Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters. They all belong to J.K. Rowling.

If you have any suggestions, tips, or comments feel free to give them to me because I'm starting to feel discouraged by not having any. Also if you notice anything that you feel needs attention let me know. Well not that it matters but chapter 3 for you pleasure.

Time: 12:00p.m.

I'm now staring down at a garden salad. Layton is seated on my right, while my mother is at the end on my left. Draco is seated comfortably across from me. Oddly enough our outfits match. Draco was wearing a long sleeve white t-shirt with dark washed jeans. I was wearing a white lacey tank top with jeans. I would never point out to Draco that I'd bought those jeans at a famous muggle store in London. The salad disappeared and was replaced by garlic roasted chicken breasts with mashed potatoes. Lunch was basically a silent affair. It was sixty minutes of utensils scrapping across ceramic plates followed by the sipping of drinks. We then proceed to the living room. This time I sat between Layton and Draco, across from Narcissa and Audrey. "I'm sorry about last night." I said more to the carpet then Mrs. Malfoy.

"I had talked with Draco. Mainly on how he should treat girls. Lydia, you'll be staying next to Draco's rooms in the east wing. Layton will be staying in the west wing by the library." she said ignoring my statement. "Draco, take Lydia to her rooms. Daryl will show Layton to his rooms." the blonde just sat and nodded at his mother' instructions. I stood and headed toward the hallway. Layton and the pale one joined me. It was a silent and tedious walk to my room. The thing I hated about staying next to him was that we shared a bathroom. The blonde always took too much time to groom and primp. Also he never left me any counter space or room for my shampoo and soap in the shower. At age ten I started to believe he did this on purpose and by age thirteen I knew it was true. "Why is Layton staying in the west wing?" I asked as we neared our rooms.

"We haven't cleared it for company. Mother usually puts stuff for storage in that particular room."

"Couldn't you just get your servants or house elves to clear it out before dinner, so Layton could stay in it?" I asked knowing he wouldn't have a proper answer to this question.

"Some of the things in there can't be moved because they're broken or will break if moved hastily." he said rather quickly. We were now standing outside my room. I looked at Draco then opened the door and quickly slammed it in his face. "Bloody hell! Lydia! What was that for?" he asked

"You actually need a reason." I answered as more swearing was shouted at the door, who I think didn't mind. A part of me was hoping to break his nose but another part didn't really want it broken. I pushed these thoughts away as I surveyed the room. The walls were sky blue with black trimming; the floors were cherry wood, a tall fireplace took up one wall, a large window on the other wall, the furnishing were a stained dark pine, lastly my bed was a queen size which had a flowery blue duvet cover and neatly set on the nightstand were wild flowers. The room was cozier than it had been in previous years. My trunk and other belongs sat at the foot of the bed. I went up and found that everything had been emptied out of the trunk. No doubt a house elf had put away my things and brought up the wild flowers. The cursing outside of my room had stopped and I heard footsteps retreating down the hall towards Draco's room. It was time to go and see how Layton was fairing now that I had Draco taken care of and my things were stowed away safely.

I walked carefully out of the room hoping no one heard me leave, not that it mattered. It took about ten minutes to get to the center of the mansion and another ten to get where Layton's rooms were. I gentility knocked on the door. A flushed Layton came running to answer the door. "Lydia, come in." he said as I was pulled in the room.

"Are you okay?" I asked confused by the rush of things.

"Well I just got a letter that said Blaise would be staying here this week."

"Did he send you the letter or something?"

"Well I sent one to him saying I'd be here this week. I didn't expect him to respond but look." he said shoving the letter in my hands. Sure enough the writing was Blaise's and it was addressed to Layton.

"You happy now?" I said sarcastically

"Very much indeed." he said

We passed the rest of the afternoon talking about the school year to come and the possible out come of the war. It was troubling to think about the war but it need to be done. Soon the clock in the room read 4:30p.m.

"I should go clean up before dinner." I said heading towards the door.

"Yeah, though I wonder why your boyfriend hasn't visited us today." he said

"I'm sure he was busy making plans to kill me and he's not my boyfriend!" I said walking out the door.

Halfway down the hall I ran head first into the boy. "Where've you been all afternoon?" he said pulling me up by my wrist. It was meant to be helpful but was painful instead.

"I've been hiding in Layton's room all afternoon." I said

"Blaise is coming and I need to you to help keep me company." he said pulling me along the hall towards our rooms.

