Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

It was already a cold night. Grimmauld Place felt colder with every word Kingsley said, Death Eaters killing Muggle children, whole families without any remorse, the war getting worse and the breaking point getting closer. A deathly silence followed every time Kingsley stopped speaking, so when Dumbledore entered the house, everyone noticed. They felt relieved to see him well and arriving at the perfect time. Dumbledore had always been important and during hard times he was a pillar for many of them, so when they saw his face full of worry, nobody understood.
 
“Be silent and don’t move” said Dumbledore as he walked into the living room where the meeting was being held. “Some Death Eaters will come in but the spell will protect us. They were following me, but I couldn’t lose them.”
 
Before Dumbledore finished talking, the door was opened once again that night. Draco Malfoy stood at the entrance. The young Death Eater was standing in front of the door, checking the house from where he was. For him, it looked like an old and abandoned house, completely empty and definitely nothing in sight. The first step into the house made a heavy sound that sent chills through everyone’s bones. Draco didn’t look like he always did. Something about him was strange but nobody said anything, afraid to break the spell with even the smallest sound.
 
“Professor Dumbledore, I know you’re here. I saw you. I just want to talk” the blonde said, his voice sounding desperate. “I won’t do anything, please. I just want to see you.”
 
Every step was a word, and every word was full of that weird feeling that was intoxicating the air. But when another Death Eater, clearly older than Draco, entered the house, Draco looked back. The look on the man’s face was angry. Draco tried to say something, but the man got to him fast and hit him with his fist, sending him to the floor.
 
“Fuck, Malfoy. I fucking told you to stop messing with me. What the fuck are you doing in a fucking empty house? Got scared so easily? Maybe I should show you how a real Death Eater works” the man said in a dark tone.
 
Draco looked at him while shaking on the floor. “I saw Dumbledore. I was following him, I think…”
 
Draco was talking fast, as if he didn’t have enough time to explain himself and he wasn’t wrong. The man hit him one more time, really pissed off to hear him talking.
 
“You really are a little stupid shit, right? Dumbledore here? You must be crazy to be lying like that. I know you have a mission, but upsetting me is not how you’ll make it. Death Eaters die every day. We are in a war, and I'm sure I could make a good enough excuse about your death. Or maybe I should just bring you to the Dark Lord and tell him about your failure. Then he could give you to Greyback to have some fun. I know he likes to share.”
 
Every Order member was confused. What was the mission and why was Draco being treated like that? For the Golden Trio it was almost a pleasant scene but every adult in the room had mixed feelings. He was a Death Eater. He was the son of a Death Eater. But he was also a child no older than the kids they were trying to protect.
 
Nobody moved to help, but suddenly a man, even older than the angry Death Eater, appeared.
 
“Leave it, Augustus. The kid probably got confused and tried to complete his mission” the older man said.
 
Augustus looked upset but only gave Draco one last glare before walking out of the house, saying something about a “bloody lucky bitch.”
 
When the older man and Draco were alone, the man walked toward him, a disgusting look on his face, Draco still on the floor.
 
“I told you not to make problems, Dragon. They don’t like you and you know it” the man said, kneeling in front of the blonde.
 
“I wasn’t lying, Yaxley. I really saw Dumbledore. I tried to tell Augustus, but he just started hitting me.”
 
Everyone watched as Draco kept talking, his eyes full of tears.
 
“I can’t fail. You know I can’t. He would be so mad, and he would punish my parents and me so badly. I can’t let that happen.”
 
Tears started to fall, his cheeks red from the hits. Was this the real Draco Malfoy or was it just a show to make Dumbledore appear?
 
“I know, baby, I know. And I told you I could help you but I can't if you don't obey. I defended you today because I love you but I can't keep doing this if you aren't a good boy,” Yaxley said.
 
Even the Golden Trio knew that wasn’t right.
 
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I just… I really thought I saw him.”
 
The words kept spilling from his mouth. He looked so small next to Yaxley that it made some hearts hurt.
 
“We should go now, Draco. Just stop messing everything up, okay?”
 
Draco nodded and everyone froze. Draco was scared of Voldemort, and the one protecting him was the same one who wanted to hurt him. Every adult in the room felt complicit, as if they were doing something unforgivable. Dumbledore looked like he wanted to interrupt the whole scene, but like everyone else, he did nothing.

"I need you to get up, Dragon, I won't carry you all they way to the Manor" Every word said by Yaxley was disgusting but Draco was obedient, he stood up and with his tears now dry on his face, he looked so fragile, everyone saw the real Draco, a manipulated and scared boy.

"I'm sorry, really. I just got confused. It won't happen again, I promise" The way he stared at the floor made some of them feel sick for letting it happen.
 
Every present member of the Order was in shock. They could deal with a war, with Voldemort and Death Eaters, white or black, good or evil, but seeing the real situation of Draco Malfoy was more than that. It was the truth of the war: the lost children who were vulnerable, the ones who wouldn’t be saved from the dangers, the ones everyone ignored.

Draco and Yaxley got out of the house, leaving a suffocating silence.
 
“Okay… That was hard to see, but we need to continue with the meeting, the Death Eaters plan” said Kingsley while walking toward the map on the table, but before he could get there, Molly spoke.
 
“He’s a child, Kingsley. We can’t ignore what we saw. I have a son the same age as him. We all know that wasn’t right, an adult talking like that to a child? For God’s sake, he was in danger and he didn’t even realize it.”
 
Molly had always been a soft woman, but her love for her children was strong, and it was obvious the scene had touched her heart.
 
“I think I’m with Molly on this one, guys,” Remus said for the first time that night. “That was… Draco is not my favorite person in this world but he is the same age as Harry. Fuck, he's even a few months younger. How could we just ignore that? He was crying, he was alone, he was being beaten and groomed. How the fuck could I forget about that?”
 
Silence.
 
“Okay. I can assure to all of you that for the moment we can't do anything. We need to finish this meeting and get some rest. After we rest, we can talk about this whole rich heir topic but not right now” Sirius said, clearly uncomfortable. He was the most related to the blonde and even if he wasn’t the smartest of them, he was right. They needed to process everything they had seen.

And just like that, the meeting was over. Plans were discussed, strategies decided, and the Order left with guilt sitting heavy on their shoulders.

Outside, the rain began to fall, hard and relentless, its sound echoing through Grimmauld Place like a quiet accusation.

One by one, they dispersed.

The spot where Draco had stood only moments ago was empty now as if nothing had happened at all.

Chapter Text

Yaxley and Draco were back at Malfoy Manor, just in time for a Death Eaters meeting with Voldemort. The entire place was dark and cold, heavy with the ghosts of torture and the echoes of victims cries lingering in every corridor, suffocating any good soul that dared walk its halls.

Draco was not innocent. He felt he deserved every bad thing that happened to him, every wave of despair that made him want to cry. He was on the wrong side of the war, after all. He was Voldemort’s soldier.

