A/n Thanks to everyone who reviewed. 31 reviews! I'm so happy!

Brooke Thank you once again for reviewing. I like to think that my fic isn't that bad lol.

Verity I'm a bit embarrassed that you are even reading my story, mine pales in comparison to yours. I absolutely adore your story!You're right I really do need a beta reader. I have atrocious grammar! I switched from third to first person because for some reason I started writing in third and I am much more comfortable writing in first. I will go back and change that – eventually.

Steffie Snape I'm finally updating, lol, so I can't wait to see your update. I promise I will go back and change the first/third person error, thanks for pointing it out.

The pronunciation of the name is "Li" as in Live and "-rael" as in "ri-el". As for the Malfoys I'm not going to make them overly nice but neither will I make them "evil scum". Evil is such a strong word, people do very bad things but I don't think they are like that to everyone. Lirael is surviving a purpose, for the moment anyway, so the Malfoys are going to be civil to her, or at least what they see as civil. Thanks for all your comments and questions.

If anyone is interested in being my beta reader please contact me, by leaving a review. I'm in great need of one as you can see. Thanks.

Soft Side

Being marched back to the fire place at the Leaky Cauldron and then being roughly shoved through the fire place had not done anything to improve my mood. I hated Britain, I hated the Malfoys and I hated the stupid manor, in fact right now I hated everything. I was also sick and tired of being clueless about everything that was going on around me. It seemed as though everyone knew what was going on accept for me.

"Ok." I said as soon as Draco appeared in the fire place. "We're back in the manor, so you can tell me what the hell that was about."

Looking at me a moment and not seeming the least put out about my raised voice, he walked over to one of the comfy looking couches and gestured for me to sit opposite him. I felt like refusing, but I knew that would be childish and would also take time so I reluctantly sat down.

Flashing me, what I had come to think of as his trade mark smirk, he began. "Since you seem to know Potty Potters name, I take it you've heard of the Dark Lord."

I may not have read a lot of news papers but everyone in the wizarding world knew of You Know Who, including me. I nodded eager for him to continue.

"My father is a supporter of the Dark Lord and naturally that's why you shouldn't be associating with Potter and also because he is an arrogant bastard, who thinks he's better than everyone else just because he has a stupid scar on his head."

I couldn't speak. I was stunned. Merlin! I was living with people who actually supported You Know Who. Merlin knows what they'd do to me. Eventually gaining my voice back I managed to stutter, "You're dad supports You Know Who?"

Draco did not look pleased by my stunned reaction, he almost looked nervous. He leaned over taking my trembling hands in his. "Listen Lirael. My father likes you but he's not a man you'd want to upset. As long as you do what he wants he'll be fine….you'll be fine"

"Do what he wants? You mean marry you?" I asked not believing what my ears were hearing. "I can't believe I actually thought you were trying to be nice." I was getting angrier and angrier. "I wouldn't marry you if…. If you Know Who, himself ordered me to." I didn't wait to see Draco's reaction, if he had any at all, instead I ran to my room.

Throwing myself onto my bed and burying my head in the pillow I began to cry. I'm not normally one to feel sorry for myself, but this time I felt I had the right to feel sorry for myself, this was a feel sorry for your self sort of situation. Why, oh, why did I agree to go with them in the first place? I'm so stupid. Another thought had occurred to me while I was talking to Draco. If his father was a supporter of You Know Who and his father was my father's friend, then did my father support him to? I knew that You Know Who and his supporters did terrible things to muggles and people who weren't purebloods; I hated to think that my father was someone who would do something like that. My mother had never talked about him, had never allowed me to ask questions about him. I suppose because I didn't know who he was I made up an image of him. I had always imagined him to be different, to be noble and kind the sort of man who would help people.

I heard a soft knock on the door and Draco calling my name.

"Go away" I sniffed. "I don't want to talk to you."

He came in anyway, he may have learned how to knock but not how to wait until someone invited you in.

"Lirael?" he asked uncertainly. "Are you crying. Merlin, don't cry. If it's about the rest of your things that we needed to buy I bought them while I was looking for you."

Sniffing I wiped my eyes and looked at him, he actually looked sincere, for once he wasn't smirking. "it's not that." I replied.

"It isn't ?" He asked as he sat down beside me on the bed. "What's wrong then?"

"What's wrong. What's wrong is that I'm living in a house full of people who do You Know Who's deeds. What's wrong is you just punched a guy's face in because he was talking to me. What's wrong is that your father's trying to force me to marry you! " I could feel more tears trying to leak out but I furiously dashed them away.

"Listen I know you don't want to marry me right now, but it's not like we're going to get married straight away. The wedding won't be until after graduation. You have a whole year to get used to the idea."

This made me feel like crying even more. "Draco you sound like you actually want to marry me. You don't even know me and were only seventeen."

Draco cut in at this point, "We'll be eighteen when we marry and we'll have our whole year before then to get to know each other. Anyway I like what I see." At this point he gave me another smirk and looked me up and down.

Rolling my eyes I ignored this comment. "Doesn't it at least bother you that your father's controlling your life, controlling your future? Don't you want to love the person that you spend your life with."

"Pureblood parents normally arrange their children's marriage. Rarely do purebloods marry for love." He lifted his head and looked me in the eyes. "Love can grow between two people, it doesn't have to be instant. I can make you happy Lirael, it'll be fun. You're a lot better than the other girls my mother and father were pushing me towards."

"Thanks." I said sarcastically, feeling a little put out.

"No, I didn't mean it that way," he said taking my hand in his. "You're not like anyone else. No one around me is like you, they all want something from me, including my family. Nothings for free. I know that you don't want anything from, that you don't have a hidden agenda. That's more than I'd get with some other girl. Besides you are quite hot." He said smiling softly.

"Thanks, I think" I replied laughing.

"Seriously though Lirael, my father may like you, but he won't tolerate disobedience. Obey him and you'll be just fine. Okay?"

"I think I'd really like to be alone, just for a while." I said giving him a sad little smile.

He made to leave and then stopped. He leaned over me, his lips touched mine and he kissed me very gently as though he was afraid I would cry again. "I could make you happy Lirael." He whispered softly.

Over 1000 words so not a bad effort really. Update will be soon… hopefully.