xSummary: In the third year of the war, Draco is discovered as a spy for the Order of the Phoenix. Snape brings him to Grimmauld Place for safety. But months of being locked in a house with Potter take their toll, and soon both boys are in over their heads.
Pairing: Harry/Draco. If you don't like it, don't read it.
Warnings: Unbetaed, all mistakes are my own. Sexual content. Language.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and everything affiliated with his world belong to J.K. Rowling.
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Draco opened his eyes, but before he got more than a glimpse of blue and a whiff of salt, they were off again. This happened four more times, landing them in a dark alley, a cow field, what looked like Hogsmeade and finally a filthy Muggle square. Dammit, Snape was a paranoid bastard. Misapperating once to throw off pursuers was understandable, but four times was just unnecessary. However, he owed Snape his life. If he hadn't come to get him, Draco would have been snake food right now. The Dark Lord would have no doubt thought of plenty cruel torture methods before allowing Nagini to feast on his remains.
Draco looked around the square. His ears popped. He assumed that this was Grimmauld Place, but he didn't see number 12.There were numbers 10, 11, 13 and 14. Snape hissed "quiet" the second Draco opened his mouth.
Snape moved off towards the houses. As they came within 10 feet of the houses, numbers 11 and 13 began to move. A new house pushed its way in between them. The noise was hideously loud, and despite all his training, Draco flinched. Soon number 12 was in front of the two Death Eaters, the grimiest and darkest house of the lot. Snape walked up the stairs and whispered something that Draco didn't hear. Snape was moving slowly, managing to maintain his aloof air even while fleeing for Draco's life.
The front door opened, revealing a long hallway with house-elf heads lining one wall and covered portraits lining the other. Snape pulled him inside and the door slammed shut behind them. Draco had managed to push his fear to the back of his mind as he focused on the escape.
But it all came rushing back. Dozens of thoughts raced across his mind. This wasn't the Order of the Phoenix. Granger wouldn't have allowed those house-elf heads. Snape had turned on him. The Dark Lord was waiting for him down the hallway. Of course the Dark Lord knew he was a spy, he was the Dark Lord. Draco was a fool for trying to deceive him. He would never beg or plead. He was a Malfoy. But fuck it; he didn't want to die.
Draco broke out in a cold sweat, goose-flesh rising on his arms. His breathing became erratic. Snape had let go of his arm and was striding ahead. Draco hurried to catch up. He wasn't going to be left behind; this place was creepy. And courage was such a Gryffindor trait. Snape opened the door at the end of the hallway. Draco had a brief glimpse of the Golden Trio illuminated around a worn kitchen table.
Suddenly Snape pulled Draco down to the floor. A red jet of light shot over their heads, ruffling Draco's hair. He heard Snape swear. Draco pulled out his wand and silently put up a shield charm. Granger had leapt up and was standing in front of Snape and Draco.
"Get out of the way, Hermione!" yelled Potter.
"What the fuck are they doing here?" shrieked the Weasel. Granger had her wand out, which Draco knew from experience was a bad thing. But the other two had their wands out as well and looked angry enough to ignore the warning signs. Potter shot a spell around Granger, but Draco's shield charm deflected it.
"How did they get in here?" Potter looked spitting mad, and his voice was low but powerful. Unsurprising, really, considering the last time he had seen Snape and Draco had been the night Dumbledore died.
"Look, Harry, I can explain…" began Granger.
"Oh my gods, Hermione, that's where the extra copies of the address went. Lost them my arse. Who else did you give them to? Bellatrix Lestrange? Voldermort himself?" Everyone but Potter flinched. But Granger had had enough.
"How dare you!? After everything I've done for you? You think I'd betr-" She was cut off by matching shouts of pain from Draco and Snape. Draco dropped to his knees and clenched his teeth, barely holding back tears of pain. His mark fucking burned. Snape handled the pain slightly better, as usual.
"Ms. Granger, Draco's position has been discovered. I leave him in you care. We will still meet this week, as usual. I must go." He turned and marched out of the room.
Granger's eyes had widened and her mouth was slightly open.
"I'm sorry, Malfoy." The looks of dumb horror on Potter and Weasel's faces increased. "Accio wands." Three wands, one hawthorne, one holly, and one willow, flew into Granger's outstretched hand. She used her own wand to gesticulate and order the boys around. "You, you and you! Sit down. I have some explaining to do."
"Too right," muttered Harry, glaring daggers at Draco.
"And no killing each other, and that means you Ron." Ron stopped trying to inch near enough to Draco to deck him. The three boys settled as far apart from each other as possible while still at the table.
"Harry, Ron, you cannot tell anyone about this. And I mean anyone. Not Lupin, not Tonks, and none of the Weasleys." Granger said.
"S'not like they would believe us," muttered Weasley. Granger narrowed her eyes.
