* * * * * * *

            It was eight o'clock and I was on the balcony waiting for Ginny.  I was starring into the forbidden forest.  Once in awhile, silver or gold eyes stared back at me, the only evidence that the forest was not just a thick blob of darkness.  Ginny was suddenly standing next to me.  "It's beautiful out, isn't it?"  And it was.  I nodded in agreement.  The sky was clear, perfect for sky watching. 

            I clasped my hands together, "Well, let's get started!"  She smiled and walked up to the telescope.  She stood under it and found the constellation she was looking for, Virgo.  It was her zodiac symbol.  So her birthday is in September.  I will have to remember that.  I showed her my sign, Leo. 

            It went on like this for a while, until the telescope went out of focus.  I rolled up my sleeves and was about to change the view when Ginny gasped.  I tried desperately tried to pull down the sleeves but it was too late.  She saw.  I totally forgot the huge black and blue on my arm from my father. "Draco!  What happened to you?" she sounded so worried. 

            "Nothing, really, it's nothing . . ." I tried to shrug it away but she persisted.

            "No, it's not 'nothing'!  Draco, you're hurt, who did it to you?" she looked at me.  Suddenly realization dawned on her.  "You father did, didn't he."  It was a statement not a question.  "That is why you don't want me to tell anyone about the Muggle things?"  I nodded. 

            "Please, Ginny, don't tell anyone.  It's been this way my whole life.  I will survive—just please don't tell anyone."  She looked at me sadly. 

            "Fine I won't just… just promise me you will tell me if they get worse."

            "I promise!" I said.  And I would tell her too.  She hugged me and held me close for a long time.  I didn't know whether it was because of my father or something else.  Suddenly she broke away.

            "Draco, it is getting late and I had a really good time.  Just promise me because I am really worried!" 

            I put my hands up to surrender, "Don't worry!  I will, and please stop worrying your pretty little head about me!"  She smiled and left.  I watched her go into her room, shut the blinds, and heard the click of the lock.  I entered my room.  That did not go as I had planned, but it felt good to know that someone cares about me.  It even felt good to let someone know the truth.

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I hope everyone liked that chapter!  Thanx to everyone who reviewed!  I really appreciate it!  I hope this was long enough for you guys!  Oh and if anyone wants to be emailed when the next chapter is up just email me your address or give it to me in the review!       

~*~LNFMTB (Lil Note From Me The Beta): This was the best chapter yet! Don't you readers agree! I think we should all give Kaitlyn a round of applause. Clap! Clap! Clap! This chapter just proves how many pple think Draco is a little softie! Not that he would admit it! Review everyone! Say how great this chapter is and wait anxiously for the next one! I know I will be waiting anxiously!