AN: I hope this story will be to your liking. It is like nothing I have ever written before. It will be a tragic story, and just maybe there might be a happy ending. The couple is Draco/Serena, and there is a considerable age difference between the two. The story takes place years after the war with Voldemort, but there is no sailor scouts, the characters may appear, they may not. This story is rated for its vivid content that will appear in later chapters, and I warn you ahead of time. There is Language, Violence, Character OOC. Very little humor.

Also, the chapter titles corrispond with lyrics in a song by Avril Lavigne, called Nobody's Home (srry got the title wrong). When I heard this song, it reminded me of this story, and so I inserted the lyrics into it.

Well enjoy, I very much love this story, and I hope you will too.

LP out.

Chapter two:
Her Dreams She Can't Find

He was staring at himself in the mirror again. And it wasn't because he was vain. He had been once when he was younger, but now he didn't care about his appearance. It was just a morbid curiosity he had. Just to see what his exile was doing to him. Wondering what changes had been made since he had looked the other day.

He looked ill, he was sure. His skin so pale it could have been transparent. His cheeks were hollow, sunken in from malnutrition. Seven years of exile seemed to have that effect on him. And since he still had many more ahead of him, he wondered if he would be able to survive them.

Sighing, he tore his eyes away from the image and finished drying his hair. He may have stopped eating, but he still kept himself well groomed. Tossing the towel into the hamper, he set to work with a comb and took care of the tangles, before combing the strands back from his face.

Pleased with his work, he left the bathroom, not bothering with his nakedness and entered his bedroom. He wasn't happy with the turn his life had taken, but the results were much better than door number two. Azkaban seemed much less thrilling than exiled from the Wizarding world.

At least he could still keep his pride, what was left of it that is. A cry from his left had him looking at the beautiful snowy white owl that slept in its cage. A gift from a friend, one who believed in him, despite all that was against him.

Draco Malfoy stood before his closet and looked from one article of clothing to the next. He was twenty-five years old, on the run and exiled from his former life. Having joined Voldemort and his legion of Death Eater's had been an immediate punishment of twelve years in Azkaban.

He'd barely spent one year there, when Harry came and broke him out. And now his friend fought the system on Draco's behalf. In return of saving Harry against his father, Harry had felt it was his duty to return the favor. And like the infamous Sirius Black, he was on the run, hiding from the Ministry of Magic.

Picking out a pair of slacks and a sweater, he turned towards his neatly made bed. Setting them down, he made his way to the dresser, where he retrieved his underwear and socks.

Back at his bed, he changed at a slow rate, not in a hurry to start another boring day.

From the letter he received last night Harry had made some headway. Since he had defeated the Dark Lord, Harry Potter had become an unofficial political leader and voice of reason. Which may be keeping the Aurors from hunting his arse down and dragging him back to Azkaban where he would be spending a life sentence.

Draco sighed as he slipped the dark blue sweater over his head and pulled it down to his waist. Fiddling with the zipper of his pants, he finally got it up and then did the two buttons. Before leaving the room, he fed Hegwig a treat and scratched the top of her head. The owl had only just become friendly with him. The first few years had been a little rough, but now they seemed to have found a truce.

When Draco entered his kitchen, where his coffee was brewing, he heard a shout from next door. Peering out his kitchen window, he looked over to see his neighbors' house. It was a daily occurrence to hear shouting from inside the house. The sounds of things breaking were an even bigger one.

For the past two years he'd lived like a hermit in this house, hardly ever leaving. But lately, having heard from Harry that the Aurors had been called back from their hunt on him, he'd let himself relax some. But he still kept his blinds closed and his doors locked. He wouldn't take any chances.

During his time staying here though, he'd seen an ambulance five times at his neighbor's house. Turning away from the window, he reached for a mug and poured himself a cup of hot coffee. He didn't bother with sugar or cream. Leaving it black and boiling, he left the kitchen.

Faintly, he heard his neighbor's front door swing open, hitting the house, before slamming shut. Not the least bit interested on the scene playing next door, he moved to the front door and stepped out into the fresh cold air. He heard the car in his neighbor's driveway start up.

