Chapter 6
"There it is. That's where he's been living." Harry told the other three that were with him while he pointed in the direction of the cottage. He scanned the area quickly and saw no sign of Draco. Perhaps he wasn't as stupid as he looked. He probably had something set up so he could hide if anyone approached.
"Well where is ferret boy then? I don't see him anywhere."
Hermione punched Ron in the arm and he backed off raising his hands in mock surrender.
"Ron if we're going to do this we should at least try to be civilized." Hermione chastised.
Abe stood watching the two and smiled. He remembered all too well what it meant to be young and in love. "Well as much as I like standing around in the forest taking in the sights I believe we should proceed. There are things that need to be discussed both here and elsewhere if I am not mistaken." Without waiting for a debate he stood and walked toward the cottage. "Mister Malfoy, my name is Aberforth Dumbledore. I have come here with Harry Potter and his friends. I believe you know of whom I speak. If you would be so kind as to please show yourself we can begin to discuss the reason for our presence."
A few seconds of silence passed as the four of them stood there. Finally the quiet was broken as Draco spoke up from the tree line. "You didn't say anything about bringing him Potter."
"What difference does it make who I bring? Do you want my help or not?"
Draco emerged from the other side of the cottage looking weary. Hermione gasped when she saw how thin he had become but Ron just stared with a smirk on his face. No matter what happened, Ron would never trust him. The appearance of the once cocky Slytherin did strengthen his resolve to get some answers though.
"We should go inside if we're going to talk. It's not safe out here where anyone could see us." Draco told the group.
"Very well Mister Malfoy, after you." Abe responded and they followed Draco into the run down hut.
"Alright Draco tell them what you told me. If you want my help you're going to have to convince them. They may have some questions; you would be wise to keep your snide comments to yourself." Harry motioned for Draco to begin his tale.
Draco looked at the faces around the room and began to tell them about his experiences since that night last spring on the astronomy tower. He told them how he was supposed to have killed their former headmaster but couldn't bring himself to do it. He explained the torture he had faced at the hands of Voldemort and of his escape.
When he was finished he turned to Hermione and began to speak again. "I owe you all an apology for the way that I've acted toward you over the last six years. I know I can't make up for the things I've done but I swear to you I've changed." He looked down into his lap and continued. "I especially owe you an apology Granger. I was raised my whole life that purity of blood was the most important thing a wizard can have. If your blood wasn't pure you were beneath us. I was wrong."
Ron looked at him for a long minute before finally speaking up. "It's easy to talk about changing Malfoy. I could tell you that I've changed and don't hate you anymore for the things you've done but that wouldn't make it true."
Malfoy was about to speak up but Abe cut him off. "Unfortunately for your case Mister Malfoy I believe Ron is correct. There is however a way to prove your supposed change of heart is genuine. I happen to have in my possession a small vial of veritaserum. If you are willing to ingest a small amount I believe we can have this all worked out in no time at all. We do have a rather important meeting after all Harry."
"I'll do it." Malfoy said immediately.
"Very well Mister Malfoy. Please hold out your tongue. I will be giving you four drops of the potion. Normally three are used but we do need to be absolutely sure."
Draco held out his tongue and Abe put four precise drops into his mouth. They watched for a moment as Draco's body relaxed and his eyes began to gloss over.
Abe asked the first question. "Have you been telling us the truth about your treatment at the hands of Lord Voldemort?"
"Yes."
"Is your statement that you no longer wish to serve Voldemort true?"
"Yes."
"If we offered you a way to assist in the demise of Voldemort would you provide us the information needed?"
"Yes."
"Are you a spy for Voldemort?"
"No."
"Are you in any way acting under his orders or influence?"
"No."
Abe looked at the others as if to say he was satisfied. Harry asked the next question.
"Where was the last place you saw Voldemort?"
"The muggle orphanage he grew up in."
Ron stepped forward and asked the next question. "Is my brother Percy a Death Eater?"
"Yes."
Ron recoiled with shock as he finally accepted the truth. "How long?"
"He received the mark along with me a little over a year ago."
Ron stepped outside to get some air while the questioning continued. Hermione was the next to ask a question.
"Are you sincere when you claim to have had a change of heart in regards to muggle born wizards?"
"I want to be. Sometimes I still find myself thinking along those lines but I know they are rubbish. Those thoughts are a part of me but I no longer want them."
Abe spoke next. "I believe the potion has had the desired effect Harry. That was a very truthful answer. Those thoughts will always be part of him. If he had answered with a simple no I may have had reason to believe he had managed to fight off its effects but now I am fairly certain he is sincere."
"What do you think Hermione?"
"I believe him Harry."
