Title: Let the Light In

Author: MauVeGoddess

Pairings: Draco/Ron, Harry/Hermione

Warning: Slash fic. If you don't like slash, please leave now, but don't flame us.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter, etc., belongs to J.K. Rowling et al.

Summary: Ron is drifting apart from his friends. Draco is blinded by his father when he refuses the Dark Mark. Will a new friendship form?


Chapter Two

See it my Way

"Crucio!"

Lucius braced himself for the pain Voldemort had just cast on him. As always, it hit him full in the stomach. He curled himself into a ball and time seemed to slow down for the torture. Just when he thought he would pass out from the intense pain radiating through his body, it stopped.

"This is what happens when you screw things up, Lucius." Voldemort hissed. "What did I ask you to do – find a time when the boy would be caught unaware – but you couldn't manage even that!"

"Please, Master, I thought he was distracted! He was walking down the road, unprotected by wards and not thinking about protecting himself!" Lucius cried, recoiling at the unveiled anger coursing through his master's red eyes.

"Crucio! Don't go making excuses Lucius… you screwed up and you can't even be man enough to admit it." Voldemort ended his second Crucio of the night with a glare to his servant. "How do you expect us to win a war against "the Boy-Who-Lived" when we have so few Death Eaters!"

"I am dutifully searching for more loyal servants, my Lord, but I have the Ministry on my tail and I must remain discreet."

"What about your boy, Draco? Why has he not yet received the Dark Mark? Surely he is of age…" Voldemort questioned threateningly.

"You may have him as soon as you wish, Master. He eagerly awaits your command." Lucius stared at the floor, evading Voldemort's icy stare.

"Well then, do what you must to prepare, I will have him tonight." Voldemort finished his statement by giving Lucius a malicious look.

Lucius bowed down to his Master and Apparated quickly back to Malfoy Manor.

Draco looked up as his father Apparated into his room.

"The Dark Lord wants you to receive the Dark Mark tonight. I expect you to be ready to leave in half an hour." Lucius commanded.

"No. I have other plans." Draco said quickly, looking anywhere but his father's livid face.

"I don't care what you WERE going to do. You're coming, and that's the end of it," said Lucius firmly. Draco summoned up his courage. He knew it was now or never.

"You can drag me there. Do what you want. But when it comes time for me to submit, I will refuse." Draco replied evenly, looking him straight in the eyes.

"Maybe this will make you see it my way," Lucius said drawing his wand, "Noceo Oculus!"

Draco clutched his eyes as pain flooded his vision. It soon faded, but as he uncovered his eyes, he saw only black. No longer able to cope with what was happening, Draco passed out.

When he awoke, he felt bandages on his face, covering his eyes. He felt around, and decided he was probably lying on a hospital cot. He heard a noise to his right as someone walked towards his bed. He could only guess that it was his father.

"You're in St. Mungo's, Draco. Don't think I took you here out of love or even pity - the ministry would be suspicious if I hadn't. I told the mediwitch that you were practicing magic in your study when something went wrong and one of your spells reflected back onto you. This is the curse of your pride, Draco. You will never admit that you couldn't protect yourself from one little spell from your father." A small laugh escaped his lips. "Therefore, I don't see why they should ever know the truth. Even if you did tell them, who would believe the word of a weak teenage boy?"

"You see, Draco, this is what happens when you disobey the Dark Lord. Not that you'll be any use to him now, in such a pathetic state!" Lucius glared hatefully down at his son. "I want you to remember why I did this to you every day for the rest of your miserable life," he hissed. Without another word, Lucius Malfoy turned on his heel and walked out of St. Mungo's.


I Heart DM 11: We'll get there soon enough, but if we kill off Harry, Ron might get attention again, and never make friends with a certain blond!