Chapter 3
Draco Malfoy was in a right snit with the world and God himself. He sat on a shambled old bed with his arm in a splint because that stupid Weasley brat didn't know any bone mending spells. In the other bed, the one that was a smidge better then the one he resided on lay his protector. Serveus Snape, who looked much worse for wear, but better then he had a few days ago. Snape was asleep, not afraid and actually knew where they were. He had mumbled something about the Order of the Phoenix before he fell asleep before the muggle medicine he'd been taking kicked in and put him to sleep.
And it was in the loneliness of the dark room that Draco Malfoy admitted he was afraid. Who ever it was that was after them was angry and out to get them. Snape was convinced that they wanted to kill them, and really Snape's word was good enough for him. Last time though, they'd come too close. Breaking Draco's arm with blunt force of a flying tree limb and the strange torture spell that inhibited Snape and occasional broke his bones. He had been on the run with Snape for almost two and a half years now. Since Voldemort had been told that Draco hadn't killed Dumbledore but Snape had. It seemed the ultimate proof of loyalty on Snape's part but then Bellatrix was it? Had created and built and nurtured the paranoid disease in Voldemort's mind that Snape had killed Voldemort to save Draco and get close enough to Voldemort to kill i>him /i>. And worse yet, thought that they were in league with Harry Potter of all people.
All though, Draco thought with a snort as he shifted on the old bed, they were now. It's amazing what two years on the run could do to you. They were completely outlaws in the wizarding world. The Death Eaters wanted them dead for the supposed 'betrayal' that Bellatix had built up to the point that when Harry Potter the Auror and his team of Dark Wizard fighters had killed Voldemort it must have been his and Snape's fault. Even if they were half way across the world.
Snape moaned in his sleep, breath labored and Draco felt sorry for the older man. It had been his fault that Snape had been drove to this. If he had had the bravery to kill Dumbledore then Snape would still beheld in good thoughts in more of this… Order of the Phoenix then Headmistress McGonagall. And yet, even as he thought that he wondered if it were true? After all, here they were in the home base of the Order not as prisoners and most definitely getting aid. Ginny Weasley had carefully checked over the wounds while mumbling to herself about reckless endangerment and assured Snape that the muggle medicine would do him good before she left with a sharp turn, her black robes spinning behind her.
"Malfoy?" He looked to the door to see his archrival, if they could still be considered as such Harry Potter.
He didn't look much different, older yes, stronger and the scar was a pale white that would have faded if the boy had a lighter complexion. He wore jeans and a black jumper, casual leaning against the door eye highlighting the changes in Draco's face.
"Potter." He returned with a curt nod. "It's been a while hasn't it?"
"Three years and a handful of days." Harry murmured as he walked further into the room and pulled up a chair.
"I would have thought you of all people would have had us killed on sight."
"Things change. I was angry after all, Dumbledore meant a lot to me." Harry crossed his arms and Draco nodded. "But that's not why I'm here."
"Then why? Have you finally decided what punishment you'll give us?"
"No one here is going to punish either you or Snape. Snape is a member of the Order of the Phoenix and was doing his job. Which was to protect you on the orders of your mother. Dumbledore knew. He believed in Snape."
"Well that explains Snape's out. What's mine."
"America has made you crass. You're here because McGonagall believed that there was something to you worth saving and something special about you considering the reactions of Voldemort and the Death Eaters to you."
"Well, I can't help you there."
"Well I want to believe in you. You've never actually committed a crime. We can get you amnesty through the Ministry of Magic."
"And then what would happen to me?" He asked as he looked up at Harry.
"You would join the Order of the Phoenix. We could use another person who knows the ways of the Death Eaters."
"So I become a traitor."
"Draco… Damnit Draco this isn't like that! This is about who you are! Stop being such a follower! The Death Eaters want more then just i>purification /i> and hell, Voldemort was a i>mudblood /i>! Get your head out of your arse and consider your real options." Harry stood up, not furious but adamant. "We can't help you until you know what you want."
Draco watched Harry walk away and he realized that while others got the option of walking away, Draco had always been running for his life. Who was he without the shadow of Lucius Malfoy to protect him? Was he Draco the Death Eater, loyal follower of Voldemort… or someone else?
It was morning, Draco could tell that much from the sun creeping through the windows like a serpent over Snape's prone body and into his eyes. It was well after sunrise, he noted as he sat up and rubbed his arm, splint gone. Whoever had decided to heal him was good. He wandered over to Snape and noticed that his wounds had mostly been healed as well. He studied the pale sleeping man a bit more before he shrugged and decided to see exactly how much leeway he had.
