Hi and thanks for the positive reviews!
They were inspiring enough to get the second chapter done in no time (while I was supposed to work on an article...sigh.)
Oh, and yeah, it's true about the paragraphing. It never quite looks like it did before uploading it and I'm sort of brainwashed with keeping the paragraphing according to writing rules, even though it looks bad on fanficiton.
However, I'll try tothink out a plan to make it neater. Promise.
One of you used the word freaky and I really liked it. It's getting a lot freakier, trust me!;)
Anyways, hope you'll like this one as well.
Love from Redfern.

18TH DECEMBER: ATTENTION

The breakfast at Malfoy manor always got Draco to think that they were making a perfect parody out of their own family. All three of them were sitting on different ends of a huge polished table, ridiculously far from each other. Lucius seemed to like it in his corner though, as he sat by the high seat of the table, deeply concentrated on what the Daily Prophet had to say this morning.
Draco didn't mind his ignorance. Not at all. Those few mornings when his father did not focus his full attention on the morning paper, he always used the time to criticise Draco or put new demands on him that he had come up with.
No, this morning it was his mother who would offer uncomfortable inquiring.
"Draco, what on earth is that on your neck?"
Draco felt his insides freeze as a response to her words, but he kept his bored morning expression in careful check. Had his father left a mark last night? He was always so careful not to leave any visible signs of beatings!
"I'm sorry mother, what did you say?" he answered, throwing her but a quick glance before averting his eyes to the plate again.
Narcissa sighed.
"Really, Draco. You could hide it!" And then her tone changed to sound more curious as she leant her elbows the table and fixed him with a sharp gaze.
"You haven't even told us who your girlfriend is!"
"What?" For a moment Draco was at a loss.
Then he almost dropped his fork as the blood rushed to his face and started to sting his cheeks uncomfortably.
Oh no. This was too much.
"I-I was dating Pansy at the Christmas ball." He murmured, careful not to lie and likewise to avoid the truth.
It hadn't occurred to him until now what Lucius painful bite on his neck must look like and the mere association made him lose all appetite.
Draco glanced at his father very carefully to see how he reacted to all this.
Lucius still had his mind on the morning paper, but a content smirk had taken shape on his face.
So his father found this amusing! Then was this part of some twisted plan, did Lucius want to see him confront Narcissa with this?
Probably. It would be a so typical invention of his father, this sort of humiliating punishment.
"May I leave the table, father?"
Lucius took his time to lift his gaze from the paper, before surveying Draco's plate carefully.
"But you haven't finished eating."
The response was very calm and calculating. Without waiting for an answer, Lucius returned to the paper and left Draco alone with Narcissa's prying eyes.
His mother sighed again, this time in a more dreamily fashion.
"So you're dating Pansy seriously, are you? My little dragon, you are growing so fast! Before I know it I'll be making wedding arrangements…"
Now it was Lucius turn to sigh, although exclusively with impatience.
"Our son is still in school." He informed her coldly. "Draco, you may leave the table now."
Draco was so grateful for the lucky break, that he did not question his father's decision twice. He made it back to his rooms as quickly as humanly possible and dashed into the bathroom.
The mirror confirmed his fear overwhelmingly.
The mark on his throat was still red on its edges, but had turned violet and blue over the night and was bound to draw immediate attention to him with its size, easily one and a half snitch wide.
Oh. Shit.
The first guests for Christmas were arriving tonight! Could his father possibly have picked a worse time for this little demonstration?
Maybe it was planned. Perhaps Lucius had figured it all out, prolonging this punishment to make it last several days, leaving Draco with spying, curious guests who would just die to know all about some girlfriend that Draco would be forced to dream up!
No. This wouldn't do.
His irritation rising, Draco opened the small medicin cabin and dug out the right bottle.
He wouldn't allow his father to go this far!
The small potion in his hand was the same one that Lucius used to hide the Dark Mark with and he only needed to apply a thin layer on his skin to hide any unwanted sights there.
