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Narcissa sat in the large living room of their Manor house pretending to read a book as she listened carefully for any sound to signify that Lucius was home. For the last few days he had barely been home, away on 'business' as he put it. She had searched his study while he had been gone and discovered letters from someone about Draco, detailing his behaviour and friendship with none other than Harry Potter. Lucius had then confirmed this by ranting about it over their dinner, while she had sat there tight lipped and nodding in agreement while fearing for her son and wondering what Lucius was planning on doing. She had also noticed the cold, calculating looks he gave her when he thought she wasn't looking, he was becoming suspicious of the letters he had seen her writing. She knew that soon he would realise that she herself was writing to Draco something he had forbidden her to do, as he did not want her interfering with his plans. For once she had not obeyed him and Narcissa knew when her monster of a husband realised this she would suffer the consequences. She had sent a letter to Dumbledore yesterday telling him that she feared her time was coming to an end and asking him to protect Draco. Dumbledore was one of the reasons she had never wanted Draco to move from Hogwarts to Durmstrang. The other reason was she did not want him getting too involved with the Dark Arts but she knew Lucius would see to that, like she knew he would see to her when he came home.

Narcissa sighed sadly, what had happened to the man she had once loved? He had gradually destroyed her over the years, watching him change, watching his love for her die to be replaced by coldness, until all that was left of her was an empty shell. She closed the book quietly and placed it on the floor by her feet and stared out of the window wistfully lost in her memories of times that had long ago passed her by. If it weren't for her son she would have given up long ago.  She still found it hard to believe what her life had turned in to, from a dream it had become a nightmare.

The loud slamming of the front door and the sound of footsteps through the tiled hallway broke her nostalgic thoughts. Narcissa stiffened at the sound. Lucius was home. The familiar feeling of coldness swept over her as he appeared in the doorway of the room looking at her with those bitter, unwavering grey eyes. He swept into the room and strode over to her until he was standing right in front of her. Narcissa flinched slightly at his closeness, and looked up at him from her sitting position before him into his steely gaze, searching his eyes for some emotion. There was none. This realisation crushed her every time, as deep down she still loved him and always would, but there was no longer any love shown to her in return. Once again she wondered where the man she had loved was. Though his appearance was still the same the person inside wasn't, but Lucius had always chased power and this was the result.

"It seems that you have been disobeying me, my dear." Lucius drawled coldly. Narcissa looked away from his gaze, even the way he spoke to her held nothing anymore. Everything that once was, was gone. "I am well aware that you have been writing to Draco when I told you not to, and I have my suspicions that certain others have been informed as well haven't they?"

Narcissa did not reply.

"Haven't they?" He asked again, only now there was an edge of irritation in his voice. When she didn't answer again, he grabbed the top of her arm tightly, causing her to whimper in pain. His grip didn't loosen and he smirked as he pulled her forward off the chair sending her falling to the floor at his feet. The impact of her body with the wooden floor made a loud thumping sound and her body crumpled, like a broken rag doll. Narcissa vision blurred as tears slowly began to fall down her face. She was glad she was facing the floor so she didn't have to look at Lucius and see the look of pleasure on his face as he inflicted pain on her. How had they ever come to this? She wondered.

Looking down at the body of his wife below him Lucius allowed himself another smirk of satisfaction. Using the toe of his black, leather boot he rolled her body over so he could see her face. Her eyes were red and watery from the tears of pain. How pitiful, he thought to himself mercilessly. Reaching into the inside pocket of his long, black jacket, Lucius withdrew his wand and twirled it threateningly between his slim, pale fingers.

"I cannot let you interfere with the master's plans."

Narcissa closed her eyes and felt more warm tears roll down her face. A great sadness enveloped her at what she knew was coming. Her own husband, the man she loved was going to kill her. The worst fact of it all was he didn't care. She was dispensable to him, like Draco was. They had become like puppets, people he could use as and when he pleased. Now her use was up as she had crossed him to try and protect their son. Narcissa had no doubt that Draco himself would be punished for his new friendship with the Potter boy, but she had a feeling that he would be used first to get to Harry, which is what the Dark Lord himself so greatly wanted.

She opened her eyes again then, tired now of her life. Fed up of the pain she had suffered all these years. The only light in her life had been her son, and she only hoped that she had succeeded in protecting him.

Lucius raised his wand hand high above his head, looking into his wife's drained blue eyes as he did so. For a slight moment his mind wavered on what he was about to do as memories of times they had had crept in, but they were gone as quick as they had came. He pointed his wand at her, like he had at so many others and said the words that would end her life.

