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Chapter Five

"What do you mean, he's gone!" Narcissa screamed, hysterical.

Ted had returned from the bedroom after noticing that Draco did not reemerge from it.

"He's gone," Ted repeated. "He must've accidentally taken the Portkey with Harry and Hagrid."

Narcissa felt her breath hitch in her throat. "What if-what if…"

"Narcissa, Draco is headed for a house full of Order members. He will be fine," reassured Ted. "And Kingsley will be there, so he can return Draco at once, when he sees that Draco accidentally took the Portkey as well."

"Or Nymphadora. He can return with Nymphadora and Remus," added Andromeda anxiously. She put an arm around her sister, the first semblance of contact that the two shared since their awkward hug.

Narcissa shook her head and shook her sister away. She paced up and down the sitting room, worried out of her mind. Since they had agreed to hide out with Andromeda and Ted, Draco had not been from her sight at all. And now she was worried. Worried that the Death Eaters found him. Worried that he might be tortured as he was prior to becoming a Death Eater.

The Weasley mother and daughter ran down the steps by the back door as he, Potter, and Hagrid clambered to their feet. He tried to hide behind the half-giant as the Weasley mother and daughter fawned over Potter. He took care to look around the Weasley's property while Potter reunited with them. Draco wondered if he could hide in that broom shed while they wait for the rest of the Order to return. He knew that Kingsley would be here soon, if he wasn't already here. Maybe Kingsley could return him to his aunt's house without telling anyone. He didn't really want to be in a house full of people where he wasn't welcome. Especially without the shadow of his mother nearby.

"Malfoy!"

Draco heard Potter calling him. He had half the mind to ignore him and continue on his way into the field.

"Malfoy!"

"What, Potter?" Draco said, turning around.

"You should get in the house. It's not safe out here."

"I should be on my way back to Andromeda and Ted's house. Kingsley said that no one was to know of these new…arrangements, including members of the Order. When will he return? Is he here already?"

Potter shrugged. "I don't know. But you can't stay out here, what if…"

"You prefer that I go in there, where everyone hates me? Everyone hates my mother and my father?"

A blue light interrupted their argument. It was growing larger and brighter and Potter forgot about his conversation with Draco. He ran forward with Draco following close behind and saw that Remus and one of the Weasley twins had appeared. Remus looked as though he was supporting the Weasley twin and Draco looked a bit sick as he saw that the twin was covered in blood. He looked away feeling as though he wanted to throw up.

Potter ran forward and helped Remus carry the Weasley twin into the house. Not feeling safe in the dark surroundings of the house by himself, Draco warily ran inside and followed the trail of blood through the kitchen to the sitting room. Potter glanced at him and gestured for him to stay out of the way.

Remus grabbed Harry by the upper arm and dragged him back to the kitchen, shoving him against Draco. Remus didn't seem to notice Draco at first, directing a series of questions to Potter.

"…sorry Harry, but I had to check," Remus said. "We've been betrayed."

"Wha' abou' Malfoy?" asked Hagrid, struggling to fit in through the doorway. "Yeh gonna interrogate him, too?"

"Malfoy?" Remus looked at Hagrid in confusion before seeing Draco look around. He seemed as though he was trying to blend into the background. "Draco, what are you doing here?" he asked sharply.

"Their Portkey fell and I picked up to hand it to them as it was leaving," Draco answered.

"Has anybody else seen you?" He gestured to the sitting room, where members of the Weasley family were gathered.

"No," replied Potter. "Nobody's seen him, other than me and Hagrid. Or they would've asked questions."

"Your cloak, Harry," Remus said quickly. "Where is your Invisibility Cloak?"

Potter pulled out the cloak from his rucksack and passed it to Draco, who hesitated before retrieving it from him.

"Put it on Draco, and stay out of the way," Remus said. "We've been betrayed and your safety and that of your mother's is in danger. Even here."

"Shouldn't we have heard something by now?" Narcissa said, still in hysterics. "Where are they? Why haven't they returned? How can we contact them?"

"Ted…" Andromeda gestured toward the kitchen. "Would you mind making us a spot of tea?"

"Of course, 'Dromeda." He gave her a small smile and patted Narcissa's shoulder comfortingly as he passed by her.

Andromeda led her younger sister to the couch. She put an arm around her and Narcissa laid her face on her older sister's shoulder and began to cry.

Draco ran out, invisible, after Potter and Remus heard a scuffling from outside. He was careful to stay out of everyone's way and saw two figures coming towards them. His heart swelled in relief as he recognized Kingsley's strong features in the shadows. He appeared to have arrived with that Mud-wait, that Muggle-born Granger girl.