He was ready to rid himself of the evidence on his throat, and nearly dropped the bottle on the floor when he looked into the mirror.
His father was right behind him!
Draco spun around as his heart almost came to a halt and leaned backwards against the sink.
He probably looked terrified, judging by the reproaching sigh and stern gaze from Lucius.
"Really, Draco!"
Draco dared not to move, even as Lucius strode up to him and reached for the bottle. Their hands brushed against each other for a moment and two pairs of cold grey eyes met.
"No." Lucius said, with the most determined voice Draco had ever heard him use.
Then he simply took the bottle and seemed to size the frightened relative up.
This broke Draco's frozen state somewhat and he straightened up from the sink to meet his father with the proper reaction. The fact was, this morning had been absolutely dreadful and he wasn't going to let a small show of weakness ruin the rest of the day.
He was actually quite annoyed by the interruption and the feeling of exposure in front of his mother and it helped him meeting his father's gaze defiantly without any emotional slips.
"I'm sorry, father." Draco said very formally. "I was only thinking about the guests."
To his surprise, Lucius responded with a heightened eyebrow and a sly smile, leaning forward to lay his free hand on Draco's cheek.
"How very considerate of you."
Draco twitched only slightly by the gesture, not really caring if this was the prelude to another beating.
After all, these were the small moments he savoured, when his father actually touched him in a pleasant way, so that he could pretend for a moment that Lucius could like him just the way he were.
And Lucius continued to smile at him, suddenly brushing his thumb lightly against Draco's lips.
It caused a tingling, itching sensation, not at all unpleasant, but …weird.
"But I have a much better idea." Lucius continued, putting the bottle down on the shelf below the mirror before placing his hand on Draco's other cheek, as if to hold him in place.
"You see, the mark needs to be there…"
A warm kiss touched Draco's forehead and he winced.
"…so that the guests will understand…"
Now the lips were at his eyelids. He closed his eyes.
"…that you are unavailable."
Draco opened his eyes as he reflected on the mysterious statement but before he could ask questions, his father kissed him again…on the mouth.
It was just a chaste kiss, but as Lucius released him and drew back, Draco stood dumbstruck by the unique tenderness that had just taken place.
Nothing even remotely like this had ever happened and even though it was needed as much as water for a dying plant, it was just too much to hope for that the display had been genuine even this time.
No. In the Malfoy Manor games were played and his father was the unannounced master of manipulation.
As Lucius simply smiled at him and left the bathroom, Draco immediately started to brood on the words as he left the house for the stables.
He needed to get out of this place, out of the madness!

It was a very liberating feeling, galloping across the snowcovered fields and forests surrounding their family home. The wind was cold and harsh and some snow had started to fall, but the stinging air only helped to clear his head.
After a little while he had started to shape a good theory around his father's words. Several pureblood families were to show up at Christmas, along with their children, of which some were in Draco's age.
This mark on his throat could in other words be a demonstration of Lucius dislike of having any of the girls in these families to wed Draco.
The marriages in these old, noble families was always arranged and the normally these engagements were settled with the families closest to your own.
But what if Lucius had simply decided that none of the Friend Families had good enough material?
Then, of course, it would be all too convenient having making it look like Draco was already involved with someone.
It would be very typical for his father. So very typical.
Draco sighed and in his head he started to list the female comrades who were coming over for Christmas.
Pansy Parkinson was the first bet, of course. Draco had never really had any stronger feelings for her more than a quite shallow friendship, but she had been very fitting to attend the ball with, having the right looks and family.
Then there was Millicent Bulstrode. But there was really no need to get worked up about her. She was just a hangaround that Draco hardly ever spoke to at all.
Crabbe also had a one year older sister, but the pure thought of her made Draco shiver unpleasantly.
The last one was Edwin Notts younger sister. She was attractive no doubt, but…Draco couldn't seem to get any heated feelings for her even though he had secretly tried to fantasize about her as with the other girls.
Draco analysed this for a moment.
Well, he wasn't very good with feelings in general. Most emotions that passed through him was so distant, as if someone else felt them, that it was hard to know for sure when he really felt something.
