Slytherin's angel

Chapter 34- The plea

His feet landed firmly on the ground suddenly, causing him to stumble. Small clouds of dirt puffed around his shiny black shoes, scuffing them with dust. A few paces beyond, a run-down garage stood to the left of an oddly shaped house. It seemed as if the original was found to be too small for the owners, as another addition was added above that. But, that didn't prove to be enough room either, so another addition was added on top of the first, and then one more after that, like a lopsided cake. The house itself looked old and weary. Windows were boarded up with different colored slabs of wood, and bent wooden beams were holding up the higher parts of the house. It didn't look safe in the least, but Draco supposed it would have to be kept up by magic.

The dirt road crunched beneath his shoes, sounds of chickens squawking and pigs squealing filled his ears. The clear sky allowed for an unyielding sun, making him feel quite warm in his dress slacks and pressed shirt, only imagining how sore he stuck out amongst the rock bottom scenery. A foul smell filled his nose; wrinkling it in disgust as the image of pigs rolling lazily in the mud came to view.

He stopped in front of the door, slightly nervous and not sure what to expect. He looked around, unsure of why this place had allowed a Death Eater this far, and why no one had jumped out of a hiding place, attempting to kill him on the spot. He didn't belong here, but this was the only place he had left to go. The only place no one would suspect him of finding help. This was his ray of hope that came to him last night. His only chance of ever seeing her again.

With a shaking hand, he knocked on the door, taking a step back.

He heard yelling in the house, "I'll get it! Strange, using the door! Perhaps it's a Muggle! Oh, I do hope so; I wish to ask them about the use of those strange devices they write with! They don't need inkpots! Very smart, very smart of them!"

The door opened and he appeared with a smile on his face, excited for a Muggle to interrogate. But when he saw who stood awkwardly on his worn doormat, his smile dropped immediately and was quickly replaced with a glare.

They stared at each other for a minute, unsure of what to say. Years and years of hateful comments, all from the Malfoy side, left Mr. Weasley rather stunned.

"Mr. Malfoy." He said slowly, the name foul on his tongue.

"Mr. Weasley." Draco nodded once, trying to make his tone as non-threatening as possible.

"To what do I owe this...occasion?" He asked, frowning, quite confused and overwhelmed about seeing the young boy before him.

"Arthur?"

He heard screeching and hurried footsteps.

"Arthur, who is it?"

A stout woman came up behind his right shoulder, frizzy red hair standing up every which way. Her eyes narrowed immediately, pushing past her husband, exclaiming, "What on earth are you doing here?"

Arthur held her back with one arm, "Molly, dear, calm down. This must be of urgent matter."

"Urgent?" She screeched, "His family-his family!"

She was so angry she was unable to finish her thought.

"His father." Arthur corrected, seeming to understand her train of thought, "Who is no longer here, Molly. His son, although a relative of Lucius, has a clean slate with me."

"CLEAN?" Molly screeched, turning her husband to face him, "Arthur, what has he done to you?"

She whipped out her wand so fast and pointed it to Draco so quickly; he hardly had time to take another step back.

"Molly, dear." Arthur said calmly. "Let us be sensible-''

"Sensible!" Molly yelled at him, "Do you remember what he has done to our children! The comments he has made!"

Molly turned to him quickly, her red face setting fire to her hair.

"How are you able to be in our presence? We are Mudblood, Muggle lovers! Our house isn't worth one of your fingers and yet you mock us with your presence!"

Arthur struggled to hold her back, pushing on her wand arm.

"Molly! Please! Give the boy five minutes!"

Molly reluctantly submitted to his requests after several moments, her glare freezing him over. He looked to Arthur, unsure of whether or not to proceed. Arthur gave him a grimace.

Draco took a deep breath, "I don't want to do this anymore. I need help."

Molly's face fell immediately, her glare replaced with confusion. Arthur's expression matched hers; he looked more puzzled than when he first saw him.

Molly's face quickly recovered into her previous glare, "You would do well to leave now, if you think you are tricking us! Who have you brought along with you?"

"No one, I promise!" Draco defended quickly.

Molly glared at him, pointing her wand to the air, hollering, "Homenum revelio!"

Draco stood still for many moments, looking at Arthur, who was looking at his wife.

"Fine. He's telling the truth...this time." Molly seethed. "Are you planning an attack?"

She went haywire at her own question. Neglecting his inability to answer, she scanned the sky quickly, shooting off random spells that disappeared into the gray clouds.

"Molly!" Arthur boomed, "Please! I beg you, woman!"

Draco was nearly halfway towards the garage. He was starting to regret his decision of coming here, but he knew this was the only place he could go.

"I'll give you my wand." Draco offered, holding up his hands, "If that makes you feel any better."

"Give it here!" Molly boomed at once.

"I have to reach into my pocket to get it." He warned her, not daring to move.

