Okay, Chapter 1 is finally here! I was expecting more reviews…

Thanks to Scorpion29 for my first review, glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for pointing out my word usage mistake ("donning" not "dawning")

This chapter is a bit lengthier, I think, so enjoy! AND REVIEW!

Shadow Angel26

This Chapter, and all of Professor Snape's insults are dedicated to Scorpion29, thanks for listening to my random ramble, and for your great advice. ¡Te Adoro!

Chapter Two

Draco Malfoy lay useless in the Forbidden Forest, thinking of every possible reason to hate himself. Ever since he started hanging with Voldemort's entourage, everything had gone wrong…

The group of Death Eaters gathered around the boiling pot. The contents bubbling within were rank with the stench of blood, and a few other ingredients that made Draco's stomach churn.

"What is that stuff?" He asked hoarsely. The lumpy Death Eater Amicus turned to face him.

"Breakfast!" He grinned, and Draco gagged at the smell of his rancid breath. "And Lunch, and Dinner!" Amicus let out a dry cackle, the others soon joined in.

"Your jokes make me want to vomit more than this food does," Snape growled. "Spare me your pitiful buffoonery and just pass the bowls around. I want to leave this place as soon as possible."

"Severus, you seem to forget that we have already traveled ten miles--on foot no less,--and you expect us to just get up and go as soon as you will it?" The Death Eater, Alecto growled at Snape as she rubbed her sore feet. "Who died and made you Grand Exalted Ruler of the World?"

"I do only as the Dark Lord wills me to do!" Snape bellowed, his eyes piercing Alecto's defenses, causing her to back away, slowly. "I expect all of you to stop your incessant allocutions and follow my orders!--Unless you would rather bring your quarrel to the Dark Lord Himself!" Alecto frowned, but nonetheless held her tongue.

As the bowls of horrific smelling soup were being passed around, Snape offered Draco bread and water as a substitution to his portion of slop. Gratefully, Draco accepted as Snape guzzled down his portion, and made the rest fight over Draco's.

Draco's insides were as weak and pathetic as Amicus' jokes, and he felt the need to lie down. As he did, a strange presence filled him. Alecto let out a shriek of terror as figures clad in purple robes approached.

"Nyah! They're after us! They must've tracked us somehow!" Amicus scrambled to his feet as the figures approaching drew their wands. The other Death Eaters jumped up faster than they had ever done, but Draco found himself unable to move…

"Draco!" Snape grabbed his arm and tried to pull him up, but it was like he was anchored to the ground. "Draco, I promised your mother that I would protect you! We have to move now!"

The figures moved closer…

"Draco!" Snape bellowed, still struggling to pull him off the ground. "I need you to move! I promised---NO!" Alecto had grabbed Snape by his arm and was dragging him towards the rest of the group, who were huddled in a large circle.

"Get your filthy hands off me, woman! I need to--!"

"Draco can take care of himself!" Alecto gasped as Snape lashed out, his fist barely missing her face. "This is a lesson in survival," Her eyes narrowed as she gazed upon Snape with a vengeful glare. "He will live if the Dark Lord wills him to be!"

"Don't give me that spiel you!" Snape lashed out again.

"Severus! Your love for the boy has clouded your judgment!" One of the others shouted. Snape screamed and slapped the man hard on the face. He then tried to return to Draco's side, but Alecto saw that coming, and in an instant, all Death Eaters were gone.

Draco felt his insides twitch with fear as the robed figures came closer to him. Although he could not see their faces through their hoods, he could hear the voice of one of them uttering a spell. As Draco listened to the words trailing out in a haunting stream of speech, he felt darkness reach out to him, and he gave in to it completely.

Draco moaned as his senses returned to his body, the daunting darkness of the forest coming into full view. His gut gave a terrible wrench as he remembered what he had left behind the walls of Hogwarts. The one person who turned his life around, even though he had always known that it was too late…

"Potter…" Draco muttered weakly. A picture of Harry formed vividly in his mind. He almost thought he could hear Harry's voice, smell his unique scent, and feel Harry's heart beat, sending chills coursing through his body.

"Draco, you'll never guess who is crushing on you!" A Slytherin cackled as Draco entered the commonroom. "A little someone named Harry Potter!"

"You're bluffing." Draco retorted.

"Well, I saw him staring at you during Potions class, and I know a glance-at-the-pants when I see one.

Later that day, Draco caught Harry writing a poem.

"My true love is the one I want to be with," Harry said. "And his name is…"

"Potter?" Draco startled Harry, who clutched his poem close to him.

"Malfoy! Wha-What are you doing here!"

Draco took Harry by the waist, pulling him closer, and kissed him.

"Malfoy!" Harry growled.

"Admit it Potter," Draco sneered. "You enjoyed it."

"No! I didn't!" Draco started to walk away, but Harry grabbed his arm. "I—I loved it…" Draco and Harry pulled each other into a warm embrace, and stayed there for hours.

Draco felt darkness reaching out for him, and he began to lay his head down.

"I'm dying," he whispered. "I'm going to lay down and die. Harry….help me…"

At that moment, an invisibility cloak was flung back to reveal Draco's love. Harry's eyes were stricken with panic and sadness, but Draco could only take in their depth for a brief moment before the darkness took him.

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Well, I hope you all enjoyed it. PLEASE REVIEW!

Thanks again to Scorpion29 for my first (and only,) review!

ShadowAngel26