Draco looked from Harry to Ron to Hermione and then back to Harry. "What made you change your mind?"

Harry crossed his arms and took a step back so Ron was in the front. "Ron heard something."

"He heard something. Well, that's delightful." Draco rose an eyebrow. "I'm glad to have been told that you actually pay attention. Now, you three will leave and I will go back to yelling at the Hellions."

"Blondie, you weren't..."

"... technically yelling at us."

"I was, and I wasn't finished." Draco twirled his wand in his hand, a glower firmly in place. "You shouldn't have done what you did."

Fred's grin instantly vanished and George took a step back. Fred stormed forwards and grabbed the blonde's wrist gently in his hand so that the wand was pointing at him, "You are going to stop now. If we went back in time, I wouldn't change what I did. You would have still gone to the infirmary, you would have gotten checked over by Madam Pomfrey, you would have had the same reaction, and you would still be here yelling at me. If you are quite done, I think Harry said he wanted some help."

Well, isn't that telling you?

Oh, shut it.

Draco wrenched his arm away and glared at Fred before turning to the Golden Trio who were staring at Fred as if he had another head. "Well, what did Weaslebee hear that made you come here, Potter?"

A hand reached out and Draco saw a long, slim finger touch the bracelet, but Draco just huffed and smacked the offending digit.

"I think Ron should explain that."

"You and Fred and George were in here earlier. I came in and you were... explaining? something to Fred and George."

"Why are you always first, Freddie?" Fred asked, grinning at George.

"Because my letter comes first," George explained.

"Is that really necessary?" Draco asked.

"It sure is."

When Ron opened his mouth to keep going, Draco interrupted him, "Can you really not tell the difference between the two?"

"Err... no. It's impossible. We've been trying for years. Anyway, you were explaining about some things and it made me think that you were telling the truth."

"Very articulate, Weaslebee."

"Aww, Blondie, stop being mean to poor Ron." George sidled up, apparently grateful that he wasn't having to deal with Draco's yelling.

Draco ignored the twin and quirked a brow, "What did I say to change your view of me so drastically?"

"Lots of things."

"Oh, Ron," Hermione sighed, picking up where he left off. "He came to us and told us, so I'll just tell you what he said. You have to gain our trust, pass information to Voldemort, you want the war to end and you have to do something about horcruxes. I have yet to be able to find anything about those yet," she muttered.

"And you won't. Any books that hold that information has been confiscated." Draco wanted to pace, to get his mind straight, but he gripped his right wrist tightly in his left hand.

"Oh, and that you have to pretend to be a cold-hearted bastard," Harry piped up, apparently remembering something Ron told him. "Though why you have to pretend to protect your family doesn't make any sense."

Draco sneered, but Fred placed his head on top of the blonde's. "We'll get to that in a minute," Fred muttered. "Why don't you keep telling us what you overheard, Ron?"

"Just that he claims that he's given everything up for Harry."

"Is that it?" Draco asked, his voice monotone. He glanced around the room with a far off expression on his face. He wasn't even safe to say what he wanted in this room. "And that has to do with me helping Potter, why?"

"Because you have to," Ron muttered. "You said so."

He has to. He has to do this. He has to do that. He has to do everything even if Sev was the better equipped one. Even if he had no idea what he was doing. Even if he didn't actually want to.

"What did Professor Snape tell you while you were strolling along in my mind, Potter?"

"Ehh... well... I have a question first."

Draco rolled his eyes and pushed Fred off him, "Of course you do. Get off me!"

"Nope, not until you call me by my real name."

"You already told him," Hermione pointed out, but Draco only shook his head.

"He lied," Draco sighed, waving Fred off. "He's Fred and George is over there." Draco walked over to the table and set his wand down. Ignoring the incredulous looks the other three were giving him, he pointed at the table. "Your wands will be on the table or I will not help."

Surprisingly, Ron was the first to move, but he sneered at Draco as he did so. "Afraid we'll hex you?"

Draco didn't bother to deign that with a reply. Instead, he closed his eyes and made the room change. The only furniture in the room was the table. There were no windows. There was a soft carpet and torches that lit up the room.

