Hey guys! Dunno if you have being waiting long for this. So messed up. Hope you like it :P

My thanks to Winterwinds1234

Draco whined. He wanted Hermione to sleep with him now that finally she was back in the same house as he was in. But Weasley was of course in the way.

"Draco, Ron wouldn't allow it at all even if we aren't planning to do anything …ummm….. Intimate." Hermione blushed, as she twirled her hair around her finger. They were lying in the field, enjoying the fresh air and the sun and a rare privacy. It was another lazy summer afternoon.

"So? That's his problem." Malfoy, for the first time had his sleeves rolled up, trusting Hermione at the exposed Dark Mark.

"It'll scar him to life." Hermione said giggling.

"Well, then a better reason to do it."

"You might get kicked out of the room then."

"Even better. Then I can sneak in to your bed."

"Aw, Ginny will freak out."

"She won't mind. I can convince her."

"Chummy, aren't you guys?" Hermione said faintly.

"She's definitely the better one out of the Weasleys."

"How did it even happen? I mean, you hated all of their guts."

"She knows Quiddich." Draco said shrugging. Hermione felt a pang of jealousy at this. After all, she hated flying and her boyfriend was an avid flyer.

"Well, at least some one likes you." she murmured.

"She told me what you guys did in the Room of Requirement during the fifth year."

"About the Dumbledore army?" Hermione asked without thinking.

Malfoy nodded, but his jaw sort of tensed. "She told me how you stunned Weasley before he could do anything." He said smirking.

Hermione chuckled softly at the memory. She had felt triumphant that day. "That was memorable."

"I wish I had seen." Malfoy admitted. "Weaslette said that you guys learnt the Patronus Charm."

"Wait—what? Weaslette?" Hermione scrunched her nose.

"Yeah, you know….. Ginny?" Ginny's name sounded strange coming out of his mouth.

"When did you start calling her that?"

"I dunno, I'm sure I've mentioned it to you before….. I referred to her as Weaslette since forever. I started calling her that recently to bug her."

"That's a cute nickname." Hermione's voice felt strange.

"I just didn't know the female of a weasel" Malfoy said. He sat up and shrugged his shirt off him. Hermione congratulated herself for not gasping out loud. But she knew that he saw her take a deep gulp of air.

Malfoy gave a lopsided grin. "Does it bother you?" he asked slyly.

"I-I don't know…."

"Explain." He said, scooting closer to her. He laid his shirt next to Hermione and laid himself close to her. Hermione's heart was doing crazy stuff.

"I-I don't mind you…. you staying like that. But…." Hemrione managed to say. "You're driving me crazy, Draco." She whispered as she traced her fingers against his chest.

"I'm glad." He smirked.

"Draco?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah?" Draco was making himself ready for another bit of snogging. Well, excuse him, but Hermione happened to be just too irresistible.

"Should I worry about you and Ginny?" Hermione asked, making Draco stop.

"Why?" he frowned.

"I mean, she's….she's good looking and all…. And apparently she's more like you. Adventurous, daring and Quiddich…" Hermione's little smile was quite creepy.

He stared at her. Hermione jealous? No way. That was impossible. But oh, she was. She was worried that he was going to prance off to Weaslette because she was good at Quiddich and occasionally gave him bit of Chicken pie?

"No. You have nothing to worry." Draco said firmly. He pressed his lips against her forehead.

Hermione shut her eyes, feeling Draco's soft lips against her head. She nodded. "Okay then. I won't worry."

"I admit, she's hot." He said seriously.

Hermione frowned.

"And would be cool to date her."

Hermione was starting to scowl.

"But I think I'd rather the book worm." He grinned.

Her scowl wavered a bit.

"My bookworm…..She can turn me on, make me want to do nothing but to hold on to her. She aint hot, she's beautiful. And most importantly, she's not stupid. She's smart and knows to save m—"

"Shut up." Hermione said and kissed him. Draco smiled against her lips. He just loved teasing her.