"So do I. I think we should take him to Grimauld and give him to the order. They'll know what to do with him." Harry walked over to Malfoy and gestured for him to stand up. "As a precaution we're going to bind you and cover your eyes. You'll probably stay like that for some time."
"Whatever it takes Potter. Let's just get out of this place. I can't stand it here any longer." The potion had obviously worn off.
"Well let's just hope Professor McGonagall made those changes to the wards. Do you know where Grimauld is Abe?"
"Yes I do Harry."
"Well then, Hermione go and get Ron. Let's get this over with."
Hermione stepped outside for a moment and returned with a visually upset Ron. The group made their way into Hogsmeade.
"Since you don't know how to get there Draco you will need to do a side along apparition. Abe I think you should do that, you're more experienced."
"A good idea Harry. Shall we then?"
Harry looked at each of his companions and with a nod and a pop they all disappeared.
When they reappeared at Grimauld it was in the middle of a bustle of activity. It all stopped when they saw the two people Harry had with him. Harry looked around the room and saw a lot of familiar faces as well as many he had never seen before. One of the new faces was the first to speak up.
"What the hell did you bring him here for? Don't you know who that is?" The man that Harry would later learn was named William Thomas almost screamed as he pointed at Draco.
"I do know who he is. You would be wise to remember who I am seeing as how this is my house and I am entitled to bring anyone here I please. I don't seem to recall inviting you." Harry shot back with a murderous glare.
Remus walked up and stood between Harry and Will. "Calm down Will, I'm sure Harry has his reasons for bringing Draco here. Abe, it's been a long time." Remus walked over to Abe and shook his hand. "It's good to see you Harry." He walked over to Harry and the two embraced in a hug. "Now let's get your new friend Draco here into the other room and talk about this new development. There seems to be a few things we need to discuss."
"Alright Remus but Hermione will stay with him."
"But I…"
Harry cut her off before she could finish. "Hermione I want you in there to make sure they treat him like the guest he is in what is still my home."
Hermione understood and nodded as she took Draco into the kitchen. She was followed by three of the others Harry had never met.
Professor McGonagall was the next to speak up as she approached the remaining three. "Harry, Ron, Abe it's good to see you are all healthy. Let's go into the parlor and discuss the purpose for this visit." McGonagall pursed her lips and turned to lead them into the parlor. Almost everyone in the room turned to follow. When they arrived Harry turned to Remus.
"I'm prepared to discuss what we've been doing with you but I have a few conditions first."
Remus looked at Harry with a looked that conveyed his understanding and Harry continued.
"Everyone leaves this room accept you, Professor McGonagall, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley."
"I think that can be arranged can't it Minerva."
"Of course Harry."
Once everyone had left the room Harry spoke up again. "What we are about to discuss is very sensitive. In order to have this conversation I will need each of you to give me your word that this will not leave the room. No one else in the order can hear this."
"I would think it would be for us to decide who can and cannot be trusted Harry." McGonagall said barely hiding her lack of patience for all of this.
"Agree or I leave right now. I considered asking you to take unbreakable vows but I trust you all to keep your word."
"It would appear we have no choice then doesn't it Harry." Remus said with a slight grin.
"I have your word then?" Everyone nodded in acceptance. "Have Fred and George been made members of the order yet?"
Molly spoke up. "No they haven't Harry, I wouldn't allow it."
"Good. My next condition was that they not be allowed to join until I get a chance to speak with them. Since that doesn't seem to be an issue we can move on to the last condition."
"And what would that be Harry?" Remus asked.
"You will immediately stop having me followed. And that applies to everyone I brought with me tonight with the exception of Malfoy. If he's with me however that same courtesy will be given him. I am willing to let the people in this room know what we're doing but I will not be followed and I will not be treated like a child."
"You knew you were being followed then. That would explain how you lost them so easily." Remus said.
Harry was about to answer but Ron beat him to it. "Of course we knew we were being followed. We're not stupid."
McGonagall and Molly both took on stern looks but Remus just laughed. "No I don't imagine you are Ron. What exactly are you suggesting Harry?"
"A partnership between the order and us. I can't speak for Abe; he's simply helping me understand a few things but the rest of us are willing to start cooperating. We don't have any desire to join up with the order but I don't see why we can't work together."
Molly couldn't take it any more. "I have heard enough of this. Ronald you will go home this instant and stay there until I get home. You are too young to be trying…"
Arthur stood up and cut her off in mid sentence. "Now Molly we agreed to hear them out and we will. I know you have never let go of the four youngest but it's time to face facts. There is a war going on and Ron is right in the middle of it. I don't like it any better than you do but he is of age and he is Harry's best friend. When they became friends all those years ago we knew that eventually this might happen."
Molly looked at her husband in shock. He had never stood up to her like this before. She was so shocked that all she could do was sit down and wear a confused look on her face.
