Love and Hate

By Tennisplaya278

Harry, you're worse than Ron! Well, no you're not.
- Hermione Granger-

-Disclaimer: Roses are red, violets are blue, I don't own Harry Potter and neither do you. Bananas are yellow, tomatoes are red, stop reading this and read my story instead!-

Draco walked down the hallway, behind Lucius and Snape. Something very odd was going on with the back of his professor's head. His greasy black hair was shrinking and turning brown. Snape turned around rapidly and Draco saw that his eyes were now a muddy brown color. Casting Lucius a knowing glance, he disappeared with a loud crack.

Lucius was smiling, and staring straight ahead. When he spoke, his lips moved only slightly and his cold grey eyes were softening.

"I knew you would do it."

Draco frowned and kept his silence.

"I knew from the moment you saw what I was offering. I knew you would never be able to refuse. It's what you've always wanted. You said so yourself."

He wanted to scream at his father, yell at him for lying about what he said. Shout at him that he had no choice. Roar that he had never wanted it. But he kept his silence and was rewarded for it.

His father led him to a handsomely polished oak door with a silver handle. Draco practically jumped into his room but sighed when he heard the door lock behind him. He knew that Lucius would do that and found himself laughing that he had even hoped that Lucius would forget.

A small smile reached his face as he walked over to his dresser and opened the drawer. He pulled out an emerald encrusted box and opened it, expecting a roll of parchment. Instead, all he saw was the dark green velvet that lined the bottom of the box. He searched through the drawer, hoping that maybe he had forgotten to put it in the box. He looked around his room and even in his bathroom. When he couldn't find it, he asked his mirror.

"Well you see. She took it."

His jaw dropped and he shook his head. "Who? Who took my map?"

"Come to think of it, I don't think I caught her name. No worries though. I believe she was the girl in your photographs."

Draco believed if his mirror had a face, it would be grinning broadly. His grip around the box tightened.

"No, no, no, no, no. This is not a good thing!" Then he remembered something. "Of course she has absolutely no idea how to use it!"

"Er…"

He stared at his mirror. There was no way. "You didn't. Of course you didn't. She didn't have the map with her at the time," said Draco nervously.

A silence followed his words that told him that a truth had been revealed.

So for the next few hours, he did everything in his power to keep himself busy and his mind off the map. Draco read, wrote, cleaned, spoke with his mirror, practiced spells and once even decided to try and juggle. However, after an hour of running around, he became bored beyond belief. He laid down wearily onto his bed as irresistible waves of sleep swept over him, ignoring the slight tingling on his arm.

&&&

Thump. Thump.

Draco groaned and rolled over onto his stomach, eyes refusing to open. After a few more knocks, he got up and answered the door. It was his house elf Lonny.

"Master is being asked to go to dinner."

He nodded. "You are excused."

He watched the house elf scuttle off and then turned to face his closet. Undressing, he rummaged through his closet for some clean dress robes. No doubt his father had some important businessman to bribe or threaten. Once they were found, he put them on and went down into his dining room.

Like all the other rooms in his manor, the dining room was large and elegant. Glittering chandeliers hung over the long tables. Portraits lined the walls and huge diamond statues stood in between them.

Delicious smells filled the room and lured Draco toward his usual seat, which today was next to Snape. He sat down unwillingly and began to pile food onto his plate. He ate in silence as Lucius and Snape shared a conversation, which went something like this.

"Lucius." Snape nodded.

"How nice of you to join us." Lucius nodded to him.

"Lovely weather we're having." Snape said, taking a bite out of his food.

"Perfect conditions for quidditch." Lucius said taking a sip of his wine.

Draco wanted to punch him.

By dessert, he still hadn't uttered a single word but no one seemed to notice. When he stood up to go back to his room, (and to hopefully stumble upon his map!) Lucius did notice and excused himself to 'escort' Draco back to his room.

Lucius' hands rested on Draco's shoulder in a tighter than usual grip. He kept his mouth shut though, which paid off in the end because when Lucius closed the door to his room, there was no click on the other side. Draco shook his head and anxiously turned the handle.

A creak and he was out.

Caution over took him in a second as he blended into the shadows that were taking over the hallway. He made his way down the stairs and kept his eye out for any signs of a piece of parchment. Turning left, something caught his eye and to his amazement, he had found his map! It was surprising how fast he had found it.

"Let me out."

Ink rose from the paper like magic and dots moved around. He found Lucius in his study with Rookwood, probably 'making plans' for him.

Now to get reacquainted with the manor.

He turned around the corner and headed down the stairs, moving quickly and quietly. The first room he wanted to visit was a hidden room that only he knew about. Within it were his most prized possessions; his first broom, his books, his photos, his television (yes, that's why he was hiding it there,) and most importantly, that was where his owl, Mulvane, lived.

Looking around to make sure no one was looking, he stopped in front of a large tapestry featuring two snakes entangled together. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wand, pointing it toward the floor. Tapping first the top brick, three bricks to the right and one brick below, the snakes' eyes suddenly gleamed bright red. Draco then walked straight through the wall.

On the other side was a small, dingy room. It smelt heavily like owl droppings and dead mice. To his horror, when he went to look at the television, it was smashed.

Cough, cough.

Draco spun around and saw a greasy haired man with small black beady eyes. His once black robes were now torn and matted with blood. He was lying unconscious on the floor, in a crumpled heap.

Professor…Snape?

He walked warily toward the person on the floor and found that it was his professor. Black eyes were staring at Draco although he wasn't sure if that was exactly true. Snape did say something though before unconscious again.

"Help…Lucius…Dark…Vile…Need…Door…"

Draco had no idea what he meant but instead picked him up again and snuck him out. He walked up the stairs, tripping twice due to the weight on his back. Up the stairs he went and down the hallway and into his room, where he already had a visitor.

A bright red phoenix was giving him a very nasty glare from the edge of his bed.

-Author's Notes-

Ahhh! Short chapter and I'm so sorry about it! It's just that…that's all that should belong in this chapter! Sorry!

Thanks to the few people who reviewed:

Croaker: Thank you so much for beta-ing my story! You've made it better than ever! You are the best!

CCBChunks: Thanks for helping me sort through my ideas. Wow, this story is going to be amazing! You rock too. Much love to you.

KittyOfWonder: you figure it out yet? No? Well you'll find out for sure next chapter!

Emily and Jessica: I am so happy that you guys liked the last chapter but the story's not over that fast. I hope that this chapter did you guys justice as your ideas are amazing. I was smiling so much when I read your review. Thank you.

FourthIv: Thanks for putting me on those lists! I hope you liked this chapter. Thanks for reviewing!

Jomai: I'm glad you like it. Thanks for the review!

Tinkerbellphish: Thanks for reviewing!

Stardrops: Wow. I'm so stupid, I forgot that he was a death eater. Go me. Yes, we'd all like a dragon fountain. Actually I like their house. I want it. :D

Steffe: Thanks for the review!

New chapter on its way.

While your waiting, you may want to check out a few sites. (Hah. Advertising here people.) My blends site is up and running. www. geocities. com / tacoangel2002 (don't ask). Uh…oh yes. For all you Tom lovers out there, his 17th birthday is coming up soon and mugglenet is putting together a scrapbook for him. Check it out. www. mugglenet. com / tombs. shtml

Much love.