Disclaimer: I own nothing.
After Hermione, Harry and Ron departed the days seemed to drag on endlessly. Draco tried his best to occupy himself by helping Mrs. Weasley and Ginny around the house, and envied members of the order who were busy doing missions. That's when he decided he wanted to help too. He had overheard them saying they needed a new spy, as they had lost Snape.
He knew exactly how he could help them. The year before he had begun to learn to be an Animagus. Already he had managed to acquire a small tail which he could get rid of at will. The thought humoured him and one day, after he had helped clean up, he retired to his room and began to practice.
He improved gradually, until one clear and mild evening near the end of August he managed it at last. He was a small animal, and he had white fur and a small fluffy tail. He eagerly moved in front of a mirror to see what he had become.
His jaw dropped. He was a ferret. Oh the irony of it! He quickly transformed into himself again, then changed back. But the good thing was that he could become a small animal and he could do spy work for the Order. It was his only purpose left. And he wouldn't have to stay inside anymore because the Death Eaters didn't know he was an Animagus. He was free again at last.
He transformed back into himself once more and headed quickly to the kitchen where he met Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Lupin and Ginny. They all looked round when he entered. He calmly sat down facing them and said 'I have something important to tell you.'
They stared at him expectantly with wide eyes. He continued. 'I, erm, overheard you talking about needing a new spy not long back. I don't know if you have found one, but if you haven't then I can help you. I've just mastered Animagi. I can become a ferret. But the best thing is that not even my father knows about it.'
They all continued to stare at him, dumbstruck. It was Lupin who broke the silence. 'Show us.' He said.
Draco obeyed. Everyone's mouth fell open. 'This is brilliant!' said Mr. Weasley as Draco resumed his human form. 'It's true that we need a spy. What d'you think? Should we let him take on the job?' he turned to the others as he asked this.
They considered for a moment. 'Well it would be alright with me.' Said Mrs. Weasley, who had grown rather fond of Draco during the absence of the majority of her children.
'We would have to talk it over with the rest of the Order.' Said Bill. 'But I'm not sure if everyone would let him join somehow.'
'I don't want to join!' said Draco hastily. 'I don't want to know any of the Order's secrets. Dumbledore said it would be best that way anyway and I agree with him. I just want to pass the Death Eater's information on to you. I… I want to be of some use.'
'We will speak to the rest of the Order. See if we can come to a conclusion.' Said Lupin.
Draco beamed for the first time in many weeks.
He had to wait several days before the Order reached it's decision, and was overjoyed when they agreed to let him help. His first mission was to break into his former home, his father's mansion, and search for objects off a list Moody gave him.
He was nervous before he went, and anxious to do it right. To his surprise Ginny took pity on him and finally changed her attitude.
'I want to apologise for they way I've treated you and for not noticing that you've changed. I see that you are different now.' She told him solemnly.
'Thank you.' Draco replied. 'But I don't blame you after the way I've treated you all throughout the years. Now I've seen the error in my ways and I'm ashamed at my behaviour. I'm more sorry. I suppose all I can do now is make up for it and beg your forgiveness, yet I doubt I deserve such a thing.'
Ginny shook her head. 'I have forgiven you, and I believe Hermione has aswell, like most of the Order. I'm sure everyone will treat you as a trustworthy friend as time goes by.'
Ginny's forgiveness heartened him as he prepared himself for his mission that evening. At exactly five minutes to midnight he went down to the kitchen to find Ginny and several members of the Order awaiting him.
'Right.' Said Moody gruffly as Draco neared the table. 'Here's the list of things we're looking for. The ones underlined in red are most important. And you're sure you know all the counter-spells for the enchantments your father will have placed around the place?'
'Yes.' Said Draco, wincing when Moody said the word "father". As far as he, Draco, was concerned, he had no father.'
'You do realise he's bound to have Stealth Sensoring Spells all around, don't you?' said Moody.
'Of course.' Said Draco, insulted that Moody was treating him like he was stupid.
'And when you leave, try to leave everything as it was.' Moody said.
