1A/N: Oh my gosh, I am such a mushy mush! I apologize for the intense mushiness in Ch 4 but sometimes mush in necessary in order to further the plot. But I am a sucker for romances so don't hate me if it happens again. (And you have to admit that it was cute) Anyway I'm excited about Ch 5 because we get to discover the inner workings of an evil criminal mastermind (well not actually). Get ready, this one is a monster. Thank-you to everyone who has reviewed! Yeah reviews are good! hint

Chapter 5

Tension

It was two o'clock in the morning, one particularly cold, snowy day in January, when Draco Malfoy awoke suddenly in a sweat. A terribly frightening dream, which he had been having off and on for months was the cause of his insomnia. Perhaps he should tell someone, but the dream had been so – well – his friends just wouldn't understand! He glanced over at Crabbe and Goyle who were both snoring extremely loudly. It was a miracle that he had survived six years sharing a room with those two gorillas. There was a fat chance of Draco telling THEM anything, they would think he'd lost his mind, and besides, he didn't think their vocabulary was extensive enough for Draco to get the point across. Hold the phone! He could tell HER, she would understand. In fact she had been the only person he had been able to talk to for the last few months. It had been great! There was finally someone who would take him seriously and listen and not treat him like he was the devil reincarnate.

"Oh shut up you stupid idiot!" Draco told himself flopping back down on his pillow and covering his face with his hands. "Ginny, along with her entire family, hates you and that is never going to change."

Ginny would never be concerned by a dream in which Draco Malfoy, the archenemy of her family, was being hurt, and in pain. No, she would be rejoicing in the fact that the person who had caused her family all kinds of trouble was being tortured. In fact, she probably didn't even want to hang around with him, but was only doing it because she was sweet and considerate and gorgeous and – AH STOP IT!

The warm morning sunshine shone softly through the window of the fourth year girls' dorm, onto the face of Ginny Wesley. With it came the monotonous routine of getting up, getting ready and going to class. Ginny hated getting out of her warm comfortable bed with its squishy quilt and pillows; she wished she could stay there all day! But it wasn't like she had anywhere else to go, so the idea of eating breakfast was what eventually dragged her out of bed. And besides, it was going to take her at least an hour to get ready before she even dared to make an appearance downstairs. This extra attention to morning preparation was something that Ginny stared doing subconsciously one day. It hadn't, however, escaped the notice of her friends.

"Why are you up so early Ginny?" Claire James another female Gryffindor fourth year asked, yawning and checking the clock.

"I'm not," Ginny answered wondering why Claire would ask such a silly question.

"It's quarter after six! Class doesn't start until 8:30!"

"This isn't any earlier than I normally get up," Ginny answered starting to get annoyed.

"Fine do whatever you want," Claire said rolling over in her bed. "I'm going back to sleep."

Goodness gracious 6:15 wasn't that early. What were her friends' problems!

Draco finally got out of bed, got dressed and went down to breakfast at 7:45 a.m. It was never going to work and he just needed to face it. He was over her and that was that.

"Everything will just go back to normal and I won't worry about her anymore," Draco told himself as he headed down a dungeon hall.

"Normal," Ginny thought exiting the Gryffindor common room. "That's how things have always been. Her friends were obviously just overreacting to her spending a little time with Draco. Jeez, it wasn't like she thought about him every waking moment . . ."

"I'm not obsessed!" Draco said aloud confusing a cluster of third years, as he climbed the steps out of Dungeon 2.

"Obsessed is hardly the word," Ginny decided descending one of several moving staircases. "Concerned is more like it, but it's not as if I like him or anything. He's Draco! He's evil and annoying and well, he is kind of fun to be with."

"She's so fun though. And smart and beautiful and sweet . . . ah stop!"

"Be quiet Ginny! You're talking nonsense! He's Draco. You hate him. But . . . well . . . he is sort of cute – what!"

"SHUT UP!" Draco and Ginny both yelled, out loud to themselves, as they were passing each other in the Entrance hall.

"What? Oh sorry," They both said together.

"I – I have to go," Draco sputtered out in surprise.

"Right… me too. Bye," Ginny responded abruptly.

