Ch.9

Draco paced up and down the street, hoping to catch a glimpse of Andrea or one of the others who would know how to find her. After all, Snape had not been too much help.

All he had said was to come to this street and maybe, maybe, Draco would see her.

"Stupid, slimy git." Draco muttered. He stopped and shook his head in frustration. "Why do I have to start talking like those people?"

As he continued to walk up and down the street Draco thought back to all that had happened in the past six years; meeting Harry in the robe shop as a first year, going into the forbidden forest, the dueling club, trying to make Harry fall off his broom at a Quidditch match, the World Cup, Professor Umbridge and breaking Harry's nose on the first day of their sixth year. All that had happened in the past six years, but the thing he regretted the most happened at the end of his sixth year.

"It's not like I really wanted to kill Professor Dumbledore. I just wanted to prove myself and make up for my father's mistake. I actually did like Professor Dumbledore. Even though he seemed to favor Harry and his friends he did treat us all the same." Draco thought to himself. "Maybe I would have let him go, but Snape came in at the wrong time."

Just then somebody bumped his shoulder with their body. "Hey why don't you watch where you are…oh….hello." Draco said as a girl with long, light brown hair turned to face him.

"Hello to you too." The girl replied quietly. "You know you wouldn't bump into people so much if you actually watched where you were walking."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was just thinking of a few things." Draco scratched his head. "Say, I'm wondering if you can help me find someone."

"It depends on if I know this someone." The girl replied. "My name is An…Antonia." She held out her hand and he shook it.

"I'm Draco. Anyways, I was wondering if you've seen a girl around here. She's about five feet, five inches tall, has silver eyes and long, black hair. Her name is Andrea Sparks."

Antonia cocked her head to the side and watched Draco for a moment. "Sure I know her, or I think I do. I've seen her around with some red heads."

"Are you sure it's her?" Draco asked excitedly.

Antonia shrugged. "I'm not too sure. All I heard was the boys call her Andrea. I never heard a last name. I can lead you to where I last remember seeing them if you want me to."

"That would be excellent." Draco replied.

"Okay, follow me." Antonia began to lead him the way he had come in. After a few minutes of walking she stopped. "Well this is where I remember seeing them last."

Draco stepped in front of her. "Hmm, well I guess I can start from here. I want to thank you for helping me. It's the nicest…" He felt this slight sting in his back and then he was falling forward. Before Draco hit the ground he was out cold.

As Draco began to float back into consciousness he heard voices around him. They sounded familiar, but he could not place them.

"Andrea, are you sure about this?" A man asked.

"Of course I'm sure. I could hear his thoughts and he was sorry about what he has done." A woman replied. "Besides, it's not like he's going to be able to tell anyone anything."

"I still can't believe you got him. He must not have been paying attention." Another man said.

"It's really easy when you can change appearances. You guys better get going; he's beginning to wake up. I want to talk with him alone." The woman replied.

There were several sets of footsteps and the sound of a door closing. Draco's eyes fluttered and the room came into focus. A young woman with long black hair and silver eyes stood over him.

"Well, you're awake now are you? It's about time. You've been out for like four hours now. I didn't realize my stunning spell was that strong."

"You're…you're…"

"My name is Andrea Sparks—nice to meet you Draco Malfoy." Andrea laughed.

"What happened to Antonia? What did you do to her?"

Andrea looked at him quizzically then grinned. "Of course. There never was a girl named Antonia. I just had my appearance changed while I walked around outside." Andrea shrugged.

Draco tried to move, but found he was tied with some sort of bonds. "I'm sorry about this son, but it had to be done." Andrea sighed. "Wasn't sure if I could trust you. You do, after all, work for Voldermort."

Draco muttered something under his breath but Andrea didn't catch it. "What did you say Draco?"

"It's none of your business." Draco retorted.

"If you say so Draco, but I do know how you truly feel. I know that you are sorry about what happened to Dumbledore and I know that you're only doing Voldermort's bidding because you are trying to please your parents and you are trying to make up for your father's mistake."

Draco shook his head. "You know nothing."

"Alright Draco but let me tell you something about myself. I can read thoughts and your thoughts never lie. Your mouth can lie, but your heart and mind can't. Just think about that for a moment." Andrea stood sat down in a chair next to the bed he was lying in. "I can wait here for a very long time."

Draco lay there, stumped. How could this girl know what he really felt and how could she make him want to tell the truth? Maybe it wouldn't be too bad to go against Voldermort if he had these people for friends. But he did seriously doubt if any of the Weasley's wanted anything to do with him. He had been awful to them after all.

"I'll be back when you're done thinking about this." Andrea started to get up.

"Wait! You're right Andrea. I'm just…just…just…"

"Afraid?" Andrea said helpfully.

"Yeah, I guess."

"That's a good first step." Andrea' s eyes narrowed and the bonds disappeared. "Now let's go downstairs and talk with everyone else."

x.x…X…x.x

Harry sat in the kitchen with Hermione and all the Weasleys plus Moody, Lupin, Fleur and Fleur's sister. Andrea was still upstairs, talking to Draco.

Just then the door opened and Andrea walked in with Draco. "We've just made a breakthrough I think." Andrea laughed. "Everybody meet the new an improved Draco Malfoy."

Draco looked down at his feet, his hands stuffed in his pockets. "Uh….um…hello." He muttered.

Charlie stood up slowly. "Are you sure Andrea?"

Andrea rolled her eyes. "For the last time—yes I'm sure. Now how about we just all sit down and get to know each other a little better?" She walked further into the room and Draco followed her. Andrea sat down next to Charlie and after looking around for a moment Draco sat next to Harry.

"Do you have something to tell them Draco?" Andrea asked quietly.

"Um, well I'm really sorry about all the things I did to hurt any of you and I only did it because I wanted to please my parents." Draco muttered.

Harry, Ron and Hermione glanced at each other. "You know, this is kind of hard to believe." Hermione sighed. "You've always been so, so, rude."

"Bad habit." Draco grinned shallowly.

Moody growled. "Well you're lucky boy, because I'm not so inclined to trust you right now. But seeing as you do not have your wand right now and Andrea has this special ability to sense when someone is not telling the truth—I guess I'll trust you. For now."

"Well, uh, thanks." Draco shuddered as he looked away from Moody. It may not have been him two years ago who turned him into a ferret, but the memory still hurt.

"Wait till Mum hears about this." Bill chuckled.

"Yes, she's going to be—" Fred started.

"Really surprised." George finished.

"Who vants something to eat?" Fleur asked as she stood up. "I'm famished. Come sister; let's fix something to eat for everyone."

The others watched as the two girls began to gather things together. "Listen Harry, I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused and I'm sorry that I broke your nose the first day of our sixth year." Draco said quietly.

Harry glanced at Draco out of the corner of his eye. "Don't worry about it Draco. We just got off on the wrong foot when we first met."

"Yeah we did." Draco laughed. He looked across at Ron and Hermione. "Sorry about the cracks of you families."

They both shook their heads. "No problem." They said at the same time.

"Hey, who wants to play a game of exploding snap?" George asked.

Everyone else, except Lupin, Bill and Moody leaned forward. "I want to go first this time!" Ginny exclaimed. "I always get left going last."

"Alright sister dear—go for it!" Fred handed her the cards.