Harry Potter and the Order's Death Eater

When Harry had first stepped out of the fireplace he could still hear the murmur of conversation and footsteps from the first floor above, the Order members clearing out after what seemed to have been a crowded meeting. Those remaining were in the midst of tidying up, teetering stacks of bowls washing themselves up in the sink while Charlie and Lupin cleared away extra chairs. Still seated at the table were Kingsley, Professor McGonagall, Tonks, Andy and a fair haired man who must be her husband, Ted.

Sirius had greeted him quickly, making a fuss for a few moments before steering him to a seat at the table. To his relief no time was wasted in delays or polite greetings. As Harry took his seat so did every one else, Mrs Weasley sitting beside him while Sirius and Lupin sat opposite. Lingering in the back was Mr Weasley who stood with his arms folded, watching over the room as a whole.

The basement kitchen was silent but for the two voices speaking in turn. Everyone else was waiting with bated breath, waiting for the reaction that would no doubt influence the Order's next move.

Would he make things easier on them? Or would things stay as they were?

Sirius and Lupin did the talking, and as he listened Harry brushed the soot off the back of his hand. He still remembered most vividly the first time he had used the Floo, that he had ended up in Knockturn Alley. His first sort-of encounter with Lucius Malfoy.

'You warned us Draco would be in danger this summer,' Sirius was saying. 'I'm told you also warned him yourself.'

He was listening carefully, though at times his mind wandered. He wasn't looking up at any of them - he could hardly stand that everyone was watching him in such scrutiny, though most were polite enough to cast their eye around the room at random. And he was silent as he took it all in, listening to the information being presented to him.

'You were right. Draco Malfoy has been forced to take his father's place as Death Eater.'

At this comment Harry looked up a little. This was of no major surprise to hear. Of course the Death Eaters wanted him to join them - and the face of a new generation of Death Eaters, and the son of Lucius Malfoy. Likely it was both an opportunity for new blood, and means to punish his father for what happened at the Department of Mysteries.

Lupin was speaking now. 'Draco was given a mission to carry out, and there was the understanding that if he failed or refused he would face execution. As would his mother. So he did what you had encouraged him to do. He came to the Order of the Phoenix for help. After discussing his options with us, he has since decided to leave the Death Eaters entirely, and his family.'

Though Harry appreciated the courtesy of this conversation, not to mention its magnitude, much of his attention was on Sirius now. He looked terrible. Was it the nerves of telling his godson the kind of news he might react badly to? Maybe he was just tired? Maybe he hadn't taken his potions...

It was easy to forget that just over two months ago Sirius was at death's door, put in an enchanted sleep at St Mungos. Harry had never seen his godfather like that before - frail and mortal. He recalled sitting at his bedside feeling cold with fear, asking if he was going to die, insisting that if he died he wanted to be there. He couldn't stand the thought of Sirius dying alone, not after everything he had suffered already.

At this thought Harry looked to the far end of the table where Andy was sitting. She had been there in the hospital too, had assured Harry that her cousin would not die alone. Rather she was determined that she be the one to do him in for not coming round for tea after he broke out of Azkaban.

According to what Lupin was telling him now Andy and Ted had nearly lost their lives recently. They had been hosting Malfoy after he left his mother's home, but the Death Eaters had acted swiftly. To them Draco Malfoy had been kidnapped and was being held against his will. Naturally they were making great efforts to rescue him, perhaps a combination of loyalty and necessity. He couldn't do anything useful from within the clutches of the Order.

Though the Death Eaters had been unsuccessful in snatching Malfoy back, Andy and Ted's house had nearly been destroyed. Lupin proceeded to explain they were currently living in Tonk's one bedroom flat in London, what must surely be a cosy arrangement for the three of them. But they were alive, that's all that mattered. Their lives had been put at risk because they wanted to help Andy's nephew, because they wanted him to have family to rely on...

Lupin was speaking to him now, prompting Harry to pay attention again. 'Harry? Do you...do you have questions so far?'

'Nope.'

