A/N: Hi all... sorry this has been so late. I had trouble with the chapter and RL got in the way as well. Anyways, Hope you enjoy this chapter and you find it worth the wait!! I'm sorry that I do not have the time right now to reply to all your reviews. I'll try to reply later on. But thank you for them. Its the reviews that keep me writing! Also, thanks to Linda for betaing and also I think you guys should thank Persephone for telling me to write faster. Take care all and please review!! Disclaimers in the earlier chapters. I'm too lazy and busy to retype them.

Chapter 21: A day of revelations and shocking discoveries.

"Oh yes, today was not a good day to get out of bed." That was the only thought that was running through Draco's head as for the Merlin knew how many-eth time he was left standing with his mouth gaping open. You could almost see an image superimposed over Draco, of him regressing mentally and standing there flicking his finger up and down his upper lip going "Duh-uh". Still gaping in shock, he stood there as an example of a human fly trap and watched his father stride over to the coffee table, pick up something and walk back into the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

It was the soft 'pop' beside him that finally dispelled his stupor and slowly, he pivoted on the balls of his feet to stare at a sheepish, apologetic and slightly blushing Harry Potter, sitting right where the gorgeous panther had been only moments before.

While his brain was slowly catching up with the program, replaying the entire bizarre day in slow motion, he could feel his anger rising as well as his embarrassment and hurt pride stinging. The confusion he felt when he realized he had applied the term gorgeous to Potter just added fuel to his consternation.

Recognizing the signs of a stewing Draco Malfoy about to explode like Mount Vesuvius, Harry immediately cast a body bind on Draco and started talking as fast as he could.

" Now Malfoy, I'm sorry I allowed you to think that I was just an animal but seriously now, it was you who jumped to the conclusion. Not me. But then again, look at it this way, I actually did you a favour as now you don't have to worry about finding a way to tell me and play nice. No need to prostrate yourself and beg my forgiveness for all the past bad behavior.

So calm down! I'm not going to hurt you. This body bind is only so we can clear up various misconceptions and then hopefully answer all your questions and problems that you told Waz. Now, this is something I do not want to be popular knowledge and if this gets out, well, I'll know who leaked it. I don't like talking about this subject and this is the only time it'll be up on the list of open topics of discussion, so if I were you, I'd listen up Malfoy.

Contrary to popular belief, I did not grow up worshiped and spoiled. I know you most probably heard the rumors about the horrible relatives and all that. Well, those happen to be true. Understated but true. If you don't believe me, ask your father what condition he found me in when we met earlier in the summer. The reason why I turned down your hand all those years back was because you were behaving like my cousin Dudley and I hated that.

You want to talk about split personality? When I grew up, I was treated worse then a House elf. My bedroom was a cupboard under the stairs and I hardly got anything to eat. It was my duty to clean up after everybody and obey their every whim. I was the 'freak' and thus beneath their contempt. I didn't know who my parents were and wasn't even allowed to mention the word magic.

Then when they sent out my Hogwarts letter I wasn't even allowed to read it. Instead the Dursleys ran and took me with them trying to get away from the abnormalities. Of course, I got the blame for it being so freakish. Finally Hagrid came and got me, yes, that Half-breed Giant you always insult, and he told me about my parents and what happened with Voldemort. I thought my parents died in a car crash, damn it!! Not as a result of a crazed lunatic with delusions of grandeur!

You would think then that Hogwarts would have changed my life for the better but no, it didn't. It just made it more complex then it already was. You want to talk about the complexity surrounding your family life? Granted, it's messed up and I'm sure it's hard, but at least you don't have to deal with the dichotomous public opinion of the Wizarding World. Every month it changes, heck, every week! Not just the adults either but the children as well. Kids my age, my peers who I was expected to blend with would worship as well as fear and hate me. A wrong step would get me condemned for something that was beyond my control. And while we are on that subject, you and your trained lackeys did not help matters much now did you?

Whatever the case may be Malfoy, you may hate having to look after your parents or hate having them fight over you but you know what? I'd gladly take that over what I have any day. All the fighting, the squabbling, heck all the trouble and the pain. I'd take that over having nothing at all. Count yourself lucky Malfoy, even if they are not the best parents in the world, even if they fight and bicker and well, kill people for pleasure, they, all three of them, or at least two I think, I'm not sure if Voldemort is capable of love, love you. Enough to want to win you over to their side. If they didn't, they wouldn't bother about whether you go off with the other party or even whether you live or die.

Especially your father. He loves you enough to fight and defy Voldemort just to keep you by his side and to make sure you are safe. Because he didn't have to you know, he's a Slytherin, and a Malfoy. He may not like his current situation and may not share Voldemort's goals but it would be very easy for him to go along with it to gain the power and the glory as well as to stay safe in that house of adders. Instead, he's spying and playing traitor to make sure you will not one day fall prey to Ol' Snake Face and to ensure your future. He shouldn't have to die to keep you safe. Enough parents have died protecting their children from that psycho. He won't. No more. That's why I have to fight him and beat him. No more death. No more sacrifices. I need to stop the bloody 'Death Fairy' once and for all..."

Panting slightly from his prolonged rant, the last few lines were spoken softly, almost to himself, as if Harry had forgotten about his captive audience. Finished and out of steam, he slumped down on to the sofa again, breathing deeply and deep in thought.

Next to him, still bound, Draco was also contemplating all that had happened that day. A very confusing day it was too, a day of revelations and a day of discoveries. Shocked and surprised by what Harry had revealed and slightly chastened over his past behavior and attitude, he decided then and there to bury the hatchet truly, and instead of burying it in Harry's skull as was his previous wont, he'd bury it in Voldemort's head instead, for he was the main reason why both their lives were so screwed up. Besides, that bastard's breath stank to high heaven and he was lately showing signs of wanting both mother AND son in his bed. *Shudder * Never in a million years! He'd castrate himself and plug up all orifices as well as chop of his hands first. Slimy, snaky evil overlord.

"Why did Dark Lords have to be ugly and have horrible personalities anyway? Why not be clean cut and good-looking as well as able to cut a swath through the witches and wizards with his charming persona and smile. Who wrote the rules anyway? Some idiotic fairy-tale writer with over sensationalized mental capabilities?? Hmm, you don't think Lockhart wrote them do you? Or some long dead ancestor of his maybe? Now there's a thought... Hang on a second Malfoy, grr... get back to the subject and stop rambling! Honestly, how on earth do I manage to ramble during an /internal/ monologue anyway? Hmm, I wonder if it is a genetic thing or if I'm an anomaly? Argh!! There I go again! That's it! Enough! I need to get out of this body bind and sort this thing out with Harry."

TBC....