CHAPTER 4

"What are you doing here?" Draco asked Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny as they came up behind him.

"We were……uh….just-" Harry started.

"Following me," Malfoy interrupted with a smirk, "You don't have to hide it. I know you don't trust me Potter," he spat, "or you Weasleys, or you, you filthy little-"

"Don't you dare!" Ron threatened through gritted teeth.

"Ah, finally showing some affection are we Weasley?" Malfoy mocked.

"Shut up Malfoy," Harry sighed, "This is getting ridiculous! Since you are on our side now," he glanced at Draco, "Why don't you tell us what you know about Voldemort?"

Tears welled up in Draco's eyes. Ginny walked over to him and gently touched his arm with sympathy.

"Get off me weasel!" Draco shrugged her off. He turned and walked deeper into the cave.

"What did you do that for? He's a Malfoy! What do you think you're doing? Just…..GO!" Ron yelled in frustration. Ginny rolled her eyes and started after Malfoy.

"Not that way! You stay away from him Ginny!" Ron screamed after her. Harry and Ron tried to catch her but Hermione held them back.

"Let her go. She'll just disrespect you even more if you go after her," she warned.

A few moments later, Ginny appeared with Draco at her side. He was looking down to the ground.

"Draco's decided to share his Death Eater secrets," Ginny said as everyone crowded around. All of those who had apparated had found the temporary hide-out by now. Malfoy slipped in to the middle of the crowd. Ron came up next to Ginny.

"I thought I told you to stay away from him," Ron whispered angrily in Ginny's ear.

"Did you think I'd actually listen to you? Who cares? I'm getting him to talk aren't I?" she whispered back. Harry stood next to Ginny and Ron with Hermione on the other side. Everyone was so packed together; it was hard to breathe. The four of them were pushed out of the crowd.

Everything fell silent. Harry peered over the top of everyone's heads. He could see Malfoy shaking with anxiety. He could tell everyone was holding their breath. Finally they would have the upper hand against Voldemort. They might actually be able to defeat him. Harry could actually live a normal life. He was so excited to hear what Malfoy had to say. For once Harry was actually glad Malfoy was around. He couldn't help himself from grinning.

"Well…….." Malfoy hesitated, " Um, he…" Draco looked at all of the eager faces surrounding him. He seemed to look around for a way to escape. Harry sensed Ron was getting nervous. Malfoy looked like he would spring out at any moment.

"Ron, go on the other side of the crowd, I'll block the other. Malfoy looks like he's about to make a run for it," Harry whispered in Ron's ear.

"Both of you shut up! Malfoy's about to talk," Hermione whispered fiercely, but they had both gone to their positions.

"What are you doing?" Ginny whispered as Ron snuck by. He didn't answer her. Just as they had expected, Malfoy dodged for the mouth of the cave. Harry caught him around the middle. Draco tried to fight him off by Harry punched him in the nose. Malfoy fell back with his hands to his face, blood dripped down his front. Harry stood up, fist still in the air. Malfoy looked up, eyes full of anger.

"What did you do that for?" Harry shouted at the wounded Malfoy on the ground. Draco just glared back. Mr. Weasley sprinted up to them, wand drawn.

"Why did you try to run? Are you a spy Malfoy?" Mr. Weasley said as he raised his wand to Draco's face.

"I…can't tell you!" Draco whimpered.

"Why not?" Ron asked as he came up along with the crowd.

"He'll find me! He probably already knows where I am! He probably thinks I've betrayed him and he'll come for me!" Draco cried.

"Well isn't that what you did? Betrayed him? By not killing Dumbledore!" Harry shouted.

"It wasn't my fault! He told me if I didn't he'd kill me and my mother!" Draco whined.

"Yeah! I know! I was there! So instead, Snape killed him! What's your excuse? Don't you want to be just like Daddy?" Harry yelled angrily. Draco began to sob.

"It's not my fault! I didn't want Dumbledore to die!" he said through tears.

"Oh sure, you were planning on coming here weren't you? Is this a trap Malfoy? Huh? If you're such a good person, why don't you tell us!" Harry said furiously, "You obviously think you're the victim, so tell me, did Voldemort send me a fake dream again?"

"What are you talking about?" Draco asked

"So you did run from the house then? How can we be so sure you aren't still working for Voldemort!" Harry shouted.

"How did you know I ran away? What dreams are you talking about," Draco cried. Harry was amazed. Malfoy didn't know what he was talking about. He stepped back. Draco continued to sob on the cold ground.

"Come on," Ginny said as she reached out a hand to Malfoy. Ron looked at her in disgust.

"What are you doing?" Ron hissed in her ear. She just ignored him and walked away and out of sight with Malfoy.

"Where are they going?" Harry asked.

"I don't know, let's follow them," Ron said.

"Ron! Leave them alone!" Hermione said.

