Only Skin Deep

Draco awoke to a sharp rap on the stomach. He groaned loudly as cold laughter hit his ears.

"Isn't it about time you got up?" Lucius asked, prodding Draco's head. "I'd expect you'd want to get ready for the party." Draco sneered at his father who stood above him.

"Yes, wouldn't want to miss it," he said sarcastically. His father huffed, and another sharp blow on his abdomen followed.

"Be ready by two," he barked, leaving the bedside. The door slammed shut as he made his dramatic exit. Draco wished he hadn't been so rudely awakened. He'd been having a good dream. A great dream, in fact. At least it wasn't about those two robed girls again.

It was a great dream but Draco couldn't figure out who was in it. He had been at a Quidditch game. He was Seeker for the Falmouth Falcons and had just had a fantastic capture of the Snitch. He landed and headed for the changing room. A girl came up to him, but he couldn't see her face. They obviously knew each other, because Draco kissed her as she got nearer.

At first his mind leapt to Jade, but the girl in the dream didn't have black hair. And it wasn't short. He tried to recall who it was as he sat on the edge of his bed. It had been long brown hair. He had seen that part of her.

"Draco, are you up?" His mother's callings snapped him out of thought. Narcissa came in cautiously, shutting the door as quietly as she could. "Good, you're up," she smiled, opening his curtains with a flick of her wand. Tucking it back in her robes, she sat down on the edge of his bed next to him.

"Mother, do I really have to go?" Draco started to pace the sides of his bed. "I mean, I've already made it very clear that I don't want to be a Death Eater."

"Lucius feels you would be an asset to the group. Seeing how he can no longer participate," his mother explained, sounding very rehearsed. Draco glared at his mother. She wanted nothing to do with the Death Eaters either, yet she was trying to convince him to join. Something was odd.

"I won't join," he spat, grabbing his wand from the bedside table. He stared his mother straight in the eye, then muttered, "Finite Incantatum."

Her head dropped suddenly, and Draco's suspicions were confirmed. His mother's head slowly came up to meet his eye. Her deep blue eyes shone with fear.

"He did it again?" Narcissa asked as Draco pulled a pair of dress robes from the closet.

"Mother, you really have to watch out for him, you know," he drawled, taking her hand and pulling her up. He would have thought by now his mother would be able to fend off his father's Imperius Curse. "Are these all right?" She looked over at the midnight blue robe that sat at the end of the bed.

"They're okay, but wouldn't you like a nice, billowing, black dress robe?" she suggested, pulling them out as well. Draco gave a look of disdain.

"I always wear black, mother. I thought blue would be a nice change of pace," he said, taking the black ones from her.

"But you look good in black, darling," Narcissa said, as Draco held up the robes. "Plus, you'll look nice for the party. I do love when you dress up." He took the blue robes and put them back.

"Fine, if you'd like me in black, then black you shall have," he sighed. Narcissa swayed over to him, resting her hand on his face. Draco did like to see his mother pleased.

"Thank you," she mumbled, walking over to Emily's bed. "She's nice, isn't she?" Draco didn't know whether to answer or not. His mother turned to him with a look of wanting an answer.

"Umm, she's, err..." Draco was lost for words. Why don't you say it? You know what she is deep down. "She's all right, I guess." Narcissa smiled slightly.

"She's a good kid. Not anything like the girls that Lucius has showed you. Think about it," she said, retreating back into the hallway. He hated how his mother could confuse him at the slightest whim. What did she mean, think about it? Draco didn't have time to think anything, as the time was drawing closer to two o'clock.

~

Emily sat nervously in the corner, fidgeting with her royal blue robes.

People were beginning to come in now. Most were dressed in basic black, swirling around them majestically. Olivia came up to Emily with a glass of red liquid.

"Here, liven up a bit," she mumbled, handing her the glass. Emily sniffed it lightly.

"What is this?" Her mother rolled her eyes.

"What do you think? It's Lucius' best wine. Just try it," Olivia snapped, walking back towards the crowd. Emily set down the glass on the table next to her.

"Too strong for you?" Draco asked from behind her. He picked it up, helping himself. His eyes started to rake Emily's body almost with out realizing it. Knock it off! He scolded mentally. " Don't stray far from house colors, do you?" he asked quickly, using her comment from the previous night against her.

"The only reason these blue robes are on me is because I didn't have black ones to wear like mother wanted," she shot back, eyeing his selection. She wished she wouldn't have. His black robes looked fabulous on him. The dark brought out the gray in his eyes. Somehow, this softened them some. She could feel her anger ebbing away as she peered into the depths.

"Didn't your mother teach you never to stare?" A cool female voice said casually, wrapping her arm around Draco's. "Hello," she purred, narrowing her eyes at Emily. She looked up at Draco. "Anything to drink?"

"Yeah, one minute," he mumbled, heading in toward the masses. She came nearer to Emily.

"Fancy seeing you here, Jade," she said. Jade glared at her with cold eyes.

"Where the hell do you get off?" Jade spat, pushing her back. "He's mine, lay off."

"I don't like him," she muttered, staring down at her feet.

"Don't you give me that, you ignorant little prat. I saw you eyeing him. Why would he ever like a girl like you, when he has a girl like me?" she snapped, swirling around as Draco approached. She smiled as she took the glass from him.

"Why are you here?" he asked, eyes floating to Emily as he turned to face Jade. She huffed loudly. She saw you, you moron!

"I'm becoming a Death Eater. Why else would I be here?" she said, trying to lead him away. "Are you?"

