"Harry, are you sure about this? This is Malfoy we're talking about! He tried to kill Dumbledore. At best, he'll be another Mundungus!" Hermione whispered.

Harry who had let Draco in and sent him upstairs to unpack the few belongings he brought with him, gave Hermione a serious look. In a normal voice he said, "Hermione, he says he wants protection. Why shouldn't we give it to him? It's what Dumbledore would've done. He may want to help us later in return."

"But Harry," started Hermione.

"Snape killed Dumbledore." Harry interrupted, "Besides, you haven't seen what I've seen. Trust me, he needs help. I'm not going to refuse it to him because we're not the best of friends or because he's in Slytherin. Just because Voldemort was in that house and just because Slytherin himself was a pure blood elitist doesn't mean they 're all the same. If Malfoy's had a change of heart then I certainly welcome it and we should make the most of it."

Hermione, dumbstruck at his words needed a moment to recover. "Harry, it's a nice theory but Dumbledore trusted Snape and look where that got him. Malfoy's as elitist as Voldemort."

"Maybe he used to be. War changes everything Hermione. Don't forget that." advised Harry.

Harry went to the kitchen leaving Hermione more dumbfounded than ever. Okay, maybe Malfoy was tad more concerned with surviving the war than with upholding his closed-minded beliefs but that still didn't mean he could be trusted. Harry didn't seem to care about Malfoy's reasons. In fact, Harry seemed absolutely convinced that Malfoy meant what he said about needing help from the Order. Does he know something? Hermione wondered. You haven't seen what I've seen…

A light bulb went off in Hermione's head. In a second she was in the kitchen. "Harry Potter! You're supposed to be closing your mind to Voldemort! "

"Caught that, did you?"

Hermione could tell he was annoyed but she didn't care. "Dumbledore wanted you to close your mind. Or do you want another incident like what happened to Sirius?"

"Of course I don't!" Harry shot back, "It's just not that simple."

"Harry, I know that if you worked at it, closing your mind, using Occlumency would be no problem!" stated Hermione.

"Well look at you two, fighting like an old married couple." Draco Malfoy appeared in the doorway and leaned on the frame. His arms were folded across his chest.

Hermione glared at him. Even when he supposedly needed help he was still so condescending. "You better watch it. We can throw you out as easily as we let you in."

"I guess but it seems to me that decision is not yours to make, now is it? It seems you are as much as guest as I am." said Draco.

"Harry may want you here but I assure you he's in the minority." snapped Hermione.

Draco turned to Harry, "Is she always so touchy?"

"Malfoy." Harry began, "Allow me to lay down some ground rules. If you expect to stay here for any length of time you are to treat everyone with respect. If you refer to anyone as a mudblood, you're gone. Any mention of anyone being a blood traitor, then you're out. As far as Voldemort's concerned, you are one now. Egging people on just to get a rise out of them won't do much for keeping you here either. And finally, unless I ever decide otherwise, consider yourself on probation."

Draco gave him a stony look fully expressing his dislike of the rules but he nodded. "Fine. Are there consequences if someone eggs me on? I mean, what's the equality situation here?"

"No one will bother you if you don't bother them. We're all adults and I'm sure we can all act civilly. Right, Hermione?" Harry glanced in her direction.

"I can, of course. I do however, still have serious doubts about this Harry. I'm sure Ron will agree. What about our little project?" she hinted.

"That won't be a problem. " Harry said simply.

"Yeah, sure it won't." Hermione muttered.

They were alerted to a new presence when the front door once again opened and closed. The lack of yelling from Mrs. Black's portrait suggested to Hermione that the Weasleys had arrived. On the other hand, it was far too quiet to be very many of them. Hermione was unsurprised to see that only Ron came through the door to the kitchen.

"Uh, guys? I don't think you've noticed but there's a blonde Death Eater sitting at the kitchen table." was Ron's greeting.

Draco turned and gave Harry and Hermione a look plainly asking what they intended to do about Ron. Hermione thought he was dying to say 'I told you so.' but he remained silent, clearly sure that if he spoke he'd wind up getting the boot.

