The next four weeks went by painfully slow, The slim relationships I was holding onto with my Gryffindor friends finally broke and I hadn't spoke to them in ages. Nothing exciting had been going on around the castle and with nothing better to do, I used all of my time practicing for Defense Against the Dark Arts. From the moment I woke up I was practicing and it wasn't long before I was finally becoming good at it. Each time I practiced I imaged Draco and I competing to see who was the best which obviously helped me try harder.

- - - - - - -

Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione still had not said a word to me. I started to become more upset whenever I saw them laughing together but I did my best to ignore it. I barely had any social interaction and when people did talk to me it was not ever a positive conversation. I was getting desperate for some form of conversation as I was getting nothing so I started writing to my parents. I wrote to them multiple times a day yet, they never got back to me. It wasn't uncommon for my parents to ignore me but I thought after a few days they would have at least sent an O.W.L back to tell me to stop writing to them.

By the end of the week I had given up writing to my parents. It was clear that just like everyone else they wanted nothing to do with me. I usually spent the beginning of the morning writing to them instead of eating breakfast but since I decided to stop writing to them I headed down to the Great Hall to eat. On my way down I saw a few people give me strange, concern filled looks. I wondered why everyone looked so concerned for me all of a sudden but brushed it off, not wanting to give a second thought towards it. When I got down to the Great Hall, I saw Hermione and Ginny get up and start walking to me. I started getting nervous as they hadn't spoken to me in weeks but were all of a sudden looking at me as if nothing was going on between us.

When Ginny and Hermione got close enough to me, Hermione started talking to me in a sorrowful tone. "Hey I'm really sorry about your parents and if you ever need to talk we are always here for you."

I looked at them both and in a wave of confusion I chuckled. "You guys already know my parents hate me, it isn't that big of a deal."

Ginny and Hermione looked at each other in shock, then Ginny finally spoke up in a fearful tone. "Oh my gosh, you don't know do you?"

My stomach hit the floor and I suddenly became incredibly nervous. Despite everything my parents put me through I couldn't help but still care for them. "What? Ginny, what happened to my parents?" She didn't respond and before I knew it I was almost yelling at them to tell me what happened.

The only words Hermione said was, "I'm so sorry." In a whispered and almost regretful tone.

I immediately turned around and nearly started running to McGonagall's office. Although I should have gone to Snape's if something horrible really had happened to my parents he was the last person I would want to hear tell me.

I got to McGonagall's office and with a shaky breath I walked up to her desk. "Why is everyone telling me they are sorry about my parents. What happened to them?"

"Oh dear, Daniella, I think you should sit down first," said McGonagall in a frightened tone.

"Just tell me what happened to them!" I was shouting by now, I was so desperate to know what had happened to my parents.

"I'm sorry Daniella but they were in an accident."

"Well, are they okay? What hospital are they at?" I asked, relief filling my stomach, thinking my parents were only injured.

McGonagall paused, looking down at her wrinkled hands and back up at me. "There were no survivors, dear. Your parents have passed away."

I said nothing. I felt as if I was going to vomit. A thousand things were running through my head but I couldn't seem to comprehend any of my questions or thoughts. I stared off into space before McGonagall handed me some parchment. "This parchment states the reason for your parents death, I'm afraid I am not permitted to speak of the subject on school grounds. Do with it as you wish."

I read the parchment. I wish I didn't.

Once I finally collected myself I headed to Potions. I did well to keep myself together, reminding me of everything my mother did to me growing up. Once I arrived at Potions, I sat down and stared down at my hands, taking steady breaths, not wanting to cry in front of two people I hated the most.

"What's wrong with you?" Draco asked, probably trying to get a reason to taunt me.

I looked up at him, not caring about anything in the world. "My parents are dead." I said. Hearing it out loud, coming out my mouth felt like a punch to the stomach and I looked back down to my papers, trying not to cry.

"Well what happened?" Blaise said in an ignorant tone, almost as if he didn't believe me.

"Blaise don't." I heard Draco whisper.

I ignored the fact Draco was trying to make it so I didn't have to publicly explain how my parents died. "Apparently they died in a death eater attack."

"Shit." Draco muttered.

I shook my head, knowing he was thinking they were on the innocent side of everything. "They were the death eaters." Not caring about any of their reactions I rested my head in my folded arms on the table and fell asleep.

I woke up to the sound of students leaving the class after it ended. I looked up to see Snape walking towards me. I thought I was about to get detention for sleeping during class but when he didn't hand me a detention form I became confused.

