For The Greater Good (A Draco Malfoy Story)

Summer Nights

        Fred had taken me up a hill by the Burrow where a little wooden shack stood, the paint peeling off the door. It looked old and worn, like the rest of the Burrow but there was a touch of comfort in its atmosphere that made it look less like a tool shed and more like a peaceful escape.

"Come on," he said, tugging my hand along and breathing in the crisp, summer air deeply.

"What is this place?"

"This," Fred went inside, pushing aside the curtains by the windows to let some light in. Dust particles danced in the beam of sunlight. "This is where George and I grew up. We found this shack years ago and fixed it up a bit. This is where we'd hide all our stuff from Mum and if we just needed to get away from that lot, we'd stay here." He looked around with reverence, a lopsided smile exactly like Ron's touching his lips.

Colorful boxes, children's toys and products of old pranks littered the area. Zonkos products lay under the dust but Weasley's Wizard Wheezes prototypes sat new, daring someone to come and take a closer look. A red, tattered rug covered the floor under two wooden chairs and a small table covered in beakers, plates and odd materials. "Looks like a mad scientists's den," I laughed, walking around the table and peering at a strange blue goo moving around in a beaker.

"Oh! I wouldn't touch that if I were you," he quickly moved the beaker back with a smirk. "New products in the making, not ready for mortal eyes." My mortal eyes rolled at him as I sat down on one of the chairs. George's name was engraved on the back neatly. "We spent many evenings here, George and I."

"Am I the only one to have seen this place, other than you and George?"

Fred nodded. "Ron and Ginny once found it but we never let them in."

"Why?"

"Well because they'd mess everything up--"

"No," I laughed. "Why are you showing me this?"

He paused for once and looked at me thoughtfully. His eyes wandered over my face, analyzing me, searching me. For what, I didn't know. The sun illuminated his red head like a fiery halo as he sat down opposite me in his own chair. A pale yellow mingled with green outlined his figure, a color combination that sent warmth into my own heart. I only ever saw these colors around inspired people, those with creativity and hope set deep in their hearts. It was such a change from the darkness I had stared at for so long with Draco that something within me sighed. Fred's long legs reached mine, our knees connecting.

"I dont know really. You just...you looked like you needed some quiet time. Like you had a lot on your mind."

Immediately Draco crossed my mind once more and I averted my gaze. I shouldn't be thinking about him -- not now, maybe even never. "I'm just worried, I guess. There's a lot going on, Fred ol' boy. I think...I think it's time we all try to figure out what our roles are in this war -- what each of us should be doing..."

I could tell he didn't expect such an answer, but it got through to him nonetheless. His grin started to slip. "I'm sorry," I said quickly, grabbing his hand. "I didn't mean to be so depressing. Not with a wedding tomorrow." The sunlight around him pulsed and his hand covered mine, his warmth spreading over me. And that's what he was.

Fred was warmth. He was the heat of the sun against your face. He was those summer nights with the still air and the crickets chirping outside. And despite my better judgement, I craved his heat and wondered, would I see the sun behind my eyelids if I closed them? Before I could snap myself out of this haze, my lips were against his, my hands reaching up to him.

I felt him freeze against me momentarily and that was enough for me. What the hell was I doing? I pulled away quickly, a red flush spreading up my neck as I stood up. "S-Sorry about that. Gosh, I don't even know what came over me. I'm sorry, it's these wedding vibes," I chuckled nervously, backing away slowly and nearly knocking over the blue goo. Fred shot up to his full height and laughed. And I mean, laughed. Belly laughs erupted from his mouth until his face reddened.

When he finally relaxed, he said, "Bloody hell, don't apologize. It's quite alright, Rosie, my dear. I've always known myself to be simply irresistible." My cheeks reddened as he moved closer and wrapped his long arms around me in a hug. My head barely reached his shoulder. "Come on then, I don't trust you to be alone with me. Who knows how else you'll try to woo little ol' innocent Freddy."

"Oh piss off," I laughed.

Draco.

Something was happening. The Manor was filled with Death Eaters, more so than usual. The halls and living room had become a sea of black cloaks and black hearts and as I tried to make my way through to where my parents stood, the sea kept pushing me back. Murmurs passed between them all but once I reached my mother, abrupt silence met my ears. No one stirred, no one breathed. The temperature plunged downwards and as the middle of the crowd parted, I understood why. He was here.

"My friends, it pleases me to see you gathered here before me," his hushed words reached even the back of the crowd. Chills ran down my spine, goosebumps rising on my arms and a hand squeezing at my heart. "Tomorrow, we will be one step closer to purging this world of the muggle filth that has infested our livelihood. Tomorrow, we will rule and finally have those certain undesirables under our thumb." A simultaneous roar broke out among the Death Eaters, the sound striking something cold in my soul. Here was the general, giving orders to his loyal followers, promising them blood and destruction.

"Tomorrow, half of you will head to the Ministry and every single one of you will prove yourselves to me by taking our false government! Sift out the mudbloods and bring me the Minister's death for only I shall rule. The other half of you will infiltrate Potter's safehouse. His bloodtraitor allies are having a wedding, the fools! But their folly is our victory. Bring me Harry Potter or one of his friends alive, and you shall be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams. Do not fail me!" the Dark Lord hissed like the snake he was. His passion for death was evident as the more he spoke, the more his eyes flashed with lust. This was who I sacrificed my future and goddamn it, maybe even my soul, for? No, I thought, glancing to the side at my mother who stood with her back straight and her eyes staring blankly forward. He's not.

He left the same way he came -- silently. Like a part of the wind or a whisper passing through your lips.

"Draco," my mother spoke softly, pulling me to the kitchen with her delicate hand. I knew my family wasn't the same since the day my father was taken to Azkaban in my fifth year. If it wasn't for stupid Harry fucking Potter, I wouldn't have had to make the choices I did. I wouldn't have to make up for my father's disgrace. No, I reminded myself, it wasn't right to blame him. Whatever he was doing in the Department of Mysteries that day had been a way to deter the Dark Lord. Now I'm not going to be fucking thanking him anytime soon, you could bloody well forget that. But I don't want to kill the idiot either.

Anyways, as I was saying, nothing was easy around here. My father became half a man. His blonde hair had become matted and unkempt, dark circles had made their place around his eyes and stubble marred his once proud face. He looked like he was still a prisoner. Well, I guess he was. Weren't we all?

"Draco," my mother said once again, turning my face towards her gently. Her brown eyes never faltered. My father wasn't the head of this family. She was. "Draco, you should know that you will be going to the ambush tomorrow, at Potter's safehouse."

I kept my face still but my heart kickstarted at the thought at who might be waiting for me at the safehouse. Would she be there? "Oh? Well...thank you for telling me, Mother."

"Draco, listen to me now. You must be careful, you understand me? Just stay low until it is done and return safely home. Don't feel tempted to provoke Potter, just stay safe."

I nodded. "Don't worry, Mother. I'm not after Potter..."