CHAPTER 1~ Secrets Revealed
His silky, silver-blonde hair fell across his pallid face into his stormy grey eyes as he peered out of his bedroom window. They clouds were low and the sky so dark that it was almost black. It looked like a bad storm was coming. The sixteen-year-old boy sighed as he sat on his soft bed. Three weeks into the summer and still he hadn't received a letter from any of his friends. Not that he cared since he hadn't sent any out, and his friends weren't the strongest wands in the shop, but it was nice to have someone to confide in.
He looked down at his pale, left forearm. His skin was no longer perfect as it always had been. There was now a black blemish in the shape of a skull with a snake protruding from its mouth. It was the one thing he was really proud of. He had finally taken his place by his father's side serving Lord Voldemort.
There was a sudden knock on his door. "What?" Draco Malfoy snapped, annoyed with the interruption of his thoughts.
The door creaked open slowly. "Master Lucius is wanting to meet you in his study, sir," the tiny house elf said while wringing her miniscule hands around the pillowcase, which she wore.
"Tell him I'll be there in a few minutes." He sounded very irritated. The small house elf saw this and bowed and departed quickly.
The pale boy got to his feet, took one last glance out the window at the stormy sky, and apparated to the door of his father's study. He knocked and awaited a response.
"Come in," Lucius called to his son. Draco walked into the large room and stared at his father expectantly. "Sit," Lucius then commanded.
"What is it that you called me for, Father?"
"Our Lord thinks it is about time that you take on your first real task. It is to be completed by the end of the year. Do you think you are ready for this, Draco?" Lucius watched his son carefully, awaiting his reply.
"Of course I am," he responded readily. "What is this task you speak of?"
An evil smirk appeared upon Lucius' thin lips. "He wants you to make Granger fall for you and he wants you to impregnate her. This child will be his heir. The other thing he wants is for you to lead Potter into a trap. When that's all done, you will eliminate the Mudblood; not physically per se, but emotionally."
The same smirk Lucius wore appeared on Draco's lips. "Not a problem, Father. I will be happy to do that for My Lord. Anything to rid the world of another filthy Mudblood, even if it's not physically, would be my pleasure. Especially if it's Granger."
"Good to hear. Oh, and before you leave, there is a charming young woman here to see you. She is in the drawing room with your mother."
"Who is it?"
"A friend of yours. Why don't you just go check for yourself?"
Draco nodded curtly and exited the study. He hoped and even prayed that the girl wasn't Pansy Parkinson. She had a habit of hanging all over him, even when he didn't want to be within fifty feet of her. The girl just couldn't take a hint.
He opened the mahogany doors slowly. His mother was talking to a pale- skinned, raven-haired, blue-eyed girl. A grateful smile appeared on his face. He greeted his mother warmly, then held out a hand to the girl whom he had admired for so long. She took his hand and let him lead her to the grounds outside.
"So, Blaise, how've you been?" he asked her as they sat on a wood bench that over-looked a large lake.
"Bored, as usual. And yourself?"
"Same. What made you decide to come out here?"
She smiled. "I missed you and didn't feel like writing you some sappy note. I know you don't like reading them and I don't like writing them, so I decided to come out here to visit you instead."
"Well, I'm very thankful. The only human contact I've had since I've been home is my parents, Death Eaters, and Voldemort." He knew what he had said was a mistake as soon as the words escaped his lips.
Blaise made a face that showed she was utterly disgusted. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. I should go. It looks like there's gunna be a storm. My parents will be wondering where I disappeared to. I'll see you in school. Bye." She disapparated. Both she and Draco had learned to apparate when they were very young. Their fathers thought it was part of the essentials of being a great wizard.
Draco threw his arms exasperatedly over the back of the bench and stared into the dark sky. He had totally forgotten that Blaise Zabini was strongly anti-Voldemort and everything that had to do with him.
Large drops of water began to fall from the sky and onto his handsome face. Blaise had been infatuating his mind for years, and he had yet to tell her. Now, he had screwed up any chance he had, and would probably never gain her trust again. She had only thought of them as friends the whole time and she probably didn't want to be more than that anyway. At least there had been a slight chance, now there was none.
Lightening flashed across the vast sky, illuminating the saddened features upon Draco's normally stoic face.
