Only Skin Deep

Emily stumbled out of the potions room at half past nine, only to collide with one of her least favorite persons.

"Sorry," she mumbled shyly to a very disheveled Jade.

"You better watch it," Jade growled. Jade brushed her tangled bangs out of her face. Emily really didn't want to know why her hair was so ratty. "Well, off you go!" Jade huffed, shooing her away.

Emily entered the Ravenclaw common room tired and ready for sleep. She quickly changed into her nightgown and climbed gingerly into bed. Emily was just about asleep, when Nina woke her.

"Can you believe that holidays are in three weeks?" Emily sat up to look at her.

"Are you sure?" Emily asked in disbelief. "Have we been here that long?" Nina nodded, and left without another word. Emily rolled over, pulling the duvet up to her neck. I don't want to go home. Not to mother. Emily's mother, though loving, tended to be rather dark. In fact, over the holidays, her mum was joining the new Death Eater regime. She had been so pleased with the release of Lucius Malfoy that she decided to join his former group. Though Emily doubted that Mister Malfoy would keep his promise to the Ministry, and stay clear away from Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Drifting off into a deep sleep, Emily's thoughts strayed to a certain blonde boy.

~

Draco lay in his bed, staring aimlessly into the air. He shifted slightly at a faint knock on his door.

"Come in," he barked, wishing with all his might that it wasn't Pansy. To his relief, it was Jade.

"Hello," she purred, holding a letter in her hands.

"Didn't I just see you like an hour ago?" he asked, as she sat down on his bed. She smiled and pushed the envelope towards him. "What's this?" Draco took it and opened it. A list of about thirty names filled the parchment.

"They're people joining the new Death Eaters," Jade said, lying back at the end of the bed. "I thought you might like to see." Malfoy put the letter on his bedside table, without looking at it, and peered down at Jade. Her little gray gown barely covered her.

"You walked in the common room like that?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, no one was down there. I checked before I came down." She sat up and moved closer to him. "Of course I could have worn my robes, but what would be the fun in that?" Draco smirked at her as she lay next to him. "You know, holidays are only a few weeks away." His mind went racing at the sound of those words.

"Really?" he asked, trying to sound calm. He hadn't been back to the Manor since his father had come home. He didn't want things to be the way they had been.

"Yes, and I can't wait. That fat little girl we keep running into is driving me mad. It's like she's stalking you," Jade said. I could wait forever Malfoy thought. The touch of Jade's hand to his chest pulled him back from his thoughts. "Well, I should be going."

"No, you could stay," Draco said rather uneasily.

"But, I was just here an hour ago," Jade said with mocked anger. She slid closer to Draco. "I guess I could stay." He pulled his blanket over, as she got up suddenly.

"What's the matter?" he snapped, hoping he wasn't going to lose her now that she had gotten him interested. She slid her knickers down, tossing them on the floor.

"Won't need those," she muttered, getting back in bed. She kissed his neck as she came closer to him. Draco stopped her. She looked at him bewildered. "What?"

He kissed her pouted lips, and said, "I thought it was you turn." He trailed kisses down her neck and on her collarbone. She was heaving, as was he.

"No more of this," she ordered breathlessly but gruff. "Now."

***

Before anyone knew it, the holidays were upon them. People leaving for home boarded the train on a very snowing afternoon. The platform was crowded with family as the scarlet steam engine pulled up. Draco, who was sitting in his compartment all alone, spotted his mother at once. Getting off with his trunk, he strode over to her.

"Draco," his mother chirped, throwing her arms around him. "I've missed you." Draco looked into his mother's sapphire eyes. No pain fogged them; maybe his father was different now.

"You look well," Draco noted, walking near a good Apparition spot. She nodded.

"Yes, Lucius hired a new cook. She does wonders." Draco was pleased that at least there was someone around to help mother. Though, that's not what he had meant by his comment. There seemed to be no evident bruises, so he let the subject rest.

In a quick pop, Draco stood in the dusty alcove of Malfoy Manor. The cold air filled his lungs as they moved toward the main part of the house.

"Take your things upstairs, Draco," his mother instructed. "Oh, and don't mention to Lucius that I came to get you." She bustled off, as he pulled his things towards his room. Why his mother always referred to his father as Lucius was beyond him. Maybe it had to do with an empowerment issue.

Draco had just dropped off his things, when his father's voice boomed down the hall.

"Where's the boy?" Draco could hear his mother skirting along behind him.

"Just in his room," she mumbled.

"Thank you, Narcissa. I'll just have a word with him." Lucius came into his room, shutting the door behind him.

"Hello father," Draco muttered dryly, putting some of his robes away. "Glad to be home?" Lucius sneered at him.

"You'd do right to mind you your tone." His father sat down in a chair near the gray stone fireplace. "We will be having a party next week," he started, as Draco sat across from him.

"Oh?" Draco was very uninterested by his father's parties.

"Yes," Lucius said quietly. "The new Death Eaters are convening and I was hoping to meet them."

"But, did you not just get out of Azkaban on a solemn oath that you wouldn't associate with them?" Draco snapped. Anger built up in his father's eyes.

"What they don't know, won't hurt them," he hissed, standing up. "Besides, I'm only throwing a party for my friends. If they're Death Eaters, well then, that's their business, isn't it?" Draco eyed his father suspiciously. "Wipe that smirk off your face, boy," Lucius growled, smacking Draco in the head with the top of his walking stick.

"Yes, father," Draco mumbled, not letting the pain get to him. Lucius turned from him and left in a whirlwind of black robes. Sinking into his chair, Draco checked for any sign of blood. Damn it, I thought he would have changed by now. Draco remembered his father always being like this. Though he seemed to be getting better. He had heard no cries from his mother yet, which was good. He didn't want to go to Lucius' party. Maybe he'd stay upstairs.

A sharp rap on his door made him jump. "Sorry to bother you again, Draco." Lucius swirled back into the room. "I forgot to mention our guests who should be arriving in the next few days." Draco shuddered. Any guest Lucius was going to let stay wouldn't be worthy of his time.

"Oh? And who's that, father?" Draco tried to keep his voice steady.

"Olivia Miller and her daughter will be staying with us. Maybe we'll put her in here." Draco's jaw dropped in disgust. "Just the daughter of course."

Before Draco could protest, Lucius was back out the door, and out of sight. "Why me?" he said aloud. "Why can't she stay in mother's wing?" Draco silently fumed as he grabbed his broomstick to go outside. "I'm definitely not going now."