"If you can wait and not be tired by waiting"

Friday 1sth August, 1997

Draco could not help but think of Snape. His actions constantly plagued his mind, and he continuously questioned whether he had made the right choice. Alone in the night, he led in bed, and began to wonder where Snape was and what he was doing. Was he alright? Had he been hurt? Had he been called to discuss Draco's whereabouts? He was certain that whatever was happening to his godfather was worse than the treatment he was receiving, and he suddenly found himself regretting his decision. He had taken the coward's way out, choosing to live with people he hated to avoid the mess he had gotten himself into. Sighing, he buried his head into his hands, desperately trying to block the picture in his mind.

It was Snape in the cold dark room at Malfoy Manor, genuflected before Voldemort who sneered at him maliciously. His father was stood behind him grinning malevolently, as his mother cowered in the corner; chained up like a dog, treated like a whore.

"And where is our young friend tonight, Severus? Has he got better things to do than serve his master?"

"Draco is with the Order, my Lord, safe where you cannot find him." Voldemort gave a high laugh, looking around at his gathered servants.

"Severus thinks that the Order is stronger than me! You always have been a fool Snape, and you will finally suffer for your stupidity." He pointed his wand towards Snape's black head and… "Avada Kedavra!"

Draco suddenly flinched and found that he was led down, a dried trail of slaver on his chin. He wiped it away and sat up, squinting at the muggle device that stood next to the bed; it read 6:25, and he presumed that it was a sort of clock. His heart was thumping in his chest, his hands trembling from the sheer shock of the dream. He was used to nightmares, but he had never dreamt that anyone would get hurt because of him…What had he done? What would his decision to leave Snape make them do?

Wednesday 6th August, 1997

12 Grimmauld Place was the dullest house that Draco had ever stayed in. His days were monotonous; conversation was rare, and the feeling of hatred towards him lingered throughout the whole house. Some days he was forced to remain in his room all day, and others he would find doors locked because of some important business. His only form of entertainment was to watch the 'Golden Trio', and to observe the way they interacted. It soon became clear to Draco that things weren't as pleasant as they seemed to be. Potter was preoccupied with the war and Weasley was forever trailing after Granger, whilst she simply buried herself in books. He saw the looks she would give them sometimes, looks of pure dislike that everybody else seemed to miss. Draco was intrigued – he was desperate to know what was causing the tension.

It was a lucky evening for him, when he was whiling away the hours in the attic. He could hear voices coming from the rooms below him. They were hushed and hurried, but if Draco led on the floor, he was certain he would be able to hear them. Pressing his ear against the dusty floor, he steadied his breathing and waited. Granger and Weasley. He could picture them in the hall, standing close together, checking every so often that they were still alone.

"All I want to know is why – it isn't a hard question!"

"How many times must I tell you Ronald? I can't…"

"I promise I won't be offended, honestly. I just want to know." Granger gave a testy sigh, and Malfoy could picture her folding her arms.

"We're too different. It would be a veritable disaster!"

"Because you're clever and I'm not?" Draco had to fight the urge to laugh; Weasley's ears were no doubt glowing red.

"Not at all! Do you really think that little of me? It's simply because…oh I can't explain it and I won't. I just don't want to go out with you, Ron!"

"It's Harry, isn't it?"

"No! Now will you please let me come past you and go downstairs, your mother has been shouting of me for fifteen minutes now."

"We haven't finished talking about this."

"Yes we have. You infuriate me! What does it take to get a little privacy in this house?"

"We won't be in this house much longer, will we? Harry wants to leave tomorrow…"

"I'm not talking about this now, Ron. I'm going to read – don't disturb me if you know what's good for you. Draco heard the door slam, and he sat up with a grin of triumph on his face.

Thursday 7th August, 1997

The house was quiet when Draco came down for breakfast the next morning. He expected Granger to be sitting at the table, with her usual muesli and newspaper, and was surprised to find her absent. Mrs Weasley put a plate of buttered toast in front of Draco, and smiled at him shyly.

"Where is she?" He asked, biting into the butter-soaked toast.

"They've…uh…gone for a little while." Molly replied. Her sketchy answer piqued Draco's interest, and he looked up at her.

"Gone where?"

"I'm not…well…I don't really know. They shouldn't be gone for very long, though – I hope." Draco recoiled in horror, as Mrs Weasley began to weep into her apron. The kitchen door suddenly opened, and Lupin walked in.

"Oh Molly, are you crying again? They'll be safe, I'm sure! Harry seems to know what he's doing, and Hermione would never let them get into too much danger." Lupin wrapped his arms around Molly, before looking at Draco. "Have any of them mentioned this to you?"

"No. Why would they? They don't talk to me if they can help it."

Lupin sighed and sat down at the table, as Molly bustled out of the kitchen to 'clean herself up'. Draco watched carefully as the man rubbed his eyes; he looked weary, older than he should have done. Draco wondered if everyone who lived through the first war looked the same, as though they had been aged by the very event. Would that happen to him?"

"I can't believe he would do this. He knows that it isn't the right time for him to be out there, and yet he still went. Putting his friends in danger like that…" Remus thumped the table hard. "I wish I had trained him better."

"Potter doesn't listen to advice." Draco drawled. "He never has and he never will. Snape tried to teach him Occlumency, didn't he? But he wouldn't have it." Remus stared at Draco, before sitting back in his chair and nodding.

"Where is Snape, Draco?"

"I don't know where he is, and that is the honest truth." Draco stood up and began to leave the kitchen.

"Draco." He stopped and turned, to see Remus looking at him with pity.

"You made the right decision coming here. It may not have been easy, you may not be as comfortable as you might like but…it was the right thing to do." Draco nodded, before leaving the kitchen and Lupin staring after him.

Author's Note: A huge thank you to everyone who read and reviewed my last chapter. I would be incredibly pleased if you would do the same again! :D It might be prudent for me to leave a disclaimer here so: I do not own anything! I'm writing for my own pleasure, and certainly not for profit. If i was getting any money, i wouldn't be hunting for a job right now! Thank you again! :D