"Yes, Harry's decided to give Malfoy a place to stay for the time being." Hermione filled in. She wanted Ron to know, and the world for that matter, that she in no way approved or was responsible for this turn of events.

Harry explained to Ron about what just took place and Ron, though he was obviously just as skeptical as Hermione, agreed to be civil.

"So where's everyone else?" asked Hermione, keen to change the subject.

"At The Burrow. We didn't want to clutter your house with all our stuff, Harry." Ron explained, "They'll be here eventually. Might die from shock when they get here, though."

"Is it really that unbelievable that I don't want to fight for the Dark Lord anymore?" Draco interjected. He sounded irritated.

"Yes." said Ron instantly.

Harry looked as if he was about to say something diplomatic but Hermione jumped in first. "What do you expect? Your family's supported Voldemort since he first rose to power! You yourself are more of the same. Pure blood this and wealthy that! When have you ever been any different? When have you ever been sympathetic to muggleborns? Even now, I'm positive you couldn't care less about them. It's all about you and whether or not you survive! Isn't it?"

Draco cocked his head to one side. "Only half right this time, Granger. I don't expect you to understand nor do I need you to. Potter's let me stay here and that's enough."

Harry and Ron who had been staring in surprise at Hermione, proceeded now to look at Draco. Hermione too, gave him a curious look . She didn't know how to respond. Was being straightforward really that foreign a concept for him?

"Potter." Draco addressed Harry.

"Yes?"

"I can teach you Occlumency."

"I beg your pardon?"

"f you want, that is. It can be a sort of payment thing, for letting me stay or whatever." Draco gave them all a cursory glance before taking his leave of the room and going, Hermione presumed, to the bedroom Harry had given him.

"He knows Occlumency?" Ron asked incredulously.

"Er, yeah. I overheard Snape discussing it with him last year." answered Harry.

"I can't believe he offered to help you!" exclaimed Hermione.

"I never thought I'd say this but I think we need to give him more credit." Harry said.

"And you're sure he's on our side now?" asked Ron.

"As sure as I'll ever be. I know it's weird that he's here but by no means does he have a free pass." sighed Harry, "I haven't forgotten what he's done. From the way he's treated us to helping Death Eaters get into Hogwarts. Believe me, he's going to make up for it."

"At least you haven't gone totally barmy." Hermione said, smiling for the first time since Malfoy showed up at the door.

Harry smiled too. "You might change your mind. You're in charge of keeping an eye on him."

"What? Why me?" asked Hermione.

"Well you're the cleverest. Not to mention the calmest. The most patient. It makes sense, really." explained Harry.

"You're right, I changed my mind. This is never going to work." insisted Hermione.

"It's just till the end of the summer, Hermione. Then we'll be at school and before you know it we'll be gone." said Harry.

"Yeah, two months later. What if what we can't find what we're looking for?" Hermione worded her question carefully in case Malfoy was eavesdropping.

"We will. I know it. And you'll be fine keeping an eye on Malfoy. I really don't think you have anything to worry about." said Harry.

Ron snorted. "Harry, that remains to be seen."

"Hermione, you wanna bring him some food? I'm sure he's hungry." said Harry.

"I'm not going to be his house-elf, Harry. If Malfoy wants something to eat, he can damn well come down here and eat!" said Hermione.

"Please, Hermione? Just for today, I promise. You think this is awkward for us but he's the one who came here with his tail between his legs." pleaded Harry.

"Fine." said Hermione.

She grabbed a plate from the cupboard and started measuring out portions of the now cold meal for Malfoy. After using a heating charm, Hermione grabbed the plate with both hands and marched out of the kitchen. She sighed on her way up the stairs. Maybe Harry was right. Maybe she was acting paranoid and just plain silly. Even Ron had accepted Malfoy's presence without much fuss. If she really thought about it, there wasn't much to worry about. He was technically a Death Eater but he wasn't very good at it. He basically owed Harry for letting him stay and therefore Hermione could expect him to be decent. Otherwise, well, he was someone else's problem.

