A/N:- Hi! Guys so this is the first chapter of the story. Before beginning a word about the format. Every chapter will begin with a short monologue, either by Draco or Hermione or some of the other main characters. I plan on going inside the heads of some of the notorious villains too. The monologue will be in bold italics. I thought about doing them in just italics but then there would be confusion between monologues and flashbacks. The chapter will start from where the monologue ends.

I probably would have made Draco wear brown if not for the death threats by nnixx and deliciouslychaoticbluebird.

P.S. - I changed the summary! Courtesy deliciouslychaoticbluebird. She wrote the whole thing.

Disclaimer- Still don't own Harry Potter, but I have very high hopes.

Chapter 1

THE ENEMY

What do people live for? To be rich? To be happy? To be successful? Where do they get their purpose? Do they hand out purposes of lives when you are born? How do you know what you are meant to do? Do you have to do something? Not all of us have lightning shaped scars to indicate the direction of our life. They, from the beginning of time, were told that they were the good guys. Their purpose was to do good and spread virtue. How many times did Albus Dumbledore call me into his office to have philosophical conversations? Not before he was at the brink of his death, did he realize that Draco Malfoy was worth giving advice to. I was always viewed as the bad guy. You'd say me that that's because of my actions. However, I always thought that that was what was expected of me. Potter was allowed to be angsty because he was the chosen one. Weasley was allowed to be a hot-headed fool because he was THE best friend. And look at me, one arrogant hand-shake and I am Satan personified. I know, I know, I was prejudiced; I insulted Weasley's poorness, yada yada yada… But I thought (think if you consider Weasley) that those were facts as true as the fact that the sky is blue. You are supposed to trust your parents. You are supposed to listen to them when they say muggles are inferior and mudblood is just another adjective. When do you stop believing your parents? When you see them torturing and humiliating muggles on a world-cup? When you see your mother say nothing while your dad uses you to please the dark-lord, because pure-blood wives don't talk back to their husbands? When you see your father returning from a dementor infested area with no apparent change? When you realize your aunt is a sadistic sociopath who actually just likes to kill, regardless said prejudice? When being a tattooed murderer is a way to make your parents proud? What breaks the hippogriff's neck?

I agree that I am not good. But am I evil? Maybe I am. I don't want to be good but I don't want to be evil either.

Draco got a letter from his friend Theo today. Well he is not exactly a friend, but whatever. He said that he is leaving his family. He wants to leave his family. But he isn't sure how. So if an "experienced death eater" can help him he would appreciate it. Now, you would think telling an "experienced death eater" about your defecting from the cause is a bad idea. Thank Merlin, he did not send it to Zabini or Parkinson. He would be supper for Nagini by now if that happened. So, they were meeting at a café at Knockturn alley to formulate a plan for the escape.

The name of the café was Clabbert Coffee. It was not placed too deep into the alley so as they would encounter trouble and it was also not right at the first turn so that they would attract suspicion from someone who knows them. It was not too shabby so that they would be out of place and it was not too fancy to risk being seen by the other death eaters. It was a one-story establishment. The specials menu looked like it was not changed for years at least. The waitresses were mostly thirty to forty year old women who looked like they have had enough of the world. The walls were covered in checkered brown and off-white wallpaper. They might have looked chic and happening a decade ago, but at the moment they only added to the brokenness of the place. There were places where the wallpaper came off. The tables were placed haphazardly across the whole floor but instead of adding to the chaos of the café, they provided a certain web like pattern which put enough distance between the tables so that the conversations in one table cannot be heard in another. Through the south wall there was a confectionary glass case. It was impressive. It gave Draco faith that at least he will not be getting food poisoning in this place. The place was not too crowded but not empty either. Three witches sat at the center table with clearly illegal books about potent love-potions. A buff looking man sat near the door clearly waiting for somebody if his constant glances to the wall clock were taken into account. There were two hooded figures at the dark corner of the café. Draco made sure to walk by them so as to look at their faces. They were merely vampires who were apparently very agitated with the lack of properly shaded Quidditch arenas. Draco was dressed in black robes. He wore a cap too avoid being a memorable face. He went inside and sat down at a corner table which gave a clear view of the glass door of the cafe. He always made it a habit to reach ten minutes before an important meeting so as to note the body language of the other party. So, when Theo entered fifteen minutes later he was able to note the deep breath he took outside the café and also the furtive glances he sent to something at his pocket.

Theo looked ridiculous. He was wearing a dark viridian robe with his hair gelled back. And to top it off he wore dragon leather boots. Draco tried very hard to not roll his eyes when Theo spotted him and waved maniacally. "Hey! Draco is it me or have the Malfoy tastes have really died down for you to have chosen this suspicious place?" he said as he sat down. "The only thing that is suspicious in this place is your dragon leather boots on a supposedly covert mission Nott" replied Draco. Draco could not believe this was the man he was taking a life-risk with. Honestly, there were days he wished he was actually the psychopathic killer his family expected him to be.