When they approached the living room where the meeting was to be held, Yaxley had to force him forward with a hand pressed against his back. Draco’s heart felt unbearably heavy, yet he took a step forward wrapped in false confidence.

“Draco. It is good to see you. We were waiting” Voldemort said, his low, raspy voice making him feel small, making him want to run.

“My Lord, we returned as soon as we could. I hope we did not keep you waiting.” Draco spoke for the first time as he took his seat beside Yaxley. His voice was steady, clear even, but beneath the table his hands trembled, damp with sweat.

“Of course not. A Malfoy would never keep me waiting” Voldemort replied smoothly. “But what a Malfoy can do is bring me good news. Tell me boy… How is your mission progressing? I believe Dumbledore is still alive, not even a scratch on him. It would be such a shame to waste your potential over a minor failure, wouldn’t it?”

The air left Draco’s lungs.

He had made no progress. And Voldemort knew it. He wanted Draco to admit it.

With quiet desperation, Draco lifted his gaze to his parents. Lucius met his eyes with a hard, unforgiving stare that made him shrink further into himself. His father was angry. And his mother… Narcissa only looked at him briefly before closing her eyes in pain, turning her face away to avoid his gaze. 

Draco wanted to cry. Voldemort was going to kill him. He just didn’t know when. He was shaking harder when a hand settled on his thigh. Yaxley. Yaxley was there. Yaxley could help him if he failed.

“My Lord” Draco said carefully “I am still planning the perfect way to kill that man. I want it to be… memorable. A show worthy of you. I want him to suffer.” He forced his voice to darken, to curl with false enjoyment.

Silence followed.

For a moment, Draco thought he would die right there but Voldemort smiled.

The meeting continued.

Every now and then, those red eyes returned to him, cold, measuring, sending quiet warnings down his spine.

Draco was handling it. He was.

Until he wasn’t.

Because when something with scaly skin began crawling up his leg, leaving a burning trail of pain in its wake, his vision blurred. The room darkened at the edges. He couldn’t breathe.

He heard some Death Eaters laughing at him when they noticed Draco panicking because of Nagini.

“The little Malfoy is not so brave as everyone thought.”

Yaxley squeezed his thigh, which made him look at him. His eyes were there, looking at him, taking care of him. Draco felt like he could breathe again, and before he even realized it, the meeting ended, leaving only his parents and Yaxley in the room.

“What do you think you're doing?” his father asked. He was angry, his eyes were hard, and his words felt like a fist hitting him straight in the face and he knew well how that felt.

“Lucius, let me explain to you. Draco had a hard time today during the hunt, and I’m sure he was tired” Yaxley said, as always, taking care of him.

His eyes were still blurred and he was frozen.

“Oh darling.” His mother’s voice was soft. “My baby, you know you have to be obedient. Nobody wants you hurt, or to be hurt because of your actions, or the lack of them. You need to start working on your mission and be grateful because you have such a good man taking care of you, okay baby?” His mother touched his cheeks with her bare hands, letting him feel her warmth. He knew Yaxley was amazing for keeping him safe. He even talked back to his father, who he very well knew could kill him at that exact moment for humiliating the Malfoy name with public fear.

“Yes, Mother.”

His parents gave him one last glare before leaving the room, his father a warning one, his mother a hopeful one.

“I told you, baby, you have to be good” said Yaxley as soon as they were alone. “I’ll always protect you, but you can't keep acting like a child, love. You are not a child anymore, right?” He felt Yaxley touching his arm softly while he was speaking. Chills ran through his body, but these were a different kind of chills. 

He still wanted to cry. He was still scared.

“Come on, baby. I have an easy mission for you today. You'll be a good boy, right?” As soon as Yaxley said that, Draco started nodding. He felt dumb, empty, like he wasn’t really there. They walked through the halls until they reached Yaxley’s bedroom. It felt like time had stopped. Was life still going on?

Draco looked into Yaxley’s eyes. They were looking at him but not at his face. They were looking at his body. Yaxley, in a hurry, started kissing his arms, moving up to his neck. He didn’t know what was happening or maybe he did. His heart started beating fast and his breathing became even faster. He felt uncomfortable and wanted to run.

“God, baby, you're so delicious, so good for me, yes, my good, good boy” said Yaxley, touching his chest.

He wanted to be a good boy. He had to be a good boy. Yaxley was the only one who wanted the best for him. If he messed this up, even his father would be mad. His mother would say he was ungrateful.

His mind was racing and his body hadn’t moved since he entered the room. But when Yaxley started taking off his pants, he panicked. He didn’t think about anything, he just ran away from the place, from the situation.

His mind remembered a place.

Grimmauld Place.

______________________________________

“This is wrong, Kingsley. He’s a child. You saw how they treated him.” Molly’s usually gentle voice was now hard and loud, full of indignation, a mother’s instinct versus Kingsley’s logical thinking.

The Order members had been talking about Draco for an hour, but it ended with two sides of the same story: the ones who thought Draco deserved to be safe like any other child, and the ones who either thought it was a trap or wanted to use him to gain information.

“The kid is good enough to go hunting, so he must know important things. Everyone saw yesterday, he has a mission that Voldemort gave him. That could be our winning tool.”

Everyone froze because it was true. Nobody liked to admit it, but Draco was not just a child, he was a Death Eater.

Arthur opened his mouth to say something, but as soon as he started talking, the door slammed open, letting an agitated Draco in. The spell was still working, so they knew Draco couldn’t see them.

Draco closed the door and fell to the floor, bringing his legs to his chest. He was crying, breathing fast and clearly scared. He was shaking, and nobody knew what to do. They hadn’t made a decision yet.

Draco tried to cover his mouth while he kept crying in silence, but when a mouse ran near him, he flinched in fear. Everyone thought it was because the Malfoy heir had never seen a rat, but Draco was afraid of anything that could move or touch him.

He started feeling panicked. Voldemort would find him and kill his parents and him in a horrible way. Or maybe Yaxley would be the one to find him and do things that would hurt him. Then his parents would look at him, his father would punish him for being a failure, and his mother would be disappointed.

Why was he in Grimmauld Place? When did he get there? Was Yaxley mad at him for running away?

He felt like he was dying. The air wasn’t reaching his lungs, and the dark place looked darker and darker. He shouldn’t be there. He should have had the dignity to handle the situation, but instead he was there, hiding like a coward.

His mind was starting to grow dizzy, and still afraid of being found, he tried to make himself smaller. And just like that, his mind lost control, he passed out, his breathing still fast and his body on the cold floor. But the worst part was that everyone saw everything without him knowing.

Chapter Text

The room was silent. Nobody dared to move. Many of them thought it was an act, a trap to make them fall, but there was one of them who knew how pain felt, and seeing Draco like that made his heart ache.

Remus Lupin.