"Daniella please go to Professor Dumbledore's office to use the Floo Network. The muggle's are selling your parents house as soon as possible to cover up what happened and they will donate whatever is left behind."

I just nodded and left. I had no energy to actually speak words. Once I arrived at my home town from the Floo Network I looked around for a bus stop. Everything seemed darker. Maybe it was because my parents had just died and it was all in my head, or maybe it was because Lord Voldemort was on the rise again. Before I could even think about it, I saw a muggle bus and climbed in. "7608 Horsefield St please."

I arrived at my house and walked in. The door was unlocked which was unusual for my parents to do but I also never expected that my parents would have been death eaters so I didn't know what to think.

As I walked up the loud steps to go into my room I thought I heard a noise but did my best to tune everything out, not wanting to start crying and attract muggles. Once I had grabbed a few items from my room from when I was a child, I walked back down the steps and started looking around my house. I walked into our living room but just as I turned the corner I felt a cold metal sensation on my head. Realizing it was a gun, I turned around to face the man standing beside me with a gun pointed at my head.

Without hesitation I looked him dead in the eyes and said, "Pull the trigger," I didn't flinch a muscle.

The man looked at me confused. He probably expected me to beg for my life, maybe even start crying. "I said pull the trigger. Go ahead. Get on with it. If you're so keen on killing me then do it."

His finger wrapped around the trigger ready to set it off but I grabbed his wrist so hard that his muscles tensed up letting the gun drop to the floor.

"Times up." I said as I bent down, picked up the gun and shot him in the head without hesitation. I didn't look back as I headed back upstairs to my parents room which held a line to the Floo Network. I knew if I stayed any longer I would be caught and sent to muggle prison.

I got back to Hogwarts safely and a week went by before Draco finally started speaking to me again. As I walked down the cold hallway of Hogwarts, I looked to the side when I heard someone walking next to me and to my surprise it was Draco. "Hey Daniella, I was wondering if you wanted to come to the common room with me, Matthew, Pansy, Crabbe, and Millicent tonight and play double truth before the Slytherin party?"

"Honestly Draco, I have no idea what that game is and no I don't really want to go."

"Well you have to. Be there at eight sharp."

Before I could say anything or make up any excuse he left my side and was out of my sight.

- - - - - -

It was ten minutes after eight when I finally showed up.

"You're late." Draco said. "We almost started without you."

I didn't say anything and just sat down next to Pansy. Before I even could ask what the game was, Draco handed everyone a veil of Verectasyrm. "You see people tend to tell the truth more in his game with these." Draco said looking at me. I figured out what the game was after that and I didn't think it was a horrible idea.

After everyone drank their veil, Blaise started the game with an easy question, "Who does everyone think is the most attractive in this room? I think it's me if I'm being honest."

"Of course you do." I said quickly, annoyed and slightly frightened by his presence.

"Okay then who do you think it is, Daniella?" Blaise said with an offended tone.

Without being able to stop myself I turned towards my enemy, Draco. "I think it's you." My eyes widened with my response and before it could get awkward I asked another question. "Blaise, do you like anyone?"

"Yes, in fact I actually asked a girl out."

"Oh I'm sorry" I replied with an annoyed look on my face.

"What?"

"She said no didn't she?"

"No she said yes." Blaise said in a confident tone.

"Really?!" I replied in absolute shock. "Well I'm sorry for her."

The group laughed at Blaise while Pansy and Theo gave me a confirming look. I never knew I could actually manage to say the right things when I was supposed to. When I was in Gryffindor it always felt like I was judged for everything I said and did.

We continued on for a while before Pansy asked the question I was hoping she wouldn't ask knowing I wouldn't be able to hold back the truth. "What is everyone's darkest secret?"

I didn't speak up until it was my turn to go. I was nervous I was going to say something absolutely horrible while everyone else's 'darkest' secret wasn't even bad.

"What about you Daniella?" Said Pansy

I saw them all staring at me as I started talking, I bit my tongue not wanting to speak but I couldn;t stop myself. "I've killed someone before." When I realized what I had just said my eyes widened and everyone stared at me blankly, not knowing what to say.

"Are you serious?" Draco asked in a tone that seemed like he didn't believe me.

"Yes." When the room stayed silent I started laughing and made up the best excuse on the spot. "Are you guys really that gullible? Look at your watch Pansy, the verectasyrm already wore off right before I went." I knew it wasn't true and it actually ended right after I went but I hoped she wouldn't question it.