"Don't criticize my fashion choices when you are wearing that ridiculous cap with robes! If you wanted a head gear you could have opted for a homburg but no you had to choose that offensive thing!" retorted Theo. The sad thing was that he was completely serious as he said this. "Why thank you for the impromptu fashion advice Nott!" replied Draco sardonically.

"You're welcome! Now let's get down to business shall we?"

Seriously, maybe Voldermort had a friend like Nott. You can never judge people for their life choices.

"Before that you have to tell me your exact plans. I am not going to risk my life on someone who is not sure of what he wants" replied Draco. A waitress addressed their table before Theo could answer. Draco ordered a latte while Theo ordered hot chocolate. Draco really wanted to forget his Malfoy upbringing and roll his eyes then.

Theo took a sip off his ridiculous beverage and began," Draco, I think you better than anyone will understand me when I say that my parents are nutcases. And not just your regular judgmental, controlling, normal parent like nutcase. They are actually nutcases. They want me to join the death eaters. And do you know what my father thought would be brilliant for impression? He wants me to kill a muggle! My own father wants me to kill a person! I want to leave Malfoy. I cannot do this anymore. You are a spy for the Order right? You must know a way out right? Believe me I would scrub Saint Potters' toilet if they want me to." Theo looked really rattled. Draco took his time before finally replying. "Well, as charming as that sounds, I cannot really have a hand at who Potter chooses to clean his shit."

Theo sighed. He then said," For fucks sake Malfoy! You know that's not what I meant. So, will you help me escape by talking to the Order?"

Draco Malfoy was not impressed. He really expected more of a fellow Slytherin. Blatantly putting all the cards out on the table without checking the validity of the acquired information, it was shameful. Even for Theo Nott it was shameful. Draco considered leaving for a moment before replying, "As much as I would like to help you Nott, I don't think the Order will help someone who attempted to murder their founder".

"Wha-?"

"No, I am not a spy for the Order Nott. I am just your regular old death eater" replied Draco. He was most certainly enjoying himself while Theo paled to a degree that will put the vampires to shame.

"Alright then. Thanks for clearing that up. Bye." Theo says as he makes to leave.

"Not so fast mate. I don't think our conversation is finished. Both you and I still need a way to leave our parent's clutches. So let's calm down and find a way to do that" Draco stops Theo from leaving by quickly casting a binding spell to his chair.

"Malfoy, you know you are screwed for life. You have already fucked up by agreeing to be a death eater. You fucked up by not leaving when you still had the time. You will just be a liability if we include you in the plan. We only agreed to put you on board because we thought you had connections to the order" replied a very agitated Theo.

"And this fucked up death eater can very well report your escape plans to the dark lord. You think I had a bloody choice? It was either become a death eater or see your own family fucking die in front of your own eyes. Even if they are complete nutcases you just cannot see your parents mutilated and killed" scoffed Draco. Draco looked around to see if their outburst was seen or heard by anybody. The café looked calm with everybody minding their own business.

"Well, I never took you for a rat Malfoy."

"Well, Theo I don't know what your definition for a rat is but recording a supposedly private conversation is what I like to call being a rat." Draco pointed out. Theo paled. He tried to leave again but found s binding spell keeping him steady in his place. He began to deny the accusations but Draco beat him to it. "Yes, yes you have no idea what I am talking about, stop spewing nonsense Malfoy, blah blah, and blah. For the twelve years that we have known each other you have not once called me Draco. Yet, you took up that ridiculously intimate tone here. The only time you deviated from this scripted dialogue is when you got in a monologue about your family and called me Malfoy. Moreover, even though I am sitting this close to you, you are talking at an elevated volume which is really unconventional of the Slytherin I knew. And lastly, the not so subtle glances you gave to your pocket before entering the café was kind of a tell that there is something incriminating in there. So, would you like to tell me who is this 'we' you were talking about in your rather heated speech or do I have to find that out for myself too?"

Theo was sweating heavily at this point. He tried to speak a number of times but came up with nothing. It looked like he was trying really hard to come up with something believable.

Draco was considering another round of blackmail when he saw the buff man from few tables away pull up a chair beside him and sit down. He was dressed in too tight robes and a peculiar eye-patch. It definitely looked like he wanted to draw attention to his appearance. He took out his wand and tapped it twice on his chin.

To Draco's horror he slowly transformed to the very familiar visage of Blaise Zabini. Zabini then charmed his clothes into a muggle coat and jeans. He wanted to draw attention to the buff man but not him. This was a classic trick of misdirection. Ordinary people would remember the weirdly dressed buff man and the teenager in muggle clothes will be outshone.

"Hello, Malfoy"

Shit.

Draco didn't show his apprehension due to Blaise's appearance.

