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Song suggestion: Parting glass, Ed Sheeran.
Chapter Seven: Signing up.
"Fine." He rubbed a hand down his face, "But you'll have to be checked first."
"As expected." Draco nodded.
"I'll show the way in a minute." The older Weasley walked past them to Ron and Harry. Taking out a handkerchief, he transfigured it into a large sheet to wrap Dobby's body in.
Draco felt a twinge of guilt. The House Elf meant more to Potter than he ever did to him. It made him question his lifetime of prejudice upbringing. If Muggleborns were not filthy, then other magically creatures were not inferior too. It made him uneasy to consider his life a lie. Pansy came over then and hugged him tightly.
"We're free Draco, we're free." She cried with quiet joy into his shoulder.
"Yeah Pans, we're free." He murmured back. Blaise glanced at him with a raised brow. Free? Were they really free when they would be hunted by one side and untrusted by the other? From the snake pit to the lions' den. It was a relative freedom to have but freedom nonetheless.
However, they knew they would be tried and tested before anyone even accepted them as turncoats. Veritaserum, legilimency, extensive questioning, Unbreakable Vows of loyalty. They doubted torture, Light didn't torture. It would be intrusive, something the Slytherins did not take lightly. Secrets were that for a reason and they would have theirs laid out for all of the Order to see. It would be a great sacrifice of privacy and pride.
Trying to take his mind off of the predicted trials, Draco glanced around the beach. It was a grim, grey day discolouring the sand and sea to miserable colours. A cottage sat on the cliff where he could see small silhouettes wandering to. He wondered whether the Order really used the old place as an actual base or if it was just a safe place to apparate from to the real base. They could not be simply living in a little cottage on the coast as if a war was not being waged.
"What do you think?" Blaise said quietly beside Draco. The two shared a glance before looking at the cottage.
"I hope they have more brains than to live there." He muttered back, "To have no protection would be stupid."
"Agreed." Draco's dark companion glanced over to the three Gryffindors. Dobby was covered in the transfigured sheet in Potter's arm who was still crying heartily. Ron was consoling his best friend with his own eyes dripping tears. While the older Weasley spoke quietly, seemingly trying to move the distraught boy and House Elf to a safe place to grieve.
Finally Harry nodded and stood up with the small, shrouded body in his arms. Ron stood close beside him, patting him on the shoulder. The older Weasley nodded for the three Slytherins to follow the grieving procession.
The journey was slow to the cliff top cottage but they eventually reached the shell roofed structure. Ron and Harry walked off to a space between two bushes while the older ginger motioned them to follow him. Upon entering the three Slytherins glanced around the outdated décor as they gathered under the staircase.
"Open up." The scarred man kicked on some floorboards, "It's me."
"Password." A familiar voice called and the three Slytherins exchanged glances. Professor Lupin was here too. But how many others? Would they be able to convince other Order members? Or would they be slung out.
"Chocolate teapot." He replied quietly. There was an echoed clicking for a few seconds before the wooden floorboards appeared to melt away, seeping down. Mystified, they wondered what on Salazar's soul was happening. None of them had seen anything of a sort. A bright light shone suddenly and blinded them, forcing them to turn away from the opening.
It took several seconds of blinking and rubbing of their eyes to adjust. By that time the older Weasley was already down the ladder into a white corridor with Lupin looking up at his three ex-students with trepidation. But he did not question them, only motioned for them to enter the underground cavern.
Blaise went first, climbing down quickly. As he stepped off Draco noticed his friend start slightly before rolling his shoulders. Curious as to why he watched Pansy slowly descend. She too reacted when clambering off. Clearly it was a defensive mechanism. Bracing himself he swiftly entered and upon standing on the white flooring felt an electric current flow through his feet up to his head. It disappeared as quickly as it came and he raised a brow at the floor before looking questionably at his old Professor.
"No harmful intentions." The werewolf murmured to himself, nodding, "Bill, Fleur will need help in the hospital wing after you've informed Molly of the situation, I'll be needing help with these three." The three Slytherins shared quick glances before looking around, slight tension tinging the air around them.
"Okay." Weasley nodded and strode off. They watched him go to the end of the corridor before turning left, disappearing down an unseen passage way.
Draco noted the whole place had a clinical, antiseptic feel to it with its white colouring. It made him feel uneasy and cold. Glancing at Blaise he noticed he too was assessing the surroundings. Drawing a similar conclusion. Neither had expected the plain nature, much rather thinking of knitted cushions and hot fires when it came to these people. It was a strange place indeed for an Order of the Phoenix base.
But Pansy simply appeared to narrow her eyes and take on a look of thought. Draco and Blaise could have laughed, she was clearly thinking of how to better the place to appear more homely, typical Pansy thinking materialistically. Once they had all checked out the base they turned back to their old Defence against the Dark Arts Professor who was watching them carefully and with knowledge.
"Welcome to Shell Cottage, base of the Order of the Phoenix." Lupin said with apprehension in his gaze.