The Thorn Within

Summary: Draco's take on dealing with his father's beliefs and serving him up to the Dark Lord and his fanatics and his coming to terms with wanting Hermione, his only light and source of happiness.

AN:Okay, here's another story that's been teasing the edges of my thoughts for several months now. As usual, I was laid back and just listening to my music when this song came on and I just knew it would be perfect for Draco! Anyway, I have no idea how long this will be or how often I will update it but I will try to not take forever. I will also change the rating and tags as needed. Thanks for checking it out and I hope you like it.

Inspiration: Metallica 'Thorn Within'

Disclaimer: I own nothing and make no monies.

HG-DM HG-DM HG-DM

Chapter 1

It was a rare moment in the Manor, all was quiet; Draco the only living soul on the estate. As he wandered around the grounds his mind was busy with everything that had happened. He was now officially a DeathEater, much to his absolute shame and anger. He was trying to come to terms with the Dark Mark branded on him as if he was nothing more than cattle. Of course, all those around him thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread but he would mentally disagree with them in a heartbeat, never aloud, he would rather stay alive, thank you very much.

He wished he could hex his father for serving him up on a platinum platter to the Dark Lord. The arrogant ass had thought nothing of tossing his only son and heir into the midst of the wolves, figuratively and literally. He loathed the sorry excuse of a wizard and felt tremendous sympathy for his mother. She had tried to talk Lucius out of branding Draco to no avail; her pleas had fallen on deaf ears.

The irony of the situation wasn't lost on Draco. His "father" had beaten into him that Malfoy's do not bow to anyone. They were the ones bowed to. Now, now he watched everyday as his sire, for that was all the wizard was to Draco these days, bowed and scraped to a half-blood maniac set on destroying their world so he could "reign" over dead bodies and sheep. Draco shook his head, still trying to figure out how that was appealing to anyone. What good would it be to rule over the "Sacred 28" when they reproduced themselves into oblivion? Even he knew inbreeding wasn't a good thing so it made no sense to him. As all these thoughts were swirling around in his mind, Draco made sure he was still alone before he dropped to his knees and screamed for all he was worth, trying to let loose all the pent up anger, hurt, betrayal and hopelessness he had bottled up for far too long.

24 Hours Earlier

"Ssso Luciusss what do you have to sssay for yoursself?"

"My Lord, I beg you to show mercy, th…" Lucius bowed as low as he could at the Dark Lord's feet.

"Mercy! You think you dessserve mercy?!" Voldemort hissed, yanking his foot back and bloodying Lucius' nose in the process. "You had one, ONE, task to do and you FAILED me!" He hissed in anger.

"Yes, Milord. But…"

"Crucio!" Voldemort yelled, not wanting to hear anything more at the moment. He held Lucius under the spell for twenty minutes before finally stopping.

"You will be shown no mercy, Lucius! As payment for your failure, your son, Draco, will be branded with my mark. Maybe he can redeem your family?" Voldemort hissed as he slithered over to Draco.

"Yes, Milord. Draco would be an excellent addition to your ranks. Thank you, Milord." Lucius groveled, still shaking from being under the curse.

"Ssso, Draco, what do you think?" The Dark Lord asked in a deceptively calm voice. After waiting for a few minutes for Draco to answer, Voldemort hissed, "No anssswer?"

"My apologies, milord, I was trying to figure out what you wished my opinion on." Draco answered; proud he could keep his face blank and his voice strong and steady.

"Ah, sssee Luciusss, you have raisssed him well. How do you feel about your father's failure?" Voldemort hissed.

"It is a disgrace, milord." Draco answered, making sure to inflict the proper emotions into his voice.

"And what of taking my Mark, Draco? How do feel about that?"

"It would be an honor, milord, to serve you." Draco could only thank his father for forcing him to learn how to keep his face schooled and the Occlumency lessons or the Dark Lord would have seen right though his lie.

"I sssee. Would you disssappoint me asss well, young Draco?" The Dark Lord asked as he looked Draco over.

"I would do my best not to, milord." Draco replied, hoping it was the right thing to say.

"We will ssssee, won't we, Draco?" Voldemort said as he slithered back to his "throne" in the middle of the room. "Sssee to your father, Draco." The Dark Lord commanded and Draco immediately went to Lucius and helped him off the floor and out of the room. Just as he reached the door, Voldemort spoke, "Make sssure to be back in here in two hours' time, Draco. You will be Marked then."