'Yes.' Draco relied. But he didn't know why Moody was telling him this. His father would probably figure it out immediately anyway. Still, it was worth a try.
'Right. Time to go then.' Moody growled, unlocking and opening the back door. Draco followed, with everyone murmuring things like "Good luck!". He was especially pleased when Ginny joined in. Then, with a signal from Moody, he Disapparated.
He arrived in shadowy woods. But he wasn't afraid. He had known these words since he was very young. He had grown up among them. Somewhere close by was the large clearing where he used to practice Quidditch in what seemed now to have been a different lifetime. He looked around, searching the trees for any sign of human life. But the darkness was still. He quietly crouched beside a tree and transformed. Then he ran towards the mansion he had once lived in.
The windows were all dark and many of them had closed shutters anyway. He reminded himself that his father had gone out tonight, the big house was empty, everything would go according to plan. He neared the back wall in which there was a heavy oak door. Draco had walked through it many a time. He transformed and pulled out his wand to set about muttering the counter-spells that would gain him undetected access to the mansion. Once this was accomplished he pushed the door open and walked inside. As soon as he did this his head began to swim as memories flooded into it. Closing the door behind him, he transformed back into a ferret again and made his way to the place where his father kept his dark stuff, a secret room on the second floor.
Although it was dark, he knew his way around perfectly. After all he had lived there all his life until recently. He passed the sitting room and he felt slightly mournful when he remembered himself and his parents sitting there countless times. Then remembering that it were his parent's fault he could no longer be with them he scampered up the stairs.
When he reached the second floor he stopped abruptly before stepping on to the landing. He could feel something different about the place. He quickly transformed, withdrew his wand and muttered a charm. A magical barrier appeared directly in front of him, criss-crossing from ceiling to floor and wall to wall. Cursing he racked his brains for the undoing of this spell. He couldn't remember. He knew that if he touched the barrier his father would be informed immediately. It was a stealth sensor, but different to the ones that had been downstairs. He could have kicked himself for not remembering. His first mission and he had failed already. He sat there in the dark for a while, trying to remember the counter-spell. It was on the tip of his tongue. It began with O. Then finally it came to him. Leaping to his feet in joy he performed the spell. The web-like barrier disappeared immediately.
He shivered slightly with nerves as he made his way towards the end of the corridor where he knew the secret door was hidden behind a portrait of one of his ancestors. The face in the portrait was that of an old woman's with frizzy grey hair, drooping cheeks and her eyes were milky white. Draco breathed in relief that she couldn't see him.
'Who's there? She asked in a reedy voice. 'Is that you Lucius?'
Draco deliberately made his voice a little deeper and said 'Yes.' He was good at imitating his father's voice. He had done it since the age of seven. He walked up to the portrait and scratched three of his nails half way down the length of the painting. The blind woman winced but the painting immediately transformed into a door. Glad that his father hadn't thought to change the lock, he opened it and walked through.
The room was dark and dusty. Before lighting his wand Draco checked again for any more magical protection around the place. There was none. His father was a fool for thinking that his most valuable stuff was well protected. Alright, nobody else would have got in without a family member having told them all the secret ways, but Draco marvelled at how much Lucius underestimated his son.
He took the list of things he needed out of his pocket and scanned it. There was about
ten objects on that list, four of which were underlined. He began to search.
Within twenty minutes he had found three of the underlined objects and two of the
others. With a flick of his wand he sent each of them back to the Burrow. He was just
searching for an ancient book when he heard a noise. He quickly left the room and,
transforming back into a ferret, he hid under a large chest in a shadowy corner of the
corridor, ears pricked for any sign of noise. He didn't have to wait long. Someone was
coming up the stairs.
He braced himself as the footsteps drew nearer, watching the top of the stairs. A minute
later two bat-like ears appeared, followed by a pair of huge brown eyes and a pointy nose,
and finally a small body dressed in a filthy grey rag. A house elf. He exhaled slowly. He
thought it might have been his father.
The house elf stopped on the top step and muttered something that sounded like an
incantation. When nothing happened her eyes widened even more in surprise and she
quickly turned and went back downstairs. When she had disappeared Draco came out of
his hiding place and followed.