It would have to do. Draco meandered over to the wall and slid down, crossing his legs comfortably. He watched as the twins happily dropped their wands on the table before hurrying over.

As George sat down, there was a soft mewling from Fred's pocket and Draco's eyes widened. "Eira," he whispered, holding out his hands to the twin. Fred just chuckled and pulled the Kneazle out and handed it to Draco before sitting down on the opposite side of the blonde. Eira began purring happily and she began to gently lick his fingers.

Then the other three were standing in front of Draco. "Now what?" Harry managed to grind out.

"Sit and tell me what Severus told you."

"Severus?" Ron asked, staring down at the Kneazle. "Cute cat." He held out a single finger for Eira to smell.

Eira just gave it a sniff before ignoring him. Draco smirked at the redhead, but Ron just shrugged as he sat in front of George. Hermione sat in front of Fred and Harry lowered himself in front of Draco.

"Severus is my godfather. Now, Potter, what did he tell you?"

"Err... you ok, Malfoy?" Harry blurted out.

What? Why would Harry even care? He narrowed his eyes. "I'm just fine, Potter. I will not ask again."

"Something about how my mind should look like."

Draco had enough. He handed Eira to Fred before he asked, "What are you doing here, Potter?"

"I already said -"

"Stop making excuses!" Draco's eyes flared and he couldn't believe how stupid he was. "You were there, after it all happened. You saw what I wanted no one to see. You saw things you had no right to see! Stop lying and tell the truth and stop trying to hide behind people!"

Harry blinked before his bright green eyes narrowed, "You know what? I'm through. I was going to be polite enough to not -"

"Polite? When does Harry Potter ever chose to be polite to me?" Draco slammed his hands on the ground. "You aren't here to learn, Potter! You're here to learn what happened during your last Occlumency lesson."

"Draco," Fred tried, but Draco shook his head violently.

"Well, spit it out, Potter."

"He's here to learn, Malfoy," Hermione sat up straighter. "It doesn't matter what happened at that lesson."

But Draco was staring at Harry who finally snapped, "Why did Snape say you couldn't be put into any harmful situations?"

"Come now, Potter, you and I both know that isn't what you want to ask."

He could still remember being pushed aside for a few minutes. He could remember the conversation Malfoy had with Sev. He could remember the look of pure shock on Harry's face. He could remember seeing the twins tense up.

Silence greeted his words.

"I suppose that conversation is for next time," Draco murmured, sitting back and accepting Eira from Fred. "Which element are you more attuned to, Potter?"

"What does it matter? It probably won't keep him out any better."

Draco somehow refrained from rolling his eyes. "At the moment, your mind is open to anyone who points their wand at you and mutters the incantation. When you're asleep, it's most likely worse. That's because at the moment you have a meagerly put up wall."

"There is not-"

"Do you want my help or not?" Draco couldn't stop his eye from twitching. When he received no answer, he continued. "When you have an adequately built wall - or more of a landscape, as I call it - it's harder for the others to find what they're after and the sooner you can control where they go even if they don't notice."

"Why do you even care what happens?"

Draco debated over what to tell them, but then he decided he was done trying to figure out what to say without giving too much. "If you fail, my whole family will be destroyed."

"So you're doing this for your family?"

"Do you not have ears, Potter? I just said that!" Draco took a calming breath and rubbed the warm necklace he wore. "If you fail, that will be on my shoulders."

"Why?" Hermione spoke up.

"You don't think he would have survived this long without me?"

"He was surviving well enough with us!" Ron spluttered, finally speaking up. The hellions, though, they kept quiet and just watched.

"First year, yes. Second year, possibly. Third year, possibly. Fourth year, no. Now here we are, fifth year, and the answer is once again no."

"What did you do second, third and fourth year?" Hermione asked, pushing her curly brown hair out of her eyes.

Draco smirked at her, "Second year when Potter entered the snake-pit with one of you two. I could have easily turned you two in for drastically breaking school rules, or I could have fed you lies. Third year with that prank with the dementors when you finally got the patronus charm to work decently. It gave you a step up. Fourth year, during the Tournament, I was the one who told Hagrid about the dragons and I was the one who sent you the Gillyweed."

