Disclaimer: Everything belongs to the amazing J.K. Rowling. I own nothing but the plot.

A/N: Here's chapter 3 everyone!!!! Can I get 5 reviews before I post chapter 4?? Please?? Thanx, enjoy this chappy!!!!



The Pain Within
Chapter 3: Home Sweet Home



Saturday arrived too quickly for Draco. Friday had been nothing out of the usual, except for a few Slytherins quietly wishing him a Happy Birthday and a small Good Luck' for they all knew the real reason he was going home. He thanked them, his expressionless face giving no indication of fear or anxiety.

Early Saturday morning, he sat in a train compartment alone, his trunk in the corner and his legs stretched out on the seat in front of him. He stared at the sky through the window; a hazy pink signaling daybreak as the sun began her rise into the sky. It made Draco feel even more gloomy - he felt like the sun was mocking him by its glorious ascent into the sky. It was saying Hah, every day is a new start for me, but you must suffer your fate from today on...there's no way out.

There was no way out. There..was..no..way..out. This was it. Draco had no hope left; he gave up on hope a long time ago. He only depended on fate. And with the way things looked, fate was definitely against him.

He wondered if it would hurt. He knew, from older Slytherins and his father, that the Dark Mark was burned into one's flesh. Draco shivered. That would hurt like hell. Then again, he was selling his soul to the devil himself. As he sat in silence pondering the pain of the Dark Mark, his father's words when he was younger came rushing back into his head.

You WILL become a Death Eater and you WILL want to. You WILL become a Death Eater and you WILL want to. You WILL become a Death Eater and you WILL want to. You WILL...

Lucius's voice continued to ring through Draco's mind and he shook his head furiously to stop the impounding words.

You were wrong, Father. I DO NOT want to, and I NEVER will want to, become a Death Eater, he said defiantly.

