Title: Falls the Shadow

Chp.1

Rating: M

Warnings: H/D SLASH

DISCLAIMER: We do not own Harry Potter! Characters (except those created by us) belong to the amazingly talented J.K. Rowling, WB, and the publishing companies.

Harry awoke to the nudge the driver of the carriage was giving him and looked at the driver groggily before comprehension settled on him and he gulped with fear.

Fear gripped at his stomach as he made his way down the carriage and followed to the doorstep where the few bags he had been carrying were taken from him and he was pushed by someone else in another direction. He glanced around, taking in the stature and grandeur of all that surrounded him and feeling infinitely small. Grief had not left him and with the loss of the only home he had ever known, he was very far from feeling anywhere near comfortable or settled or at peace. He followed a small woman through a great hall and through several doors until she suddenly stopped and, giving him a stern look, led him through the doors. He mumbled out a thank you, though he was sure it lacked in something due to the next look she gave him, and stumbled in after her, feeling awkward and ill at ease.

Three figures in the room immediately stopped talking, two of whom were very fair and in Harry's mind compared to angels, except for the cold looks they directed towards him, and another lady, equally as fair but with dark hair, who gave him a sneer that made Harry want to crawl into a crevice. He looked at them and they looked at him until the man signaled to him to step nearer.

"Come nearer, boy, let's have a look at you," he said in a drawl and Harry could do nothing but obey. He physically moved towards the man although his mind screamed at him to get away. He got closer and stopped once he was only a few feet away, the walk across the room feeling much longer than the distance actually was. He looked at the three people and couldn't help but feel overwhelming senses that threatened to spill. He wanted them to stop staring at him, wanted to be left alone, wanted to shed tears in the comfort of his room. He did not want to have to hold the composure he was feeling any longer, he did not want to stand there like an object under careful observation, but that was all he could do. Stand there and wait for approval.

"Well, what do you think, Narcissa?" the man asked, turning to look at the lady across from him, whom Harry determined was his wife.

"I don't know, Lucius, he looks rather weak. And what is that thing on his forehead?" she said in an uncompassionate voice, her eyes never once leaving the boy as she continued to survey him.

"Some scar of some kind," uttered the lady with the black hair beside her. Her eyes traveled up and down Harry before they turned away, disinterested. "He'll do."

"What do you mean, Bellatrix? And boy, how did you manage to get that scar? And what is your name?" Lucius asked, still staring at the boy with slight curiosity, though Harry was relieved that he could hear disinterest beginning to edge in. Narcissa had already turned away and her concentration had been placed back onto her knitting that she had rested on her lap and had now taken up again.

"Well, surely he's not going to be educated like Draco?" Bellatrix responded before Harry could get a word out.

"And why not, Bellatrix? After all, the Potters were well-known. The least we could do is at least provide some education and set him straight on his path," Lucius commented. "Now please, let the boy speak."

Harry stared at them, none of the words really sinking in and felt their eyes all on him, waiting for something. He cleared his throat and tried moving his mouth, which was incredibly dry at the moment. He was clenching up and he wasn't sure why. He could feel the nausea in his stomach and felt a series of emotions surge through him, emotions that he could not ignore this time. His words mingled with sobs as he explained the scar, bringing in memories of Sirius, and he uttered his name in a soft voice, trying to suppress the sobs that continued to come out and trying to quench the nervous excitement that had taken a hold of him.

He could not look at them anymore and so lowered his head, bringing up his hand and feeling furious with himself at this outlet of emotions. He was sure he had displeased them, too, and he didn't want to see the disappointment that must have been in their eyes. He closed his mouth, shutting off the sobs that had also accompanied him, and tried to get his eyes dry as he heard his name and another voice being said as well as "take him up to his room". So he was being dismissed. With relief he followed as a gentle hand was placed on his shoulders and he stopped outside the drawing room as whomever it was that was leading him closed the doors beside him. He took this time to dry his tears and breath in air as he calmed down, telling himself that as soon as he was alone he would let out the anguish that was in his heart, but that he could not let it out anywhere else.

"He should be grateful," he heard Bellatrix mutter before the doors close.

"I believe he is," Lucius replied, "but in any matter let him be. He'll soon get over it."

The doors were then shut and he turned to see the thin wire of a man beside him, with a bright smile on his face, thin brown hair over his head, and ears that almost made him look like an elf.

"Well, Mr. Potter, I hope you feel better. They're not really bad people, as you'll soon find out, though they do have their episodes. I understand what you're going through though, Mr. Potter, and I just want to say I'm really sorry. We should get you settled in then, Mr. Potter, I'm sure you'd like to be alone for a while. You're bags have already been placed there," the man said before beginning the walk up a series of stairs.

Harry followed the man, his head still down and staring at the feet of the servant before him when he almost bumped into him. He looked up to see what had occurred and found the servant removing the hat he had on and bowing slightly at someone. Harry turned, wondering who it was that they had encountered and felt another series of butterflies beginning to take over his stomach when an all together new feeling settled in as his eyes landed on the person.

