A/N: This has nothing to do with the story. Even though it is mid-September when I post this, Christmas came early, sort of. My vacation request has been approved. I now have the second half of December off, with pay. To quote Homer: "WOOHOO."

Chapter 4: Compromised

"Tell me," Janice said as they walked. "Why'd you take three days to come by?"

"Nigel. 'e's got this idea. Makin' custom bikes. 'ad an idea to make one look like a griffin. 'elped 'im draw one."

A laugh. "You know whot a griffin looks like?"

"Saw pictures in a book. 'agrid, e's at the school, even 'ad a picture of 'im standin' next to one. Yeah, I 'ad a good idea." Draco smiled at the look she was giving him. She might have known about magic. She just found out magic included magical creatures. "An' Nigel's a good artist. 'e drew the griffin, then drew it again as a bike. Left this mornin' to talk to some bloke who might be interested."

"Seen Black at all?"

"Naw. Ain't even seen 'is dog."

"Keep an eye out for 'im."

"Why?" Draco gave a confused look.

Janice changed the subject as she shifted a sleeping Cheryl in her arms. She talked about what Mick was doing. He was up in Cambridge talking to Justin's father. It seemed that the trouble with Saint Brutus wasn't over. There was even talk of reopening the school. Mister Finch-Fletchley wanted Mick to talk to some people who might be able to help.

"You know what Justin's dad does for a living, Draco?"

"I know 'e's rich. Never t'ought about it."

"'e's into politics." She laughed at his look. "Ain't no politician. Backroom kinda stuff. 'elps the party. 'e wants Mick to do the same thing, 'ere in London. Talk about things. Tell people who they can trust to 'elp. Said if we get enough people involved, we can keep that school closed forever."

"I'd like that," Draco admitted. He frowned as he remembered his own brief stay there. The things he'd heard from others.

His thoughts strayed as he spotted a man with a swollen jaw staring at them. When Janice looked up the man turned and walked away. Bethnal Green was a level above Grimauld Square, but that man would have looked like trouble in both places.

"Whot's with 'im?"

Janice sighed. "Gave me a hassle some days ago. Saw Mick was gone and t'ought I'd be easy. 'e grabbed me and I swung at 'im. Gave 'im that jaw on the second punch. Took out a coupla teeth, as well."

They entered a building and Janice led him up to the third floor, unlocking the door to a flat. Draco could hear the television inside.

"You said Mick was gone?"

"Yeah." Janice opened the door and a young boy of eleven, blond hair and brown eyes, well-worn clothes, looked up.

"Janice?" The boy frowned. "Draco?"

"Wotcha, Billy Boy. Like the new look. You livin' 'ere now?"

As William Potter stared, Janice walked over to the bedroom. She turned back. "Din't tell Billy I knew you, or that I figured 'im out right off. Mahresa brought 'im by when 'e ran away again."

"Did Black tell you I was the one whot spotted 'im?"

Janice called out from the bedroom. "Yeah. Din't tell Billy 'bout that, neither."

William's mouth was wide open. "You told on me?"

"I was bribed. Black gave me 'is 'ouse elf."

"Kreacher?" William shuddered as he thought about the elf and what it would be like now that it was owned by Draco.

"Kreacher?" Janice asked as she came out of the bedroom empty handed.

"Magical creature," Draco explained. "Likes to be owned. Free 'im an' you've made an enemy."

"They're smart?"

"Like us, yeah, but they like bein' servants. Go figure."

"Uncle Sirius hated him," William volunteered.

Janice shook her head. It was more than she could understand. She walked to the kitchen area and began to pull out boxes and cans. As she prepared dinner, she explained her plan to Draco. He was now in charge of William, and it was his duty to get the boy back to his family. No ifs ands or buts. William tried to object but was told to shut up by both Draco and Janice.

Draco asked why Janice never turned him in. Janice explained it simply. She expected him or Sirius Black to show up, but they never did. She didn't dare tell Mick about William because it would cause too many questions. In the end, she was stuck waiting for someone to get in touch with her.

"Then this one ruins it all by nickin' off at the last minute."

"I was scared," William admitted. "It's been so long. My parents will kill me."

Draco smiled in amusement. "They won't. Even precious 'arry's worried sick."

William looked hopeful. "They won't punish me?"

"Din't say that. Said they wouldn't kill ya."

"YOU FOUND HIM?"

Hermione Granger was ecstatic when she found out why Draco called. She demanded all the details, then berated her friend for not saying anything when he first spotted William. So he told her about Kreacher.