The three Gryffindors blinked stupidly at him before Fred's face was inches from Draco's. "That's bloody brilliant! You should get us some! There's ingredients we could use for -"

Draco waved his hand and, even though Fred's mouth continued to move excitedly, nothing came out. Why the two had never asked for Gillyweed before was amusing, perhaps they had forgotten they were there when he ordered Dobby to give it to Harry. He patted Fred's cheek before turning back to the Golden Trio who were staring at him with shocked expressions.

"But... you're lying!" Harry jumped to his feet, pointing at Draco. "You have no proof."

Huffing, Draco crossed his arms and glared. He didn't, not really. There was only one way, and Severus was the one who proved that it wasn't the smartest way for him at the moment. There was no one else who... "I do, actually. For at least part of one."

"Really?" Harry spat, his hands clenched at his side.

Draco just stood with Eira carefully held in his arms. He walked away to the opposite side of the room before turning around. He grinned, opened his mouth and called, "Dobby!"

There was a pop! and there was Dobby standing in front of Draco, wearing all of his atrocious clothing.

"Master Draco!" Dobby hopped up and down, apparently not realizing there were others behind him. "You hasn't called! You look much better than you did before! Are you eating everything? What about drinking water? Master Draco you -" he whirled around, pointing a finger directly at the twins. "Why is they here, Master Draco? They were..." The house-elves words died off when he saw the Golden Trio. He gave an eep, looked from Draco to Harry with huge eyes before landing on Draco.

"Potter, I'm sure you've meet Dobby."

"How'd you? What is he? What's going on?"

Dobby was wringing his hands, and it was obvious that he had no idea what to do. Draco kneeled and said, very quietly, "Dobby, you can do as you want, now. You don't have to keep doing what you don't want to do."

The house-elf turned towards him, "But sir! The other house-elves will knows! As soon as I stops wearing -"

"Dobby, it is growing hot. All you have to do is say that the clothing is hot and all will be well."

Those huge eyes blinked a few times before a huge smile covered the house-elf's face. 'Cans I keep the hat?"

Draco internally groaned, but he nodded. If it was even possible, the grin grew bigger and then all the handmade clothing from Hermione disappeared except for the tea-cozy he used as a hat.

Then something was being thrust into his hands, "You haven't been eating properly, Master Draco, sirs."

"Dobby?" Harry stood there, shell-shocked. "Weren't you freed?"

The large ears dropped and Dobby nodded, "Harry Potter sir did indeed free Dobby, but Master Draco will always be Master Draco."

"But... but... you've been spying on us?"

"No, Mr Harry Potter sir! I've -"

"Potter, who gave you the Gillyweed for the second task? Who took you to see the dragons? I'm sure if you ask Hagrid he will say that he overheard me talking about it."

"But... but..."

"No buts, Potter. Now leave. Figure out what element you want to use, create some sort of landscape while you meditate twice a day - before you begin school and before you go to bed." He looked at Hermione and Ron who weren't quite as shocked as Harry. "You two must make sure he does or it will all be for nothing. Now leave." He walked over to the door and held it open.

The three didn't bother to argue, they just grabbed their wands and hurried out the door.

Draco began to pace as soon as the door shut. Furiously so. He still had Eira in his arms, purring away at seemingly nothing. Fred just watched the fluid motions of the younger boy. His pacing soon had a trail on the carpet, and his blonde hair swung gently around his face.

"Freddie," George whispered to him. "You're sunk."

"Yeah," he sighed, knowing nothing would ever come of it.

It had started so simple. He and George just wanted to know what the Slytherin Prince had been hiding. They wanted to get under his skin, something no one had ever been able to do.

Then he showed that he wasn't a prick, which is why they agreed to the Vow. Then, painfully slowly, Draco appeared as a human. His emotions rang out even when he tried to hide them. He was passionate about his family, and he was devoted and he gave everything for them. Draco was selfless, even if he didn't see it himself.

What George said was very true. He was sunk. Extremely so.

"I gotta go see Angelina," George murmured, patting his twin on the shoulder.

Fred just waved him off, not really paying attention. He was content to just stare at Draco.

The door opened and closed, and Draco didn't even seem to realize that someone had left.