"Hermione, she's my sister! I can't let him do anything to her! He just tried to escape! Do you really think he's on our side?" Ron answered. Hermione rolled her eyes.

They started through the cave, making sure they weren't too close where Ginny could hear them.

"So when are we going to get out of this dreadful place? Where are we going to go? We obviously can't go back to Sirius's, I mean…Harry's," Hermione said. She glanced Harry's way but fortunately for her, he wasn't paying attention.

"I don't know Hermione. I mean we can't go to my house obviously. It wouldn't hold all of us," Ron replied.

"So what do you think we'll do? We can't stay here for much longer. I hate this place. It's so gloomy and dirty," Hermione complained.

"Why do you think Malfoy tried to run away?" Harry asked. It was so sudden Ron and Hermione didn't know what to say.

"Um, well, I guess he just got nervous," Hermione said.

"Hermione, please," Ron said," Isn't it obvious? He's working for you–know-"

"Just say his name Ron! I know you aren't afraid of it. You never flinch anymore when we say it. Stop being a baby and grow up!" Hermione interrupted. Ron glared at her.

"Fine, I think he's still working for Vold…..Volde……." Ron stuttered. Hermione took a deep sigh.

"Out with it! Just get it over with!" she said.

"Alright! I think he's working for Voldemort," Ron said in a hurry, "I mean think about it. He comes out of nowhere and says we're going to be attacked. How did he even know where we were? He had the lamest excuse. Saying he overheard them talking, that's rubbish that is."

"Well, you do have a point. But why would he help Voldemort after he murdered his father? It makes no sense. Even Malfoy's not that heartless," Hermione said.

"Malfoy will do anything to save his own skin," Ron added, "What do you think Harry?"

"Well, I thought he was telling the truth, at least until he tried to make a run for it," Harry replied.

"So who do you think's spying on Voldemort for us?" Ron asked.

"I don't know. Only a few people in the Order know and they won't say. They're keeping it a secret," Hermione explained.

"Well we should find out soon if Malfoy'd tell us what he knows. If Dumbledore was still around I bet he'd tell us," Harry said.

"Sh!" Hermione whispered, "I can hear them, listen."

"So why did you run?" Ginny asked quietly.

"Because I was scared if I said anything, the Dark Lord would find out and come for me. I'm just trying to stay alive here. My mum's- /wait, my mum! I've got to find her!" Draco said.

"I'm sorry Draco but we can't go after her right now. It'd be too risky. We'll have to wait until we find somewhere else to stay. Don't worry Draco, it'll be alright," Ginny said.

"What? Draco," Ron said, "Why is she calling him Draco? What's gotten in to her? I'm gonna go slug that pathetic-"

"Ron no! Leave her alone! You can't protect her for the rest of your life! Let her be!" Hermione whispered clearly.

"Hermione, you just don't get it do you? She's my sister! It's Malfoy! He's obviously still working for you-know-who!" Ron whispered back. Hermione rolled her eyes at his ignorance. He started forward. Harry followed. Hermione eventually tagged along.

"Hey, Malfoy! Get away from my sister!" Ron yelled.

"Please Weasley!" Malfoy said sarcastically, "She came to me! If you're going to yell at anyone it should be your bloody sister!"

"Get the hell out of here Malfoy!" Ron answered. Hermione tried to hold him back as he stepped forward. Harry got there first.

"Go Malfoy and leave Ginny alone," Harry whispered.

"Oh isn't that sweet Potter, you've got yourself a girlfriend. She doesn't seem to think much of you though," Malfoy said.

"What are you talking about? She's not my-" Harry asked.

"She told me. She doesn't think you care about anything anymore. She says all you care about is getting your precious revenge," Malfoy smirked. Harry's face grew hot. Ginny gasped.

"Draco I told you not to tell anyone!" Ginny said.

"What! So it's true?" Harry asked angrily. Ginny didn't answer. Harry stepped back. Hermione took her by the arm and pulled her away.

"Oh did I hit a nerve Potter?" Malfoy spat. Harry lunged forward but was caught by two familiar faces.

"Don't let him get to you Harry," Fred said as he held Harry back.

"Malfoy you better get a move on or we'll let him loose," George said as he nodded his head at Harry.

"Fine, I'll let you work things out with your girlfriend," Malfoy smiled wickedly and strolled away.

"Ginny's your girlfriend?" Fred asked in amazement.

"No," Harry replied shortly. The trio turned and walked back to the others.

"So what are you two doing here anyway?" Harry asked.

"Well, we saw you three take off and we figured we could play a prank or two," Fred explained.

"I think we should've let you go though. It would've been funny to see Malfoy get his face smashed in, again," George added happily.

"You know what I just thought of? Remember the last time we saw Malfoy? He was running away with Snape. I haven't heard anything about him since," Harry said.

"Ah who knows? Maybe someone finished him off," George replied with a friendly smile.