"No, I don't believe so," Draco said curtly. Both Emily and Jade raised their eyebrows.

"You're not?" Jade questioned in disbelief. He shook his head. "Why not? It's in your blood."

" I just chose not to become one," he said, still partway eyeing Emily. Jade took notice of that too and pulled Draco away.

"Come on, I'm sure there's got to be loads of people to talk to," she muttered, dragging him off. Emily sat down in the gray chair behind her. This is going to be a long night.

~

The night progressed rather smoothly, in Draco's opinion. He had managed to slip away from Jade only five minutes ago, and was feeling rather tired. He was heading up to his room, when Jade found him yet again.

"Running off, are you?" she asked, slipping her arms around him. "Not yet, please?"

"Jade, I'm tired. I'm going to bed, so good night," he dismissed shortly, trying to pull away.

"No, please. Just, come to the library with me," she pleaded, looking at him sadly.

He sighed. "Fine, but don't keep me too long." She smiled slightly.

"I won't. Don't worry." She led him to the library doors. "Come on now. You first."

"Why me first?" he asked suspiciously, grabbing the door handle.

"You'll see," she mumbled as he pushed open the door. He stepped into the dimly lit room.

"What are you doing?" he asked, just before he was hit with a Stunning spell in the back of his head.

He was sent tumbling to the ground with the sudden impact. A circle of Death Eaters was gathering around him. Jade stood by his feet, smirking evilly at him.

"You should have come willingly," she said, making way for a tall robed figure. Draco knew all to well who this was.

"Draco, stand up," his father barked from behind him. "Stand up to your new master." Draco's teeth began to chatter, as he stood up. "Hold out your arm, boy!" He didn't move. Jade came up to him.

"Draco, dearest, do as he wishes," she whispered, grabbing his wrist. "Just hold out your arm. It will be quick, I promise." She yanked unexpectedly on his arm, pulling it out. The robed wizard swung his wand in one quick motion, and a searing pain tore up his arm.

"Thank you, Jade," Lucius said smoothly, admiring the mark glowing red on his son's arm. "You have proved yourself fit for the group. Well done. Seeing as you are the youngest member now." Jade nodded in recognition. "You're done now, Draco. You can go upstairs."

Draco stared in horror around him. How could she have done this to me? He looked down at his arm. It was stinging, and the mark bore bright on his pale skin.

"Go on now," Lucius said, pushing him into motion. Draco fumbled out the door, and back down the hall. He reached the stairs and stopped. He didn't want to climb all the way up them. His arm had shooting pains in it, and all he wanted to do was sleep. But he had to climb those daunting stairs.

Finally, he just bounded up them. His door was just a few feet down the hall. He quietly opened the door, hoping not to wake Emily. He eased his way in, and shut the door just as silently. His eyes quickly darted to her bed. She seems asleep. He took off his robes as he walked over to his bed. The shirt he had on was fine to sleep in, so he just pulled off his pants and climbed in, wincing as he accidentally hit his arm.

He stared at the ceiling, trying the best he could to ignore the pain in his arm. The sudden rustle of movement from Emily caught his attention. She got up noiselessly, and went into the bathroom. When she emerged from there, she was holding a white washcloth, and her wand. Casually, she went to the side of his bed.

"Come on then. Give me your arm," she said soothingly. He shut his eyes tightly. "There's no point in pretending that you're sleeping because I was awake when you came in." He slowly opened his eyes. Even in the dark, Emily could see the pain that fogged them. "Now, let me see your arm."

"Why? What do you think is there?" he snapped. You know that she knows.

"I think I know what happened, and I want to ease the pain a little," she said softly, picking up her wand. "Lumos." The wand tip lit up the bed, showing his arm hidden under the covers. "Let me help." Draco hesitated. Why should he let her help him? He was a Malfoy. Malfoys didn't need help.

"I'm fine," he growled, trying to get her to go away. She didn't move. Reluctantly, he pulled out his arm.

"Hurts like a bitch, doesn't it?" she asked, picking up the cloth she had.

"No, why would a silly little burn hurt?"

"I know, you can't show that you're pained. You've been taught to hide it for too long. It's okay," Emily said, placing the cool cloth on his arm. "I understand." You understand nothing, he thought in his head.

"Why don't you go to bed, or something," he mumbled, though he rather enjoyed her sitting there soothing his arm.

"Because I know that you're pained, and I'm trying to help."

"How do you know that I think this hurts?" he asked, unknowingly scooting closer to her. "I happen to have a high threshold for pain."

"I know this hurts you. I can hear it in your voice," she muttered, moving the cloth a little. My voice sounds the same as always. She looked into his slate eyes and felt he was something less of the monster he was claimed to be. She has beautiful hazel eyes, Draco thought, as he kept up the steady contact with her. "I won't tell anyone that you actually have feelings, okay?" she joked, getting up from the bed. He sniggered lightly.

"Okay," he mumbled, wiping his arm with the cloth.

"Night," she whispered, settling back in her bed. Draco lay for a moment before answering.

"Night," he said, almost inaudible. Have you gone soft? Being so nice to the poor little piggy. He wanted so badly to tell her about the whole incident from the night. He was surprised that she hadn't asked questions. I've never helped her and yet she jumps in a heartbeat to help me? Odd girl she is. But somehow, Draco felt he was starting to warm up to her. We shall see how things progress he thought, carefully turning over, and watching her for a brief moment before he drifted into sleep.