War & Peace: HP Style

Chapter Two - We Stand As One......Undivided

Where we were once divided
Now we stand united
We stand as one....undivided
How many hands? How many hearts?
How many dreams been torn apart?
Enough, enough....the time has come to stand back up

Undivided - Bon Jovi


Wednesday, October 3rd
Room of Requirement
A meeting of Dumbeldore's Army


Hermione surveyed the group that had assembled in the Room of Requirement. Each face was familar to her, each person willing to risk their lives to bring down Voldemort. It had been her idea to put together a group of students willing to learn defensive spells, and a few offensive ones as well. She was of the belief that no matter what the adults said, it was far better that they be prepared for any eventuality. What Harry had sprung on her and Ron Monday night constituted as an eventuality. Blaise Zabini and Draco Malfoy had offered to help Harry in his quest to defeat Voldemort.

Ron had been immediately suspicious. As had she, but she had remained calm while Harry tried to make sense of it all. No doubt they needed all the help they could get, but still, they were Slytherins. There wasn't a witch or wizard that ever went bad that didn't come from Slytherin, or so the saying went. Harry had gone over the words that Zabini had spoken and after much consideration what he had said made sense to Hermione. However, the fact that Malfoy was involved still confused her. She'd have thought he would have been branded a Death Eater by now.

Harry walked towards the center of the room and called for everyone's attention. "Listen up, everybody, I have some important news to share." The occupants in the room settled down, some of the girls even sighed at the sight of the dark-haired young man. "I was approached Monday by two students claiming they want to help our cause. I remain undecided about including them in Dumbledore's Army."

"Who are the two students, Harry?" Seamus Finnegan called out. Harry took a deep breath, his next words would surely cause a riot in the room.

"Blaise Zabini and Draco Malfoy," he stated.

Shouts of "What!", and "You have got to be joking!", and "No way in hell!" could be heard around the room. One voice stood out from the rest, though she spoke no louder than her normal speaking tone.

"Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith with decisions like this, Harry. The Snarftrunks live their lives the same way." The voice was soft, dreamlike, but carried with it a wisdom that went far beyond the young woman's years.

"Snarftrunks aren't Slytherins that should not be trusted, Lovegood" This from an irritated Micheal Corner. Ginny had just recently ended their relationship and so his bad humor was being forced on the group. Several heads nodded in agreement with his words.

Another voice spoke up, this one in defense of the dreamy blonde girl. "Luna makes sense, if you think about it." Groans sounded aroudn the room as Lavendar Brown spoke. "Sometimes all you can do is jump right in to something and hope that it works out for the best."

"Wonderful, Brown, let's just host a little party and invite all the bloody Slytherins, yeah? Then we can hope they don't take us straight to their Death Eater parents!!" Ron exploded. He was not for this idea, not at all. The fact that Harry and Hermione were seriously considering it angered him and therefore he directed said anger at the most immediate target. Ex-girlfriend Lavender Brown just happened to be in his line of fire. "What else should we do? Floo call You-Know-Who and ask him if he wants to come round for tea? You're barmy if you think this is a good idea."

Tears filled Lavender's eyes. Although they had broken up a year ago her feelings for Ron had not changed, and never had he spoken to her the way he was now. Neville nudged Ron in the side. "That was uncalled for, Lavender was just speaking her mind," he whispered. Ron didn't respond, just turned his glare back on Harry.

"I say we get them to answer some questions under Veritaserum," Ernie McMillan said. His tone was serious, though he knew that giving another student Veritaserum under duress would get him expelled. To him it was the only logical thing to do.

There murmurs of agreement and even Hermione seemed to take this suggestion seriously. She nodded towards Harry, and her acceptance of the idea seemed to settle something in his mind. He raised his hand in a gesture for silence.

"I think Ernie has come up with a fairly good plan."

"Brilliant, mate. Now we can ask them exactly what they are up to!" Ron's eyes widened at the thought of all the information they could glean from the unsuspecting Slytherins.

"Ron," said Hermione, "What you are thinking is unethical. What Harry means is that we will decide on a set of questions to ask them. This way we aren't abusing the power that comes with administering Veritaserum." Harry smiled at Hermione, glad she understood where he had been going with his thoughts.

Ron reddened at the slight tone of lecturing that Hermione had used. "Whatever," he mumbled.

"Who gets to decide on the questions? And what will the questions be?" asked Ginny, stepping up to stand near her older brother.

"I'd like everyone to come up with a few questions and then Hermione can narrow it down from there. As for what the questions will be, they should be ones whose answers will prove to you that Zabini and Malfoy are serious about joining Dumbledore's Army. Nothing that would embarrass them or cause them undue stress should be asked." Harry eyes glanced around the room, briefly landing on each face for a few moments. He hoped they understood how important it would be to have Zabini and Malfoy on their side. He still wasn't quite sure that having them join the DA was a smart move. But there was a muggle saying that went Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. That was exactly what Harry intended to do.

~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~

Hermione walked into the library. The task ahead of her was sure to be unpleasant. No one had wanted to be the ones to tell Zabini and Malfoy that the requirement to join Dumbledore's Army was to take a few sips of Veritaserum and to answer a few questions as proof that their request to join was serious. There had been a fair few arguments about who was going, who wasn't going and who needed to keep their tempers in check (Ron!). She had gotten so fed up that she had quietly grabbed the piece of parchment with the questions on it and had slipped out the door unseen. She would take care of this herself.

She spotted the two boys over in the corner. Draco had his face hidden behind an old Charms text and Blaise was working on an essay. Since it was close to curfew the library was empty save for Madam Pince in her office. No one would notice Hermione talking to the two Slytherins now. Taking a deep breath she strode over to them and sat her self down across from Draco and adjacent to Blaise. They both looked up, startled to be approached by the Head Girl.

