Disclaimer: Everything belongs to the amazing J.K. Rowling. I own nothing but the plot.

A/N: I know I was supposed to get this up almost a week ago, but I was busy, and FF.net wasn't working half the time anyway. Sorry bout that. This chapter is being split into two parts, cause it was extremely long, lol. Part II will be up as soon as I finish typing and proofing it.

Kat: I know the adults of the Order were very OOC, I just wanted them to agree with Draco and be done with it, lol. I should have spent more time on them, but hey, nobody's perfect. As for Molly, I figured that after what happened at the end of 5th year, she could relent a little so they could learn to defend themselves properly should something like that happen again. I believe I answered most of your other questions in this chapter, but I'm not 100% sure. Thank you for the review, I don't usually take criticism well, but I was glad you took the time to point out my mistakes. I'll try to keep on improving in later chapters. :)

Danielley: No, Tonks isn't spying for the bad guys, lol. She's actually a really awesome character. Now that your Dad's done with OotP, you can finally read it. Omg, I gotta call you to tell you about the dream I had about your cousin, how weird...if I forget to tell you, remind me :)

To all of you who saw Pirates of the Caribbean: You ROCK!!! I think we all basically agree on the same things: Johnny Depp was hott and hilarious and Orlando Bloom was absolutely gorgeous. (the feather hat ::sigh::) I convinced my Youth Group to go see it, just so I could go see it again, lol. And there was only one other movie I deemed good enough to go see twice in theaters...Any guesses which?? ;-)



The Pain Within
Chapter 12: Professor Malfoy Part I: The Reason



Draco arrived twenty minutes early on Friday evening. Professor Snape had shown him the pattern on his wall that triggered the tap door into appearing. Snape had then left to attend a Death Eater meeting. Draco had felt the burn of the Dark Mark but knew that under no circumstances was he to leave to attend also.

So now Draco roamed around the large rectangular room the Order used to meet. Snape had told him there was once another headquarters, but the owner had recently died and they could not longer use the house. Dumbledore had opened this room, a secret room that was rumored to have been used by the Founders themselves. That might explain the giant wall length tapestry that depicted the four founders and their qualities that now resided in the students of their houses; Helga Hufflepuff's patience and loyalty, Rowena Ravenclaw's wit and intelligence, Godric Gryffindor's bravery and boldness, and Salazar Slytherin's slyness and ambition.

Draco strolled from painting to painting. many were painted by talented hands, the details perfect down to the last stroke. The various tapestries were not as large as the one of the Founders but still were intricately woven, narrating different scenes from history. Draco recognized a theme among the room's artwork: wars and fighting. One blue tapestry displayed the goblins' bloody revolt; another maroon one portrayed a duel between two fair-haired wizards dressed in medieval robes. There was a particularly old portrait of a group of grim-faced wizards apparently ready for battle. The ancestors of aurors, maybe? Draco shrugged and moved toward the next painting. It was of a dragon-slaying, the magnificent silver-gray beast laying in a pool of its own blood while its conqueror stood upon its back, shaking his crimson sword above his head and yelling victoriously. The smaller painting to the right illustrated a battle taking place on a grassy river bank; wizards with pointed wands, slumped corpses littering the ground, bursts of light shooting back and forth, and a lot of shouting. Most of the other paintings and tapestries were of the same nature. And Dumbledore thought them cheery? They were bloody damn depressing in Draco's opinion.

The artwork in here is pretty spectacular, isn't it?

Draco turned to find the pink-haired woman from the other night, except she now had dark purple hair. Tonks.

Spectacular, yes. But it's not very encouraging to the Order, now is it?

She chuckled. I suppose not. But the different colors do brighten the room.

Draco shrugged. He didn't want to make any smart ass comments tonight. He had been able to hold his tongue at the meeting, but when Potter startled him in the mirror room, he had slipped. (Surprisingly, he had heeded Potter's words and hadn't returned to the mirror, as difficult as it was.) He morphed back into the nasty Draco everyone knew him as. He couldn't do that here; he had to earn everyone's trust. Or they could turn him in to the Ministry and he would have no hope for a future. He swore to himself he would be civil tonight, even if no one else was.

He looked at Tonks' head again. So what color is your hair naturally? he asked conversationally.

She grinned and scrunched up her nose as if in deep thought. A second later the dark hue of purple was replaced by a dirty blond color. Draco's eyebrow arched.

This is my natural color, but I thought blond made me look too preppy. I like it short and spiked and in crazy colors.

Draco was impressed. I've never met a - I forget what they call people that can change their physical appearance - meta something.

she answered proudly.

Yes, that's it. What else can you change?

Tonks spent the next few minutes changing the shape of her nose, the color of her eyes, and the length of her hair. She stopped when she had short spiky purple hair again, her normal nose, and pale blue eyes.

They're not as pretty a blue as yours, she stated, referring to their eyes,but they'll do.

