"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

― Eleanor Roosevelt

Lila POV

That night I went to bed, still hurting from the memories I had shared with the girl I hoped I could trust. The dorm was quiet, as all its inhabitants were still in their classes. The luxurious four poster beds, unlike anything I had ever felt before. With the overpowering silence, I was almost content. But I knew I couldn't forget. So, for the first time, I looked at the plentiful scars adorning my hand. Reading the names. From Mulciber, to the Notts to both the Malfoys. Amycus Carrow, Dolohov, Crouch Jr., the Crabbes, McNair and Lestrange. Rowle and Yaxley.

Him.

So many more on top of that. Associates, friends, relatives and co-workers. Random sympathisers looking for a good time. I lost count, but they were all there. Remembered by the marks they had left. So, for the first time in many years, I cried. Torrents of water running from my eyes, trying to heal. Lyrics came to mind. Words I had forgotten, that used to be sung through the window from the neighbouring house before they moved me. Floating through the bars like a breath of fresh air. They didn't know that anyone was listening, but every night there was a new song. "We look for love, no time for tears, Wasting water all that is, And it don't make no flowers grow." Well, I wasn't looking for love, but crying certainly wasn't helping anything. So, I composed myself, and lay on my back, drifting into the land of dreams.

A single emerald green eye was the focus of the dream. Growing in size, until it consumed me, and everything around had an additional green hue, almost as if I had stepped into the land of Oz. Spiraling columns of light, mottled with threads of darkness. Fog shrouded the corners of my vision, giving the whole situation a mysterious, ethereal feel. And I saw myself. At different points in my life. As a child, the only happiness I can remember, ignoring the world in my own fantasy dreamland. Imagining a world full of sunshine and warmth. Open spaces and kindness, all things I could only imagine in the harsh reality of life. As a young girl, only just realising how cruel the world could be. Only just realising what pain is. As a tween, my body starting to suffer from the abuse being inflicted upon me, silent tears running down my face, refusing to let them know that they'd won.

In my early teens, lying on my back as a slender figure, with lustrous silvery-blond hair floating down his back, not yet matted from the strenuous nature of the activities, moved above me, moved within me. My pain clearly written on my face, my eyes screwed tightly as I was, well to put it bluntly, screwed. And finally, there I was, clearly reflected in the mirror. The etchings in my skin, clear in the shamrock light. They may be ugly, but for me, they are a reminder. Of pain, imperfection, and, finally, strength. Of the fact that I was still me. Having not been reduced to an empty shell. And I smiled. The muscles in my cheek sore, from not being used in this manner for so long. But I did it. For that moment, I was happy. Despite- No, because of the memories surrounding me. It was over. And I won. Well, round one at least. But even that small victory was enough for now. And then, I let the blissful darkness overtake me for the first time. Washing over my mind in a sea of calm. So I slept, and no more dreams arrived at my bedposts.

When I awoke, there was a small gathering of girls surrounding my bed, a quick count informed me that there were three of them, all in their pyjamas. From the blonde with the vain and arrogant exterior, to the quieter ginger young woman, who seemed to be overpowered by the blonde and the other girl, a beautiful Indian who exuded confidence, and appeared to be the blonde's friend. The brunette from last night was no where to be seen.

"Are you the girl Malfoy was going on about?" came my rude awakening from the flaxen haired ponce.

My groggy reply was, to say, less than satisfactory. "What?"

"Malfoy, you know, blond hair, smoking hot, body to die for, I mean, have you seen those abs! But not in, like, an over the top way, kinda subtle yet defined. I mean, damn! That boy is fine-" she began to ramble.

"Lavender, get to the point." came an exasperated huff from her assumed friend.

"Alright, Parvati, keep your hair on, Jesus Christ! Anyway, are you the whore Malfoy's been talking about?"

"Lavender!" The shock in that gasp was unbelievable. I had been called a lot worse, by a lot eviler. Being called a whore wasn't going to make me break.

"As opposed to what? An egotistical self-absorbed pompous bitch, that can't think of any other explanation other than I'm a skank who will warm the bed of anyone who asks? You assume you know me, and you don't even know my name."

The girl who had been called Parvati by the bitch simply held out her hand and said, "Let's start with introductions. Hello, my name is Parvati Patil, I believe we got off on the wrong foot, but I would just like to say welcome to Hogwarts."

Accepting her handshake, I replied, "Thank you very much Ms. Patil, and, Lavender was it? My name is Lila Merope Riddle and I think that it would weigh in your favour if you learnt to get to know who you are talking to before you insult them..."

Harry POV

The night before Lila joined us in classes, an announcement was made by Professor McGonagall.

"We have a new student who will be joining the Gryffindor seventh years as of tomorrow. I am aware that it is unusual for a pupil to join us at this point in the year, or this late in the school system, but strenuous circumstances have made her unable to join us sooner. I hope that you all welcome her, and treat her as you would the rest of your classmates."

Quiet murmurs broke out all around. A new seventh year? Such things where virtually unheard of. Let alone in mid-January. I knew it was Lila. I had been the one who found her. I still get chills when I think of what she did, how anyone could possess that kind of power. But there was something about her where I couldn't be afraid of her, or even dislike her. She could have a new beginning, one she definitely deserved. Then he had to go ruin it, didn't he? Being the pompous, two-faced ferret he had always been.

"Father said this was were those idiots had probably taken her." I could hear her from across the room as he was talking loudly. Wanting anyone who was there to listen and take interest.

