The sun shined brightly on Draco's face. At first, he didn't realize where he was. Then, he figured out that he had fallen asleep in the common room, unable to face the coldness of his room.
"Draco," called a soft voice. "Draco," the girl repeated. "Draco!" Hermione's face blocked his view. He smiled for once in his life at Hermione. For once he was glad to see that face.
"What time is it?" he asked, yawning and stretching.
"Almost time for our first lesson. We mustn't be late!"
"And what is our first lesson?"
"Potions."
Great, thought Draco. Time to face an old death eater. Time to see the future of me. She'll understand. Spoke a small voice in the back of his head. She'll listen.
"Hermione," Draco called. "I need to tell you something."
Hermione sat down, frightened of the sudden sweetness in Draco's voice. Frightened of the urgent look in his eyes.
In the silence that followed, Draco composed himself. In fifteen minutes, he had told Hermione his tale. The story of Voldemort's sudden need for him to be a death eater, the one thing he didn't want to be.
"I have seen him Hermione. I don't want to be by his side for eternity. I don't want to even be with my father. I have changed, but I don't expect you to understand."
Surprising to both of them, Hermione hugged Draco.
"I do believe you. I do understand."
Hermione slid up Draco's sleeve, taking a fast notice of Voldemort's mark.
"It'll be alright," she comforted.
Draco held Hermione's hand in his, caring not of the sudden bell that started Potions.
"Thank you," he said.
His eyes showed more welcoming than his words could ever convey. For a sudden moment, he had the urge to kiss her. To wipe away the tears that slowly fell from her caring eyes. Her understanding eyes.
"Let's skip class." Her response was so un-Hermione like that Draco became confused.
"Skip class?"
"And stay together." She smiled into his eyes as she leaned closer for their first kiss.
***
"Draco?" Hermione whispered, snuggled in his arms for the last hour.
"Yes?"
"What are we doing?"
"Surviving."
The response was so random to Hermione, she abruptly sat up.
"Surviving?"
"Yes. For soon, Voldemort will come for me. You are all I have."
Silver tears started to fill his once torturous eyes. Hermione kissed him once more, wiping away his tears as her own started to fill her eyes.
"Stay with me, Draco. Stay with me forever."
"I'll never leave you."
For the next hour they stayed in position: Draco's muscled arms enclosing Hermione's body. Realizing that they had missed two classes, Hermione urged Draco to go to the Great Hall for lunch.
"All I want to do is stay with you, Hermione."
"Yes, but people will get suspicious. They'll ask where we are. We must set a good example for the others."
Hermione kissed Draco before grabbing her bag, waving goodbye, and leaving for the Great Hall. Draco sighed, watching the one person who understood him walk away. He got up, grabbed his bag, and proceeded to the Great Hall. As he entered the Great Hall, he noticed Pansy Parkinson smiling sweetly at him from the Slytherin table. She pointed to his seat at the head of the table. He sat down, casting his eyes for a second towards the Gryffindor table before devouring his meal.
Draco, where have you been?" asked Pansy, placing her hand on his.
"Hermi -I mean Granger and I had to sort out a problem."
"Oh. Draco, is the mud blood getting to you?" She put on her syrupy sweet voice she used to get her pug face anything she wanted. "Lets skip class," she suggested, staring at him with obvious adoration.
"I've already missed two classes, I can't miss anymore. Anyways, I have to talk to Professor Snape about missing potions and that giant oaf Hagrid about missing Care of Magical Creatures."
Getting up from the table, Draco followed a group of second year Ravenclaws out of the Great Hall and walked towards the dungeon to Snape's office. He knocked on the door.
"Come in." Snape sounded angry.
Entering, Snape quickly put on a smile and soon inquired as to why Draco was late. Draco was ready to tell him his tale.
***
Snape stared at Draco, not believing the story Draco had told him for the past twenty minutes.
"Let me see it," he ordered.
Draco lifted up his sleeve, revealing the fading mark on his skin.
"Where is Voldemort now. Draco, you must tell me."
"He is with my father. Voldemort is currently living at the manor before he moves to a new location. He knows if he stays in once place, it won't be long until someone finds out."
Professor Snape stood up, took a pot of Floo powder off the mantel, and offered some to Draco.
"Why?"
"You have to tell Headmaster Dumbledore immediately."
Taking a handful, Professor Snape walked into the fire, shouted "Dumbledore's office", and disappeared. Draco followed suit and soon found himself in Dumbledore's fireplace.
"So, Severus tells me that you know where Voldemort is," said Dumbledore.
"Yes," nodded Draco.
He repeated his tale, soon breathless.
"I shall have to alert Cornelius Fudge at once."
"No, you can't!"
"He will not know it was you who said it, Draco. If your father does find out, you will be kept safe in these walls."
"Headmaster," interrupted Snape. "Should he be introduced to the Order?"
"Yes."
For the next half hour, Draco was informed of the Order of the Phoenix.
"Severus," ordered Dumbledore, "please fetch Mr. Weasley, Miss Weasley, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger," Draco's heart gave a lurch, "and Professor McGonagall. They must know of the new member."
"Yes Headmaster."
Snape left to fetch those needed as Dumbledore turned back to Draco.
"These people are members of the Order of the Phoenix. You must get acquainted with them, no matter how hard it is. I understand you and Miss Granger have had past problems?" it was a question that Dumbledore seemed to have wanted to ask for a long time.
"And now," he continued, "they have been sorted out." He winked. "I know what happened this morning Draco. It was very brave to tell Hermione and to put past differences behind you."
At that moment, Snape entered with Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione. Hermione's eyes asked what Draco was doing. Unable to hold it in, Draco told the rest of them his story, before collapsing into a chair.