Draco slightly grinned. This girl wasn't too bad. She had a likable personality and didn't seem to care that he was a Slytherin or a Malfoy. Definitely good.

Or should I say your mother's eyes? Because that's obviously where you get them from.

His grin faltered. You know my mother?

Tonks bit her lip. Well, no, but I've seen so many pictures of her. Aunt Narcissa's bright blue eyes always stand out.

Draco stared at her. Aunt Narcissa?

Why, yes. My mother and she are sisters.

Draco's eyes lit in recognition. Aunt Andy! That's why your name sounds so familiar. Aunt Andromeda married a muggle with the last name of Tonks.

Tonks grinned. Yep, dear old Daddy, she chuckled.

Mum used to tell me all about her family when my father wasn't around. She never mentioned you though, he added thoughtfully. So that makes you my...

First cousin, yes.

Whoa, so he had family that wasn't evil. Nice to know.

She probably doesn't know I exist, Tonks informed him. Once she announced she was to marry a muggle, the Black family shunned her. No one spoke to her because she wasn't marrying a respectable Pureblood, she said rolling her eyes.

Draco nodded. Yea, my grandparents refused to let Mum contact her, but it didn't stop her from telling me all about her and showing me pictures, Draco grinned. Your mother is the one with curly brown hair, right?

Yes, that's her, Tonks chuckled. She's crazy, but I gotta love her.

Draco smiled, thinking of his own mother and how he loved her dearly. He then pictured the oldest sister, the one with the raven black hair. Aunt Bella is the one with straight black hair then, he spoke more to himself. You know, she was actually quite pretty before she landed herself in Azkaban.

Tonks visibly tensed and her eyes narrowed. Bellatrix Lestrange deserved Azkaban, and should go back as soon as she's caught again, she said coldly.

Draco frowned at the amount of vengeance in Tonks' voice, as if Bellatrix Lestrange had done something to her personally instead of just being a vile coldhearted criminal. He was about to question her on it when the Weasley twins emerged through one tap door followed five seconds later by the Wonder Trio through another. Tonks' whole countenance brightened again at the sight of the five Gryffindors.

Hey there! she called.

They each greeted her and then turned to Draco. Had Draco not been in the position he was, he would have found the situation before him comical. One of the twins, in blue pants, stood with arms crossed sending Draco a reproachful glare while the other, in gray pants, leaned on one leg and gave the blond an icy stare. They were probably still pissed about Draco causing them to be banned from Quidditch the year before. Draco inwardly shrugged. Their younger brother appeared sullen and cross, face not yet red since Draco hadn't spoken yet. Granger stood primly next to him, staring expectantly at him, waiting for him to mess something up so she could correct them. And Potter, at the end of the line, appeared quite bored, for he had his hands in his pockets and a lazy smirk upon his face. Maybe Draco wasn't the only one who found the scene a bit amusing.

he drawled, since you all look absolutely delighted to be here, why don't we get settled in our...classroom, he smirked. He received a few glares and led the group towards one of the smaller rooms and entered.

I chose this one because it's slightly bigger and has mirrors along this one wall, and that will help once we start practicing hexes and whatnot.

No one said anything. Tonks conjured up seven large comfortable armchairs. She placed hers in the corner to watch and sat down (after tripping over it - she explained to Draco that she's very clumsy).

Alright, I'll just sit here unless you need me. Otherwise, continue with your class, Mr. Malfoy, she winked. She received five glares and just shrugged innocently.

Draco grinned, which then turned into his trademark smirk. Okay, class, you may sit down.

He was answered with ten narrowed eyes and Granger's mouth as they sat down.

Look, Malfoy, I don't know what possessed Professor Dumbledore to allow you to do this, because we all know you're a ruddy git. But, just because he put you in this position of power over us, does not mean you can degrade us and treat -

he cut in,it's called a sense of humor.

She glared. Pardon me for mistaking obnoxious abuse of power for your sense of humor, since you're not actually being funny, she scoffed. Draco swore he saw the Weasel beaming at her.

It was funny to me, he replied shortly. He remembered his promise to act civilly. If he thought about it, he was being civil - he wasn't dealing out insults like normal. Well, not blatant ones at least.

You know, Malfoy, you can't call all of us by our last names. If you haven't noticed, there are three of us Weasleys, Ron sneered.

Draco remained calm and bit his lip to keep from saying something degrading about the Weasley clan. Be nice. Trust. Must gain. Hmm. Valid point. I'll call each of you by your first name if you call me by mine. Deal?

They were a bit taken back by the absence of cutting remarks, and each nodded their head slowly. Ron looked slightly disappointed that he hadn't been able to get a rise out of Draco.

Um, which one of you is Fred and which is George? Draco asked glancing between the two.

The twins smirked.

I'm Fred, the one on the right said.

The other was scandalized. How dare you? I'm Fred.

No, I am.



Fine then, I'll be George.

Actually, I think I want to be George now.

No! I said it first.

Too bad. I'm George.

No -

The one in blue pants is George, the one in gray is Fred.