"You own one of them? How could you, Draco? You should free him at once."

"Whot? "e'll kill me if I do that. "ates me already whot wit' bein' an 'alfblood."

"But . . ." Hermione was at a loss. "What will you do with it?"

"Ain't an it. 'e's an 'im."

"I really wish you would pronounce your aiches."

Draco cleared his throat and began using his fancy voice. "First off, Hermione, Kreacher is a person. He may hate me but he does deserve respect as an individual. And I'm going to make sure he gets it. From everyone."

Hermione paused at the rebuke. "I have to admit, Draco, that's a very enlightened statement, especially coming from you. Who told you to say that?"

Draco huffed. "It's true, Hermione. Sirius Black treats him as though he was worse than trash, and Kreacher does nothing for him. But Walburga shows him respect and he does everything he can for her."

"Walburga?"

"Black's mum. She's a portrait. I took her to Aunt Bella's when I left. She's nice. You'd like her. So, can you call the Potter's and let them know I've got Billy Boy with me. And call me back at Nigel's place if you can't get back to me tonight. He owns Mick's old shop now."

That led to more explanations. Hermione expressed her anger over what happened. She told him she would do anything she could to help, which made Draco feel better even though he knew there was little she could do.

"Nigel?"

It was still early when Draco and William walked up to the shop. The bay doors were open and an expensive Harley motorbike was sitting inside, streaks of paint running off it.

Nigel looked up from behind the bike, a can of paint thinner in one hand and a rag in the other.

"Dragon? Who's your mate?"

"Billy. A frien' from school. Mind if he stays 'ere til 'is 'rents pick 'im up?" Nigel didn't object, and then Draco pointed to the bike. "Whot's up?" A smile lit his face. "You got the job!"

Nigel's own grin widened. "Figured it all up. Spent every pound I got, but I'll make 2,000 Quid easy once the bike's done. I figure it'll take a week." He gave Draco a knowing look. "Wit' 'elp."

"Paid 'elp?"

Nigel nodded, then pointed with the can toward a brand new metal saw mounted on an old table. "I marked the sheets 'ow to be cut. Start any time you want to."

Draco nodded and suggested having breakfast first. Nigel told him to make breakfast for three and bring his into the shop. With a nod, Draco led Billy to the kitchen and rummaged through the refrigerator. Nigel was living by himself but he was much better at it than Sirius Black. There was plenty of food. Draco peaked in the freezer section and noticed it was full, too. Nigel may have spent all his money, but he did major shopping first. He would guess there were plenty of canned goods as well. Nigel, like most people in the neighbourhood, had a streak of paranoia. Stocking up was a natural thing to do.

William stared as Draco quickly gathered everything he needed. He was amazed that the older boy knew how to cook. It was a simple breakfast. Grilled cheese and bacon with orange juice. But it was more than William had ever imagined doing for himself.

Draco had every intention, after breakfast was done, of telling William he had to help in the shop, but as they carried the sandwiches out of the kitchen, the boy asked if he could help. Draco taught him how to use a muggle broom.

Draco was cutting his third piece of metal when William tapped him on the side. He pointed toward the door. Draco nodded. He shut down the machine and took off the safety glasses and ear plugs. Then he went to the phone.

"Mione?"

An agitated Hermione Granger was at the other end. "Something's happened. A prisoner escaped from Azkaban. Are you and William safe?"

Draco started to make a smart remark about the section of town he lived in but Hermione's tone made him nervous. "Safe as can be," he noted.

"Can you keep William with you? It should only be for a few days."

"Yeah, but . . ."

"I can't explain now," Hermione said quickly. "Mister Potter said not to trust anyone. And to make this conversation as short as possible. Bye."

"Moine, can you at least tell me who escaped . . ." He was talking to no one. Hermione was gone.

"Escaped from where?" William asked. Nigel, out of curiosity, was standing behind him.

Draco tried to smile. "Prison. Billy, your Dad can't make it and actually asked if I could take care of you."

Nigel laughed. "Can't even take care of yourself, Dragon."

Draco didn't think too much of it when Nigel called it a day. All the old paint had been stripped from the bike and he had already begun marking the spots where he would be cutting and soldering. He also didn't think about it when he was told to grab a beer when he finished up.

