Redemption / DRAMIONE (COMPLETE)

Chapter Nine

The werewolf, Lupin and his friend, the mass-murderer Sirius Black were the first to enter, to Draco's displeasure. Severus, he now knew, had a grudging respect for the former, but neither Severus nor McGonagall liked Black, and soon he found out why.

"How is it that Dumbledore always picks up the absolute dregs of our society to introduce to the Order? First it was Snivellus_"

"I'd be careful with what you say, Black," Professor McGonagall interrupted. "If it weren't for Dumbledore's astounding ability to trust the dregs of our society, you wouldn't be here right now, and neither, I'm afraid, would Remus."

Remus bowed his head in response. Severus smirked. Black merely growled and skulked off to smoke his cigarettes in the corner. The nasty smell infused the room.

"For goodness sake, Black!" Severus exclaimed. "We would prefer to die later rather than sooner, if you don't mind!"

"Huh?" Said Sirius as he puffed smoke rings into the air.

"I doubt you know these sorts of things but smoking, however Pure-blooded you might be, gets into your bloodstream and will give you cancer." Severus' voice was indifferent, as if, personally, he couldn't care either way.

"He's right, Siri," Remus agreed quietly. Sirius turned on his friend.

"Why are you always sticking up for Snivellus?" He raged. "You're my friend!"

"I'd shut up, Black, before you start sounding like a kid whining in a playground," Severus advised. "Oh, wait, you already did."

Sirius gave a roar and whipped his wand out. However, just at that minute, a dozen or so witches and wizards entered and Sirius was forced to lower his wand.

"Playing, Black?" A wizard he recognised as his old Defense professor, Alastor Moody, asked mockingly.

Several others sniggered. Black flushed crimson. Clearly he wasn't as popular as Draco had assumed he would be. All the Order members were either Aurors he knew, or blood traitors that were relatives of people he knew at school. Such as Arthur and Molly Weasley. They were with two ginger-haired men, who were undoubtedly the eldest sons. He saw Nymphadora Tonks, too. He had never met her, despite her being his cousin, however his mother had a photograph that she'd kept and Draco had found it when he was younger and idly exploring the manor.

"Greetings, my Order!" The booming voice of Albus Dumbledore filled the room. The wizened old man passed the others and took up a position of authority by the mantelpiece. Moody immediately dropped the subject and Black, Draco noted, slipped his wand back up his sleeve, though he kept a wary eye on Severus. Dumbledore's blue eyes settled on the place where the wand would be. Draco gulped. Did the headmaster have a magical eye like Moody? "You will notice we have a newcomer! I hope you shall welcome him with open arms."

"Not likely," muttered Black. Everyone ignored him, although Lupin gave him a nudge.

"He is here out of fear for his life. You will no doubt know who he is, or who his stepfather is. This is Draco Potter, stepson to Lucius Malfoy, and brother to Harry, whom you already know. Lucius Malfoy is in deep with the Death Eaters. His wife, Narcissa, entrusted Draco into Severus' care; he is Severus' godson. But, when summer comes, it is planned that Draco will be inducted into Voldemort's circle."

There was an audible gasp. Dumbledore continued regardless.

"Draco has already been incredibly useful in giving Umbridge, our current source of irritation, false information, which she has then passed onto the other side. However, he needs our protection, when the time comes, and we need his loyalty. This is why, here today, I am inducting Draco Potter into the Order of the Phoenix."

"How can you trust him?" Shouted Black. "He's right in their midst; he's the Death Eater's godson for crying out loud!"

"Severus is no more a Death Eater than I am," Dumbledore said sternly. His trust in Severus was astounding.

"And you are Harry's godfather. I do not hold it against the boy," Severus shrugged.

Sirius had his wand out again in an instant. With a war cry he launched himself at Severus. However, Severus had already conjured a shield with a click of his fingers and Sirius slid down it, and was then hit by Mad-Eye Moody's Stunner a second later. The ex-Auror grinned evilly.

"Maybe we should just leave him there?" he suggested.

"I wholeheartedly agree," replied Minerva, waving her wand and levitated the unconscious man over to the wall.

Lupin made to go over to him and see if he was alright but then hesitated, sighed and stayed where he was.

"Let's get this over with," Draco said, speaking for the first time.

"Yes, lets," replied Dumbledore.

Moody consented to be Bonder and student and headmaster took hold of each other's hands.

"Will you, Draco Malfoy, keep the Order's secrets and never reveal a word of what is said to you within this room?"

"I will." Instead of red-hot wire, which was the appearance, Draco knew, of the Unbreakable Vow, this vow was a brilliant white and only loosely joined their hands.

"Will you pledge yourself to our cause and never turn on your comrades?"

"I will." A second rope of white bound them.

"And will you, to the best of your ability, fight with us and, if the need arises, die for us?"

"...I will," Answered Draco, this time hesitantly. The third connected with the others and the white burned so brightly that it hurt his eyes. Then the white disappeared and Draco was able to remove his hand, very slowly, from Dumbledore's.

"Very well. You are one of us now. Settle down, everyone, and listen in."