The twins groaned. Harry, we were having fun. Why'd you take his side??

The seeker rolled his eyes. I'm not taking sides, George. I think Professor Dumbledore is right - we are going to need to know this stuff in the future. We're not going to learn anything by fooling around.

Thank you, Pot - Harry, Draco said, quite relieved. And he thought the younger Weasel was bad. Now I suppose I'll begin.

Before you do, Draco, Ron spat, I want to know why you're doing this.

Because...you have no knowledge of Dark Magic and I do? Draco guessed, rolling his eyes.

the red head hissed. Why you're suddenly on our side now? What changed you?

Stay calm. Nice. Trust. I don't believe that's any of your business, Draco told him nonchalantly.

Oh, but it is if you expect us to trust and work with you. I mean, how do we know you're not really spying for He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named? Ron could tell he struck a nerve, for Draco narrowed his eyes.

Because I can tell you I'm not, he replied curtly.

continued Ron snidely, but your word is not going to be good enough.

Ron sat back in his seat triumphantly, one eyebrow lifted, waiting expectantly. The room filled with thick tension as Ron stared the blond down. Draco felt a whirlwind of emotions rip through him, but his face remained a glare. Anger, hurt, determination, and an inexplicable urge to prove himself to them. To prove he wasn't the person they believed him to be. He shouldn't have to, but he felt he needed to. To prove that Harry was possibly right: they had all underestimated him.

Ron asked impatiently.

Draco's glare softened into an impassive expression as he stared at the ground. He could tell them that his word would just have to do. He could lie and say he was doing it for the benefit of wizards everywhere. He could even say to sod off and let him teach. Instead he stood up and unclasped his robe. Removing his wand from the pocket, he tossed the robe over the back of his armchair.

Fred, George, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Tonks watched in confusion as Draco marched over to the mirrored wall. He rolled up his sleeves and unbuttoned his shirt. Harry now had an idea of what he was doing.

You know what, just let it go Ron. It's not important. Dumbledore trusts him; we all know the man has a knack for trusting the right people.

His four friends stared at him.

And he also trusts Snape, Ron argued.

So? Sure, Snape's a git, but he's obviously risking a lot to do what he does, as is Mal - Draco. I don't think we should pry.

Ron looked offended. After all he's said and done to you, Hermione, me and my family? I think we have every right to pry.

I for one would like to know why he's had such a sudden change of heart, Hermione added.

Why the hell do you keep defending him? Fred asked.

Because he's already seen what I'm going to show you, a voice said from the mirror.

Draco observed their reactions through the glass. He heard a few gasps and saw five pairs of widened eyes. He turned and walked closer to them.

he said, motioning his many scars and bruises, are why I'm doing this. Not because I want to kill Voldemort, not because I want to rid the world of all evil, not because I want to play hero, but because I want revenge. His eyes burned with rage and his voice began to pick up momentum. I want Lucius Malfoy to feel the pain and anger he's made me feel all these years. I want to do anything he wouldn't approve of, anything to bring him down. Which is why I'm now on your' side. Satisfied, his angry blue eyes sought out the youngest Weasley,

The redhead nodded mutely, too shocked for words, as his eyes, along with the others', roamed the many marks on the blond's upper torso. They were stunned by the amount of bitterness in Draco's speech and the implication that the marks were the handiwork of Lucius Malfoy. They realized that there was more to Draco Malfoy than they had imagined.

Draco stared at them, his breathing slightly ragged, before briskly striding back to the mirror.

His skin once again became milky white, void of all blemishes. He could still feel their stares as he rebuttoned his shirt.

I figured out a long time ago that if that's how a Death Eater treats his own family, it wasn't something I wanted to participate in wholeheartedly. Contrary to popular belief, I do have a heart. Unfortunately, he unrolled his sleeves as he met their eyes in the mirror, I didn't have much of a choice.

He walked back to his seat and picked up his robe, and put it back on, trying to recompose himself after his outburst.

I have never liked your father. Obviously. Come to think of it, I've never liked you either. But, I thought with the way you went on about things, your father treated you like a prince. Just another rich father overspoiling his bratty son, Ron commented. I never imagined that he would be that cruel to you. Sure, a helpless Muggle or a Gryffindor or something, but never to you. I mean, you're his son.

Draco looked up with a hollow look in his eyes. He suddenly seemed a lot older than he should be. Yes, one would think that. It's all images; he needs to look good. But when it comes to Lucius Malfoy's malice, nothing is unimaginable. Nothing.





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Part II: The Lesson' coming as soon as it's typed, and I should have Chapter 13 out by Harry Potter's birthday. If you don't know when that is, you should be shot. J/K!!

Thank you very much for all the reviews. Never had I imagined I could receive so many. The highest I ever came in the NSYNC section was 99 - and I thought that was cool - but here I have 165! Like, whoa. I love reading them; when I turn on the computer, this is the first website I go to, lol. So once again, thank you all so very much :)