A/N: Yes, I know I have another fanfic to be writing right now. But I must confess, getting Draco and Hermione to fall in love is such a challenge that I could write it in so many different ways. So I shall. I will still update my other fic, but I want to write this one too. If anyone disputes that, they can leave a review and tell me why. I'll ignore you, but I'll have another review!

Disclaimer: Not mine. I wish.

Chapter One: Sure of Soul and Sure of Heart.

The darkness never seemed so heavy. Mists from the dementors swirled around the grounds anything three dimensional like it wanted to swallow it. It enveloped Draco Malfoy like an extra cloak as he trudged up the walk to his family's extravagant Manor. The moon drifted in and out of focus as the mists curled around the white turrets of the mansion. Malfoy kicked a stone as he walked. Only one more week until he was able to Apparate by himself, and then he could go wherever he pleased. He could even start to accomplish something for the Dark Lord. Wait…He didn't think that.

"Father," he called out into the effervescent darkness. "Stop that." His father, not alone in the Manor, sent his son a mental image of a long, elliptical table, completely full except for one seat. Draco's seat was the only one that stood empty. He was almost late. As much as Draco would have liked to slow his pace just to annoy everyone in the dining room, his father sent him a warning thought. Tick tock, Draco. He picked up his pace and was in the foyer in a minute.

"Good evening my Lord," Draco said, with a slight bow. "Father." He nodded to each of the masked Death Eaters as he wound his way to his seat, to the right of his father. Everyone watched him as he walked, meticulously picking apart everything from his swagger to the way his cloak billowed about his muscled legs. When he scooted his chair into place, however, everyone's eyes shifted from Draco to the Dark Lord.

Voldemort was twirling his wand between his long, spindly fingers as he gazed at Draco curiously. Draco stared back for a few moments, then refocused his gaze to his father's chiseled profile, unable to bear the scarlet eyes a moment longer. Voldemort let out a low chuckle, and everyone fidgeted in their seats uncomfortably.

"So, Draco," he said softly, his intense gaze now fixed on the wand. "What can you tell me of the boy?" The Death Eaters around the table hissed at the mere mention of Harry Potter, but Voldemort held up a hand to silence them. They watched Draco intently.

"The half-wit headmaster has convinced them to return to school for their final year," Draco said, leaning back a little. "So Potter and Weasel and the Mudblood can't exactly focus on the war while they're studying for a Potion's exam," he stifled a small chuckle. "And Dumbledore told McGonagall that under any circumstance, if he were to fail, she would become Headmistress of Hogwarts, and Moody would become the leader of the Order of the Phoenix."

Voldemort stopped twirling his wand. "Interesting…" he said slowly, drawing out the word as long as possible, hissing a little at Nagini, who was wrapping herself around his shoulders. Draco shuddered a little and looked away from the snake. "It seems our esteemed Hogwarts Headmaster has made plans for his death…" He drew out his words like he was in deep thought, and Lucius caught Draco's eye and shrugged.

"I wonder how much time he has left." Voldemort said quietly. The cavernous room fell in silence, and even Snape, who was one Voldermort's direct right, had to lean in to hear the Dark Lord's words.

"My Lord?" he asked.

"How much time, Severus. How much time does he have left?" Voldemort said louder. "Dumbledore is obviously dying, I just want to know how much time he has left." He raised his thin finger to his cheek and stroked it absentmindedly while he thought. "And he said nothing of this to you, boy?" he directed at Draco.

"No my Lord," Draco said quickly. "I heard it all through an Extendable Ear, from the first floor landing."

"A what?" his father hissed at him.

"An Extendable Ear," Voldemort said dismissively. "A contraption invented by the Weasley boys, it's extremely effective. Very well, boy, you'll go back to your post tomorrow."

"My Lord," Draco said tentatively. "I go back to Hogwarts tomorrow."

Voldemort looked thoughtful. "Then I guess you'll just have to continue your mission at school, huh boy?" he said, looking at Draco again. Draco nodded, and his father gave an appreciatory nod. "I'll expect owls any instance you find anything out about the Order of Dumbledore, understand?" Draco nodded fervently. "Anything and everything," he repeated. "Nothing is inconsequential."

He stood up, and all the Death Eaters took it as their cue to leave. Even Voldemort himself swept out of the room in a swish of his cloak. Lucius and his son remained in their seats.

"You did well, son," Lucius said, clapping Draco on the shoulder. "You're well on your way to reinstating the power that is associated with the Malfoy name." Draco said nothing, but merely nodded stiffly. His father stared at him for a second, then took his leave as well.

Draco sat in the darkness and the silence for a long while after everyone else left. He thought about the things he had seen in battle with the Dark Lord, and things he had heard about he people he had killed in the Order of the Phoenix. How they had families, and loved ones, and they were just like them. But they were dead now. Just because some guy was on a power trip and wanted to take over the world. He thought of Dumbledore, who trusted him so completely, who had inducted him into the Order of the Phoenix earlier that day. He thought of his left forearm, which was still bare. Draco Malfoy wasn't sure if he could handle being on two sides of such a black and white issue. But when it came down to it, Draco Malfoy wanted to be gray.

He didn't want to be a part of this war anymore. He didn't want to spy on people, and he most certainly didn't want to kill. But if he betrayed the Order, he would die. If he betrayed the Dark Lord, he would die. There was nothing from stopping someone from either side finally getting fed up with him and just killing him on the street. Draco Malfoy was always knew he was a bad boy. His father was the Dark Lord's right hand man, after all. He was the epitome of bad.

But now…he wasn't so sure.

A/N: So tell me what you think. I know this was kind of a weird beginning, but it'll get better.