Draco gave a tired William Potter a small shove and told him to take off. He would finish cleaning up. It was funny but Draco had a wonderful day. It was almost as if Mick were still here. He was working to do something. And even the cleaning up part. More than once he had done the same for Mick. Thus it was a happy Draco Malfoy who finished sweeping up the metal scraps and throwing them in the bin. He closed the bay doors, mildly surprised that it was already dusk. Lastly, he wheeled over the makeshift weights so they rested on the lips of the doors. Two fifty pound weights on each side of each door. When he walked into the counter area, he closed the metal door behind him and threw down the cross bar, padlocking it into place. If someone tried to break into the shop, Draco knew he'd have enough time to WALK to the station house.

Draco walked into the den and told Nigel everything was secure. Nigel nodded. Four empty bottles already sat on the lamp table next to his chair. Another, half-empty, was in his hands.

"Grab me another, while you're in there," Nigel told him.

Draco nodded. Nights were always bad for Nigel. It was one thing to stop using. It was another thing entirely to stop wanting. The urge was constant. Draco never realized it but one time, years before, he saw Nigel fresh out of Saint Brutus, and in the midst of withdrawal because he missed making a score. That moment was etched into his subconscious. The result was that Draco never had the desire to try drugs.

Draco grabbed two beers from the well stocked cooler and opened them, walked back to the den and gave one to Nigel. He noticed William sleeping on the coach.

"Tired 'im out, I guess."

Nigel shrugged and pointed to a bottle on the floor by the couch. "Don't think 'e ever drank before. Said he did. 'at's why I gave 'im one."

Draco shrugged as well and settled on the floor between the couch and chair with his back to the wall. He asked what they were watching and Nigel said he didn't know, it was some movie. He nodded again and began to think about supper. It was going to be up to him to prepare something if any of them were to eat.

The movie was beginning to become interesting, the girl dancing on the table had just turned into a vampire, when a loud noise was heard outside. Nigel was alert at once. You would never know he had just drank six bottles. With steady legs, he stood up and walked toward the door to the counter area, pausing only slightly to grab a crowbar that was leaning there. Draco followed. Reaching behind the counter as they walked by, he grabbed a two foot section of pipe with an elbow on one end. Nigel opened the door to the outside while Draco turned the switch to the spotlight.

Nothing happened. The loud noise they had heard was the spotlight being smashed.

"I like it better in the dark," an unfamiliar voice said. A look at Nigel's face in the benighted light told Draco that not everyone was unfamiliar with that voice. "Don't come near me," the voice warned in a low voice. "I won't give you the chance to get close enough to use that."

The man was in the shadows and hard to see, but you could see he was there. The same was true for the pistol in his hand. He laughed casually. "If I don't see empty hands in the next ten seconds, there won't be anyone for me to have a conversation with." Two pieces of metal dropped to the ground.

"Thanks for being so quick to spend that money, boy. That's all we were waiting for."

Draco thought he understood. Apparently, so did Nigel. When he asked, the man admitted it. The deal concerning the bike was a sham. Nigel had spent all of his money and would be getting none of it back. And now he was in trouble. And there were certain people who used to have good reputations, had them tarnished by Nigel and his friends. These people wanted their reputations back.

"That's where I come in," the man explained. "I was hired to run you out of business. The con was a cheap way to do that." He smiled from the shadows. "For future reference, always get a down payment of at least half on all large orders. Any business man knows that. And speaking of business . . ."

The man stepped out of the shadows, his hand outstretched. A small bag of white powder was in his palm. "I wrecked your business. Would you like a new one? Doing something you're familiar with. Go ahead. Take it. Check it out. It's good quality. And we can guarantee a steady supply and a healthy percentage of the take for you."

Draco stood there, a boy barely thirteen and shorter than he should be. He wasn't seen as a threat, but that didn't mean he wasn't treated as one. The man took no chances. He looked at Nigel, only seventeen, who was staring at the package. He knew Nigel was tempted, knew what would happen if Nigel took that package, and knew that Nigel knew. It was such a simple plan.

"Nigel, don't," Draco whispered uselessly. He froze at a slight sound. It was the sound of the safety being released. Nigel said he had to, and reached out for the small plastic bag, It was a matter of survival. Nigel takes the drugs or he and his helper are killed in an attempted robbery. But Draco knew that the man hadn't talked to Draco yet. There was still more to come. And with Nigel compromised, it wouldn't be good.

"Draco?" William Potter said woozily as he stepped outside.

The man with the pistol turned sharply. His eyes widened at seeing the shadowy figure of younger boy. "You," he hissed, and pulled the trigger, pointing directly at William's head. Nigel moved as soon as the man turned his gaze, and at that moment had placed himself between the pistol and William. His forward momentum was stopped as the bullet tore into his chest and he collapsed to the ground.

