Draco and Severus' evening meal was disturbed by a thud and a cut off curse as Blaise landed by the entrance to the cave, in the pouring rain. Draco laughed.

"Sorry about that mate," Draco said, still snickering. "The ring is set to place the wearer five meters away and unfortunately we're surrounded by rocks in all other directions."

"So why couldn't you have picked another cave?" Blaise growled.

"It's raining outside."

"Really? I hadn't noticed," Blaise said, glared at Draco.

"Boys, act your age. Was your trip here okay, Blaise? Do you think anyone followed you?"

"I thought I had a tail at first but I lost them somewhere in the Pennines."

"Good," Severus said, "come join us by the fire and dry out."

Blaise sighed in relief as he sat down. "I've bought more food and bedding for you. I thought you might be running short."

Draco groaned, "I love you Blaise, I actually do. You know how easily I turn blue."

Blaise laughed, "I bet you're sorry you laughed at me now."

"No. Not really."

Blaise lunged at Draco from across the fire and they all laughed as his robes started sizzling over the fire and he fell backwards.

Ginny was laughing as she and Luna crossed he great hall on the way to the library. Luna had been telling her about her father's latest attempts to defeat Voldemort by publishing ludicrous stories about him in the Quibbler. Although Ginny had never known before, Xenophilius Lovegood had been a member of the last Order; the only reason that he hadn't rejoined the Order was that Luna's mother had died and he couldn't bear the thought of Luna being left an orphan. Despite all appearances, Luna wasn't clueless when it came to the real world. Yes, she believed in some creatures that probably didn't exist but as the daughter of a newspaper editor and owner she actually did know everything that was going on, even things that should be a secret. And, unlike everyone in the order, she was willing to talk to Ginny about the war.

They were currently discussing Fred and George's new products – stealth fake noses. Although they did sound rather stupid they were actually very helpful. The noses worked as a disillusionment charm but would only work if your purpose was to hide from someone in black robes. People were using them all over the country to hide from Death Eaters. The girls were trying to find a way in which the noses could be used by the Death Eaters when someone came up from behind Ginny and covered her eyes.

"Guess who?"

Ginny looked at the hands covering her eyes. "Do you have red hair and freckles?"

Ron laughed behind her. "I do."

Ginny smiled, her eyes still covered. "It's good to see you Ron, or hear you anyway."

Turning, Ginny hugged her brother and his two friends. "So what are you three doing at Hogwarts?"

"We're here to see Flitwick and Professor Vector. We need some help finding the final object we need."

"You've found the others? All of them?" Ginny asked with surprise, steering the Trio and Luna to her apartments.

"Yes," Hermione answered. "But we are having some problems decoding a passage on the whereabouts of the last one."

"When you have decoded it, you should ask Draco for help."

"He's a Death Eater!" cried Ron.

"He had no choice! He only wants to help."

"Yeah, he wants to help himself," Harry scoffed.

"You don't know him, Harry. You've never given him a chance."

"He doesn't deserve a chance. Think of all the people he has hurt."

"Oh don't be so naive Harry. You really think that no one has ever been hurt by anyone on our side or even you."

"No one that didn't deserve it."

"You have to see everything in black and white Harry and you can never, ever see the big picture. There are innocent people out there who are hurt by your actions every day, whether, you realise it or not. Grow up and see that not everything is about you."

"That's strange because it sure as hell seems as though everything that has happened in this war is."

"Bullshit! You know and I know that are so many other people involved here. Stop trying to make people pity you Harry, it's not going to work on me. So you had a tough childhood and your parents died? Boo hoo. A lot of other people are in a lot shittier situations than you. At least you have people around who care for you. Some people have never had that – Draco for instance. The only people in his life who have ever cared about him other than me are his mother and Snape and even they didn't do anything to stop him from being cruelly manipulated throughout his life. Everywhere he goes he is treated with hate and suspicion and he has done nothing to deserve it!"

"He resulted in Dubledore's death!"

"But he didn't kill him and the only other choice he had was let his entire family die."

"Dumbledore would have protected him."

"And he was supposed to know that? When had anyone at this school ever give him reason to believe that?"

Harry spluttered as he tried to think of a good argument.

Ginny sighed, "I don't want to argue with you Harry, just give Draco a chance to prove that he is a good person. I'm going to go study, I'll see you later."

Ginny turned sadly and muttered the password to the portrait to her common room, leaving the Trio and Luna behind.