Meal times were always awkward with just Hermione talking to the entire table or Ron completely ignoring Draco or Ginny talking to Hermione and Draco or Mr. and Mrs. Weasley talking to their children. There was that invisible piece of ice, and dinner turned out always restless. Nobody dared to mention Dumbledore. Occasionally Harry's name came up. Voldemort was supposed to be never mentioned. It was some kind of a silent agreement.

But one night Hogwarts came up in their conversation. Fred and George had decided not to come that night, so it was just Ron, Hermione, Draco, Ginny, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

"I wonder how Minerva is dealing with. She has to find a new teacher for the defense position again." Mrs. Weasley said.

The whole table sort of tensed at this.

"Lupin was the best we had." Ron said, shooting daggers at Malfoy.

"Mad-eye was okay too." Ginny said.

"Yeah, but that wasn't him." Malfoy scowled.

"That was creepy." Ginny said nodding.

"Well, I'm sure Minerva would find some one suitable for the position again." Mr. Weasley said.

"And I hope you kids don't give them a hard time when you get back." Mrs. Weasley added.

Ron choked on his pumpkin juice. Hermione thumped his back, but she had gone slightly pale. Malfoy paid attention to his meal.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley stared at them. Ginny ignored the situation and served herself more salad.

"Is there something you have to tell us, Ronald?" Mrs. Weasley asked slowly, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"No." Ron said but he might as well have said yes with his ears going red.

"Alright, out with it. What is it?" Mr. Weasley asked and he had a feeling it wasn't anything about who ate the fish pudding.

Ron glanced at Hermione. It was bound to come out. It wasn't like they were going to leave without telling.

"They aren't going back to school, ma." Ginny said with a scowl.

"Not going back? Why?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Well, We, Harry, Ron, Draco and I have…" Hermione glanced at Ron. "…..stuff to deal with."

"And those stuff are…..?"

"We can't tell you." Ron said. "We aren't allowed to tell."

"And what is it that you can't tell your mother?"

"It's-it's not our place to tell." Ron was squirming in his seat.

"But what do you think you're going to do if you're not going back to Hogwarts?" Mrs. Weasley was obviously starting to get angry.

And then Malfoy did the unthinkable.

"Dumbledore left them a mission."

There was a multiple amount of sharp inhaling.

Malfoy continued, still his eyes on his salad. "And they somehow dragged me in to this. Potter's not going to back out. He's too noble for that—"

"Shut up." Ron growled.

"A mission? Have you lost your mind Ronald? Arthur, you can't let them do this! It's not safe. They're just children no matter what that old man thought!" Mrs. Weasley cried. "It's not safe these days. You know that. It's going to be dangerous once You-Know-Who starts encroaching. Harry wouldn't be safe, we won't be safe, Ron won't be safe and ESPECIALLY Hermione!"

"Why especially Hermione?" Draco asked instantly.

"You're not that dumb are you? Isn't it obvious?" Ron sneered.

"If you're saying that it's because she's a girl, that's bullshit." Draco said hotly. "She knows curses better than you and Potter…and she damn well knows how to keep herself alive."

The whole table stared at him silently. Shocked. Hermione had a hint of a smile.

"Bloody hell, what?" Draco asked looking at the table.

"Uh, Malfoy? Hermione's a muggleborn." Ginny said.

Malfoy blinked. Of course. "Oh." His voice had gone quiet. "I-I forgot." He looked at Hermione and back at his plate.

A sound of a chair scraping on the floor caused Malfoy to look up and he was soon engulfed in to a hug by Mrs. Weasley, who was beaming at him. "Oh Draco…."

Well, that was unexpected. Malfoy thought as he felt a warm feeling of motherly affection. From that day on Malfoy found himself helping her with the dishes.

