Weeks passed and Draco was drawing more and more into himself. Harry and Bellatrix were more worried about him than ever. The only time he left his bedroom was for Death Eater meetings or when his mother forced him to eat.
"I've never seen him like this." Bellatrix said, concern evident in her voice as she paced her bedroom, Harry sat on the windowsill.
"We need to do something soon about these horcruxes, the sooner this is over the sooner Draco can get his life back." Harry said.
"We need backup, we can't do this alone." Bellatrix said, taking a seat on the bed.
"We'll figure something out, I'll speak to the order. It's Hermione they will definitely want to help." Harry said, sitting beside Bellatrix on the bed.
"Harry, you and I both know they won't help us. Yeah of course they will help you but they wont' help me and Draco." Bellatrix said, feeling more defeated.
"I'll make it work I promise. I'm heading there now, I'll speak to them." Harry said, hoping beyond hell that he could get the Order to listen to him.
00
"Harry! We've been so worried about you!" Molly Weasley squealed, embracing him in a hug.
"I'm fine." Harry said, dismissing her worry.
Taking a seat at the table Harry rubbed his face hard before opening his eyes, greeted by the worried faces of Molly and Arthur Weasley and his godfather Sirius.
"Harry, where have you been?" Sirius asked gently.
"Speaking with Bellatrix." Harry said bluntly, fixing a hard stare at Sirius.
"You've been where?!" Came the accusing voice of Ronald Weasley from the doorway.
"Speaking with Bellatrix Lestrange." Harry stated again.
"Whatever for?!" Molly fussed.
"She's been helping me with the horcruxes." Harry stated simply.
"You mean to say you've been conspiring with the enemy about our mission to take down Voldemort?!" Ron roared. "You're off your head mate."
"Well, if she's that much of an enemy then why have has her advice already helped me locate another horcrux?" Harry asked, staring pointedly at Ron.
"You've destroyed another horcrux?" Sirius whispered.
"Not destroyed yet, I know where it is I just need to get it." Harry said, shaking his head. "But horcruxes aren't what I came here to speak to you all about."
"Well what did you want to talk to us about Harry?" Arthur asked.
"Call a full order meeting. Everyone should hear what I have to say." Harry said, rising from his seat at the table and stalking off.
10 minutes later and every order member was gathered in the lengthy kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place.
"Right Harry, what's going on?" Sirius prompted.
"Wouldn't we all like to know." Ron grumbled, quickly silenced by a glare from his mother.
"Well to start off, I'm sure everyone is aware of the Hermione situation?" Harry asked the room, anger in his tone directed towards Ron and Ginny.
"The tart ran off to be with her bastard children." Ginny said. The twins seated beside her moved their chairs away from their sister.
"Ginerva Weasley! One more word and you are out of here." Molly scolded. Ginny lowered her head, shuffling closer to Ron.
"Well, I've been in contact with Draco Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange for help in my destruction of Voldemort's horcruxes."
This comment made the group erupt, shouting over each other at every turn.
"SHUT UP!" Harry yelled from atop the counter he had climbed. "Enough of this."
"Draco's whole life was torn apart when he was robbed of the chance to bond with his children and he wants Hermione back just as much as I do. We've been working together for months trying to find these horcruxes and I'm so much closer than I would be if I was working on my own. And Bellatrix was the one who freed Hermione from Malfoy Manor when Lucius captured her. You were all so happy to know that Hermione was safe but never thought how we'd managed to get her out of there alive. It's been them from the start. They pledge no allegiance to the dark side. All they want is reassurance that the help they have given me won't be in vain." Harry stated, breathing heavily.
"DRACO IS THE FATHER?!" Ron yelled. "Oh this is just great. I've been replaced by Malfoy. Just great."
"Come on Ron. Calm down." Ginny whispered, Ron still panting heavily.
"They want to join the order don't they?" Kingsley Shacklebolt asked from the head of the table.
"Yes. They do. We want this to end as quickly as possible and I want them protected. They were willing to sacrifice everything to help me and now I want to help them." Harry said fiercely.
"No. Absolutely not. I will not have her in the Order. In my home." Sirius said, shaking his head.
"I assumed you'd be the one most against it. But that won't change what has to happen. Either they get proper protection from the Order, the same protection you would provide everyone sitting at this table, or I walk." Harry said, gaze fixated on his godfather's.
"Harry dear, you don't mean that." Molly gasped.
"I do. I will walk away for good. Protection or no protection, I'll finish this on my own."
The older Order members all looked amongst themselves.
"Can you give us time to make a decision?" Lupin asked. "10 minutes." He assured at the determined look in Harry's eyes.
"Fine." Harry said, pushing past where Ron and Ginny sat and climbing the stairs to the library.
10 minutes passed and Harry was getting impatient. Just as he made to leave, the library doors were pushed open by none other than Ron.
"They want to speak to you." He grumbled, pushing the door further open.
Without a word Harry pushed past Ron and took the stairs two at a time, eager to find out what the Order had decided.
"Well?" He asked before he'd even fully made it into the kitchen.
"Sit down first please?" Sirius asked, motioning for the chair closest to him. Perching on the edge, Harry tried to gage their decision from the looks on their faces but got nothing.
"What makes you so sure that they can be trusted?" Kingsley asked.
"The fact that they risked their lives and Narcissa's life to save Hermione from her captors." Harry said.
"Are you sure that they are not still working for Voldemort and this is all just an elaborate ruse to take us down from the inside?" Lupin asked.
"I would bet my life on it." Harry said determinedly.
"If you trust them then we trust you dear." Molly said, placing her hand comfortably atop Harry's trembling ones.
Harry let out the breath he wasn't aware he was holding. He knew that he would if he had to but the idea of going it alone terrified Harry.
"Thank you. I promise you all you wont regret this."