Lupin and Sirius exchanged a glance before they continued. It seemed that as a temporary measure Malfoy had stayed with Professor McGonagall following the attack on Andy and Ted's place, and when he heard this Harry had nearly succumbed to laughter. It took everything he had to keep a straight face, to hold back the shout of amusement that came when he pictured Professor McGonagall and Draco Malfoy sitting down to breakfast together, perhaps sharing a pitcher of pumpkin juice.

But though the imagined scene was comedic the reality was not. Professor McGonagall's home had come under attack too. There were fewer injuries this time, but it had been a close one...the Death Eaters almost got Malfoy back.

'Harry?' Lupin was prompting, trying to get his attention back. 'Harry, do you understand everything we've told you?'

'Yes,' he said shortly. This was followed by a pause, and so he elaborated. 'He's defected, and we're protecting him.'

From around the room there was a murmur of agreement.

'In broad terms, yes,' Lupin nodded.

'They wanted him to be a Death Eater,' Harry recounted. 'They threatened to kill him if he didn't do what they wanted, so he made a run for it.'

'He made contact with us for help,' Lupin clarified. 'And we helped him escape.'

The awkward pause came again, and Harry was conscious that everyone was waiting for his reaction. Were they waiting for him to blow up about it? Certainly that impulse was there within him, and perhaps there had been a strategy in giving him this news in front of an audience of people he respected. It was easier to hold his temper in front of so many people watching him so carefully.

'So, you're protecting him. That's what's been keeping everyone so busy?' he confirmed, looking around at the Order who gave weary nods. 'That's why we're cooking a tonne of food every day?'

The Weasleys both nodded, and then Mr Weasley spoke. 'It's one thing keeping you safe, it's another whole operation keeping Draco Malfoy safe. There's a lot of work to be done, requiring a great number of Order members who are risking their lives.'

Sirius jumped in next, having been quiet for a few minutes. 'We now find ourselves in a situation where protecting Draco is becoming increasingly difficult. Protecting Draco, protecting you and the Burrow, protecting Head Quarters. That, in addition to the Order's other work has us stretched quite thin, and the Death Eaters know it.'

'It's why they had, until recently, been persisting with their efforts to find Draco and repatriate him,' Lupin added.

Harry nodded in agreement, for this only made sense. There were a lot of people to protect, and he knew protecting him was hard enough - add to that the son of Lucius Malfoy who had defected and gone over to the Order for protection. Waiting for them to continue he looked between the Weasleys, Lupin and Sirius.

When no one said anything suspicion ignited within him. That Draco Malfoy had defected from the Death Eaters was significant news, but not so significant that Sirius would have to make such a fuss of telling him. Not so significant that he would need to be brought to an Order meeting in the early hours of the morning. Looking between each of them again the dots started connecting. The difficulty in keeping everyone safe, the danger and risk posed...the number of places under protection...

He sat up a little straighter. 'Where is he now?'

The question was addressed directly to Sirius, and he held his godfather's gaze unflinchingly. Already he knew that the answer was not going to be liked, that this was not something he wanted to hear, and so he was determined that Sirius would be the one to tell him.

'The Order feels that the best way to guarantee Draco's protection and ease the strain on the Order is to house him at Grimmauld Place. Dumbledore has recently given his agreement.'

His heart sank. He stared at Sirius, trying to comprehend what had just been said. 'Here? With you?'

'And with Lupin,' he added. 'Tonks too, she's staying for the moment. Sometimes Hestia.'

Harry's eyes flittered around to Lupin and then the Weasleys, still half waiting for one of them to crack a smile, for someone to give up the joke and tell him it was all in jest. But everyone was holding their breath, waiting for his reaction. Sirius too was waiting, sitting perfectly still as though a sudden movement might set him off.

The words were resonating over and over again, the meaning attached to them slowly sinking in. Draco Malfoy at Grimmauld Place. With Sirius...

'It really is the Order's last resort,' Sirius cautiously continued. 'The protections here seem to be holding, and it's more practical for everyone. We can't keep risking wand fights every day just for the sake of keeping him somewhere else.' When Harry didn't say anything he continued again. 'The attacks have stopped too. They know they don't stand a chance of touching this place.'