"Oooh! Ooh ez thiz?" A voice woke Draco from his sleep. He squinted and rubbed his eyes. He blinked to see a young woman standing in front of his bed. Draco blinked some more. He took in the beauty of the blonde woman who seemed to give off some kind of aura. Of course, he knew her.

"Uh…..hello, Fleur." Malfoy said drowsily. He looked at the time. 7:30.

"Ah, eet iz you! Zraco Malfoy! You bad boy!" She said shaking her head and sat on his bed. It wasn't actually strange of her to talk to him. During the fourth year Malfoy had helped Fleur out in finding the necessary needs at Hogwarts during the Triwizard Tournament. Of course it was all for the glee to watch Potter lose.

"So you heard?" He asked casually sitting up. He sort of felt uncomfortable with her sitting on his bed when he was only wearing a vest and his boxers. He very much hoped that she wouldn't kiss his cheeks like last time.

"Oh yes. After all, I am in za Ozer. I hearz all about yooo."

"Ah, okay. When did you come?"

"Zest now. We have lotz of things to zoo. I trust yoo are coming for za wezzing, yes?"

"Yeah, definitely. Hermione would kill me if I didn't." Draco said with a chuckle.

"Aaah, you and she? Zat iz very…how zoo you say? Ironic? Yoo hated herrr."

"Not anymore." Draco snapped.

"Yez, yez. Zat is obviouz. You twu look verry, ah, cute!"

Despite all, Malfoy blushed.

Ron stirred in his sleep and woke up. He sat up and yawned. Then his eyes fell on Fleur.

"Bloody Hell." Ron squeaked.

After Bill and Fleur had arrived, the other members of the Order started coming constantly. Malfoy made sure that he was always out of their way. He was often given that look which said "you-don't-belong-here". After all, his effort had being useless. Cabinet or no cabinet, Dumbledore was now dead.

Days passed by and eventually it was mid July. Draco, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, the twins, Arthur, Molly, and the soon to be wedded couple were in the living room enjoying a rare moment together with cool butter beer on a hot night when they heard multiple cracks. Looking a bit alarmed Mr. Weasley went to see who it was. To the rest of their surprise they were soon greeted by Moody, Lupin and Tonks behind Mr. Weasley.

"Hiya, Draco!" Tonks greeted. Draco turned red and looked away as he felt Moody's both eyes staring at him, scowling. Lupin declined to give any kind of greeting to him.

"We have something important to discuss." Moody barked. "And I want Malfoy to leave this room for a couple of minutes."

Draco stared at Moody. Hermione spoke up.

"Oh no! He's with us. He needs to know as much as the others, whatever it is."

"I will NOT tolerate any—"

"Alastor. It's alright. We trust him." Mr. Weasley said. Draco was taken aback. He turned to Arthur Weasley. He had no idea how much that meant to Draco.

Lupin was nodding and so was Tonks. Moody scowled.

"Alright." Mad-eye growled. He got to the point immediately. "We have to find a way to get Potter here before he turns seventeen. We need to get him without the Ministry finding out. As you might have guessed, there's a chance that the ministry has being infiltrated."

The whole room was silent.

"The word is out that Potter will get out from those ruddy muggles when he's seventeen. But he will not. We are going to get him back before the 31st. But we can't use the floo or apparition. It would obviously get recorded. After all with his trace and the floo network being watched. But—" Moody took a deep breath. "—I have a plan. We're going to make six Potter copies with Polyjuice potion. Make each of them fly separately with a guardian in to separate stations and then all of them will take a portkey to the burrow."

The room was still silent.

"Question, concerns, comments, suggestions?" Moody snapped.

"Why are we doing this?" Ron asked bewildered at this round-the-twist plan.

"Better safe than sorry." Moody grunted.

Hermione raised her hand. "Does Harry know about it?"

"No. For the time being, no. But he'll know when he needs to."

"Who's going?" It was natural for Hermione to be the one with the useful questions.

