Summary: We all know what happened in the 5th book: Sirius is related to Narcissa Malfoy. So what happens to Draco when his parents are murdered? And why is Dumbledore telling lies? Slight HP/DM.

Disclaimer: Not owned by me, I have manipulated the characters to suit my own means, no money, please don't sue.

To Reviewers!

Okay, first of all I just want to thank all three of you for reviewing! Now, to deal with the confusion! I believe Hyperbole hit it on the head of the nail, if you will, when she picked up on Sirius' and Remus' side conversation. You might want to go back and read chapter 2 more closely, GaB and MySev.Snape77, because I clearly state that Dumbledore is lying to the rest of the Order…

"No kidding," Sirius concurred. "This is so…so fucked up. Why is he lying to them?"

So yeah, you might want to go check that out. Sirius and Narcissa were COUSINS, so that would make Draco Sirius' second cousin. But Dumbledore doesn't want the order to know that? Why, you ask? Hehe, I'm not telling.

Also, one final note, I am looking for someone to help me, I've gotten into a rut with my other DM/HP story, Disposable (posted on ff.net) and I was wondering if I could get some help. Let me know.

Chapter 3: A Reckless Act

He hadn't really loved his parents. Always feared, used to respect, but never loved. He'd never loved anyone, in fact. He'd come as close to hating his parents as one could without actually hating them. He wouldn't miss the harsh words, the tormenting punishments, the ruthless demands. Almost everything in his past was just another hated memory. Still-, he reprimanded himself silently; they were my parents, after all. And Mum wasn't really that bad…she just let him do what he wanted, with me, with everything, siding with him instead of me, her own flesh and blood, he thought bitterly.

The pain of rejection washed through him, overwhelming him, like so many times before. The pain was accompanied by the thought of ending his life, also like so many times before, begging him to give in, to throw in the towel. An almost insane grin lit Draco's face. I have nothing to live for. Never did, really, but now nothing is stopping me, nothing is barring the way…

"Time for a little drive," he whispered.

*~*

"Professor Dumbly! Professor Dumbly-dore sir!" the tiny house elf Pepper shrieked, bursting through a servant entrance to the study. Conversation dropped off immediately, and everyone faced the elf. "Sir, if you please, Master Draco has just left his room. He is not well, sir, not himself, no! Not well at all. Poor, kind Master was muttering softly, but Pepper heard him, sir. He is taking a drive to Fallen Point, and…and Pepper daren't say he'll come back!" The globe-like eyes welled up with tears as his meaning sunk in.

"How long ago?" Dumbledore asked, leaping out of his chair with surprising agility despite his old age, closely followed by Snape, McGonagall, and Sirius.

"Not even five minutes ago, sir. Please bring Master back, please!"

Not responding, Dumbledore turned to Sirius, Snape and McGonagall. "Let's go," he said grimly.

*~*

The suave Porsche swung recklessly around vicious curves, tires squealing dangerously over the blaring music. A sign claimed the speed limit was only 35, but Draco reassured himself that 70 was not too high over. The car was his: silver, sleek, and fully loaded. It had always puzzled him how much his dad had loved cars. He'd hated muggles, everything about them. That is, everything except cars. He'd worshiped cars, and owned over 60 of the rarest and most expensive vehicles ever made.

Lucius had insisted Draco get a hardship, which he'd done. All orders were to be followed, and one as frivolous as this was no exception. In fact, Draco loved cars as much as Lucius had, and maybe more. It wasn't the actual cars, specifically. No, it was the feeling he had when he was behind the wheel, the simple freedom, power, and contentment he felt while navigating the machine. Shit, almost missed my exit, he thought with a cold detachment from his emotions, almost laughing. He passed yet another sign, reading 'Fallen Point, 2 miles.'

Sighing, he sped up. Almost there, he thought, won't be long now. As the car neared the cliff, he sped up even more. He was now going 110, and there was no turning back. Just one more second…Draco waited for the fall, the feeling of flying, but it never came. He was thrown forward, the seat belt painfully cutting into his abdomen as he was flung into the inflating air bag and then his world faded to black as he lost consciousness.

*~*

Draco awoke slowly, his disoriented head pounding at the base of his skull. His neck was sore, as was the rest of him, feeling broken. I'm awake? he thought darkly. I'm not supposed to awaken…ever! What went wrong? He heard voices mumbling around him and shifted uncomfortably. He was in a bed, his bed to be exact. Clutching the sheets with fists, he struggled to open his eyes, biting back a yelp of pain as the throbbing in his head became ten times more painful.

Dumbledore noticed him awaken, and after shooing Madam Pomfrey away, he turned to his student, giving him a dour smile. "Nice of you to return to consciousness, Mr. Malfoy. Drive off any good cliffs recently?"

Draco winced, insult adding to injury, and he blushed. "Not exactly Professor. I'm not sure, as I'm a novice when it comes to driving off cliffs and all, but I don't think it worked properly."

"No, it didn't. It might have, but there was a barrier there."

Draco's eyes glittered challengingly. "Oh really? Did it 'just happen' to be there?" The question was undeniably rhetorical, but Dumbledore felt inclined to answer.

"Actually, it was placed there by myself, your Professors Snape and McGonagall, and Sirius Black."

Draco bit back a retort. Instead, he focused on the vaguely familiar

name. "Oh, Black did you say? Did the Ministry finally catch him, then?"

"Catch him? Whatever do you mean?" Dumbledore asked.

Draco was shocked. "Huh? Professor, he killed 12 muggles with one curse. Hardly something to forget, I'd say!"

