Chapter 1-'Evil little Cockroach'

18 months earlier

When had everything become so confusing? Hermione wondered. Why couldn't he stay in that box – the one she had made for him labelled 'evil little cockroach'? Worse -why had that simple act of kindness transformed his face?

Hermione had always viewed Draco Malfoy as evil incarnate but now, when she looked at him, the twisted grotesque pointed gargoyle of a face had transfigured into a handsome man.

Damn she thought as she looked up into his face he even looks angelic. The sunlight behind his hair, as he stood in the Morning Room window, had given him an aura that made him look more seraph than demon. It was so confusing-she used to fantasies about punching his lights out but for a moment, out of nowhere came the thought that she might like to…well it would certainly make a grown woman blush.

Draco Malfoy had arrived at the Order's headquarters with Snape after Dumbledore's death. When he and Snape suddenly appeared in the kitchen at 12 Grimmauld Place all hell had broken lose. Both Harry and Ron had gone to hex him, Snape had disarmed them only to find that Remus held a wand to Snape's own throat. For what seemed like hours there was a tense stand-off.

In the end it was Tonks who broke the silence. Perhaps it was in recognition that Draco was one of her few living relatives and she would not spill familial blood unless she had to.

"Explain, and make it good," she said to Snape.

"Not in front of the boy," Snape motioned his head towards Draco.

"Hermione, take him into the other room," Remus indicated the door.

Draco found himself in the faded Morning Room of 12 Grimmauld Place. The house had once belonged to his mother's family but now, the grandeur that it had once represented was well and truly faded.

Ignoring Granger Draco stared at the once grand furnishings. The silk drapes, which had once probably been a deep blue were faded to grey, the edges rotting where the sun had slowly stripped away both colour and fibre. Dust seemed to be ingrained on every surface.

"Sit!" Granger commanded.

Draco scoffed, looking with distaste at the chair she had offered, he declined to sit and instead walked towards the window. Draco had expected questions but Granger was blessedly silent.

As the silence stretched out Draco slipped deep into his own thoughts-what now? He wondered. Would he remain a prisoner of The Order? Would they let him go? Would they send him home into the clutches of Voldemort? He knew his best hope was that his Godfather could persuade The Order that he might have some worth. It was a small hope, he suspected, if Potter and Weasley had any say, he would be out on the streets to take his chances. On the other hand he couldn't believe that even The Boy Who Lived and his side kick would hand him over to Voldemort. Clueless though they were they had to know that they might as well 'adava' him themselves as hand him over.

All Draco could do now was wait but at least he could take a moment's ease. One thing he knew about the muggle-born witch, who was now his guard, was she wouldn't harm him unless he gave her good cause and he had no intentions of giving her good cause. He was he supposed, for however long it took them to decide his fate, safe.

Finally he took a chair and sat and looked at the muggle-born witch who was now studying him intently.

Remus sealed and silenced the room as soon as Hermione and Draco were through the door.

"You have one minute before I kill you," Remus rounded on Snape.

Snape let out a long suffering sigh.

"He was dying you know," Snape began as his opening gambit for he knew he was gambling with his life and his godson's. Remus didn't even blink in response."When Dumbledore destroy the horcrux in Marvolo Gaunt's ring he triggered a curse which was slowly killing him," Snape continued, "he knew he was going to die and he knew that Voldemort had ordered Draco to kill him."

Still no one spoke but Snape knew he had their attention now.

"Dumbledore asked me to kill him in order to save Draco's soul."

"Bullshit, you're not going to listen to this are you?" Ron spat out looking to those around him for support, "why would Dumbledore care what happened to Malfoy?"

"You are very mistaken if you think Albus Dumbledore didn't care for all his pupils, he did, even you Mr. Weasley," Snape responded with scorn.

Unabashed Ron continued,"don't you see what he's doing," Ron looked desperately at the other Order members, "he's trying to cover for his own crimes…"

"Ron," Remus interrupted wearily, "let him speak."