Walking, down the stairs, was another boy around his own age. What astounded Harry though, was how the boy held himself and his appearance. He had certain lightness in his footsteps as he stepped down them and held his head and chin up, with a look of authority over his features and an air of aristocracy that fit him well. His hair had been combed back and his pointed features and grey eyes were perfectly clear. If those features were on any other person, Harry would have given them the title of beautiful and nothing more, but there was something else in this boy that lifted the title up about two, possibly three levels.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Malfoy," he heard the man in front of him say and Harry turned his green eyes onto the person with understanding dawning on him. So this was the young Mr. Malfoy. He saw as the grey eyes passed briefly over the man in front of him and a small nod passing through them before the eyes were settled on him. Harry wasn't sure what to make of it and stared back, a small feeling of disappointment settling in his stomach when the boy turned away with apparent disinterest.

Harry walked quickly behind the man again as he started moving and he was soon at the door to his room.

"If you need anything, just ring, Mr. Potter, and I'll be here, or anyone else. I hope the room is to your liking, and supper will be served at seven. Lord Malfoy does not accept tardiness, so please be early. I'll see you soon, Mr. Potter, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask me. My name's Dobby, it is a pleasure to meet you."

And with that Dobby exited the room in a state of nervous excitement that confused Harry, yet amused him, until he began thinking about all the events that had occurred. He was sure he had made a bad impression on the Malfoy's and on that lady, was sure he did not like the lady at all, and was confused about the young Mr. Malfoy, whom he still didn't know the name of. Along with these feelings homesickness was also mingled into them, as well as grief and despair, regret and responsibility and he was left with a feeling of overall confusion. Pressing back the tears he made a pact with himself that he was not going to cry anymore, he was going to go on with life. He was sure this was what his parents, Sirius, would have wanted, and after all, he had to be gracious. And so with that thought he went to sleep, dreaming uncomfortable dreams that left him unsettled and waking up at seven thirty in the evening, just in time to get ready for dinner.

A slight knock broke him from his train of thought as he sat on his bed taking in the sight of his room. His room was small but comfortable enough. It had the basic necessities and a small window that overlooked the hills of the estate.

He got up and opened the door, letting in the same man that had brought him to his room.

"Mr. Potter, are you ready for dinner?" the man asked enthusiastically.

Harry nodded and looked down to the floor.

"Follow me Mr. Potter, I will lead you to the dining room," said Dobby beaming at him.

He walked down the stairs quietly and shivered as he felt a sudden coldness hit him. He wrapped his arms tightly around himself and continued walking until he finally found himself outside a set of double doors. He could hear some low mutterings, and taking a deep breath stepped inside as Dobby opened the doors.

A beautiful dining room was in front of him. The table that extended from almost across the room was extravagant and luxurious. Rich rogue colors stood apart from the rest of the room, and an array of candles shone from every corner of the room. Harry had never seen such a sight before; it was indeed the picture of aristocracy.

Dobby led him to a chair and he sat down and looked at the present company he had. Lord and Lady Malfoy were talking to each other and had not even noticed the presence of Harry. In front of him, the same boy that he had met sat staring straight at him, his grey eyes having a slight look of curiosity but as Harry met his eyes the boy turned away. Disappointment once again sat in his stomach, and he looked away from the boy that he had hoped would be his friend and that he hoped would help him cope with the loneliness of the mansion.

He was served food and ate with the best manners he could, often glancing at the young boy in front of him, and taking in the way he ate in the most delicate manner.

"Mother," said the boy, his voice very polite yet cold and unemotional, too unemotional for one so young.

"Yes, Draco?"

'Ah, so he is Draco,' thought Harry.

"Is lecture necessary tomorrow?"

"Draco, you know better than to say such things. Of course it is necessary," drawled Lucius, interrupting before Narcissa spoke, yet not looking at his son.

"I feel ill."

"You do not feel ill, and you will attend lecture tomorrow. This is final Draco, a boy as yourself needs to be well educated if he hopes to make a name for himself later on, is that clear?"

"Yes, father," muttered Draco, continuing to eat but with a scowl on his face.

"Harry, you will join Draco in lessons tomorrow after breakfast," said Lucius looking up and staring at Harry, "you will meet your tutor tomorrow."

"Yes, thank you, sir," said Harry, he had not thought that his education would start so soon after his arrival, and could only hope his tutor would be to his liking.

xxxx

Breakfast the next day was a quiet affair but a nervous one also. Harry was anxiously looking forward to meeting his tutor, but it appeared that the pale boy that once again sat in front of him did not feel the same. 'Maybe he does not like the tutor, and is faking illness,' thought Harry, and this thought set him into more anxious territory.

Harry was about to take a drink when the doors opened and a tall man with dark hair swept inside. He had an extremely pale complexion, and his demeanor showed that he was not someone to be looked down upon; on the other hand, he commanded respect and even fear.

"Ah, Mr. Severus Snape, so nice of you to join us this morning. The boys are ready for their lesson," said Lucius, looking up from his meal.

"Boys, Lord Malfoy?"