"I thought he was friend." I said trying to release my wrist from his death grip. "Could you let go of me! I know where we're going and if you keep holding me that tight I'll bruise!" This statement made him hold tighter and pull harder.

"You'll keep me company and not question things." he said pulling so hard this time that we both went down and met the rug. It was at this time I smelled alcohol on him. I couldn't place the kind it was but knew he had something strong to drink. "Dam you, Draco!" I knew not to say this but I couldn't help it. I quickly got up and tried to sprint down the hall. Draco caught me quickly and opened the door to his room pushing me inside. This couldn't end well for either of us.

"Lydia shut it. I'm in..." his face started to contort oddly. He made his way for the bathroom and within seconds I could hear him retracting. I knew I should use this as a way to go and lock myself in my rooms away from him until dinner. I entered the bathroom and side stepped past him rushing in my room. The door was easy to lock; I slide down against the door. Draco was still throwing up for a good five minutes. I heard the whooshing of the toilet and a soft knock at the door. "Go away!" I shouted.

"Lydia, come on I'm not going to hurt you, you know that." said Draco softly trying to get his way.

"You were drunk the other night at my house before the party. That's why your mother dismissed my apology." A silence followed. I pushed myself away from the door and locked the hall door. I was trapped in my room with a drunken dragon stewing outside it. I laid down on my bed whishing to be anywhere but in this mansion. I started to remember things from when we were little. Life was simpler before either of us had started to grow up and before the idea of an arranged marriage. The clock ticked by and I paid it no attention, I was lost in my thoughts of the past, present, and future. Suddenly there was loud knocking coming from the bathroom. I snapped out of my dazed state to see the clock read 6:00p.m. Dinner was ready and I was going to be late. "I'm getting ready." I said knowing who was waiting for me. I put on a green and silver shirt keeping my jeans on; it was the first and easiest thing to put on. I unlocked the door and pulled it open. Draco's knuckles were turning red from knocking so hard. "We don't want to keep them waiting." I said rushing past him and out to the hall. I quickly entered the dinning room and took my seat next to Layton. Draco entered quickly after me. Blaise was seated across from Layton while Draco took his across from me. Narcissa was quietly waiting while we seated ourselves, her lips pressed firmly together into a frown. Not a word was said as fresh steaming bread appeared on the table along with chicken soup. When the soup and bread were gone duck with mint jelly and mixed veggies became the main course, desert was chocolate pudding. The whole the three boys began to talk about various things. I tuned them out not wanting to hear the conversation repeat in my head later. Narcissa dismissed us from the dinning while she retired to her rooms for the evening.

Time: 10:30p.m.

It's been two hours since dinner was over and we're playing a partner version of wizard's chess. I'm on the winning though I'm not putting in much input. Layton can win easily against Draco and Blaise. "I'm bored!" said Draco as Layton moved his piece into a winning position. I merely stared at the board waiting for something to happen. "I think I'm going to go to bed." I said after five minutes of waiting to see if anything was going to happen. "I'll go with you, since we're next to each other." said Draco as Layton's chess piece went to make the winning move. We left the sitting room and head for the hallway leading to our rooms. "I didn't mean to hurt you." Draco said once out of earshot of the room.

"You never do but you just can't help but screw things up." I said keeping my gaze away from him.

"I would never-"

"Don't say things we know aren't true." I said cutting him off.

"Lydia, the war's coming and we both know what might and might not happen."

"You don't think I worry about that and dying everyday. I don't even want to go back to school because I know I can't be protected there. I know what's going to happen and you can't help me because it's going to happen no matter what we do." I stormed off down the hall and into my room. Today was turning out worse than yesterday and was more emotionally draining. I changed into a pair of shorts and a matching tank top. I flung myself onto my bed and quickly turned off the light hoping I wouldn't be bothered until the next day. Minutes later I heard the shower turn on; I rolled over and laid on my back staring at the ceiling. After about ten minutes the water stopped; Draco opened the door to his room but didn't close it. Five minutes passed before I heard the door close and mine opened in return. Draco came to my side and placed the covers over me before he went to the other side and slipped under them. "I hate you so much." I murmured as he pulled me to the middle of the bed. "You should." was his response. The air space never seemed to last very long between us, especially since he kept closing the gap. I was drifting slowly into the slumber I desperately wanted.