Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to HP. It all belongs to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Inc., Warner Bros., and any other entities involved.

That morning at the Burrow time seemed to trickle slowly. The Weasley brothers, Hermione and Harry were astonished by Lucius's fate, and Ginny gamely pretended to be. She had a sense of foreboding, having remembered Draco's words about Voldemort and necromancy. Surely Voldemort would try to kill Lucius' body to get its magic, and St. Mungo's seemed the perfect place to do it in, what was Draco thinking? Or was there a back-up plan or something?

Also blunt Ron didn't help matters any, with his stupid remark: "Hey Gin, he should have saved his father instead of saving you!" Oh, if she could only send a Bludger at his thickheaded skull!

After staring morosely at Hermione for a long while, "What would 'Mione do if she were to come up in second place? Could she stand it? Why does she have to have all the answers always?" Ginny was startled out of her contemplation by the arrival of several Hogwarts owls.

She got her Hogwarts letter and settled down to observe the others. She noticed that Hermione's package contained the Head Girl badge, while Ron and Harry got simple parchments. They were busy wondering who the Head Boy would be.

Ginny snorted, "Well, let's see: Dumblefool is a manipulative old codger who needs support in his war against Voldie. Now he knows that all the Gryffindors will foolishly and thoughtlessly follow him, so why would he need to make a Gryff Head Boy? The Puffs will just go with the flow and the majority, they are not trend setters. The Ravenclaws are bookish and not charismatic; they won't sway people and are usually for the Light anyway. Now the Slytherins are powerful and cunning, but they need to be led to the right side. And who among the Slytherins has just lost a tyrannical father that kept him shackled to the Dark? Who's received an immense inheritance? Who's the undisputed leader of Slytherin, who is sure to have an enormous sway in their decision? Why, methinks it is one Draco Malfoy, who will surely be Head Boy."

Ginny was cynically pondering Hogwarts politics when Albus Dumbledore's head popped out of the fireplace.

Albus said, "Hello Molly, I've requested a meeting in the afternoon, there are some things we must discuss, and a new member to induct in the Order."

Molly replied, "Ok, Albus, I'll let the family know, and fix something for the meeting."

Ginny concluded that the reunion definitely had to do with Draco. She wondered if he would still keep that dark edge that was so becoming, or if he would try to hide it like he had done last term. What would be the Slytherin thing to do?

Harry was worried about Draco. After what he'd read in the newspaper, and what he knew about his relationship with Lucius, he suspected that Draco would not be too unhappy, but he might want to enact revenge on Voldemort. He also was a little concerned about Ginny, who seemed to be ignoring him this morning. It wasn't as if he'd known she was in danger! And how come Draco had come at precisely the right moment to save her? There was more than met the eye here, and he intended to find out the truth.

BBBBBBBBBBB

Albus Dumbledore sat at the head of the table and said, "This reunion of the Order of the Phoenix is open. Fawkes is present. We are here to discuss the demise of Lucius Malfoy, but first, we bid welcome to a new member. Please enter."

A hooded figure came through the door and stopped three paces from the table. At a signal from the Headmaster, the figure lowered the hood, and platinum blond hair became visible. There were gasps all around and mutterings of "Malfoy."

However, there was an alarming development. Mad-Eye Moody was seated next to Albus. He loathed the Malfoys, and was secretly glad that fake Moody had turned Draco into an animal. So when Malfoy appeared at the meeting, he felt like Christmas had come early, he grabbed his wand and pointed it toward Draco and was speaking the beginning of the charm to turn him into a ferret, when Draco reacted faster than him, grabbed his wand and shouted "Expelliarmus!" Moody's wand shot towards the wall. Immediately following this, Draco muttered a spell that effectively transformed Moody into a mangy dog, complete with a wooden leg and a fake eye. The dog was chained to the chair.

Albus said, "Please, Mr. Malfoy, transform Mr. Moody back."

Draco replied, "I will most assuredly not do that, he stays transformed until the meeting's ended. He was the first to attack and he planned to transfigure me. I also ask that he not be present at any meetings I may attend."

Albus replied, "That is unacceptable, Mr. Malfoy!"

Draco said, "As you wish, Headmaster. Consider my offer to join withdrawn. Good evening to all."

Draco raised his hood, turned back and walked to the door.

Ginny kept saying to herself, "Please don't make him leave, don't make him leave!! Are you mad? Would you rather keep a decrepit ass like Moody instead of someone as powerful as Draco? Useless old man!!"

Draco reached the door and opened it; he was about to Apparate away when the Headmaster's tired, defeated old voice said, "Wait Mr. Malfoy, I will banish Moody from any meeting you attend. Now could you please come back?"