Remus knew very well how it felt to be alone, to be scared. His life had been full of that, and as an adult, realizing that a child was suffering as he once had broke him.

“I’ll help him. I’m not asking you to let him see all of you, but this can’t continue. He needs someone to take care of him” Remus said, his eyes moving from one member to another. He knew this could be a dangerous decision, but it had already been made. “I’ll show myself to him, and I won’t say anything about the Order or the protection spell. But this needs to stop now.”

“Remus…” Molly looked at him with pride and tears in her eyes. “That boy needs so much and was given so little. This war is for the future of the new generations, but what are we doing if we don’t help the generation standing right in front of us?”

With that said, Remus removed the spell. He slowly walked toward Draco, who was still unconscious on the floor. He tried to wake him by softly saying his name, but it didn’t work.

Afraid of hurting him further, Remus picked him up. With everyone still watching, he nodded before taking Draco to a private room. The boy wasn’t heavy for his age, and that worried him.

Carefully, he laid Draco on the bed and began cleaning his face with a towel. Tear marks on his cheeks made him look even younger. His blond hair was soft, his eyes closed, he looked almost ethereal.

A Death Eater.

Remus’s mind warned him to be careful, but he knew better than to listen.

The house remained silent, everyone minding their own business, trying to ignore the fact that they had a Death Eater sleeping in the next room.

A few hours later, a loud scream echoed through the house, followed by Draco yelling.

“What the fuck are you doing? Don’t touch me, you fucking werewolf. I’ll make you pay for everything you do to me!”

His voice was full of hate.

Some members peeked into the room and found a serious Remus trying to calm Draco down while Draco stood on the other side, glaring at him.

Remus had hidden Draco’s wand before he woke up, and he had never felt so relieved about a decision.

“Draco, I don’t want to hurt you. I found you unconscious on the floor, I couldn’t leave you there. It could have been really dangerous if someone else had found you” Remus tried to reason with him, but Draco wasn’t buying it.

“What am I? A fucking hostage?”

His voice lowered. Malfoy pride made him hide his fear. There was still hate in his tone, but everyone could see more than that, his trembling hands. He was acting like a Malfoy, like a Death Eater, but he couldn’t deny reality. He had unwelcome feelings. Weaknesses.

“Draco, I’m not sure you understand your situation. You came here by yourself. You’re not a hostage” Remus spoke softly. “You can leave if you want. But only you know what’s waiting for you back there.”

That made Draco tense up. He remembered everything that had happened before running to Grimmauld Place. They would kill him for running away. They would torture him for socializing with a werewolf.

“No. It’s clear I can’t leave. I don’t know what the trap is yet, but I won’t fall into it.”

Remus was confused by Draco’s answer but didn’t push him.

“You were out for a few hours. You must be hungry. Let’s go to the kitchen so you can eat something, okay? After you’re full, we can talk about this.”

It sounded more like an order than an offer, and Draco reacted just like a soldier would, suspicious, but obedient.

In the kitchen, they sat across from each other at the small table. Draco stared at the bowl of food but hadn’t eaten a bite. Instead, he watched everything around him.

“You should eat before it gets cold, Draco.”

Draco looked at him for a moment before finally taking a bite.

Draco didn’t know what to think. If he went back to the Manor, so many terrible things could happen. It was clear he didn’t have his wand. Being locked in with Remus wasn’t his ideal choice. He was confused and scared.

“So… what were you doing alone here? This is an old, empty house. You can’t find much if you’re looking for valuables” Draco said, expecting the worst from anyone who wasn’t pure-blood.

“Draco, I’m a werewolf, not a robber. I came here looking for a place to stay for a while. The war is hard for everyone.”

Remus knew better than to take it personally. Besides, it seemed like Draco truly believed what he was saying, not out of malice, but as a fact learned over time.

“Not the best place to stay, I’d dare to say.”

“Draco, if you want to believe you’re a hostage, that’s fine with me. I just want you safe, alright?”

The care, the warmth, the softness in his voice made Draco feel strange. He didn’t know what to say, so he kept his mouth shut.

Maybe the only thing keeping Draco there wasn’t the house or the Order members… but his own mind.

________________________________________

Draco was in the same room where he had woken up. It was late at night and Remus was resting in a different room. He was alone.

He had always been alone but now it was different. He had run away and everyone at the Manor must know it by now.

He didn’t know what to do. He hadn’t even realized when he ran, his body had moved for him, and he didn’t want to imagine the consequences. Death Eaters were cruel and they didn’t tolerate cowards. He knew a coward was even worse than a Muggle in their eyes.

Besides, he hadn’t found Dumbledore yet. His mission was still ongoing, so maybe if he stayed close to Lupin, he could find him. After all, they both worked for the Order of the Phoenix.

Draco’s mind kept racing, his thoughts insisting on going back while his instincts forced him to stay. He was in danger, no matter where he was.

His eyes grew blurry with angry tears. He forced himself to sleep. Crying wouldn’t solve anything.

Meanwhile, as Draco tried to sleep, Remus was in another room speaking quietly with some members. A soft Silencio had been cast for security.

“He’s ungrateful, Remus. You heard him. He doesn’t trust you” Moody said. “This looks like a mistake. This could cost us the war.”

Kingsley and Moody were the first ones to make their discontent clear. They saw Draco as a threat, and somehow, they weren’t wrong.

“Moody, he’s a child. You saw him in the kitchen when Remus told him he wanted him safe. The boy didn’t know how to react to that” Arthur said tiredly. Being a father made him see things differently.

“Maybe. But maybe it’s an act. Kind of weird that the boy shows up here just after he saw Dumbledore coming here, I would say” Kingsley replied. He had a point, and Remus hated it.

“Draco is scared. He won’t go back, but he doesn’t feel comfortable here either. He insists on believing he’s being held hostage. Hiding from him won’t work. Remus needs to focus on his duties. The best we can do is let him see us and make it clear that he is, in fact, a hostage. That way, we ensure he can’t participate in any trap while keeping him safe at the same time" Dumbledore proposed.

“We don’t know how he will react or if he will be okay with this” Remus said, worried about the blond boy.

“We don’t have many choices, Remus. Dumbledore is right, this way, we can also help take care of him” Molly said. She wanted Draco safe, but her children came first. If keeping an eye on Draco ensured their safety, she would agree to it.

Remus knew Draco was a Death Eater. He couldn’t be fully trusted, and they had to be careful. But it felt so wrong doing that to an abused child.

He’s not a child.

He’s bad.

His body trembled as those thoughts crossed his mind. He didn’t want to think like that. It wasn’t fair.

But maybe they were right.

“Okay.”

The next day would be a long one for all of them. They needed to prepare.

Chapter Text

The sun started to shine in the sky, but Grimmauld Place stayed dark as always. Remus was already waiting for Draco in the same kitchen where he had tried to persuade him to trust him for some days since he got there… Now he was going to break that small piece of trust he had gained. The Order had made a decision, and he had to break it down for the blonde.

