The holidays flew past as fast as they had come. Before Lilith knew it, she was stepping on the Hogwarts Express for the very first time (having never left since she was first brought to Hogwarts). Draco slumped onto one of the carriage's seats with Lilith in tow. As she claimed a spot of her own, she shrieked, "This is wonderful!"

"It's not that brilliant."

"I wonder if any muggle has ever accidentally stumbled into the hole," she pondered as she lifted a finger to her chin. This caused Draco's throat to vibrate with a slight chuckle, but he masked it by turning his head to the window as soon as Lilith attempted to query his response.

"I don't believe they can," he informed her, calmly. His attitude was full of tranquil - it was completely new to Draco, and he had never felt such relief after being free from his father.

Hermione Granger scampered by the carriage, alone. She had a solemn, concerned mien - Draco observed, "Potter and Weasley aren't with that mudblood."

"I wonder where they've gotten to."

Draco remained silent. Small talk peeved him intensely. It was awkward, and uncomfortable, and he was just waiting for Lilith to bring up his father's actions on their holiday. He knew she'd never want to stay with him again. The worst part was that he did not understand why it had come to bother him so much. He had no exceptional feelings towards the girl, in fact, he deemed it most likely that he just pitied her, which in itself was something Draco Malfoy did not often experience.

"Your father..."

It was only then that Draco took the pleasure of studying Lilith's face further - her features were more grey than usual, her lips shrunken and cracked; her eyes were carrying some heavy weight underneath them. He didn't recall her cheeks being so slim, but he reminded himself that it wasn't often he gazed at her with such intensity. However, Lilith's nose was still tiny and pointed, her eyes were still placed perfectly evenly apart and her face, overall, still looked somewhat pretty.

Upon his investigation of the weakened girl opposite him, Draco discerned something that had definitely slipped his notice. There was a healing crack, a cut, an injury - right on Lilith's lip, on the left side, and he swore he could see a microscopic patch of dried blood.

"He tried to hurt you?"

Lilith's hand immediately rose to her pouted mouth, confirming Draco's suspicions. He shook his head profusely and with a new type of rage. Never had he had a friend to become protective over, but this was his chance.

"Why?" He questioned as he leaned closer towards Lilith, reviewing the mark. The boy adjudged it harmless enough.

"Why what?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"We were in your house. I didn't want to cause an argument, or anything. I didn't really want him to do the same to you," Lilith leaked. She pursed her lips.

"I understand."

Lilith's eyes darted to meet Draco's. They were more silvery than usual - they appeared as though somebody was shining a bright light behind them. He looked more alive. Meanwhile, Draco saw something in Lilith's globes that he'd never seen before. If he had to put it into a literal sense, he would say they were red. She was pained.

Draco was not one for sympathy, Lilith knew that. But it couldn't help but reach into her mind that maybe, just maybe, she had a chance of a real friendship. Nobody wanted to be friends with her from age five. Children of eleven and up just hadn't taken any interest in her. Now, her capability was at its peak, and Draco was honestly the only person she had mutually shown intrigue in.

"I don't want to ruin your relationship with your father."

"Why not? It's already crumbling," Draco remarked.

Lilith suspired sharply, "It's because I don't want you to grow up fatherless like I have."

"Didn't he die when you were five?" Draco asked, recalling a conversation they'd had over the break.

"Died, I suppose..." Lilith whispered into the air. She couldn't tell if she was talking to Draco, herself, no one - all she knew was that she was certain she'd regret the next words that spilled from her lips like ink. "I killed him."

Draco, for probably the first time in his life, completely stuttered on his words. "H-how?"

"I don't know, Draco."

"Do you even remember anything, Lovell?"

"I had my palm out, flat, like this," Lilith choked out as she held her hand in the air. It faced Draco, shaking and as straight as an arrow. He reached his hand out, as she had, and placed his to meet hers.

"I'm sorry," he said, focusing on keeping their hands still. As he lowered them together, his fingers wrapped around hers for a brief moment before retreating to his lap.

She blushed, gently. Although she had no romantic intentions, this was far from how close she'd ever been to a boy before. Lilith told him, "You don't have to be sorry. It was my fault."

"How can it be your fault if it was an accident?"

"I'm sure I could have stopped myself."

"You were five, Lilith. A lot of five-year-old children can't even stop themselves from crapping."

"When you put it like that," she smiled, "I suppose I can't blame myself."

Draco nodded. Once again, his lips refrained from movement, and his voice was contained. They reached Hogwarts in no time, both of them taking their turns to head off to get changed before returning to the company of each other. Their friendship was simple and came to them at ease. But would it withstand the pressure and strain that Lucius Malfoy was imposing upon it? Lilith considered that before she even knew it, Draco could turn to the dark side along with his dad. 

It had become her greatest terror. Yet as the day and night continued on, and they created a beautiful blend of navy and sapphire, Lilith's worries depleted into dreams.