Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

A/N: First fan fic EVER! Be nice and review!

Draco Malfoy was a lot of things, cold, arrogant, mean, full of himself, and often times cruel, but he was not a cold blooded killer. The thought of death scared him. Killing someone? Oh he could never do it. He couldn't if he tried, and he tried numerous times, and failed miserably. The worst failure was this one, even though the man ended up dead, Draco was as good as dead once Voldemort found out that Snape had to step in and do the deed for him. His family was going to die, he was going to die. And now that Dumbledore was dead it seemed that all hope was gone. Or was it really? Potter was still alive, but it was a known fact that Dumbledore helped him a lot. That was one of the reasons Voldemort wanted him out of the way, taking away another of Potter's allies, especially Dumbledore, would surely affect him. But would it stop Potter? He contemplated these things while walking beside Snape.

"Where exactly are we going?"

"Be quiet. We can't let anyone hear us!" Snape looked all around him. What he was looking for Draco had no idea, they were in the middle of a field and there was no one in sight. "Grab my arm." Draco hesitated. "Now!"

Draco grabbed his armed and felt the uncomfortable sensation of apparition. When they landed Draco had no idea where they were. They were standing outside of an old house. Snape motioned for him to follow him inside the house. He did as he was told as Snape checked outside before shutting the door and locking it and putting up charms on the house.

"Follow me." Snape said in a hushed tone.

He followed him into the living room where he was motioned to sit down. Snape sat across from him. An awkward silence came about.

"What exactly happened back there?" Draco asked. He had known that Snape was to protect him, but he had no idea that he would carry out the dead if he failed to do it himself.

Snape ignored the question and asked, "Draco, do you want to serve the Dark Lord?"

He was taken aback at this. Did he? Absolutely not. He didn't want to waste his life away serving someone who made him torture and kill other human beings like his father and aunt Bellatrix. His father's marriage suffered from it, his relationship with his son suffered from it, and Narcissa was suffering now because Draco was being dragged into it as well because of Lucius' failure with Potter. Aunt Bellatrix was completely out of her mind. He did not want to be like them, but he stayed quiet. It was obvious that Snape did, he killed Dumbledore.

"Draco, I need you to be honest with me. Do you or do you not wish to serve the Dark Lord?"

"Well, if I'm being completely honest," he hesitated for a moment, "well, no."

"Good." Draco's jaw dropped in shock.

"But you killed Dumbledore!"

"There are many things about Dumbledore, Harry Potter, and I that you do not know." He said calmly.

"Wh-what do you mean?"

"I mean that there are reasons other than the fact that I made the Unbreakable Vow with your mother that I would do it if you failed to kill him." Draco's head was spinning. What on earth does Potter have to do with this?

"First, before I explain Dumbledore, I must explain something else to you. " Draco nodded and so Snape continued. "You know that I went to school with James and Lily Potter, correct?" Draco nodded again, he was getting anxious. "Well Potter and I didn't get along, but Lily and I did. I met her before Hogwarts with her sister Petunia. She was doing some magic and I just had to speak with her. I then discovered that she was a muggle-born. Her sister took an immediate disliking to me, but I didn't care, I just wanted to get to know Lily. We became friends, much to Potter's dismay. I was sorted into Slytherin, she into Gryffindor, but she wanted to remain friends. I did too. Potter and his friends were terrible to me in school, all because of my friendship with Lily. One day, I got tired of it, and I," Snape couldn't seem to finish what he was saying.

"You what?"

"I-I called her a mudblood. She never forgave me, but I was in love with her. I regretted it immediately but that did no good. So I became a Death Eater, that's what everyone was doing then, some because they wanted too, some were under the Imperius, and some out of fear."

Draco was immediately reminded of himself, he took a sharp intake of breath.

"It turned out that the Dark Lord wished to kill the Potters. I begged him not to kill Lily, he refused. So I went to Dumbledore and we made a deal after they were killed. I was to be a spy for him and the Order and I was to protect Lily's son." Things were starting to click into place for Draco. "I've saved Potter numerous times, helped Dumbledore and the Order all the while appearing a faithful servant to the Dark Lord, and I've been good at what I do. I did not kill Dumbledore for the Dark Lord, Dumbledore asked me to do it, he was going to die very soon anyways."

Draco was in shock. They sat there in silence for what felt like hours, but had only been a few minutes.

"What does any of that have to do with whether or not I serve the Dark Lord?" Draco asked. He was confused beyond return.

"Draco, would you take the help of the Order and in return help Potter? They can protect your family and you."

"What do you mean help Potter? What about Weasel and Granger? Aren't they helpful enough? I'm sure they don't want me around" He said grimly.

"Dumbledore gave Potter a mission and he needs help, and in return your family can be given protection."

"Does Potter know about this plan?"

"No, you'll have to ask and explain to him, just as I have to do to the Order."

"What kind of mission is Potter on?

"Dumbledore would not say, but you will find out if you choose to go and he chooses to let you."

"He won't allow me to go, you know that."

"Oh I think he will. Dumbledore said this task is extremely dangerous and he needs help."

"Can't another member of the Order do it and I still get protection?"

"No, Dumbledore wanted Potter, Weasley, Granger, and you."

"Why me?"

"I do not know Draco. Just please, accept it."

Draco sat there for a moment, this was a lot to take in at once. Spending ungodly amounts of time with Potter, the Weasel and Granger? No thank-you. But if he helped, he could gain the Malfoy name respect and give his family protection from Voldemort.

He breathed in and said, "Yes, I'll do it."

"Good. Now go to bed. We have to leave early in the morning to get where we're going."

"Can't we just apparate there?"

"Yes, but you're going to have a lot of things to talk about, as will I." And with that Snape got up and showed Draco to his room.

He went into the room and changed into some pajamas. He stalked over to the bed, just now realizing how tired he was and layed down. It didn't take long until he fell into a deep slumber and had the strangest dream of a memory of him as a child with a certain bushy-haired bookworm.