Enjoy! This will be my last post before my school starts, so I'm not sure if my updates will be quite as frequent as they are currently.
"Harry, are you alright?" Hermione asks a few days after my encounter with Malfoy. We're sitting in the armchairs by the fire working on our charms essays (or rather, Hermione is, and Ron is trying to read hers over her shoulder).
"Yeah, I guess... I've just got a lot on my mind." Draco. I don't know how to handle this at all. What I've told him I can do is such a delicate situation, and that sort of thing has never exactly been my specialty. And just thinking about wanting to help him confuses me. He's made my life hell for years, and part of me still hates him for it. But when I think of him now, I think of the scared look in his eyes, and it's hard to hate him like that.
I know that what he was raised as goes against everything I believe in and fight for, as well as what my parents died for, but maybe under that he's a good person. The problem is, I think I want to try and bring that good person out. Something I shouldn't want to do with Draco Malfoy.
Since he leaned into me I've wanted to ask him why, but I haven't been able to work up the courage. Besides, I probably made it up, and even if I didn't, wasn't I the one to put my hand there in the first place?
"Harry!" Hermione looks at me, annoyed, and I grin sheepishly.
"Sorry, it's just... I think I need to see Dumbledore about Malfoy." Ron looks up from Hermione's paper at Draco's surname.
"For what?"
"To help his family."
"But why should we help Death Eaters? I mean, maybe Malfoy if he's being forced into it, but still, it's Malfoy!"
"Because any less Death Eaters is good, especially if they're as important to Voldemort as the Malfoys."
"But Harry, even if they don't support Voldemort anymore, that doesn't mean they're not bad people."
"Well, maybe if we help them, they'll change." Hermione looks doubtful, but nods.
"I guess there's no harm in trying, if we're careful."
"Hermione, when aren't we careful?" Ron interrupts, and I laugh when Hermione smacks him.
Thankfully, Ron and Hermione agree to accompany me to Dumbledore's office. After several minutes of shouting candies at the gargoyle, we are brought face to face with him. I decide to ask him straight out.
"Dumbledore, would the order be able to protect people in hiding?"
"Well, there are so many people in hiding, and so few Order members, I'm afraid you're going to have to be more specific, my dear boy."
"Well, I can't really, but it's a family of wizards."
"There are many wizarding and non-wizarding families that could use our help, but unfortunately we're unable to spread ourselves that thin. Their best hope is if we keep fighting and end this war as quickly as possible." He almost looks like he's hiding something when he says that, but I figure it's just the light.
"But..." I struggle to find the right words, "I think that it's important for the war that we help this one family."
"So you think they will join the Order?" He has a glint in his eyes that makes me feel like he almost knows what I'm trying to say, but wants to watch me struggle. I'm probably imagining it though. Hermione pipes up, seeing me stuttering.
"It isn't so much that, it's more like the benefit would be that they'd do less harm if they were taken out of the action."
"Miss Granger, are you suggesting that we help Death Eaters?" He says this in an innocent tone, and Hermione looks at him suspiciously.
"Excuse me for saying this, sir, but I have the feeling that you know more than you're letting on." Dumbledore smiles widely, like we have passed some test.
"Indeed, Miss Granger, I do know of the situation with the Malfoy family. And I have been considering the benefits of what you have suggested. Harry, may I have a word with you alone?" He motions for me to come away from Ron and Hermione.
"Harry, I'm not sure what actually happened in the girl's bathroom between you and Malfoy, but given your history with him I think it's fair to say it had a large impact on your relationship. Especially if it what he claims happened did actually occur, although if that is the case I'd expect more signs of trauma from you. Now as to the Malfoy family, we can and will hide them, based on your word. If the person who hates him most thinks he deserves to be saved, then he and his family will be protected. But first, answer me this question. Do you think he can change? Not his family, just Draco. Will he ever fight for good?"
"Yes." I say immediately, but then look away when Dumbledore raises his bespectacled eyes. Why would I think he will change? He's done nothing really to show he would. Maybe I just want him to.
"Harry, really think about this. Many fate rest on this decision, it should not be hasty." I think back to all our years together, searching for something that would show him having a good side, but all I can think of is him crying in the bathroom, so scared of his involvement with the Death Eaters. But that doesn't mean he wants to help the other side. Would he fight for our side to repay a debt or because he actually believes in the cause?
"I'm not sure." I answer truthfully. Dumbledore nods, thoughtfully.
"Perhaps you should spend time finding out, and then we will act on what you learn." I nod, and, realizing I'm dismissed, head towards Ron and Hermione, who look like they're eagerly awaiting details of the conversation.
I'm gonna keep up the review for a review thing :) Thank you to all the people who've reviewed!