One good thing had come out of the situation-he wouldn't have to worry about Blaise while he attempted to seduce Granger.
The rain fell harder. Draco stood slowly. The water had totally soaked through his robes and was freezing his skin. It was very warm out, yet he was chilled to the bone.
He trudged back to the large manor and up to his room, leaving a wet trail behind him for the house elves to clean. He walked as if nothing was wrong because that's how he was taught. "Never let anyone know what you're feeling. Don't let your emotions show. Keep your eyes blank at all times. Make it so no one can read you." Were just a few of the things his father was constantly reminding him of.
His room was the only place he could find solitude. It had many extensions leading to smaller room such as a study, a library, a bathroom, and a room where he kept all his extra belongings. The only things he really kept in his bedroom were his bed and his clothes.
He went into his extra room and turned on his wizard radio. Many of the muggle bands were actually wizard bands that played in the Muggle world for more fame. His favorite was Seether. Unfortunately for him, however, "Sorrow" by Box Car Racer had just come on. It was one of his favorite songs and he started to sing along. This time was different though, he could actually feel the words that were being sung and the pain they held.
Because I need you more than you need me
Because I want you more I know
Because we moved too fucking fast I think I really had to wish to make this last I know
I'm sorry, please forgive me, believe me if you would
Because I cared way more Because I really felt that you felt so much more I know
I'm sorry, please forgive me, believe me if you would I'm sorry, please forgive me, believe me if you could
I'm sorry, please forgive me, believe me if you would I'm sorry, please forgive me, believe me if you could Believe me if you could
When the song ended, he punched a whole in his wall and turned off the radio. Music was usually the way he dealt with everything, but he didn't think that it would help him much this time. He knew he'd have to wait until term started before he could talk to Blaise again, and that did not comfort him in the slightest.
~
It was finally September first. Lucius drove Draco to King's Cross Station, which surprised him since his father hated the Muggle world and everything in it.
"You have a plan yet, Draco?" Lucius asked his son.
"For what, Father?" Draco responded.
"Did you forget already? I thought you were brighter than that. You are a prefect aren't you? I'm talking about your plans for seducing Granger."
"Right, sorry. Yes, I do have a plan. Just like last year, the prefects will be sharing a common room. She and I fought last year, much to the dislike of the other prefects, but I think I'll start by calling a truce then asking if she would like to study with me some time."
Lucius nodded at his son's thoughtfulness. "Very good, Draco. Do you have a back up plan in case that doesn't work?"
"Well, yes.I'll rape her then apologize numerous times. I'll say I was under the Imperious Curse and that I would never intentionally hurt her. I'll get on her good side and hand the child over to My Lord. I have a question about that."
"What is it?"
"It will be my child, and I was wondering if I would raise it, or would she, or would Voldemort? I would like to raise my first child, and be able to watch it grow and I want to be there for it. I do not want somebody else to raise my child for me."
Lucius suddenly appeared uncomfortable. "He didn't say anything about that. I imagine you will raise the child with our Lord's influence, and possibly the Mudblood's, if she doesn't end up in St. Mungo's first."
Draco nodded. "I guess that sounds pretty good."
They pulled into the station, and Draco loaded his trunk and his eagle owl onto a trolley. He bid his father goodbye, since Lucius would not go near the Muggles.
Draco leaned casually on the barrier between platforms nine and ten and strolled onto the train. After dropping his luggage off in the prefect's compartment, he took off in search of Blaise. He checked the platform first, but didn't find her, so he went to search the compartments of the Hogwarts Express. He checked in every one. When he finally reached the last compartment, he looked through the window and saw two raven-haired people in a full-blown make out session. He started seething inwardly, but before he jumped to conclusions, he wanted to make sure his prediction was correct.
He opened the door roughly and the two students pulled apart.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Blaise asked angrily.
Draco looked from Blaise to Harry Potter and back to Blaise. "I would ask you the same thing. I was looking for you to apologize about what happened a few weeks ago and to tell you something I've been wanting to tell you for a long time now, but I don't think I will. I think I just had a change of heart. You know what, maybe I didn't. No one seems to think I have a heart anyway. And I'm just mumbling stupid shit now, so I'm gunna leave. Fuck you, Potter! I didn't ask you." He slammed the door shut and stalked back to the front of the train. Harry and Blaise just stare after him as if he'd gone mad.