He pushed at the door which came open without so much as a squeak and tiptoed into the long hallway to see no one around. Looking up and down the hallway, he chose right and found the bathroom, which he used rather quickly and then further to find a living room. He found another room as was about to enter when a voice spoke behind him.
"If it isn't one of the men of the hour!" He jumped around, hand reaching for a wand that wasn't there, curse him for leaving it in the room! The woman standing before him was thin, rather athletic looking with pink hair, like the shade in the sunrise.
"Who are you!" He was surely white with fright that much he knew.
"Nymphadora Tonks at your service!" She stated with a funny little bow and he nodded.
"You're… an Auror."
"That I am." She winked at him. "Let's get some food in you."
He nodded, slightly fearful of what might happen if he refused. She gestured him into the kitchen and to sit at the table.
"Not much of a cook myself, but I can do breakfast. Wotcher Harry, Mione!" She called and Draco found himself face to face with Harry again, only this time with his female side kick.
"Good morning Draco." Hermione murmured as she sat in her chair, prim and proper.
Harry merely nodded at him and collapsed in the chair. Draco could only look on in wonder. They should be after him, ready to kill him in the name of Dumbledore. Not treating him almost like one of their own. He shook his head and decided that he would simply be pliant and ready. The other shoe had to fall sometime.
"And how is Snape?" Harry finally spoke as Ginny entered.
"Good. You still do excellent work on healing Hermione."
"Hermione excels in everything." Harry muttered playful and Hermione hit him in the shoulder.
Almost like brother and sister, Draco mused. He still didn't quite understand where he fit into all this, but he figured that he could suspend belief if that meant that maybe, just for a little while he'd be safe. They were halfway through their meal when Ron Weasley emerged and Draco had to hold to almost hold in his breath to keep back all the old comments for a childhood that seem far to far away. Ron was wearing what was obiviously one of Mrs. Weasley's concoctions of a sweater and ratty old jeans that were probably hand-me-downs from one of his many brothers. He slumped bleary eyed into a chair and Hermione immediately got up to place coffee in front of him.
"I got a brilliant idea this morning." He murmured into his coffee.
"Give me a minute." Hermione spoke getting up and getting a rather thick and messy looking notebook.
Draco was quiet surprised to listen to Ron make a very convincing battle strategy. He could decided whether the boy was completely bonkers or a strategic genius when he started listing from what Draco assumed were previous battles on how to improve old strategies and incorporate them into this new one, that just came to him.
"What happened to you all?" He asked staring at them.
"Happen? Nothing happened." Ron muttered snorting. "Unless you count Voldemort nearly killing us and the mini 'altercation' that happened not too long ago."
"Altercation?" Draco could feel his eyebrow curling up in confusion.
"That is what the Ministry of Magic calls the 'small' war against Voldemort…Rufus Scrimgeour, is quite angered that we took the initiative in fighting Voldemort while he tried to make it look convincing that the Ministry was doing something by making occasional arrest while turning up nothing. Frankly, he took part in none of the fighting and saw the final blow struck along with many others and since he could not claim it for himself or anyone that well… siding unquestionably with the Ministry he tried to downplay it." Hermione stated quietly.
"Well it's not like we could sit by while he arrested innocent wizard and witches simply because they were slightly suspicious or odd and didn't have any purchase in the Ministry." Ron mumbled. "Almost arrested my Dad he did. Idiot."
"And what about my father?" Draco asked studying their faces.
"Scrimgeour saw no reason to arrest him. Supposedly 'couldn't prove' he was apart of it, though he never proved any of the other people he arrested." Harry snorted. "He did little better then Fudge in the long run, though at least he didn't ignore the problem."
"Speaking of the older Malfoy… would you like to visit him?" Ginny asked finally speaking again.
"I don't know." Draco admitted quietly.
"We think it would be best if you did. He is… dying." Hermione whispered.
"And how will I get there? What about Snape?"
"We're going to be having a meeting about that tonight. This place probably isn't as safe as it use to be if Peter Pettigrew found it… but we'll do what we can." Ginny stated firmly. "We're stretched a bit thin right now, and some of us do have… other callings but as much as Harry has been know to defy the Ministry as well as McGonagall we should have no problems."
Draco nodded, as satisfied as he could be with the answer. After all, they obviously weren't planning to kill them. And he was sure there was no way he could take on a room half full of Aurors, a highly talented witch and a iffy-but brilliant strategist. He wondered if Ron had the fighting ability to back up the brains but decided to not to ask. They'd fought a war this group and he was sure that he was outclassed by ever single one of them.