The man stepped back and raised his pistol again. As soon as Nigel began moving, so did Draco. He was already grabbing William and pushing him back inside. A new sound was heard, a growling noise, as the pistol fired again, hitting nothing. Draco turned to look. A large black dog. Sirius Black's dog. It had the hand with the pistol firmly in its mouth, the arm bent at an awkward angle. The pistol fell to the ground at the same time a snapping noise was heard from the arm. Suddenly, the dog was a man who hit the stranger full force on the chin, knocking him unconscious.

It did register in Draco's mind that Sirius Black had shown himself to be an animagus, that he and his dog were the same, er, person. But Draco's first reaction once he knew they were safe was to run to Nigel. The only bit of luck was that Nigel had been shot through the lung instead of the heart, so he was dying instead of already dead.

"GET MADAM POMFREY," he shouted to Sirius.

"Shut up," Black hissed at him, "Keep your voice down." As he knelt down, he put his hand on Nigel's chest. "He's not going to last long. I'm sorry, Draco."

"Sorry?" How Draco managed to keep his voice to a whisper, he never knew. "Do something. Get help."

Sirius gave him a sad look. "He IS a muggle, Draco."

"Yeah, an' 'e saved Billy's life. So's okay? Long as the magic kids are safe, innit?"

"Saint Mungo's?" William suggested from where he was leaning against the doorway.

Sirius Black began cursing and told William to come over to them. When William began staggering in their direction, Sirius asked what was wrong. Draco callously suggested it could be shock. Black had Draco grab hold of William with one hand and Nigel's hand with the other. He then pulled a coin out of his pocket, explaining, "Emergency portkey. Standard Issue." Grabbing their hands, he then said, "Saint Mungo's".

Draco felt like his stomach was being pulled out of his body through his back. The feeling eased and he found himself in a white room with several wizard medics converging on the small group. William added to the sudden tension by pulling away from them and emptying his stomach loudly.

Sirius Black was giving quick explanations while a doctor was waving his wand over Nigel's unconscious body. Draco was pulled away by someone who asked if he was injured and then told to stay out of the way. A third doctor was examining William and then forcing a potion down his throat. She then escorted the boy away from the scene, pausing to scowl at Draco.

Two doctors were now kneeling over Nigel, doing whatever it was that they needed to do, their bodies blocking Draco's view. After a few minutes, they stood up. One cast a floating charm on Nigel and he was quickly removed from the scene. Meanwhile, Black was talking to several men who had apparated into the room. Arthur Weasley was one of them. As a group, they disappeared. Less than ten minutes after he had arrived, Draco was now standing, all alone, in a large white room with only the cabinets on the walls for company. Even William's puddle had been cleaned away. An hour later, he was still there when one of the doctors reentered.

"Draco Malfoy?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for an interesting night. May I ask you a few questions?"

"Is Nigel . . ."

"Resting. He has already recovered from his wound." The doctor paused. "He had residue from toxic drugs in his system. Do you know how this came to be?"

Draco tried to explain what he knew about Saint Brutus and how Nigel had come out of there with a drug addiction. He added that Nigel had stopped some months before. When the doctor surmised that Nigel still felt the urge to use such drugs, Draco told him that his friend had admitted as much to him. He felt he should add that Nigel also tended to drink a lot to help him keep those feelings under control. The doctor smiled. He told Draco that they had removed those traces of the drugs they had found. Keeping control should be easier now. Then the doctor frowned.

"Why was William Potter given such a large quantity of alcohol?"

"Whot? 'e 'ad 'alf a bottle, then fell asleep."

"And how many liters are in a standard bottle of muggle beer?"

Draco's jaw dropped. He suddenly understood. Those four empty bottles in front of Nigel weren't his alone. "When I firs' stayed wit' Nigel he challenged me to a drinkin' contest. I knew enough to say no. I saw all them bottles after I finished closing up the shop and I thought . . ."

The Doctor almost laughed. "It seems William did not have the knowledge that you did, but he will recover. And I do have one final question. Why was his hair blond? He normally has black hair."

"Loony . . . I mean I think it was Luna Lovegood. Billy tol' me 'e meet this girl walkin' roun' barefoot outside and asked her to do it as a joke."

The doctor nodded his head, satisfied. "I will inform the parents of what happened." He then pointed to a door on the other side of the room, informing Draco that he would be more comfortable in the waiting room. Draco gave his thanks and crossed the room as the doctor left by the door he had used to come in.

