Chapter one: Hope you don't mind if a ferret stays in your house
"Quickly Draco!"
"I am! Relax!"
"RELAX?! You're in danger you idiotic child! Hurry up and grab your things" Draco ran around his room in the middle of the night stuffing things into a large bag. Snape, who had his wand out and was looking at the door let out a growl of frustration and flicked his wand sending all they needed into Dracos' bag.
Draco glared at him as he slung the bag over his shoulder and stepped towards the fireplace, quickly followed by Snape.
Stepping in, they heard what sounded like footsteps approaching. With an exchanged look of utter panic, Draco grabbed a handful of powder and whispered "Dumbledore's office" the flames engulfed them both as the door burst open.
Three hooded figures glanced around the room.
"Mr. Malfoy, Professor Snape" Dumbledore's eyes sparkled behind his glasses as Draco took a seat. Snape opted for standing; his dark eyes emotionless. "A brave choice you have made Draco. You have saved yourself from the dark clutches of Voldemort and now the information you hold, could help us with his fall"
"It bloody well better" Draco sneered "I have been told to ask you about my living arrangements" he said flatly. Dumbledore's eyes glinted. They had the ability to shine even in the worst of times.
Malfoy looked worried for a moment. This cant be good. Dumbledore then looked at Snape who put his head down in obvious disapproval.
"A place Mr. Malfoy, where you will be safe. Probably because it is the most unlikely" I DEFINATLY don't like the sound of that. Malfoy Gulped hard.
"And where exactly is that professor?"
"You will be staying at Miss. Granger's house, Mr. Malfoy" what did he just say?
"WHAT!?" Malfoy shot to his feet. He looked as if someone had just slapped him with a fish "ARE YOU BLOODY INSANE!?"
"DRACO! Language!" Snape growled. But Draco was not paying attention, he was trying to control himself before he started to hyperventilate or pass out. Anywhere was better than living with bloody Granger.
Why me? What did I do? Oh that's right, I chickened out in that task that was "Going to give you great power…" well, I didn't want to die, but I cant do it...I just cant!
"Shall we get going?" Dumbledore smiled at Draco, Draco groaned in return. This is going to be BAD!
Knock, knock
Hermione flew down the stairs, rushing past her parents in the living room.
"A little excited, darling?" her mother smiled and Hermione blushed. A week it had been into Summer break and she had already been catching up with all her friends. Cameron; who she had only become friends with last summer, had begun to hang around with her and her friends quite a bit. It was safe to say that there was obvious attraction and Hermione couldn't be happier. Just last night he had asked her out to the movies that weekend.
Hermione skidded to a stop in front of the door; peering in the mirror, she brushed down her hair with her fingers. Cameron had said that he might stop by tonight, so Hermione was all ready and looking pretty for him.
Hermione finally opened the door, but the smile was immediately wiped from her face as she took in the person before her.
"Oh. My. God!" Hermione almost shut the door, had it not been for Dumbledore standing next to the blond teen.
"Sorry to drop by unannounced Miss. Granger," Dumbledore's eyes sparkled as he stepped through the door; he glanced back at Draco who had not moved an inch. Hermione and Draco were currently in a glaring contest.
"I am not letting that ferret into my house" Hermione said without moving her eyes from the deliciously looking blond.
"Albus Dumbledore?" Hermione's mother shook his hand and smiled, then she looked at Hermione who was Glaring at a rather unnaturally good-looking boy who was standing on the door step "And who is this young gentleman?" she smiled warmly in Malfoy's direction. He snapped his eyes away from Hermione's and pushed his way past to Dumbledore's side.
"This is Draco Malfoy, Mrs. Granger…I must speak with you and Mr. Granger and of course Hermione as well. It is rather urgent" Mrs. Granger nodded and led the two into the lounge.
Hermione closed the door in shock. What the hell is…that doing in my house!?. She slammed the door shut and stormed into the living room. She took a seat close to her mother and continued to glare at Malfoy as he stood and took in the surroundings of the room.
"Mr and Mrs. Granger, I have a favour to ask that would defiantly give you all my gratitude. You see, Mr. Malfoy had recently…escaped from his home and is currently in great danger. Obviously you know about the order, although he has reluctantly agreed to join; even though he still did not wish to join after his escape, he needs to be protected for the time being. The Granger name first came to me. I knew this would be safe for Draco because he will not be expected to be here. I ask you if please, you could protect him until things sort themselves"
Hermione's mouth hit the floor. Malfoy in the order? Malfoy staying here!?!?!? NO FUCKING WAY!
"We would be happy to protect him Albus," Mr. Granger said. Dumbledore stood up and shook Mr. Granger's hand.
"Thank you so very much" Hermione sat frozen. What about the summer? What about Cameron? Now she had the bloody ferret. This is so not happening!
"Whoa! So your telling me that we are going to have this…thing in our house!?" Hermione had finally got her senses back.
"Hermione!"
"Mum, I will not have him here! He is awful and rude and selfish and…"
"Still here you know" Draco waved a hand.
"Hermione, could you please take Malfoy upstairs and set up the guest bedroom?" Her mother asked. Hermione shot a look at Malfoy who smirked in return.
"But…I"
"Hermione, now!" Hermione let out a frustrated sigh and jumped of the couch, heading towards the stairs. Malfoy was trailing behind her rather reluctantly.
"I cant believe this! stuck with a selfish rich, brat of a ferret! Un-fucking-believable! This is totally going to screw up my summer! He could have gone somewhere else but nooo…bloody fucking ferret, selfish…" Hermione had already walked into the guest bedroom and began to set everything up while continuing her ranting. She stopped though when she heard Malfoy chuckling behind her. She whipped around to see him in the doorway, with his bag on his shoulder.
"I have never heard words like that in all my unfortunate years of knowing you, Granger" Draco smirked as Hermione pulled out a blanket, she threw it down and stormed up to him.
"Lets get one thing straight," she poked him in the chest as she spoke "You are in my house and you will follow our rules and you will listen and you will not tease me and call me names…you will not be an arse and you will not hog the bathroom!" she continued to poke him harder.
"Ok," Draco stepped back and rubbed where she had poked him "That's going to bruise" Hermione turned around and finished up the bed.
"This will be your room, the bathroom is down the hall and the laundry is downstairs in the back. There is no one to serve you Malfoy, so you will be fending for yourself. I'd actually like to see that. You doing things without an elf...priceless" Hermione giggled as she walked out the door. Draco growled and slammed the door behind her. Stupid good for nothing mudblood. I'm not going to do anything.
Draco dropped his bag and headed towards the open window. This was going to be hell, he didn't like this. He took a deep breath and hung his head. What have I got myself into?