I was walking to my dorm to get changed for the Slytherin party before Draco stopped me in the hall. "Ella wait-"

"What do you want Draco?" I said sternly, not wanting to talk to him.

"Don't go to the party." Draco said, looking at me as if what he said actually mattered to me.

"Why?"

"You just can't."

"Um, actually I can. I'm in Slytherin and it's a Slytherin party."

"Just don't show up." Before I could think of a reason why I should go, Draco turned around and left.

Annoyed, I turned around to go to my dorm and yelled at Draco. "AND DON'T CALL ME ELLA!"

Once I got back to my dorm, I got on the best outfit I could put together because I was in fact going to the Slytherin party whether Draco wanted me to or not.

I decided to get to the party late because I knew if I was on time Draco would see me and make me leave. I had no idea why he didn't want me to go but I didn't care. I was walking towards the room and could hear the blurred music through the walls. I could hear the laughter and happiness of all of the people inside. I quickly became jealous knowing I was nowhere near happy. I was numb, numb to my parents death, numb to having absolutely no friends but put on a smile and walked in. I tried to look around to talk to people, being so desperate to make friends or have any social interaction but the only thing I accomplished was locking eyes with Draco. He was leaning against the rough cement wall with a thin coat of juniper green paint. Before I could hide myself in a crowd of people, Draco already pushed himself off the wall and started walking in my direction.

"I thought I told you to not come." Draco said to me almost having to shout over the music.

"And I thought I told you I don't care what you say."

"Daniella, leave."

"No."

I noticed something shift in Draco. I'm not sure what it was but it was enough to make him not argue. He casually rolled his eyes at me and headed back to the wall he was leaning on. Minutes went by before I saw Flint walk into the common room with an enormous jug of a strange black sparkling liquid. He started handing out cups, I looked at Draco and he shook his head at me to try and get me not to grab a cup. I looked directly back at him, smiled and grabbed a cup. I chugged it and grabbed another. It tasted like black licorice. Almost immediately after I finished my second cup the room started spinning and everything seemed as if it was glowing. It wasn't alcohol, or at least I didn't think it was. When my parents were alive they were frequent drinkers and their booze never smelled or looked like what this drink did. I felt as if I was going to fall over before I felt a warm hand grab my arm.

"This is why I told you not to come."

I turned my head trying to find Draco's face, my vision was so disoriented I couldn't turn my head to look at him without almost falling.

"Flint does this at every party. He brings this mystery drink, and when people drink it they go crazy and as he says it makes the party better, personally I think it's rubbish."

I was so out of it I couldn't keep the topic. "Did you know I wasn't lying," I let out a small laugh. "I have killed someone before. When I went to my parents house there was a man there and he tried to kill me but I got him first." I said with a loud hiccup, not realizing what I was telling Draco.

Draco stopped walking for a few seconds. "Are you serious?"

"I'm so serious Draco. The man pointed his gun at my head and I told him to pull the trigger but he took too long so I got bored and killed him myself. I probably got the killing techniques from my parents knowing they were death eaters." I laughed as I tried to walk away but tripped over my feet. Luckily Draco caught me and we started slowly walking back to my dorm once again.

"Daniella that's not how it works, just because your parents killed people doesn't mean that makes you a future killer."

Before I could respond we got to my dorm, Draco walked me to my bed still holding onto my arm and told me I should lay down because it helps with the dizziness.

He was walking out of my room before I yelled for him, "Draco don't you think you should stay, you know in case the drink has a bad effect on me or something. You can sit on the couch next to my bed."

Right as Draco sat down I asked him the stupid question I ask everyone, "What's your favorite color?"

He looked at me with a confused expression. "What do you mean, what's my favorite color?" He said, with a soft gleam in his eyes.

"I mean what's your favorite color! Mine would definitely be green, but not bright green. That's far too eye-catching. Maybe forest green or teal, actually no not teal I'd like to say forest green."

"My favorite color is blue." Draco responded.

"Tomorrow is going to be a bloody mess at the Pureblood banquet."

"Why's that?" Asked Draco still looking at me.

"Well first of all you're supposed to go with your parents and as you can tell mine are very much dead, and second, I've always hated them. I mean they are just an underlying competition to see which pureblood family is the richest and who dresses the best. I mean being pureblood is bad enough. All of us are just these arrogant people that think we are so much better than everyone just because we were born into a certain bloodline. I bet if you asked any pureblood here to duel with Hermione, she would win without a doubt."

"If you would like to attend as a guest with my family you can. I mean you won't get much from it knowing how shitty my parents are but I mean seeing as you don't have anyone to go with, it wouldn't hurt."

