Draco's Dilemma
~Not Malfoy Manor~

To Draco Malfoy, his parents arguing like that was a nightmare. In fact, with the fact that his body had looked like a nine year old again, he couldn't help but think that it defiantly was some sort of nightmare, it couldn't be anything else, could it. For if it was reality, it meant that the world he knew was falling apart, crumbling and losing resemblance of what he knew.

Which was why when he felt his body waking up, he didn't want to open his eyes, as he wished to remember what had happened. Even though opening them would mean the potential of confirming that it was indeed a nightmare, however, there was also the possibility of confirming that is was instead reality, something Draco didn't wish to happen.

However, his muscles were stiff for some reason. His first thought that was that this was due to the commotion out at Hogwarts a couple of weeks ago, some of the effects had to still be lingering. However, the length in time caused this to be thrown out. He then realized that the bed was defiantly not very comfortable, not like how his bed should be.

This caused his eyes to snap open from the moment of confusion. He couldn't help but to let out a groan as what he hoped wouldn't be was confirmed. He wasn't in his room at the manor. Instead, he was in a room that was worn, the curtains barely covering the window, letting blinding amounts of sunlight into the room.

His glace, as he looked around the room, besides taking in the worn out state, was to see his mother sitting in a chair, asleep. Her normally unfazed look ended up seeming quite a bit frazzled, not to mention fairly tired. This meant that his parents had a huge argument and that his mother had decided to leave the manor, her taking her son with her.

As he worried if she was all right in the head, she suddenly opened her eyes, waking up. "I see you're awake. Don't worry, the innkeeper promised a room with two beds and would move our things into their this morning."

"Why is it that I'm in the bed while you're in the chair?" Draco suddenly stated, his mind still groggy from sleep.

"That? I'm surprised you asked. That's a little out of character for you, don't you think?" Narcissa more of stated then asked, only to have Draco look away from her, having figured out that she was referring to his tendency to be self centered. She caught onto his discomfort. "Look… when we got here last night… you were, well… you were rather in shock."

"Why wouldn't I be?" Draco narrowed his eyes at her. "Bloody hell, I'm a child again."

"You should watch your tongue," she replied, calmly and in a way that didn't belittle him. "I'm surprised you didn't mention yesterday's argument between your father and me."

"I'd rather not remember that happening," Draco muttered, still not looking her in the face.

"Draco… sweetheart…" she sighed, then regained her composure and asked him a question. "Do you understand what love is?"

"Lord Voldomort always said, it is a weakness. Hate is what gives strength to victory, something that is undeniable. However…" Draco turned to face his mother. "Isn't he the one who ended up defeated in the end?"

"Draco, I really don't want you spouting off things that he says," Narcissa complained. "I don't want anything ever again to do with the terror he caused. I want to know what you think love is."

The young boy had to stop and think about it fro a few seconds. "Love is that obnoxious hormonal garbage girls spout off when they think a guy has good looks. I don't want anything to do with that, ever again."

"Is that what love is?" his mother sighed.

"Obviously you're looking for a specific answer, one that I don't think I can give you," Draco lay back on the bed with annoyance.

To his surprise, his mother responded. "Love is where one cares about something a great deal Draco."

"So… a lot of the pure blood marriages aren't based off of that. They're based off politics. That's why Pansy and I got together," came the boy's reply.

"I thought you dated her because she fed your ego just the way you wanted," Narcissa sighed.

"For her though, it was politics and looks. Her family is… not one of the better known pure blood families. But father told me it was a good match, so I went along with it," came the boys reply.

"He did, did he?" Narcissa shook her head. "I had hoped that you were in it for the relationship because you wanted to be… even if it was because you liked what she said."

"That was it though, the fact that she patted my ego the right way, and look where that got me," the boy spat out. "And after that stunt she pulled, there is no way I would consider dating her."

"Because she made a fool of herself, or because you don't think Potter deserved to be handed over?"

"What kind of question is that? Father would say, yes, Potter deserved that… but to screech out like that is fool hardy," his face contorted in a frown.

"Do you make up your mind based on what other people think?" Narcissa sounded like she wanted to groan about this.

"Do you hate father that much right now?" Draco muttered, still not happy with the change of things.

"Hate him? Quite the contrary," his mother suddenly stated.

Draco suddenly shot up from the lying position, and angry scowl on his face. "If you love father so much, why walk out on him?"

"Sometimes, when someone loves and cares about someone, they have to turn their back on them," came the toneless reply, Draco almost thought was cold, but he was misreading his mother.

"That makes no sense at all. What your doing doesn't make any sense at all. What your doing doesn't make any sense. Nor is it in character for you," Draco stated.

"Perhaps I just realized I need to break out of this stifling shell I find myself in," his mother sighed. "I'm not going to go for a walk to get some fresh air. Feel free to wander around Diagon alley, but be safe; come back within a reasonable amount of time. And if you see your father, don't tell him anything, especially where we're staying."

"Why are you afraid of him coming? Dad won't hurt you," the boy stated.

Narcissa turned to him, frowning as she did. "But he might try to force me back… you too. In fact, he might try to use you to get me to come back before I'm ready or he and I've resolved things and… there is something else that I can't talk about just yet."

"Just go," Draco muttered again not looking her in the face. He heard the door click as she left. He frowned at this, but stated out loud to himself, "This has got to be a dream… I mean, how did we get from the manor of all places."

However, he found himself starting to remember the details.

Author's note – Next chapter… a flashback on how Draco and Narcissa got to the Leaky Cauldron.