Draco Malfoy was stretched out on his bed, staring at the miserably high, blank ceiling. He could hear the longcase clock against the wall; the tick was comforting. If he paid careful attention to it, he could drown out the disagreeable thoughts.

A soft knocking came from the other side of his large, ornate door, making the snake on the brass handle squirm and hiss. Draco dragged himself up with a heavy sigh - had he missed lunch again? He glanced at the time. He hadn't.

"Come in, mother," he drawled, leaning back against the bed board. His father never knocked.

Narcissa was dressed to go out. Her smile was tight and forced as she eyed Draco's oxfords on the bedspread.

"Draco, why lock yourself up on a day like this? Go outside, take your broomstick or-"

"Or what?" said Draco with a sharp laugh. "There's nothing to do here."

"What's wrong, love?"

"Nothing."

Narcissa's eyes pinched in the middle as she searched Draco's face. Draco squirmed beneath them. He pulled a knee up to his chest and ran a nail down the fabric, focusing on the quiet sound.

"You've been hiding for weeks," said Narcissa quietly. "You hardly ever come out, and you barely touch your food at dinner. You do know it's better for us now? The Dark Lord, he-"

"You don't need to remind me," Draco muttered. "You know I'm glad he's gone."

"Then what's wrong?" Narcissa came to sit on his bed next to him. She sounded exasperated. "I don't like seeing you like this."

"You know I don't want to tell you."

"I know," said Narcissa carefully. She made as though to rest her hand on his knee, but clasped her fingers in her lap instead. "But talking takes courage. Talk to me, Draco."

"I'm not a Gryffindor, mother."

"And I am so very proud," Narcissa replied sadly.

Draco looked away and out of the window, where a small blackbird sat perched on the sill. The bird watched him, for a moment or two, before taking flight and vanishing from view. The ticking sounded louder now, but it was no longer comforting. Draco wished he could disappear.

"Look at me, Draco!" said Narcissa shortly. "If you won't talk about it for your own sake, then please, tell me for mine! I can't sleep at night when I know you're unhappy."

"It's father," Draco said suddenly, frustrated. He wanted to bury his face in his knees. How could she not see? "Of course it's father. You know he doesn't talk to me anymore. Everything he wanted me to be - it's impossible now."

"Lucius is just busy with the Ministry. We'll be a family again soon."

"I don't know who I am without him," said Draco bitterly. "What am I supposed to do?"

"What about at school? You had months away from Lucius to be yourself."

"Even there I am - I mean, I was - I became him."

"The more you say that, the more you'll convince yourself." Narcissa took his hand and squeezed it a little too tightly. "I'm worried about your father too," she admitted. "We need to be strong for him. I'm worried they may have already decided to send him back to Azkaban."

"But the trial?"

"It was postponed again. Draco, don't be mad, but I should tell you, I've invited Harry Potter to stay with us."

Draco straightened up and pulled his hand away. "What?"

"We need allies, now more than ever. Oh, please don't look at me like that! You're in his debt, and he's in mine. He's a compassionate boy; we can use that. Imagine, he could have us acquitted."

Draco shook his head dumbly. She had to be joking?

"It's a pipe dream, mother. He hates us. Of course he hates us."

"He doesn't," said Narccissa firmly. "If he came to dinner, enjoyed his stay -"

"He would definitely not 'enjoy his stay.'

"You'll have to make him enjoy it."

"Why?" Draco stressed.

Narcissa stood up and ran her long fingers through her hair. "He needs to understand our plight first hand. He needs to see us as - as people who have made mistakes. If anyone has influence over the ministry, it's him."

"He'll never come. I wish it were that easy, but..."

"You think so?" said Narcissa. "I wish you two had gotten along better. Ah well, it can't be helped I suppose."

"No, it can't," said Draco firmly.

There was a pause.

"But if you do ever see him, you will try, won't you?"

Draco looked at his hopeless mother, with her sad wide eyes and broken smile. He wanted to fix everything for her, to find a time turner and steal her away before the war. They could have gone anywhere. Now, all he could do was sigh and lie.

"Of course, mother. I'll try."

Lucius hadn't been at dinner that evening. He sat now in the drawing room with a bottle of gin, hunched over in front of the fireplace. His hair was streaked with silver, and the lines on his face more pronounced than ever. He stared down his long nose at the carpet, muttering under his breath. Suddenly, angrily, he slammed his fist on the armrest, sending sparks across the room.

Draco jumped from where he stood in the shadow of the doorway. He moved to close the door, but it was too late.

"Get out," Lucius growled.

"Father-"

"Get out!" Wild eyed, Lucius threw his diamond glass across the room.

Draco heard it shatter as he fled. He didn't stop until he reached his room. He fell back against the door, shutting it, a gutteral noise escaping his clenched teeth. The clock ticked loudly, painfully in the background.