"We need seven guardians and six potters. The guardians would be me, Lupin, Tonks, Kingsley, Bill, Arthur and…Hagrid. As for the Potters…The Weasley kids, except for the girl…"

"WHAT?" Ginny burst out.

Moody continued. "Granger, Fleur and unfortunately Fletcher… and of course the real Potter."

"Wait, if Hermione's going so will I." Draco blurted out.

"No." Moody said firmly.

"I'm not letting her go alone." He said angrily.

"If you haven't being listening, she will be with an adult."

"Why can't I be a Potter too?"

"Malfoy, you have nothing to do with this plan. You are to sit back here without getting in the way." Moody snapped.

"Let me go instead of Hermione." Draco growled. "She might get hurt with that bogus plan of yours."

"Nothing about the plan is going to go wrong unless you're in it." Moody was almost yelling.

"Draco….." Hermione said meekly but he was shaking with rage.

"I want to help." He growled.

"Trust me, we don't want help from another Death Eater." Moody took a menacing step.

This struck Malfoy in the core. He blinked. "Fine." He said and left the living room and took the stairs two at a time to Weasley's bedroom, as Mrs. Weasley's out burst faded away. Malfoy banged the door of the room shut. He looked at Hermione's photo on the wall.

Death Eater…. It seemed to say.

"Draco, I'll be fine."

Malfoy simply kept glowering on the couch. He had being in a foul mood the past few days. And the night had come. Screw Potter. Every one had to be in danger because of him.

"C'mon Hermione. We should be going." Ron tugged Hermione's arm. She sighed.

"Alright." She said. "Well, help Mrs. Weasley with the house work. We'll be back soon." She said with a squeeze on Draco's hand. He looked up at her for a second and looked away. Why should she be doing it as well? Didn't she know that he couldn't afford losing her? It was not that Draco had no faith in her abilities but what with her fear of flying and prancing around as Potter, who was a danger magnet, she was bound to get in to some kind of mishap.

"I don't blame him." Ginny said as she gave a hug to Hermione. "Be careful." She said.

Hermione nodded and turned to follow Ron. A hand grabbed her elbow and pulled her into a hug. Draco's scent wafted in her nose. His arms wrapped around her tightly. She held him tightly, wishing that she wouldn't have to let go.

"Be safe." He whispered.

"I will."

He drew her back and kissed her gently on the lips; a short sweet kiss. He held her face close to his, ignoring the calls of her name for a few minutes. Then he slowly unwounded his arms.

He let her go.

"Where are they? Why aren't they coming?"

"Malfoy, everything will be fine."

"No, there's something wrong."

"They have to stop by the stations. Of course it'll take some time."

"Not this late."

"Relax. Stop pacing around like that. You're making me dizzy."

"Didn't ask you to watch me, Weaslette."

"Ha, I have to. Or else, who knows what you might do? You might get all arrogant enough to go try find them."

"Damn….. That…That's a good idea."

"Forget it, Malfoy. I'm not going to let you do anything."

"Even a weettle chess game?"

"Oh no. I know better than to fall for your bets when I know I'll lose."

"…..Seriously, Weaslette. What do you see in Potter?"

"Wait, where did that come form?"

"Just wondering."

"It's none of your business."

"And you're blushing."

"I am not!"

"Are too."

"Am NOT"

"Are too…."

"AM NOT!"

"Merlin, you're the one who needs to relax."

"Shut up."

"Make me."

"There!"

"OI! That was my diary, you lousy woman!"

"Hahahahahahahaha"

"You hurt my forehead. That's a big book if you didn't notice."

"Aw, itty drakey got hurt?"

"Shut up."

"Make me."

Malfoy smirked. "Okay. Silencio."

Draco didn't notice anything till Ginny suddenly gave out a sob. He looked at her, startled. Tears were streaming down her face as she gazed at the window. They had being silent when a Portkey had arrived without their passengers.

"They're late."

Draco didn't say anything but he silently agreed.

"You were right. Something must have happened."