Blaise Zabini was one of the most brilliant minds to ever step in Hogwarts. He was also one of the most cunning ones. Everybody knew that Zabini didn't do friendships. He did business deals. In spite of not being from one of the main pureblood families, Zabini very swiftly climbed the social ladder with the help of his chiseled looks and suave attitude. In terms of brilliancy and social standing he was only next to Draco. It was rumored that he was one of the top choices in Voldemort's plan of new recruits. Blaise Zabini did not breathe without ensuring that the gulp of air would be absolutely beneficial to him. Thus, it was only natural that Draco was wary of his presence. He did not have problem with keeping up with the mind games of Zabini but trusting him so much as to talk about defection from the cause in front of him was not a smart decision. And Draco was nothing if not smart.

"Doing well Zabini?" started Draco. "Why of course. Lovely choice of place though" replied Blaise. It was almost funny that how normal their conversation sounded, when in reality it was anything but normal.

"Well, you know my choice. But I never knew you enjoyed spying on people Zabini. Is that preparation for the recruitment?" Draco decided to up the ante of their conversation. "I only spy on people I have business with" replied Blaise. "I don't recall doing any business with you. What is the nature of this business you are talking about?" Draco was getting tired of Zabini's antics.

"Why to get away from the 'nutcases' obviously?" said Zabini in an inquiring tone.

Draco did not like where the conversation was headed. He decided to cut to the chase. If Zabini thought he could outsmart Draco Malfoy he had another thing coming. He would make Zabini put all his cards on the table before actually admitting to anything. That recording charm can only record the conversation for one hour. He can stall Zabini enough such that they do not have any evidence on him.

"Last time I checked you were quite chummy with these nutcases. I distinctly recall my aunt Bella praising your charm in the Parkinson's annual summer gala" countered Draco in a smug tone.

"The last time you checked Voldemort did not try killing my mother." It was a testament to Draco's control that he was able keep his appearance of indifference after that statement. In spite of her dangerous reputation, Agostina Zabini was one of the favorite pureblood females. Both married and unmarried men flocked to her like moths to a flame. She was a very powerful influence. It didn't make sense for Voldemort to dispose off such a weapon. Unless…

"I believe my dear aunt had a hand in that" replied Draco in a tone that conveyed he was already aware of the situation.

"Yes, that psychopath could not risk her Master to be swayed by another woman's charms. So, she convinced the dark lord that my mother had dalliances with multiple muggle men. Naturally, she had to be removed. However, they thought my mother was just a pretty picture. They forgot that in her days she managed to outsmart seven powerful wizards. So, anyways my mother handed their asses to them and ran away and it is only a little while before your aunt Bella comes to me for taking revenge of the humiliation my mother caused her" replied Blaise with a very rare genuineness to his voice. The words were directed towards Theo who seemed to be new to the news.

Draco considered himself to be a good judge of character. He could see truth in Blaise's words. Blaise had deliberately put all his cards out on the table. Draco decided to take a calculated risk. He decided to trust Blaise.

"All that aside, I don't believe for a second there that you actually believed I was a spy for the Order Blaise" started Draco. He deliberately used Zabini's first name to show a temporary truce.

"You may not be a spy, but you are a valuable asset nonetheless" Blaise leaned back in his chair and took a sip of Theo's hot chocolate.

"What? You knew he wasn't a spy? Then what was the point of sending me out there? How is Malfoy an asset then?" Theo finally interrupted. He looked terribly lost.

"Your purpose was to test the waters. I deliberately gave you dialogue with holes in them. I wanted to see if we can trust Draco and if he will actually be beneficial to the plan. He is a Death Eater. His house is the head quarters of the cause. He will be able to give us a clear schedule of the Death Eaters in duty especially your parents. We can find out the gaps in border patrol" Blaise looked at Draco then, "So shall we?"

"The schedule for border patrol is an intricate one. It will be impossible to slip past that unless there is some chaotic event and all the senior death eaters have to report there. There are only two events in the near future that can guarantee such chaos" Draco said thoughtfully.

"What are they?" asked Theo.

"Taking over the ministry and Capture of Harry Potter. We have a fixed date for Potter's capture. Snape informed us that the Order plans to shift Potter one week before his birthday. The Dark Lord has ordered all the Death Eaters to be stationed near Potter's house in Surrey then. That will be a good time for us to leave."

"But where should we escape to? I was thinking camping. I can arrange for one of my mother's holiday tents" asked Blaise. He looked excited and hopeful.

"What about Draco's house?" asked Theo excitedly. He looked happy to be finally making a contribution to the conversation.

"Shall we book a tea with the Dark Lord also? My house is the bloody headquarters you moron" snapped Draco. He was really questioning Theo's presence.

"Obviously not that house. I was talking about your mother's country house. It has powerful charms that can be broken and altered by someone with Black blood. As you are your mother's first son you will have permission. And I think we can alter the security charms in such a way that no one other than us can enter anymore." replied Theo. He was looking very smug.

Draco stopped himself from flinching. How could he forget that!
"Then that is settled" Blaise took out three parchments from his robes "These are messaging parchments. The spell used is communicatio. Feel free to check it for yourselves. The luggage and other minute details of the plan can be settled through this. Only write in then during 3AM to 4AM. Any information written otherwise will not be erased."

Draco was impressed. His life might have a plan after all.