When he reached the kitchen he saw the house elf letting an owl out of the window. He
knew she was warning her master. Without thinking twice Draco ran to the back door and
let himself out again, placing the security spells back on the door hurriedly. He knew it
was rather pointless but it might confuse his father about how he had got in. Then he ran
full pelt towards the woods and disapparated as soon as he knew he was out of sight.
The following morning Draco woke up happy for the first time in ages. His head was buzzing with everything the Order had said to him when he got back. They were all praising him, all relieved to see him back safely, glad that Lucius' house elf hadn't found out it had been Draco and Shacklebolt had even begun planning his next mission.
At first Draco had felt slightly disappointed that he hadn't managed to find the book, and although Moody had said it was a pity he hadn't got it, he also said that it wasn't Draco's fault. So by the time he had gone to bed he was pleased it had gone well all the same.
After breakfast Ginny suggested playing Quidditch in a nearby orchard. Mrs. Weasley opposed to it immediately, saying it was too dangerous, but Charlie, who was visiting, announced that he wouldn't mind joining them and keeping them safe at the same time. So off they went, brooms over their shoulders. Draco was glad he had kept his Nimbus with him.
Ginny played against Draco while Charlie was Keeper. Never having played Chaser much before, Draco found that Ginny was much better than him, but he didn't mind. He was glad of the challenge.
That evening, after dinner, Draco and Ginny sat in the garden and talked. They spoke about all sorts of things, their childhood, their future plans if the war ended soon, school, then came back to Draco's mission of the night before.
'How did you become an Animagus then?' asked Ginny.
'Just read up on how to do it, then taught myself.' Said Draco.
'Could you teach me?' said Ginny eagerly.
'Erm… I suppose. But it will take a long time 'till you can actually do it though. It took me all of last year and some of the year before. You have to work hard. And not everyone can succeed.'
'Great! I don't care how long it will take. Could you start teaching me now?' she said.
Draco grinned as he considered. 'Alright. If it makes you happy.'
Ginny beamed and threw her arms around him. 'Thanks Draco.'
Time went by slowly as autumn came, without a whisper from Hermione, Harry or Ron, and the Daily Prophet bringing news of more deaths everyday. Hogwarts remained closed so Ginny and Draco stayed at the Burrow. But it didn't stop them learning as McGonagall had sent them letters saying what they had to study for that year and the restriction of Underage sorcery was lifted. For obvious reasons, Defence Against the Dark Arts was incredibly advanced. Fortunately Lupin, who dropped by often, was able to help them with any doubts they had with the subject.
Draco managed to do four more successful missions in which he spied on various Death Eaters and passed on valuable information to the Order. Everyone loved him to bits and he began to feel at home at the Burrow. But the only thing missing was Hermione. He had sent a letter not long back and his owl had returned without it so he could only suspect she had received it. It was a little consolation that she was safe, but he still doubted. He knew he wouldn't be able to calm down until she replied.
Nobody else had received word either and Mrs. Weasley worried constantly, although she tried not to voice her fear too much. In fact, the Order members talked little about Harry and the others anyway, and when they did they always ended by assuring each other that they would be fine.
Then one evening at the beginning of October Mr. Weasley came in from work accompanied by Lupin. Both were looking tired and worried when they walked into the kitchen and everyone looked up from their dinner apprehensively. By the look of it they had more bad news.
'What's happened?' asked Mrs. Weasley, tapping the kettle with her wand and gesturing for them to sit down.
'It's terrible Molly.' Said Mr. Weasley. 'There was riot in Reading this afternoon and Scrimgeour's youngest granddaughter has been kidnapped. The Death Eaters are holding her hostage somewhere near Norwich and they're threatening to set Greyback on her unless he steps aside as Minister before the next full moon, which is at the end of the month. The Ministry can't do anything about it and it's likely that the girl will be attacked anyway even if he does stand down, so it's down to us to sort it out.'
