A/N: Okay, just to answer a few more questions:

The Black Manor is Harry's: Well, I don't know... I guess it is, but Snape is in the order and if they're using it for the Order's base then they're not going to want to kick him out.

Why is Harry vulnerable? Harry is vulnerable because Draco said he needed him, he wanted him and he lived for him. He made himself vulnerable by believing it. And he's lost everyone he's ever really loved, so loosing Draco would be hard for him, don't you think?

The order was supposed to tell Harry everything, as said in the fifth book. Okay, I know that's what was supposed to happen but I couldn't do that. My whole plot relies on Harry being totally clueless. If I did tell him everything then my story would be pointless. Sorry!

Chapter Seven: In the Dark

¤¤¤¤¤

I stepped out of the rusty motel and onto the sidewalk, the sky greeting me with wonderful swirls of grey and blue. I smiled faintly as I walked towards the warehouse behind the motel that was connected to the floo network. My eyes glazed over the small vase filled with floo powder.

About to take a handful I was disrupted by a small whine. Turning around, I found Pansy fretting over one of her robes getting caught in the double doors. I smirked slightly and watched as she finally freed herself.

"These three days have gone by pretty fast, haven't they Draco?" She said, brushing off her silky robes.

I watched her attentively before nodding. Though, they didn't go fast at all. In fact, they went by amazingly slow. Finally, today I'd be boarding the Hogwarts Express and I'd be free from this nightmare... for at least a few days. Finally, I'd be with Harry.

A small shuffle distracted me as Pansy walked over to the fireplace, her fingernails scraping against it.

"What a piece of rubbish," She said haughtily, watching the metal and wood break apart at her not-so-gentle touch.

"Well, this whole place is rubbish if you ask me." I said, my Slytherin pride returning to me faintly.

Pansy sighed irritably and clicked her shoes impatiently on the stone floor. "Well are you planning to go?" She drawled, looking at her fingernails perceptively. "We don't have all day."

"Haven't you ever heard the phrase 'patience is a virtue'?" I asked, watching her grin slyly at me.

"Draco, darling, what's happened to you? Remember those faithful days when you tried to swoon me?" She said, her eyes glinting mischievously.

"I would still be 'lusting' after you, if you hadn't slept with half the school already. You became to easy." I lied, watching amused as she cross her arms over her chest.

"Are you calling me a slut, Draco, Darling?" She asked, pouting.

I picked up the floo powder and grinned. "Precisely. Now if you'll excuse me..." She sighed irritably as I threw the dust into the fireplace.

--

Half an hour later, I was at King's Cross, Pansy trailing behind me. When we arrived onto the train I sighed gratefully.

I watched as compartments filled up, looking for one in particular. Finally I found it, opening it longingly.

There I saw him, his chest heaving up in down in a light slumber, his black hair falling over his forehead, covering his scar almost completely.

I walked up to him and laid a finger on his lips, trailing it to his neck where it explored the silky flesh beneath it. When he didn't stir I sighed contently and leaned my head against his firm shoulders, closing my eyes..

"Draco?" He said quietly. I opened my eyes and lazily, watching him with desire.

Smiling at his shocked expression, leaned closer against him, feeling him shiver slightly. I rubbed circles on his back soothingly.

"What—What are you doing?" He asked softly, his gaze holding mine.

I remembered leaving Harry three days ago alone in my bed. My eyes looked deep into his, capturing every emotion. Desire, hope, fear, bravery, determination... and many others I couldn't place. I watched his hopeful eyes and smiled, "I wanted to wake up to you holding me." I said honestly, snuggling closer to him.

It seemed to have been the wrong thing to say, as Harry took in a sharp breath and looked at me longingly. Finally his gaze reverted to the floor.

"That's how I felt, but... you weren't there." He said, softly.

I swallowed and nodded. "I know, I'm sorry." Truthfully, I was at all loss for words. I wasn't used to Harry being so direct with his feelings, I wasn't used to him looking at me without his usual shields.

He didn't seem satisfied but settled all the same. I watched him sadly, clutching his robes. "Harry?"

He didn't speak, just watched out the window, his hair flaring impressively at his sides.

"Harry." I said again, watching him flinch slightly and turn to me. "Don't do this to me. I would have stayed if I could."

He watched with hurt eyes for a minute before it was replaced with no emotions what so ever. He just shrugged and turned back to the window.

I gave a frustrated whimper and put my head in my hands. "Harry." I said, again. My mind was spinning. Why didn't Dumbledore want anyone to tell anything to Harry? Life would be so much easier if he knew everything.

Harry sighed in defeat and looked at me. "Why couldn't it wait?" He asked, the longing mixed with depression in his voice making me flustered.

"I... couldn't. It had to be done then." I said, remembering the meeting. What would Voldemort do if I denied the mark? I squeezed my eyes shut. I would have never sacrificed my life to the order if I had known Harry would be here with me, caring for me. I have something to live for and now my life is being taken away.

Harry must have noticed my minor mood swing because he rubbed my back slightly. I looked at him in the eye and he smiled.