Balancing the plate on one hand she knocked on the only closed door in the hallway. Malfoy answered the door. Gone was the travelling cloak and Hermione saw that he'd become thinner since she last saw him.

"They starve you at Death Eater boot camp or something?" asked Hermione.

"Or something." replied Draco.

"Well, here. Courtesy of Harry." said Hermione, holding out the plate.

Draco stared blankly at it. "Not hungry."

"Don't be silly. You have to eat!" insisted Hermione.

"Granger." said Draco.

"What?"

"Don't be bossy." answered Draco.

"Unbelievable!" Hermione exclaimed. "Do you think it's poisoned or something?"

"Nope, as a matter of fact, I don't." said Draco.

"Then eat, already."

"I said I'm not hungry."

"Okay fine, don't eat for all I care. But don't say I didn't try." said Hermione, annoyance growing.

"You gonna leave now or what?" Draco asked impatiently.

"No, actually. I have a couple of questions for you." stated Hermione. She side stepped him and entered the room placing the plate of food on the desk beside his bed.

"I probably won't answer them." warned Draco.

Hermione chose to ignore this. "What made you switch sides?"

"Pass."

"But that was only the first one." Hermione protested.

Draco glowered at her. "I said pass."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You know, the faster you answer, the faster I'll leave."

"You could just leave." Draco suggested.

"How did you find Grimmauld Place?" asked Hermione.

Draco looked at her like she had a second head then responded as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Snape told me where it was."

"This place is under a Fidelius Charm." Hermione informed.

"Let me guess. Dumbledore was your secret-keeper." said Draco knowingly.

"Of course! The only two ways you can find a place under a Fidelius Charm is if the secret-keeper tells you or if they die and someone else with the information tells you. The place you are looking for is no longer unplottable unless a new secret-keeper is assigned!" exclaimed Hermione.

Draco rolled his eyes at her lengthy response. He supposed it wouldn't be Granger if she didn't sound like a textbook. "Naturally. Dumbledore would never have told, would he? He was so noble he'd rather die than see this place found. You Gryffindors are all the same. No sense of self preservation."

"The problem with Slytherins is that's all you are." Hermione countered. Despite what Harry said, she was quickly losing patience. "Even when other Slytherins are at risk, it's still every man for himself. Is that what happened with Snape? Did he abandon you when you needed his help the most?"

Hermione hadn't meant it condescendingly. Not really but she could tell that's how Draco had taken it. She really had wanted to know what had become of their Potions Master but now she was more concerned with the murderous glare in Draco's face.

"Get out. Now." he said immediately.

"Oh come on, and you call me touchy?" asked Hermione.

Draco wasn't having it. Holding the door open and staring out of it he repeated. "Out."

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "No."

"Excuse me?" Draco whipped his head around.

"You heard. I'm not leaving just yet." answered Hermione.

"What does it take to get rid of you?" asked Draco, exasperated.

"You're going to answer my questions and then I'll leave peacefully." continued Hermione, "Harry might've let you stay no questions asked but I don't think it works like that. This is a war we're fighting and you were on the other side. Maybe you don't want to fight for either side anymore, I don't know. But if we're going to help you then I think it's important we find out more about you. I don't even need to trust you fully but you better hope I believe your story."

"Or what?" asked Draco.

"Harry's my best friend. If I tell him you're lying or planning to hurt someone or trying to carry out some mission Voldemort has planned, make no mistake, he will believe me. So you better get your story straight and don't think I won't look into it to make sure you're telling the truth." said Hermione seriously.

"Did you become an Auror over the summer?" asked Draco sarcastically.

"Like I said, we're in a war. To be frank, I don't really care who you call 'mudblood' or if you start arguments just for a reaction. Trust is hard to come by. If you want to stay you're going to have to earn some." Hermione replied.

"Okay Granger. If that's what I need to do to get you of my back then I'll tell you what you want to know. I'll tell you how I got to this point." Draco agreed.

"Good, then let's begin." said Hermione.

"Take a seat." said Draco, "This might take awhile."