Could Things Get Any Worse?

"I'm Not As Much of a Coward As You Think." ~Draco Malfoy/Grace

"Bloody hell," Ron said, jaw unhinged and eyes wide.

In any other case, Harry would have rolled his eyes or ignored it or just brushed it off as one of Ron's antics. However, at the moment, Harry understood exactly why Ron said it. So yes, Ron. For once that is correct. Bloody hell indeed.

"Lovely greeting, no really, I'm being honest," Malfoy--Grace--the blond--whatever--rolled his eyes. He sounded anything but sincere when he said that.

"Why is he here?" Ginny narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "He's a Death Eater. He could kill us in our sleep without a second thought."

Harry was just about to agree (with a pointed look toward Dumbledore) when Malfoy/whatever his name was spoke.

"There are many flaws with that, but I won't bore you with all of them," he said, looking annoyed. "Only the ones that I think are the most important. One, You-know-who would want to kill Harry himself. And two, if I were to kill you, you would be face-to-face with me and be armed as well. I'm not as much of a coward as you think, Weaselette."

Ginny turned pink and was just about to snap back when Dumbledore spoke.

"Our mission to find Perseus Jackson has failed," he said calmly, looking not at all discouraged. "So now we must find some other means to reach him. He must not join his grandfather."

"Percy would never," the blond muttered.

"What do you mean, Malfoy Jr?" Sirius asked, curious but begrudging at the same time.

The blond raised his eyebrows. "I go by Grace when I'm not in the presence of Lucius," he stated, matter-of-fact, much to the surprise of everyone else. "And I personally know Percy"--Here, Ron snorted and whispered to he Weasley Twins that that would be affirmation enough for them to know Percy would most definitely join You-Know-who--"And he is very loyal to his friends--or even acquaintances. He happens to know Hermione through his mother and his muggle summer camp. So there's why he will not join his grand pappy."

The Order was silent. If Hermione trusted him, why shouldn't they?

Fred broke the silence, "What's with the accent Ma--err, Grace? And 'grand pappy?' Seriously?"

To everyone's surprise, the blond cracked a small smile. "I like my summers in New York. And what's wrong with the word 'grand pappy?'"

Here, George jumped in. "It sounds a bit..." he pretended to think for a moment. "Common for the high-and-mighty Malfoy?"

"Grace," Draco corrected (let's just go with Draco, Harry was getting a headache.) "I go by Grace when I'm not in the presence of Lucius."

The adults left the room, dumbfounded but deciding to give the Weasley Twins and Draco time for their budding friendship to bloom. Ginny and Ron stared at the trio in astonishment. Harry took the time to observe the differences in "summer-Malfoy."

Draco's hair seemed a few shades darker, which Harry noted was a bit weird but decided to ignore it, and his eyes were a clearer sort of blue rather than a silvery grey. He was tanner and had smile lines. Malfoy? Smiling at Hogwarts? Unheard of! But apparently, during the summer, Draco was more laid-back than usual.