I'm sorry, this story is going too slowly at the moment. I know exactly where I want to take it and I'm frustrated as I have quite a few good ideas lined up (well I think they're pretty ok - for me anyway!) but I really need to get certain things all written out first.

I'm not a good enough writer to condense the facts into one chapter. This will be an action - romance I promise!! I have lots of middle scenes and quite a cool end, I just have to link them all up.

Thanks for the few of you who reviewed and any who haven't reviewed but who have been sticking with me (if you have!) and if you have any criticisms or advice I am SO more than happy to hear it! I will try to work suggestions into the story wherever possible.

"I'm afraid that until proven innocent we are considering you as a Death Eater spy. We may be wrong but I have learned the hard way not to take any risks."

Ginny looked a little surprised at Remus' forceful tone but she guessed that a lot of Tonks' hatred towards her relatives must have rubbed off on him.

"Ginny I think it best if you stay here for this, just in case it turns nasty." Remus said.

"It's quite alright," drawled Draco before Ginny could protest. "I won't give you any trouble. I will answer your questions to prove that I am on no-one's side anymore but I'm not going to give you help or suddenly have a change of heart and become a good guy. And before you question my willingness to talk to you; I've decided that I'm going to be as neutral as possible in this war. If you ever let me go then I shall probably try to disappear from the face of the earth. But I'm guessing you want me to say all of this in front of other witnesses yes? Let Weasley here come along, I still owe her for saving my life."

Both Ginny and Remus were taken aback by Draco's words. He seems so calm, as if he has everything planned out in his head Ginny thought. Ginny looked at Remus who was staring intently at Draco, the two were staring directly at each other and Ginny felt they seemed to have locked wills almost. After a while Remus broke the contact. "Fine... both of you then. This way." Remus finally managed and he walked away shaking his head in puzzlement.

"You don't owe me Malfoy, you got the second Death Eater remember?" hissed Ginny

"No, that was purely for my benefit. I honestly wasn't thinking about you. I just wanted to seek some revenge and knew that I couldn't attack him face on without a wand. I don't think that can be counted as saving your life so our bond still stands. Before you think I'm going all noble, it is a magical bond so it's not as if I can erm… weasel my way out of it."

"Oh. Right."

Remus led them down a set of concealed stairs to a dark hallway with several dark and warped wooden doors leading into eerie looking rooms cluttered with boxes, broken old chairs and warped mirrors. He paused before a closed door. "Look, I'm sorry about this but we weren't sure if you would be co-operative so we have taken several precautions."

He knocked on the door and turned the handle, as they entered the room every person in the room had their wands levelled right at them. Tonks stood up and asked Remus to cast a patronus. Remus looked dubiously at Draco, sighed and pulled out his wand. He thought for a brief moment and with a small smile playing on his lips said in a strong voice, "Expecto Patronum." An ethereal silver unicorn flew across the room to encircle Tonks. It raised on it's back legs and pawed the air before slowly fading.

Tonks breathed a sigh of relief and turned to the other members of the room. "It's fine, it's him."

Remus spoke up. "The boy seems to want to co-operate. Malfoy, say your piece first, it will make it easier for us to decide what we need to ask." Ginny overheard him muttering quietly to Tonks, "I tried what we discussed but he seems to be an extremely accomplished Occlumens." Ginny had vaguely heard Harry mention that word to Hermione and Ron and wondered what it meant.

Draco's mind was spinning. In the last few weeks he had been seriously re-thinking his life but the last few days he had all but given up. He thought of his dream about his mother's comforting presence and decided to voice some of the thoughts that had been plaguing him. Looking at the people surrounding him, every last person was looking at him with disdain; everyone except Ginny Weasley who probably should have more to hate him for than anyone else in the room. She was giving him a small reassuring smile.

He stood erect and proud; cleared his thoughts and took a deep breath. I'm a Malfoy and that means something. I may not believe everything that my Father tried to beat into me but I know how to be strong.

"I know you must all think me the scum of the earth and to be honest I'm not entirely sure that I'm not. But I am who I am and I can't change that now. My entire life I have been trained to think one way, believe that one way was better than any other. In the last year my life has been turned upside down. If someone told me a year ago I would have to be as open as this with anyone, let alone the enemy I would have laughed at them - but times have changed...
Just over a month ago I tried to kill someone. I'm sure you've all been filled in on the details… I failed, miserably and I've been paying for that ever since. What you may not know is that I was offered an escape, by none other than the man I tried to assassinate. Dumbledore." He paused as several people gasped or sobbed at the mention of their honoured dead leader.

"Yes, despite everything I tried to do to him, he still wanted to help me. I have thought about his words these last few weeks more than any others ever said to me. They are burned into my brain. He offered to hide me more thoroughly than anyone else could, me and... And my mother."

Draco paused for a moment to take a deep breath, "It's too late for her now but it isn't for me. I will answer your questions on one condition. You make Voldemort believe I am dead. I don't care how you convince the Death Eaters, it can be as horrific as you like. That's what Dumbledore offered and I was a fool not to accept. Many people could still be alive now. My mother included."