She ran straight into Potter's arms and Kingsley raised his wand at Remus. Draco knew it was meant as a security protocol, but it made him a bit nervous. What if they'd accidentally released a spell? What if something happened to either of them? Draco now completely trusted Kingsley with his life and he felt as if he was on the way to trusting Remus as well. When he thought about the way he acted towards his former teacher, he was filled with remorse and regret, but he never spoke an apology to the man. Draco didn't know how to bring it up or if it was even needed.

"The last words Albus Dumbledore spoke to the pair of us?" Kingsley asked.

"'Harry is the best hope we have. Trust him,'" answered Remus.

Draco glanced at Harry to see his reaction to Remus' words. There was nothing from him. Kingsley pointed his wand at Potter, but Remus stopped him from interrogating him.

"We have more pressing matters, Kingsley," Remus said.

"What is it?" Kingsley was obviously still angry at the betrayal of their plan that evening.

Remus leaned in and Draco moved closer to listen. "Harry and Hagrid picked up a stray at the Tonks'."

Kingsley looked at him in confusion. "No…wait, what? Dr-he's here? It's too dangerous for him to leave the house. I'm told Narcissa doesn't even allow him into the garden."

"It was an accident. Apparently, the Portkey slipped and when he picked it up to hand it to Harry and Hagrid, he was brought along."

"Where is he? It is imperative that I return him to his mother."

"He is in the house, under the Invisibility Cloak."

"No one has seen him?"

"As far as I know."

Kingsley pursed his lips and looked angry. "The boy…he…I feel sorry for the boy, Remus."

"Me too, Kingsley." Remus glanced back at the house and around him to see if they were alone. "I…I don't know, I always assumed that Draco…" he trailed off and shrugged his shoulders.

"He needn't have seen the things he has at so young an age. His mother told me that when he was a boy, his father would perform the Cruciatus Curse upon him whenever he displeased him. And then he would Obliviate Draco so he wouldn't remember it. I don't think he even knows it to this day. And when he became a Death Eater, he was forced to do the same to others or risk being taunted and mocked by Bellatrix Lestrange and the Dark Lord."

"I didn't know that," Remus said, quietly. He glanced back and saw Potter and Hermione speaking quietly amongst each other. Hagrid called for them to return into the house, but Remus and Kingsley remained outside. Draco inched closer, holding his breath and waiting to hear more.

He never knew that his father performed an Unforgivable Curse on him as a child. He felt like his father hated him for not "living up to the family name."

"His mother said that she hasn't seen him truly smile since his first or second year at school. She said that he was beginning to exhibit the ugliest qualities of his father."

Draco had to hold back an intake of breath. He was surprised to hear these things about his father, though it was not something that his father wouldn't do. It made him hate his father even more.

"Was Lucius a part of the chase tonight?"

"I didn't notice. I didn't see him, either."

"Me too." Remus exhaled. "I guess there is a lot about Narcissa and Draco Malfoy that we don't know."

"Yes," replied Kingsley. "And Remus – she…she is truly remorseful for what's happened to Sirius. The two of them were close once and she even cared for him as if he was a little brother to her."

Remus bit his lip and blinked away tears. He nodded quickly. "Yes, well…we never truly know people, I guess, then do we?"

Kingsley didn't say anything, but he and Remus started heading for the house. Draco walked as quickly as he could to reach the open door before they did. He feared they would close the door behind them.

"Do you think we are Sorted too soon?" Kingsley asked suddenly. "I mean…we always figured that we could take what the Sorting Hat says and believe it. All Slytherins turn out to be Dark Wizards. All Gryffindors are all brawn and no brains. All Ravenclaws are snobs. All Hufflepuffs love food."

Remus smiled at his last statement. "I think that even the Sorting Hat can make mistakes. Look at who I had for a roommate. A rat. And Andromeda was a Slytherin." He gestured to Hermione. "She is a Gryffindor. And the smartest in her class. And Flitwick is the most kind and accepting wizard I know. And Dora…Dora was a Hufflepuff. You should repeat your statement to her." He winked and proceeded indoors.

"Harry," Kingsley called. He gestured for him to come closer. "Where is he?"

Draco brushed against them to the kitchen so they wouldn't know that he followed them outside.

"I left him in the kitchen," Potter replied. He looked around the kitchen. "Malfoy?" he whispered.

"Right here, Potter," Draco quietly replied. He pulled off the top of the cloak so that it looked like his head was floating in mid-air. He gave Kingsley a small smile. "I guess I was tired of my prison," he tried to joke.