They both turned to go and there was an awkward moment when neither could decide which way the other was going. They finally figured it out, but by then it didn't matter because they were both headed for the Dining Hall anyway. They said nothing to each other as they headed for their respective tables and then proceeded to just stare into space.

"I'M SUCH AN IDIOT!" Ginny finally exclaimed aloud.

"Why?" asked Hermione who had just slid into the seat next to her.

"I totally screwed up. Now he thinks I'm a loser and I hate him." Ginny explained hitting her head with her hand.

"Who thinks you're a loser?" Hermione asked still confused.

"Now we are never going to talk again and then I – well – I just won't know what to do," she cried burying her face in her arm.

"Huh? Ginny I'm still lost." Hermione said taping Ginny on the shoulder.

"Oh never mind," Ginny sighed. "It won't make a difference anyway. It's over." She then grabbed several croissants and stuffing one in her mouth, slouched off out of the hall.

Hermione was still confused.

Just then there was a ruckus at the doors to the Entrance Hall and everyone turned to look. Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall and Hammond were talking in hushed, hurried tones to someone who looked like they knew exactly what they wanted and was causing the teachers a generous amount of stress. As time progressed, the teacher's voices grew increasingly louder until nearly everyone in the Dining Hall was looking as the group swept past. Suddenly the stranger stopped and shouted above the rest.

"PLEASE DO NOT RESTRICT ME MADAM, I AM HERE FOR MY SON AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO STOP ME!" Lucius Malfoy bellowed at a very intimidated Professor McGonagall. Everyone stopped dead.

"I thought he was in jail," hissed Hermione to Harry.

"He was," Harry hissed back. "But I guess since the Dementors left to join Volde- I mean You-Know-Who that they all busted out."

"He's right Minerva," they heard Dumbledore say calmly but agitated. "Let him go."

Fuming with rage, Lucius stormed over to the Slytherin table right to where Draco was sitting.

"D-Dad," Draco stammered fearfully. "How did you -? What are you –?"

"GET ON YOUR FEET, YOU PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A SON!" Lucius shouted grabbing Draco by the collar. "And not as much as a breath from you until I'm finished, do you understand?" Lucius started dragging Draco out of the Hall and then closing and jinxing the huge doors shut, with everyone staring in dead silence. "I came here to get the truth, foul boy, because I couldn't bring myself to believe it. While we all sat rotting in that filthy prison, Vincent Crabbe Sr. received a letter from his son. He then relayed the disgusting news to me, that his son told him you had disowned your true friends over a – that blood-traitor of a Weasley girl. Not only do I have to deal with all the treachery and injustice in my being imprisoned but now I hear about this!"

Draco's blood boiled but he remained silent, casting his eyes to the floor.

"I want to hear you say it," Lucius sneered pushing his son against a wall. "Have you or have you not been seeing that pathetic, poor, impure little -?"

"Don't say that about her," Draco whispered his rage almost exploding

"Excuse me?" His father asked sarcastically

"Don't say that about her when you, I and our whole family have lied, stole, cheated and murdered. Before you so freely delve out insults, maybe you should take a look in the mirror!" Draco accused spitting at his father's feet.

"WHY YOU DISRESPECTFUL LITTLE PIECE OF FILTH!" Lucius shouted, slapping Draco hard across the face so he fell, hitting his head on a stone step, sending him into unconsciousness.

"STOP!" Ginny screamed, running into the open after having crept after the pair and hid behind a statue. Ron, Harry and Hermione had followed.

"Stay out of this, girl," Lucius sneered, turning on her.

"N – No! I won't!" Ginny stammered holding her ground.

"Ginny please leave them," Ron begged, whispering for fear of also being attacked. "This is none of our business."

"No Ron this is my business," Ginny answered hesitantly. "This is my business because – because well I – well I care for Draco, quite a lot, actually." She looked over at Draco still unconscious on the floor. Ron, Hermione and Harry were rendered speechless and just stood there with their mouths hanging open.

Lucious Malfoy was turning red and shuddering with fury. "I will deal with you later, Weasley, but right now I have to teach my son some respect." Lucius raised his wand over Draco, but before he could do anything Ginny rushed over and grabbed his hand.

