Disclaimer – If I owned Harry Potter, there would have been way less Harry, and a hell of a lot more Draco. The series would probably have been called Draco Malfoy if Jo decided to place her works in my uncapable hands…

A/N – This chapter is rated T for a single word shoved in there. Normally, I keep my swearing limited to a "bloody hell" here and there, but it seemed appropriate for this chapter. Another angsty chapter, by the way.

Chapter Three:

White Imperfections

-x-X-x-

He is not perfect. Tainted. Spoiled. Imperfect.

All his life, he is surrounded by utter perfection. Dressed immaculately, surrounded by the finest furnishings in Britain, exposed to little filthier than a house elf (and he shudders to think of the germs on one of them) in his easy, sheltered life.

But then he turns sixteen, and his rose-coloured glasses are cursed away forever by a man (if he could be called a man) by the name of Lord Voldemort. Suddenly, the world isn't just teasing Weasley and hating Potter. Suddenly he isn't "mummy's little darling" anymore. Suddenly, someone's life is in his hands, and it scares him shitless. It is power, but not in the way he has imangined.

Everything is a hazy blur after that. The Vanishing Cabinet. A cursed necklace. Poisoned mead. Potter cursing him. Attack on the school. Dumbledore's death.

Summer brings no additional joys. He is forced to flee the school, and soon after, he officially becomes one of them. He is forced to attend meetings, to cater to the Dark Lord, and worst of all, to wear that terrible, cursed brand upon his left arm. He is almost relieved to return to school.

Almost.

He changes his mind when he sees the glares shot at him from every direction, from noble Gryffindors, wise Ravenclaws, and timid Hufflepuffs. Even a few Slytherins dare to send him hostile looks. They, however, are quickly silenced by his demonic housemates. He feels regret, because, deep down, he knows he deserves every glare he receives.

And weeks later, when an angry first year comes up to his, and loudly proclaims, "I hate you!", as he watches Crabbe and Goyle drag her off into the dungeons, grinning broadly, he realises – he doesn't want to do this anymore.

The war seems to come and go with surprising haste, and he is grateful, for to him, nothing matters any longer. And while he can still hear the gut-wrenching screams of the tortured, he knows there will time to make up for his mistakes…

Eventually…

-x-X-x-

He reflects upon his distorted childhood as he stands, looking at the immaculate sheet of pure, white snow that covers the Earth, unmarked by humans.

Draco Malfoy knows he is not perfect.

And that is why he turns away from the slowly falling snow.

Because it is the perfection he knows he will never be…

FIN

Next Chapter: Hazel Namesakes

(…anybody who can guess who the next one is about gets an HP bobblehead of choice)

Done! Yes, it is another Malfoy chapter, but at least I'm not continuously advertising Rose/Scorpius anymore, right? I would have updated sooner, but I didn't have internet access for a few days. So, I did it the medieval way… I- *gasp* -wrote the chapter! Just kidding. I did write the chapter, but I don't consider it medieval in any way. I actually have pages after pages of notes on this story. I wrote the entire Rose chapter by hand before I typed and posted it. I also have notes on the Scorpius chapter, on a Lily (Luna) chapter, a (possible) Roxanne chapter, and a James (Sirius) chapter.

Anyway – since I highly doubt you care about the amount of writing I do at one in the morning, I will direct you to my review pleas…

Please, please review, guys! I know this is only the third chapter, but I find it incredibly sad that nobody is really reviewing. I know by the amount of hits on this story that it isn't entirely ignored, which makes me feel a bit better, but, really? Is it that hard to shoot a quick review? Even if it's just a "this sucked" or a "stop writing. I hate you!", reviews are like payment to a fanfic author. I'm not going to hold my chapters hostage ("…review or the chapter gets it!"), but reviews are appreciated. So, sorry for being such a review-whore, but it would really help this story if you guys reviewed a bit more. Thanks!