Draco stared at his Godfather in shock. It had finally happened. He had known that it would happen eventually but he hadn't wanted to believe it.

"Are you sure?" he asked tentatively.

"I'm hardly a novice at this Draco, I know what I know. The Dark Lord has ordered his followers to look for us and to kill us without question if they see us."

"Merlin, every young initiate out there will be looking for us. Not to mention the older Death Eaters with a grudge against you. We're screwed."

"If you stay at HQ you'll be safe," Sev said.

"And what will you do? Stay here in this cave? Run? I won't let you do this alone. You'll die within a month and I will always blame myself. I already have Dumbledore's death on my head, I won't have yours too," Draco objected.

"Stop being such a Gryffindor! It's for the best."

"No, it's not. I'll be putting all these people at risk, my mother, Ginny. It's better if I go with you. We might even be able to help the Order."

"You know I don't want you with me on this. I know you can fight Draco, I've seen you when you actually duel for real. That's not the issue here. With more people we'll need more space, more food, and more water. Not to mention the risk if one of us gets caught," Sev resonated.

"I'm going with you no matter what you say. I owe these people so much; I don't want to be in their debt forever. Besides, I need to get the Malfoy name back to its former virtue and status. I have to fix the mess my father made. Let me do this Sev."

Severus sighed and looked away. When he looked back up at Draco he looked weary but resigned.

"OK."

***

Draco had finished packing his bag of clothes and necessities and was now preparing for what was definitely going to be the hardest part of learning.

He walked out of his room and into the corridor where the girls were staying. He knocked on Ginny and Hermione's door and hoped that she would be in her room, rather than downstairs. There was no answer at the door so he opened it and looked inside the room – empty. He frowned; she must be in the library. He went in that direction, hoping she would be alone or with someone who didn't entirely hate him.

Entering the library, he saw that his hopes had been in vain. There was Ginny, sitting with Hermione, Ron, Harry, Fred and George. When they saw him all of the boys glared at him.

"Something you wanted Malfoy?" Ron asked menacingly.

"Actually, yes. I was wondering if I could borrow Ginny for a minute," Draco replied, as politely as possible.

"No way!" Ron yelled at the same time as Ginny said, "Yeah, sure." Ron turned on Ginny, "There is no way in hell that I am letting you go off with him."

"Hey! 'Him' is standing right here and I really don't think it's your decision Weasel."

"Draco! Don't call my brother that, it's rude." Ginny scowled and the Weasley boys smirked. She whirled around to face them. "And don't you think you can dictate everything I do. You're my older brothers not my parents."

"We're just looking out for you Gin-bug," Fred whined.

"Yeah. Is it our fault that ferret-boy here is a complete arsehole and still thinks he can talk to you?"

"Boys," Ginny growled, turning red with anger over the situation. "Behave. Or else."

Harry finally spoke up at this, "Look, there's a simple way around this. Malfoy, I'm sure that whatever it is you want to say to Ginny can be said around us so just talk to her in here."

"It's private," Draco answered through gritted teeth.

"If you can't say it in front of us then we won't let you say it at all. If you won't tell us then we will simply have to assume the worst."

"Look," Draco began his voice flat as he controlled his anger and growing desperation. "I just want to talk to Ginny, it's not a crime. It won't even take that long. There's just something I have to tell her before I leave."

"Leave?" Ginny echoed and Draco realised exactly what he had accidentally let slip to the whole room.

"Oh?"

"You're leaving?"

"Good."

"Thought you never would," George and Fred said.

"Shut up already," Draco growled, finally snapping. "Yes, I'm leaving, that's all I wanted to talk to Ginny about. This entire holiday I've been getting snide comments, glares and curses. I've been nothing but polite to you. Yes, I've been cruel before but I repented and you're meant to be above all this. So yes, I'm leaving; you all got what you wanted. And who knows, maybe you'll get a chance to be really ecstatic when I never return. I apologise for wanting to say goodbye to my one friend here, my girlfriend before I go off on a mission that might well kill me for your sakes." With this Draco stormed out of the room.

Ginny was crying slightly and, with one last sob and a glare thrown at her brothers, she ran out of the room after Draco.

"Since when were they dating?" Ron asked in a stupid and rather confused voice.

Hermione slapped him around the head. "Could you be any more oblivious? It's been obvious from the start. That's not the point. The point is that your baby sister and my friend is upset because her boyfriend and out old school enemy is going off in a crazy attempt to help us all and will probably die!" She stood up and put her book on ancient civilisations away. "Honestly, sometimes Ron, you amaze me!" She sighed. "Boys!" She left the room after Ginny.

"Do you have any clue what she's talking about, mate?" Ron asked Harry.

Harry was standing numbly at the door, a desolate look on his face. "You know something Ron? I think I do. For once, I think I understand."