"NO!" She yelled, struggling to restrain his arm.

"INSOLENT FILTH!" Lucius roared throwing Ginny off his arm and onto the ground, dislocating her shoulder. "I WILL TEACH YOU A LESSON FOR CHALLENGING ME AND MEDDLING IN MY FAMILY!" He pointed his wand straight at Ginny's heart in a sudden surge of rage. "CRUCI –

"EXPELLIARMUS!" Boomed a ferocious Professor Dumbledore, bursting through the closed Dining Hall Door and looking much the same way he did only six months ago in the Department of Mysteries. That terrifying fire Harry had observed suddenly blazed once more from his eyes and he looked with rage, contempt and disgust at Lucius Malfoy who was now cowering behind his cloak. "How dare you strike one of my students and more importantly your own son? Get out of my school Lucius Malfoy, before I do something I will regret," Dumbledore bellowed at him.

"The Minister will hear of this, Albus," Lucius sneered. "He will hear that you intervened between my own dealings with my son."

"He will indeed, Lucius," Dumbledore replied. "He will hear that you escaped from prison and then almost performed an Unforgivable on an innocent student who was trying to keep you from abusing your child. Now out!"

Malfoy merely sneered and skulked away out of the castle whipping the tail of his cloak behind him.

"Now," said Dumbledore more quietly turning to face Harry, Ron and Hermione whom he had discovered hiding. "Disregarding the fact that the four of you once again intervened in a situation that was none of your business, I would like you Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley and Miss. Granger to forget about this incident for now and go on with your respective scheduals. I will see you in the Hospital Wing this afternoon at 4:00 p.m. Thank you, I think that is everything you children need to see here. Oh and five points from Gryffindor each, the three of you, for snooping in other people's affairs."

"What about Ginny? We only followed to make sure that Malfoy didn't kill her" Ron protested starting to walk over to help her but being stopped by Dumbledore's cloaked arm.

"Professor Hammond will be helping me bring Ginny and Draco to the hospital wing where, I am sure they will be fit to see you later."

"I don't care at all about that cheating, good for noth– Ron started to say while Dumbledore peered at him over his half-moon spectacles. "I mean – uh – I just want to make sure my sister is OK."

"I understand completely Ron," Dumbledore assured him. "But right now I need to deal with a few things and it would help if there weren't a lot of extra bodies running around being all concerned and trying to help, which are very noble causes by the way. It would be best if you all just went to your classes and I will see you when they are over at four o'clock."

The three friends took the hint and exited with much disdain. The Headmaster proceeded to carry Draco to the hospital wing and Professor Hammond followed assisting Ginny, who was clearly very shaken.

The rest of the day crawled by at the slowest rate possible known to man. Harry, Hermione and Ron were all very impatient through all their classes and especially the last class of the day, which simply had to be double Potions.

"And make sure you don't let the Mandrake root burn to the bottom of the cauldron," sneered Professor Snape who kept peering over everyone's shoulders looking pleased with their failure. "But then again I won't be surprised when you do."

Harry was stirring his cauldron aimlessly, not paying attention to the violent red color it wasn't supposed to be turning, checking his watch every thirty seconds and trying to ignore Snape as much as possible. Hermione was, as usual, getting everything perfect and Ron was just staring into his oozy-looking potion, wondering what he had done wrong. The end of class finally came, after what seemed like a century and the three friends hurried to the Hospital Wing. Harry cracked open the door and they entered quietly. Ron rushed immediately to Ginny who had obviously been at morning classes and was standing next to Dumbledore. Ron hugged her.

"Ginny are you OK?" he asked quietly finally letting her go. "How's your arm?"

"Ron I'm fine. It was mostly shock."

"I swear," Ron declared starting to get angry. "If I ever get my hands on that Malfoy, I'll rip him to shreds! Both of them actually"

Ginny looked a little hurt but didn't say anything. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.

"Are you satisfied now young Weasley to see your sister is well?" the headmaster asked.

"Yes," Ron answered sighing.

