Disclaimer: you may be getting really sick of me saying this (hell, i know i'm sick of saying this)- I do not own any of the characters that you recognize.

A/N: This is the third chap! Well, i've got it done...amazing...well...i hope you like it!

The pain in the lair

Right hand man or not. A 'mistake' in the dark lord's eyes was a mistake. And with a mistake, punishment was in order. Punishment that usually came in the form of Cruciatus.

He walked away from his lord's quarter, bearing his weary body. He tried not to limp, tried not to show his weakness but he was tired. He was strained, both physically and emotionally. His muscles were screaming at him and his mind thundered.

Something happened today. Something he dreaded for a long time.

"Hey, Draco." A voice asked behind him, halting him. It was Blaise Zabini. He was an acquaintance during Hogwarts but now he was the closest thing Draco had to a friend. In fact, Blaise was his best friend now. He was surprised that he didn't get to know him better during his school years; then again, Blaise had an uncanny skill of blending into the background.

"Hey." He greeted as politely as he could, for his body and mind was screaming for the temporary peace that he hoped to find in his bed. He waited for him to catch up.

"What was all that about?" His friend asked. "You've never failed a task before."

He smiled tightly. When they reached his quarters, he graciously invited Blaise in despite his body's protest. Pouring them some liquor, they sat in front of the dimly lit room.

"She was there." Draco explained simply.

"She?" Blaise looked at him confused, raising his eyebrow. "I believe your task was to capture Potter."

"She was there with him!" Draco took a large swig at his liquor before refilling it. He started to pace the room, despite the obvious protest of his limbs.

Blaise's brain spun, trying to digest and understand the information Draco had just given him. He always knew Draco had a secret affair in their last year but he never figured out his lover. A female of the opposite front. An important chess piece of this war. Someone close to Potter.

It clicked then.

The sole female of this war.

"Granger was there?" he asked incredulously.

"Yes."

"But I thought she was in hiding since the last attack in Diagon Alley where she got injured! How did she get there?"

"That's what I'd like to know too." Draco mumbled tightly.

"It was her, wasn't it?"

Draco looked at Blaise sharply before he nodded. He was aware that Blaise Zabini knew of his secret affair but could not figure out about the girl, his lover, his only.

Life was not what he had expected. Though only in his early twenties, he felt old, physically and emotionally. The power was there. The power he chose was there. But it was not obtainable. Not at all. The power was the Dark Lord's and his alone. In the three years he had been in service, he had regretted his decision- choosing power over love. But the guilt of abandoning his love had never been so strong. After seeing the pale and thinner Hermione, his heart twisted painfully.

"You know I never like what I'm doing. I'm just here, serving him to save my family." Blaise said dully, snapping Draco out of his reverie.

Draco raised his eyebrow at Blaise's sudden confession. That was not what he expected tonight. He was about to open his mouth when his door burst opened revealing the haggard Pansy Pakinson.

"Oh, Draco! I heard what happened! Are you okay? Was My Lord harsh on you? Why did you let Potter go?" Pansy gasped out in a breath, running towards Draco and hugging him tightly. Blaise stiffened noticeably.

Draco removed Pansy's arms around his neck. He sighed mentally. Pansy was devoted and a decent woman, most of time...if one overlooked the side she had taken. But she had never comprehended the idea that Draco was not interested in her in the way that she was. "Pansy, he apparated before I could reach him." He quickly made up an excuse.

"Oh." She said sympathetically. "But you're okay, right? Are you hurt?"

"Yes, Pansy, I'm okay and I'm not hurt." He replied slightly exasperatedly. "Will you allow me some rest? It has been a tiring day for me."

"Of course, Draco. Rest." She smiled, giving him a peck on the cheeks before turning around noticing the blank faced Blaise in his chair. "Oh hey, Blaise."

Blaise smiled stiffly and Pansy walked briskly out of Draco's room. With the door closed, the room became silent again aside from the soft crackling of the firewood.

"...And her." Draco said breaking the silence. It wasn't a question, but a statement. His friend's obvious affection for the dark haired woman was unrequited up to this day.

"Yes. And her." He said in a pained voice. Though his face was void of any elaborate emotions, one who knew Blaise well would look into his eyes, where the storm of his pain blew and howled. "Why is it that she can never see me as more than a friend? I have been there for her when you weren't. I listened to her. I supported her. Yet she sees me naught more than a friend..."

Draco remaining silent and let his friend's words rolled off his tongues. He felt bad for his friend too. But he didn't choose who he fell in love with or who fell in love with him. He wished he did though. Then life wouldn't be so harsh for him. Then he would not have hesitated to kill her and Potter today. Then he wouldn't be having these thoughts. Cruel Fate. Fate must be having a good laugh at their misery.

Once Blaise finished his rant, Draco poured him more liquor. He sat down opposite his friend and made a toast.

"For the fools who fell in love with the wrong women."

They drank heartily. To bury their sorrow in the drink. To feel the numbness in their mind and heart. To wallow up in self-pity.

When morning is here, they would be the cold, high ranking death eaters that were in favor of the Dark Lord.

But until dawn arrives, they allowed themselves to mourn. For an unrequited ardor and a forbidden love.

A/N: this chapter is finished...i hope you enjoy and pleased Review! Gosh...i'm starting to sound like a broken record!