By the time Rachel woke up, Draco was already gone.

'He has work.' She sighed to herself, remembering that his vacation time from work was over. She slowly got out of bed and to the shower to start her morning ritual, her body aching from the stress she had been put through lately. Having dressed, she walked down the cold marble floors to the main room of the house, where she found the Malfoys lounging.

"Well look who's up." Lucius smirked. "Sleep well, Daughter?"

"I slept just fine." Rachel replied a little more curtly then she had wanted to. "What hour is it?" She made herself right at home on a chaise and took the tea offered to her by a house elf.

"Nearly midday, Dear." Narcissa didn't bother to look up from her copy of Witch Weekly.

"Is my father awake?" Rachel fought back a yawn.

"He left." Lucius said as he stirred his tea.

"He what?" Rachel nearly dropped her china cup.

"He left," Lucius drawled. "We do have a war to fight, you know." "Yes," She set her cup down on the table. "Excuse me, please. "

Rachel sat on the balcony outside of her new bedroom and surveyed the glorious view of the gardens. She gave an inward sigh, reflecting on the misery that enveloped her life. They wouldn't let her work, and she was miles away from her friends, living in a strange home. Her father had left without even saying goodbye... And Draco was gone. For some strange reason, this little fact pained her the most. She shuddered against the harsh February cold and her pale cheeks tinged pink. So this was the boredom she would have to live with for the rest of her life. Rachel sighed and pulled up the collar on her black coat. The boredom was simply too much to handle and she didn't think that she could go downstairs and deal with Lucius again, so, she decided that she would just leave and go pay a certain someone a visit.

Draco sat behind his desk in the Department of Mysteries, his feet on the wooden top. He leaned back in the reclining chair and read the information that had just been delivered to him with a sly grin.

"Seems Bella has done her job well." He said to himself with a chilling sort of pleasure. The Death Eaters had successfully confused the Ministry to their whereabouts and planned activities, due in a large part to Draco's aid. He had successfully corrupted a large chunk of the Ministry's officials to the side of the Dark Lord; not a particularly easy feat, but he had done it nonetheless.

Surprise. He heard Rachel's voice inside of his head and looked up to see her standing in the doorframe. This is such a useful tool, She gave him a wicked grin. "Now I can keep you in check."

And I you. He smirked back at her. "What are you doing here?" He sat up, putting the papers away in a drawer.

"I came to visit you." She sat on the corner of his desk. "Can't a wife surprise her husband at work?"

"Yes," He pulled her onto his lap. "Of course you can." Are things at home THAT boring?

"Extremely." She sighed. 'I thought you said that I could work," She bit her lip and gave him pleading eyes.

"That I did," He tilted his head down. "I am still working on that, Rachel. Father is giving me a hard time."

"Thank you." She kissed his cheek. In the two weeks they had been married, Rachel and Draco had warmed up to each other considerably.

"How is your other work?" He stroked her soft hair.

It's going quite well, actually. She smiled approvingly. I've arranged for the Vampires and the Banshees to attack in Ireland on the sixth, just as our Lord asked of me. He beamed at her.

"That's my wife."

"You're still not getting any." She tapped him on the nose with her pointer finger.

"I know, I know." He put up his hands in defeat. "We haven't been together that long. I understand."

"Good," She snuggled into him. "Just as long as were clear."

"I'm anxious, Rachel."

"Hm?" She sat up. "What do you mean?"

With Weasley taking over the Order and both sides building up forces…"I can't wait to fight."

"I know." There's nothing more satisfying than the sounds of innocents dying. She gave an eccentric sort of grin, her eyes in a faraway madness.

"I love that look." He said airily.

"What look?" She cocked her head.

The one you get when you think something evil.He smirked.

"You know," She sighed. "You sure have changed."

"Is that a bad thing?" He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand.

"No," She kissed him sweetly. "It's a good thing."