"No! Allow me!" Molly chided, "Expelliarmus!"

Draco's wand flew out of his pant pocket, zooming into her hands. She gripped it tightly, as if she was afraid he could call it back with some kind of unspoken magic.

"Fair?" Draco asked her, "Now you have three wands between the two of you. I won't do anything and there's no one coming for you, I swear."

"You have five minutes." Molly growled, stepping aside to let him in.

Draco was quite surprised, but took the offer at once, trying to avoid anything that would make her more suspicious of him.

The house was cluttered, but cozy. There were dishes in the sink washing themselves, scarves and gloves being knitted in big plush couches. A grand clock stood in the corner, with all of the Weasley's faces on them. Ron's and Ginny's was pointed at school, Ginny's picture smiled while Ron's grimaced uncomfortably.

Draco took a seat while Arthur sat at the head of the table. Molly returned to the stove, where sausages were sizzling. She haphazardly grabbed a plate for her husband, setting it down roughly on the table, sloppily rolling sausages onto his plate. Arthur gave her a small smile, doing well not to object or say anything about her impending mood.

She slowly turned to Draco, trying her best to wipe the glare off of her face, but instead giving him a rather painful look, asking stiffly, "Would you like any?"

"No, thank you." Draco shook his head quickly, turning his attention to Arthur, who hadn't even picked up his fork.

He could feel Molly take a seat at the other end of the table, but was too nervous to look at her.

"My first question." Arthur started, "Why aren't you in school?"

Draco held his breath. If he revealed the whole truth right now, there was no way in knowing if they would keep him hostage and turn him into the Ministry.

So, as truthfully as the circumstance allowed, Draco answered, "I took time off to help with my father's arrangements. I'm still finishing school by owl."

Arthur nodded thoughtfully, cutting into a sausage. Draco watched him as he took a bite, wondering when he would next break the silence.

"So..." Arthur drawled slowly. "You...need help?"

"Yes." Draco said quietly, "I seek protection from the Order."

Arthur narrowed his eyes. He looked to Molly. Draco was sure that the only two expressions she was now able to perform were a paralyzing glare and a look of serious confusion.

"How do you know about the Order?" Arthur squinted at him.

"The Order is just as known as Death Eaters are." Draco shifted, hoping that they hadn't picked up on the innocent comment.

"Protection, eh?" Arthur asked him, finally taking his fork and slowly cutting into another sausage. "And what would a young lad like you need protection from, Mr. Malfoy?"

"I think you know, Mr. Weasly." Draco said softly.

Arthur looked at him, putting down his fork. He looked to his wife for support, but she remained tight-lipped.

"Dumbledore said that help always came, if only one was willing to ask." Draco tried again, remembering the words that had floated into his head just hours previous, baffled that a snippet of a first year feast would be his only source of hope, "I know that he's involved in the Order. There has to be someone that can help me."

He looked between the two of them for many moments. They stared at each other, as if sending some sort of telepathic message.

Draco was growing restless. They didn't understand the urgency of his acceptance into the Order. He was ready to burst.

"They're going to kill her! Please!" Draco slammed his hands onto the table, throbbing dully against the smack of his rage. The situation was quickly becoming unbearable. His outburst shook them, once again starting at him in surprise. Draco could feel tears stinging his eyes at the thought of Ashley, his hands shook uncontrollably.

Arthur looked at him strangely. He had never seen a Malfoy so emotional before. Then again, he had never had a civil conversation with one either. Arthur wasn't sure if they had any emotional range outside of being cold and aloof. Arthur's shoulders sank, unable to hold a grudge to a person whose plea was so desperate, especially that of someone so young. He looked to his wife once more, who seemed to have a similar line of thinking.

"W-who are they going to kill, Draco?"

Draco was surprised to hear Molly talking to him.

"Ashley." He choked.

Molly stiffened.

"Why Ashley, of all people?" Arthur asked him.

"I w-was given...a task." He struggled, "At the beginning of the year by You-Know- Who. I was supposed to bring in Ashley for ransom; he was hoping that Potter would come for her, since he had already saved Gabriella before. He wants Potter before he can get out of Hogwarts and start training as an Auror."

There was complete silence, so Draco continued, "That's why I'm here. Why I'm not at Hogwarts. He can't hurt here there, but I don't want her anywhere near me, the access would've been too easy. I left. If he sees that I've failed him, he'll punish me, not her."

Molly sighed, pulling out a handkerchief of her pocket, fumbling with it in her hands, "Those girls are my daughters. I would do anything for them...no matter who speaks on their behalf."

She looked to Draco, but this time it wasn't a glare, but a look of newly discovered tenderness. She gave him a grimace, which he accepted as a small smile.

"I should tell you, though." Draco looked at his forearm, "That I've...been Marked."