He was nervous about Draco’s reaction, but the worst part was that his mind kept telling him he deserved it. He didn’t think any child deserved what Draco was going through, though.

Remorse.

Draco broke his internal conflict when he entered the room. Some days in Remus' care made Draco looked healthier and less nervous. He was still defensive, but not as rough as before. Somehow, he took his hostage position very well when it came to following rules.

What Remus didn’t think about was that rules were everything in Malfoy’s mind. Draco was, is, and probably will always be a soldier, a tool. He didn’t know better, so being held hostage and having to do what he was told was not an issue, but more of a relief for him.

“You look better Draco. I can’t see your bones or your sick, pale skin anymore” said Remus, trying to start the conversation, because something that everyone had noticed during those days was that Draco was extremely silent.

Draco nodded.

Remus sighed. That was going to be a long conversation.

“Draco… I need to tell you something. You are not going to like this, but it has to happen. Either way, you can always count on me, okay?” His voice came out soft, even worried, like someone who knew they had to tell the bad news.

Draco frowned and lifted his face, for the first time really looking into Remus’s eyes. He looked confident, but his grey eyes broke something in Remus: doubt, fear, trust.

Remus realized Draco didn’t let it show, but he trusted Remus, even if it was just a little bit. He was the only adult who had protected him during the war without hurting him in any way, and Remus felt like crying his eyes out because of what he had to do.

“Draco… You are a hostage. The Order of the Phoenix members will come here, and you will have to obey what they say to you. They won’t hurt you, but you are a threat for—” Remus had to swallow because he knew he was breaking the last hope in Draco’s mind, “—You are a threat for us Draco.”

Draco blinked slowly, processing the information he had given him. For a second, he doubted the blonde understood what he had said, but when Draco turned his face, avoiding his gaze, he knew Draco understood better than anybody could. A small nod.

“I’m being serious about this, Draco. They won’t hurt you. You can tell me if anybody tries anything, and I will defend you.” Draco moved his head even further away, and Remus’s heart was hurting. “I will leave you alone so you can think about this. They will arrive during the afternoon, so please be ready.”

He wanted to stay there for him. He wanted to tell him everything would be okay, but he knew he would be lying. He didn’t know what was going to happen or if things were going to be okay… At least not for Draco.

________________________________________

The day passed fast. When Draco noticed, people had started showing up. He hadn’t moved from the kitchen since the morning, but he could hear voices across the hall. He should go, stay, move but his eyes were glued to the window that showed him a blue sky, a ray of sunshine hitting the table between all the darkness that surrounded him.

He didn’t notice when Remus entered the room and started talking to him. He didn’t listen, but some force made him look at him.

“—They are waiting for you, Draco. I know this is not easy, but you have to go.” Remus’s voice helped clear his cloudy mind.

Slowly, he stood up and walked a step behind the werewolf.

When they arrived in the living room, he saw everyone there.

The Weasleys.

The Golden Trio.

Sirius. Moody. Kingsley. Dumbledore. Tonks.

Remus.

Draco.

Draco.

Draco’s mind suddenly woke up, and everyone noticed how his posture turned deadly formal. His eyes weren’t distant anymore, and he looked at every face in the room with open hate.

Nobody understood.

That was not the Draco they had seen with the hidden spell.

“Draco Malfoy" started Dumbledore. “How have you been, boy?”

Nobody dared to say anything. Remus stood a step next to Draco but he didn’t want to look at his face.

“Dumbledore.” The blonde’s voice cut through the tension in the room. “I know I’m not a guest here. No formal conversation is needed. You can tell me what you want.”

Silence.

Everyone froze. They didn’t expect Draco to act so rough. They were expecting the scared boy they had seen without him knowing. They were expecting the real Draco, the empty one.

But they forgot Draco knew how to act.

Better than anyone else.

“We want to keep you safe Draco but we can’t risk you to being involved in any trap." Dumbledore was the only one talking. He was the face of the good side, and his decisions were rarely questioned. “We want you to collaborate with us to win this war Draco. You will be safe here but you have to obey us.”

Nobody noticed, or if they did, nobody said anything, but Draco shivered when he heard Dumbledore’s words. Deep inside, he knew that anyone who told him those words was bad.

Dumbledore was not the exception.

A heavy silence followed. They were expecting a fight, opposition.

But all they got was:

“Okay. Right... Whatever you say, old man. Just tell me what I have to do.”

Draco’s voice sounded empty, like he was used to that kind of situations, him having to do things without any question about whether he was okay with it or not.

They knew Draco’s mind was damaged, but seeing him accept anything just because it was asked… That really, for the first time, made everyone feel uneasy.

Nobody said or did anything. After all, Dumbledore wouldn’t do anything that would put Draco in danger.

But oh…

They were so wrong.

Dumbledore would.

He would do anything to win this war.

And Draco was just the perfect tool to do it.

________________________________________

After the meeting, Draco was sent to the room where he was staying. Everyone except him remained in the living room but nobody had moved yet.

Albus went straight to the point, explaining the truth about their decision, doing what he believed he had to do to keep everyone, including Draco, safe.

Draco’s reaction had shaken them, though.

“I… I really think we shouldn’t use him. He acts tough, but we know that’s not the truth. He’s scared, like any boy his age would be in his position…” started saying Molly, still dismayed.

Some of the members looked at her, feeling the weight of her words. She wasn’t entirely wrong. Maybe, just maybe, they were using him, not being any better than the side the blonde had left behind.

“He is doing what he knows best. He won’t fight us if he thinks he’s being held hostage, but he won’t go back to the dark side either, even if he wants to. He’s confused. It’s like he’s trying to hide from the whole world just by doing what he’s asked, so he can go back to his own mind, alone and away from everything else” said Remus. He had noticed how Draco’s mind was far away that morning and he knew it wasn’t just because of his past, but also because of his present.

And they were his present.

But they were not helping.

So what were they doing?

Some of them started thinking about the whole situation. It wasn’t a Death Eater vs the Order of the Phoenix. It wasn’t good vs bad. It wasn’t an easy question.

It was their morals against their strategy.

The Draco that represented Lord Voldemort, the dark side versus the Draco that had come there running away in fear.

To use him or to protect him.

It was about being impartial.

It was about the same Order having two sides: the ones who wanted a tool, and the ones who wanted to save him.

Chapter Text

The night was deadly silent. After the meeting with Draco, some of the Order members moved to the kitchen. Without any of them realizing their actions, they took a side: Molly, Arthur, the parents; Remus, the one who had known pain; Tonks, who saw her sister in the younger boy; and finally Hermione. Hermione hated Draco but at the same time pitied him for his situation.

All of them had heavy guilt in their hearts. They had a big empathy inside them, so even if they thought Draco deserved punishment for his actions, the way every possible person had been treating him was not the right one. They had agreed to the decision made, but now… it was just a matter of time to see if they were helping or just doing the same evil they were fighting.