Draco opened the door to the waiting room. He was immediately attacked and put in a strangle hold while Hermione Granger told him how worried she had been. She released him and asked how badly he was hurt. She frowned when Draco told her he hadn't been badly hurt, and now that she was no longer choking him he would probably recover.

"Do you know about Rodolphus Lestrange?" Hermione asked.

Draco shrugged. They were sitting down. He had already told her everything that happened that night. Hermione politely noted that the Potters would hex him to death for what happened to William. Now it was her turn and she was trying to explain about the escape from Azkaban.

"I passed this message onto Walburga that the Aurors were asking questions about him. Is he the one who escaped?"

"Not him. His brother, Rabastan."

"But Rabastan died. I know that much."

Hermione gave him a knowing look. "When they finally agreed to release Rodolphus Lestrange, he asked if he could bring his brother's body home, to be buried with his family. When the Aurors exhumed the grave, two days ago, it was empty."

"Right. I'm confused. If Rabastan is the one who escaped, why did you ask about Rodolphus?"

Hermione gave Draco a brief history of the events of the summer, as well as two admonitions for not reading the Daily Prophet, as the wizarding newspaper carried most of the details. Draco responded that Sirius Black rarely brought the newspaper home with him. That was what brought the second admonition. Hermione told him he should have insisted that Sirius Black bring the paper home. Draco scowled, Hermione smiled.

Shortly after Draco's parents were murdered, four Death Eaters attacked the Longbottom household. The reason appeared to be that they thought Frank Longbottom had information on the whereabouts of their master, Lord Voldemort. Unfortunately for the Death Eaters, they had an informer in their midst. The Longbottoms were prepared for their attackers, and had a few friends with them.

The Death Eaters realized at once that they were undone and sought to escape. One of their number apparated away almost at once. The other three engaged the Aurors briefly until they could flee as well. Two did, but were recognized. Rodolphus Lestrange and his wife, Bellatrix. The remaining Death Eater was captured. The brother, Rabastan Lestrange. The search went out quickly for the Lestrange couple.

Rodolphus Lestrange was found quickly. He was drinking at a table in the Leaky Cauldron. He had apparently just arrived. He apologized to the Aurors when they ordered him to stand and hand over his wand. He claimed he had lost it.

Bellatrix Black was also found quickly, but her case was slightly different. She was in a meeting the Deputy Minister for Security as well as a junior assistant to the Minster for Sports and Athletics. Normally, this would have meant nothing, except the junior assistant was also the son of the Minister for Magic. Bartimius Crouch, Junior, later testified that Bellatrix Black had come to him with a worried tale. Her husband had gone missing and her wand had disappeared. The time he gave for her arrival preceded the time of the attack. She was clearly innocent. Someone had stolen her wand and mimicked her, possibly by using polyjuice potion (a potion which permits a person to briefly take the form of another individual).

Rabastan Lestrange admitted he was guilty, and bragged about what he had done. Rodolphus asked to enter a plea of not guilty but it was dismissed. He had been seen, and his wife had already revealed his involvement in other Death Eater plots. He was given no trial. The Minister thought it a waste of time. The other two Death Eaters were never discovered.

Draco had heard versions of this story before but knew that Hermione was thorough. She was making sure he knew everything he needed to understand what happened only recently.

"Remember what I said about Rodolphus losing his wand, and Bellatrix claiming her wand was missing? That's how they recognized them at the Longbottoms."

Draco nodded. If one of the Death Eaters was a double, so could another. He understood the point Hermione was making. Hermione's next sentence told him that he was right.

"Rabastan Black, before he died, admitted that he had lied about his brother, out of hatred for Rodolphus refusing to join their cause. He regretted that he failed to ensnare his sister-in-law as well. He gave all the details, including who his three accomplices really were. All three had died, one of them in Azkaban."

"So, Rabastan faked his death in order to free his brother, then why did his brother reveal his escape by asking for the body?"

"Perhaps I should answer?" a new voice said in a cheerful tone. "After all, I was there."

Hermione looked up in surprise and Draco turned around. There was a haggard man standing not far away. He had light brown hair that looked newly cut to a modest length. Most telling was his face. When Draco first met Casper Black, his first impression was that he was his mother's son, but that was because he had her eyes and hair. But Draco could tell that the boy had inherited this man's face. Draco cleared his throat to ask.

"Are you . . ."

Rodolphus Lestrange laughed easily as he interrupted the questioner. "Why yes, Draco, I happen to be your godfather."