'We really need to find out where exactly they are keeping her first of all.' Lupin said, continuing from where Mr. Weasley had left off. 'I think that would have to be down to our spy.' He looked at Draco as he said this, who had had a feeling this had been coming.
'Sure.' Said Draco. 'Count me in.'
'Great.' Said Mr. Weasley, smiling slightly. 'Once we've found out we'll have to plan a rescue mission. It's not going to be easy. It's the first time in a long time we've had to get involved with Ministry problems like this. Anyway, Alastor and Kingsley should be round in the morning to discuss this next mission of yours, Draco. But right now I could seriously do with some food.' And at his words his wife placed a large bowl of stew on the table in front of him and another one in front of Lupin.
Draco found out that they were keeping the girl in an old house on the outskirts of a small town a few miles to the east of Norwich. The Death Eaters were indeed serious about setting Greyback on her and saw it as some sort of joke. Draco felt sick when he heard Avery and Rookwood laughing about it, and felt even worse when he heard that they were using the Cruciatus Curse on her just for fun. She was seven years old for goodness sake! He wanted to jump out of his hiding place and start torturing them two there and then.
He had to spy on the Death Eaters nearly everyday to keep track on the girl's health. The Order had informed Scrimgeour that they had everything under control and to stay where he was. But the Dark Lord was getting impatient after two weeks, and so Mr. Weasley came home with more bad news.
'They're bringing the deadline forward.' He informed the kitchen full of Order members whom he had owled telling them to be there. Draco was also there. 'They say if Scrimgeour isn't out of the office by midnight on Tuesday they'll kill the girl and attack his family. The family will be safe as they're being put under high protection but as for the girl…'
There was some groaning around the kitchen and someone muttered 'This is our rescue plan out of the window.' Then Shacklebolt cleared his throat. Everyone looked round at him.
'We need our spy to keep watch on them again. I think it would be a good idea if you go tonight Malfoy.' He said, turning to him. 'At least that way we could find out a way to save the girl. We really do need to leave it as long as possible to get her out of there, even though she is suffering. If we act too soon there's bound to be a disastrous effect. We can't risk it.'
There was some more talking about this, then Shacklebolt looked at his watch and, seeing it was a quarter to eleven, decided Draco ought to go then. Already ready, Draco left immediately through the back door and disapparated.
A thin drizzle was falling when he arrived among some trees near the house where the girl was being kept. He shivered slightly in the cold as he looked at the house and saw a flickering light behind the curtains of a downstairs window. That was where the Death Eaters on guard usually sat, playing cards and drinking Firewhisky. Draco grimaced at the thought as he transformed and ran through the long grass that grew in the big garden. Some yards away from the wall he stopped by an overturned cardboard box. It was wet and soft and he shivered again as he crawled underneath it and found the entrance to the tunnel he had dug the first time he had come here. He ran down it and came to the foundations of the old house. There was a space between the bricks which he had also made the first time he had come. It had been easy to push the brick out of it's place as the cement had crumbled long before. He crept into the dusty space between the ground and the floorboards and could hear the voices of several men rather clearly.
'So the girl will be stunned and locked in the house?' the voice of one of the men was saying.
'Yes. Then we'll place a magical barrier in a perimeter all around the house at about a yard away from the wall itself, so if any Aurors come they won't be able to get in.' said a second voice. Draco realised with a jolt that it was his father's. 'Then if by midnight old Scrimgeour's not done as he's told we'll set fire to the place.'
There was laughter. Then someone else said 'I can just imagine the look on his face when he finds the body of his precious little granddaughter!'
'Yes but we're not going to see it are we?' said the first voice. 'He'll be with his Aurors. Still, it'll teach him for defying the Dark Lord.'
'And if we're lucky he might step down anyway out of guilt.' Said Lucius.
'It'll be a no go with his family though. There's no way we're going to get close enough to them to do any more damage.'
'Well we'll find some way of persuading him further. He can't stay in his Ivory Tower forever.'
Draco stayed some time longer but they talked no more of anything that might be valuable so he left, his insides squirming with hatred. It was the first time he had heard his father in over a year.
I hope you liked it. More soon. And reviews are always welcome.