The only person who could force strong moods out of him was, as always, his father.
Draco shook his head to himself, realising that if it was as he thought about this anti-marriage action, then he wouldn't mind much anyway, since none of the present girls were important to him. It was, after all, much more important to keep his father content.
He took a short, fast ride through the edge of the forest and returned home when most of the tensions concerning the strange morning had left him.

As soon as dusk had coloured the sky sharply dark blue, the Parkinsons and the Notts arrived.
Draco had changed clothes and managed to look decent just in time to recieve the guests in the entrance hall along with his family.
There were lots of formal greetings and in some cases, kisses on the cheeks.
That was his mother kissing cheeks, of course. Until earlier this day, Draco hadn't believed his father capable of kissing at all.
As the visitors were guided to one of the receiving rooms to have drinks or tea, resting in front of a warm fire to relax while the house elves carried all luggage to their rooms, Draco came up with a clever idea to test his theory.
Lucius was not the only one who could play games in this house.
He glanced over to the adults, as he conveniently had both Nott's sister Rowan and Pansy at his side.
The parents still stood up by the fireside, discussing something with great amusement in their voices.
Lucius looked absolutely striking, the fire playing tricks with the reflections in his moonpale hair and his dark robes leaving better access for adding some colour to his eyes.
Draco looked just long enough to make sure his father would notice it and as soon as Lucius gaze slided over to him, he looked away, straight at Rowan, and bent forward to kiss her on the cheek with a charismatic smile.
"I'm so glad you could come." He whispered to her, watching with content how her cheeks turned a little red as she struggled to answer.
Expectantly, an immediate response rose from Pansy, who grabbed Draco's hand and leaned close to him, her jealousy obvious to anybody in the room.
Draco answered her by kissing her cheek too and released her hand to put his arms around her instead. All the time she held her black eyes fixed on Draco's throat.
And his father was watching.
He knew this, because he could feel his gaze burn right across the room, through clothes and skin and everything.
A quick glance told Draco that the experiment had succeeded.
Lucius probably seemed relaxed to any bystander, but Draco could see in his eyes that the test wasn't taken lightly at all.
The usually cold eyes were now darkened and lively, showing signs of suppressed fury.
Even his mother seemed to notice, as she hurriedly excused herself as to go and check how the dinner was progressing.
Narcissa always fled or ignored any rising conflicts and to Draco she might as well have been a ghost in their house.
Lucius suddenly flashed a smile at him, much in the fashion of a shark, and made an inviting gesture with his hand.
"Draco, why don't you come over here? I think you'd find this interesting!"
As usual, that was not really a question.
But to Draco it felt very satisfactory to see that he was able to twist his fathers temper around as much as Lucius could twist his. The soothing touch of a vengeance managed was still on him and he wanted to see how far he could push this, now that the guests worked as a fitting barrier for his father's otherwise so unlimited reactions.
"In a moment, father." Draco answered in a loyal, devoted voice. "I'll just see the girls up to their bedrooms and then I'll be right down."
He was dying to see how his father would intercept this one!
It turned out it wasn't very hard at all.
"Now, Draco." Lucius responded in a low, but undeniable hiss.
That brought Draco back to the reality of the consequences he might be facing if he didn't obey at once.
But he was happy to oblige. This sort of protective attention his father showed him now, he had rarely ever been the subject of.
It was all too pleasant, being guided to stand in front of Lucius, facing Mr Parkinson, while his father's hands rested on his shoulders, the fingers digging only slightly too hard into the flesh.
All while Lucius upheld the conversation before him spotlessly.
This was the closest to fatherly affection he had ever come and it felt great.
He liked Lucius possessiveness, liked the fact that he had managed to bring it out of his older sire so easily.
Years of trying everything and failing had finally brought some success.
Only later that evening he would understand that he had played Lucius right in his hands.

As dinner came to an end, Draco was sleepily content. Lots of activities awaited the next day and would compensate for all the serious talk between the adults about politics, the Dark Lord and how bright the future was, now that he was back to life.