Harry grit his teeth, trying to keep control of himself. It was taking a moment to sink in, the notion that Malfoy was already here at Grimmauld Place, but the more it did the more he felt the anger swelling up within his chest. It lingered there, a physical presence building inside of him the way it always did, demanding to be released. Malfoy was here...with Sirius.

'So, what?' He turned to Mr Weasley. 'You said the Order wants to hear my opinion, but you've obviously decided this is happening. You said Dumbledore agreed?'

There was a general murmur of agreement from around the room, but the others quietened quickly, looking to the three key people who were in charge of handling Harry. Thankfully Mr Weasley was quick to elaborate.

'The plan for your summer was that you would come here to spend time with Sirius. You'll be well protected here, and it would be of great assistance to the Order if we can pool resources to protect both you and Draco in the same location. However,' he clarified, clearing his throat and looking around before turning back to Harry. 'We are open to hearing your opinion on that matter. Given your history with the Malfoy family we understand if such arrangements would be...intolerable.'

They wanted his opinion. They wanted to know if he could stand living under the same roof as one of his greatest enemies. Someone who had tormented him for a long time, but particularly last year. The son of the Death Eater who tortured him...the person who had spread rumours that he murdered Cedric to take the glory of winning the Tri-Wizard Tournament. A rumour some people had believed.

'You know he told everyone I killed Cedric,' he blurted out. 'Told everyone that I murdered him to win the Cup.'

'Yes.'

'He attacked me, two on one. Was trying to get me thrown out of school. And he's half the reason Dumbledore had to do a runner last year.'

Everyone nodded placatingly, unable to refute a single word.

'We understand,' Sirius murmured. 'That's why we're asking.'

'It's more sensible that we house you both together and reduce the strain on the Order,' Lupin spoke up now. 'However, we are not blind to the potential impact this would have on you.'

There was a pause now, and it was painfully awkward. And Harry felt the spotlight shining right on him, making him grateful that most of the Order had left the meeting.

'Harry. You can say no,' Mrs Weasley said beside him, putting her hand on his arm. 'That's why we're asking, to give you the opportuni-'

Abruptly he stood up, cutting her off. He turned to Sirius, beginning to lose some of the sympathy he initially felt for his haggard and ill appearance. 'Can I talk to you upstairs?'

It was not a question. Harry turned on his heel and strode up the stairs to the first floor, trying not to look like he was storming out in a huff. Though frankly he didn't give a flying Skrewts' arse what the Order thought of him. Sirius followed in haste, leaving behind a silent kitchen to await the decision.

The moment the door to the kitchen closed Harry rounded on his godfather.

'You brought him here?' he hissed, keeping his voice down. He looked up at the staircase that would lead to the first floor, entirely conscious that Draco Malfoy was present somewhere up there. 'Of all the places, you brought him here?'

'He was in danger,' Sirius began gently, clearly trying to placate him. 'You said so yourself.'

'And I told you to help him, not adopt him!'

'He needs a safe place to stay, which happens to be Grimmauld Place.'

'Our home!'

'Yes, our home,' he agreed. 'But it's a home that will always serve the needs of the Order before us. It really was a last resort.'

'Oh, was it really?' Harry questioned sarcastically. 'There's nowhere else in the entire country that he can stay, except Grimmauld Place? What about Hogwarts, that's safe enough any of time!'

'Safe, and impossible to supervise, as you well know,' he added wryly. 'We thought about Hogwarts, but we don't want him having free roam anywhere he pleases. Even with every portrait on watch it would be impossible to keep an eye on him.'

'Then find somewhere else,' Harry demanded. He glanced up again, half expecting to see Malfoy standing at the top of the stairs listening in. 'Anywhere else but here.'

At this Sirius let out a long breath. Clearly trying to keep his temper he took a step back, his hand rubbing his mouth as he thought for a moment.

'I don't understand what the problem is,' Harry questioned. 'The Order's clearly gotten bigger, there should be plenty of people to help. Why do he and I have to stay in the same place?'