He sat alone in the compartment with his arms folded across his chest. Not long after, Hermione walked into the compartment. She dropped off her luggage and was about to walk back out. Draco watched her every move, and just when she was going to step out the compartment door, he said, "Hold on a minute, Granger."
She looked at him and retorted, "What, Malfoy, wanna make fun of me?"
"No, actually, I don't. I want a truce. I figure that last year wasn't much fun for either of us, and I don't want it to be that way for the rest of our time at Hogwarts. What do you say?" He was standing over her, his voice was gentle, and his eyes held a warmth that she had never seen before.
"You're joking, right? You think this will erase everything from the past five years? It doesn't work that way, Malfoy. I've spent countless hours trying to figure out what the hell I did to make you think so little of me, and here you are thinking that all that time I've lost can be replaced. It can't be."
He didn't know what was making him act so strangely. He brushed his thumb over her cheek. "I know that I can't give you back any of the time that you've lost, but I do want to start over with you. I want to know that real Hermione Granger, not the girl I've made you out to be and tormented for the last five years. I wanna know who you really are and what you're really like. Does that sound okay?"
She studied him for a long time before saying, "Sure, I'd like that. But this works two ways. I want to know the real Draco Malfoy."
"Alright then, but there are some things about me that might make you cringe. Think you can handle it?"
"Of course I can."
"Good, I love a girl who's up for a challenge. First things first: what are some basic things about you? Full name, family history, things like that."
"My full name is Hermione Lynne Granger. I'm not a Mudblood like everybody thinks I am. I am actually a half-blood. My father's a Muggle, but my mum is a witch. I only found this out over the summer. Her maiden name was, believe it or not, Gryffindor. She was the last person on the face of the Earth to carry that name. How 'bout you?"
Draco's eyes widened in surprise. Hermione Granger was actually the heir of Godric Gryffindor. He found it hard to believe. He was supposed to marry the heir of Gryffindor, which he found weird since he was the heir of Salazar Slytherin. "My full name is Draco Riley Malfoy. I am in fact a pureblooded wizard, as everyone knows. My father's family dates back to before Hogwarts was even started, and my mother's maiden name was Slytherin. I don't know if I should tell you this or not, but-" The compartment door slid open and Justin Finch-Fletchey and Lisa Turpin, the other sixth year prefects walked in.
"I'm sorry. Did we interrupt something?" Justin asked.
"As a matter of fact, Finch-Fletchey, you did," Draco answered. His face hardened once again, and he fell back into his seat and folded his arms across his chest.
"We can find somewhere else to sit if you'd like," Lisa offered shyly. She had a very soft voice, and greatly disliked when people were upset with her. She wore her red hair in a single braid that reached all the way down her back. Her eyed were so pale a blue that they almost looked clear.
Hermione looked at her and said, "Only for like fifteen minutes, then you can come back. If you don't mind, that is."
The whistle on the train blew loudly, and they were soon on the familiar path that they liked to call "home."
"No, we don't mind, do we Justin?" He shook his head, and they headed out of the compartment.
Hermione sat next to Draco. "What were you saying?"
He looked at her again, and his eyes became soft as if he had cared for her his entire life. "I don't know if I should tell you this or not, but it is written in both of our family histories. The heir of Gryffindor will marry the heir of Slytherin, and they will produce the child of darkness. This means that we will eventually get married and have a child that is more evil than Voldemort himself."
Hermione nodded. "I know all of this already. I just find it kinda ironic that it's me and you."
"It is." He laughed a little then said, "I have something else to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I am a Death Eater now. I chose to follow the path that has been planned for me for my entire life. I wanted my father to be proud of me for once, and I knew this was the only way that would happen."
Hermione took his left hand in hers, and rolled up the sleeve of his shirt to reveal the Dark Mark that had been branded on his arm. She outlined it with her forefinger then looked up into his eyes. "You're father didn't teach you the concealing charm? I know it's very dark magic, but you can't walk around Hogwarts with that thing on your arm, even though it is beautiful in a sick sort of way."
Draco looked at her as if she had gone totally bonkers. "How do you know about the concealing charm?" he finally asked.
She leaned close to him and whispered, "Because I'm using it."
