Yay update! This chapter's starting towards the eventual slash, so if you don't like that stuff... but there won't be anything graphic or Mpreg or anything :) Also, I feel like I've been writing them a little OOC so I'm gonna try and get back on track with that!

Now that the bathroom event is in the past, any interaction with Malfoy feels awkward. He avoids me like the plague now, and I'm almost glad. Looking back on the scene, I don't know what was going through my head. Why would I offer him something I probably can't get him that he probably doesn't want? Hermione is right, it could even be a trap. It just didn't seem like it...

Malfoy is still Malfoy, the person who insults Ron's family, and mine. The one who almost got Buckbeak killed. The one who was happy the Chamber of Secrets was re-opened. But that night... he didn't seem like that person. He was scared, even if it's hard to believe it now. And how much of a right do I have to judge him, seeing as if I'd been in his place and was brought up by Death-eaters, I'd probably have been just as bad.

But the fact is, he is still bad, and probably wants nothing to do with the Order. I don't know why I wish that weren't true. I say it's for the cause of the war, but when I see him avoiding my gaze I wonder if that's really it.

Then at breakfast today I see him watching me. He holds my gaze for a moment then starts to leave the Great Hall. Realizing that it's a pretty clear signal for me to follow, I make an excuse to Ron and Hermione then follow him.

Ron has been pretty quiet towards me since I turned down his sister, and I think that, while he mostly wants his sister to remain single and innocent, a part of him wanted me to be with her, so we'd really be brothers. But it just didn't feel right. Sure, she's pretty enough, but, like when I kissed Cho, I didn't really feel anything (although her kiss was less wet than Cho's).

I turn the corner, and sure enough Draco's there waiting for me. He get's right to his point.

"I've been thinking about your offer." I wait for him to go on, but he looks unsure of how to continue. So to break the silence I start talking.

"So have I. I wasn't really thinking when I made that offer, and looking back on it, there are a lot of flaws in my not-very-well-thought-out plan." Draco's face goes tight and he nods and makes to leave. "Wait, I'm not done!"

"I've heard enough." He mumbles, and I panic when I realize his voice sounds shaky. I put two and two together, but ask him just to be sure.

"Did you want to talk to me to tell me you want to join the Order?" There's a silence for a minute as he pulls himself back together and turns back to face me. I pretend not to notice how his eyes are slightly red, and how he's still much paler and thinner than he normally is.

"I don't really know what I wanted to say. I just know that I don't want to be doing what I'm being forced to do now. I don't want to hurt my friends, or even your lot to the extent that will happen if I keep working. But if I stop my family is hurt. And I can't let that happen. And I don't know if they'll be willing to switch sides. I don't even know if I am. But I know if we do go for it, it would take a lot of work that you probably wouldn't be willing to put in now that you're dating the Weasley girl."

"Well, that's what I've been worrying about. I know you don't believe in what you're doing now, but that doesn't mean that you want to help to bring down everything you believe in. But we can still hide you, even if you don't help us. It would be worth it for us, because your family is very valuable to Voldemort."

This is probably a lie, but for some reason I feel like I have to convince him to get away from the Death-eaters. All my previous worries are forgotten. "And... wait, I'm not dating Ginny!" I belatedly remember the second part of his comment and blush, "And even if I was, it wouldn't be your business."

"You're not?" He almost looks...relieved. "That's not what I've heard."

"Well, what you've heard is wrong, then, because we're not dating." And even though I know I should, I don't stop there. "I mean, she kissed me, but it didn't feel right, so I pushed her away. So I wouldn't be too busy to help." I avoid his gaze, but I could swear that I see him smiling out of the corner of my eye. "Maybe I should ask Dumbledore for help."

"No!" He looks around, as if Dumbledore was summoned when I said his name. "Please, don't get anyone else involved."

"I won't use names." I promise, "I'll be very vague about it. I have to see him soon anyways." I say, thinking about the pensive.

"Please be careful, you have no idea how much is at stake." He tries to look calm about this, but I can see that he's terrified about me talking to someone. Before I realize what I'm doing, I go over to him and put my hand on his shoulder. He gives me a look but doesn't pull away, so I leave it there.

"Don't worry, I will be." He smiles, and leans into me for a second before abruptly hurrying down the hall, leaving me confused.

For everyone who reviews this chapter, I'll review one of your stories (and I'm not just doing this as a desperate way to get reviews, many of my favorite stories I've found by reading the stories of people who review me or the stories I'm reading).
Next chapter: Dumbledore gets involved, and more Ron and Hermione :)