"Now," Dumbledore continued. "There is one other matter which must be addressed that has been brought to my attention by our other patient." (Ron glared at a curtained bed across the room). "He would like to talk to you all and you will restrain yourself, mister Weasley." Dumbledore looked suddenly serious and frowned at Ron over his spectacles.

The company walked over to a bed in the corner. Dumbledore whipped the curtain aside with a wave of his wand to reveal a black-eyed, bandage headed Draco sitting up against several pillows. Ginny knelt beside the bed, held his hand, and then looked over hopefully at her friends. They were all looking very serious, businesslike and not happy at all. Ginny's face fell.

"Well Malfoy," Ron snapped. "Just say what you have to so we can get this over with and get out of here."

"Well," Draco started nervously. "There is a lot that I think I should tell you guys, which Ginny mostly already knows." Draco stopped and exhaled slowly as if trying to calm himself and prepare for what he was about to say. "I would like to start out by apologizing to all four of you actually. I have really been terrible for the past six years and I think in the beginning I was really serious about it." Ron sniggered but Draco just ignored him and continued. "During this past summer and few months we have been at school, I have come to grips with my whole life up to this point, what it has meant and how I reacted to it, I guess. There were - are - a lot of outside factors that I need to explain before you can understand why I am doing this and I suppose why my personality has been what it has for the whole time we have known each other."

Harry and Hermione were very surprised and softened at this little introduction to what seemed like was going to be a very long speech and decided to pull up some chairs. Ron was not so convinced however, but decided to sit and listen anyway because he was a respectable gentleman, far better that this raving loony.

Draco then proceeded to tell the whole company everything that he had been burying inside himself for almost two years.

"First of all," he started, "you guys should know something about my family history. As far as I know my whole family has been pure blood and – well evil for about ten generations. We have all been in Slytherin, except for the odd few, and since You-Know-Who has been around, we've been on his side."

"No kidding," Ron snorted.

"Shhh Ron, let him explain," Hermione said gently stroking Ron's arm.

"No!" Ron exclaimed pulling his arm away sharply. "After everything he has said about us, our families and all the times we should've ratted him out and didn't. I don't understand why you are so soft on him all of a sudden. And you to Harry!"

"I didn't so anything!" Harry protested.

"You should be the angriest. This guy's Dad tried to kill you! He's a Death Eater, henchman of the guy who killed your parents!"

"That doesn't mean Draco is or is going to join Voldemort." Harry said. Everyone shuddered.

"How can you three be so blind?" Ron barked. "He just admitted plain that he was on You-Know-Who's side! I have had enough!" At that he stormed across the room toward the door, but Dumbledore stopped him before he could leave.

"Ronald, listen to me," Dumbledore said kindly, turning a fuming Ron to face him. "I can understand why you are upset. Your families have been at odds for a very long time and I cannot imagine how some of the disputes have hurt you. But you need to give him a chance. There are things you don't know about his life that has caused him to display crass behavior toward others. These are the reason why I failed to act in certain situations among the group of you where perhaps, under different circumstances, I should have. I would like you to go back over there, listen to what Draco has to say and then decide how you will judge him."

Ron nodded and slowly made his way back to his seat without saying anything or looking at anyone. Draco continued.

" For as long as I can remember there has sort of been a subconscious expectation of me to be perfect, be on You-Know-Who's side, believe that pure-blood wizards were the only true kind and believe that everyone else was below my family. I have always been pushed to get top marks in every thing and no matter what happens, I am always right and I should do whatever I have to in order to get my way. I guess you could say my parents raised me to be a brat. Ha! Usually that's exactly what a parent doesn't want their kid to become. The first time I really understood what my parents' expectations were, was just before the start of our first year. My Dad was counting on me getting into Dumstrung and when I didn't, I really got what for. That was the first time he hit me. I was so shocked, and I didn't know what to do. I always thought I wasn't good enough for him and that incident just reinforced that matter. I used to do anything to make him happy with me. Anyway, when I came to Hogworts I naturally expected to make every friend, be in Slytherin and be the most perfect student in the school's history. This desire for attention also grew from not getting any at home. I was proved wrong on our very first day, in the Entrance Hall by you Harry," Draco looked up at Harry and made sort of a half smile.

