To Dance With Jean
Disclaimer: I solemnly swear that I am up to no good. I Majasty do not own the characters of this fanfiction except perhaps a few OC's that may make an appearance. Otherwise, all characters belong to JK Rowling. Additionally, this fanfiction gets inspiration from a combination of different movies, books, and real life events. A full reference list will be uploaded at the end of the story. Mischief managed.
This story disregards the Deathly Hallows except for some key dates and times. It also disregards the epilogue. This story is set primarily in the year of 2040 and has some parts of 1997-1998. Hope you enjoy.
Chapter 7
Turncoat
12 Grimmauld Place, Islington, London, England. July 7, 1997.
"Minerva," Severus whispered to the elderly witch who laid asleep in the house that they all knew so well. He wondered how anyone could sleep when a war was brewing, heaven knows…he hadn't slept for weeks.
"Minerva?"
"I knew this was a bad idea Severus," Draco whispered under his breath, feeling awkward at watching his old transfiguration professor rest. "She would never agree…we killed Dumbledore remember?" Draco continued to whisper, one eye watching Snape while the other watched McGonagall, afraid of what she would do once she awoke.
Severus rolled his eyes at the boy and ignored him as he now started to shake Minerva McGonagall awake. "Minerva!"
Minerva McGonagall cracked open an eye to see who had disturbed her slumber, once she saw who it was she grabbed her wand that was hidden under her pillow and brought its tip square in between Severus' eyes.
"You two have mighty nerve to be here after what you had done." Minerva whispered under her breath, her wand not wavering as she stood her ground. "We trusted you."
"Please Minerva…if you let me explain," Severus pleaded, wounded at her words. If only she knew. He had never wanted to kill the only man that had given him a chance, the only man that had ever trusted him…but he had to, and he needed her to understand that.
"Understand? What do I need to understand? Do I need to understand how you brutally murdered him after he begged you to spare him? He saved you from Azkaban Severus. He gave you a job, he stuck by you because he thought that after what Voldemort had done you would be on our side, and then…and then you killed him!"
"He made me do it," Severus flatly, as silence fell on the room.
Spinner's End. June 30, 1997
Severus dragged Draco to a far corner on the border of Hogwarts before he grabbed Draco by his elbow and spun on the spot. They landed on a hard, dusty ground, but they knew…here they were safe.
Silence. That was what enveloped the room as both men silently leapt apart.
Draco's palms were sweaty, and his eyes had turned to replicate solid glass as the events of that night replayed in his mind. The look of vulnerability in Dumbledore's eyes as he stood there, begging him, the look of betrayal when Snape finally took his life…and it was all his fault. He was offering him help, and he had too much pride to have accepted it. Perhaps had he asked for help to begin with, perhaps he would live day to day wondering when the Dark Lord would decide that he was no longer of use. God, he hated Potter yes, but right now having him win was a far more brighter prospect than a life ruled by He Who Must Not Be Named. He'd rather live a life as an outcast than not to live at all. Why had he been so blinded all these years to have realised that?
Draco sat on one of the old patched up leather chairs in the middle of the room, before he was made aware of his partner's activity. It appeared that Snape was rummaging through all of the cupboards and…packing.
"Where are you going?" Draco questioned his godfather who appeared way too preoccupied.
"Where am I going? Boy it is where are we going, because as far as I am concerned, wherever I go you follow." Snape explained with a drawl as he threw some spare robes at the younger man. "Do you not see? Dumbledore's death was only the beginning, if anything…all that it was is a catalyst, one to serve as the marker of the start of the war that we all knew was coming, the whole of England will be looking for us…the whole of England will be looking for you." Severus finished as he reduced the size of his trunk and hid it in the pocket of his travelling robes. "We cannot stay here boy. They'll find you."
It was only then that Draco understood. He finally understood the meaning of the return of Lord Voldemort. No it was not about the glamour of a world where purebloods ruled, it was about living as fugitives, it was about having other people's blood on their hands…it was about sacrifice, and it was only then that he realised…he was not willing to sacrifice his life for this. What was the point of living a life with no muggles and muggleborns? In that kind of world he wouldn't be superior…he wouldn't only be just another pawn.
"He offered me help you know," Draco choked out, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. He refused to let them fall, he refused to have it let known that he was weak, but the bloodshot eyes that he already held already betrayed him, as they proved that in the past he had already let them fall. "He…he said he could protect me. Instead…I just let him die. For once in my life someone offered to protect me, and now…now that I am no use, even I could potentially be next." Draco whispered with understanding, as he looked at the callouses on his fingertips, proof of the endless hours he spent in the Room of Requirement's four walls.
"I am here Draco," Severus whispered, "and as I promised your mother…I will protect you."
12 Grimmauld Place, Islington, London, England. July 7, 1997.
"Calm down Weasley. I'm here."
Everyone turned to the door that led from the hall. Shock was clear on every order member's faces. Yes, they all knew that Draco Malfoy was coming to join the order, it was already a decided fact. Although they might have posed it as a question to the order, it was clear that Shacklebot and McGonagall had already made up their minds.
No one had seen Draco since the Battle of the Astronomy Tower that occurred. Yes, it had only been one week since that night, but it appears as though Draco had aged. His hair which was usually clean and perfectly placed looked dishevelled, he had dark rings around his eyes, his complexion was a grey colour that appeared to be almost translucent, and he had a shadow on his jaw – an obvious sign that he had not shaved for days. This was not what the golden trio were picturing for when they would see him again. He was unkempt and looked as though he hadn't showered for days.
