"To my good friend, Blaise Zabini, who, one year ago today, signed a deal with the devil himself and managed to escape," Draco announced.

Both boys drank their glasses of firewhiskey.

"Thank you Draco," Blaise began. "I would say that you have no idea how good it feels to be standing here today, alive and free from my step-father's and the Dark Lord's clutches, but you know all too well. So, I propose a toast. To my friends, those who have escaped," at this he nodded at Draco, "those who have died and those who suffer under his control. May they one day feel happiness and joy, free from all their pain. And I give thanks for their friendship, especially yours, when I most needed a friend."

Solemnly, with looks on their faces that better fitted those of men thrice their age, they drank.

"To the dead and the dying; soon you will be free," Draco muttered.

With one last gulp of his drink he once again emptied his glass.

"We really shouldn't drink so much, Drake, it can't be good for our health."

"In times like these, my friend, health doesn't matter and everyone has reason enough to drink away their sorrows."

"That's true. But no matter how much you drink, the burdens you bear won't go away. You carry them around with you. They're right there on your arm, just as mine are."

"I wish that it had never happened. I wish I had never been Marked. Do you remember how excited we all were? Do you remember how we bragged about our initiations? How we longed for the chance to finally prove ourselves to our Lord?"

"I remember," Blaise answered. "Merlin, we were fools. We thought a tattoo would make us men, make us Death Eaters. We soon learnt we were wrong. It takes so much more."

"Oh yes, it takes the Cruciatus curse and a good few dozen Avadas first. And watching a Dark Revel without noticing the injustice of it all. You could never have been one of them truly Blaise - too much heart."

"You could never have been one either," Blaise protested.

"I could have been; I almost was. It took a lot to pull me back. Sometimes I wonder if I was ever really pulled back at all."

"You aren't one of them, Drake. No matter what your father made you do."

With this Blaise left and Draco began to drink himself into a sense of numb oblivion, hoping to forget.

--

Ginny had just entered the common room after patrols when Draco came staggering downstairs drunk. She saw him and began to head towards him, furiously angry.

"Oh good, you're here. I want a word with you. Look, I know you're not talking to me at the moment and that is fine but I refuse to go out on patrols on my own. You are Head Boy and you should be coming with me!" Ginny ranted, not paying attention to the boy who was swaying in circles in front of her.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Your head's on fire!" he answered, laughing at this last bit.

"Merlin, you're drunk!"

"I'm not drunk, I'm just thinking slightly slower than usual, I don't feel drunk," Draco slurred.

"I was out patrolling, working hard, and you were in here getting drunk. I actually can't believe you."

Draco started humming Tainted Love and suddenly a thought appeared in Ginny's head. She really shouldn't. It was a very Slytherin thing to do but...

"Draco?" he turned to face her, "Why do you cut?"

He stared at her, "It's really none of your business," Ginny opened her mouth to speak, "if I cut myself because my father used to beat and torture me and kill innocent people. I mean, really, what business is it of yours? You look very stupid like that with your mouth open and I really shouldn't have said that."

Ginny closed her mouth. "Oh Draco, I'm so sorry. If I had known...oh I'm so sorry," she whispered softly.

"Sorry about what?" Draco asked confused.

"Never mind. Let's get you to bed, come on, this way."

Ginny led Draco into his room and gently tucked him into bed.

"Sweet dreams Draco," she whispered as he fell asleep.

"He really did love me you know, deep down. Just as much as I loved him," Draco murmured groggily.

"Yes Draco, I know."

With this Ginny left his room via the bathroom and went to bed. As she drifted off to sleep later she thought of the poor boy she had once considered her rival and the hard life he must have had. Perhaps she, someone who was also used by evil, would be able to make a difference in his life. Maybe she would get a chance to help someone and make up for all the hurt that she had caused.