As everybody headed to their private rooms, Draco followed the example and was convinced he would get a good night's sleep after a quite successful day.
He had barely closed the door to his bedroom when a strong hand gripped his arm and sent him into the wall.
Lucius was suddenly standing before him, grabbing his upper arms to keep him pinned with his back against the cold stone surface.
His father's eyes were really matching the stone and the deceptively calm expression on his face did not fool Draco at all.
"What do you think you're doing?" Lucius asked, rhetorically enough.
"What do you mean, father?" Draco tried, swallowing hard as he could see that it was the wrong response.
"Answer me, Draco!"
One of the hands holding him in place suddenly sneaked behind his head and gripped his hair so harshly that Draco gave a frightened start.
"Ow!"
"I said, answer me!"
It was useless to avoid the subject now.
"I was just…" Draco gasped. "Um…figuring out about the mark…on my throat."
The fingers tightly entangled in his hair loosened slightly.
"Really?"
Lucius arched an eyebrow characteristically, not looking very convinced.
"Yes! I promise, father!"
"And…"
The hand started to stroke the blonde strands of his hair, in a very intimidating, intimate way.
"…did you find an answer to your question?"
Lucius was still very serious, but the voice was less threatening.
"Yes, father. I think so."
The fingers ran through his hair much slower now, touching the skin beneath it in a way that sent odd, pleasant shivers through his spine.
"Let's hear it then."
"You…don't wish me to…court any of the girls here."
It was hard to concentrate on anything but those fingers. His heart was beating faster to prepare him for a sudden turn to extreme violence, but again he savoured the pleasure of a moment's bliss.
"How very observative, Draco. And?"
Draco frowned at the question, not exactly sure about what else his father wanted to hear.
"And…that's it."
Now a smirk finally crept over his father's face. Lucius shook his head slowly, with mingled amusement and disappointment showing in his aristocratic features.
"Oh, Draco." He whispered, leaning his face a little closer. "You must think my plans to be simple indeed."
The hand still holding Draco's arm moved up to touch the mark on his neck.
Then Lucius warm lips brushed against his forehead, continued to his temple and kissed it, all while Draco found himself caught up in a pleasurable dizziness from the caresses on his neck and in his hair.
He didn't dare to move, or rather, he didn't want to.
Not now, not right now.
A kiss was planted on his cheek and in the far back of his head a small alarm clock had started to sound, saying that this wasn't normal, the way his father touched him and the strange arousal rising from it.
But it was yet too vague to be fully understood and he wanted to ignore it, just a little longer.
Then his father's lips met his, much more demandingly than last time, tasting his lower lip and nibbling at it, before letting his tongue push into Draco's mouth.
Draco made a loud quenched gasp, startled into his senses. The hand in his hair had grasped for the blonde strands again, keeping his head firmly in place and the small alarm clock suddenly made ear-deafening noises.
They were kissing!
He was standing here in the bedroom with his father alone and they were doing something…wrong. Unspeakable. Dangerous. Sick!
And he was moving his own tongue in response!
Draco's hands flew up to push his father away. The panic made him lay real force in it and the kiss was broken as Lucius suddenly stumbled one step back, meeting Draco's gaze only with slight surprise.
"STOP!" Draco shouted. "WAIT!"
He was breathing unevenly, all adrenaline suddenly flooding his veins in fear of his father's unknown reaction to the rejection.
But Lucius only smiled mockingly at him, nailing him to the spot with a thriumphant gaze, seeming to read Draco like an open book.
Draco felt his cheeks turn hot and averted his eyes.
"What are we doing?" He managed to get out, the words stumbling on each other.
At this, a quiet laughter met him. But a heartbeat later, Lucius was deadly serious.
"Honestly. Did you never think about the mark?" Lucius said, as he walked over to the door and opened it. "About who claimed you?"
Then he calmly walked out, closing the door silently behind him.
And Draco found his knees unable to support him and sank down to the floor,leaning againstthe wall with a frantically beating heart.