Chapter 12

Back to Headquarters

Lupin was shell shocked for quite some time, making the silence around them awkward and confused. Not one of them knew what to say. Draco wanted to explain, but how would he even begin? Hermione wanted to say something, but wasn't sure if Lupin was upset or mad, or oh this was all her fault. Lupin was just now registering that Draco was indeed standing right in front of him.

"So, I guess we should start out with why you're here Draco, that may start to clear some things up I suppose..." Lupin said quietly, still bewildered. Hermione appeared to be unharmed so how in the world did the youngest Malfoy show up here, if not with her help? And if it was with her help, then why did she allow this? Something was more than a little fishy. Malfoy had still not answered. "Well?"

Malfoy shook his head and looked at the floor, which suddenly became quite interesting apparently.

Hermione took this silence as he was not going to answer, so she began to talk instead, saving the little vermin for some reason. Her mind drifted first to the kiss...NO.

"Professor, I suppose I have a lot of explaining to do. Well, it all started when..." Hermione began to tell the tale of Draco and herself, leaving out pieces that to her were either extremely embarrassing or just... well he didn't need to know everything. She didn't realize how much had happened in the last 3 months. Lupin had left her to go on his transformations. Hermione had realized, somewhere along the way the Malfoy just had really bad luck. He was in the wrong places at the wrong times with the wrong people. He grew up in the wrong family. Of course, there was no doubt that he wasn't at least slightly evil, the little ferret. Even with the worst upbringing, one would think that he might be a little nicer, what with living away from his family for most of the year at Hogwarts. No matter.

"And that's what happened Professor. I do hope you aren't extremely angry with me. I wanted to tell you, really I did, but I just didn't know what you would do if I did. My curiosity has always been a problem sir, I'll understand if you want to..." Hermione babbled on, only to be interrupted by Lupin

"That is quite enough," Lupin said, sounding an awful lot like Dumbledore used to, before he...

Lupin nodded apprehensively. "That is an interesting story Hermione, but I would like to hear Draco's input on this whole... situation, if I may." Draco mumbled something unclear. Lupin inclined his head as if to say "Go on, now."

Draco finally shifted his gaze to that of Lupin's who was staring at him inquiringly. Something that old fool Dumbledore used to do. How he hated that look he used to give him before he...

"What do you want to know? Do you want to know how I do not wish to be a Death Eater after all? That I don't want to be my father? I do not think I need to inform you of anything. I needed out, or I would have died, either physically or mentally, whichever came first. There was nothing that would have stopped me from leaving. Her... Granger just came at the right time and helped me on my way out," Draco spat uncaringly, like him leaving his home, seemingly forever, was just a walk in the park.

"Are you saying that you were planning on leaving before Hermione and I began our... patrols?" Lupin asked earnestly, he knew this game.

"No, well, that is to say yes. No. I needed to get out okay? Do you not understand what that man has put me through all these years?" He wasn't about to be nice. Just because he needed to run, certainly did not mean that he had to be all buddy-buddy with them. They had never given him a helping hand. Hell, they had turned him into a rodent. Well, perhaps it wasn't necessarily them, but it might as well have been.

"I understand that you needed to leave, Draco, but what I do not understand is why you are standing with Hermione Granger, a Muggleborn, forgive me Hermione, and myself, a... half-breed. Do you often place yourself in such company? I am afraid I'm confused. Please, enlighten me." Lupin wasn't going to be nice to the little snot. His father had more or less gotten him fired. He still help some animosity towards the family in general, though he knew this was more than a little unfair, it was hard not to be biased. 'What a hypocrite I have become,' Lupin thought to himself.

"No, Professor, however, my present company has nothing to do with anything. Would you like to grow up being taught to murder, torture, and otherwise maim? Do not mistake me," Draco said, noticing the look of shock on Lupin's face, "I will hurt if I have to; however I do not take the intense pleasure in it that my father does. I fear for my mothers mind half of the time. I wish she would have gotten away from that man when she had the chance," Draco looked angry.

"Has your mother been put under the Imperius curse?" Lupin implored. Now that his mother and father were in custody, this would either be extremely valuable information, or they had already figured it out. By the looks of it, Hermione had not told Draco that the people who now had him technically under custody, also held his parents.

