Draco Malfoy lay on his bed, curled up on his side. The covers were strewn about and he was tossing from side to side. Sweat covered his face yet he was in a deep sleep as he was very tired from his previous engagement. Someone had found out about him and had summoned him to do their bidding. It had been several hours before he was released to go home again.

Those hours had not been pleasant either. He bled from the scratches on his back that he had received. The one that summoned him wasn't very nice. She used him for her own pleasure and then got rid of him as soon as she heard her husband coming up the stairs. She had pushed Draco outside her window and thrown his clothes down to him just before her husband had walked in.

He felt used, abused, and very dirty after that. Of course, he felt like that after every time it happened. For just once he wished that he could be summoned by someone who really cared about him, someone who didn't want to just use him and then throw him away like an old rag doll.

But of course, he knew that would never happen. He would never be loved by anyone. Neither his family nor his friends. It wasn't as if he really had any friends anyway. His only real friend was Blaise Zabini.

Draco and Blaise had been best friends since their first year at Hogwarts. Blaise was the only one that knew his darkest secrets. He was the first one to know about the curse and the reason for it. That seemed so long ago now. Even if it had only been about a year since they had graduated.

Draco suddenly awoke, deep in sweat. He had the dream again. No, it wasn't a dream; it was a nightmare, a most vicious memory. He breathed deeply trying to calm himself. Rising from his bed, he walked to the bathroom shaking the whole way.

When he entered the bathroom he padded across the cool tiled floor. As he reached the mirror he shut his eyes so that he couldn't see the pale-white-flesh staring back at him. He reached out his trembling hand to open the medicine cabinet that was beside the mirror. His hand poked through all the bottles that set on the shelves, all for different purposes.

He pulled out two bottles, one that would ease his nerves and the other for the writhing pain in his head. His hands shook as he opened the lids and took a pill from each. As he lifted the medicine to his lips, his fingers slipped and dropped one of the small pills into the sink. He jolted his hand into the sink and fished for the small item. Not being able to feel it he finally opened his eyes searching.

When he finally found the pill he popped it into his mouth and swallowed it dry. Not being able to advert his gaze anymore, he looked up to the mirror. What he saw looking back at him frightened him almost as much as his nightmare. His eyes were bloodshot and his skin almost looked transparent. He wore deep circles under his eyes and scratches ran along his face. He touched his cheek remembering the bruise that once lay there. His father had given it to him because of his unworthiness.

His gaze fell down to the ring he wore on his right hand. The emerald jewel sparkled back at him, mocking him. The black snake eyes that were encrusted into the silver stared back at him piercing his soul.

The ring was his reminder of his cursed soul. Draco tugged at silver around his finger and cursed when it did not come off. He could never take it off. He had tried many times to destroy the fatal thing but he had not succeeded.

Taking his thoughts off the ring he glanced back at the mirror. This time he liked what he saw. Almost. He was no longer trembling and his body felt cool. The scars that ran along his neck and back were no longer visible. The pain from his head had subsided.

I still can't believe I have no magic now. I have to do things by hand like some stupid Muggle.

Draco sighed inwardly to himself, and walked out the bathroom, and into the living room. He plopped down on the couch and leaned his head against the cushions. Closing his eyes he tried to get some rest.

His mind was racing with thoughts though. His memories came rushing to the surface of his head. He suddenly remembered the reason he had been given the bruise on his cheek.

It was the night that he had finally told his father the truth. He had told him what he was. Lucius had all but killed him right there on the spot. His mother, Narcissa, wouldn't allow it.

That's when Lucius had remembered the ancient curse that was plagued in the Malfoy name. Used for anyone who had a disregard for the rules. Lucius had grabbed Draco placing the ring upon his finger, forever trapping him in an endless nightmare.

It was his punishment for being what he was. The pain and the nightmares would never end. It was his gift. It was his curse.