"I missed you." He said his voice quivering. "You're all I thought about."

I had to force oxygen in my lungs. "I—missed you too."

He smiled shyly and leaned forward, his breath touching my craving lips slightly. Slowly he leaned in and captured my lips in a gratifying slow kiss. I wrapped my arms around his waist as his hands pulled my head into the kiss, deepening it. I moaned when he gained entrance to my mouth, exploring it hungrily. I slumped onto him, my hands crawling up his shirt.

Gently he peeled my hands off his skin and put them to the side. He stared at me intensely, his green eyes sparkling with emotion. His lips were parted, panting slightly.

Pushing me up, he forced me to sit back straight instead of laying on him comfortably. He leaned against me and trailed his hands down my arm.

I laid my head against his shoulder as he lay back against the seat. His hands still holding me in a tight embrace.

When we arrived at the castle we both looked regrettably at each other. From now on we'd have to be enemies. We'd have to be Malfoy and Potter, Slytherin and Gryffindor, Dark and Light. I watched as he walked onto the carriage behind mine and sulkily waited to arrive at Hogwarts.

--

The following morning was unbearable. Knowing Harry would appear through the Great Hall doors and have him ignore me like usual was hard to think about.

When the doors did finally reveal him, his eyes looked around until they met with mine. I felt my heart beat wildly in my chest as his eyes shimmered sadly and then watched him walk towards the Gryffindor table, casting me glances once in a while.

"What are you looking at?" Asked Theodore Nott, watching me intently.

Biting into my toast, I turned back to the Slytherin table. Blaise and Theodore were both looking at me with bewildered expressions.

"Nothing." I said flatly, watching as Theodore looked at what I was previously staring at. His eyebrows arched and then furrowed.

I sneered at them. "Mind your own business." I spat, watching as Blaise threw Theodore an amused glance. Theodore on the other hand looked utterly terrified.

"My, my. Aren't we touchy?" Said Pansy walking to the table and pecking Blaise affectionately on the cheek. He looked startled as if he briefly forgot she was his girlfriend.

I rolled my eyes and turned back around, this time sure to look around at every table. Briefly my eyes caught Harry's and he blushed slightly. I also blushed and turned away, facing my friends once more.

"Draco, you've been acting quite strange since last year." Said Pansy suddenly, watching me carefully.

I swallowed carefully and looked at them all with blank expressions. "And I find it very unfortunate that you three haven't changed at all."

Pansy frowned. "Is it because you just found out your father was an insane murderer?" She said, amused at the fact that we were both about to become the same things.

"What?" I yelled at her, watching her eyes cloud with fear. "Don't you dare talk about my father that way!" My breathing was ragged as I stood up from the table angrily, knocking down several goblets of juice. "If you ever badmouth my father again I swear I'll kill you. You bitch!"

I was well aware of the green eyes piercing into my back the whole time. I quickly stomped out of the Great Hall, sneering at everyone who was watching me.

When I was out of the Great Hall my expression immediately went from angry to miserable. I walked along the corridors sulkily until I finally found the one I was looking for and slumped into a dark corner, hidden from all wandering eyes.

My head fell into my hands as I pulled my hair angrily. My father had scarred me so many times, leaving his mark on me, and still I couldn't stand anyone calling him a murderer. It was true, he's killed so many people that it's even hard to keep track, but I didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to think the man that lived with me all my life and taught me everything I knew was an insane killer. I didn't want to believe that the dozens of scars on my body were because of him

I wanted to believe he was innocent and alive.

I felt myself shaking with fury and despair. How dare that whore, Pansy, talk about my father in such a way. Especially, considering she was about to become the same thing. A cold hearted murderer that would beat her child until he became an empty life hidden behind Slytherin shields. She'd hurt him in so many ways and he'd still love her.

I felt tears burn up in my eyes as my head clouded with memories of dead, tortured bodies in the Malfoy dungeons. I started to shudder remembering my mother on the floor, covered in her own blood, her body still, lacking of life. Her beautiful silver hair matted with the sticky, oozing liquid. I felt my hands dig at my skull more violently as I trembled.

Finally the tears fell and I felt myself panting lightly. Voldemort needed to die, he needed to burn in hell for what he did to my father. I watched the wooden floors ahead of me, my vision clouded with unshed tears.

If getting the dark mark were the only way to kill Voldemort, then I'd do it. He drove my father to be a murderer, he's the reason my father never loved me. He's the reason my father was insane and cold-hearted.

My heart raced as I buried my head in my hands. Questions raced in my head. What if I got the dark mark and Harry hated me forever? He wouldn't love anyone who was marked by his rival. I swallowed and clutched my chest. It hurt, it hurt so bad to be in love.

--

A/N: Let me tell you something. I rewrote this chapter at least five times. That's why it took long for me to update. I had to bring depressed Draco back, since he's what I need for the plot. Oh and by the way, Harry doesn't know if he loves Draco... Draco just figured out he loves Harry... Did you get that? I don't know.

-Shadow