Thanks for all the reviews and favourite alrets on this, I really appreciate them all. This is the first Harry Potter fanfiction I've ever written, but I'm enjoying writing it, hopefully I'll the characters correct, Draco and Hermione are complex enough, but I'm determined to see it through until the end. Anyway, this chapter starts to introduce the plot a little more, I know it's a little vague right now.

Hope you enjoy it
Rachael x.

McGonagall's office was filled with an eerie silence, Draco had finished his explanation and sat waiting for McGonagall's judgement. Draco glanced around the room, noticing the look of disgust on the portraits surrounding him. Taking a deep breath he stood and headed towards the door.

"I knew this was a bad idea," he mumbled as he reached out for the door knob, McGonagall rose to her feet and focused all of her attention towards the young man.

"Mr Malfoy!" Draco froze as she addressed him, "You must understand that this is a lot for me to take in, however I accept your claims and grant you the sanctuary that you've requested." Draco let out a quiet sigh of relief, as he turned to face his headmistress.

"It appears that Professor Dumbledore was quite fond of you, like he was to all of his pupils," she let out a small smile as she glanced at Dumbledore's portrait, who in turn gave her a small nod.

"Thank you," Draco let out little than a whisper

"However, there are a few conditions that you must stick to whilst we risk everything to protect you," Draco nodded, he should've known that this wouldn't be easy, but it was better than the alternative, he shuddered at the thought of that option.

"What are these conditions," Draco asked quietly, McGonagall let out a small smile as she walked across her office and stood behind her desk.

"Now with You-Know-You at large, it would be unwise for you to hide out here, as obviously it would be the first place that he would look for you," Draco eyes the older woman, his idea of sanctuary would of course have been hiding out at Hogwarts for as long as possible.

"Then what else do you suggest?"

"Enlighten me Mr Malfoy, have you ever heard of the Order of the Phoenix?" Draco nodded nervously, he didn't know too much about them, he'd only heard about them in passing, and they were only ever his father's opinions, in truth he'd never had a chance throughout his life to form his own opinions on anything.

"A little," Draco mumbled, McGonagall couldn't help noting that the once confident young man had been reduced to a fraction of his former self.

"Yes well that will probably do for now, you might also be aware that we have a selected few students here at Hogwarts who are members of the Order," Draco nodded, of course it was bound to be Potter and his friends, that much was obvious.

"Now if it is okay with her, we're going to place you in a muggle society for the summer, until school starts next term, then of course you are welcome to join us again." Draco groaned inwardly. Living with muggle's for an entire summer, is this really what he had been reduced to? How the mighty had fallen fast.

McGongall turned her back on Draco as he contemplated spending his summer with muggles, instead she clicked her fingers and a house elf appeared, McGonagall whispered something in seconds later the house elf disappeared leaving the pair alone once again.

"Professor, is there no other option?" Draco pleaded with her but she shook her head confidently.

"I'm afraid not, it's either this or nothing, these are the opening terms of our agreement, and if I were you then I'd agree to them with no questions asked." Her answers were stern and Draco knew better than argue anymore with her. She glanced at Dumbleodre's portrait, he had been a pillar of strength for her in the last few days, trying to gain some sort of order at Hogwarts after the disaster. He gave her soft smile and nodded gently, making her aware that she was doing the right thing. She smiled back at him and gave her wand a swift wave and a piece of parchment appeared on her desk, she picked up her quill and started writing a message. She glanced at Malfoy who had suddenly taken an interest in his feet, she smiled softly at him and walked over to him, her piece of parchment in hand.

"Mr Malfoy, obviously I need to discuss this situation with the young lady in question, and I think it would be easier if I spoke to her on my own for the time being," Draco lifted his eyes and sighed, "Take this to the hospital wing and wait there for me to call you," she handed him the piece of parchment addressed to Madame Pomfrey. Draco simply nodded and opened the door.

"Oh and one more thing Mr Malfoy!" Draco turned to face her again, "You are to go directly to the hospital and stay there, do I make myself clear?" Draco gave her a solemn nod and continued on his way.

He sighed as he walked through the empty corridors, where would he go anyway? It's not like he'd be welcomed with open arms in this place, Slytherin would have no doubt heard of his desertion by now, they wouldn't want to know him anymore. As for the other houses, he didn't dare think about how he'd be welcomed. Instead he continued on his way towards the hospital wing, determined to keep a low profile whilst he was there.

Meanwhile, Professor McGonagall was sat alone in her office, she raised and hand her hand and sighed quietly.

"Are you sure this is wise Albus?" she asked, staring at the portrait in front of her.

"Minerva, I am positive. He realises his mistakes, he was prepared to come over to our way of thinking that night, everyone deserves a second chance," Professor McGonagall sighed quietly.

"But placing him with muggle's, and with the pairs history, I can't see this going well," she tried to reason with Dumbledore, but he continued to smile and shake his head. He knew what he was doing, it just took everyone a while to come around to his way of thinking.

"People are going missing everyday Minerva, we need to form new friendships, uniting the two of them could be exactly what we are looking for to settle this," The room filled with silence once more, and finally McGonagall nodded.

"I hope you're right Albus, for their sakes," she sighed as she heard a faint knocking coming from her door. She waved her wand and door opened quickly, she quickly gained her composure and stood up to greet her guest.

"Miss Granger, you received my message I see," Hermione stepped inside, closing the door behind her. She smiled politely at the headmistress but couldn't help wondering what was urgent that she had to come alone, surely it would more useful to talk to Harry, after all he is the person with the mission to complete, he's the one who was there on that night.

As Hermione walked into the office, she sighed softly as she saw Dumbledore's portrait smiling at her, it unnerved her slightly. It had only been a few days and the feeling was still raw for most people.

"Professor, what is all this about?" Hermione asked quietly, McGonagall smiled softly at the younger witch, before taking a deep breath and explaining the situation at length to her.

Draco sighed as he sat alone in the hospital wing, Madame Pomfrey, the usually bubbly mediwitch, seemed horrified at his presence. She only allowed him to stay on McGonagall's orders, Draco knew that. His mind wondered to the next few months, he wondered who the muggle's would be. Would they know about magic? Would they be aware of what had happened with him? Would he be given a new identity? What it be like returning to Hogwarts when the summer had ended? Would the fuss have died down? He'd never been so uncertain in his life, everything had always been mapped out for him, every decision made for him, now he stood here standing on his own two feet and he was terrified.