“We should cook something for him. He hasn’t eaten anything since yesterday. I bet he won’t ask or come for any food, not now that he knows he is a real hostage and it’s not an act anymore” Said Remus. He was the one who had shared the most time with Draco during those days. He wanted to give the boy a hug. It didn’t matter what the others said, he really wanted the best for him.

“You should take the food to him, Remus. I doubt he will be happy to see any of us, but let me help you cook something for him. A good meal can cure more than we think.” Molly stood up and started looking for some ingredients. Nobody dared to say anything. “He… he acted like Lucius. That was not Draco. I don’t even think we know that boy, but I can tell you all something… We can’t let him fall, because if we do—” Molly swallowed and turned her back on them. “I won’t be able to call myself a mother anymore.”

Hermione, in her young mind, didn’t fully understand, but every adult in the room did. Molly was letting them know she wouldn’t dare think she protected, cared, or fought for the good side, for the young ones, for freedom, if they had to use a lost boy.

“I saw Cissy in his face,” said Tonks. “I know what Dumbledore said. I know even Cissy used him. But—” Her eyes were full of tears that one by one started running down her face. “—I don’t want to hurt my family. He’s not just a random Death Eater to me. He’s my blood, and when I saw Cissy’s face in him… I really thought we were doing something wrong.”

“I may not be the smartest one in here,” started Arthur, his eyes on Tonks’s tears. “But I won’t let anybody use that boy.” His eyes moved to his wife, who had a hurt expression across her face. “His parents failed him. The side he was on failed him. The ‘good side’ wants to use him, and I won’t let that happen. He is not a tool.” His words started moving something inside all of them. “I just expect your support, because I know that trying to keep that boy safe won’t be easy.”

“He has never been easy” sighed Hermione.

___________________________________

A knock on the door got Draco out of his thoughts. He didn’t answer, but the door opened anyway, slowly letting Remus see him sitting on the bed.

“I brought you something to eat, Draco.” His voice came out soft, like every time since Draco had been in that house. “I know your mind must be a mess with everything that happened, but you can’t neglect yourself.”

Draco looked serious. Not good, not bad, just like he didn’t care about anything anymore.

“Wouldn’t make a difference.”

Draco’s voice felt dull. Remus, worried, left the food near the bed, but instead of going back, he stayed standing where he was.

“It makes a difference Draco..." The knot in his throat was suffocating him. "I told you before and I know I broke your trust but I don’t want to see you hurt. Life is not easy boy, not for you, not for me. I know this is not what you were expecting when you ran away, because yes, Draco, that’s what you did. You were scared and ran away. I know you thought you would found the perfect place to hide, to protect yourself but life is not like that… It never is Draco. But if there’s something I can assure you, it’s that I won’t let anything happen to you. So if I’m going to fight for you, you have to take care of yourself, because I refuse to protect an empty doll.”

The words kept spilling from his mouth and were harsh, he saw how Draco began to frown, his words getting through the big wall the blonde had built to avoid the world.

“You have to be strong Draco. I know it hurts but we are in a war and you are in a horrible position that requires you to be stronger and stronger, because this won’t be over fast, okay?”

Remus looked into Draco’s eyes with hope. He expected some insult, some yelling, but Draco just stared at him. Anger, fear, hope, confusion, so many things going through those grey eyes.

Remus thought he wasn’t going to get any answers. Draco was still in the same spot, not moving an inch, and he was about to give up when a soft and really low voice spoke.

“Okay…” said Draco, lowering his head and slowly starting to eat.

Remus left the room with no more words and with a last thought.

“Well, at least he’s not going to starve.”

___________________________________

Sirius and Harry left the room, leaving Dumbledore, Kingsley, Moody, and Ron by themselves. They went to an empty room. A big window showed the full moon illuminating their faces.

“War is never easy,” Sirius started the conversation.

It had been only a short time since the Order started treating the Golden Trio as equals. They were trying to protect them but they would fight when the time came, so they couldn’t treat them as children anymore. That hurt him.

“Harry… What do you think about all of this?”

Harry’s eyes were looking at him. Sirius had become his anchor and his only family, the only one who treated him as a human and not as trash.

Harry didn’t know what to think about everything that was happening. He understood Dumbledore’s decision. In the end, he was a tool too… But realizing his enemy was being abused like he was in his own house was a shock. Maybe he didn’t have a Yaxley, but he knew well what it was to be scared and act like people expected just to avoid being hurt.

“I don’t really know…” His low voice made Sirius see him as the child he was and that broke him.

He was like that once. He knew what it was to be a child in a war.

Regulus knew it better than anyone.

But that was war.

It was the dark side. It was Voldemort. It was Draco.

It was Regulus.

But it was also the good side. It was Dumbledore. It was Harry.

And it was Sirius.

“I know it’s hard, Harry, but you have me. You don’t have to be scared.”

Those words made Harry calm down. He wasn’t alone.

“I don’t think we should use him… But I know we have our own responsibility in the war, Sirius. Look at me, the boy who lives to save the world.” A fake laugh. “Maybe Draco has to play his part too.”

Sirius looked at Harry. He looked so young but at the same time so mature. War had that effect on people.

He wanted to deny what Harry was saying. He wanted to tell him he didn’t have to fight or play any part.

He couldn’t.

“I will make sure none of you have to suffer, Harry. Draco won’t be hurt or use but more than that, I will protect you. We will fight this war but you won’t be on the front line. We, the adults, will be on the front line for you.”

Sirius didn’t want any more children dying because of war.

Not even a Malfoy.

And he decided he wouldn’t let this war finish him. He would finish the war and make sure nobody suffered anymore because of it.

Chapter Text

Since Draco got to Grimmauld Place he hadn’t missed his home once. He played the hostage part with Remus, he kept being cold and distant, but without him noticing it, inside him he started to feel safe.

Now, for the first time since he got there, he was missing home. He was scared of going back, of course, but he was missing Yaxley’s words. He was missing his mom’s hugs and even his father’s orders.

Now he was all alone, being a real hostage and doing exactly the same. The only difference is that being on the good side of the war could put his parents in danger.

He was a coward and a bad son. He knew it.

He didn’t want to run away from the Order. He didn’t want to stay there either, either way they wouldn’t let him go and the dark side wouldn’t be happy to receive him again.

The room was empty, silent, dark, just the same way he was feeling…

But Remus said he would take care of him.

Idiot.

Hoping for the best from a werewolf.

He for sure was going crazy.

He wanted to give up. He didn’t want to fight a war and he didn’t want to support any side. He just wanted to rest and stop feeling the heavy chains on his shoulders and the needles in his chest.

A tear dropped from his face. Hot.

He was alone.

Cold.

And he was so fucking scared.