McGonagall spoke up next. "Harry will the three of you please sit down?" Harry hadn't realized it but himself, Ron and Abe were the only three standing. They looked at each other and wordlessly decided to sit.
"Now I have come to expect a certain level of defiance due to their situation and youth out of Harry, Ron and Hermione but Abe you are old enough to know better than this. We've begged you to return to the order and you have flat out refused. Why are you helping them?"
"I almost didn't Minerva. In the end Harry reminded me too much of his Mother to refuse him when he came to me for help."
McGonagall rolled her eyes. "Harry Potter asked for your help. Miracles never cease."
Remus sighed and looked at Minerva speaking directly to her. "This is pointless and isn't getting us anywhere. Now are we going to agree to his terms and hear him out or are we going to argue all night?"
McGonagall sighed as well and looked around the room. "Very well but I have a few demands of my own. First you need to know Harry that the order has changed a little since Albus died. I am not in charge, there is a counsel. If we are going to make any decisions they need to be brought in on it as well."
"Who are they?" Ron asked.
"Alistor Moody and Tonks. You know them both and I trust them completely."
"Alright I agree. You can go get them now if you like." Harry replied.
"Next I expect an explanation as to the appearance of Mister Malfoy. If I remember correctly the two of you hate each other."
"You will of course get one Professor."
"Finally you need to understand something. We will agree to work together I am sure but don't expect us to take orders from you Harry. I believe that we have been doing this a little longer than you."
"I never expected anything less. Keep in mind that will go both ways. It's the reason we don't want to be a part of your order."
As the professor was about to respond Tonks and Mad Eye came through the door. "Watcher Harry." Tonks said when she saw him.
"Hi Tonks." Harry replied.
"Harry was just laying out some demands for us Moody." Remus said with a grin.
"Figures. The boy has always had a certain disregard for authority hasn't he? Probably kept him alive though." Moody responded.
"What were these demands?" Tonks asked. Minerva told the two new arrivals and after a brief discussion they agreed.
"There is one more thing I should mention before we continue. Ginny knows most of what I'm about to tell you."
Molly gasped but Arthur calmly held her forearm and spoke up. "I thought we had agreed to keep her out of this Harry?"
"We did Sir and I apologize."
"We caught her eavesdropping on us Dad and by the time we knew she was there she had already heard too much. We told her the rest so that someone would know what we've been up to in case we were hurt." Ron added.
"Smart thinking if you ask me." Moody added.
"Well no one did Mad Eye!" Molly said no longer able to contain herself.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Weasley. Since she already knows this I think she should be included as well." Harry added.
Molly started to protest but decided against it. After collecting herself she nodded at Harry and went to get her daughter.
Tonks looked around the room and once Molly and Ginny returned she looked at Harry. "Well why don't we start with you telling us what you've been up to. To be honest we've been dying to know."
Harry nodded and told them the tale of his adventures over the last several months. There were several gasps as he told the tale especially when they learned of the existence of the Horcruxes. He told them the about how they had destroyed them all and were now beginning to focus on Voldemort himself. They learned of the crystal and Abe's theory but the only one in the room who didn't know about that was Tonks since she was not in the order at the time it happened. When Harry stopped talking almost two hours later everyone was stunned at what the boy and his friends had accomplished but Remus was the first to speak up.
"It would appear that we have once again underestimated you Harry. It won't happen again, at least not with me." He had a look in his eyes that a mixture of wonder and pride.
"Thank you Remus."
"Now Harry let's talk about why you made the Weasley's leave their home this morning." McGonagall said.
"We talked about this on the way here and Ron thinks it would be best if he took his family into the kitchen to tell them with Hermione and Draco. I'll stay here and tell the rest of you."
Ron, Ginny and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley left the room. Focus again shifted to Harry as he told them about his dream and Percy. As he finished explaining these events to them a loud noise could be heard coming from the kitchen. Everyone stood up and ran to see what had happened. When they arrived they saw Draco sitting at the table still blindfolded and wearing a completely bewildered look on his face. Arthur was sitting at the table as pale as a ghost and Hermione and Ron were standing over Molly who was lying on the ground.
"She couldn't take it Harry." Ron said. "She just passed out."
Author's Note: Things will slow down a little bit now because I have caught up with what I have finished. I should be posting at least every other week at a worst case scenario. Look at the bright side, now I will have a little time to check out some of your stories!! I want to thank everyone who has read this and really thank everyone who reviews, they are inspirational for me. I have this story posted to this point of HPFF and it has received 4000 reads and 65 reviews but has been there since May. I have had this story on this site for less than a month and it has had 1000 reads and 13 reviews, that's awesome. I don't know if that is good for this site but it has made me very happy, you guys and gals rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
