Draco walked slowly through the many corridors of the manor; he bowed his head in respect to the portraits that did the same and looked uneasily at the many bronze statues of misshapen demons and men who appeared to be in great anguish, he really wished they didn't have to be there.

He knew what he had to do, he had to ask permission of his father to go outside, thinking of it made him shiver and he had to stop and rest against the wall before he could walk on.

Come on, he thought, this is ridiculous, are you going to live your whole live breaking into fits of hyperventilation every time you have to see your father? He knew he had to get over this, but he felt it would take some time, time which at this moment he didn't have.

So plucking up courage he stepped in front of his father's study in which he knew his father would be at this time, took a deep breath and knocked at the door.

Oh Merlin, I'm not ready- his thoughts of panic were cut short as his father's voice called out irritably "Come in" and so he did, years of quick obedience to his father's voice kicking in.

The sight he saw made his eyes widen and his brow rise in curiosity.

His father was hastily mixing potions and scrubbing each of them over his temple, why was he doing this?

"Um, f-father, what are you doing?"

"None of your damn business, what is it?"

Draco flinched, but hurriedly went on wanting to get out of here and as far away from his father and his unusual actions as possible.

"I just wanted to ask if I could go outside" Then remembering himself quickly rushed out. "Please"

"Yea, whatever, just go"

Draco had caught him at a bad time, but for Draco a good time, because he was obviously to busy to care what Draco did.

"Thank you father"

He bowed though Lucius was to busy massaging an emerald liquid on to his temple to notice.

He left breathing a deep sigh of relief; he just wanted to get outside.

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Lucius heard the door click shut, he threw the cloth down in frustration, then pausing, his anger and fury rising he swept his arms across the table and set all the potion vials and there contents crashing to the ground making an awful sound.

He glared at the mess of broken glass and oozing potions of every colour with fury blinding him, then it passed, he cursed under his breath then cleared the mess with one sweep of his wand.

For the fifteenth time he walked to the mirror and glared at the mark on his head, to his dismay it seemed to be getting bigger and angrier.

He groaned in annoyance, what the hell was that? Why wouldn't it bloody come of!

He sat at his desk and took a swig of pumpkin juice, shaking his head, something didn't feel right, he felt uncomfortable and restless, something had happened, and he was going to find out what.

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Draco heard a mighty crash, he flinched and walked quicker, he needed to get outside now.

Walking ever faster, as if he was in a dark alley and he felt someone following him, he didn't see the figure coming toward him and crashed into his mother.

Narcissa cried out in surprise and quickly placed her hand to her chest where Draco had collided, a quick burst of pain shot through her but quickly faded, she opened her eyes, laughing at the accident but stopped immediately when she saw Draco, holding his ribs, eyes closed and teeth clenched in pain.

Narcissa went cold. "Draco, Draco are you alright?" He nodded feebly.

She gently wrapped her arms around him and forced his arms away form his front, he protested but she managed to pry them off and placed her own hands on his ribs. She muttered a spell and Draco felt the pain ebb away slightly.

He opened his eyes. "Thanks mum, I guess I'm not as healed as I thought"

He smiled weakly, but she looked worriedly into his eyes. "Draco, what are you doing out of bed and rushing around the house?"

"I feel better, or-or I felt better" He stuttered.

"Oh, I just want to outside, please? I already asked father, and he said it was alright"

That familiar feeling of coldness swept through Narcissa. "You talked to you father? That was brave"

Draco's heart sank. "Did you not want me to?"

Narcissa smiled, realising she had sounded a bit cold. "No, I guess I haven't completely forgiven him, we can't just completely avoid him can we?"

The edge of Draco's mouth twitched once again into a smile. "We can try"

She laughed a tired laugh, "go on, but please Draco, if you feel at all ill or you're in pain, send sparks in the air and I'll come and get you"

"Of course, but I'm fine really" Narcissa gave her son's arm a squeeze and watched as he walked away.

She sighed and rubbed her temples. As she walked to the library her mind wandered to Lucius, what was that mark on his head? It wasn't caused by her spell, something wasn't right, and she was going go to find out what.

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Oh the confusion! And poor Draco!

Big mugs of hot chocolate to my reviewers!

LadyLilyMalfoy, IceAngel89 and Hidden-Notes

If you like horses then you'll love the next chapter! If you don't, then… please read anyway! LOL!