He was surprised to see them unresponsive for the first time.

"We know." Arthur said, "We suspected as much at the Ministry. We tried to intervene, because you're still young, but by the time we found out...it was too late."

Draco took a deep breath, preparing to land the true bomb on them, "A-and I've already been lined up to kill Delinda Fleagle."

Arthur's eyes widened, "What?"

"She's heading the investigation on my father's murder. He wants her dead and he wants me to do it."

The silence nearly killed him as they sat there, looking at each other.

"I'll do whatever is needed." He offered quickly, "I can be a double agent, or something."

"We...already have a few of those." He looked to Molly for the correct wording, "I don't think the Order will want someone so young and untrained to do that, Mr. Malfoy. You will probably be kept in a safe house, until the situation dies down."

"What if it doesn't?" Draco asked, "I don't think he would take lightly to one of his Death Eater's running away."

"He's right, Arthur." Molly told him.

"Not quite." Arthur argued softly, "I assume that meetings are irregular? Where does he go when you're not all together?"

Draco frowned at him, "How am I supposed to know that?"

"Exactly." Arthur breathed, "Even his followers don't know. And although you bear the Mark and have access to his emotions, he doesn't know where any of you are either, why else would he all have marks to call you by?"

The thought never crossed Draco's mind and he hoped desperately that Mr. Weasley's thinking was right.

"I'm safe until Monday." Draco told them, "That's when were supposed to go after her."

"We'll have to let him go." Molly shook her head, "We're risking too much if we don't."

It was silent for a moment, but Draco offered, "Unless...unless there's a distraction that will move the attention from my absence and I can escape."

Arthur narrowed his eyes in thought, "And what would that be?"

"I know who killed my father, I was there and so was Ashley." Draco confessed, looking at him.

Arthur shifted in his chair, but gave him a look of pure interest, "Go on."

"I'll make you a deal." Draco offered, "You get me into the Order and I swear to surrender the memory."

Arthur looked at him for a moment, scratching his head. He looked to Molly.

"It would give the Ministry some closure." Molly agreed reluctantly.

Arthur gave him one more look and offered his hand, "You have a deal, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco shook his hand, returning the strong grip that Mr. Weasley gave him.

"I can do nothing for you if you go back on your word." He warned.

"I know." Draco answered softly.

Arthur nodded once, rising in his chair. Molly followed suit. They both filed back towards the door. Draco stepped down the steps, turning back to receive his wand from Molly.

"Will you be able to help me before Monday night?" Draco worried, "I don't know what you think of me, but I can't kill anyone."

"I will get you in." Arthur promised, "I'll arrange for a court hearing tomorrow."

"That soon?" Draco asked.

Arthur nodded, "Your father's death is a very high profile case, Mr. Malfoy. The Board of Investigators will be very interested indeed. I can assure you that they will put all other cases on hold to see your memory."

Draco nodded, feeling slightly better than something was being done.

"A-and when can I come to the safe house?" Draco asked, "I'm worried about my mother. I don't want her to be caught in the crossfire."

Arthur nodded, thinking for a moment. "I'll let you know as soon as the arrangements are made. We'll try our best to divert Ms. Fleagle, although she is rather headstrong and may not take our advice."

"You have to convince her." Draco pleaded, "If I don't do it, Bellatrix will, you can be sure of it. They've been on her tail ever since she broke out."

"We'll help you, dear." Mrs. Weasly gently assured him.

"Send a letter to the Manor as soon as you can." Draco instructed them. They nodded and he turned to walk out the door, the couple crowding around the small doorframe.

He only walked a few steps when he turned back.

"I'm sorry for everything I've said...about your family." He apologized awkwardly, kicking at the dirt, "I knew it was wrong, even when he was alive. But...I don't feel that pressure anymore."

This seemed to come as the biggest shock to them. They looked at him strangely, nodding their heads slowly.

Draco inclined his head, shoving his hands in his pockets as he turned away from them once more. He started to walk down the dirt road, knowing he couldn't disappear into smoke with them still watching. The crunch of the gravel filled his ears once more and the sun finally broke out of the clouds. And although he was in a dismal place now, he felt a sense of hope, that seeing Ashley again was becoming more of a possibility than a mere wish.

Molly and Arthur remained in the doorway, stunned and confused at the conversation that took place. Once Draco disappeared behind the bend in the road, Arthur turned to his wife.

"What kind of world do we live in when we send our children to kill those who only wish to protect them?" Molly asked sullenly.

"A very sad world, indeed, love." Arthur answered.

"He's so young." Molly voiced, looking up at his eyes. "He's Ronald's age."

Arthur nodded, looking back up at the dirt road where the young man was absent. "It is sad, very sad indeed. But it always gives me hope when we win one over."

Molly gave him a small smile, kissing him on the cheek, "Me too, dear, me too."