"Avada Kedavra" Lucius cried.

A bright green light broke from the end of his wand and shot towards Narcissa. Her eyes widened slightly and then it hit her, and then there was nothing…

His job done, Lucius spared one last glance at the body of his wife, and then after pocketing his wand turned and left room.

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Snape stalked around his office like a man on a rampage. His black eyes glinted with anger and malicious delight as his gaze fixed on the pupils before him, especially Harry Potter his most favourite student to pick on.

"Why is it Mr. Potter that anytime there seems to be any kind of trouble you are involved?"

Harry sighed inwardly. He knew there was no point answering Snape. "There is now a student in the hospital wing, for reasons yet that we do not know, but a fight has obviously taken place, and you, as usual, seem to be in the thick of it.'

Harry continued to stare blankly at the greasy haired potion's master while struggling to think what he could possibly say about all of this. Even Hermione, seemed to be speechless about what could be said though she did not know half as much as Harry did, but as smart as she was Harry had no doubt that when she had chance to think she would begin putting two and two together. Draco hadn't spoken a word since realising what he had done and looked fragile, and crushed, tormented by whatever was taking place in his mind. He had become so pale he was almost transparent, except for the purple bruise forming on the skin above his cheekbone. He refused to meet anyone's eyes; he just sat there looking down at the floor, his hair falling over his face like a protective blanket.

"Well Potter?" Snape spat, leaning over Harry so Harry was staring right into his black, emotionless eyes. "We haven't got all day, I'm sure you don't keep your fans waiting this long. For too long you have broke rules in this school it is about time that something was done about it. Now I demand an explanation!"

Professor McGonagall looked at Harry, also prompting him for an answer. Hermione shot Harry a nervous glance as she wrung her hands in her lap and bit subconsciously on her bottom lip. Draco, however, still didn't move.

"Ron and Draco had a fight…' Harry said quietly through clenched teeth.

"Well I had gathered that much Potter from the marks on Draco's face, and with Mr. Weasley being in the hospital wing. What I want to know is why? And what were you and Miss. Granger doing while all this was going on?" retorted Snape, leaning back against his desk as he surveyed them, his gaze resting longest on Harry.

"We got there just before you." Hermione intervened.

"Is that so Miss. Granger? It's funny, you, Potter, and Mr. Weasley often seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time…Interesting" he said softly.

"Maybe you should ask your student, Severus, seen as he was directly involved." McGonagall told him looking slightly annoyed.

Snape glanced coldly at Minerva before focusing his attention on Draco, who was still staring fixedly at the floor, his normally perfect blonde hair, falling in disarray over his pale face. He couldn't quite place what was wrong with Mr. Malfoy lately, but he had noticed an unusual friendship forming between him and Potter and didn't know what to make of it. He wondered if it may be part of a plan formulated by Lucius Malfoy or if it was a genuine friendship. Well whatever the case, the boy was definitely disturbed by something, he was starting to look ill and now this. It was rather alarming watching his most promising pupil fall apart. Snape was becoming concerned. He wondered if it would be better to speak to him alone?  However, he knew that that would look suspicious under these circumstances. However, he would arrange it. Maybe he could even offer Draco advice on whatever was troubling him. Snape had a feeling it might somehow involve Voldemort and the deatheaters.

"Draco, would you care to shed some light onto this bleak looking situation?" Snape asked less harshly than his earlier inquiring. For a moment Harry thought Draco was going to ignore Snape, but then slowly and stiffly Draco raised his head.

Draco's blue eyes connected with Snape's and he stared, for what seemed to him like a long time but in reality was probably only a few seconds. What could he say? There was nothing he could say; he didn't know what had happened, well he did, but if he said 'Ron transformed into my father.' He was likely to get quite a few strange looks, maybe except from Harry. Plus they wouldn't understand that. Nobody knew what he had suffered at the hands of his father, except for his mother and Harry and now probably Hermione and Ron. He was scared, scared of himself. Afraid of the violence he had just exerted on someone else. Maybe…Maybe he really was like his father…Draco had begun staring off into space now, his eyes filled with anguish at the inner torment he was going through.

"Mr. Malfoy?" McGonagall said, starting to feel concerned for the boy before her.

Draco slowly looked at both professors, his mouth opened slightly as if he was about to speak. Snape and McGonagall both leaned forward eager to hear what was going to be said. Then, as if deciding against it, Draco's mouth closed and he shook his head and resumed his position of staring at the floor, his pale blonde hair once again falling over his face, as he reverted back to his own thoughts.