He wanted someone to tell him he would be okay, but he knew it wouldn’t happen. Because just like always, everyone just wanted to take something from him and then leave him alone, empty. He didn’t matter, neither did what he felt.

He’s a fucking tool, a fucking soldier, a fucking… anything.

He wasn’t Ron or Hermione, who had parents to care for them.

He wasn’t Harry, who had the world at his feet.

He wasn’t Luna, that everyone loves.

He was Draco Malfoy, the plague that should suffer because that’s what he deserves.

Tears were running down his face and he was deadly silent. Anybody that saw him would be surprised by his skill.

He felt the air getting thinner and thinner.

He wished for it to be his last night.

But life wasn’t that compassionate.

And he started missing Yaxley, but even he would ignore him because he wasn’t obedient enough when he ran away.

So that’s his life now and he has to accept it.

Whether he wants it or not.

________________________________________

Remus and Sirius were together in an empty room. Long years as a couple made them know each other very well, so when Sirius looked at Remus he kneeled in front of him with worry.

“Remus, baby, what happened? You told me you were handling the situation,” Sirius said. Even if his voice was harsh, the worry on his face was easy to notice.

“I know, I’m sorry… It’s just that—” Remus’ eyes started filling with tears. “—I really thought we were doing the best, but Sirius I saw him tonight and he was dissociating and I didn’t know what to say to make him feel better. I think we just failed him and he won’t heal, not in this situation at least.” His voice cracked and he pulled Sirius into a tight hug.

“Remus… you did what you could. You were the first one to approach him. You were the one who took care of him during the days he was alone. You are the one that is afraid to fail him. You are doing your best, baby, and I promise I won’t let anything bad happen to him, okay?” Sirius was desperate to make his boyfriend feel better. The worst feeling for him was seeing his boyfriend sad and crying.

“No Sirius, you… you don’t understand. I don’t even know if there’s something left to save.” Remus remembered Draco’s eyes, the missing light in them.

There was silence between them. They had carried a heavy weight since the last war, and that made them recognize anybody that gives up, and apparently Draco already did.

“He can heal, Remus… I did. But it won’t be easy, baby. But if you’re prepared, we can do it. He needs us, he needs you.” Their eyes connected and they took a silent decision: they would save Draco.

“He’s like you, Sirius… He reminds me of Regulus too,” said Remus with a soft smile full of pain.

“He has Black blood after all. Luckily we are not easy to defeat, right?”

With that, Remus laughed.

Maybe things could get better.

They just need to try.

“Let’s go to bed, yes? Today was a long day and tomorrow we'll start a long ride with the blondie. We will have to take action from now on.” Sirius was right. Tomorrow everything would change.

Chapter Text

The morning came with a change in the air. The sun was warm, and even though the house was cold, the light made the kitchen feel cozy. Molly was cooking breakfast for everyone, while Remus cleaned the kitchen, waiting for the others to show up.

“Should I make something special for Draco? He didn’t look fine yesterday.” Asked Molly, being the soft woman she had always been.

“Some tea would be fine. The pure-blood for sure will be thankful to have a good one." Answered Sirius with a little laugh as he entered the kitchen.

“Oh, that’s a great idea, Sirius!” Molly was genuinely surprised.

“Of course, he’s a Black after all, Molly.” Remus laughed. The air wasn’t so cold anymore, and the food was placed on the table with care.

Remus looked at the table full of food, Molly moving through the kitchen, Sirius trying to take a toast but getting burned because it was too hot… maybe it was the start of a change.

“I’ll get Draco.” Remus notified with enjoyment in his voice.

He walked through the halls until Draco’s door. He didn’t know how Draco was going to react, but he was sure the boy would try his best to make things right.

A knock at the door, he waited.

No answer.

He was worried for the blond, so he slowly opened the door to make sure he was okay. He entered the room in silence, and when he realized Draco was sleeping while hugging the pillow, his heart started beating fast. He looked so cute; his blonde hair looked soft, his pale skin made him look like a porcelain doll, and he was pretty in a young, delicate way.

Remus got near the bed and softly touched Draco’s arm. “Draco, breakfast is ready.”

Draco snuggled under the blanket.

“Okay… Draco, you have to wake up. There won’t be any food left." Said Remus, smiling. He loved to see the young boy relaxed and safe.

Some minutes passed with Remus trying his best to wake Draco, and his efforts were rewarded when the blond began opening his eyes. Draco was confused at first, but when Remus told him about breakfast, he looked kind of sad. Remus wasn’t going to give up.

With a spell to clean himself, Draco got ready, and both of them went to the kitchen, which already had some people eating in it.

With a formality nobody would expect at a daily breakfast, Draco sat and started eating until everyone was seated. Draco was silent; he looked at everyone with missing trust, obviously with reason after yesterday.

Either way, Remus felt proud of Draco for being so brave and continuing to do what he could.

While they were eating, the Golden Trio entered the room with clearly hungry eyes. Hermione looked at Draco with a soft smile, Ron just ignored him, but Harry…

Harry had always been different. “The tea isn’t so bad, right, Malfoy? Molly has a good hand for it.”

Everyone was shocked. The comment came out of nowhere, but when they saw Draco look at Harry, they knew the boy who lived to make impossible things happen was on point.

“I’ve had better." Draco said with an arrogance and confusion. Even if his words were harsh, his tone was soft and shy, like he was avoiding admitting that the tea was, in fact, very good.

The morning went just like that. Draco didn’t talk anymore, but he heard the small conversation that continued. The room felt warm, like a hug between the war.

Remus knew he had to guide Draco to help the boy feel better. When Draco finished his food, he asked him to go with him to search for some books to read. Draco at first looked suspicious, but when he realized he didn’t have many choices, he followed him.

“I’m always surprised by the number of books this house has." Said Remus when they got in front of the shelves. “Do you have any preference? You can read something you like to pass the time.”

Draco was confused. He didn’t understand why everyone was acting so weird and, most of all, why anybody was using him the right way.

Draco glared at the werewolf as if he had two heads. “This place isn’t that big. At the Manor, we had more books… and anything that can be useful is okay.” His answer made Remus’s smile disappear. The more he knew and understood the blond, the worse he felt. It was clear that the way Draco was raised, his manners, his actions, his decisions, everything was a real representation of it.

“You can read something useless, Draco. Not everything you do has to have a reason. It can just be because you enjoy it.”

Now Draco looked at him like he had just lost his mind. Great.

Draco didn’t say anything, so Remus noticed the blond’s eyes stopping repeatedly on a specific book. It was a tale, something new and unknown for him. The werewolf smiled again and handed the book to Draco.

“Here, you can read this today. Maybe tomorrow we can look for something different for you. What do you think?”

Draco was speechless. He didn’t understand; his mind couldn’t process the feeling in his chest. He looked at the book in his hands. It was a hardcover book with a child sitting on a planet, a flower next to him.

The Little Prince.