"Malfoy has been a spy for us since the end of sixth year. Snape has been a spy for much longer, since before we were born."
"Even if that's true, which I doubt," said Potter, casting a dark look in Draco's direction, "it still begs the question how the fuck they knew where Grimmauld Place is." Potter's voice was steely and his eyes burnt with fury. "We changed the secret-keeper. The only way they could have known is if you gave them the location."
Draco was familiar with the look on Potter's face; he was usually on the receiving end. But he'd never seen it directed at Weasley or Granger. Apparently Granger had, because she didn't flinch.
"I gave it to them," said Granger, sounding not the least bit ashamed. Weasley made a choking sound, a look of betrayal on his face. Granger heaved a sigh. "You both will sit quietly and listen to my explanation. When I'm done, you can do what you want to me. Yell, scream, even hex me. But you will give me a chance to explain."
"Can we have our wands back?" asked the Weasel. Granger didn't even deign to answer him.
Granger began her tale; "Shortly after Dumbledore's death," Draco fidgeted uncomfortably, "I received a letter. I recognized Dumbledore's writing. I came down to show you two, but you were out, I forget where. I didn't know what to do, but I couldn't wait until you returned. I had to open it.
"Dear Ms. Granger,
If this has reached you, then my plan was successful. Harry has another Horcrux, Snape retained his place at Voldermort's side, and I was spared from a painful curse. I have written to you because I know you love Harry, and will help him in his search. You are also an incredibly bright witch, and capable of keeping a cool head. Snape is loyal to me. He has been ever since Voldermort killed the woman he loved, Lily Evans. Severus and I planned my death. We knew of Draco's impossible task, and arranged to have Severus complete it. I was suffering from a painful curse, manifested in my right hand, and wanted to face death on my terms. Severus helped me achieve this last goal. Ms. Granger, believe me. You need Severus. He will provide you with vital information about the Death Eaters and the Horcruxes. He will send you a message using this.
"The second I read the word 'this', the spell was activated and the word was transfigured into one of my galleons from the D.A.. Snape has the other one." Granger reached into her pocket and pulled out a galleon.
"Anyway, the letter went on,
You know how to use it, Ms. Granger. Do not tell anyone, not even Harry or Mr. Weasley. They cannot be trusted to mind their tempers and view the matter objectively. I am merely an old man, but I know they will not react well. You cannot risk ruining this advantage for all your sakes. I have faith that you will carry this out. Go to my office and find my pensieve. In it are certain memories you must see. I still like lemon drops.
'This is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure.'
Good Luck,
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
"I sat there for a hour turning the galleon over and over in my hands. I knew it was Dumbledore, the quote proved it. He told me that our sixth year after a prefect meeting. Besides, a Muggle said it, and no Death Eater would know a Muggle quote. The next day I snuck into Hogwarts. I found his pensieve and watched the memories." Draco raised one eyebrow. His opinion of Granger increased again. This was unacceptable. After awhile of living with her, he might actually come to like her. Potter and Weasley were staring at Granger with gobsmacked looks. At least Potter had his mouth closed.
Draco had never heard this story before, and obviously Weasley and Potter hadn't either. Draco was interested. He hadn't known whom Snape was meeting with from the Order of the Phoenix until he, Snape, was injured and sent Draco in his place. Draco realized Granger was still speaking, "…loved her. After Voldermort killed her-"
"Are you bloody crazy, Snape didn't love her! He wasn't capable of love!!" That was Potter.
"Yes he was, Harry. And he loved your mother." Potter was on his feet, face flushed.
"There's no way you can expect me to—HE KILLED DUMBLEDORE! HE TOLD VOLDERMORT ABOUT THE PROPHECY! " Potter's voice had risen. Draco was surprised it took that long.
"I know Harry, I know. I'm telling the truth. I wouldn't lie about this," Granger implored. Potter's wand flew out of Granger's lax fist and into his, Potter's, fist. He pointed it at Granger.
"Finite Incantatum," he said. Draco could feel the power behind that spell. It would have ended the Imperius Curse had it been present. Since it was not, Granger's hair simply fell down and her makeup vanished.
"Satisfied now?" asked Granger. Potter clearly didn't know what to if she was acting of her own free will. He turned to Draco. Who shifted in his seat, uncomfortable with Potter's gaze. The seconds dragged. Draco could see the question in Potter's eyes, but Potter seemed unwilling to voice it.
Draco broke the silence. "The Dark Lord is a madman. He treats his followers as badly as his victims. Death Eaters are forced to grovel at his feet. I'm a Malfoy. I don't grovel. I remember that, even if my father doesn't. The Dark Lord's mind has been warped by his petty quest of revenge against you, Potter. He disregards his former goals by trying to bring you down. Besides, he killed my mother." Draco held Potter's gaze for a few seconds, trying to make Potter look away first. But he couldn't do it. He had never been able to.