Chapter Eight – Draco's Party

Ginny had been working yet again on the room, desperate to complete it before her 'master' returned from his birthday party. As she once again ironed, vacuumed, and scrubbed she allowed herself for the first time to think about the others. It had been only two days since Hermione, Ron, Harry, and herself had been captured by deatheaters and taken hostage in Voldemort's castle. Having been the first to be claimed by Lucius, Ginny had no idea who the others where in possession of, except for Harry whom she knew was in Voldemort's hands.

Methodically cleaning, Ginny grieved for everyone who had been killed and tortured at Hogwarts. Tears rushed from her eyes as she imagined all the kids, lying battered on the stone floors, those who where still alive yet slowly dying from exposure to cold or lose of blood. It was all too horrible.

Willing the thoughts out of her head she continued to do Draco's dirty work, and when completed she collapsed into his bathtub, thinking, what he doesn't know won't hurt him.

But a volt of electricity ran through Ginny's body when she entered the tub. Noticing it wasn't stopping she jumped out and felt it immediately disappear. Cursing at the injustice Ginny dried off and went back into the bedroom, where she slept until Draco returned.

Unknown to Ginny, Draco had experienced the same shock; it was his way of knowing when his gift did wrong. Not letting his anger ruin his night he mumbled a fair few of curse words under his breath. His slave had ruined the most special day of his life…his eighteenth birthday! This was the day he had been waiting for his whole life.

He would officially be a man.

It seemed so surreal to Draco. He couldn't imagine being an equal to his father, a man so powerful that Draco had grown up fearing him.

Speaking of fathers, Lucius had been acting very tense the past few weeks. Call him crazy, but Lucius seemed to be graying and aging rapidly before Draco's eyes. Lucius looked deflated; back clumped, eyes drooping. His old man seemed years beyond his true age.

Noticing he was nearing the ballroom he shook all thought from his head before opening the grand doors.

The sight that greeted him was surreal. The room was decorated in fine satins and silks; large tables with bright candles radiated a romantic light throughout the room; a live band was tuning up on a stage twenty feet above the dance floor; the most respectable deatheaters and closest friends all patting him on the back and wishing him a happy birthday. It appeared his father had once again outdone himself, not that he was complaining.

Looking for a familiar face, Draco spotted an unusual hair color in the room…the color of red.

"Only Weasley's have red hair." Draco said.

Feeling an investigation was about to take way, Draco quickened his step and began to advance towards the redhead. The closer he got he recognized the freckles and skinny body of one of his archenemies, Ronald Weasley. Disgusted Draco savagely pushed his full weight into the unsuspecting boy, effectively pushing him to the floor. It was then when Draco saw the chains around the pale arms did he know that someone else had claimed Ron.

"Well, well, well. Look at the filthy Weasley, on the floor where you belong." Letting out a burst of laughter Ron struggled to stand up once again, cautious to keep a safe distance from the blonde boy. "Oh, did I say you could stand up?" Without warning Draco pushed Ron back to the floor, where he rolled in agony, feeling the bone in his wrist snap from the hard fall.

"I see you have met my newest toy," a gruff voice said, addressing Draco. "He is useless, but loads of fun to slap around."

"Chet, so glad you could come."

"Like I would miss this night. I wouldn't want to miss out one all the excitement."

"I'm glad you think of my eighteenth birthday so highly." Draco commented, though truly not caring one way or another.

" Oh, its your birthday? I thought this was a victory party for capturing Potter, Granger, and the Weasley's."

"You captured Potter?" Draco gasped, letting his expression finally pass his calm and indifferent mask he usually had on his face.

"Well of course. I thought your father had told you already, but it seems I am the lucky one to break the news." Walking closer so to whisper Chet continued to say, "Master is bringing him to the party tonight, if he hasn't killed him already."

Maddened that no one felt the need to tell him this important information Draco clenched his fist and held back the words that so badly wanted to escape from his lips. Counting to ten so as to not kill the man before him, Draco tried to ease the tension building in his back. So far this day hadn't been what he was expecting.

"You okay Draco, your face is turning red." Chet hesitantly asked.

"I will be fine once you tell me where I might be able to find my father," Draco grit out. For some reason this man annoyed him. Maybe it wasn't the man, but his hatred towards the Weasley's, Ginny in particular. The stupid wrench hadn't lifted a finger all day, letting the room look as untidy and dirty as it had been when he left.

His anger suddenly was lifted when a strong hand lightly grabbed his right shoulder. Turning to the person he came face to face with the person whom he had been searching for all night. There stood Lucius, long blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, as was his custom. His outfit was as usual impeccable, not one blemish anywhere.

Smiling Draco gave his father a polite hug. As their arms released each other from the embrace Draco noticed a smile, a real smile, on his father's handsome face. As Draco's smile broadened his father directed him over to a corner of the room where his elegant mother stood chatting with her tight group of friends. As the two approached, Narcissa jumped to her feet and tightly hugged her son.

Feeling embarrassed Draco pulled away slowly, not wanting to upset his mother. As she gushed about how old her only son had become, Draco took the time to study his mothers figure. He hadn't ever taken time to really look at her, and was startled at his urgent need to then. As he took in her green eyes, and strawberry blonde hair, Draco noticed that the two of them seemed to share no obvious features. Startled at this revelation Draco pulled himself back into the conversation in time to hear his mother happily yell, "Oh look, the band has started!"

A charming melody filled the air and captured the attention of the audience that had gathered in the ballroom. As the lead singer began his lines, Draco watched fascinated that they could make normal words seem so special and important.

The tune soon picked up and various couple found their way out onto the dance floor. Being the man of the night, Draco waltzed with many women, taking turns with each. As the night went on he began to tire and excused himself to use the men's room. Once inside he locked the door, muttering, "Colloportus." The door sealed itself with a loud squishing noise.

Quickly relieving himself Draco washed his hands before unsealing the door and returning to the party. He was immediately called to the stage where an enormous pile of presents awaited him. Feeling giddy, Draco listening to his father, mother, and close friends toast to his birthday, then at the chime of twelve, drank champagne in his crystal glass.