Chapter 7

October 1997

Draco surveyed the guests around his family's dining room table. Everyone from the Inner Circle was there, in addition to himself and his mother, and they were anxiously awaiting the Dark Lord's return from wherever he had been. He shifted his eyes to his mother, sitting across from him, who had the same expression on her face that she wore when they attended high-society functions.

Calm, reserved, superior. It was her game face.

He knew she was terrified and admired her ability to hide it so well. Draco had always striven for bored and disaffected, but didn't think it was appropriate anymore since he was no longer a teenager. He studied Severus' expression and observed a mixture of snobbery and vague interest bordering on anticipation.

Severus' dark gaze met his and Draco allowed the corner of his mouth to lift slightly. He was supposed to be grateful to be here. Happy to serve the Dark Lord. Lucky to have the chance to sit in with the Inner Circle.

Best not overdo it though.

He glanced at his father who was whispering to Mulciber. Draco eyed MacNair, leering at his mother. Again.

Alecto's hand brushed his thigh and he stiffened. Her fingers paused on his leg. Draco should have waited for her to sit down first and then chosen a seat far away from her. Instead, he stupidly sat across from his mother and Severus, and Alecto promptly seated herself next to him. The woman made him feel like he had a thousand maggots burrowing within his body. But moving would insult her and he didn't want to incur her wrath. His family's position was too tenuous within the Dark Lord's army.

Alecto leaned into him. Her floral perfume was strong, irritating his nose, and her hot breath grazed his ear. "I hear the Dark Lord has a treat for us today."

At the word 'treat,' her red painted nails clutched his thigh briefly.

"Excellent," Draco replied, quelling the mounting revulsion at her proximity.

He met his mother's gaze, hoping she couldn't see his disgust. His father was still conferring with Mulciber, but his icy eyes were focused on Alecto.

"I must say," Alecto purred in his ear, making him shiver. "I was disappointed you didn't return for seventh year."

Her hand slithered up his thigh and he swallowed, unsure how he could remove her fingers without consequence. Despite being repulsed, his cock twitched, and he hoped she didn't notice. Female attention was still female attention, especially that close to his prick.

"We've made some changes in detention I'm sure you would approve of." She laughed lightly, breasts pressing into his upper arm.

Draco chuckled as well and then replied, "It was decided my talents would be useful helping the Dark Lord secure a tighter allegiance within the Wizengamot and the Ministry."

"Alecto," his mother asked with a demure smile. "How are things at Hogwarts?"

The vile woman leaned back in her chair, flicked her long red hair over her shoulder, and recounted a story, removing her hand while she spoke. He bit back a sigh of relief, grateful for his mother's presence.

After a few moments the Dark Lord entered with Yaxley, who was levitating the body of a beaten woman behind him. Draco leaned forward, raising his eyebrow as if interested in who would receive the impending torture.

He dragged his gaze upward towards her body, hovering in the air above the table the Malfoy family usually ate from. Blood dripped down onto the black, polished wood. She was screaming, but silenced.

"Do you recognize her Draco?" His spine went cold in fear. The Dark Lord was addressing him directly. Draco could count on one hand the number of times the Dark Lord spoke to him. None of them resulted in anything good.

"Yes, my lord," he answered with a perfectly cultivated sneer. "She teaches Muggle studies at Hogwarts." He made the words 'Muggle studies' sound as if he had just scraped it off the sole of his shoe.

At his comment, faint derisive laughter sounded around the table as the Inner Circle members scoffed at the idea with him.

"Taught," Snape corrected him. More laughter.

The professor was still silently screaming. The drops of her blood made little plopping noises as they hit the table in front of him. He and his parents ate a rack of lamb here together, just last night.

"And have you, Draco," the Dark Lord's voice was soft, and terrifying. Draco forced himself to look straight into his red slatted eyes. "Ever taken Muggle studies?"

An image of a smiling boy touching a piece of the moon flashed in his mind, but he pushed the memory aside and drawled with disdain, "What use would I have for studying the habits of vermin?"

A cruel smile slowly spread on the Dark Lord's face at Draco's answer. Alecto laughed next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"And what do you propose we do with her, Draco?" his voice was a caress.

He looked right into the Dark Lord's eyes and answered without the slightest waver, "Kill her."

The Dark Lord stared down at Draco, pausing for effect. "And so we shall."

Charity Burbage's body slammed down onto the table and she cried to Severus for help when the Silencing Charm was removed. Draco watched his ex-Head of House sneer down at his former colleague in disgust while she pleaded with him.

Nagini slithered onto the table and Draco jumped back in his chair, relieved that he wasn't the only one to have done so. Some reactions couldn't be controlled.

The giant snake reared its head and bit into Burbage's abdomen while she released an inhuman scream. A large piece of flesh was torn off and Draco could see exposed ribs. He momentarily panicked. If this was what the Dark Lord did to enemies, what would he do to traitors?

