When I reached the manor and stepped out of the fireplace and knew instantly that I was in Draco's room. It hadn't changed at all since I had been here last. Draco came into the room, smirking as usual.
"They're pleased that you're here," he said. "And they said to tell you that we're eating with them tonight." I nodded.
"I'm going to my room then," I said. "I want to take a little nap." Draco frowned.
"Why can't you sleep here?" he asked.
"Because I have my own room and I don't want to sleep in here," I snapped. "I'll see you in a little while." Draco's face darkened with rage. He didn't like it when I disagreed with him.
"Don't look at me like that," I said. "I'm not trying to upset you. I just want to sleep in my room. You had it made for me and I want to use it." Draco took a step toward me.
"Oh you can use it later," he said. "For now I want you to stay in here." I glared at him.
"No," I snapped. "I'm going to my room now." I pushed my way past Draco. He grabbed my arm tightly.
"I don't think so," he hissed. "You will do as I say."
"Draco you are a complete control freak," I said. "Now let me go!" Draco tightened his grip.
"I mean it," he said. "Now do as I say"
"No!" I shouted slapping him across the face. I had done this twice at the ball last year and I knew not to do it but he was really making me mad! Draco grabbed me by the throat.
"I told you never to do that again!" he shouted. "I don't want to hurt you Schyler but you are making it very difficult for me not to!"
"Let...me...go!" I gasped. Draco released his grip on my throat, grabbed both my arms and dragged me over to his bed. He threw me onto the bed and glared down at me.
"I'll wake you before dinner," he growled. Then he left, locking the door behind him.
"You git!" I screamed after him. I fell back onto the pillows and closed my eyes. I could always use the Floo Powder to go home but then everyone would know that something was wrong.
"No, it's best that I stay here," I muttered. Then I fell asleep.
When I woke up I felt something pressing against my bruised side. I winced and rolled over. Draco was lying next to me with his arm around me. He looked so sweet when he was asleep that I almost couldn't believe that he could hurt me the way he did.
"Draco," I said softly. "I'm sorry for hitting you." Draco opened his eyes and looked at me.
"I'm the one who should be apologizing," he said. "I really am sorry." I nodded and my eyes filled with tears.
I'm so stupid! I thought. He always says that and then he just does the same damn thing again! Why do I keep doing this to myself? Why do I love him so much?
"Schyler, luv, what's the matter?" he asked. I let out a sob and buried my face in the pillows.
"I love you," I sobbed. "I love you Draco." Draco pulled me to him so that I was crying into his shoulder.
"What's wrong with that?" he asked. "I love you too." I shook my head.
"I don't know," I sobbed. "I'm just being stupid." Draco laughed quietly.
"You're not stupid," he said.
Oh yes I am! I thought. Draco tilted my face toward his.
"You are not stupid," he repeated. "You are one of the most brilliant people I know. I love you Schyler and I know that you are not stupid." He kissed me. When he pulled away I wiped my tears away and rolled off of the bed.
"I better go change for dinner," I said. "The door still has that charm on it, right?" Draco nodded.
"Sorry, Father is just..."
"I know," I replied. Draco walked me to my room. I went to the closet and chose my favorite dress. The one that looked like princess Serenity's. I put my hair up like hers and chose the bracelet, earrings, and shoes from last time.
Draco came in just as I was putting in the earrings. He laughed.
"Couldn't you have worn something else?" he asked. I smiled and turned to him as I put the back into the earring in my right ear. I straightened up.
"I like this outfit, thank you very much," I said. Draco came and took my hand in his.
"Just don't wear it to the ball," he said. "People might wonder if that's the only dress you have." I smiled and sighed.
"All right I suppose I could look for something else." I had no intention of doing that though. I was going to run away tonight. If Draco caught me I would make sure that I would be so sick or hurt that there would be no way that I could go.
We walked down to the dinning room and sat down. Draco was on my left, Lucius was on my right, and Narcissa was across from me.
"It's nice to have you here again Schyler," Narcissa said.
"Thanks for letting me stay," I replied. "Cory says he's sorry he couldn't come"
"And why's that?" Lucius asked. I swallowed my mouthful of potatoes.
"Because my mum and dad asked him to watch the twins and our little brother this week," I answered. "They're going to some couples thing. A cruise, I think."
"Why didn't you invite your siblings to come along?" Narcissa asked. "We wouldn't have minded"
"Oh yes you would have," I replied.
"Why's that?" Lucius asked coldly.
"Um Father, maybe Schyler should tell you about that snowball fight we had at school the other day," Draco said. "Remember Schyler? Remember how Cory..." He was lying, there hadn't been any snow for weeks. We could have made some but we hadn't.
"Be silent Draco," his father snapped. "Let her answer." I gulped.
"Well, my sisters, Jordyn and Taylor," I began.
"They're the twins, right?" Narcissa asked. I nodded.
"Yeah, well they're muggle-born and my little brother Bryson is a muggle," I said. "So I knew better than to invite them here." Lucius nodded.
"So you don't have a problem being around them?" he asked. "Knowing what your parents were?"
"No," I snapped. "I love my younger siblings. I have no problem with them." Lucius didn't say anything.
"May I be excused?" I asked. "I think I'm going to be sick." Narcissa nodded so I got to my feet and stormed back to my room.
"That jerk!" I cried as I slammed the door. I was definitely going to run now! I went to my closet and grabbed my black tank top, black jeans, black tennis shoes, and my black zip up hoodie. I changed into them and then went out onto the balcony. It wasn't cold out like last winter. In fact there wasn't even any snow. It felt like spring. There was a half moon out, that might blow some shadow cover but as long as I didn't get caught...my door opened and Draco came in looking furious.
"What'd you storm out of there for?" he shouted.
"Leave me alone, Draco," I snapped. Draco came up to me and spun me around to face him.
"Listen to me," he said. "Father wants us both to come to the parlor for desert and he wants to talk to us about something. Please, be nice to him. For both our sakes."
"Go without me," I snapped. "I'm staying here." Draco's eyes flashed dangerously and I feared for a moment that he was going to throw me off the balcony. But all he did was turn and walk out. I stood for a few minutes in total shock. Had he just resisted the urge to hit me? I blinked and turned back to the balcony ledge.
Who cares if he didn't do it this time? I thought angrily. That doesn't erase the fact that he did it millions of times before. I swung my leg over the railing and stepped onto the small ledge. I looked over my shoulder. It was a seven-foot drop to the ground. I couldn't jump that far without hurting myself. Cory had been able to do it without getting hurt last year but I couldn't. I gripped the stone supports and lowered myself over the edge. When my hands hit the outer ledge I gripped that and lowered myself even more. I was about five feet from the ground now.
Well this is as close as I'm going to get, I guess, I thought. I let go and landed in a crouching position. I sensed someone watching me and I looked up. I had landed in front of a large bay window. The window gave me a view of the parlor and Lucius and Draco were looking right at me! Draco's eyes widened and he bolted from the room. Lucius smiled coldly at me. I gasped and ran as fast as I could into the woods surrounding the Malfoy Manor.