"Of course not! What do you think we Malfoy's are, barbarians? My father would sooner kill my mother than put her under a curse. He has never physically injured her, as far as I am aware. But there are many things worse than a physical beating, professor, as I am sure you are aware. Mind tricks are my father specialty. It is very hard to escape them. I have come to my mother before, on several occasions, imploring, nearly begging her to come with me. The two of us, we could escape this life. But, of course she would have none of it. This house was where she belonged. With Lucius; with all of her worldly possessions. For, do you understand that she is nothing without her materials and her name? They would have hunted us both down, singled us out and killed us. It was much better to wait in the sanctity of our own home than risk being thrown into the world without anything? Not even a name? I stopped suggesting the idea when I was around 13. It seemed useless to me then, and it still is. Narcissa will never leave Lucius Malfoy, no matter how much he mistreats her. It is the classic form of abuse of the mind. She doesn't even know it is wrong any more." Draco trailed off.

Lupin paused, and Hermione, beyond herself, was close to tears. And she thought she had it bad, living with the famous Harry Potter, having him reap all of the glory. Fearing for her life. But he, by the looks of it had had it much worse. Much worse indeed. Lupin finally nodded.

"That will do for now, Mr. Malfoy. I will get back to you both in just a moment." This was certainly anew twist in events.

Hermione and Draco both head back to her bedroom, pointedly ignoring the grey window and each other. Hermione wanted to sleep, but isn't sure if she trusts Draco in the house, especially when she is in such a vulnerable state. However, if he had wanted to kill her, he would have done it by now. She curls up on her bed. Draco sits in the chair near her armoire and thinks, as if he didn't do enough of that already.

'Why am I here? What happens if my parents find me? What if I'm tortured by these crazy Voldemort-opposing Gryffindor-freak-loving people? Where is he going to live after this? Will he live? What about his mother? When are his parents getting home? When will they discover he is missing? What is up with that window? This place smells funny,' Draco thought to himself for what seemed like hours. Hermione, by the looks of it, had already fallen asleep. She had been up all night, as had he, but she had been watching him. Why had he put himself under the surveillance of someone who was watching him already? He was making it awfully easy for them to keep an eye on him. He chuckled, this was complete insanity.

Sometime later, Draco wasn't sure how long (minutes? hours?), Lupin walked in quietly, as to not disturb the sleeping Hermione.

"Just so you are aware, I have put a locking spell on the house," Lupin looked straight into Draco's cold blue-grey eyes as he said this, almost as if to show him he blatantly doesn't trust him, "So you cannot even open the doors. There are other spells on it, which I will not divulge to you, but just so you know, I wouldn't try any funny stuff. Please do not confuse my precautions with dislike for you, I just have to make sure every measure is taken to prove your... innocence. For now, however, I am going to ask you to give me your wand until we are all sure that your motives are completely trustworthy." Draco looked at him like he was crazy.

"My... wand? No, absolutely not. I am most certainly not giving my wand to anyone, especially the enemy!" He knew he sounded like he had gone completely insane, and perhaps he had. Look where he was, after all. Lupin stared him down.

"We are the enemy no longer, Draco. We are here to help you."

By this point, Draco noticed that Hermione was sitting up in bed, wide awake. He handed his wand to Lupin unwillingly.

"I see you are awake, Hermione. In that case, I supposed I can tell you what we are going to be doing later today. Around six this evening, we are all going to, oh," at this, Lupin pulled out his wand. "Muffliato," he whispered. Instantly, the look on Draco's face became confused, and he began talking quite loudly.

"HEY! I CANT HEAR ANYTHING!"

"As I was saying, we are going to..."

"THERE'S SOME WEIRD BUZZING IN MY EARS!"

"Number Twelve Grimmauld place. It has been..."

"NO REALLY! I CAN'T HEAR A THING YOU'RE SAYING!"

"Recovered and reinstated under Harry's name. He's the one that..."

"I CAN SEE YOUR LIPS MOVING BUT I DONT KNOW WHAT YOURE SAYING!"

"Taught me this spell." He then whispered the counter curse, and Malfoy looked embarrassed.

"You could have just told me to plug my ears or something," he mumbled.