"I see. So, We have all taken a vow of silence have we?" said Snape his eyes flashing as he began to pace his office again. "Well I think it is about time that the headmaster was called. See what he has to say about all of this."

"No need, Severus. I am already here." And Dumbledore stepped into the room, taking in the scene before him, his wise eyes scanning all three pupils.

Snape immediately rushed to explain events to the headmaster.

"It seems a fight has taken place, but no one appears to wants to talk about it. Either that or a memory charm has been used and they have all conveniently forgotten, but I highly doubt that is the case." Snape bitterly told Professor Dumbledore, who merely nodded.

"I am aware of what has happened, Severus. However, there are more pressing matter's at the moment.

Draco cautiously looked up at the headmaster, trying to read the look on his face. Snape looked positively furious, as if he was about to start breathing fire any moment.

"But Professor Dumbledore-"

"-Not now, Severus. This will be resolved later. Now, Minerva, would you escort Harry, Draco and Hermione back to their common room, and Severus if you'd follow me please." And with that Dumbledore left the room. Snape shot a dark look at Harry before also leaving his black robes billowing out behind him, as he swept out of his office.

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Lying in bed later that night, Harry twisted and turned underneath his blankets deeply lost in the world of dreams. Though the grimace and expression on his face showed that he wasn't in a nice place. Some strands of his black hair were plastered to his forehead and his face was flushed as if from fever.

As soon as him and Hermione had got back to their common room both had retired to their dorms. Draco had been escorted to Slytherin common room first and he had gone in without a word or a glance. Harry had been thinking about what had happened until he had fallen asleep and now for the first time in awhile he was dreaming, one of his horrible nightmares, only this time it didn't involve Cedric.

He was in a room, a very posh room at that, with light wooden floors, leather chairs and grand rugs covering the expansive area of the room. There was a huge old looking fireplace on one wall and also a large window looking out onto a huge area of ground filled with flowers and trees.

Sitting in the chair near the window was a woman that Harry knew by sight; she was Draco's mother. Her face didn't hold the expression he had seen her with before, one of snobbery, instead she looked sad and wistful staring out onto the spacious grounds. She was pale, and the dark blue dress she wore made her complexion appear even paler.

Harry watched as the woman stiffened as none other than Lucius Malfoy entered the room. His white blonde hair was bulled back in a loose ponytail and he was dressed entirely in black. The scene that unfolded before him shocked Harry deeply, as Lucius threw his wife off the chair with a look of pleasure on his face while he did so.

Harry's eyes clenched even more closed, as he thrashed around in his sleep, trying to block the dream out so he wouldn't have to see anymore. A fear of dread spread through him as the scene that was taking place inside his head continued to unfold.

Lucius' wand was out now, raised ready to strike. And as he to cried the feared words of the death curse, a bright green flash escaped the tip of his wand and hit Narcissa ending her life.

As this happened a tremendous pain shot through Harry's scar, his hand shot up to it automatically while his features contorted in his pain.

All he could see was her lifeless body and Lucius leaving. Then the scene changed, as though it was dissolving before him into another dream there were his parents smiling at him. Green flash. He heard their scream and cries and then nothing, an empty quiet nothing and the horrible feeling of death. Once again the image faded and there stood Cedric, the attractive boy from Hufflepuff. Green flash. Now there lay Cedric's body empty and lifeless. Then laughter erupted from nowhere chilling Harry even though he was sleeping, the cruel, evil laugh of Voldemort.

Harry broke out in a cold sweat and kept clutching his scar which was causing him such pain he thought his head was going to split open. Suddenly his eyes snapped open, as he was able to escape from the ghastly images in his dream. Tears fell down his cheeks silently partly from pain of the scar but also from what he had seen. He had a suspicious feeling that the dream he had had of the Malfoy's was more than just a dream. How was he going to tell Draco this after everything? He'd have to go and see Dumbledore. Things seemed to be getting increasingly more shocking and scary lately and Harry knew that they were probably going to get worse before they got better, a lot worse. Exhausted, Harry collapsed back into his pillow and cried for all the deaths he had witnessed, but most of all for his parents. He lay like this smothering his cries into his pillow; until he no longer had the energy to keep his eyes open and fell into a deep, empty sleep.

In another room in the Slytherin common room, Draco sat awake staring out of the window into the night feeling more alone than he ever head before in his life.

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A/N – YAY! I got it up at last! I do apologise for keeping you all waiting. I've been having trouble writing this chapter but I've managed to do it after finally getting the ideas to flow through my head again! Hope you all like it! I'll try not to be so long with the next chapter! Thanks for all the reviews of encouragement they really helped me!