Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Blood on the Ground	By : pepperdoc Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 15292 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter Universe, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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“What is your full name?”

“Draco Lucius Malfoy”

“Where are you right now?”

“The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, I do not know where it is.”

“Where is your wand?”

“In Professor Snape’s inner pocket.”

“Did the Hippogriff named Buckbeak injure you in third year?”

“No, he only got my sleeve.” Draco was surprised to find the truth spilling from his mouth.

“Why have you sought help from the Order of the Phoenix, Mr. Malfoy?”

He inhaled and prepared for the truth to slip out, “I’m tired of the mask. I hate having to pretend to not be affected by the horrors happening in my own family home. I hate having to pretend that I hate anyone who is not pureblooded. They promised me safety, but I was only a child, and did not understand when they said safety they meant at the expense of others. They ordered me to kill a kind old man who even until my godfather killed him, was offering me true safety. Not the kind that comes at the expense of others, but the kind which I have been hoping for my whole life. The kind of safety a mother offers her son,” He looked at Molly Weasley, who looked on the verge of tears. “The kind of safety that a friend will offer when you are vulnerable,” he looked to Hermione who was stone faced, with no expression. “The kind of safety that doesn’t come at the end of a wand, Mr. Potter.”

“How did you find out where the Headquarters is, Mr. Malfoy?”

“Last summer Voldemort-” There were several gasps in the room, “Ordered me to kill Dumbledore. Professor Snape was asked by my mother to step in if I could not complete the task, he was bound by a Wizarding Oath. I tried a few different was of killing him, but they failed. I had another mission to fix the Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement, so the attack on the school could happen. I had fixed the Cabinet and was going to kill Dumbledore, if I completed both, my mother and father would be released from their threatened tortures. If not both, but one, one of them would be killed. If neither task was accomplished, my parents and I would all be killed, Ms. Tonks.”

He was interrupted by a gruff voice, “What tortures, boy? …er, Mr. Malfoy.”

“I would have been beaten and sliced by my Aunt and Uncle Lestrange, most likely. If not that, then they probably would have hung me from the ceiling and taken turns slicing my legs open and replenishing my blood and doing it again. They also talked about letting me become the pet of the werewolf…” He shuddered, “I don’t want to explain what he would have done, Professor Moody.”

“Please finish answering my question, Mr. Malfoy.”

“When I was about to kill Dumbledore I found myself unable. He spoke to me, and offered me a choice. He offered me protection from those who would harm me or my family. I was lowering my wand when Professor Snape performed the Killing Curse in my stead. He then led me through the castle, however I do not remember much of it, I was too wrapped up in my own self-loathing to pay attention to where we were going. He told me the address, but I do not remember what he said. He had to shout the address for me, and I arrived here. Ms. Tonks.”

“Do you want to get your parents out of the Death Eaters, Mr. Malfoy?”

“They have made their choices. They joined voluntarily. They have never tried to help me do anything the Dark Lord ordered me to do. They are hard people when it comes to their quest for power. They seek it from whatever source available. I only sought to protect them from a misguided maybe sense of justice. No, Miss Granger, I do not.”

There was a slight murmur in the room, as this was revealed. “Then, Mr. Malfoy, why work so hard to protect them?”

“They are still humans. They are the only ones who I have the power to save. I can only prevent their deaths not their actions, Professor Lupin.” He looked surprised at himself with this statement. “They are cruel, and heartless sometimes, my father has tortured me many times for coming second to Miss Granger, and for not being able to beat Potter, sorry, Mr. Potter in Quiddich, and I am terrified of him, but he does not deserve death for these actions.”

“We have time for the final question, Mr. Shacklebolt.” Hermione murmured.

“Mr. Malfoy, what is your intention with betraying the Dark Side?”

“I want to bring Voldemort to his knees. I want him dead. He is no longer a human to me, and I believe that I can give information relevant to assisting the Order in bringing him down. Harry Potter cannot go into this fight alone, he has to have help from others to succeed. I believe I can be an asset to bringing down the Dark Lord. I will do anything in my power to help the Order succeed in their endeavor of-”

Ron rushed across the room and grabbed Malfoy by his shoulders, he shouted into his face, “Why the fuck would you think anyone will believe you?!?”

As the men in the room began to react, Draco replied, “Because Hermione Granger does, and she’s the only one who matters.”

Ron was pulled back by his father and Professor Lupin, the older men shouting at Ron for his stupidity. Harry and Hermione were the only ones who caught his words. Ron was pulled out of the room.

Hermione called over the din left in Ron’s wake, “Attention!” The conversations stopped. “Mr. Malfoy, please remain in your seat. Everyone else, convey your opinions as you see fit to the other members in the dining room as is normal. Vote is in 15 minutes.” The members left. Harry paused, catching Hermione’s eyes with an unspoken question, she nodded, and he stayed in the room.