"Albus believed the boy still had an important part to play in Voldemort's downfall and it was important to keep him safe."

"What role?" Tonks demanded.

Snape didn't respond instead looking warily at Ron and Harry who still sat quietly in the corner of the room.

"If you allow me Nymphadora I will come back to that," Snape continued his explanation, "suffice it to say that Albus believed Draco would defect to the Order. As for myself I must continue to play my part at Voldemort's side. Albus understood that his death at my hands would restore the 'Dark Lord's' faith in me and allow me to further aid the cause –at least for a time."

Remus narrowed his eyes and rubbed his index finger across a scar on his chin as he studied Snape.

"We don't have time for veritaserum otherwise…"

"How convenient," everyone was surprised when Harry finally spoke.

Snape glared at his former student before making a surprising offer. Taking a vial from an inside pocket in his robe he lifted his wand to his temple drawing out a small thread of memory.

"See for yourself- I have delayed long enough I must meet with The Dark Lord-your word Remus that the boy will be safe until I return."

Remus nodded.

"If you will Remus," Snape motioned to the wand at his throat that prevented him from leaving. Remus lowered his wand and Snape vanished in a swirl of black robes.

Tonks looked at her husband, "Do you believe him?" She asked.

"I don't know?" Remus stated pensively, "perhaps we should look at the memory? Ron go bring the pensieve Harry, go check on Hermione."

Waiting until the boys had left the room Remus turned to his wife,"I don't know what to think but there is something about Draco Malfoy…"

"What?" Tonks demanded.

Remus let out a little huff of air before responding, "I think he might have a conscience."

Hermione studied Malfoy intently she couldn't understand what he was doing here. It must be good if he and Snape dared to come here after what Harry had reported they had done on the Astronomy Tower. She had always been too curious for her own good but she tried to maintain a stoic silence watching as he paced the room before finally deciding to sit. Malfoy looked a wreck, dark shadows sat below his eyes, his skin had a grey undertone that spoke of a lack of nourishment.

"When did you last sleep Malfoy?" She asked unable to maintain the silence but unwilling to ask what she really wanted to know.

"Why do you care?" Was his caustic response.

"I don't," she shrugged her shoulders, "you just don't look your best and I was curious."

He merely huffed but then after a moment's consideration commented, "Do any of us sleep well? Is there anyone who can have an undisturbed night without fear for themselves or their loved ones? Perhaps you sleep the sleep of the blessed Granger?" He looked up at her scrutinising her face, "but then again perhaps you don't."

Hermione knew he was right who could sleep well in these dark times?

"I'm surprised," she told him.

"Why?" He asked already wearying of the conservation.

"Wouldn't you need a conscience in the first place for it to keep you awake at night?"

Draco sneered at her before replying, "Wouldn't you need someone who loved you to worry about?"

The conversation was blessedly brought to a halt by the door opening to admit Harry.

"If you so much as breathe too loud Malfoy…" Harry began but he was cut off before he could finish.

"Yes, I get it! I'm entirely at your mercy," Draco shot back.

Harry, unlike Hermione, could not contain his curiosity.

"Why are you here Malfoy?"

Draco didn't respond for a long moment-Harry had begun to turn, assuming he would get no response, when Draco said quietly:

"I have nowhere else to go."

"And why should we lift a finger to save your sorry soul after all you have done?" Harry asked levelling his wand as he began to lose his temper.

"Because Dumbledore thought it was worth saving!" Draco snapped back. "I know you think I'm worthless well may be someone did believe in me."

For a moment they all glowered at each other in silence.

"Harry is everything alright?" Tonks' calm tones rang down the corridor breaking the stillness.

"Coming," Harry called out before turning back to Malfoy, "I don't trust you Malfoy, whatever you are up to…" Harry left the statement hanging and finally exited the room closing the door behind him.

"You should sleep," Hermione stated simply to break the tension.

He didn't answer or acknowledge what she had said but sat back down and closed his eyes.