***

Chapter Five: How do you leave the past behind?

See chapter one for disclaimers.

Author's note: Thank you all so much or reviewing this! It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! A couple of people expressed concerns that Draco was out of character but you have to keep in mind that he's been living with Buffy et al for a few years. It's called character development. Don't worry, we'll still see nastybastard!Draco in here. Just keep reading! Also, I am looking for a beta reader so if any one want to volunteer, e-mail me.

***

"How do you leave the past behind

When it keeps finding ways to get to your heart

It reaches way down deep and tears you inside out

'Til you're torn apart...

How can you connect in an age

Where strangers, landlords, lovers

Your own blood cells betray?"

~ RENT by Jonathan Larson

***

"Draco!… Draco." I picked up a pillow and threw it as hard as I could. I heard a giggle and groaned.

"Go 'way, Dawnie. I don' wanna get up."

That little giggle came again. "Come on. Rise and shine, sunny. It's your morning to cook breakfast. You're lucky Ginny woke up other wise you'd have been up a while ago." I groaned again. Ginny. The events of the night before came crashing back down on me and suddenly I felt like my old self caught in a nightmare in which I had turned into the bloody boy wonder himself.

"I'll be down in a minute."

She went bounding out of the room like some deranged rabbit. I pulled on my jeans from the day before and a black shirt from the closet. I barely ran my hind through my hair before I was stumbling down the stairs.

Every one was sitting on tall stools around the kitchen. I glared at them as I entered. It was a little to early to be up and as cheery as they were.

"Morning, Princess," Spike smirked. "Get beauty sleep then?"

"No," Tara giggled. "Look at his hair."

"Hey!" said my girlfriend coming to my rescue. "I like his hair like that."

"Thank you," I told her. "It's nice to know some people have taste."

"It's nice to know some people have combs," Xander told me. "I'll have to get you one." I rolled my eyes.

"Well it's better than it was before," came a new voice. I turned around. The Weasley girl stood in the doorway with a decidedly evil look on her face. Dawn squealed and bounded over to her.

"That's right!" she gushed at the younger girl. "You knew Dray from before didn't you? I bet you know all sorts of nasty little details about his life that we might like to blackmail him with."

"Blackmail is such an ugly word, Dawnie," Buffy said.

"Yeah. We prefer… no, blackmail works just fine."

"Thanks, Willow," I said. The Wicca grinned.

"Any time."

Ginny was staring at us all like we had lost our minds. Her wide eyes took in everything from me to Buffy to Anya and Xander. Her eyes settled back on Buffy and a funny look came to her face. "Hey! You're her aren't you? The one who was in love with Angelus! You're the slayer!"

Her outburst broke over us like a bottle in a bar fight. Buffy looked edgy. "Now where did you hear that?" she asked cautiously.

"I read it," she said. "In a book when I was doing research for my project for Defense class. The professor said that you sent him to hell."

The room was silent for a moment before: "Wow, Buff, and here we thought the only books about you involved you dying."

"Been there," the slayer replied. "Done that."

"I got a really cool tee-shirt the last time," Dawn said.

"Only because you stole it out of my closet and never gave it back."

"Details."

Ginny looked at us like we were all completely insane. "Hey, look, I'm really thankful for the rescue and all, but maybe I should be getting back to school before…"

"Before what?" I sneered. "Before Potter finds out his best friend betrayed him and handed you over to the dark lord? Or before some finds out that you were rescued by a Malfoy?"

"I'd rather be rescued by Harry any day. At least I know it was because he cared about me and wasn't in it for the glory!" she spat back at me.

"Oh yeah?!"

But Buffy interrupted me before I could get any more out. "Stop it! Both of you. Ginny. You're going to tell us what happened, then we're going to get you back to school. Draco, you're going to make breakfast as it's your day any way then you're going to come with us to take her back. I don't care what the rest of you do but maybe someone should help Dray with the cooking."

Ginny seemed impressed by the tone and walked back into the living room. Everyone but Dawn and Spike followed her out. "What?" I asked them coldly. "Not going with them?"

Spike waved it off. "Naw, it's going to be one of those happy let's-all-cry-and-it'll-all-be-better things. Not in the mood."

"I'm just not in the mood to listen to you banging pots and pans around. Sit down. I'll cook,"

"No!" Spike and I shouted at the same time. We had bad experiences with Dawn's cooking. In the end, I made the meal with some help from Spike.

We were just setting out the plates when every one trouped back in the room. Anya took one look at me and burst out laughing. "And what's so funny?" Spike asked her.

"Ginny here thinks that Dray used to be one of the bad guys. Can't you just see it?

Draco Malfoy: The new Big Bad!" She dissolved back into hysterics at the thought. Every one else began to smile too and pretty soon we were all laughing. I admit to forcing my laugh a bit but Ginny looked at me as though she knew everything. She also looked like she thought we were all loonier than the old bat in the divination tower.

When we had all calmed down enough to speak, Buffy took a place at the table, demanded breakfast and said: "After we eat. Dray, you and I are going to take Ginny back to the school. Dawn you can come with us. The rest of you: hit the books. I want to know all there is to know about this Voldemort guy. Giles, do you have any other resources we should look into?"

The watcher took his glasses off and began to clean them. Dawn giggled and he glared at her. "You need the Hogwarts library," I told the slayer. "That is, if you want the basics. You might have a few prophesies on him but most of what we've got is all demons and not so much with the magical."

"Draco's right," Giles said agreeing. "But we have other thing to do today. This house is still a mess and I'd like to get my own library set up today and I'm going to need help with the shelving."

Xander groaned but Buffy smiled. "Sounds like a plan to me."

"I'll go with you," Dawn said. I smiled at her. I wasn't sure I wanted to go.

"Good. Now about those eggs…"

***

We made our way in silence through the woods. Dawn gripped my hand in fright though the sun still shone down through the boughs above as we inched through the trees. Ginny showed the fear of the forest that only a Hogwarts student would. Buffy looked like a child in a candy shop. She broke out still silence with an entirely too cheerful voice. "Dawn, we should do more hunting up this way. It's neat."

My girlfriend smiled. And we continued on in silence once more.

It wasn't long before we could see that the trees were thinning out and the woods lightened slightly. I could hear men shouting though I could not make out the words. It almost sounded like people arranging a search party. Buffy and I exchanged a glance. "Are you sure you're ready for this? I know what it's like coming back?"

I nodded. "You lot! Into the wood's wit' ya!" We heard from the vague area of in front of us. Ginny's face lit up with hope and she began to run. We took off after her.

She broke through the trees just near Hagrid's hut and we could see Aurors swarming the area. "Charlie!" Ginny called. "I'm alright!" she said as she flew down the hill towards him. I could see her unshed tears glistening in the sunlight as she threw herself into his arms. "Charlie! I was Ron! I saw him. It was Ron." The man held her tightly as the rest of the wizarding police came back together. A few of them eyed us curiously but didn't pay us much mind.

Finally Charlie pulled back and looked his little sister in the face. "What happened? How'd you get away? We were so worried about you. Mum's been inconsolable."

Ginny looked back at us. "They rescued me. You'll never believe it. Draco Malfoy," she said. Buffy looked at me.

"I'm starting to think that maybe she wasn't exaggerating when she said you were an ass. Look at his face."

"Thanks, Buff."

"Any time."