Draco bowed his head in response and continued out of the room dragging his father with him, dreading what would happen when his two hours was up. After not so gracefully setting his father on the couch in his office, Draco turned on his heel and promptly went to his room. He wanted to be alone for the next two hours and his room was the only place he could be. He was sixteen years old and was about to have his life irrevocably changed thanks to his simpering coward of a father.

As Draco sat on the chaise lounge by a window, he rolled up the sleeve of his shirt and stared at the pristine skin bared. In two hours it would become forever marred by a psychotic monster; forever damning him to a life of shame. As reality slowly sunk in to his racing brain, Draco lowered his head, wishing he was anyone but himself at the moment.

Two hours flew by for the teen and someone knocked on his door.

"Draco, it's time!" Draco cringed at the high pitched voice that was full of happiness at his branding about to happen, his Aunt Bella. Figures she would be excited about what was to happen. She had been nagging him for the past year to prove himself to her Dark Lord so he would be counted among the "honored". Yeah, right, honored his lily white arse! It was a curse but the demented witch would cut out his tongue for voicing such a thought so Draco made sure to always keep his face neutral when she would go on one of her rants.

As Draco stood and walked to the door, he had a song pop in his head. A song he had heard when out on the green at Hogwarts before dinner a week before school was to let out for the summer. Granger had some sort of device and it was playing music. Not any music he had ever heard so he figured it was muggle. He had stepped behind a tree to listen to it. He knew not who sang it but the song itself had stuck with him. It was so fitting to his situation, for he had a feeling, even then, that he would eventually be branded. If his father hadn't failed then it would have been some other reason.

Forgive me father, for I have sinned; Find me guilty of the life I feel within; When I'm branded, this mark of shame, Should I look down, disgraced or straight ahead and know that you must blame?

I am, I am the secret; I am, I am the sin; I am, I am the guilty; And I, I am the thorn within

Forgive me father, for I have sinned; Find me guilty when true guilt is from within; So point your fingers, point right at me; For I am shadows and will follow you, one and the same are we

I am, I am the secret; I am, I am the sin; I am, I am the guilty; And I, I am the thorn within

I do your time, I take your fall; I'm branded guilty for us all

So point your fingers, point right at me; For I am shadows and will follow you, one and the same are we

I am, I am your secrets; I am, I am your sin; I am, I am your guilty; And I, I am the thorn within

I am the thorn within I am the thorn within I am the thorn within I am the thorn within

I am the thorn within

The song had resonated within his very soul. He knew something would happen over the coming summer. Draco knew in his bones that his father would do or say something that would cause him to have to step up and try to correct whatever his father's master perceived as a slight. This song called to him like a siren, forewarning of his coming doom.

Draco rose from the ground, dusted himself off and stood tall; everyone would be returning soon. He shook the memories off and turned to return indoors before they did. Merlin forbid he should enjoy his family's estate, it was against the rules. It wasn't as if he could escape or anything and if he did…where in the bloody hell would he go? Not to mention DeathEaters patrolled the borders when the scaly bastard was there, which was more often than not lately.

Draco was able to make it to his room before anyone arrived, which he took advantage of that time to look upon his greatest treasure that he kept under heavy wards and disillusionment; a picture of Hermione Granger as she descended the staircase just before Victor Krum took her arm and escorted her to the Yule Ball. No one knew he had the picture, absolutely no one; it would be a death sentence if anyone found it. He had had to bribe and threaten Colin Creevey for the picture, making sure the boy understood he wanted it only to burn it. So far, the sneaky photographer had kept his mouth shut.

However, with only a few minutes before DeathEaters would start to arrive, Draco took the picture out of his school trunk and gazed upon it. She was breathtaking that night; her eyes alight with happiness and her smile was warm. How he had missed her beauty before was beyond him. Well, maybe not, she was always wearing clothes that hung off her when not in her robes and her hair was allowed to do whatever it wanted. So, yeah, not hard to know how he missed it. But the Yule Ball…she had been a vision. It had annoyed him that he couldn't say anything to her, couldn't compliment her as he wanted. No, he had to admire her silently and from a distance.

Since that night, Hermione Granger had never been far from his thoughts. It was one of the reasons he fought with her so much, to see her eyes light up with fire and her tongue to loose equally harsh barbs back at him. She was amazing! She never disappointed him when he would spar with her, of course, she never knew that was what he was doing; she couldn't know, no one could. But Draco considered her his only light in such dark times. She was the fresh air he breathed when around her; she was his hope that a better future might be a possibility; a future where the dark lord was dead and gone for good.