Draco met his father's eyes, and he lifted his chin in encouragement. No hint of terror or revulsion could be found on Lucius Malfoy's face. Draco siphoned off blood which splattered onto his robes as if it were merely pumpkin juice, forced a small, satisfied smile to his face, and watched the unfurling carnage.

ooooooooooooooooooo

Draco lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. It was well past midnight. He had trouble sleeping since the incident with Charity Burbage. His muscles twitched, recalling the feel her blood splattering onto him. He could still hear her agonized pleas to Severus, and saw Nagini's throat bobbing as pieces of human being travelled down her gullet.

Upon unspoken agreement, his family had been taking their meals in the tea room for the past week. No one brought up the incident with Nagini.

At least his room was warded. The snake couldn't get in.

His family couldn't live like this anymore. The Malfoy's had to leave. But how could Draco convince his father? Could he get something from the Order that would help?

As if on cue, a sudden warmth emerged from the pocket of his pajamas and he extracted the Galleon.

Do you want to have sex?

He huffed a laugh. At his age, it wouldn't be suspicious to be sneaking out of the Manor for a tryst. Especially at night. Hell, at any time or any age it wouldn't be suspicious. He had to admit, Granger was a clever Mudblood.

He thumbed the Galleon.

Same place?

The glowing letters disappeared.

Yes. Now?

Remembering how angry the swot was when forced to change clothes in front of him, he grinned and thumbed his reply.

Will you tie me up this time?

Granger didn't respond right away. He could imagine her now. All offended, red faced and sputtering at the audacity of the terrible Death Eater. There was a pause while he waited, and then glowing letters appeared again.

Beg me and I will.

His eyebrows slowly rose in surprise.

He thumbed the Galleon again.

Kinky bitch.

He smiled. Now he'd piss her off, insulting her prim and prissy self.

There was a pause.

You love it.

Huh.

He had no reply to that.

No one would know if he came and left directly from his room if the door was silenced. His parents should be sleeping - if they weren't plagued by nightmares of Nagini eating people on the table where the Malfoy's were supposed to eat. Draco had no idea what the Dark Lord was doing. Or if he even slept in the bedroom they had given him.

Did the Dark Lord sleep at all? Maybe he just went into stasis for a few hours. Draco had never seen him with his eyes closed. He couldn't even remember him blinking.

The Dark Lord could be at Aunt Bella's right now for all Draco knew.

There was no reason to enter Draco's bedroom in the middle of the night, and no one ever had, so far as he knew, but it didn't hurt to take precautions. He set a detection spell for entry and charmed his blankets to appear as if his body was curled underneath.

He messaged Granger.

Quarter hour.

Draco had been thinking a lot over the past month about what he could share and what he couldn't share. Not only that, but it was about time he started getting something out of this arrangement. He pulled a Quidditch T-shirt over his bare chest and summoned socks and loafers from his closet. Draco knew exactly how to use the Order to convince his father to leave.

ooooooooooo

Hermione Apparated with a crack into her bedroom. She was surprised to see Malfoy already there. He was lying down on her bed in the dark, blond hair and facial features illuminated from his wand. This was the second time he arrived earlier than she did to a meeting. He turned his head to face her and his grey eyes glittered in the wandlight.

"Expelliarmus!"

Immediately, he sat up and snarled, "I told you not to take my wand!"

"I know," she explained, holding it up for him to see. "I won't hold it. I'll put it here, on my bookshelf. Alright?" She walked over to her books, cautiously, and his angry gaze followed her. She placed his Hawthorne wand on top of her Jane Austen novels. It was closer to him on that side of the room, but she could hex him if she had to.

"And I suppose you're still going to hold yours?" he asked in derision.

"I don't trust you."

"The feeling is decidedly mutual," Malfoy countered resentfully. "So why are you keeping yours?"

"I already let you go twice," she explained, trying not to talk down to him as if he were a complete idiot. It was hard. "You already know I won't attack you unless you attack me."

She watched his jaw clench and unclench several times as he considered the situation.

"Fine," he ground out.

Her shoulders sagged in relief. At least he could appreciate her predicament.

"Why are you sitting in the dark?"

She blackened out her window with a wave of her wand so the neighbors wouldn't see her turn on the lights.

"Because Muggles-"

Malfoy stopped talking as she flicked the light switch and her room instantly became illuminated. She watched him blink as his eyes adjusted to the brightness and he looked from her to the source of light above him, raising his hand to shield his eyes. Remembering his anger when she noticed his interest in her book from the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, she did her utmost best to keep the smug grin off her face.

He was completely out of his element in her house. The Muggle world was her turf. That's why Tonks suggested it as a meeting place.