His silky, silver-blonde hair fell across his pallid face into his stormy grey eyes as he peered out of his bedroom window. They clouds were low and the sky so dark that it was almost black. It looked like a bad storm was coming. The sixteen-year-old boy sighed as he sat on his soft bed. Three weeks into the summer and still he hadn't received a letter from any of his friends. Not that he cared since he hadn't sent any out, and his friends weren't the strongest wands in the shop, but it was nice to have someone to confide in.
He looked down at his pale, left forearm. His skin was no longer perfect as it always had been. There was now a black blemish in the shape of a skull with a snake protruding from its mouth. It was the one thing he was really proud of. He had finally taken his place by his father's side serving Lord Voldemort.
There was a sudden knock on his door. "What?" Draco Malfoy snapped, annoyed with the interruption of his thoughts.
The door creaked open slowly. "Master Lucius is wanting to meet you in his study, sir," the tiny house elf said while wringing her miniscule hands around the pillowcase, which she wore.
"Tell him I'll be there in a few minutes." He sounded very irritated. The small house elf saw this and bowed and departed quickly.
The pale boy got to his feet, took one last glance out the window at the stormy sky, and apparated to the door of his father's study. He knocked and awaited a response.
"Come in," Lucius called to his son. Draco walked into the large room and stared at his father expectantly. "Sit," Lucius then commanded.
"What is it that you called me for, Father?"
"Our Lord thinks it is about time that you take on your first real task. It is to be completed by the end of the year. Do you think you are ready for this, Draco?" Lucius watched his son carefully, awaiting his reply.
"Of course I am," he responded readily. "What is this task you speak of?"
An evil smirk appeared upon Lucius' thin lips. "He wants you to make Granger fall for you and he wants you to impregnate her. This child will be his heir. The other thing he wants is for you to lead Potter into a trap. When that's all done, you will eliminate the Mudblood; not physically per se, but emotionally."
The same smirk Lucius wore appeared on Draco's lips. "Not a problem, Father. I will be happy to do that for My Lord. Anything to rid the world of another filthy Mudblood, even if it's not physically, would be my pleasure. Especially if it's Granger."
"Good to hear. Oh, and before you leave, there is a charming young woman here to see you. She is in the drawing room with your mother."
"Who is it?"
"A friend of yours. Why don't you just go check for yourself?"
Draco nodded curtly and exited the study. He hoped and even prayed that the girl wasn't Pansy Parkinson. She had a habit of hanging all over him, even when he didn't want to be within fifty feet of her. The girl just couldn't take a hint.
He opened the mahogany doors slowly. His mother was talking to a pale- skinned, raven-haired, blue-eyed girl. A grateful smile appeared on his face. He greeted his mother warmly, then held out a hand to the girl whom he had admired for so long. She took his hand and let him lead her to the grounds outside.
"So, Blaise, how've you been?" he asked her as they sat on a wood bench that over-looked a large lake.
"Bored, as usual. And yourself?"
"Same. What made you decide to come out here?"
She smiled. "I missed you and didn't feel like writing you some sappy note. I know you don't like reading them and I don't like writing them, so I decided to come out here to visit you instead."
"Well, I'm very thankful. The only human contact I've had since I've been home is my parents, Death Eaters, and Voldemort." He knew what he had said was a mistake as soon as the words escaped his lips.
Blaise made a face that showed she was utterly disgusted. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. I should go. It looks like there's gunna be a storm. My parents will be wondering where I disappeared to. I'll see you in school. Bye." She disapparated. Both she and Draco had learned to apparate when they were very young. Their fathers thought it was part of the essentials of being a great wizard.
Draco threw his arms exasperatedly over the back of the bench and stared into the dark sky. He had totally forgotten that Blaise Zabini was strongly anti-Voldemort and everything that had to do with him.
Large drops of water began to fall from the sky and onto his handsome face. Blaise had been infatuating his mind for years, and he had yet to tell her. Now, he had screwed up any chance he had, and would probably never gain her trust again. She had only thought of them as friends the whole time and she probably didn't want to be more than that anyway. At least there had been a slight chance, now there was none.
Lightening flashed across the vast sky, illuminating the saddened features upon Draco's normally stoic face.