"You know what, why not."

"Great, It's a date." Draco said cheerfully as if he thought I would say no.

"I'm assuming your family is wearing all black."

"Obviously"

"I'm going to wear hot pink."

"Ella I don't think--"

"I was kidding."

I layed there staring at him, the effects of the 'mystery drink' had worn off but I didn't want Draco to leave. As much as I thought I hated him, when I was around him I felt like he actually cared about what I had to say. That was unless we were in public.

Still laying down on my bed I rolled off my side and onto my back. "Draco. Why do you hate me so much? I mean over the Holiday it actually seemed like we started something. What changed? I mean now you're tormenting me as much as you can publicly but as soon as no one is around you start acting like you did during the Holiday."

He didn't speak for a long moment. I sat up from my bed in exasperation. "Don't you have a reason? Because if you're not going to say anything you might as well leave."

"You really want to know why?" Draco's voice was laced over with anger, but something else too. Yet, I couldn't quite place it. "Because I can't get you out of my head. You occupy every thought, every waking moment, and I hate you for it."

He continued as he stared out of my window, seemingly not wanting to meet my gaze, but then all of a sudden he turned his head towards me and looked into my eyes. He gazed at me with a trace of remorse. And what seemed to be affection? "I don't understand?" I murmured, thoughts racing.

"What is there not to understand? You remember that book you had during our third year? The book with all the notes in is explaining how you wish you weren't a part of a friend group who had to be enemies with Draco Malfoy and how it went missing at the end of the year? When I have to go home for the summer I read it all the time, it's what keeps me going. It reminds me of what I've been working towards."

A small smile pushed at my lips, "What is it that you are working towards?"

"A world where we don't have to be enemies to survive." He took a deep breath in, it seemed as if he was deciding if he should say more or not. As if he wasn't used to ever being vulnerable. "A world where we can be something without needing to be scared of it."

Almost immediately after he finished talking, he got up and left my dorm, closing the door behind him without a word. As much as I tried to hate him, it was like everything that I have always wanted to tell him he had just told me.

- - - - - - -

I woke up the next morning in a rush to find an outfit for the Banquet. I wasn't sure if Draco still wanted me to attend with his family but I was going to, and that was that. I finally found my dress I had brought for the Yule ball but never got to wear. It was a long, sleek black dress that made my brunette hair look light.

I headed into my bathroom so I could get my dress on and do my makeup before I had to leave with Draco for the banquet which was held at the Malfoy Manor. It didn't take too long to get ready and as I left my bathroom, I looked at my slick back ponytail one more time before grabbing my purse and leaving my dorm.

I slowly started walking down the stairs to leave the castle, desperate not to trip on my dress and heels. I almost immediately locked eyes with Draco after realizing he was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. The way he looked at me was indescribable. He looked at me as if he was in a dream, or simply imagining it. I got to the bottom of the staircase and locked arms with Draco.

"Does this fit the criteria?" I asked jokingly, catching him off guard.

"I think I would have preferred the hot pink." Draco said and I slapped his arm. The rest of the way to The Malfoy Manor was quiet, not the bad awkward type of quiet, the good kind.

We finally arrived and Draco whispered to me carefully. "Stay with me or at least where everyone else is and don't stray off to other rooms. Got it?"

"Loud and clear."

The party was almost half way over before I found Draco by the window. "Are we allowed to go outside?" I asked Draco, looking out the window towards the meadow behind his house.

Draco didn't say anything but only grabbed my hand and led me outside and to the meadow. We laid down in the tall flowers and stared off into the sky watching the stars and flowers move from the breeze.

"You know I hated my parents, right." I said out of the blue. I don't know why I was bringing up the topic of my parents, but ever since they had died I felt a need to tell someone what they did to me growing up. Or at least part of it.

"Yeah?"

"Well I mean I did, I hated them but now that they're gone I feel like I'm second guessing myself. I mean I keep thinking about everything they did to me when I was growing up but sometimes I can't tell if I'm just being dramatic or not. I mean I've never really gotten any gifts in my life, my dad never brought me home flowers on Valentines day, or actually ever and my mom and I never spent mothers day together. There was a lot more than that, that was actually bad but I don't know, I feel like other people probably have it worse and I should just be grateful I even had a place to live."

"What did they do to you?"

I shook my head even though I knew he couldn't see me."

We were quiet for a while before I turned my head back towards Draco. "Guess what?"

"What?"

"Today's my birthday."