Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter because I am a mere peasant while J.K.R. is a Queen.

Chapter 4

Harry, Hermione, and the remaining Weasleys had been waiting in the kitchen for a little over an hour. The den, meanwhile, had been eerily silent. No one had been saying much. Ron and Hermione were lightly holding hands under the table; Harry was pretending not to notice. Ginny, however, had come to sit next to him, which slightly helped ease his tension.

Bill and Fleur had left the house to wait outside shortly after Malfoy had been left with Lupin and Kingsley. Charlie, deciding the house still too crowded, shortly followed suit. Fred and George left soon after to open their shop. Mrs. Weasley had arranged to floo then later in the evening to update them, and bring them some things they had left at the Burrow.

Harry had been thinking back on Malfoy's behavior during the short time they had seen him that morning. He was still snarky, rude, and cold. Undeniably so. But something about his behavior didn't seem to match Harry's memories of the arrogant git. Aside from the weakness related to his injuries, Malfoy seemed more vulnerable than Harry could ever remember him.

And…

There had been a moment, Harry was sure, that he had seen a look of pure terror in Malfoy's eyes. When Mr. Weasley had told him that Lupin and Kingsley would be coming to check him over. Malfoy his it well, he doubted anyone else even noticed. After spending the majority of the previous year watching Malfoy, he had learned how to differentiate between subtle changes in his expression, body language. So, yes, he noticed, and terror was definitely there.

He glanced over at Ginny and met her eyes. She looked steadily back. Harry could see the fire starting to burn behind her eyes and was overcome with the sudden (inappropriate) urge to start snogging her right at the kitchen table.

It was perhaps lucky, then, that Kingsley chose that exact moment to open the kitchen door.

"Mr. Malfoy is not under the effects of the Imperius curse." Kingsley told them. Harry felt the collective relief emanate from everyone in the room. Ginny grabbed his hand under the table. "Nor is he under any other curse that we were able to detect. And after searching him thoroughly we determined he does not bear any dark or dangerous objects on his person."

"So, he's safe?" Hermione asked, still looking apprehensive. Harry noticed this expression seemed to be shared by Arthur and Molly. Kingsley nodded.

"As far as we can tell, he does not present any immediate danger to anyone here. But we are not finished with him yet." Kingsley responded.

Images of Malfoy on the lawn from the night before, his sunken skin and pallor, and that certain look of panic flashed in Harry's mind. "What do you mean you're not finished with him?" Harry asked, a little louder than he intended. He felt something stir in his gut that almost seemed like concern. Ginny released his hand and she and Ron both gave him surprised look, but Hermione seemed that she might share his…feelings.

Kingsley raised an eyebrow at him. "Remus is asking him some questions at the moment. Remus knows Mr. Malfoy better than I do, as I'm sure you remember." Harry nodded, and waited for him to continue. "We want to know as much as we can about how and why Mr. Malfoy ended up on your lawn last night, of all nights, after the attempt on your life Harry"

Everyone around the table inclined their heads, suddenly remembering Mad Eye. It was silent for a moment.

"I thought it would be best if I allowed Remus and Mr. Malfoy to be alone for a short time." Kingsley finished.

"Is Lupin going to use Legilimency? Or veritaserum?" Hermione asked. "I didn't know that he…"

"No." Kingsley answered. "No, he is merely going to ask him some questions for the time being. Depending on his answers we may take different measures in the next few days."

"Kingsley, do you know how long it might take?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"No. I'm going to give them at least another half an hour before going back in unless Remus comes to get me." Kinsley said, and he moved over to join them at the table. Mrs. Weasley offered him a plate with some food and he accepted with a quick word of thanks.

Harry wondered if Kingsley might be right about Malfoy answering Lupin honestly. It seemed like a stretch. Malfoy had hated Lupin when he had been their professor during third year, hardly even showing him the respect he was due simply for being a professor. Harry thought that it may have even been better for Kingsley to stay and speak with him, someone with whom he had no history. Thinking Malfoy would open up to Lupin was kin to thinking Malfoy would open up to himself.

Ridiculous.

With Harry, and the others, deep in thought they went back to waiting.

OooOooO

Draco was still looking at the door through which Kingsley had recently left. He was trying to hear what was being said on the other side, but couldn't make out any specific words. The werewolf walked back towards Draco from the corner where he and Kingsley had been discussing Draco a few moments prior. He took a seat facing Draco but hesitated to start speaking. He seemed unsure of exactly what to say.

He and Kingsley had run Draco over with as many spells as they could think of while Draco sat silently in a chair in the middle of the room. They had tied his hands and feet so he could not attempt to leave, and had recently released him from the bonds. Draco assumed that meant they considered him at least moderately safe.