"It's not gonna help thinking like that." Malfoy muttered.

"I know how you feel."

"Pardon?"

Ginny turned to face him and Malfoy was taken aback by the sight. Merlin, she's practically all leaked up. Malfoy thought.

"I know how you worry about her. I do too. I can't believe Harry's going to flounce away again. I'm scared Draco. I'm scared I might loose him. And I know you're scared to loose her too." She sobbed.

He sighed. "Look, Potter can save his arse. He always did. And Hermione….. Nothing's going to happen to her." He was talking to himself now. "Nothing can happen to her. She's too smart for that."

Ginny just sobbed. It was very unlike of her to do so, but she had enough. She had enough pretending to be tough. Draco watched helplessly.

"I know you're frustrated too." She hardly made herself clear.

"Obviously."

And then Weaslette just flung herself at him. Draco gasped at the sudden attack, as she hugged AND sobbed on his shoulder. Draco awkwardly patted her back.

"Promise me you'll look after them? All three of them, while you guys are gone?"

He said nothing to this for a while. "Even Weasley?" Draco grimaced.

"Yes."

He sighed. "Fine." And Draco found himself hugging back.

The crack finally came. Ginny and Malfoy looked at each other from the table. They made a mad dash to the door and out side to see a huge form of Hagrid and a comparatively small Harry. Mrs. Weasley bustled past them.

"Harry! It's the real Harry, right?" Mrs. Weasley cried, hugging the disheveled figure.

"Yeah, it's me."

Malfoy didn't bother to listen Potter's wellbeing. He went right up to Potter. "Where's Hermione?"

"Wait, aren't they here?" he asked bewildered.

Draco's guts felt as if they were sinking. "No…." he barely said. He watched Ginny explain the portkey incident, but Malfoy was deep in thought. He listened to Potter's story.

"They knew?" Ginny gasped.

Harry nodded. Malfoy swore loudly.

When the second crack came Malfoy was the first to go see who it was. But to his shock he saw Lupin supporting a feeble figure, with blood everywhere. He went up to them in a daze and saw that it was one of the twins. His ear was gone. Despite the meal he had, Draco's stomach felt empty.

Harry and Draco helped carry George in. Suddenly Lupin grabbed Potter and pointed his wand.

"Ey! What are yeh doin'?" Hagrid roared.

"What was the creature that stood when you first came in my office?" Lupin yelled. Draco watched, wondering if the auror had finally cracked.

"What the—A gryndilow!" Potter said bewildered. Lupin lowered his wand.

"Sorry, I had to check. We were betrayed. They knew!" Lupin turned to Draco. "You." He snarled, suddenly looking like a werewolf. "Where were you all this time?"

Malfoy's eyes widened. "You think I let them know? Are you crazy?" He yelled.

Ginny came up to Lupin. "No, it's okay. He didn't do anything. He was with me and he hasn't being using his Owl. I've being taking care of it all these days." She confirmed. Draco noticed Potter's face flicker with a hint of jealousy.

.

Draco stared at the Weasley twin. Deep down, he hoped that he would be alright. He saw Ginny's face; pale. Sickly pale. Her eyes had no tears to cry. Draco looked away. "Hermione." He whispered in agony. What had happened to her? Why was she late? Something….something must have happened. Draco slumped down on to an armchair and rested his eyes on to his palms. He wanted to scream.

There was a crack. Potter and Lupin ran out to look who it was. Draco followed them. He felt dizzy. He leaned against the door frame as he watched two figures approach. One of them hugged Potter. It had to be Hermione. He heard someone yell at Lupin, and he answered. But Draco didn't care. He walked towards Potter. And the other person.

It was Hermione. Safe and whole.

"Hermione." Draco gasped. Her head spun to see him. She ran to him, and finally, finally, she was in his arms.

Safe and whole.

O.o I don't know why but this chapter's kinda strange to me. Any suggestions? comments? Criticism? Please review!

Thanks for reading :)