Hermione took a steadying breath and looked at Draco. He was blushing slightly. Questions burned in her mind, all clambering for her voice. She felt the air coming out of her nose and made her mind settle. “Mr. Malfoy, as I said we will vote in 15 minutes. The Veritasium will be in your system for the same amount of time.” He looked up at her sharply, she answered before he spoke, “We will not ask you any questions, don’t worry. This conversation is only to inform you of what is going to happen in that time period. We are going to leave the room after this conversation, and I will put a very complex spell on the room. No one but me will be allowed entrance into this room. No one knows how to take this spell down except for me, so don’t be concerned. Not even an elf can get through the wards I will put up, so don’t bother. The vote will take less than 5 minutes, I expect. I will come inform you of the decision.”

He nodded his understanding.

She tapped the cup of tea he had brought with him from the dining room with her wand and it refilled. A quick wave brought a tray of sandwiches to the table. “There is a loo just there,” she pointed behind him, and he saw the door he had missed previously directly behind his chair.

She nodded to him and walked out the door.

Harry looked at Draco very severely for a full minute before walking after Hermione.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Harry and Hermione paused before walking down the hall. From an outsiders perspective they almost seemed to be talking, but their lips were not moving. They silently argued about what to do about Ron, using only gestures. Hers were aggressive, his were attempts to calm. She pulled her wand and cast spells at the door next to them, then cast a bubble of Muffliato around them.

“How dare he!” She screamed at Harry.

“I know, Hermione. You know how much he hates Malfoy, it was bound to happen at some point. I don’t know what to do about it.”

“Malfoy was actually cooperating! Willingly! He wasn’t even being is everyday arsehole self! I didn’t get a hint of sarcasm since we began speaking! How much does Ron need to be able to change his opinion of a person?!”

“Ron’s being childish, I agree; let his parents handle it, Hermione. We have bigger things to worry about at the moment.” His voice was strained.

She touched his elbow, “Your scar?”

“No,” he answered. “This has been a hard night. Dumbledore…”

“I know. We have to do this Harry. It’s what Dumbledore would want.”

“This will be difficult for all of us Hermione, not just Ron. I feel like there will be a lot of fighting among everyone. It’s no wonder everyone wanted us to stay out of all this business.”

She frowned at his words. “What do you think of him after what we learned tonight?” She asked.

He looked at the floor, his brow furrowed in thought. “Well. That’s the question, isn’t it? His entire personality seems so different, now that he’s out of his element. He hasn’t had any access to the antidote for Veritasium, and it’s not like he could have planned on coming here, and be given it. He’s a cold person for saying he wouldn’t help his parents-“

Hermione cut him off, “That’s solid logic he used there. It seems like they would just turn back to the Dark as soon as they could, by his description of them.”

Harry sighed, “Yeah, you’re right. But the strongest point I have is that even when Ron attacked him, he didn’t attack back. He still answered truthfully. I don’t think it was his lack of cronies that made him hold back. I think it was how everyone reacted. Like he was stunned…. Like he’d never seen anyone who didn’t owe him something protect him, you know? What d’you reckon he meant by saying you were the only one who mattered?”

“I don’t really know. Before it all started he asked if I was in charge here, maybe he thinks I’m the leader?” She was frowning.

Harry looked at her intensely, “It couldn’t be…. Something else?”

“What, like he’s been pining for me the entire time we’ve known him? Don’t be daft.”

Harry studied her for a moment. “I’ll vote Aye, what about you?”

“Aye, for me as well.” She answered. After a moment, she lifted her wand and took down the Muffliato charm around them and they started to walk. “I wonder what the werewolf would have done to him,” she whispered quickly.

“Turned him, I reckon. Lupin told me about how he likes to bite for fun…”

They had reached the door to the dining room. They both sighed before opening it to the chaos within.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Harry and Hermione walked in to the Dining room to find more members present. Even some of the students were there, although it was slightly puzzling as to why exactly.

Arthur Weasley was in a huddle with Bill, Charlie, Ginny, Molly, Fleur Delacour, Fred and George on one side of the room. Kingsley Shacklebolt was speaking with Professors Slughorn, Lupin, Flitwick, and Sprout. Tonks was speaking to Lee Jordan, Luna Lovegood, and Neville Longbottom on another side of the room. Hagrid was speaking with Snape, neither looking too happy with the other. While Dobby, Mundungus Fletcher, and Professor McGonagall were listening to Professor Moody nearby, Ron was morosely sitting on a chair next to the wall with the shrunken table in his hands.

When the door shut behind Hermione and Harry, the conversations halted. Hermione looked at the clock, “Five more minutes until a vote, please continue.”

The conversations regained their dull roar as Harry and Hermione separated to join others in their conversation.

Dobby ran over to Harry and greeted him in his high voice, “Mister Harry Potter! It is good to see you!”

“Hullo, Dobby,” Harry said as he knelt down to the floor on a knee.

“Is it true the younger Malfoy is in Mister Harry Potter’s home?” He asked, with a lowered voice.

“It is Dobby. You have known him before, haven’t you?”

“Yes, Mister Harry Potter, sir. He is a strange man.”

“How do you mean strange?”

“He is very kind when he is by himself. But when his father is in the room he is very mean to everyone, sir. Dobby doesn’t know how to explain it better to Mister Harry Potter.”

“Were you his elf, Dobby?”