"Light switch." Hermione flipped it on and off a few times to demonstrate. Perhaps a bit of a smug grin slipped through.

"Stop it," he spat at her. "That's fucking annoying."

She walked over to sit in her desk chair and noticed that the space exploration book was not on the floor where he tossed it last time, but back on her nightstand. He must have stayed to read it after she left.

That was… curious.

All the wizarding world knew about Astronomy was constellations and planet patterns. Space exploration was an entire field that simply did not exist. Hermione wondered what Malfoy thought of it, but pressing the issue would almost certainly antagonize him. It was like dealing with a large, hostile animal, and she had to tread carefully lest he strike.

"Thank you for the warning about the taboo."

"Whatever," he said dismissively.

A large, hostile and incredibly irritating animal.

She curled her toes in annoyance. So being polite wasn't allowed either? He was such a prick. This was excruciating.

Okay, direct and to the point so she could get this over with.

"Where is You-Know-Who staying?"

Malfoy's eyes locked on hers. She would never get used to looking him directly in the eyes like this, and couldn't remember the last time she had occasion to.

Yes, she did.

Third year before she decked him.

She cackled inwardly at the memory.

"I don't know," he replied tonelessly.

She had a feeling he was lying. He refused to answer the question last time, but didn't deny that he knew. She didn't understand, but could ask again at a later meeting.

Hermione was about to try another question when he added, "But I can find out."

She raised her eyebrows. That was more promising than denial. "When?"

Malfoy shifted on the bed and leaned forward, elbows on his knees. She tried not to notice how the muscles of his arms flexed with his movement.

"If the Order wins, I want a full pardon for myself, my mother and my father. And I want an Unbreakable Vow with someone that will have the power to enforce it."

Kingsley.

She couldn't reveal to Malfoy that Kingsley was working with the Order. He was too critical to overseeing what was happening in the Ministry while garnering domestic and international support. His fingers were everywhere. Next to Harry, he was the most important person the Order had.

"That's a lot to ask for, Malfoy."

He sat back. "Don't then."

The implication was clear. He wouldn't give them the location of Voldemort without this. Or anything perhaps. She had discussed with Tonks earlier the possibility that he would ask for something, and was prepared. It probably wasn't enough though.

"I'll work on it," Hermione promised. "But it's not my decision to make. I'll tell you right now you need to show you're more useful before the Order does something like that." She swiveled back and forth on her chair, eyeing him. "There's no reason to trust you or anything you say. You can't just come in with a list of demands without proving your worth."

His eyes narrowed as he studied her. She watched him process her dismissal of how valuable he would be as a spy. Tonks taught her that if Malfoy felt like he was in control or that Hermione needed him more than vice versa, then he'd get more out of her then she would of him. She had to make him feel that he wasn't very important to the Order.

It was a precarious balance of power they had and Hermione had to retain the upper hand. If she wasn't careful, she had no doubt Malfoy would take it.

After a few moments of silent mutual staring, she tried something else. It was a shot in the dark, but she, Ron and Harry were flummoxed.

"Do you know anyone with the initials R.A.B.?"

Malfoy cracked his knuckles and she eyed his forearms. His Dark Mark rippled with the movement of his hands as each individual crack sounded in the air. She winced. She couldn't stand the sound of cracking joints. He smiled at her annoyance and immediately set to cracking his neck, back and shoulders.

"Why?" He asked with a smile and another crack after rolling his neck.

She gritted her teeth and waited for the joint popping to stop. "It's better you don't know."

Malfoy studied her for a few seconds. Something in her face must have conveyed the level of severity. He didn't argue, but gave her an exasperated stare. "That's it, Granger? Initials? Nothing else? Why not just pilfer Ministry records? Do you even know if they're from England?"

Hermione chewed on her lip. That's exactly what she, Harry and Ron had been considering. What else did they know about that person?

"A Death Eater. From the First Wizarding War."

She watched him ponder the question and then his eyes lit up.

"You know?" She couldn't keep the excitement out of her voice. That wouldn't do. She had to be more apathetic.

He smiled, like the Cheshire cat. He wanted something first.

"Did you find anything out about the Veritaserum?" he asked.

This was what she was authorized to share. If Malfoy chose to get it out of himself that was his own prerogative. She supposed they could offer to do it for him if another incentive was needed. The extraction had been successful with Dolohov. She'd have to talk with Mary about that if it became relevant.

Ugh. Mary.

"It's an implant in your stomach lining," she explained. He reflexively touched his abdomen and her eyes followed the movement. "When the Veritaserum absorbs into your stomach wall it activates a concentrated poison. Rowle and Bellatrix didn't insert the implant. Only a qualified Healer could have done so without any visible scars so you'd have no idea what was done to you. The Healer was probably executed to maintain secrecy."