“I don’t understand." Admitted the blonde.

“You don’t have to. You just have to accept it, and eventually it will get easier.” Remus’s words began to feel like a door to a new world.

With a shy nod, Draco left the room still confused. Remus felt like it had been the hardest, easiest morning he had ever had.

“How was it?” asked Sirius while entering the room. Arthur and he had been monitoring breakfast to make sure any Order members who wanted to use Draco as a tool didn’t show up. A little cautious, but it was necessary.

“Fine… I guess. He looked confused, but at least he accepted everything without any opposition. Either way, I’m not so sure how good that is." He said, exasperated.

“I met Kingsley on the way here. He said we shouldn’t be treating Draco like this; otherwise, he won’t want to participate in the war. He said Draco could get scared easily. I think he’s right, but I think that’s the reason why we should keep him away from everything.” Sirius said. “So I talked to Arthur to keep Kingsley, Moody, and Dumbledore away from Draco for a while, just while we think about something.”

Remus thought it was best for the moment. At first, everyone agreed with their decision, with Dumbledore’s agreement, but realizing Draco was not in the right state of mind made everyone change their minds.

He knew they had made progress with Draco that morning, small, but real. It was going to be slow, but maybe Draco could heal.

“What does Harry think?” asked Remus.

“He’s not doing fine either, Remus. When I talked to you about this whole situation, I wasn’t just talking about Draco. I want to keep every child safe we can. We know Ron and Hermione are being taken care of by Arthur and Molly, but Harry and Draco… they have to be ours.”

Remus realized how deeply all this was affecting Sirius. He got near his boyfriend and gently touched his cheek.

“Okay, they are ours to protect.”

With that said, Sirius hugged Remus so hard the smaller man thought he might break.

“Thank you.” Sirius sighed.

“Always.”

________________________________________

Draco was in his room, looking at the book in silence. He didn’t understand everyone’s actions; he was being held hostage, he wasn’t a guest… So why were they being so weird?

Maybe it was a trap.

Remus was a weirdo too. The sensations Remus made him feel were uncomfortable; his stomach hurt when the older man acted like that.

They are laughing at you.

But they weren’t.

Even Harry was acting unusual, talking to him like they weren’t enemies.

His mind was a mess, and with fake anger, he grabbed the book and opened it.

It was… weird. Everything was weird.

He let out a sigh.

The book was pretty entertaining, and he finished it in one sitting. The Little Prince’s adventure was really interesting, and he wondered who wrote something so cool. He even thought at first that the drawing everyone thought was a hat… he didn’t think that. He really thought it was a snake that had eaten something or someone!

And the flower fight with the Little Prince made him feel sad for some reason. The way love was shown in the book was really different from the way he knew it.

Maybe the book was wrong? But it wouldn’t have been published if it was wrong.

He didn’t want to admit that maybe everything he knew about love… specifically from his parents and Yaxley… was wrong.

No.

He wasn’t wrong. They were just… different.

Right?

________________________________________

Harry was sitting in the living room with Ron and Hermione, who were looking at him confused. Hermione had questions, and Ron looked like he was trying to reproduce something.

He knew what this was about.

“You do realize that was Malfoy, right?” asked Ron.

“Ron, he’s having a hard time. Don’t be like that.” Hermione defended the blonde. She had always been an empathetic person, and that was one of the things their friends loved about her.

“I get it. It’s just that… somehow I understand how he must be feeling. He doesn’t even look like the Malfoy we used to know, guys." Harry said. And he was right; even if Draco tried to act like before, they had seen the truth. “I just don’t want here to be a war too.”

“Harry, he’s the same Malfoy who treated us like shit. You can’t be serious, man.” Ron was upset. He didn’t understand why everyone was being so gentle with that human trash, even Hermione, who had endured insults for years, was being good to the blonde. “You guys have to be joking, really.”

“I’m not joking, Ron. We can’t keep answering hate with more hate. That won’t lead us anywhere good." Harry’s words made Ron even angrier. He felt like Harry had betrayed him.

“You know what? Talk to me when you get your head in it's place. You defending a fucking Death Eater was not on my bingo card for this war! He hurt people, Harry. He is not an innocent who suffered because of the dark side. For God’s sake, he is the fucking dark side!” yelled Ron as he stood up and stormed out of the room. There was some guilt in him, but he couldn’t tolerate his friend’s actions. He felt frustrated, why couldn’t Harry see that Draco had always been bad?

Harry knew Ron wasn’t going to agree with him, but his reaction was more intense than he had expected. Even his parents would have understood the situation.

Draco was alone in a house full of people who opposed everything he represented. And the worst part? He had come here running away from the very same thing.

Why couldn’t Ron understand that?

“Harry… I’ll talk to him. He’s upset, but let him calm down a bit, okay? He didn’t mean to blame you. You are doing good; he needs someone there for him.” Hermione said. She truly was an angel on earth.

“Thanks, Mione. And yes, go talk to him. It looked like he needed it.”

Hermione left, and Harry was alone once again. He knew war was about sides, but nothing had prepared him to be on a different side from his friends...

Harry was tired.

Chapter Text

Next morning came faster than expected. As usual, Remus walked to Draco’s door and knocked. Silence answered him, just as usual again. The older man opened the door slowly and went into the room with a clear hope after the events of the day before. Draco was curled up on his bed, his face covered by some blond hair and his eyes glued to the door where Remus stood, the distrust present as every day.

“Morning, Draco. Did you get some sleep?” asked Remus with a relaxed voice. Draco looked better than when he came here for the first time, but he still had a long way to go before looking completely fine. The dark circles around his grey eyes were the proof of that.

Draco didn’t answer, but his eyes moved to the small book on the nightstand. Remus followed his gaze and realized that Draco, for the first time, was having a normal communication with him. That warmed his heart so much he wanted to cry, though he didn’t.

“Oh! You didn’t sleep because you were reading this?” Draco nodded. “I bet you liked it, it’s a great book actually.” Remus laughed. “Maybe we should look for another book for you today.” Remus’ voice came again and again; for anybody else it would have been only a one-sided conversation, but Remus saw the small answers Draco gave him.

“It was weird,” whispered Draco while Remus took the book in his hands. It’s not like Draco hadn’t talked before, but his voice now lacked any fear or pain, and that made Remus so proud. His boy was brave. Maybe the book was a good choice for them.

“It can be weird if you have a different perspective on things, but I’m sure you learned something from it,” said Remus with a smile on his face.

The werewolf left the book where it was and sat on the bed next to Draco, who was still in the same position.

“Draco… How are you?” His voice took a serious tone and his eyes looked at Draco’s legs, which were being hugged by his arms. “I know that running away was hard. Being here around people who are so different from what you know… I bet you’re afraid, Draco, but believe me, you don’t have to be anymore. I know you think you can’t trust anybody, but you can. You deserve to heal. What you lived there wasn’t normal.” Remus wanted the boy to feel better, but he was afraid Draco would lock himself in his own world, unable to move forward.