"So you shagged her right Draco?" Came a question from pompous arse number two, also known as Blaise Zabini.

"Of course. That sket will spread her legs for anyone that asks."

"Was she any good?"

"I've had better, I've had worse, but she certainly is willing!" Snickers could be heard throughout the hall, mainly emanating from the Slytherin table.

I could feel my face go bright red, seething anger coming off in waves and surrounding me like some form of cocoon, blocking out everything except for those hateful words.

"So you know who she is?"

"Yeah Draco, tell us her name!"

"Her name? The bitch didn't deserve a name, just a stage title for a prossie service."

"Come on, you must know her name!"

"I think it was Lil-"

Unable to listen to his insults any longer, I had stormed up to the table, and just as he was about to announce her name to the world, and in my mind, sign her death sentence, I slammed my fist on the table.

"Shut up, Malfoy!" I yelled at his smug, pink face, almost angelic, except for the evil that lurked beneath.

"Ooh, Potter, have you got yourself a girlfriend?"

"Malfoy," I advised in a warning tone.

"What? You had to get some slag as a girlfriend 'cause no one else wants you?"

"Malfoy!" Yet again, in a warning tone.

"Oh, has she not let you fuck her yet? Are you not good enough? Is ickle Potty still a virgin?"

"ENOUGH!" I screamed, setting off a small thunderstorm above the Malfoy heir's head. My anger erupting at its source.

The entire hall was quiet. Staring at the standoff that had occurred between two of the most prominent seventh years in the school. The Deputy Head Boy and the Chosen One.

"Mister Malfoy, Mister Potter, may I remind you that this is indeed a place of learning and not one of your juvenile delinquent rallies," came the cold sneer of the new Deputy Headmaster, Severus Snape.

"Sorry, Professor, it won't happen again," came Malfoy's fucking voice, so bloody happy with the reaction he got.

"Sorry, Professor," I muttered as quietly as possible.

"I should hope so." And off he went, disappearing with a swish of a black cloak...

Lila POV

"Oh my god, their faces were priceless! I mean, apart from the members of staff I had met here, I had very little experience with my own gender, I had no fear of them. But what a welcome this was, being bitched about by people I was to call my own. Lavender looked like she'd just seen her dead pet rabbit come back to life, Parvati looked like someone had just told her that she was a triplet, but she ate the third child in the womb, and the quiet ginger girl looked like she'd just been told that, well that Voldemort had a daughter.

"Haha, good joke. I mean, you are fucking with us? Right?" That magnificent example of vulgarity came from Lavender.

"No, she's not." That was the first time I heard the ginger girl speak. Her voice was smooth and thick, like honey.

"Oh my god Callie, shut up!" Yet again, the girl who was starting to make me wish I had a knife on me.

"It's true isn't it, she said it was. She said he told him."

"What the fuck are you on about?"

"All of you shut it, and stop debating about who I bloody am like I'm not here!" Ok, maybe this was getting a bit out of hand. I was, after all, just another dorm mate, or at least that's who I wanted to be.

"Argue about my last name all you want, but it is my name. If it freaks you out so bloody much, then just call me Lila!"

Being the voice of reason Parvati spoke up "Lila, we were just going down to breakfast. Would you like to join us?"

"Sure, just let me get dressed."

So, with that, I closed the curtains around my bed and dressed myself in the Gryffindor robes I had been provided with. Ignoring the marks on my body after the slight freedom last nights realisation had provided me with. The dark red hangings tinting the light crimson. My mind wandered to the people I had just met. Surrounded by their traditions and expectations, unable to break away from the life that had already been chosen for them. I didn't like Lavender, that much I already knew. She was a gossiping, self-obsessed example of arrogance. Someone I knew I could never get on with. Parvati seemed nice enough, if a little sheepish in the way she followed her sandy haired friend. Callie was, well she was interesting. She appeared to be on the outside of the friendship circle within the dorm, and I was unsure as to her nature. But there was something about her that was slightly comforting. So, onwards I went, brushing my hair into a simple ponytail. By the time I had finished and gone down the stairs to the common room, they were gone. With the exception of the one girl, Callie.

"Thank you for waiting."

"No problem."

Walking though the common room I heard strange whisperings, all centred around three people. Harry, Draco and someone who was just being called "the girl". Tales of a storm, a prostitute and a Death Eater. Slightly confused I started to bite my nails, a nervoushabit I had had for as long as I could remember. So with that, down we went to breakfast, and I braced myself for words I felt were sure to come...

A/N My longest chapter yet! 2166 words BEFORE this A/N! So, I believe you may have noticed that I changed the name of this fic. I would like to thank MissRoseAlanaHorton for this as it was her idea. But I love it, so thanks for that.

I really enjoyed writing as Draco Malfoy, it allowed me to unleash my inner Bitch, which was amazing. So you will definitely be seeing more of him, but for all you Draco lovers, he will eventually be a friend. Remember that his whole family is in Voldy's thrall, he can't exactly refuse anything that the Dark Lord asks him to do.

In other news, I got a Beta. I would like to thank Daerwyn for reading over this story and advise that you all go and read her stories, they are really good.

I am planning on next updating this on my birthday, which is the 1st of May by the way, and would appreciate it if you all gave me reviews on that day as a birthday present. Or you can give me reviews on this chapter as an early present, I'm not going to complain.

Oh, and the lyrics are courtesy of Mr Bill Withers, from his song "Just the two of us".

~sorry about the llama's~