Chapter One

"We need someone inside, Hermione"

"You won't survive without me"

"We might. Hogwarts won't."

They had a point. Or so Hermione thought when she agreed to stay behind. Now that she was alone, nearly a week from September 1st, the idea sounded a bit silly. As if Harry and Ron wanted to get rid of her. "No", she said to herself, "don't think like that. They care about you; they just want their best girl on the front line in the battle for Hogwarts's life and soul."

She sighed and looked outside by the window. It was a shitty, rainy day.

Short after Dumbledore died, Snape was named head master. Now Hogwarts was mandatory for every students of Great-Britain. Of course, nearly every wizard of Great-Britain chose Hogwarts as their school, but now that it was mandatory, nearly every wizard hesitated. It just sounded wrong. Harry and Ron were going to be outlaws in two weeks because they would not go back. Also, racism was back in its very worse shape. Mudblood were bullied once again. Hermione shivered at the thought of what they might do to her at a school ruled by racist pure-blood. At least, most of her teachers were still there. Hermione couldn't see Professor McGonagall let any of her students mistreated for the non-purity of their blood. But then again, Professor McGonagall was no longer in charge of anything at Hogwarts.

Hermione was so lost in her thought that it took her a while to realize what she was looking at. Right in front of her, across the street, somebody was moving in. Curiosity kicked in, and she stood up, grabbing an umbrella as she hurried outside. The rain kept her from seeing much but as she drew closer, she saw a man and a woman moving boxes. She reached the sidewalk when she stopped abruptly. "No, no, no, no" she thought. She was about to turn around and run inside before her new neighbors could see her, but it was too late and the man had already looked in her direction.

"Oh you've got to be kidding me!" said Malfoy's voice loud enough for Hermione to hear it.

Hearing her son, Malfoy's mother raised her head and saw Hermione as well. She frowned and said something to her son, but too quietly for Hermione to hear it.

"Hi", said Hermione.

The Malfoys didn't answer her. They both just looked at her as if she was a Blast-Ended Skrewt. Hermione had to force herself not to run back inside. Once inside, Hermione locked the door behind her. Illogically, she felt safer. She had never been so happy to go back to an empty house since her parents left. At least, if the Malfoys decided that Hermione was something to take care of, there would be no casualty.

Quickly, she went back to the window and watched the Malfoys bring all the boxes in. "But why the hell was Malfoy moving anyway?" Hermione thought. "Didn't they own a manor?" She stayed by that window, long after the Malfoys had finished unpacking and went inside. She kept wondering: Does this mean the Malfoys are done with Voldemort? Are trying to hide from him?

A movement outside her window interrupted her thoughts. Narcissa was heading out. Hermione watched as she sat in the driver's seat and left the hallway. Hermione stood still for a full minute, a battling with herself. Finally, she got up quickly and, without even taking her umbrella, went outside. She had crossed the streets when she stopped. "It's a terrible idea" she thought. But at the same time, Malfoy's pale face appeared at the window and Hermione knew she was trapped. She reached the door and rang the bell. After ten seconds of waiting, Hermione slammed on the door with her fist.

"Open the door, Malfoy" she shouted.

Another ten seconds. She was about to shout again when the door opened abruptly.

"And why would I do that Granger, uh?" Malfoy said in a cold voice.

"Just hear me out…"

"Why?" he hissed. "Are you looking to send another of my family member in jail?"

Hermione frowned.

"You father is a Death Eater!" Hermione hissed back. "He was literally sent to jail because he was trying to kill me and my friends!"

Malfoy seemed very unimpressed by her defense and gave Hermione a cold look.

"Yeah, well, the result is the same. I'm moving into this stupid little house, surrounded by muggles and Mudblood because all my family's money is being spend in lawyers. So, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go back inside and pretend you don't exist."

He was about to shut the door when Hermione used her foot to stop it. Draco drew his wand out.

"Granger, I swear to God…" he started.

"Are you going back to Hogwarts?" interrupted Hermione.

"Why do you care?" asked Malfoy.

"Just answer the question"

Malfoy narrowed his eyes and stared suspiciously at Hermione, like there was some kind of trap in the question. After he couldn't find one he crossed his arms and answered a very suspicious "Yeah".

"And are you still on Voldemort's side?" asked Hermione.

Malfoy uncrossed his arms and looked scarily at the empty street. It was so unexpected that Hermione imitated him.

"Come inside, quickly" nervously said Malfoy.

She was so surprised by his request that she obeyed without thinking. The warmth inside the house agreed with Hermione who was completely wet from the rain. She rubbed her hands together and opened her mouth to ask another questions but Malfoy stopped her. He grabbed her arm and quickly moved her deeper into the house.

"The V word is jinxed. I mean…" he stopped walking abruptly and shook his head, "not that V word… you know what I mean"

"Wait, what?" asked Hermione. "What do you mean?"

They had arrived in front of a closet. Hermione, who could think clearly again, freed herself from Malfoy's grip and looked at him with severity.

"I mean", answered Malfoy, "that this place will be crawling with death eater in about thirty seconds. If I were you, I'd go in that closet and shut up."

Malfoy opened the door and stared at Hermione.

"Wait, what?" repeated Hermione. "Why would you protect me? How do I know this is not a trap and you're not gonna call for back up and have me killed?"

Someone knocked at the door. They both looked at the door, then at each other, with panic in their eyes.

"Because", Malfoy said quickly and quietly, "to answer your question, I'm no longer on You-Know-Who's side."

Without another word, he pushed Hermione in the closet, shut the door behind her and walked to the door with apprehension. His finger hesitated one more second above the door handle, second he used to calm himself, and then opened the door on Greyback and two random guys. At the sight of him, Greyback took a step back.

"Draco", he said in a clearly surprised tone, "what the hell are you doing here?"

Greyback looked at his two henchmen to see if any of them had an answer but quickly turned his face back to Malfoy.

"I just moved here with my mum", said Malfoy in a bored tone. "Lawyers are more expensive that you may think these days."

Greyback was still frowning so Malfoy continued.

"Sorry about You-Know-Who's name and all. I was thinking out loud"

Greyback's lips twitched.

"You were thinking out loud?" he sounded amused, but also condescending which annoyed Malfoy very much. "Where's your mother, kid?"

"Out", answered Malfoy in a harsh voice.

They both stared at each other, Malfoy with annoyance and Greyback with an inch of suspicion, until one of Greyback's henchmen sighed loudly.

"Can we go now, Greyback?" he said with extreme boredom. "I don't think Draco is a member of the Order of Phoenix. Do you?"

The question seemed to wake up Greyback and she shook his head like a wild dog.

"Of course not", said Greyback, "see you later, kid."

"Right", answered Malfoy before slamming the door in their faces.

He stood there, breathing heavily for a couple of seconds.

"What did I do?" he whispered to himself.

He was dead mad at Voldemort for everything that had happened with his father, Dumbledore and Snape, but lying? To protect some Mudblood? And above all, Granger?

Malfoy heard a sound behind him and turned his head quickly. The closet door was open and Hermione was staring at him.