A/N: So quite a few people actually told me privately that they genuinely cried when Emerlyn said she didn't love Draco, and I feel responsible for a few tears. However, I promise you that better chapters are coming soon! 

- Evelyn =)

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I quickly wiped away the left-over frozen tears glued to my cheeks, as I stood up to face her.

"Nar...cissa..erm..what brings you here?" I inquired recovering from the cracks in my voice.

"Nothing.." she looked away, sticking her eyes to the ground. "I was here... to visit an old friend of mine..." she continued, an icy type of smoke exiting her mouth.

"She was like a friend I never had before...unfortunately she passed away.."Narcissa finished. 

"I'm really sorry to hear that" I sympathized with her pain. Who even was she? 

"Along with your parents, she was also buried in Godric's Hollow."

I stood in front of my parent's grave covering their names. "Yea, I gave my parents a visit as well..."

After a few minutes of chatting we headed back, returning to the same Malfoy Manor; smelling the same unique peppermint scent. I felt the warmth of the manor meet my skin in every way possible as the cold and stiffness slowly faded away. As I entered everyone had already awoken except Lucius who seemed to be absent.

I noticed Bellatrix and Draco having a conversation, his head slightly towards me, and his expression dropped, his eyebrows furrowed together. "Where were you?" he questioned asserting his dominance over me.

"She was with me, Draco," Narcissa answered for me, his expressions changing once again. I felt as though the only person I could truly be safely around was Narcissa. 

For her to pass down this charming necklace was strange. She must have done it for a reason. 

However, she was the wife of a killer. She could be just like them and possibly be deceiving me.

Possibly, she could be the most manipulative of them all.

I had to remind myself. This was not my family.

I do not belong here. Why do I keep forgetting that?

Thought about the devil, and the devil came to me. 

"Emerlyn, I completely forgot to mention this." Narcissa approached me from behind. "Do you have your dress robes ready?"

Dress robes ready for what? 

I glared over at Draco. He looked a bit tense and swallowed a harsh lump in his throat. "Mum.." guilt poured into Draco's tone. "I forgot to tell her..."

Narcissa seemed enraged and furious by Draco's response. "You forgot.. to tell her, and you didn't bother mentioning it later, either?" 

Draco let silence fall upon him and left the hall completely along with Bellatrix, just leaving me and Narcissa all alone. Narcissa turned her attention toward me and cleared her throat.

"Well, every New Years' eve," Narcissa stated. "There is a ball hosted for all high-ranked families in the wizarding world, and this time we the Malfoy's were the ones selected to host this ball."

How did I never know this?

"I don't have anything quite fancy with me at the moment," I responded conflicted.

"That's fine, we can go shopping tomorrow, as most shops are closed today." She flashed a friendly smile.

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"Merry Christmas, Draco." The whole day had almost passed by, yet Draco had not said a word to me. He glanced for a second then continued whatever he was doing. 

I was entirely sick of his behavior now. Three months had gone by yet the conflict between I and Draco had not improved even slightly. When his friends told me he was stubborn in what he was doing, they really meant it. 

"Look, Draco," I called him out once again. "If you continue to ignore me this is never going to end, let's communicate our way out of this!" I suggested, just a glimpse of hope rose in me hoping he'd listen and let go of his stubbornness.

"What's there to communicate?"  He let out a laugh, this wasn't a typical laugh. It contained affliction, misery, and vulnerability. Almost as though, he was laughing away what was hurting him the most. 

To that I could not respond, I let my hopes fade away in thin air just like dust. I turned around to free myself from his intoxicating misery when he got a hold of my wrist spinning me around.

He took the chance and pinned both of my wrists to the wall that faced behind me. My arms crashed with the smooth wall. 

Our noses were so close to meeting one another. We breathed the same given oxygen. I knew he had eaten something minty as his minty breath almost intoxicated me.

"Answer my question." He ordered. "What is there to communicate."

"Let. me. go. Draco." 

"Y'know, when I was still in Hogwarts, inexperienced in dating. I use to mock people who willingly stayed in one-sided or toxic relationships." His eyes stung in tears.

"I would tell them to just leave." He continued. "But now, I feel as though karma's caught up to me for being so careless to all those people going through what I'm going through right now."

Before he could continue, I freed myself from his dominance and opened the door to leave.

Nevertheless, Draco was quicker and faster.

"We are not done with this conversation, Emerlyn!" He came forward and shut the door. 

Just then, Narcissa called for me. "Emerlyn!" She shouted from downstairs and reluctantly Draco let free of the door handle, I stepped out as guilt and agony fluttered deep in my heart.

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26 December. 

I woke up to spot dozens of house elves beginning to decorate the Malfoy Manor. They were just starting so I wasn't sure what exactly they were going for. I spotted tons of house elves lining up on one another and placing many golden and massive chandeliers in dark places.

Most of them seem to be in a fit of rush, I guess this ball was really going to be fanatical and exciting. 

 Narcissa approached me. "Are you ready?"

To that, I nodded in agreement. "Give me a second, Bella said she wanted to go as well," to that Narcissa left to call for Bellatrix.

Out of curiosity, I followed many of the house elves and entered a passageway that was completely dimmed down, a dark empty hall. I began to examine the leering hallway, its unique drawling aura calling my name, calling for me.

There was a long black carpet placed beneath my feet, however when I reached the middle of the hallway. Under my feet, beneath the thin layer of carpet, I felt a different type of material.

The floor was smooth, but whatever I was stepping on was not. It felt harsh and rocky. 

The Auror in me had awoken. I was confident, that unfolding the whole line of the carpet would steal a lot of my precious time. I took a step back and underneath my skirt, as I slipped out my shining - silver dagger.

I frantically placed my first cut on the carpet. Beneath the carpet exposed a pack of harsh wood, just then a really faint voice called out for me. "Emerlyn!" 

I guess I'll have to investigate this further when I come back.

A/N: I think I have an obsession with creating suspense and mystery. 

Updating on Monday!