"When I first discovered who you were, the sharp sting of jealousy struck the back of my mind. I had always been jealous of my Parents' work, friends and agendas because they always got more attention than me, but this was a different kind. Here you were, the kid who defeated You-Know-Who and everyone loved you, even Dumbledore. So, in order to not let this strange emotion take hold of my life, I extended my hand to you in a rather one-sided friendship way where I would obviously control the whole thing. I was shocked when you shut me down and frankly was at a loss for words. That was the first time in my life that a kid didn't think I was the greatest thing since sliced bread and so I insulted both of you," Draco looked over at Ron, "in order to make myself feel better." Draco paused and caught his breath. This was going to be harder than he had anticipated.

"Anyway," Draco resumed. "I attempted to brush the incident off but that little jealous part of me wouldn't go away. That's why I made your lives horrible. Subconsciously I just wanted to be your friend the whole time and the only way I could think of to get your attention was to annoy you. Quite stupid eh?" Draco blushed a little at his admission and the reinforcement of how thick he really had been.

"So that's basically why I have been a jerk to everyone except Slytherins for our whole time at school. There are also some more recent events that have caused me to come to grips with and reevaluate my life. Within the past two years, I have overheard, from my Dad and his friends, way too much for my liking. It mostly started around the middle of Christmas holidays of our Fourth year when I came home from a friend's really late and overheard my Dad talking to someone through the fireplace in his office. I could tell who it was because I didn't want to get caught, which ended up happening anyway, as I was sort of hiding outside the door. They were talking about You-Know-Who and all these rumors that were going around, especially since the Dark Mark had been conjured at the Quiddich Cup, and the preparations and contacts they should probably make. But something in me was curious and I guess thought it was wrong. Anyway I got caught and punished for snooping.

I didn't really give it much more thought until the end of that year, just before the Tri-Wizard Tournament ended, when my Dad sent me a letter saying that there was some serious investigation going on concerning You-Know-Who's return. I was surprised and sort of denied it because I suppose I never really thought he was actually real. I know that sounds stupid because the evidence is obvious, but I still just thought that it was the stuff my parents were into and it didn't concern me because they never talked about it a lot. He also said that if everything proved to be true he wanted and expected me to, and I quote: 'fully support the family, and any collaborators, in all decisions which are made regarding the situation and to do everything in my power to aid them in any action taken.' Nothing like a 'Hi Son, how has your year been? You know there are some issues I think we need to discuss and I would appreciate your support in.' they aren't exactly the most loving, affectionate people in the world, as I am sure you have noticed."

Harry and Ron chuckled, but were quickly silenced by glares from Ginny and Hermione.

"It's OK," Draco answered. "I have laughed about it occasionally to. Anyway, after I read the letter, I was irritated at first that he would just assume I wanted to help or even cared. I wasn't even the assumption; it was he forcing me to do something with him. He had hardly given me the time of day for mostly my whole life and now he was insisting on my help? Almost simultaneously with this thought came the more powerful thought of 'Hey this is your chance to finally spend time with him. And he is offering!' All those years of neglect made for a very convincing case and so I just continued in my own little world of denial.

When Diggory died and it was proved that You-Know-Who was actually back and Dad went to meet him and everything, there was something inside of me that defiantly said that things were serious, if I got involved it would only lead to trouble and that if people my age were dying for no reason, then I didn't want to be involved. But all those years of being ignored had built up such a powerful force in my mind that I just couldn't ignore. It was way easier giving in to what I really needed and wanted than fighting basically my whole family, all our friends and the whole 'evil' community over a gut feeling. I didn't specifically tell my parents that I was going to support them, but I also didn't specifically tell them that I wouldn't be either. Since they already presumed that I was going to support them, the matter was assumed settled.