"Yes, another boy will be under your care. Harry Potter," he said motioning towards Harry, "arrived yesterday."

"I was not aware of this…development Lord Malfoy," said Mr. Snape icily.

Both Lucius and Severus looked at each other coolly for a while, until finally Snape looked at Draco, but not at Harry.

"Follow me, boys, your lesson will start at this moment."

Harry, not liking his new tutor already, silently got up and headed towards the door, but stopped, waiting for Draco.

Draco got up with a sigh, and went straight out of the room past Harry, not acknowledging Harry in the slightest.

Harry felt his cheeks go red at him being ignored…again, but kept on walking down the hall of the mansion, where no sun seemed to shine anywhere and coldness abounded.

He followed Draco into a grandiose library that had rows and rows of books the covered most of the walls, and a rich carpet covered everything. There was a fire that had been started, and near it, two desks were situated in front of a much larger one. The room was very dark, and candles were placed in each of the desks, and along other small tables across the library.

"Sit," snapped Snape.

He gathered some books that were in his desk and slammed them on Harry's desk, making him jump slightly.

"These are yours, take care of them. If anything happens to these books, you will not be getting new ones."

Harry gulped and nodded, wishing the Lupin was still with him…that nothing had happened to Sirius and that everything was just back to normal. He shook his head mentally; he could not live in an allusion.

"Draco, start reading the passage on page 324, and you," he said, looking at Harry, "let us see how much knowledge you have, and we will find out whether your last…tutor…was competent."

Snape looked straight at him and started questioning him on many subjects, and Harry wished that he had paid more attention to Remus' lessons.

"You are not up to the level that you should be, of course, tutors these days are not competent and many do not make their pupils put in the require effort. Who was the tutor that falls into this category?" drawled Snape.

Even though Remus had left him and Sirius, and even though he could not forgive Remus for that, Remus still had been an excellent tutor, and there was no reason to disrespect him. Harry felt anger, the first sense of anger among the melancholic emotions he had been feeling, for the first time.

"My tutor was Remus Lupin, and he was not incompetent as you state. He was an excellent tutor, and I highly respect him," said Harry in a tight voice.

Draco looked up from his book and quirked an eyebrow, while Snape seemed to have gotten a shade paler.

"You will not speak to me in that tone of voice, young man. You should be grateful that Lord Malfoy has given you permission to study besides his son, and study under my care. Such statements are not to be uttered in my presence ever again. Watch what you say or I will tell Lord Malfoy to send you to the orphanage where you belong."

Harry felt like if he had been slapped, and a wave of anger swept through him. He looked down on his desk and fought the urge to speak back to the man he now detested.

"Calming your temper if the first step," drawled Snape, and then continued with the lesson.

xxxx

Harry sat in the drawing room after his first lesson, doing his assignment that Snape had given him. After the great rage he felt, it now had totally left him, and in its place, bitterness and sadness had once again taken hold of him. Everything was turning out bad, he wanted to go back to his home, he wanted to see Sirius' smiling face again…but no. He was to remain in a place where he was not wanted, and where he did not belong.

The doors to the drawing room opened and three boys entered. Harry looked up from his book as Draco entered the room, along with two other boys he did not recognize. Both boys were round in figure, and looked around his age.

They froze at the sight of him, but the two boys walked towards him while Draco stayed behind them.

"Well, who's this? Draco, this servant boy of yours has one of your books. He should not have this. What are you doing with it?" demanded the boy.

"I am not a servant," replied Harry, eyeing the boy with mistrust.

"He is not a servant, Goyle. He is staying with us from now on."

"Oh? What is your name? Why are you here then?"

"My name is Harry Potter. My uncle died…and I…"

"So you are a charity case! Hah! Go away from this room, you are not to associate with us. I have never heard of the surname of Potter, you must be below us. I do not know if you know this, seeing as you are probably a farm boy, but those below our class are not to be associated with us."

Harry looked at the boy furiously, and then looked over at Draco, hoping he would tell him something, but Draco looked coldly out the window, ignoring him.

Not wanting to cause any further trouble, for he knew his temper would get the better of him, he stood up and took his books in his hands.

The other boy stepped up and snatched the books away, "These stay here. I want to read them," he said mockingly.

Harry opened his mouth, knowing that the boy would never read those books, but at that moment the same dark haired lady that he had met when he first got there entered the room.

"Is there a problem here, children?"

"Tell this boy to leave," said the boy that had just snatched his books away, "he is bothering us."

Bellatrix narrowed her eyes at Harry. "Causing trouble already? I knew you should have never entered this house. Do not expect to be treated as an equal here, for you are not. You should be cleaning after us, not sitting in the same dinner table. Go to your room," she said coldly.

Harry once again turned to look at Draco, but Draco still ignored him. With tears in his eyes that threatened to fall, he left the drawing room, and as his made his way up the stairs and into his room, silent tears fell down his face.

A/N: So sorry for the lateness of this chapter! We have been extremely busy…with competitions and homework. It was supposed to be much longer, but I felt that it was long enough, and I did not want to keep you all waiting much longer. Please review! Reviews are deeply appreciated by us!