One good thing had come out of the situation-he wouldn't have to worry about Blaise while he attempted to seduce Granger.
The rain fell harder. Draco stood slowly. The water had totally soaked through his robes and was freezing his skin. It was very warm out, yet he was chilled to the bone.
He trudged back to the large manor and up to his room, leaving a wet trail behind him for the house elves to clean. He walked as if nothing was wrong because that's how he was taught. "Never let anyone know what you're feeling. Don't let your emotions show. Keep your eyes blank at all times. Make it so no one can read you." Were just a few of the things his father was constantly reminding him of.
His room was the only place he could find solitude. It had many extensions leading to smaller room such as a study, a library, a bathroom, and a room where he kept all his extra belongings. The only things he really kept in his bedroom were his bed and his clothes.
He went into his extra room and turned on his wizard radio. Many of the muggle bands were actually wizard bands that played in the Muggle world for more fame. His favorite was Seether. Unfortunately for him, however, "Sorrow" by Box Car Racer had just come on. It was one of his favorite songs and he started to sing along. This time was different though, he could actually feel the words that were being sung and the pain they held.
Because I need you more than you need me
Because I want you more I know
Because we moved too fucking fast I think I really had to wish to make this last I know
I'm sorry, please forgive me, believe me if you would
Because I cared way more Because I really felt that you felt so much more I know
I'm sorry, please forgive me, believe me if you would I'm sorry, please forgive me, believe me if you could
I'm sorry, please forgive me, believe me if you would I'm sorry, please forgive me, believe me if you could Believe me if you could
When the song ended, he punched a whole in his wall and turned off the radio. Music was usually the way he dealt with everything, but he didn't think that it would help him much this time. He knew he'd have to wait until term started before he could talk to Blaise again, and that did not comfort him in the slightest.
~
It was finally September first. Lucius drove Draco to King's Cross Station, which surprised him since his father hated the Muggle world and everything in it.
"You have a plan yet, Draco?" Lucius asked his son.
"For what, Father?" Draco responded.
"Did you forget already? I thought you were brighter than that. You are a prefect aren't you? I'm talking about your plans for seducing Granger."
"Right, sorry. Yes, I do have a plan. Just like last year, the prefects will be sharing a common room. She and I fought last year, much to the dislike of the other prefects, but I think I'll start by calling a truce then asking if she would like to study with me some time."
Lucius nodded at his son's thoughtfulness. "Very good, Draco. Do you have a back up plan in case that doesn't work?"
"Well, yes.I'll rape her then apologize numerous times. I'll say I was under the Imperious Curse and that I would never intentionally hurt her. I'll get on her good side and hand the child over to My Lord. I have a question about that."
"What is it?"
"It will be my child, and I was wondering if I would raise it, or would she, or would Voldemort? I would like to raise my first child, and be able to watch it grow and I want to be there for it. I do not want somebody else to raise my child for me."
Lucius suddenly appeared uncomfortable. "He didn't say anything about that. I imagine you will raise the child with our Lord's influence, and possibly the Mudblood's, if she doesn't end up in St. Mungo's first."
Draco nodded. "I guess that sounds pretty good."
They pulled into the station, and Draco loaded his trunk and his eagle owl onto a trolley. He bid his father goodbye, since Lucius would not go near the Muggles.
Draco leaned casually on the barrier between platforms nine and ten and strolled onto the train. After dropping his luggage off in the prefect's compartment, he took off in search of Blaise. He checked the platform first, but didn't find her, so he went to search the compartments of the Hogwarts Express. He checked in every one. When he finally reached the last compartment, he looked through the window and saw two raven-haired people in a full-blown make out session. He started seething inwardly, but before he jumped to conclusions, he wanted to make sure his prediction was correct.
He opened the door roughly and the two students pulled apart.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Blaise asked angrily.
Draco looked from Blaise to Harry Potter and back to Blaise. "I would ask you the same thing. I was looking for you to apologize about what happened a few weeks ago and to tell you something I've been wanting to tell you for a long time now, but I don't think I will. I think I just had a change of heart. You know what, maybe I didn't. No one seems to think I have a heart anyway. And I'm just mumbling stupid shit now, so I'm gunna leave. Fuck you, Potter! I didn't ask you." He slammed the door shut and stalked back to the front of the train. Harry and Blaise just stare after him as if he'd gone mad.
