Only a small number of the Weasley's were permitted downstairs (everyone except Ron and Ginny). Hermione was in the kitchen, helping prepare dinner for the Order meeting that would take place that course, Malfoy has the worst timing and would wake up the day of a meeting. The brunette thought to herself irritably. The Slytherin boy hadn't been downstairs yet, even though Snape had left nearly ten minutes ago. The tension increased as time passed, every person apprehensive about what would happen in the next few hours.
The twins were trying their absolute hardest to raise the spirits in the room, testing various pranking items on Order members, even managing to get Kingsley with their newest product, causing his skin to turn a deep midnight blue with golden stripes. Everyone was so enraptured with the magic that nobody noticed the blond boy enter the room.
Draco Malfoy sneered at the family of blood traitors, poor, filthy, disgusting. He could not believe his godfather had left him with these filthy excuses of wizards, even if it was for his own good. There was nothing else Voldemort could do to him. These blood traitors, however, could torture him for all eternity without ever raising their wands. He fought the urge to spit on the filthy floor. His control was not enough for him to resist a noise of disgust, signaling his presence in the room.
Remus Lupin turned around to see the boy, surprise spelled out on his features. The tall blond boy scowled at the werewolf and did not speak. Mrs. Weasley rushed forward.
"Finally! I thought you would never come down. I had been giving you potions, but you must be famished! Look at your skin!" The words tumbled from the mother quickly, not giving him a chance to properly respond.
"He's always been that color, Mum! You're making him feel uncomfortable." The oldest Weasley declared as he rose to stand behind his over-enthusiastic mother. He then held his hand out.
"Bill Weasley, oldest child and curse-breaker at Gringotts." The lond boy look at the outstretched hand with contempt and disgust before the man withdrew his hand with a small smirk. "You may want to adjust that attitude, Mr. Malfoy. Whether you like it or not, we are all you've got."
The blonde boy scowled at the family, refusing to respond. Every face was now turned towards the two men.
"You seem like a very smart man, Bill Weasley." The Malfoy heir drawled.
Bill nodded slowly, not sure where the conversation was headed.
"Then you should understand this crystal clearly: I don't want to be here. I don't like any of you, in fact, I repulsed by you and everything you stand for. How any pureblood could stand to live this way astounds me. The only thing we have in common is that I want The Dark Lord dead just as much as you."
The majority of the Order had gone for their wands at the beginning of the boy's speech. By the end of the speech, the only person with their wand in hand was Harry Potter. Harry stood and walked up to his nemesis.
"We all know you're a bloody genius so you should be able to understand me clearly: We don't trust you, at all. You've got a long while before we trust you enough for anything. You are, by no means, one of us. You were right when you said you don't belong here." Here, the malice slipped from the Boy Who Lived. "The only thing that's keeping us from chucking your sorry arse out is the fact that you don't belong over there either." The messy-haired boy reclaimed his seat and looked away, as if he hadn't said anything at all.
Kingsley Shacklebolt stood slowly. "Harry is right. You are not an Order member." Draco snorted.
"I don't want to be. I'll leave the idiotic heroism to you Gryffindors." Tonks cleared her throat loudly. The Malfoy rolled his eyes "And Hufflepuffs."
"Be that as it may, there is a plan for you. You will be briefed by Severus and Remus when he gets here." The tall blonde nodded and strode out of the room. He had almost reached the stairs when he turned around.
"I don't mean to inconvenience any of you," the boy sneered, "But it would be great if I could get a shower. I know all of you aren't exactly averse to filth, but some of us were raised better than common pigs." With that comment, he pivoted on his heel and exited the room.
The entire room exhaled collectively once the blonde boy took his leave, relieved at the lack of violence or abnormal amount of malice.
"Well that went better than expected." Hermione observed softly.
"Yes, we need to wait for Severus to come back so he can be informed of the plan. Until then, we need to work on getting his acquainted with everyone and feeling welcome." Remus murmured softly.
"What I don't understand," The youngest Weasley sneered, "Is why the hell we're working so hard to make him feel welcome when we know he would not do the same."
Remus scowled slightly at the girl. He opened his mouth to comment when his wife interjected.
"Ginevra Weasley! I cannot believe you. We are not savages and I cannot fathom what kind of treatment you believe the boy is worthy of. He may not be your friend, but he is human." Tonks was interrupted by a scoff from Ron Weasley. "What?" Tonks asked the boy, with her arms crossed across her chest and a dangerous gleam in her eye.
"Nothing. It's just that we're all trying so hard to remember that 'he's human' and all that we're forgetting this git could press his Dark Mark and have Voldyfarts and the whole fleet of Death Eaters banging at our door. I can't believe we're risking our lives for that piece of-" He swallowed the next word when both of his parents glared at him.
Remus sighed and decided the best course of action for the time being would be to completely ignore the outspoken Weasley children.
"I'm just glad Mr. Malfoy seems to be alright."
"That's not normal." Mrs. Weasley cooed softly. Ronald Weasley scoffed from the corner of the room.
"Oh yes it is, mum. The git's always been like that." His mother shook her head before he even finished his sentence.
"No. He just found out his mother was dead not even an hour ago. I don't care how heartless someone claims to be, you don't just act as if nothing happened." The red-headed boy shook his head in an almost condescending manner.
"Mum, the git has no heart. He probably doesn't even care that his mother is dead. The bastard's most likely up in his room dancing around cause he doesn't have to pretend to feel emotion for anyone anymore. He only cares about himself. He's a Death Eater, through and through. He doesn't belong here." With that word, he exited the room.
"Well," Stated Fred.
"That was," George continued.
"Quite dramatic." The twins finished together. Harry and Hermione snorted together, meeting each others eyes before bursting into laughter. The tension in the room melted and everyone laughed.
In the hall, a tall blonde boy stared at the wall in front of him, tears swimming in his eyes before continuing his journey upstairs.