'First of all, you don't,' Sirius stressed, a bite of impatience slipping through. 'That's the whole point of this - you can say no.'

'Then what's the problem? My answer is no.'

Sirius rubbed his mouth again, nodding to himself for a moment. There was an awkward pause now, and it looked as though he were teetering between the choice of giving in or pushing on. 'Harry,' he began, trailing off with a sigh. He looked at him. 'The Order's doubled in size, but we're barely hanging on. We have more people now, yes - but it's not really helping us.'

'What's the problem? You've got extra people, so use them.'

'We've got extra people, but we don't know who among them we can truly trust - we won't know that for a long time. And we're not going to let just anyone take watch over you. There's only a small group of people that we trust enough. It's the same with Draco, there's only a small group of people that we trust to protect him.'

Harry physically shuddered upon hearing the name Draco come out of his godfather's mouth. The notion that Sirius and Malfoy might be on first name basis was discomforting, and it made him feel like the bottom had dropped out of his stomach.

'That Draco is staying here has been decided. That's not up for negotiation. What is up for negotiation are your plans. You don't have to come here for the summer.'

'You promised me I would.'

'Yes, I promised,' he acknowledged. 'And now I'm giving you an out. You can come here for the rest of summer if that's what you want to do. Or, you can stay at the Burrow. The choice is yours.'

'Well, it's not my choice. The Order clearly wants me to come here.'

'Yes, that's what the Order wants. But not one single person who cares about you is blind to your history with the Malfoy family. So, yes, the Order wants you to stay here. But they will not force you to.'

Finally Harry faltered, finding no further argument, no other counter point. In fact a rather reasonable position had been taken. What more could he possibly say?

Taking pause he properly worked it through in his head. He didn't want to be anywhere near Draco Malfoy. In fact he'd be pleased were Malfoy to drop off the face of the earth rather than be forced to live with him. But the thought of not spending the rest of summer with Sirius was equally intolerable. And he couldn't exactly picture Sirius spending the summer at the Burrow with him...and it wasn't like the two of them could just pick up and go on holiday somewhere. No, Sirius's was place was at Grimmauld Place, that much didn't feel like it was up for debate.

'I know you hate this. It's not what I would have chosen, but like it or not Draco needs protection. And he's done an incredibly difficult and brave thing. We can't turn him away, not when he-'

'I get it,' he said bluntly, his tone stopping Sirius mid-sentence. He couldn't stand to hear another word.

Swearing under his breath he turned away, still trying to collect his thoughts. The thought of Draco Malfoy living at Grimmauld Place was beyond absurd, but everything else wasn't unexpected. He knew that Malfoy going home for the summer would mean going home to Voldemort and Death Eaters, no matter how he and his mother tried to spin things another way.

It wasn't so long ago that he felt pity for Malfoy. He hadn't asked for his father to be a Death Eater. He didn't ask for his home to be the place where Harry was imprisoned and tortured. He didn't ask for any of it.

'Your father can't protect you and he knows it. Voldemort's going to punish him. I told you before...who do you think Voldemort will take his pound of flesh from?'

If this notion bothered Malfoy at all he hid it well. Not once did his expression waver, and he merely lifted his chin. 'Being in service to the Dark Lord will be a great honour.'

'He won't want you in his service,' Harry stressed, anxious for him to understand. 'He'll use you to punish your father. You'll be cannon fodder.'

Draco had done what Harry told him to. He left. He went to the Order for help.

'How did this all happen?' he asked. 'How did he get out?'

'He got a message to us. I intercepted him the first chance we got.'

'You?'

Sirius nodded. 'We met in Knockturn Alley. He told me he wanted to leave, and that he needed protection. But it took time,' he said heavily, clearing his throat. 'The first chance we got we went back to Malfoy Manor pretending to look for Death Eaters. While we were there I got Narcissa out of the room so Scrimgeour could talk to Draco alone.'

'Scrimgeour's in on this? The Aurors?'

