Chapter 12

Disclaimer: Still don't own Harry Potter, although I am hoping to get Draco for Christmas this year :) lol.

HPOV

Sunday morning, I woke up feeling better than I had in a long time. Some of the tension had been diffused between Draco and I last night, and I was determined to keep it that way.

I pulled back the covers, and slid out of bed.

Opening the door, I saw a familiar blonde head sat on his couch.

''Morning.'' I said, making my way to the bathroom.

I looked back over my shoulder when he didn't answer.

'Maybe he's in a bad mood. I should leave him alone until later...' I told myself, the last thing we needed was to start arguing again.

I went through my normal routine, taking a little longer than usual.

Twenty minutes later, I emerged feeling cleaner and more presentable, to find that he hadn't moved a muscle.

I went into the kitchen and started pottering around, hoping maybe he would snap out of it and strike up a conversation.

He didn't. Sighing, I put two slices of bread into the toaster and pushed the lever down.

I put the kettle on, made the cup of tea and carried it over the table between the couches, ''Would you like something to eat?'' I asked.

His head shook slowly from side to side.

I bit my lip and went back into the kitchen for my toast.

Putting the plate down on the table, I decided to eat in the kitchen.

As I was starting the second slice, he walked in and dropped something in front of me on the wood.

''What's this?'' I asked, questioningly.

''Read it.'' He said, tersly.

I hesitated for a second, then picked it up.

Draco,

You are to return to the manor at Christmas break, bring with you if you must the Project you are working on. We have extremely important desisions to make.

Regards,

Mother.

Oh. Now I understood why he was in such a bad mood.

''I see.'' I said, replacing it on the table.

''Is that all you have to say?'' He demanded.

I shrugged, ''What else is there to say. If you have to go, you have to go. I'm sure things will be fine.'' I said, trying to keep my voice straight.

Truth was, I never wanted to go back to that place. The memories were bad for me, so what they must be like for Draco I couldn;t begin to comprehend.

He didn't srike me as someone who a loving childhood, then with Voldermort making the place his Castle.

I tried not to shudder.

''Yes things will be peachy. You will be treated worse than the House elves, and I will be locked in the conference chamber for the entire time.'' He said, frustratedly.

''Wait a minute. The baby's are all due around Christmas time. We probably won't even be able to go.'' I reasoned.

He froze, still clutching the paper from when he had picked it up and waved it for reinforcment of his words.

I stood up and took my plate and cup over to the sink, running some hot water on them.

''Your right. We don't have to go. I'll just write back, saying we can't go.'' He said, getting up and hurring around the table.

''I'll write back and tell her later.'' He pulled me into a quick hug, then seemed to realize what he was doing.

''Erm...'' He seemed lost for words.

I stared at him for a second, watching his struggle for words.

Thinking fast, I put my arms around his neck and quickly hugged him back.

''There. Now the embarrasment is equal.'' I joked, weakly.

Draco chuckled, looking relieved that I didn't punch him, like I had back in third year.

''I'm going down to the Slytherin common room, for a while.'' He muttered, walking away after a few more awkward moments.

''I'll see you later then.'' I called.

''Yeah...'' He called back, I heard the portrait hole door swing shut.

I sighed.

'What in the name of Merlin was that?'

Going back into my room, I threw on some day clothes and grabbed my things, figuring I might as well spend some time in Gryffindor tower, and catch up with Ron, Harry and Ginny.

DPOV

Idiot.

Stupid idiot! What in the name of Merlin was I thinking?

Whether I hater her or not, and it was definetely leaning towards not now, did not mean that I could go around hugging her!

She still hated me, and even if she didn't, that did not mean she wanted me to hug her...

All that because of a stupid letter. Mother and I had always been closer than father and I, but we were never a normal family.

Going there at the best of times was never warm and welcoming, but going there with Hermione and a child?

I shuddered.

Mother wasn't as cold as father, but she still didn't much like muggleborns, or half-bloods.

No, Hermione was right. We wouldn't go, I would write back saying she wasn't able to leave the school, and I was required to stay with her.

That was perfectly acceptable.

Only it wasn't because, mother would find a way around it, no matter what I told her.

I shook my head and changed directions, heading to the Astronomy tower instead.

I had started coming here at the start of the year, when that sixth year student had backed me into the Forest.

It helped calm me down; here I knew all my mistakes. It was like while I was here, I could forget about them, if only for a short period of time.

I could pretend that I didn't feel like a failure of a Wizard.

Somedays I wished that I could go back to when I was young and thought I knew everything, that I was all powerful and could do anything I wanted, whenever I wanted.

Then I rememberd where that had got me.

As I stood there looking at the afternoon sun, I started to get cold, but I didn't leave. We had been here for a few weeks now, but even in that short time, you could feel how much this place had changed. It wasn't just the atmoshpere hanging around the building, but it was almost like the building itself was different. It sounded ridiculous, but it was true.

I had been a part of that.

I shook my head and tried to think of anything but that.

October; two months until Christmas. Two months to sort everything out...I could do that. I hoped.

Surely I couldn't bugger that up too...

A/N: Hey :) Thank you for reading, please leave a review letting me know what you thought of this chapter! ^_^
Sorry for any mistakes, please forgive me... :)

~Abbey