He wasn't sure how long they were there with Draco pacing and him watching. When the other boy finally realized what he wanted, Draco paused and glanced at Fred. "You're still here? I thought you left with George."

And that was why everything clicked for him. Draco was the first to actually tell the two apart without them having to tell him.

"Nah, he has to go see Angelina."

Draco looked around, shifting his weight from foot to foot minutely. "What are you still doing here?"

"Watching you." Fred shrugged and stood, as if it didn't really matter. Which it didn't, not really. "What were you thinking about?" When the blonde didn't reply, Fred rolled his eyes and walked forward. "Blondie, you know I won't be able to say anything if you claim it to be important, right?"

It didn't matter that it would hurt like shit if Draco told him.

"I thought you realized I have no need to say that anymore."

Fred stared at the blonde, not really understanding what the Slytherin was telling him. "Huh?"

"Really, and here I thought you were smart."

"Eeh," was all that Fred could manage to get out.

Draco set Eira on the ground and the small Kneazle raced around the room for no apparent reason. The smaller boy watched Eira with a soft smile as she ran about with squeals of delight when he waved his hand and a small mouse appeared.

"Doing something because you have to do it is exhausting," Draco finally said, not looking at Fred.

"Then why not do something you don't have to do?"

"Because I'll become used to it."

Fred walked forward and stood behind Draco, dropping his chin to rest in the silky soft hair. "It's easy. I didn't have to, but I did anyway."

Draco chuckled softly, his shoulders beginning to relax.

When the silence continued on, Fred couldn't help but asking, "Why are you afraid of doing something?"

There was a cry of delight as Eira pounced on the mouse, trapping its tail between her paws. Then she let her prey go and began the chase again.

"I'll become dependent on it."

"Then just be around one person who lets you do it, and you'll only depend on it with that one person."

"That doesn't make sense."

"Sure it does. What things do you have to do?"

Draco was silent again, but then he muttered, "I have to be a... spy of sorts," Fred felt Draco give a tiny shudder of distaste before continuing, "I have to pass information along for both sides, but only the needed information. I have to become better with my landscape so the Dark Lord won't notice anything wrong. I have to get the Golden Trio to trust me," Draco's voice was rising, his anger finally coming out. His anger that he'd been trying to hide. His anger that was beginning to surround Fred, but it didn't matter. Draco needed it. "I have to be rude and obnoxious to people who don't deserve it. I have to be somewhat kind to those I don't want to be around. I have to be hated so that this war is won. I'm tired of having to do these things."

He whirled around, facing Fred, his eyes blazing. He strode forward, pushing Fred back until the taller teen was pressed against the wall. "I'm sick of having to do what everyone tells me to do. I don't want it!"

Fred didn't say anything. The angry magic that swirled around Draco was intoxicating. It made his eyes glow a bright blue, his hair fly around his face, his robes billow around him.

"I want to be a kid who doesn't have to worry about anything besides passing. I want to be a kid who just worries about who he's taking to Hogsmeade. I want to be a kid who can walk around the Black Lake without thinking about ways to survive. I want to be a kid who can do whatever the hell he wants with the worst that can happen to him is a dentition, losing house points, and a letter home. I want to be a kid who gets a Howler from his parents for misbehaving. I want... I want..." Draco fisted his hands in Fred's robes and just clung.

Fred wrapped his arms around Draco, hugging him close as the two sank to the floor. He pulled the fifteen year old onto his lap, wrapping him up tightly in his arms, and holding on. Draco's magic cooled, and his shoulders began to shake, and his fingers held onto Fred.

It didn't matter that Fred could feel his shirt beginning to grow wet. It didn't matter that it was growing past midnight. It didn't matter that Eira finally caught the mouse and placed it in on the floor beside the two.

What mattered was that Draco was in his arms, face buried in his chest. What mattered was that Draco's wall finally broke. What mattered was that he wasn't able to do anything but hold the blonde and him release his emotions.

They stayed there for the rest of the night. Draco curled up in Fred's lap, clinging to the Weasley. Fred had his arms wrapped around the blonde, hoping that there was something else he could do, but knowing there was nothing.