He sat alone in the compartment with his arms folded across his chest. Not long after, Hermione walked into the compartment. She dropped off her luggage and was about to walk back out. Draco watched her every move, and just when she was going to step out the compartment door, he said, "Hold on a minute, Granger."
She looked at him and retorted, "What, Malfoy, wanna make fun of me?"
"No, actually, I don't. I want a truce. I figure that last year wasn't much fun for either of us, and I don't want it to be that way for the rest of our time at Hogwarts. What do you say?" He was standing over her, his voice was gentle, and his eyes held a warmth that she had never seen before.
"You're joking, right? You think this will erase everything from the past five years? It doesn't work that way, Malfoy. I've spent countless hours trying to figure out what the hell I did to make you think so little of me, and here you are thinking that all that time I've lost can be replaced. It can't be."
He didn't know what was making him act so strangely. He brushed his thumb over her cheek. "I know that I can't give you back any of the time that you've lost, but I do want to start over with you. I want to know that real Hermione Granger, not the girl I've made you out to be and tormented for the last five years. I wanna know who you really are and what you're really like. Does that sound okay?"
She studied him for a long time before saying, "Sure, I'd like that. But this works two ways. I want to know the real Draco Malfoy."
"Alright then, but there are some things about me that might make you cringe. Think you can handle it?"
"Of course I can."
"Good, I love a girl who's up for a challenge. First things first: what are some basic things about you? Full name, family history, things like that."
"My full name is Hermione Lynne Granger. I'm not a Mudblood like everybody thinks I am. I am actually a half-blood. My father's a Muggle, but my mum is a witch. I only found this out over the summer. Her maiden name was, believe it or not, Gryffindor. She was the last person on the face of the Earth to carry that name. How 'bout you?"
Draco's eyes widened in surprise. Hermione Granger was actually the heir of Godric Gryffindor. He found it hard to believe. He was supposed to marry the heir of Gryffindor, which he found weird since he was the heir of Salazar Slytherin. "My full name is Draco Riley Malfoy. I am in fact a pureblooded wizard, as everyone knows. My father's family dates back to before Hogwarts was even started, and my mother's maiden name was Slytherin. I don't know if I should tell you this or not, but-" The compartment door slid open and Justin Finch-Fletchey and Lisa Turpin, the other sixth year prefects walked in.
"I'm sorry. Did we interrupt something?" Justin asked.
"As a matter of fact, Finch-Fletchey, you did," Draco answered. His face hardened once again, and he fell back into his seat and folded his arms across his chest.
"We can find somewhere else to sit if you'd like," Lisa offered shyly. She had a very soft voice, and greatly disliked when people were upset with her. She wore her red hair in a single braid that reached all the way down her back. Her eyed were so pale a blue that they almost looked clear.
Hermione looked at her and said, "Only for like fifteen minutes, then you can come back. If you don't mind, that is."
The whistle on the train blew loudly, and they were soon on the familiar path that they liked to call "home."
"No, we don't mind, do we Justin?" He shook his head, and they headed out of the compartment.
Hermione sat next to Draco. "What were you saying?"
He looked at her again, and his eyes became soft as if he had cared for her his entire life. "I don't know if I should tell you this or not, but it is written in both of our family histories. The heir of Gryffindor will marry the heir of Slytherin, and they will produce the child of darkness. This means that we will eventually get married and have a child that is more evil than Voldemort himself."
Hermione nodded. "I know all of this already. I just find it kinda ironic that it's me and you."
"It is." He laughed a little then said, "I have something else to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I am a Death Eater now. I chose to follow the path that has been planned for me for my entire life. I wanted my father to be proud of me for once, and I knew this was the only way that would happen."
Hermione took his left hand in hers, and rolled up the sleeve of his shirt to reveal the Dark Mark that had been branded on his arm. She outlined it with her forefinger then looked up into his eyes. "You're father didn't teach you the concealing charm? I know it's very dark magic, but you can't walk around Hogwarts with that thing on your arm, even though it is beautiful in a sick sort of way."
Draco looked at her as if she had gone totally bonkers. "How do you know about the concealing charm?" he finally asked.
She leaned close to him and whispered, "Because I'm using it."