"Granger," Draco acknowledged her. No trace of scorn or warmth either, showing in his tone. He sounded, well, very un-Malfoyish. This was something for her to mull over later.

"Hermione," Blaise greeted her. The two had become tolerant of each other in their shared Arithmancy class, and so his use of her first name was not a surprise.

"Listen up, we've come to a decision. I'm here to discuss it with you. We will allow you into Dumbledore's Army on two conditions," She paused to see if they were still willing for her to continue. When they both nodded, she spoke again. "The first may not be to your liking, but I would appreciate it if you would hear me out before you say anything." Again she paused and again they nodded.

She wasn't sure what to make of their behavior. Blaise was always the more calm one, so she wasn't too surprised that he was waiting for her to finish speaking. Draco on the other hand had always been the more dramatic of the two. The more impatient to get what he wanted when he wanted it. It was unusual for him to hold his tongue this long. She made a mental note to see if she could find out why he had changed so much.

"We want for you both to drink a small amount of Veritaserum. Only enough to answer a few questions. We all voted on this method as we feel it will be the easiest for us to understand your motives." She paused again, waiting to see if they would interrupt her, and was surprised again. The only reactions noticed was the tightening of their jaws and Draco placed a tighter grip on his wand.

"However, Harry and I agreed that no one is to take advantage of the situation and ask you questions that may be too personal or too ridiculous to answer. We have decided on four questions. I have them with me and I will let you view them, so that when they are aked it will not be a surprise to you."

Draco exchanged looks with Blaise. He did not want to answer any questions. He didn't care if the questions were as simple as what's your favortie color or what kind of hair gel do you use. He couldn't, wouldn't let them humilate him anymore than he already had been by his father's cronies.

Blaise, understanding what Draco went through, felt bad for his friend. But he knew that in order to be accepted they had to do this.

"Hermione, let us see the questions, please." Hermione handed the folded parchment to Blaise and sat back, allowing them time to look it over.

Draco looked at parchment and he couldn't help the resentment that burned in his gut. Resentment that his father had ever put him in this postion in the first place. Resentment over always being compared to Potter in Quidditch and Granger in class. There was even resentment over the knowledge that Dumbledore had always looked out for Potter before anyone else. And now, now he had to listen to the one person who's bloodlines he had been taught to dispise offer he and Blaise a chance at redemption.

"Look, Granger, what gaurantee do we have that someone in your little group there won't take advantage of the situation?" Draco practically growled the question, angered by his thoughts and about life in general. He stared directly into Hermione's eyes, letting the resentments shine through. Let her see what's inside. Maybe then she'll drop the whole idea of asking Blaise and I questions under the use of Veritaserum.

Hermione was taken aback. Draco had been so silent as she had been speaking, she wasn't prepared to feel his anger, or to see the depth of feeling that suddenly flared in his silver gaze. In an instant, his eyes were back to the icy cold silver she was used to seeing and she wondered briefly if she had imagined it.

She thought about his question, and realized he had a point. The DA had not offered the Slytherins any kind of protection against the abuse of Veritaserum. Proof of trust had to go both ways for this strange alliance to work. She thought a moment longer and then was struck with an idea.

"Perhaps only a handful of us can be in the room at the time of the questioning. Those of us in the room will make a Wizard's Oath that we will only ask the questions on the parchment. And we will also swear not to share your answers with the others, you will be able to share them when and if you feel you would like to." Ron would have apoplexy when he heard this. He was still angry over Harry's willingness to have the Slytherins join the DA. Harry would be upset, and she was sure a few others would be as well. But what she had seen in Draco's eyes in that brief moment had proven to her that there was much more than the cool exterior he often showed to the world.

Draco nodded once, that seemed fair to him. At least it wouldn't be total humilation. And none of them could repeat anything that was said.

"I'm in if Blaise agrees as well." Blaise nodded his agreement.

Reaching for the folded piece of parchment, Hermione stood up. "We will contact you in the next day or so to let you know when the questioning will take place. Until then, watch your backs. The Creeveys have reported that there has been unrest in Slytherin house because you, Malfoy, have not been your usual arrogant self." That last bit of information had been spoken of at the previous meeting of Dumbledore's Army. Normally, Hermione would not pass on such information, but in light of the recent activities, she felt it prudent to warn them. Nodding once she turned and headed for the doors.

Had she turned and looked back, she would have seen Blaise and Draco exhale deeply, and had they turned around they would have seen the Cheshire grin of one Theodore Nott. Trouble was brewing, bigger than any of them could ever imagine.


A/N:

I still don't own it, nor do I own the royalties to Bon Jovi's Undivided =(


Sallyrie: What a beautiful compliment!! Thank you! =) I hope you enjoy the rest of the stoty as it unfolds.

Paigeey07: Thank you! I have 7 chapters written already and this story remains the focus of my attention, I hope you also continue to enjoy it!

LadyVlodemort87: Draco or Edward? Thats a tough call....LOL but I will never leave MY Draco... =) I heart you chica....Thanks for being a great friend and sounding board....My stories might not be half as good without you!

Dreamweaver: I love your reviews!!! Yes, this is the story I had mentioned, I was going to wait to post it, but I couldn't. We do see a lot of Draco's inner thoughts in this fic, I have a feeling he may surprise you. We will see Blaise's as well but that is still a few chapters out. Harry is definitely angsty in this fic, but oddly I feel that I can empathize greatly with him. He is a very complex wizard, more mature too. Hope you've enjoyed the second chapter!! =)