"Anyways, THAT'S where we're going. Harry and Ron will be there tomorrow morning with Arthur to," Lupin cast a shifty look at Draco, "discuss some things. Draco, you will be undergoing a series of tests including magical aptitude tests, visual and physical abnormality checks, hidden talents such as Parseltongue, Animagus traits, et cetera, and of course truth potions and secrecy detectors. Is all of this clear, Draco? I am quite sure you saw all of this coming."

Draco gulps and can think of nothing better to say than, "That great oaf Hagrid better not be there."

"Watch it Malfoy," This was the first time Hermione had spoken this entire time, so it came as a mild shock to Draco who didn't have to time to retort before Lupin cut in.

"Yes, indeed. I would suggest you learn some manners before we get there because you are in our 'care' now and even if you wanted to leave, you couldn't. Plus, you're wandless." Lupin grinned. "Now, you can both sleep. I know neither of you have slept tonight. Nothing can harm you here, I assure you, Draco. You can sleep on the couch in the room at the end of the hall. I dare say Crookshanks finds it quite pleasing." Hermione yawned.

"Well, night D... Malfoy" Yes. They were back to last names, of course.

When Draco awoke, it was near six in the evening, and no one bothered to wake him up. He would have to get used to not being waited on... which sucks. Draco had somehow slept eight hours in this foreign place. He looked down to see Hermione stretched out on the floor near the bookcases on the other side of the room, stroking Crookshanks and reading a book. She had not noticed he had awoken. He watched her for a bit, and Crookshanks watched him. He noticed how she bit her lip when she got to the good parts. Crookshanks noticed him watching her. He noticed how she flipped the page as fast as she could, as if the material would disappear if she didn't. Crookshanks noticed he looked like he had very soft hair, and nice hands to scratch him behind the ear with. Of course, these things disgusted Draco. Crookshanks couldn't take this staring match and lazily got up and sauntered over to where Draco lay.

"Hello, err, cat. Go now, please." Draco said as Hermione turned her head to see where Crookshanks had gotten to. "Please leave." He had never really taken to cats very much. "Get!"

Instead of heading Draco's wishes, Crookshanks eyed him even closer. Suddenly, he jumped up onto the couch where Draco was laying and plopped his body down right where Draco's pillow was. He began to purr very loudly. Draco could swear the entire couch was vibrating. Draco pet it under its chin with one finger, not liking it in the least. It looked like its face had been squashed in. A face only a mother... or Hermione would love.

"He usually doesn't like boys," Hermione said simply, closing her book. "Strange."

"Yes, Indeed. When are we leaving?" Draco asked, trying to avoid Crookshanks stare.

"In like, five minutes."

"Why the hell didn't you wake me?"

"Forgot"

"Like hell, woman!"

"You look fine!"

"Do I really now, thanks for saying." He smirked.

"Shut up."

Lupin later had them perform side-along apparation, and had blindfolded Draco. When then finally got to the house, Lupin used the Muffliato spell on Draco, who didn't even know it because he couldn't see their lips moving as he couldn't see anything at all in the first place. Lupin read the directions to get the door to number 12 to appear and cast the counter curse on Draco. He knocked on the door. They could all hear at least 30 locks being unlocked, it seemed, and some minutes later the door was opened just a crack and then...

"OH REMUS ITS YOU! THANK THE HEAVENS!" Mrs. Weasley shrill voice filled everyone's ears. Draco was startled, as he didn't 'see' this coming.

"Molly, please, try to quiet down," Lupin whispered. Mrs. Weasley mumbled her apologies and led them all inside, watching Draco very closely. Lupin removed his blindfold. He still said nothing. What was there to say?

"EVERYONE THEY'RE HERE!" She announced in that same voice. Hermione visibly winced. Mere seconds later, almost the entire Order came out of the kitchen and down the stairs. Draco stepped back, looking panicky. Hermione squeezed his hand, then panicked and dropped it, realizing that was not something she should have done. Luckily no one noticed. It seemed even Draco didn't notice. Lupin cleared his throat, as there were many voices talking and many people watching Malfoy with disdain.

"Everyone, Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy are here for several reasons. They..." Just then there was a knock on the door. Mrs. Weasley stepped forward to open the door, mumbling something that sounded like 'now who on Earth could that be!'

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS HE DOING HERE!" Two voices sounded simultaneously.

"Ron, Harry, I can explain..."