Draco turned and walked back to the table. Minerva McGonagall said, "I should deduct a hundred points from Slytherin, Mr. Malfoy!" And Severus smirked proudly.

Draco retorted, "That would be ironic, Deputy Headmistress."

McGonagall replied, "Why, Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco responded, "I remember the time when I was transformed into an animal when the esteemed Deputy Headmistress did not lift a finger against the man responsible for the violation of Hogwarts rules. At that point you weren't keen on house points at all, right McGonagall? I must congratulate you, for you enjoyed my humiliation and pain at becoming a ferret. But then, dear Deputy Headmistress, your own inaction grievously wounded the Wizarding World, Hogwarts and Harry Potter, when the man you left free at Hogwarts used the Triwizard cup to portkey Potter to the Dark Lord's resuscitation."

McGonagall pursed her lips, but said nothing. It was apparent to most people that the young man before them would stand up for himself.

Draco said to Dumbledore, "I will join the Order, but I will swear no Oaths. I am, and remain, the master of my own fate. Dumbledore, I did not denounce the Dark Lord just to become a puppet of yours. I must remain an independent agent."

Dumbledore replied, "But Mr. Malfoy, the Oaths serve to keep the secrets, such as the location of Headquarters and battle plans."

Draco answered, "The Malfoy wards effectively protect any secrets relating to the Malfoys or the Order's business. You can confirm it through Fawkes."

Dumbledore pondered this, and finally signaled Fawkes, who flew to Draco's shoulder, and started trilling. A light enveloped Fawkes and Draco, and after three minutes in which it changed colors, it stopped. Dumbledore seemed content and announced that Fawkes approved of the arrangements; what no one noticed, except Ginny, was the moment when Fawkes looked into Draco's eyes and cried one lonely tear, which made its way to Draco's left wrist.

Finally Draco was inducted and was able to sit with the others on the other side of the table. Ginny took a good look at him and noticed the bags under his eyes, thin mouth and tired countenance. She also noticed the reaction of her siblings to Draco.

Ginny thought it highly amusing that Ron and she, whom Draco had taunted throughout school, were the ones who accepted most readily his friendship; while the twins, Charlie and Bill immensely disliked Draco. For example, whenever Malfoy visited the Burrow, the twins inflicted a painful prank on him, and usually he would bear it in silence.

However, Ginny got the feeling that if the twins were up to their usual mischief, this time they would get what was coming to them.

Ginny tried to turn out the droning monologue of different Order members concerning Lucius, going on with the most absurd ideas, like considering if he was a Mafia member and had compromised the Godfather. She tried not to look in Draco's direction, for she knew that if he caught her gaze, they would both start laughing like crazy.

After half an hour of inane talk, and speculations about where Lucius' tongue got to, Draco felt enough was enough and said:

"Headmaster, I've had enough of wasting my time. I'm dreadfully tired of the gossip that dresses up as intelligence in this gathering, and the Manor demands my attention. If there is nothing more substantive to discuss, then I must take my leave now."

McGonagall was incensed, she made up to talk and actually said, "Merlin, of all the…" Draco rudely interrupted her, saying, "Deputy Headmistress, I will not mollycoddle any of you, especially the Headmaster who lets the meeting degenerate to the point where subordinates transform members into animals and this is not discouraged. McGonagall, I refuse to waste my time listening to your shrewish whining, so I will take leave of all of you. Bye."

Draco got off the chair and walked to the door. Ginny hurried to catch up with him and said sotto voce: "Draco, I've a bad feeling about your father's body in St. Mungo's and Voldemort maybe killing him."

Draco whispered, "Do not worry, Ginevra. Do you remember how Harry's mother protected him from the Killing Curse through her love?"

Ginny nodded. Draco continued, "There are also charms based on deepest hate. I've used those charms on my father's body, so if someone who is not me tries to kill him or hurt him, they will get a very nasty surprise."

Ginny looked toward Harry, who was motioning to them, and said, "Draco, I think you should talk to Harry, or at least say goodbye to him."

Draco walked to Harry's chair and said, "Hello, Harry, what can I do for you?"

Harry replied, "Wow! That was some dressing down of Dumbledore and McGonagall! Someday you'll have to tell me how you do it. Can I talk to you later?"

Draco answered, "Yes, Harry, whenever you want, now I'll…"

There was a loud noise at the door, a figure walked through it and dropped its hood. Ginny noticed who it was, and thought excitedly: "Now things are getting interesting, I wonder who'll win this match, and Draco so detests losing."

Tbc