“I miss Yaxley and my parents.” Draco’s answer broke Remus’ heart. He was a scared child looking for the ones he loved. “But they won’t want me back." They don’t love him anymore.

“Are you afraid here, Draco?” The blond nodded slowly.

“Do you feel you can trust me?” asked Remus again.

Draco didn’t answer, but he bit his lip. He wanted to trust Remus but was afraid, and the werewolf noticed that.

There was a silence, but it was interrupted by a knock that didn’t wait for an answer. Sirius appeared in the room looking at both of them.

The air was tense.

“Everyone is together. They want to have an Order meeting… They want Draco there.” With that said, Draco moved in fear, and when Sirius started walking toward him, the blond started hyperventilating.

Remus noticed that and stopped the Black, who stayed where he was. He hated seeing Draco like that and felt so powerless because there was nothing he could do.

Either way, his boyfriend could.

Remus moved slowly toward Draco. The small boy was having a panic attack, probably because of the meeting.

“Draco… Everything is okay. We don’t want to hurt you. You are safe,” started Remus. “Breathe a little bit with me. Yes, you are doing so great, sweetheart.” Draco was still hyperventilating, but his eyes were on Remus. “Breathe in… hold for a second. Yes, you are doing good. Breathe out. You’re so brave, baby, just like that.” Remus’ words started to work because Draco was calming down. Besides, it wasn’t as bad as before.

“I can’t go,” whispered Draco to Remus, and Remus felt like crying.

“Yes, baby, you can. We will go with you and we won’t let anything happen to you.” Remus was like medicine for Draco since he got there.

Sirius watched the scene, but when Draco started touching his arm, where the Dark Mark was supposed to be, the Black understood everything.

“Draco, you are not a Death Eater. You are a child,” exclaimed Sirius. “You did bad things, but it was because that’s what they taught you. You don’t have to be scared. We won’t let anything bad happen to you here… I know it’s scary.” His tone changed, and Remus looked at him with sadness. “When I ran away, I thought nobody would accept me for my past, for my actions. But it’s not like that, Draco. We can change and we can have a different life, different from what they expected, different from what we were supposed to have.” His head went down, staring at the floor in pain. “You just have to trust us, Draco… Or not me. Don’t trust me. But I know what I see when you are with Remus. I know it because… because I was there once too. I know you want to trust him, so… why not do it?”

Sirius was ashamed. He probably looked pathetic, his speech completely stupid to anyone who heard it. But when he lifted his face and saw Draco, without any panic in him, just looking at him with recognition, he understood. It wasn’t about whether he was right or not.

They were changing things, and that’s what mattered.

“I… They won’t torture me for information, right?” asked Draco with fear, but calmer than before.

His question made both men sad, but they understood how things were in the Manor.

“No, Draco. And if someone tries anything, we will be there for you,” said Remus with confidence.

“Okay…”

It wasn’t a big step, but it was a step, and that’s what mattered for them.

⸻

When Sirius, Remus and Draco got to the meeting, everyone was already there. The room was silent and nobody dared to say anything. Draco walked close to Remus. He was acting, again, as a respectable Malfoy: his back straight, his head lifted and his eyes hard, but one hand was almost holding Remus’ clothes, though it was hard to notice because of his appearance.

“Draco, I’m glad to see you well, boy!” Dumbledore said. “Now that we are all here, we can start with the meeting.”

Dumbledore, Moody, Kingsley and Arthur started talking about their findings: how things were going against the Dark side, the losses and the wins. Everything looked fine, but there was a silence when they started talking about the Death Eaters.

“Draco…” started Dumbledore. “I know it’s hard for you to talk about this. You have the world in your hands. If you give us any information, anything that can be useful, you would be saving lives. In that way you would be rewarding yourself for your mistakes. We all know you did some bad things when you were there…” Everyone looked at Dumbledore without believing what they were hearing. Draco started breathing fast. “Even this man, Yaxley, you did some bad things with him, right? Or when you tortured some Muggles… You have to help us, Draco. Otherwise you’ll never be free of guilt.”

“He’s right, boy. You will have to talk one way or another,” said Moody, just trying to help Dumbledore get the blond talking.

It was a mistake.

When Draco heard that, he thought the worst. Sirius looked at the scared boy and stood up.

“Stop this, you’re scaring him!”

But he wasn’t fast enough because Draco ran away, probably to his room, fearing the ways they could get information out of him.

Sirius shared a look with Remus and the last one ran behind Draco. They were not going to leave him alone in this. Dumbledore and Moody were wrong. They were manipulating a child. How dared they say those things?

Sirius looked at Dumbledore. That was the man all of them respected, but his actions toward Draco had been anything but respectable.

“If this is the way the Order acts now toward children, I don’t have to be in it anymore,” said Sirius looking straight at Dumbledore. There were some gasps. Molly was hugging Arthur, almost crying for Draco. Harry and Hermione looked at him surprised. Maybe it was an extreme decision for them, but he had been on the dark side too. The difference was that he was never treated like that.

“You are saying what comes to your head, Sirius. You should calm down before taking any decisions,” Dumbledore said slowly.

“You said he did things with Yaxley and that it was his fault.” Indignation filled his voice. “This is the last time you try to use him or manipulate him like this. Draco Malfoy is under my watch now, so if you want something from him, let me know and I’ll talk to him.”

Dumbledore knew the Black was serious about that.

There was a silence before Dumbledore sighed. “Let him know his help would be greatly appreciated.”

With that, Sirius left the room.

Harry had been quiet until that moment. He couldn’t keep seeing the Order acting like that. He needed to stop it.

“I don’t think Sirius is wrong about this,” he started. “This is the same way Death Eaters get information from their victims.”

“This is not the same, Harry, and you know it,” said Ron. They hadn’t resolved their own issues yet; it was clear for everyone.

“My boy… When you grow up you will understand why we act the way we do,” Dumbledore said with his respectable tone. He was an old man and he knew better than to not use any source he had to end the war with Voldemort. If he died, they wouldn’t win another war against him, so he had to make sure everything ended well, at least for them.

“No, Albus.” Molly hadn’t spoken until now, but she couldn’t be an accomplice, not when it was about a child. “We can’t keep acting like this. We will win this war, but not like this.”

Everyone knew Draco was going to play his role… but in a way none of them expected.

⸻

Remus had calmed Draco down when Sirius arrived. They were handling the situation as well as they could. They couldn’t believe how far Dumbledore would go to win this war, even forgetting about their values.

Draco looked at them, tears in his eyes. Fear, guilt, shame… They were going to say something when Draco’s eyes closed.

Something was different.

And then the blond said something that would change everything for everyone.

“I’ll give them information and help them with whatever they want… Only one condition, and I’ll be all theirs.”

And shit.

That can’t be good.