“No, Mister Harry Potter, I belonged to the Malfoy house, sir.”

“And what do you think of his being here, Dobby?”

“It is good for us Dobby thinks, sir. The elder Malfoy tells his son many things when he should not. That barmy old codger is not good at keeping his masters secrets, and Dobby thinks he should iron his hands for his punishment.”

Harry chuckled, and gave the elf his thanks while standing back up. Dobby rejoined Mundungus Fletcher, and Professors McGonagall and Moody nearby. Harry went to stand against the wall for a think near Ron.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Hermione turned from the door way and joined Hagrid and Snape’s discussion.

Snape was saying, “…actions are determined by the outside in this case, it’ll serve you well to remember it.” As she approached.

“Hullo Hermione!” Hagrid said with a grin. “What are your thoughts on this business, then?”

“It’s quite simple really, the boy I knew and disliked so much at school is not the same as the one who was presented to us while he was under the potion’s influence. I think the answers he has given us fully support this claim. I am for his joining the Order, and for his being a double agent. When I told him that may be his role here, his exact words were ‘Might as well, I’ve been doin’ it my whole life anyway,’ and then he apologized for calling me that derogatory term he has used too often.”

Hagrid’s bushy eyebrows shot up. “Don’tcha think you’re trustin’ him a bi’ too soon?”

She frowned. “I cannot deny what my eyes have seen tonight, nor what I have heard. He seems like he is ready to help us.”

Snape looked at her closely, “Does this bleeding heart of yours become bothersome after a while, Miss Granger?”

She smiled thinly at her Potions Master, “Only when it comes to you, Professor.”

He glowered at her. She continued, “You have known him his whole life haven’t you, Professor? Do you not believe he is being truthful? Have you not reported to us in the past some of the things which he spoke of? Notably his parents threatened status in the inner circles of the Death Eaters, as I recall, sir. He always has been your favorite student, hasn’t he? And why is that? Isn’t it because the things which have come to light tonight regarding his relationship with his father are not news to you?” Snape’s face darkened even further. “I take it from your expression that everything is as correct as I suspected. Do not project your own bleeding heart as you put it as a negative only because it comes from your least favorite student. We are not in school at the moment, how did you put it, it’ll serve you well to remember it.”

She was angry, and she had no idea why. Her mouth ran away from her. She began to regret the things she had just told him when she was surprised by laughter from Hagrid. Snape looked from Hermione to Hagrid and then- her ears could hardly believe it- he laughed.

“We are indeed not in school, Miss Granger.” Hagrid impersonated Snape. Except for the accent, the tone was perfectly bored. Hermione started laughing with them.

Kingsley clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention, the room settled down. “I believe we have a vote to get to,” He began. “The matter at hand tonight is the initiation of Draco Malfoy into the Order of the Phoenix. Does anyone wish to discuss anything before we take it to the vote?”

Hermione looked immediately to Ron, expecting him to object loudly. His father’s hand was resting on his shoulder on one side and his brother Charlie was on his other. Ron looked defeated.

“No?” Kingsley looked surprised. He waved his wand and a charmed counter appeared above his head. Three columns glowed- one for Ayes, one for Nays, and a final column for No Vote. “Alright, then those in favor?”

The ayes were surprisingly loud and the number floating above Kingsley was at 20. Hermione was pleasantly surprised at nearly three-quarters of those in attendance voted yes.

“Those against?” Kingsley asked. Five voices were heard, though as they spoke together, there was no way Hermione could pick out who they were.

“No Vote?” Kingsley said.

Hermione knew Ron whispered, “No Vote,” as she could see his lips moving.

The final column stayed at 1.

“The motion is carried, and Mr. Malfoy the Younger shall join our Order shortly.” Kingsley decreed, with a nod towards Hermione.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Hermione and Harry stood outside the room grinning like fools. She looked at the door, and began to take down the complicated wards enclosing Draco in the room. She nudged Harry in the ribs before she reached for the door. She put on a serious face, Harry followed suit.

The door creaked as she opened it. Draco was pacing around the room with a sandwich in his hand. He looked like a mad scientist on the verge of a breakthrough. His face was manic before he could react to their appearance. His mask slid into place as he raised himself to his full height.

He waited, this was their show after all. Harry stepped forward, he put out his hand to Draco, saying, “Draco Malfoy, allow me to be the first to welcome you to the Order of the Phoenix.”

Draco’s stern expression blossomed into a genuine grin at Harry’s words. They shook hands.

A/N: So, first off, I think from a technical point of view I’ll probably be doing Draco POV, observer’s POV, then Hermione’s POV. This chapter has a couple of insights into Hermione’s POV, but I’m thinking of it like the view of the reader is essentially from over her shoulder in those moments, same with the few insights into Draco and Harry. Next, it’s Hermione’s POV and a jump in time. Also, the meetings are getting a little tedious for me, and I’m sure for you too, with all the formal/ stylized way of talking. It has a purpose! I promise!

Thanks for reading! It would be totally cool if you reviewed! Maybe do a little clickey action over there where it says rate, I don't know, I'm not tryin' to tell you how to live...
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Blood on the Ground