'They were at the start. Technically speaking we kidnapped him from the Auror Department,' he laughed, though he quickly sobered again. 'We got nervous. They brought a lot of Aurors in on something that was meant to be small.'

At this information he thought back to his conversations with Scrimgeour in Surrey, realising why he seemed so cool about the Aurors and the Order. Was that why? That the Order had asked for their help only to double cross them at the last minute?

'If I leave the Burrow, the Weasley's are going to be on their own?'

'No, of course not.'

'You said if I leave the Order can pool it's resources to focus on Grimmauld Place. That has to mean the Weasleys are on their own.'

Sirius sighed, hedging his answer. 'Look, there's no nice way to say this. You being there is what makes them need extra protection in the first place.'

'Oh.'

'People we trust with your life need to be on duty around the clock, and the Weasley's don't mind. They're aware of the risks and they don't care, you're family to them you know that.'

'I know that, but...but if I go they're going to be unprotected.'

Sirius shook his head. 'If you go, they won't need that level of protection. They won't be abandoned, alright, so don't let that influence your decision.'

'And Grimmauld Place is safe? You're sure they're not going to come back again?'

'We're sure. If it's safe enough for you, then it's safe for Draco. Like Lupin said, the attacks have stopped now. They're not stupid enough to try this place.'

Finding no reasonable argument against this he let out a low breath. It was a shock, it was infuriating - but it made sense. It was right...

'How did the Death Eaters know where he was? Lupin said they attacked Andy's place, and McGonagall's. How?'

'Andy and Ted's place was obvious, we knew going in it was the first place they would look which is why we chose it. We hoped it would just get things over with, but they kept coming back.'

'But how?' Harry asked again. 'Lupin said he got chased out of two more places, McGonagall's and the third place. How did they know?'

'I know what you're thinking,' Sirius placated. 'Snape has not been involved with this at all.'

'Then who is it?'

'It might not be anyone. It might not be a leak. Harry, the Death Eaters are outmatching us, in sheer numbers if not skill. We're in a war. There's no simple catch-all solution to protect ourselves.'

'And Draco wants this?' he confirmed, mentally moving past the gravity of what Sirius just said.

'I'm sure he hasn't enjoy being shafted from place to place, nor having left his family. But yes, this is what he wants.'

'So he won't go back to them? Back to his mother?'

'Not unless he's forced to, no.'

Harry looked at him critically, pressing the issue. 'And you believe him? You actually believe that he's left his mum and dad? That he's just abandoned his whole family?'

'He's not the first person to leave his family to save himself.'

At this Harry stopped. There was no missing what Sirius was getting at here, he was only surprised it took him this long to see the parallels. Draco had fled from his family to save himself, just as Sirius had once done.

'What was he asked to do?'

'Pardon?'

'Lupin said Malfoy was given a mission he didn't want to do. What was it?'

Sirius hesitated now, looking rather uncomfortable with the question. But nonetheless he answered. 'He was supposed to murder Dumbledore.'

He struggled to hide a laugh of incredulity. 'They expected Draco Malfoy to do that?'

'It's an impossible task,' Sirius murmured.

'No wonder he ran for it,' Harry commented, conscious that he didn't sound particularly sympathetic. He took a deep breath...feeling sorry for Draco Malfoy wasn't his natural inclination.

It seemed they had reached an impasse. There was no more yelling, no more arguing...just an unspoken acceptance of what had happened. Draco had defected, had asked the Order for protection just like Harry told him to. And now they all had to follow through. If he was genuinely asking to be protected the Order could not turn him away without sentencing him to death at the hands of Voldemort or his own family.

'Grimmauld Place is safe enough that you can stay here. But like we said, the Order is open to hearing your opinion. If you change your mind about coming, well...I wouldn't hold it against you.'

There really was no option here. For all he hated Malfoy, for all the horror and the problems... if he stayed at the Burrow then he won't spend the summer with Sirius. And he wasn't giving up Sirius for anything.

'I'm coming,' Harry said adamantly. 'This is where you'll be, right?'