Draco swallowed, he was suddenly very aware of all the eyes that were fixated on him. He suddenly felt very small in the large room, everyone there hated him…well everyone except his godfather. How did he think this would be a good idea? It was like he was getting fed to the sharks. "Join the Order of the Phoenix," he said. "They will help you," he said. Bollocks. The Order of the Phoenix would castrate his member, deep fry it, and then make him eat it if they could. Still, with as much courage as he could summon Draco walked into the dining room of number 12 Grimmauld Place until he was standing on the right side of his godfather.
The silence in the room was deafening. It was as though all the occupants in the room were waiting for someone to speak, however no one was actually willing to.
"Ehem," Draco attentively cleared his throat preparing to speak, his mouth suddenly becoming dry. He had written a whole speech in the room that he had been assigned. He was so sure of himself back then that he came down and interrupted the meeting despite Severus and McGonagall telling him not to. They had told him to stay in his room and let them talk to the Order first so that they can see that allowing him to be a part of their anti-Voldemort resilience would be beneficial, if only he had listened he wouldn't be in this deep shit. What reason did he have for disobeying their commands by coming down whilst they were having a meeting? Oh, that's right curiosity. That and it was maddening staying up in that room when he knew that everyone was there talking about him without him even being there to defend himself because damn he knew very well that they were not talking nice things.
"Okay listen," Draco started with a deep breath. "I had actually been in that room upstairs this whole time writing and memorising a speech that I was planning to tell you but that's all out the window because seeing you all know, I know that's not enough. I have defied my godfather and McGonagall by coming down here when they clearly told me not to…" Draco's eyes flickered at McGonagall hoping that she would not kill him by the morn. "but I need you all to hear my side. I bet you all think that I have some scheme or that I am here to be a spy for The Dark Lord –"
"Voldemort," Harry cut in, his eyes still glaring at the blond boy.
"Eh…umm…what?" Draco replied sceptically.
"Voldemort, Malfoy. If you want to join us then you can start by calling him Voldemort." Harry explained, although uninterested in what Draco really had to say.
"Oh well then Voldemort" Draco corrected, the name sounding foreign on his tongue. "Anyways, where was I? Right, I bet you all think that I have some scheme or that I am here to spy for Voldemort, but I am not. I am also not here either because I suddenly believe in your side and want to fight for your cause, because to be honest I still think Potter is trying to be a saint, I still think Weasley is a poor idiot, and that Granger is a know-it-all mud –"
"You know it isn't advisable to insult the people you need help from Malfoy." Hermione stopped with a raised eyebrow.
"Right, well…so yeah none of that 'I suddenly had an epiphany thing where I believe Saint Potter is the greatest and shit,' absolutely none of that, we all know that is never going to happen but I did come to a realisation. I'm not here because I want to help you, I'm here because I want to survive, and too be honest, Severus makes a great case for why you guys are my greatest bet." Draco finished with a shrug.
"Oh, so you're telling us that you need us for protection and to survive?" Ron asked arrogantly. He still wasn't buying the boy's story.
"I won't be completely useless Weasley." Draco replied with a roll of his eyes. "As far as The Dark L – I mean Voldemort is concerned I am a death eater with a dark mark and I assisted the death eaters in letting them into Hogwarts. My parents are his loyal servants, he is currently residing in my house for goodness sakes! I'm not exactly who he pictures to betray him." Draco shrugged his shoulders. "Look. I spent an entire year working for that crazy thing okay and I realised that even if he wins this war, and I survive until then he is still a power obsessed motherfucker and I may not survive afterwards anyways because to him, everyone is a spare. Once I become useless, I will be sacrificed to his snake too. All I want is to live, and you all are my best bet."
Hermione softened at his words. She hated the boy, but she had to admit he did have his share of a bargain. Another spy in Voldemort's midst could be the answer to winning the war.
"We have been planning to attack the death eaters for a while now, but we could never figure out," Hermione started slowly, watching Harry and Ron from the corner of her eye. "You say that Voldemort is currently residing in Malfoy Manor?" Hermione asked an idea formulating in her mind.
"Oh, you don't actually believe him Hermione, do you?" Ron asked with a huff. Yes, he was pretty sure he was joining no matter what he thought, but doesn't mean he, Harry and Hermione had to like it.
"Think about it Ron. We need an attack that will cripple the death eater's side. If Malfoy is saying that Voldemort is currently living in his home, then we can attack there. Malfoy can help us get in." Hermione began, her mind working in overdrive.
"Excuse me I'm doing what?" Draco cut in, shocked at what the witch was implying. He had been in the house for like two hours and they already had a plan to break them into his house. Mad. They're all mad.
"We need a strong attack, and you just presented one…or can you not be trusted?" Hermione challenged. He was the one that needed them to survive, he was the one that said he wouldn't be entirely useless that he could exploit his allegiance to the Voldemort, it was time that he proved it.
"You can trust me." Draco said nervously, his eyes flickering between his godfather, and the witch.
"I can help with that…" Severus replied, drawing a vial of clear liquid from his chest pocket.
"Veritaserum," Hermione whispered wide-eyed as Snape came forward and handed the vial to her. It looked similar to water, but she knew straight away from the way the liquid swirled and sparkled that it was a correctly brewed veritaserum. Draco swallowed hard when he saw the vial. However, with a deep breath he snatched the vial from Hermione's hand and swallowed it's contents.
"My name is Draco Lucius Malfoy and I am willing to join the Order of The Phoenix to help attack my own home."
A/N: I'm sorry this chapter is so short, but again it was like a 4,000 worded chapter which I divided into two as it just flowed better that way. I hope that some of you are enjoying the story. I don't get many reviews...or views for that matter so I cannot really gage if people are actually reading or liking this story, so all I could really do is hope.
Also I absolutely hated these past chapters, I feel they just drag on and are here for explanations more than anything, but I'm hoping to get to the juicy parts soon. Hope to update soon.
Majasty