Kingsley pursed his lips and shook his head. "It's too dangerous, Draco." His head cocked up, hearing sounds in the yard. "Cloak, Draco." He and Remus pointed their wands to the door and the Weasley father came crashing through with the other, unharmed but shaken, twin. He yelled at Kingsley to stand aside and ran into the sitting room. Kingsley watched as the scene unfold before putting his attention back on Draco.

"Will George be all right?" Kingsley asked Harry.

"Mrs. Weasley thinks so," he answered. "She can't make the ear grow back, but-"

"He lost an ear!" Draco exclaimed, a bit disgusted. A funny feeling came to his stomach and he pulled the cloak down once more.

Harry nodded and turned away to join the others in the sitting room.

"He lost an ear…" Draco repeated.

"Draco, come, we must get you back home." Kingsley grabbed Draco's arm and pulled the cloak over his head.

"Wait," Draco said. He pulled his arm from Kingsley's grasp and pulled down the cloak again. "Where's Nymphadora?" He looked at Remus. "Her mother's worried."

"She isn't back yet," replied Remus. "She should've been, though."

Draco glanced up at Kingsley in alarm. "I can't go back without bringing news of Andromeda's daughter."

Kingsley pursed his lips and shook his head. "Draco…"

"They…they should know what happened to their daughter. If…if it were me…I would want my mother to know…"

"Fine. But stay under the cloak. And stay close to me." Kingsley checked his watch and he and Remus went back outdoors, with Draco in between them.

Draco saw that Hagrid and the Granger girl were already there, gazing upward in silence. Remus joined their silent vigil and Kingsley began backward and forward, looking up at the sky every chance he got. At first, Draco followed Kingsley, but found it a bit tiring and proceeded to stand next to Remus.

The seconds stretched into minutes and they were joined by Potter and the Weasley girl. The slightest breath of wind made them all jump and the padded running of the gnomes made them all turn around, checking to see if any other members of the Order arrived.

A broom suddenly materialized in front of them and Nymphadora jumped off, staggering from the broom. The Weasley boy, Potter's best friend, followed after. Nymphadora ran into Remus' arms and the Granger girl ran into Weasley's.

Draco took a step back, feeling as if he were intruding on something that he shouldn't have been. He moved back toward Kingsley and the two of them listened to Tonks describing the battle.

"What happened?" Remus asked, sounding almost angry.

"Bellatrix," answered Nymphadora, apologetically.

Draco inhaled in surprise. Kingsley looked around him, warningly.

"She wants me quite as much as she wants Harry, Remus, she tried very hard to kill me. I just wish I'd got her, I owe Bellatrix."

"But she's my aunt," whispered Draco.

Nymphadora turned toward Kingsley at the sound of the voice. She looked at him in confusion and moved closer to him. "What was that, Kingsley?"

"Nothing," he replied.

"I thought I heard…"

"She's my aunt," Draco repeated. "You can't kill my aunt."

Nymphadora looked toward Kingsley's right. Kingsley looked very angy. Remus leaned in and whispered to Nymphadora.

"Draco accidentally came along on Harry's Portkey. He's under the Invisibility Cloak."

"You can't kill my aunt," Draco said again.

Nymphadora frowned at the place near Kingsley where Draco's voice emerged from. She wasn't exactly sure how to respond. "Draco…I…this is a war. She is technically my aunt, too, but if she wants to kill her blood, then…"

"She doesn't think of you as her blood," Draco said. "She thinks you have dirty blood."

"Draco!" Kingsley warned.

"But you…I guess you're my cousin. Are you all right? Your mother is very worried."

"I'm fine, Draco. Are you all right? Your mother must be in hysterics."

Draco shrugged before remembering that they couldn't see him. Kingsley glanced at his watch again.

"Remus, Tonks, would you return Draco to Andromeda's? I'm going to have to get back to Downing Street, I should have been there an hour ago."

Remus nodded. "Of course. We will make sure he gets back safe."

"Draco?"

"Okay," he answered. Kingsley put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. "You will remain protected, okay? But no more venturing out of the house."

"Stay close, Draco," Remus said. Remus glanced back at the others. The Weasley parents were running down the back stairs and were followed closely by the girl. He thought about Draco as he and Nymphadora joined the others. He was a bit surprised by Draco's reaction to everything that was going on. Draco had never seemed to be that good of an actor, so Remus believed that Draco seemed to be really undoing his former prejudices. He seemed to be working out all of the different theories of blood status on his own, which is how it should be.

A thestral soared into sight, interrupting the gathering below them. The eldest Weasley, the one who'd been mauled by Greyback a few months ago slid down with the Delacour girl, the one who was a Triwizard champion. He looked directly at his father and said, "Mad-Eye's dead."