Against a Sea of Troubles

II.

Harry took care to shut the door to the Burrow’s kitchen without making a sound; though Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were the only ones at home, they likely wouldn’t care to be awakened so early in the morning. After setting the wards of the door, Harry headed into the living area just off the kitchen to find his two best friends, Hermione and Ron, snogging furiously on the settee.

He cleared his throat, surprising the lovers. Separating from one another quickly, they grinned sheepishly up at their friend.

“How’d it go with the ferret?” asked Ron, whose face was nearing the same shade of red as his hair.

Harry dropped heavily into a chair across from them. “Not so good,” he answered. “He’ll come around once he realizes it’s entirely for his benefit.”

Hermione looked over at her friend. “You didn’t tell him that we’d already approached his mother, did you?” she said in a thoughtful manner.

“No.”

“Why the bloody hell didn’t you?” Ron cried. “I’m sure he’d like to know his Mum’s safe and sound in a room here.”

“I made the suggestion that we could help his mother if he would help us. Somewhat dishonest, I know, but I think he’ll help us anyway.”

“Why?” Hermione asked.

Harry’s face turned grim. “He has no one else to help him. When I spoke with him, I could tell he wasn’t lost to the Dark Lord.”

At this, Harry started up the stairs to his temporary bedroom.

‘He can still be turned,’ he thought. ‘In more ways than one…’



This was a bad, bad idea. Potter said he could help, but… Really, how could he?

Draco had sat in front of the fire, staring at the light until the last embers had fizzled out, thinking of Potter and his offer. He really didn’t have anything left to lose.

On that last thought, Draco gathered up the few belongings he had scattered about the rundown cottage, shrunk them with a spell, and Apparated to Diagon Alley.


The inside of the Leaky Cauldron had changed little from the first time Harry had seen it. The tables and booths were all still in the same places, along with the same recognizable regulars. Tom was behind the bar, wiping glasses with a dirty looking rag. As seedy as everything looked, Harry did not care. He took a seat at the bar.

“A Firewhiskey, please.”

Wordlessly, Tom pulled a glass down from a shelf behind him and poured the amber colored liquid, filling about half the glass. Harry took it, gave him a few coins, and set about drinking it down, slowly. Looking about, he could tell that there were few familiar faces, and certainly no friends with whom to commiserate.

Harry sat for a while, sipping his whiskey, before he felt a warm presence sit upon the stool beside him.

“Firewhiskey for me as well, Tom.” That voice…

Harry looked to his side to see Draco Malfoy looking at him with a bemused smirk on his face.

“What, surprised to see me amongst the plebeians? I assure you, it’s entirely due to business.”

Harry relaxed inwardly. “You’ve decided to help us, then?”

Draco accepted his glass from Tom and took a gulp, grimacing. “In a way, yes.”

“Beg your pardon?”

Draco looked Harry in the eye seriously. “The only one I’m helping the most is myself. The way I see it, there’s no ‘us’ involved here. It’s less messy this way.”

Harry pondered this over for a moment. “So you’ll help, but on your own terms, is that it?”

“Correct, Potter. I get the final say in any informational expedition, though you’re not likely to get much resistance out of me.”

The brunet was surprised. “Oh, really? How’s that?”

Gray eyes met green. “There’s very little that intimidates me anymore.” Draco took another gulp of his Firewhiskey, this time without grimacing. His eyes were still trained on Harry’s. He leaned closer. “In fact, I like a bit of a challenge.”

A fire lit itself low in Harry’s belly upon hearing Draco’s declaration. A challenge, eh? Let’s see if the Almighty Draco Malfoy can handle himself in a den of lions.

“Fine. Your first task is to accompany me to the your mother’s hideout, which is coincidentally our informal Headquarters. You will, of course, have to take an Oath of Secrecy so as not to relay our position to any outsiders.”

Draco scowled, and Harry took this as his cue to continue. “This is more for your safety than ours, Draco. There can be no reason for us not to trust you.”

“Well, that’s a nice way of putting it.”

Harry grinned in spite of the other wizard’s negative attitude. He brought his glass to his mouth and swallowed the last bit of Firewhiskey, then motioned for Draco to follow suit.

“Let’s go.”

Draco followed Harry out the back door and into Diagon Alley. Once far enough into the alley to perform magic, Harry held his arm out for Draco, who looked at him curiously.

Harry sighed. “I highly doubt that you’ve ever been where I’m about to take you, so to keep you from splinching, I’ll Apparate the both of us.”

Nodding, Draco stepped wordlessly into Harry’s embrace, holding him tightly yet with enough distance between them to keep Draco comfortable.

“Hang on,” Harry whispered into Draco’s ear before Apparating from where they stood.

They Disapparated in front of the Burrow. Immediately, Draco recognized his surroundings.

“The WEASLEYS? My mother’s in hiding with the Weasel and his family?” he said in complete disbelief.

Harry looked over at the stupefied blonde. “So you’ve been here before? Hm… Never would have thought you and Ron knew each other well enough.”

The wizard scowled. “No, I’ve never been here. I saw it on the cover of the Daily Prophet once. How could I have forgotten a place like this?”

Not wanting to get into another argument so soon, Harry began moving quickly toward the side door of the leaning, rickety old building. Entering into the kitchen, he glanced behind him to see that Draco was following closely, albeit hesitantly.

Harry grinned. “We won’t bite, honest.”

“And I’m hearing this from the King of the Righteous Lions…” Draco muttered, taking in his surroundings in awe.

The Weasleys’ colorful knickknacks and eccentric portraits lined the walls, filling the room with a burst of warmth that seemed to blow Draco back out the door. He was used to austere corridors and halls, furnished and completed in décor with muted colors. This was unlike any home he’d ever set foot in. His eyes finally came to rest on Harry, who was looking at his expression in amusement.

“Don’t worry. You’ll adapt quickly. Your mother has already said she loves it.”

Gray eyes narrowed. “How long has she been here?”

A cool feminine voice interrupted their conversation. “Four days, and a delightful four days it’s been.”

Draco saw his mother, Narcissa Malfoy, come into the kitchen from a hallway to his right. Surprised for a moment, he forgot all formalities and rushed forward to embrace her. To Harry’s amazement, she hugged her son back with equal fervor.

“I’m so glad you’ve chosen to help Harry,” Narcissa said as she pulled away from her son.

Draco glared at Harry, feeling deceived and put-upon, but answered his mother with, “Whatever I can do to prevent a world a death and destruction will be done.”

Harry saw a real smile grace Narcissa’s face for the first time since he’d formally met her. She took her son’s arm, saying, “Come. I’ll take you to your room.”

Watching them leave, Harry took a seat at the kitchen table and rested his forehead in his palms. Draco now knew that Harry had deceived him, but he would continue on with the plan as decided.

Draco was now officially a spy for the Order of the Phoenix. Harry decided to set a date for a meeting for all the members to talk strategy.

There was so much left to do before the Final Battle.

Author's Note: Thanks for the read, and please, RATE AND REVIEWWWW!

FYI: This is a work in progress, so the chapters may tend to be few and far between, but I'll make my best efforts as long as I know that some of you are actually reading this... Thanks to those who review.

Happy Martin Luther King Day, and Happy Holidays, everywhere.

-SS-