He was confused, though. Other than binding him to a chair nothing they had done had caused him even the mildest discomfort. He hadn't wanted to believe them when they said he wouldn't be harmed. He didn't think it was possible that they would keep their words, what with his history…and…with him being a Death Eater. Draco grimaced internally at the thought.

"What do you mean you're not finished with him?" Draco heard Potter's voice come through the door. There was no mistaking that Potter sounded concerned. Draco narrowed his eyes in confusion.

What was happening here?

"Mr. Malfoy." Lupin said finally breaking their silence. "It seems that you are not under any curses, and you do not have any dangerous artifacts on your person. We are relieved, of course, because this may mean that whoever sent you here did not do it with the intention of harming us, but rather protecting you." Lupin paused and waited to see if Draco would respond.

Draco, of course, had already considered this the night before. Knowing how thoroughly he had failed the Dark Lord, he knew that by all rights he shouldn't still be alive today. Somehow, someone had gotten him out of that hell-hole, and they had done it to keep him safe.

"Mr. Malfoy, we need to know what happened last night before you arrived here."

Draco paused. He saw the muggle studies professor hovering over the table. He felt the trembling in his hand and he failed to kill her. He saw her eyes the second before the fell to the table, dead. He felt the horrible, unending, bone-crushing pain that followed. And, he heard the muffled voice of his mother. He felt his voice catch in his throat and he looked at the floor. "I can't…I…I can't…"

The werewolf continued without missing a beat. "Were you put under the cruciatus curse?"

Draco knew there was no point in lying about this. His appearance the night before, his behaviors and his injuries all made it obvious enough. He opened his mouth to answer, but found that he voice still didn't want to come out. He closed his mouth tightly and nodded.

"And who put you under the curse?" Remus asked.

Draco looked at him in anger. "Guess" he spat.

"Voldemort then." Lupin said simply. Draco couldn't help but flinch when his name was said. He felt heat rise in his face. "Yes, based on what I heard about your condition I figured as much." The werewolf paused, and looked at him with what might have been pity. Draco felt completely disgusted that the stupid half-breed even dare to look at him in that way. But, before he could say anything the interrogation was continued.

"Where were you last night?"

"I could say that I can't tell you. But it's more that I won't tell you." Draco replied, feeling less compliant after the turn their conversation had taken.

"From what we have gathered, the Dark Lord has been residing in your family's home for the past several months." Lupin said. Draco arranged his face into an expressionless mask. "You need neither confirm nor deny this. Though, I must say with it being you that showed up it does lead us to believe that is his headquarters."

Draco started him dead in the eyes, remaining expressionless and speechless. Lupin continued. "I suppose asking who was there last night would be equally pointless?"

Draco considered this. For the most part, only known Death Eaters had been present, with the obvious exception of Pius Thicknesse. He thought it over for nearly a minute before responding, "No one you wouldn't expect, except one person who works in the Ministry. But that's all I'm telling you."

Lupin looked shocked at Draco's answer, and, honestly, Draco had surprised himself with his honestly. He really couldn't say why he had chosen to elaborate, why he had chosen to be truthful.

Lupin seized the opportunity to ask one final question. "Do you know why you were sent here?"

Again, Draco surprised himself with his honestly. But, really, what did he have to lose? "Not certainly, no. But I also believe I was sent here for my protection." He offered no elaboration as to why he thought that. He wasn't going to tell them anything about the night before, or any of the nights before. He hoped with all sincerity that those nights might be past him.

Lupin pursued no elaboration. He started long and hard at Draco before finally deciding what he wanted to say. "We need to know whether you have any ill intentions against the Order. Be truthful. You would be most useful as our ally. Mr. Malfoy, we can offer you incredible protection, protection we can extend to your family as well if they are willing. Draco, will you join us?"

Draco was completely taken by surprise. That was possibly the last thing he had been expecting. His stomach lurched as he was reminded of that night on the astronomy tower when Dumbledore had spoken very similar words to him. At the time, he had been paralyzed by fear, unable to process the offer that was being made. Then, before he could have even had a chance to respond they were no longer alone in the tower, Dumbledore was dead, and they were running.

At the time, he didn't give Dumbledore an answer, but he had thought about that night every day since it had happened. At the time he had been undecided. He was so worried for his mother, he hadn't had time to think.

But now, now he had thought it over day in and day out. Now, he had seen and experienced too many atrocities in the presence of the Dark Lord to believe his way was right. Now, he was gone from the Manor, but his mother remained there. And now, he knew what his answer would be.

"Okay."

AN: I like short chapters, if you can't tell. They're easier to write, and they're easier to read. Win-win.

So, as it turns out, I had some free time out of town and I really wanted to get this next chapter up. Originally I wanted it to be part of chapter 3, but then I decided it needed to stand on its own. Hope you all enjoyed it! Let me know what you think!