'Yes, well I-'

'You said I'd get to spend the summer with you. You promised.'

Sirius nodded. 'Yes.'

'Nothing is going to stop me spending the rest of the summer with you. Not even Draco Malfoy!'

'Alright,' he said lightly. 'Then nothing changes.'

'You're still coming for my birthday?' he confirmed, needing that reassurance.

'Of course, why wouldn't I?'

'You didn't come see me on my last birthday.'

'I was wanted for murder.'

'Right, well...' Harry flustered, remembering this tiny detail. 'But we're still going to Godric's Hollow, right? We're fixing up my place?'

'Like I said, nothing changes. And not to put to fine a point on it, if you're still willing the Order could use Godric's Hollow as another safe house.'

'So nothing changes?'

'About us spending the summer together, no. We'll just have an extra roommate. You'll barely even notice Draco, he hardly comes out of his room.'

'A roommate,' Harry muttered. He took a deep breath, glancing up the stairs towards the first floor again. Thinking of him as a roommate was somewhat more tolerable.

'So, do you...' Sirius began. Harry watched as his eyes glanced back to the Burrow's kitchen, perhaps wishing he had Lupin out there as back up. 'Do you have any...concerns?'

Harry looked at him incredulously, laughing. 'Oh, I have concerns.'

'Right, well let's h-'

'Are we done here?'

In spite of Harry's biting tone relief crossed Sirius's features, his shoulders visibly relaxing. 'Sure.'

There was an awkward pause, the two of them standing there in silence before Harry came to his senses and walked off. He didn't want to be here a moment longer.

Down in the kitchen a hush had fallen upon his return, but he didn't keep them waiting.

'I'll come here,' he said simply, holding back the rest of what he wanted to say. 'Thank you for giving the choice.'

Mrs Weasley rose to her feet, looking at him sympathetically. 'You should take the night to think it over, dear. It's not an easy decision.'

He shook his head. This was not something that would benefit from a longer dwell time. 'No, I've decided. I'm coming here.'

There was a murmur of acknowledgement, those present not hiding their relief. Behind him Sirius had followed him down into the kitchen, and not explictly giving his godfather the cold shoulder he made sure to say goodbye to him properly.

'I'll see you in a few days,' he assured him, walking him to the fireplace where the Weasleys were waiting. 'And if you change your mind-'

'I won't.'

The moment they returned to the Burrow the offer was made again. 'You don't have to decide right away,' Mrs Weasley insisted, following him out of the fireplace.

Harry held back his sharp tone. 'I know you want me to stay.'

'It's not about what I want at all,' she insisted, Mr Weasley appearing in the fireplace behind her. 'It's up to you, but there's no need to rush it. That's all.'

Mr Weasley was brushing himself off, and he gave Harry a wry smile. 'Shall I pop the kettle on?'

No. There was nothing to discuss.

'None for me, thanks. I'm going back to bed.'

To his relief they let him be, and obligingly accepting the kiss on his cheek from Mrs Weasley Harry slowly made his way upstairs. His head was in a whirlwind, and he was in no rush to get back to what he knew would be waiting for him upstairs in Ron's room.

With every step he tried to rationalise what he was feeling, to find a place for the anger and frustration peaking within him. But there was no one to blame, no one to hold accountable or resent. Objectively the Order had done the right thing in ensuring Malfoy's protection, and they had given Harry a choice in the matter too. Hadn't he always wanted to have a say in his own life? Hadn't he often complained the Order and Dumbledore made decisions for him without even asking?

He couldn't make that complaint tonight.

The light was on in Ron's bedroom, and he steeled himself before opening the door and going in. Not at all surprising was the right of Ron and Ginny sitting up and awaiting his return, and when he stepped through the door they roused from their state of half sleep.

'That was quick,' Ron yawned, rubbing his eyes. 'Thought you'd be gone hours.'

'So you waited up?' he questioned, right away regretting his tone. They certainly were not at fault here.

'What happened?" asked Ginny.

Kicking off his shoes Harry slumped down onto his bed and looked up at the ceiling, wondering where on earth he would begin.