His hand clutched the fabric of his T-shirt. It must be incredibly unsettling to have his body modified like that without his consent. To have a foreign object inside, waiting to kill him. She watched as he pulled up the hem of the fabric exposing his skin, looking at the muscles of his abdomen, searching for a scar that wouldn't be there. Any sign of a procedure he had no recollection of.

"We can…" She didn't know if she should offer this yet but the rush of pity she felt towards him in that moment compelled her. Malfoy glanced up at her and she swallowed. He looked disturbed, his lips turned down. "We can take it out." She paused, and then continued. "If you want."

"Regulus Black," he said softly.

He rubbed his stomach with the palm of his hand and brought the hem of his T-shirt back down, covering his stomach muscles.

"What?" she asked.

"Regulus Arcturus Black," he repeated. "My mother's cousin. He died young."

"Oh."

His cousin. Sirius Black's… brother perhaps? Another cousin? She wasn't sure of the relation. All the Pure-bloods seemed to be related in some way. She didn't know how this new information would help them right now, but it was an answer. And they needed answers.

She shrugged, as if it made no difference to her. That was better. She was getting good at this.

"Who is in the Inner Circle?"

Aside from Voldemort, these would be their main targets. Also, the most likely to be entrusted with a Horcrux like his father had been.

Malfoy eyed her, possibly considering whether or not he wanted to reveal the information. She tapped her fingers on her desk and gazed at him patiently, waiting for him to decide. Are you useful or not Malfoy? How much are you willing to give in the hopes of getting a pardon?

"Aunt Bella."

She rolled her eyes. "Obviously."

"Rodolphus."

"Hmm," she replied unimpressed. Again, obviously.

"Nott."

She gasped. "Theo?" She couldn't picture the tall, quiet, lanky kid she remembered from Hogwarts being a Death Eater. Let alone in the Inner Circle. She abruptly closed her mouth. She forgot, she needed to act like she didn't care about the information he was giving her.

"No, his father." He shook his head in disgust. "Theo isn't that stupid."

Hermione felt a surge of pity again. It was obvious Malfoy regretted becoming a Death Eater. "Who else?"

"MacNair."

She waited, but he didn't continue. He wasn't rattling off a list, instead considering each one individually. Why?

"Anyone else?"

"Rowle."

"And?"

Malfoy ran his hand through his hair. It was longer from when they were in Hogwarts together, and fell right back down to cover his face when his head hung to stare at the ground, concealing his expression.

"The Carrows."

She knew they were Death Eaters; she wasn't sure of their place in the hierarchy. They were at Hogwarts with Snape. Three Inner Circle members at her school. She hoped Minerva was right and the faculty would be distracted while the Order evacuated the students.

"Any more?"

"That's all I know."

Malfoy was lying, but there wasn't much she could do about it. She wondered what the commonality was between the names. He didn't mention Snape, or his father, who were obviously Inner Circle members. He of course wouldn't want to incriminate his father, and she supposed he felt the same towards his ex-Potions professor. He did mention Bellatrix, but that was something the Order was already aware of. And he would know that they were informed about her as well.

Hermione tried for another shot in the dark. So far, Malfoy had been incredibly helpful over the past two meetings. They couldn't trust him, but the scant information he had supplied was invaluable. She just couldn't let on as to how critical his information truly was.

"Is there anyone else we should reach out to?"

"For?"

"That might spy?"

He barked a laugh. "Fuck you, Granger. Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you. Do you know how dangerous this is?"

She wondered if the Order should make contact with Theo Nott. She didn't understand why Malfoy became a Death Eater and Nott didn't. Both their fathers were Death Eaters. And both fathers were in Voldemort's Inner Circle even if Malfoy hadn't named his own father specifically. She wondered about Crabbe and Goyle, whose fathers were also Death Eaters. Would her generation blindly follow in their parents' footsteps? Malfoy clearly wasn't happy with his predicament, and from what he had just revealed, Nott managed to avoid it.

Then again, if they reached out to Nott, he might circle back to Malfoy and this whole arrangement would blow up in her face. Hermione would have to consider whether or not it was worthwhile to approach his friend, and if so, how it could be done delicately, so that he wouldn't mention it to anyone.

"Speaking of which, how is your Occlumency?"

Hermione froze. It was barely existent. The Order was working on getting a Legilimens. All her practice was theoretical at this point.

"I'm learning," she replied. It wasn't a lie, but she could see a lack of progress would quickly become an obstacle. "Anything else you feel like sharing today?"

He smirked. "When are you going to strip for me again?"

She knew he was being purposely crass to unsettle her. Especially since he had already seen her naked and gone out of his way to make her feel as uncomfortable about it as possible.

But something in his voice and the way he looked at her gave her a thrill.

Ew.

She scowled in reply. "I'll let you know."

Hermione Disapparated, leaving Malfoy alone in her room.