"I'm not going to let you bully me anymore!" These words made something deep inside Lucius snap. Like a cobra ready for the kill, a leather clad hand lashed suddenly out and struck the boy viciously across the face, sending Draco flying into the wall and landing with a sickening thud.

"Insolent brat!" Lucius spat, advancing towards his son, who was curled up on the floor, glaring furiously up at his father with one hand held gingerly up to his mouth, "I don't recall giving you the choice of whether to come or not, did I? You should know, Draco, that I command total obedience without question. Perhaps your time spent with blood traitors has made you think otherwise?" Draco snarled like and animal as the man continued to come closer and closer, drawing back into himself, yet the boy made no attempt to reply, "Answer me!" Lucius commanded, nudging his son hard in the side with his foot, Draco jerked away,

"Your right." He spat, "They have made me think differently. I realised that I hate you and that I never want to become like you! I've learned that not everyone is the same as you, some people are nice even though I've been horrible before, they've still accepted me and tried to help me. I've realised that you were wrong" Unfortunately, the elder-Malfoy was not a bit understanding and this bit of rebellion earned him a vicious kick in the side, Draco looked up, grey eyes brimming with pain and hatred, yet still he managed to smirk, "You have no right to treat me like this, " He hissed, "I don't belong to you anymore-."

"Do you think that matters to me, little dragon?" Lucius enquired sweetly as he knelt down, "You will always be my son, by blood if not anything else. It is inevitable that you will follow the same path as every Malfoy has before you. You have no choice in the matter." Draco shoved him away,

"I'd rather die that become like you!" He snarled, "Besides I have made my decision. Professor Snape told me everything and he said I'm well on the way to breaking the cycle." Within an instant, Draco was on his feet, being pressed against the wall, his father gripping his shoulders painfully,

"Snape knows nothing," He spat, slamming Draco against the wall, "He lied to you, trying to turn you against me…" Draco winced as his head hit the wall again, eyes brimming with tears of pain and hatred,

"He…he said you looked out for one another at school. He said you were both in…in the same position and you swore you would never b-be the same…" The boy whimpered, "You're the one that lied. You broke your promise…" Lucius shoved his son again, harder and angrier than before,

"I was a stupid teen-ager when I said that," He snarled, "if I had stuck to that ridiculous pact I made, I wouldn't have anything. I wouldn't be where I am today if I just gave up. You have to make sacrifices, Draco. Besides, what's a couple years submission and discipline compared to the prestige and respect that I have now?" He leant closed to the boy's ear and hissed, "It's a dangerous world, boy, do you really think you'll get anywhere without me to guide you? You wouldn't be anyone without me." Draco twisted away from Lucius,

"If it wasn't for you, I would have friends." Draco retorted furiously, "People would like me for who I am, not what my name is. I would do better at my work because I wouldn't have all that pressure you place on me to be the best. I wouldn't be scared of coming home for fear that you'll be in a bad mood. If what you say is true, then why have I been getting on fine here? Without you? I've actually liked being here because the people are kind to me even though I was taught to hate them. I like them and they like me. Even Mother has realised that I would be better off without you. Why else would she sign those papers?"

"Your mother is a silly little girl who acts on impulse without any thought of the consequences or consideration of others." Lucius replied, his lip curling in contempt, "You know as well as I, that she couldn't cope with being a mother. She was too weak to look after you, that's why she handed you over to me. She had no right to against me like that, especially since she never gave a damn about you before, only I cared-."

"That's not true!" Draco snapped, "You never cared about me either. All you cared about was how I made you look. Isn't that why I had to stay out of sight whenever people where visiting? So I wouldn't make you look bad? That's why you always brought the best things, so it would make you look good. You didn't care whether I wanted it or not, or how you made me feel. I'm glad all this has happened! I didn't before but now I am as it has made me realised how much I never want to be like you! If you cared you wouldn't be here! You'd leave me alone and accept that I have made my decision!"

"As I am sure I have said before, I do not recall giving you a choice." The elder Malfoy's voice was low and deadly and Draco cringed inwardly as, once again, his father came towards him, slow and deliberately, clearly enjoying the power he still held over his son. Suddenly a hand shot out a grabbed the boy's wrist, jerking him roughly forward, "I said; come, Draco."

"NO!"

"What's going on?" The pair turned abruptly to see Snape and Izzy standing in shock at the doorway. Severus, being the first to realise what was happening, drew his wand and pointed it at the blonde man,

"Get away from him, now." Lucius smirked and said (very childishly),

"Make me." Severus sighed in an exasperated sort of way,

"If you do not let Draco go, I will curse you." He explained bluntly so that his words could in no way be misunderstood. Lucius hesitated, then drew his own wand and pointed it at Snape,

"Touché." Draco twisted hard out of Lucius grip now that he was distracted and Izzy ran towards him. Together they watched nervously as the two men glared unforgivables at each other, wands pointing directly at the other's chest suddenly, there was a shout,

"Avada Kedavra!"

Heh heh! Was it Lucius, or Snape or Draco? Or did it miss completly? Mwah ha ha ha! Ahem...

Sorry for not updating so much but A) I update more than most aurthors and you guys are getting spoilt Lol! And B) Do you really want it to end soon?

Chocolate Dragon hugs to...

Pprincess17, Katie Malfoy19, Zarroc, dark Princesses, lollenk, pinkalarmclock, golden angel71, grlkat, Sailor Hecate, Shining Bright Eyes, Britta girl, Twighlight Dragoness, -addicted-2-hp- , perfectpureblood, 13BlackAngels, Natural -181, blueeyedchibi, TimeMage0955, Nikki's Evil Doppelganger, Lady Bridgette, Lilmissgullable.

Luv ya all! Lily xxxxxxxx