During our fifth year obviously I continued to be a jerk, but that was because I was so angry with myself for not challenging my parents and that I was having these doubts and reservations about what my whole support system of family and friends were doing to support You-Know-Who, that I totally wasn't used to. Because of my Dad, I knew about all the dumb stuff that happened that year. I knew about Umbridge and how she, with the help of my Dad and others, weaseled her way into the school. I knew about all the dumb rules and the corruption in the Ministry. This obviously explains how I avoided getting into trouble for practically the whole year and how I was able to, for lack of a better phrase, 'suck up' to basically the entire staff. This is something that I am particularly ashamed of. Talk about being a man. During all this, I actually did try to break free of my invisible contract of loyalty at home. I fought with my parents a lot during the last part of that year and during the summer, especially after the thing in the Department of Mysteries. I just couldn't believe what was going on. I think it was because I wasn't around during all the first round of You-Know-Who stuff. I had only heard stories and I guess I didn't realize how serious it was. When my Dad came home after big fight, before being shipped off to prison, we had a huge row. He had started by telling me all the people that were hurt and then he said that Black fell behind the curtain and how much of a fuss everyone made. That is why we fought. I was angry at him for treating it so lightly."

Harry had gone stiff at the mention of Sirius's name. Ron, Hermione and Ginny were all looking at him. This was really the first time anyone had mentioned Sirius since the summer.

"What's wrong?" Draco asked seeing their reactions

"He was my God-Father," Harry croaked trying to fight back the tears that had welled up unexpectedly in his eyes. "He was the only family I had left."

"Oh," said Draco quietly feeling very awkward for bringing up the subject. "I'm really sorry."

"Thanks," Harry replied shortly. This wasn't what he needed now.

"Uh - should I finish tomorrow?" Draco asked tentatively.

"No," said Harry shakily. "Keep going."

"Harry," Hermione interrupted softly. "Maybe we should."

"No!" said Harry firmly. "I want him to finish."

"Ok," replied Draco. "Anyway like I said, my Dad got thrown in Azkaban. Now I had no hope of a normal family ever. To make matters worse, my Mom was so upset she just locked herself in her room almost all the time and cried to all her annoying friends. She wouldn't even talk to me about it. I had a lot of arguments with her and a few heavily worded letters with my Dad. I don't think they could believe what I was saying - I didn't even know what I was saying! I just kept going on about how what we were doing was wrong except not really making any sense because I wasn't sure what I thought or felt about the whole thing. There was just something in my gut that told me it was wrong. Anyway, I finally just left because school was starting soon and I couldn't take it anymore. That's why I was alone on Kings cross. I stayed at the Leaky Cauldron for around a week because I knew my friends wouldn't understand either. The only person who really knew about all this before is Ginny." Draco smiled at her and she smiled back.

"Ginny?" Hermione asked surprised. "You knew about all of this?"

"Most of it," Ginny sighed because it was felt good to not have to keep the secret anymore. "I know about the recent stuff, and more about Mr. Malfoy being in Azkaban." Ginny looked sadly at Draco because she knew deep inside him he really still loved his parents, even if he wouldn't say it, and that it was tearing him up to have had his Dad in prison and actively involved with Voldemort.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Ron asked also surprised and obviously very annoyed.

"Draco told it to me in confidence. I wasn't about to betray him."

"Well you bloody well should h -" Ron stopped himself. It was pointless to carry on like this. Dumbledore was right Draco had reasons for acting the way he had. Ron was only annoying himself by keeping a grudge. It was like drinking poison and hoping the other person would die. How dumb! It was time to bury the hatchet.

"Draco - um," Ron started everyone looking at him anxiously. "I - uh - I'm sorry for all the years we hated you and all the stuff we said and I hope you can forgive me." Ron blurted this out so fast and so mumbled that no person with any kind of sense of hearing would have been able to distinguish it. The words the four did pick up, however, dumbfounded them.

"I get it," said Draco extending his hand to Ron. They did the manly handshake and grunt of approval and ended the matter. The girls chuckled to themselves.

"And me as well," added Hermione quickly, squeezing Ron's hand.

"Same," agreed Harry just as bluntly as Ron had.

Draco knew what they all meant and was very grateful. He felt that hot burning sensation in the corners of his eyes and tried to fight it, but to no avail. All the emotion that he had been bottling up for so long suddenly poured out much to everyone's embarrassment. Ginny however, feeling similar feelings for having kept his secret for so long, cried as well. After the two had quickly wiped away the tears, Ginny knelt beside the bed, laying her head on Draco's chest. He stroked her hair gently and she felt safe.