Just then, the topic of conversation waltzed in. There was something in his stride that seemed to say 'I own the place'. Sirius decided he liked the Malfoy boy instantly, and at the same time, recognized the ensuing silence that said he was being discussed. "Hello there, Draco. We haven't really met. I'm Sirius Black, hardened criminal of Azkaban." He held out his hand, grinning obnoxiously. Draco stared at the offered hand warily, but noticing the light banter in Sirius' eyes, shook it firmly.

"Will you ever get over yourself, Sirius?" Dumbledore demanded, playing along. "Most of my gray hair is your fault, you know."

Sirius nodded, mockingly sad. "Ah, but a magnificent gray it is, sir. If you want, I'll pay to have it dyed, it really is no problem," he offered, playing the old joke between them. Dumbledore frowned deeply, pretending to be angry. Draco waited for his Headmaster to take off Sirius' head for such impertinence, expecting something close to a howler. However, he obviously didn't know Dumbledore that well, and Dumbledore could only pull the frown on his face for so long before both he and Sirius were cracking up hysterically. Draco decided he liked Sirius, smart-ass though he was, and grinned for the first time since he'd left Hogwarts for the summer. After the laughter died down, Draco spoke up, bringing back the original subject. "How'd you know?"

"Well, a particular house elf was very worried about his 'poor, kind master'." Sirius told him with another small smile.

"Good old Pepper. He always was too damn nosy," Draco murmured.

Dumbledore's face grew serious, masking all mirth. "Good thing, too. Why, Draco? Why?"

"If- if I tell you, do you promise not to tell anyone?" Dumbledore nodded, and Sirius made the 'I swear' motions. Draco believed them and continued. "I've always thought about it, but knew it wasn't an option as long as Father was around. It wasn't as bad, before this summer. But then I met him…he haunts me. When I'm awake and when I'm asleep. He repulsed me. This is what I was supporting? I was to live for this? I could feel those abnormal red eyes boring into me, and it was like he knew how much I suddenly hated him. I've…I've done terrible things this summer." A repressed shudder. "Father wasn't pleased with my efforts, efforts I didn't want to make in the first place. I think he knew. He sent me to Athens because he was sick of the sight of me. The beatings were…unbearable, but then they always have been. The curses were worse. Now was just convenient, that's all. My life is sort of pointless, without meaning…why take up extra space, extra oxygen? After all I've witnessed and done, I deserve to die." He released his breath slowly, glad to finally confide with someone. "Why did you stop me?"

"You know why." Dumbledore looked sad.

"You're wrong, Draco. No one is worthless," muttered Sirius, also looking unbearably sad.

"You've witnessed things a child shouldn't have to witness, you've fallen victim to things a child should never have to suffer," Dumbledore spoke gravely, looking deeply aggrieved by Draco's loss of innocence, his pain he had suffered. That was confusing in itself because Draco did not understand that Dumbledore cared for him, even if he did not exactly love him as he did Harry. Dumbledore had watched the boy since his first year, and still didn't know what to make of him.

Draco was nonplussed. He had never been that innocent, his father would never have allowed it. He lost all innocence and naivety at age three. Sad, sure, but you can't reverse time. He spoke bitterly. "I've done things a child would never have done. I was never a mere innocent child, it wasn't allowed. I am not a child, I am a demon, a dragon, just an unwilling tool of Voldemort."

"Draco, the Dark Lord does not own you. And the things you have done…I'm sure people will understand," Dumbledore reprimanded. Like who? A nasty little voice in Draco's head asked. There is no excuse, no goddamn excuse! "Many people care about you." Draco wanted to scream, who cares? Who actually cares about me or my problems? but he was afraid of the answer.

Instead, he whispered, "How long've I been out?"

"You've been 'out', as you say, for quite awhile. Nearly two days, in fact, and personally attended by Madam Pomfrey and myself. You hit our barrier so hard I was afraid the impact had killed you, but luckily, you survived." Luckily? Draco thought sarcastically. "You will remain abed for a while, and if you need anything or if the pain becomes unbearable, let Madam Pomfrey know. I'll let you rest for now, but we have things to discuss." Draco looked up, a little surprised. He opened his mouth to say that now was fine, but before he said anything, Dumbledore shook his head. "Later," he stated firmly, then looked at Sirius. "You may leave for Surrey whenever you are ready Sirius," he said, and Sirius nodded, giving Dumbledore a knowing look. Draco, for one, was in the dark. Dumbledore smiled, turned soundlessly, and left the room.

"Why are you going to Surrey?" Draco asked after a bit, hoping to learn something about the impeding conversation with Dumbledore so he could prepare himself. One of the Malfoy rules, he thought dryly. Be prepared and expect the unexpected.

"I have business there." Sirius was not giving away any clues. "Why? Want me to stay?"

Draco adopted an indifferent look, not really caring either way. Sure, he had taken a liking to Sirius, but he wasn't going to ask him to stay. He would if he wanted to. "You're free to come and go."

Sirius shook his head. "No, I'm not. Not without your permission, Master Draco." Draco shrugged, nonchalantly indicating it was fine by him and that Sirius could do what he wanted, but Sirius shook his head again. "Wait until you know what is happening. You may change your mind." He took a few steps toward the door, then glanced back. "You know, you remind me of someone," he said softly.

"Who?" Draco asked uncertainly, hoping he wasn't going to say Lucius.

"Me." With that, a burly black dog raced out of the room.

*~*

Aww!!! When I wrote this I felt all happy and warm and fuzzy inside, I mean, come on, don't they remind you of each other, even a little bit? Anywho, hopefully, the next chapter will come out as quickly as these have.

Reviews enjoyed like hotdogs on the fourth of july,

Crys

P.S. If you like the older generation (MWPP, Lils, You might want to check out my other stories…)