For old Welcome to Hogwarts fans, you're really going to like this chapter…
Draco arose late the next morning to the tantalizing smell of freshly cooked bacon and the sounds of laughter downstairs. He remained still for a few moments after waking, trying to take in the gravity of his situation. He was at the burrow. He was not in his king sized bed in the Malfoy Manor, but lying on a cot in Ron Weasley's bedroom. He wondered where his mother had finally fallen asleep, and if she'd been able to settle down or if she'd stayed awake dreaming of the life she'd left behind.
Draco knew that he was not going to stay at the burrow forever, but he had no knowledge of any further plans for him. As he lay in bed, pondering the drastic change that his life had taken in only a few short months, he heard a knock at the door.
"Yes?" He answered groggily, after realizing that Harry and Ron had left the room.
The door opened slightly and Ginny Weasley entered awkwardly.
Draco took a moment to appreciate how pretty Ginny really was. He had never taken the time to notice her for anything other than her relation to Ron, but now that he was seeing her in a different light, he understood why so many boys were infatuated with her. He had heard vaguely of a relationship between her and Harry late in the school year, but he was unsure if that relationship had continued.
"My mum says if you don't come down soon there won't be any bacon left." She told him.
"Oh" Draco replied, "Alright, I'll be right down."
The two sat looking at each other awkwardly for a moment.
"Err—thank you?" He added, hoping that was what she was waiting for.
Ginny laughed and tossed her long red hair over her shoulder, "The problem with 'thank-you's' Draco, is that people can tell when you don't mean them."
Ginny continued to laugh and closed the door behind her, leaving Draco alone in the bedroom. Draco had quickly realized that it would take more than good manners to win over the feelings of the other residents of the Burrow. He had come to accept the fact that he would have to prove himself morally before they would truly accept him, and he was determined to do so.
Draco dressed quickly and hurried downstairs, in hopes to catch the last of Mrs. Weasley's bacon. When he entered the kitchen he saw Ron, Harry, Hermione, and all of the Weasley brothers (and sister) gathered around the tabled talking amongst themselves. His mother, looking pale and fragile, was sitting in the corner sipping tea and smiling cautiously at Mrs. Weasley who was attempting conversation. The talking stopped as Draco entered and most of the people in the kitchen turned to face him. There was an awkward silence before Draco, once again, was forced to speak.
"I—I was hoping I didn't miss the last of the bacon…" Draco muttered.
Mrs. Weasley forced a smiled and hurried over to the oven, "Oh no dear, there are still a few pieces left. Eat up!"
"Thank you." He replied, taking the plate of bacon out of her pudgy hands.
Draco looked around the room casually, and saw there was one seat left at the table next to one of the Weasley twins. He sat down carefully and began to eat his breakfast. Mrs. Weasley shuffled awkwardly over to his mother and continued their conversation.
"Now, Narcissa have you ever de-gnomed a garden?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
Draco's mother looked aghast but attempted to answer politely, "Oh, I'm afraid I have not."
The twin next to Draco snickered.
"Well why don't you come outside with me and I'll show you how." Mrs. Weasley suggested.
Seeing no other option, Mrs. Malfoy left her tea on the counter and followed Molly Weasley outside to learn how to de-gnome a garden.
The rest of the week continued with the same stony silence with which it had begun. Each of the Weasleys, and Harry kept a close eye on Draco throughout the day, though none of them attempted to make any kind of conversation. After a few days the lack of conversation and privacy became maddening, and Draco struggled with himself to find a solution.
If they don't want to talk to me, He thought. They could at least leave me in peace…
But as long as the two remaining Malfoys were residing in the burrow, it was obvious to him that there would be no peace. Fred and George Weasley, when they were home from their busy schedule at their joke shop, had begun to take pleasure in sharpening long, sharp objects whenever Draco was around, whereas Harry and Ron preferred to ignore him entirely, even when they were all together in the same room.
Ginny, who spent most of her time in the company of Hermione Granger, had also taken up ignoring Draco entirely, though the two girls seemed to be a bit more receptive to him than the boys. Hermione only hesitated slightly when asking him to pass the gravy at dinner, and Ginny (much to Draco's amazement) had offered to lend him the novel she was reading once she had finished with it.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were kind enough, and though it was forced, Draco and his mother were both grateful for their hospitality. Mrs. Malfoy, though still quite reserved, had taken to making small talk with Mrs. Weasley, with whom she had an astonishing amount in common.
"Oh well, you know, my mother was always trying to prod me into what she thought would be the right direction." Molly said one evening, as she and Mrs. Malfoy washed the dishes. "And I would always go against her, though I regret it now she's gone…"
Mrs. Malfoy allowed herself the pleasure of a small laugh.
"My mother was the same way." She said slowly. "Always trying to make sure that I 'mad the right decisions with my life', she was ecstatic, of course, when I met Lucius…"
There was a small pause as Mrs. Weasley shifted the topic of conversation.
"I remember you a bit from Hogwarts, dear." She said, flicking her wand to make the dishes settle themselves in their respective cabinets. "Not very well, of course, different crowds and all that…"
"I do recall…" Mrs. Malfoy began, "That you were extremely gifted in charms."
Mrs. Weasley blushed.
"I was jealous at the time, of course, I was absolutely hopeless when it came to the subject…"
"Ah well, from what I remember you did have a knack for potions, so you outstripped me there."
Mrs. Malfoy smiled, and Draco took a moment to notice that he hadn't truly seen his mother happy in quite some time. In fact, he wasn't sure if he ever had.
"Well I—"
A knock at the door interrupted the post-supper conversation, and Minerva McGonagall entered slowly.
"I'm sorry to drop in so quickly, Molly." McGonagall said, not seeming sorry in the slightest, "But I have urgent news from the Order."
Mrs. Weasley nodded, "Alright all of you, get up to bed while Minerva and I—"
"No." Professor McGonagall interrupted, "This concerns them too."
There was a slight pause and McGonagall looked from Mrs. Malfoy to her son, "All of them."
"We have just received word from our correspondent in the States." McGonagall began, shooting Mrs. Weasley a knowing glance.
Draco looked around and felt relieved to see that aside from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley no one else in the room seemed to know who the 'correspondent in the States' was.
"She and her mother have both agreed that her powers are most needed here with us, and they have agreed to abandon their position in the United States, to return here with us." Professor McGonagall said. "Molly, I am hoping, though I know it is tight, you will allow them room and board here for the time being."
Mrs. Weasley paused, her face unreadable, she looked from Harry to one of the twins, and then for a moment to Draco.
"Well, Minerva the girl is quite—"
"Molly, all personal feelings aside, you know how important this is for the Order." McGonagall said sharply.
"W—well y—yes of course they can stay here!" She said exasperatedly.
"Excellent, well I'd best be going…" Professor McGonagall turned on her heels to walk out the door.
"Wait!" Harry called after her. "Who is this 'correspondent in the states'? And why does it concern us?"
The table nodded in agreement.
"Oh!" McGonagall laughed, "I thought you knew!"
"Knew what?" Ginny asked suspiciously.
"Well, it's none other than your old friend, Addie White."