Nonchalantly, he left the safety of his porch and followed the sidewalk to his mailbox. Draco retrieved his mail and gave the envelopes a once over. Living the life as a muggle wasn't so bad. He just missed having the advantages of his magic though. And having to hide away got on his nerves at a daily basis. But he valued his life more than his comfort. Tucking the mail beneath his arm, he started up his walkway, as the muggle car backed out into the street. He'd just reached the steps of his porch, when he heard the car slam into his neighbor's garbage can.

Turning around, he glared at the man behind the wheel. Had he had his wand, he would have hexed the man. Garbage went spilling all over the place and the driver sped off without a word.

A sigh from nearby had him turning away from the sight, though. In the doorway of his neighbor's house, was just a slip of a girl, standing there with her eyes closed. When she opened them, the tension in her shoulder dissipated and she stepped out onto the porch.

She was a pretty little thing, with fare skin and long blonde hair. Golden hair would have been a better word. Her face was shadowed, obscuring her features, but he did notice that she wore loose fitting clothes. The sweater was huge on her form, so big that one shoulder was visible at the collar. The pants were better, but not by much. She looked as if she didn't want her clothes to touch her skin.

When she stepped off the porch, he saw that she had a heart shaped face and blue eyes that seemed much too large for it, and made her appear more childish from his angle. But then he also saw that a black and blue bruise encircled her right eye.

As she made her way to the can of garbage, he noticed that her hair was messy, as if she'd just woken up and that she had a hesitant walk in her gait. Draco climbed up onto his porch, but he didn't head back inside. Instead, he leaned against the railing and set his mail aside.

Watching her from the shadows of his porch, he studied her as she cleaned up the mess the guy had made. After that, she straightened and moved to dig into the backpack she had set down.

Unlike him, she didn't check the mailbox, or even head back inside. Instead she pulled out a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. And right there on the sidewalk in front of her house, she brushed her teeth. She spit into the trashcan and used a bottle of water to rinse.

Replacing the lid, she repacked her items and slid her bag back onto her shoulders. And then she looked at his house.

She saw him, he knew that much. A flush stained her cheeks and she quickly looked away. Draco took a sip of his coffee and despite the embarrassment of being caught staring; he still didn't head back inside. She lifted her gaze back to him and gave him a smile.

She waved, her smile seeming genuine. He lifted his hand in return, unsure what else he should do. The girl then turned and started down the road, heading in an unknown direction, with an unknown destination.

When she was gone, Draco turned and went back into his house. Where he would stay for most of the day.

----

Draco woke to the sound of someone knocking on his door. Frowning, he lifted his head from the couch he had crashed on just a few hours ago. Doing nothing everyday could wear a man out.

Eying his living room, he half expected to see a fleet of Aurors to apparate into the room around him. But they didn't and so he let the air he had been holding, out.

The knock persisted and with an irritated growl, he got to his feet. Damn muggle salesmen, he muttered beneath his breath, as he made his way to the front door. No matter how many times he said no, or even threatened them, they always came back. Always.

When he reached the door, he swung it open with a curse. He was about to give the person a piece of his mind, when he stopped short at the person standing on his porch.

Small and thin, she looked no more than sixteen. But she sure carried herself like she was much older. "I'm sorry," she whispered. There was a hitch to her voice, like she was ready to cry, but was holding the emotion back for his sake. "My mom forgot to tell me where she put the spare key. I was wondering if I could use your phone?"

Draco sized her up, his eyes moving from the ridicules buns she had put her hair up into, to the wet sneakers she wore on her feet. Looking passed her then, he realized that it had at some point begun to rain.

He tore his eyes from the downpour, to look at the girl on his porch again. He was in the right mind to refuse her. She was soaked to the bone and would only ruin his carpet.

But the fact that she looked like a drowned rat went unnoticed by him, when he saw that she was shivering. Taking a step to the left to allow her room, he quickly instructed, "Shoes off."

She did as told and he noted that her feet were bare and bright red. With a sigh, he shut the door behind her, to keep the rain out. Turning, Draco found the girl standing just in front of him. She was looking at the room at hand, with a curious expression on her face.

As she stood there shivering, he glanced out the nearest window. It was getting late, the sun deciding it was time to set. He wondered faintly, just how long she had stood outside his house, trying to decide whether or not to ask for his help.

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Well I am thrilled to see that everyone is enjoying it so far! I just hope this chapter will be just as much to your liking as the first. Now I am off to enjoy my 21st Birthday tty later!!!!

LP out