A/N- I'll get to excuses for my extremely late updates later. For now, just read!.

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Previously: "What's that?" she asked, motioning at the book.

"This..? It's research!" he replied, excitedly.

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Hermione stared dumbfounded as Draco skimmed through this ancient book at rate of speeds that should be illegal. She didn't think anybody could read that fast and actually absorb information.

He had led her to the drawing room, where now they sat next to each other at a little round table in the dead center of the floor.

She had tried asking him hundreds of times what the book was, but all he replied with was, "Hmm." So obviously, he was concentrating very hard.

She stared at the book for a little while longer, taking in its beaten exposure and its worn pages. She had guessed it was a very important book because it was hidden in his fathers office. She managed to get that much out of him on the walk here.

She stared at him. Reading so eagerly out of this book. The way his eyes lit up when he thought he found something useful. Or how his facial features changed when he was let down. She watched how fast his eyes danced across the pages of the book, and how fast his fingers turned the page. She was fascinated of how she could never have seen this before. Draco Malfoy was actually human. He read, he felt, he cared, he could even get excited.

She was lost deep in awe when she was brought back by Draco Malfoy himself screaming.

"I FOUND SOMETHING! LOOK! HERMIONE, LOOK!" he screamed as he jumped out of his chair.

Hermione about jumped out of her chair in anxiety and fright.

She rushed over to the him and the book, staring where his finger was pointing the whole time.

... an ancient trick used in the Malfoy family. When ones heir(s) is showing doubts of faithfulness, use their downtime to force them to see your way. For example, when one's young is sleeping, they are brought, by their dreams, to a place all too familiar to them for punishment. Usually Malfoy Manor, but not in every case. Wherever the heir(s) is most familiar to getting punished, they are brought. The young are completely concious and can remember everything when awoken. The punisher, however, will never remember what happened. This way the punisher can never feel guilt about what they might have done to their heir(s).

This is used as force to the 'right side'. With severe punishments and time to think upon ones actions, they are sure to see the elders way. There are no limits on punishments, but most parents have found that leaving their heir(s) alone while in this place has most effect. Little severe beatings and time to dwell on the consequences in previous/later actions are most effective when the youngs doubts are swaying.

This is a very complex spell and most be thought about for some time. Only the caster of the spell can remove it unless the heir(s) have completely changed sides. To perform this spell, read on.'" read Draco.

Both Hermione and Draco stood looking at the book for some time.

"Well, that explains a lot." he said.

Hermione was still staring at the book when she asked, "Draco, is this a guide to how to run the Malfoy family?"

"Something like that. It's only used for extreme measures. If you didn't know what to do, you refer to this handbook. It's been passed down from age to age." he replied.

"Oh." was all she could say.

She was stuck on how a family could be run off of a book. It was ridiculous. She felt bad for the Malfoy children. They had rules to follow out of a book, guidelines to follow out of a book, and expectations to meet out of a book. Their punishments were also determined on a book. She couldn't even imagine living as a Malfoy.

Draco was lost in thought. Thinking about how his Father could cast a spell on him like that. And how he could ever put up with all this every time he fell asleep. Then he thought of the positive. Of how if he completely switched sides, he would be free of this. And that there probably wouldn't be too much punishment because his father always follows the rules out of the book. And how if she was here every time, he would be okay.

He shook his head at his last thought.

He finally just then remembered she was in the room. He looked over at her while she was staring at the book, gazing mindlessly.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

She dwelled sometime, just studying his face as his expression turned from lost in thought to concern.

"I'm sorry." she replied.

"For what!" he asked, completely caught off guard with her apology.

"Your childhood. It must have been horrible living your life out of a book"

"I'm okay now, aren't I? I didn't become completely like my father, did I? I mean, I know I'm alot like him in so many ways, but I'm not him completely." he replied, looking at the floor. He was ashamed because he knew he was like his father.

She looked at him, upset with herself for ever bringing it up. She hated seeing him look depressed or him even thinking he was his father. Because he wasn't anything like his father.

"You're not your father in anyway. Your name is Draco Malfoy. And you've got something you're father will never have." she said, as she lifted his head to look in her eyes. "You've got spirit, you've got feeling, you've got.. guts. You're not him. He would never stand up to somebody bigger than him, more powerful than him, and you did! You're not him, you may not realize it now. But you will. When this spell is over, when you break the spell, when you switch sides completely, you will know you're not him."

He just stared in her eyes. Memorized by how much faith she had in him. She was perfect. A great friend. She wasn't a mudblood, she was a witch. A great witch. A naive witch, but that's okay. All that mattered was that she trusted him. And she knew he was serious. She trusted him. He never felt anything better in the world than having somebody trust you.

"I can help you switch sides, Draco. If thats what you really want." she offered.

And thats what he was hoping. That she would help him. That she was with him.

"I don't care what side I'm on, as long as I'm with you." he replied.

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Author's Note: So, do you all hate me yet? I'm really sorry it took so long. When summer rolled around, I had to get a job. Because I got my license, so I needed gas money. Then I worked almost every single day. Never had time for anything. And having my license and going every where doesn't help. Volleyball started last week, so they cut my hours alot. And school starts Monday, so i won't work as much. But I'll have school, volleyball, and work most days. So it'll be hard.

I really love this chapter. Because the book was a way to explain the dreams without having to go back and re-do the whoolllle story. So, yeah. I know its not long, but atleast it's something.
Hope it holds you over for more.

Til then,

Kristina