Once and for All

Chapter 7

    "Malfoy," Harry said in an even voice as Draco stood in the doorway. Ginny, Neville, and Luna had retreated to inform the others, and the house had gotten noticeably quieter.
     "Potter," Draco replied evenly, but Harry noticed the amount of spite it usually contained had somewhat dwindled, as if he was almost scared to keep it up. "I have an appointment with Weasley-Ministry orders."
      "And the Ministry regularly has meetings with their colleagues on their front lawns?" Hermione asked in an even voice, her eyes hard.
       "Yeah, and how are you already working there? It's been what, four months?" Ron asked suspiciously, standing slightly in front of Hermione. "Daddy couldn't have helped this time, since he's supposed to be keeping a low profile-"
       "I'm in banking now. Your father is behind in some of his payments for his...projects," Draco interrupted, the usual slow, patronizing drawl returning to his voice. "He didn't answer my letters or show up at the meeting tonight, so I came here. Party at the Weasley's, is it?"
       "Yeah, well you're not stepping foot in this house," Ron spat. "I'll grab Dad and bring him out here, but I don't want to see your face ever again. We saved your sorry life once-if you want to keep it that way, you better get."
      Draco blinked at the threat under Ron's words, and remained where he was as Ron gave Hermione's hand a reassuring squeeze and left to get Mr. Weasley. Hermione narrowed her eyes at Draco, and the way her hands were clenched at her sides, the Mudblood scar was still plainly visible. Draco noticed it and stiffened, eyeing her cautiously as Harry hid a smirk at the look on his face. "Work issues can't be the only reason you came," Harry deduced in a low voice.
    Draco's eyes snapped to his. "Why'd you do it?" He asked Harry sharply. "Crabbe and I tried to kill you. You suffering from Stockholm syndrome or something?"
     "Definitely not," Harry replied firmly. Despite himself, he started to laugh. Draco looked at him with a stricken expression, as if he was questioning Harry's sanity. "You still don't get it, do you?" Harry asked. "No, of course not, and you never will because nothing ever mattered to you more than gold and sucking up."
      "You have no idea what he put me through," Draco hissed, his hands curling into fists. "My family-"
       "I can't blame you for that, but after that you still had a chance to make things right, and you didn't." Harry leaned against the post on their porch, staring at him intently. "Now go, before Hermione punches you," Harry said, noticing the curled fists. "Or actually, you can stay because that would be really entertaining-"
     "I didn't come here just because of that," Draco hissed, stepping closer, his face drawn in obvious loathing and reluctance. "Whether or not I like it, I still owe you a life debt. The other Death Eaters are still out there, and they're coming for you. They know you're going to be an auror, and they're going to use that to their advantage."
     "How?" Harry asked, his head spinning. Draco Malfoy was trying to help him?
     "I don't know, but it's something big. And it's not just you either-your Weasley friends are in danger too, since his dad's been poking around in places he shouldn't be. Especially the girl-"
     "Ginny?" Harry asked, his heart suddenly hammering.
      "Think so."
     "What do they want with us?" Harry asked, his voice dangerously low.
       Draco raised an eyebrow. "There's a reason you weren't in Ravenclaw, huh? Thought it'd be pretty obvious."
        "But why? Voldemort's dead."
        "That's exactly why." Draco shook his head in exasperation. "You don't get it, do you? The Dark Lord's commands was their way of life for years. You can't just stop once you're a part of it."
          "Who's leading it?" Hermione asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
           "You don't want to know," Draco said ominously. "I've said enough. And just because you get this special tidbit from me doesn't mean you'll get another slip, got it? We're even now."
      Suddenly Ginny marched through the doorway, her wand out and a fierce expression on her face. "Get out."
     Draco gave her a look-over, a smug look on his face. "He really wants you," Draco said. "The leader."
     "Get off my lawn," she growled, shoving her wand against his chest.
     Draco backed away under the weight of her wand, but his eyes were still in Harry. "If I see you again, I won't hesitate to kill you."
        "Likewise," Harry replied coolly, his gaze fixed on Draco as he dissapperated.
          "Not if I don't get to him first," Ginny muttered, sharing an uneasy look with Harry. "What was that about?"
          "I'll tell you later," Harry promises, his brain struggles the process this new information. "Call an order meeting-it's time we talked."

   Hey guys! Sorry for the lack of romance in this chapter, but hey at least the plot sped up.
    
***Question: who's your favorite Harry Potter ship and why?