Needless to say, the Medi-Witch was not impressed when she discovered that Lucius had 'done a runner'.

"I simply don't know what the Ministry is thinking, bringing in all these muggle-protection laws, when they can't even protect their own." She muttered angrily, "It really makes you question their priorities, doesn't it? Right," Maureen handed me a folded piece of parchment. "Here is a list of things I have done and what I would recommend Mr Malfoy, you or whoever gives a damn about that poor boy, do as the next step."

"Did you find out what the problem is?" I asked as I followed her briskly down the stairs. "Is he ill?"

"Apart from the obvious," she responded coolly. "There is nothing physically wrong with Draco. However, I would recommend that he is admitted into St Mungo's. It is clear that Draco hasn't had the usual medical check-ups that Wizarding children usually have and Draco may need to have braces when he is older as it is too late for his teeth to be set with magic and it is probable that a lisp will develop."

I winced inwardly, somehow knowing that this news would not please Lucius.

"Also," she continued. "Although, whilst I have checked Draco over and have healed the more obvious damage, I am afraid that there may be more injuries that could affect him when he is older."

"Yes, but what is wrong with him?" I demanded, a little more impatiently. "Why is he acting so oddly?"

Maureen turned abruptly and pursed her lips. "As I said, Draco is not physically ill, but I dread to think what mental problems that boy has. It is disgusting how frequently I have to deal with these cases; parents mistreat and neglect their little ones and then wonder why they don't turn into normal, stable human beings." She smiled dryly, "The stupidity of pure-blooded aristocracy never ceases to astound me."

For some reason, I desperately wanted to bite back, to make some snide comment and insult her heritage, to defend Lucius, even though she was parroting what I had been thinking for three years."

Instead, I simply said stiffly, "Your payment has been made to your Gringotts account. Good day." And showed her the door.

"What's been going on?" William demanded breathlessly, collapsing onto the settee in the drawing room. "I heard the portraits talking."

I looked up from the Prophet and related everything that had happened that morning, my voice flat and tired.

To be honest, I was becoming thoroughly fed up with the Malfoys and was sincerely looking forward to the time when I would get my own job and my own life away from this godforsaken house. I didn't even need to be here, it wasn't as if I worked here any longer and my relationship with Lucius could hardly be described as friendly anymore.

No, it was for Draco. Just for Draco. But sometimes, I questioned whether he really wanted me here, it's not as if he found it easy to talk to me anymore, not after I…

But I had tried leaving, I had tried running away, and the worry and the guilt and every other blasted feeling it caused me was a thousand times worse than struggling millimetre by millimetre here.

Damn the hold that boy had on me! Damn it!

"So really, you aren't any closer to finding out what is going on than you were last night?" William said, an amused smile playing irritatingly on his face. "Apart from discovering that Draco will need braces."

"Do you think I don't know that?" I snarled, throwing my paper on to the floor. "Do you think that I am not entirely aware of how bloody useless I am being? Of how pointless every little thing I do is turning out to be? Do you really think that I am than naïve?"

William flushed, his nostrils flaring wildly. "There's no need to be unpleasant about it," he said quietly. "You take everything far too seriously, Severus, you know that?"

But instead of consoling me, this only served to make my anger flare up all the more. "Well, somebody has to! Everyone else seems to think that this is one big joke, that Draco is merely a toy to be played with and then discarded. Well, it may have escaped your notice, but he isn't! He is a living, breathing child who is being forced to grow up too fast in a world full of things he shouldn't even know about and you're telling me to stop taking things so seriously?"

"Severus, I-"

"You're pathetic," I snapped, storming out. "You're all pathetic."

"Draco?"

"Yeah?" Draco sat up groggily, rubbing his eyes and yawning.

I sat down on the edge of the bed and tried to smile. "Feeling better?"

"A bit." He looked at me, and then studied his duvet. "I heard you shouting. Are you angry?"

"No," I said after a split-second of hesitation. "No, I'm not angry. Just…just tired, that's all."

"Oh, okay. Where's Father? I thought he was staying today."

My stomach lurched at the thought of having to explain to Draco that work was more important to his father than he was. "He had to go to the Ministry…very important meeting…"

Draco sighed and slumped down against the head-bored. "Thought so. Doesn't matter though, Father's very important so I s'pose they need him most." He smiled shyly, "I'm glad you're here though."

I tried to return the smile, but it just wouldn't come.

"Sir, are you sad?" Draco peered at me anxiously. "Why're you sad?"

"I'm not sad," I replied haggardly, holding my head in my hands. 'Stop talking. Stop talking. Stop talking!'

"Sir?" I felt soft fingers brush against my hand and I looked up to see Draco staring at me, silver eyes wide with worry.

Then suddenly his expression changed, his gaze became unfocused and his breathing became shaky and nervous.

I frowned. "Draco, what's wrong."

"I…I uh…" he faltered, then, catching me off guard he darted forward…

And suddenly, Draco's lips were pressed hard against my own. I tasted his disappointment, fear, a longing to accepted and tainted innocence.

Tears trickled from his eyes, squeezed tight shut, onto my own face as he caught me in what can only barely be described as a kiss.

Sorry that it's short, but I'm going to france and won't have a computer.

Review!

Lily xxx