But I have to. Because of you, he whispered.

~~~

As could be expected, Lucius was waiting impatiently for Draco at the train station. Draco lifted and heaved his trunk towards the blond man, who had his arms crossed and was tapping his foot out of boredom. His silver gray eyes flared once his son approached him.

Where the hell were you? The train left at 8:00, you should have been here at 10:00, not at 10:05!

The train left late, Draco told him carelessly.

Oh, and why was that? If you were the cause, I swear I will beat the shit out of you.

Draco met his father's angry gaze. Go figures he'd pitch a hissy fit over five minutes. No, it wasn't me. I was on the train at 7:55. It must have been someone else.

Lucius glared at him. You should haven been on the train at a quarter to eight for something this important. He roughly gripped Draco's arm and dragged him towards a portkey that would take them directly to the Manor. Now let's go. We must get you prepared.

Five minutes later, the two appeared in the foyer of Malfoy Manor. House elves quickly rushed in to take their coats. Draco shoved his trunk into the hands of two of them, and they scurried away to put it in his room. He stood there, hands in pockets, waiting for his father to tell him to do something. Lucius began to walk toward his study and Draco assumed he was to follow.

Once inside the study, the elder Malfoy took a seat in the chair that faced the burning fire. He held his snake scepter in his right hand while his left arm rested on the chair, propping up his chin. He stared into the fire deep in thought, so Draco knew it wise not to disturb him. Instead, he looked around the room.

This was the room where all of his Dark Arts lessons were taught. The bookshelves were lined with books about Unforgivable curses and illegal potions and spells. They had been banned hundreds of year ago; yet his father had instructions for every one of them. Various objects of evil purposes were arranged artfully in a large glass cabinet in the left corner of the room. Draco shuddered as he remembered the intentions of those items. Most of which were sadistic techniques of torture.

The blonde turned his attention to the layout of the room. Nothing had ever changed; all furniture was in the same position it had always been. Lucius's high-backed black velvet chair rested in the center of the room, a very expensive Persian rug settled beneath it, a small coffee table next to it, and the stone fireplace a few feet in front. A large, gold-framed black and white photograph of a young Tom Riddle hung above the fireplace while smaller, similarly framed pictures of the Malfoys, past and present, adorned the mantel. The massive bookshelves stood on both sides of the fireplace, and in the corner opposite of the glass cabinet was Lucius's dark mahogany desk, neatly organized and tidy. Draco stared down at the wooden floor outside of the Persian rug's limits until his eyes landed on a nail that jutted up from the wooden planks sharply.

He closed his eyes momentarily as painful memories invaded his mind. So, so many physical and verbal beatings also occurred in this room. He couldn't even count the amount of times he was shoved into the bookshelves, or kicked into the desk. Any time his father wanted to lash out on him, it was in this room.

Draco, are you there?

The blond's head snapped up to meet his father's cold gaze. Sorry, Father. I was just thinking and got carried away.

Lucius lifted himself out of his seat so he now stood in front of his son. Well, that better end right now. You need to pay full attention to everything that's going to happen today, you hear me?

Draco nodded solemnly. The elder Malfoy began to pace back and forth in front of the younger Malfoy.

Now, a few last minute reminders. You are never to look our lord in the eyes unless he orders you to. While being brandished with the Dark Mark, you will display no emotion on your face, nor will you make any noise. That shows weakness, and Lord Voldemort does not want any unworthy followers. You will show the utmost respect for the Dark Lord, or you will be punished. And not just by me, he said cruelly. Do you understand?

Draco desperately wanted to roll his eyes. His father sounded like he was reading a list from a book. You will do this, You are not to do that, You cannot try this...instead he just replied, Yes, Father.

Lucius Malfoy smiled his twisted little smile. You are to wear your most formal robes. I have ordered the house elves to prepare a bath for you in an hour. Go amuse yourself until then.

Draco walked toward the doorway before turning again. His father paused to look at him questioningly.

Do you know where Mum is?

Lucius rolled his eyes dismissively and continued pacing. Oh, this morning the stupid bitch was complaining about her poor aching body', so I'd assume she is in her room resting or some shit like that.

The young boy leaning on the doorframe boiled with anger. Probably because you used her as a punching bag again, he thought as his eyes narrowed.

Lucius saw the reaction and strolled over to where Draco stood. He hated how Narcissa was so close to Draco, and he so protective of her. It was the only vulnerability he saw in his son. But to Lucius Malfoy, it was one vulnerability too many.

I'm warning you, Draco, he hissed, if you make one mistake, even a minor one, because nothing is minor to the lord, I can guarantee you won't live to see tomorrow.

It angered him that his son nodded, just accepting the blatant threat as if it was no big deal. He immediately blamed this careless, emotionless manner on his son, forgetting that he was the one who taught him to act like this. The threat should be a big deal and it should matter. He smiled evilly.

And trust me, your mother won't see many more happy days either.

This, obviously, mattered to Draco. His eyes widened; first in shock; then in fear; and finally in anger. He stood up straight and glared at his father, who was now only about five inches taller at six foot.

Leave her out of this, he growled. She has nothing to do with it, it's all me! Don't you dare lay another -

Smack. He landed on the floor with a thud and blinked. He should have anticipated that. He shouldn't have let his anger control the words that left his mouth, especially in his father's presence. But he did, and could taste the blood seeping into his mouth as his father glared down at him.

Don't you dare tell me what to do. I am your father, and I will do whatever I please in this house. Now get out of my sight, you little bastard.

He began to close the study doors. One mistake, Draco. One mistake and you are done.

The doors shut, leaving the bleeding teen to stare at them with nothing but fury.


~~~
Like I said, 5 reviews before I post chapter 4..or if I finish it...whichever comes first, lol. Hopefully, it will be the reviews...hint hint...

my twin sis' d: I got so excited today when I logged on and there was a review from you..I was like, Danielley reviewed, whoo hoo!!! Not only that, you reviewed my other 2 stories also, I feel so loved!! Thanks!! I had another one, an original, but I don't know where it went, lol. And sorry I haven't called you - I was holed up writing, scared that you'd come and tie me to a chair!! AHHHH...lol
randomLore: Thanx for the review, I adore little Draky too...and the big one!! Your welcome for the reviews, Unlikely Alliance is awesome..EVERYBODY GO READ IT!!! NOW!!! AND REVIEW!!..I'm not sure if I reviewed chapter 3, but I'll check once I've posted this chapter..Thanks again!
Fain Oakenbringer: You're forgiven for the year ago thing, I misread things all the time, lol. Life Swap will be updated this week b/c I have winter break, so take a few relaxing breaths :) And the bold and italics, I'm really not sure how to do it, b/c I have an iMac and don't use Word like normal ppl do, lol. So sorry I can't help ya there, thanx for the review!!
Aude Weasley: Yes, feel sorry for Draco, love Draco, worship Draco!!!...Erm, yeah, thanx for the review. Did you ever get your stories on Fictionalley.org??
Rei.K: I wrote this as quickly as I could b/c I was afraid of what you and Danielle would do to me if I didn't get it up soon, lol. Thanks so much for the review!!