Caught In The Middle

Caught In The Middle

Prologue

Rain pounded the ground and lightning lit up the sky as Draco Malfoy followed Dumbledore into a recently materialised house, number 12 Grimmauld Place. He entered the shabby home apprehensively and found himself standing in a long, depressing hallway, dimly lit by old-fashioned gas lamps. The house seemed to be deserted but for a soft humming of voices coming from within a nearby room.

"Mr. Malfoy," said Dumbledore's kindly voice, breaking his trail of thoughts, "This way," he said, beckoning Draco to follow him.

He led him down the corridor and up a dark staircase, passing a row of shrunken house elf heads mounted on plaques. They reached the second landing.

Dumbledore pointed to the door on the right saying, "You may use that room for tonight," and with that, he swept around to leave.

"Wait," cried Draco, who hadn't uttered a single word throughout the entire journey, "Where are you going, Professor?"

"I must attend a brief meeting to discuss our plans of safeguarding you," he replied calmly.

Draco opened his mouth to object - he could take care of himself, but Dumbledore would not let him squeeze in a word.

"I assure you, Mr. Malfoy," he continued, "I will let you know of our plans - you only need to be patient for a little while more," he said coolly, "and you may have your say in it when I return." He then briskly walked down the stairs leaving Draco alone in the darkness.

Draco sighed heavily. He turned the serpent shaped doorknob, and entered the dirty old room. It was nothing like his own room at the Malfoy Manor. For one nothing seemed to go together. The bed, the dresser, and the desk were all made of different types of wood. The paint was yellowing and at some places was peeling. Draco grabbed a candle off the desk and after rummaging through the drawers found a match and lit it. He sat down on the rickety bed, and ran his fingers through his wet hair. It had been a long, wretched week and he just wanted it to end. He wanted it all to end...the pain, the misery - everything.

Draco peeled off his grey wool coat and tossed it onto a chair. He lay down to sleep, but sleep would not come. He was restless, desperate for some information; he began pacing around the room trying to get his mind off the increasing fear growing deep inside him. What was going to happen now? Was he doomed to a life of constant fear and hiding? Would he die a miserable death at the hands of Lord Voldemort? Feelings of fear, anger, and resentment raged inside him. He needed to clear his mind...

He walked into the bathroom, leaning in the sink and splashing cold water onto his face. He turned to leave, but was intrigued to stay by the sight of his reflection in the mirror. Was this the same person? The once arrogant smirk he wore all the time was now replaced by a more serious, dismal expression. His pale blond hair that he used to spend hours styling was now a mess of tangles. The only thing that remained the same were his icy grey eyes, still cold and hollow as ever....

***

The Order's meeting was taking place in the dimly lit living room. Everyone was seated around a gigantic circular wooden table that had been brought in for the occasion.

"We have yet another very important issue to discuss today. It is a pressing matter, and it must be settled at once," Dumbledore addressed the anxious members of the Order, "It concerns Draco Malfoy." Everyone in the room suddenly became very quiet.

"We were all of the opinion that young Draco would follow his father's footsteps and join Lord Voldemort and his group of Death Eaters. We were wrong," he sighed. "Mr. Malfoy proved us all wrong by turning in his father earlier this week, as you all know."

There was a rush of murmurs across the room and several loud gasps. But Dumbledore continued unperturbed. "Now, before us lies another predicament - the protection of Draco Malfoy."

"But how do we know the rat is to be trusted?" snarled Mad Eye Moody, pounding his fist on the table.

"Yeah, who knows if this isn't all a plan of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? What if he's a spy?" questioned a small, dark-haired witch who had a high-pitched voice.

"I have full trust in Draco - he is not a spy," stated Dumbledore.

"Yeah, but how do we know that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has planned all of this? That he just wants Draco to do this so that he can spy on the Order?" questioned Emmaline Vance.

"Besides, how can we trust a boy who just last year was proud to be the son of one of the most powerful Death Eaters?" asked a slightly off looking wizard.

"Mr. Malfoy's reasons for turning in his father are perfectly acceptable," replied Dumbledore coolly, "And as I said before, and will say again, he is not a spy. He knows how Voldemort operates and knows how he executes his plans. He has been a Death Eater for an entire year. Therefore, I believe that he will be a very useful asset in our fight against Lord Voldemort."

"I still think that there's something fishy with the boy," said Mad-Eye in his gruff voice.

"I would like to move on now, for we did not gather here to discuss where Mr. Malfoy's loyalties lie, but how we should safeguard him. Anyone who questions his integrity may leave if they please." He paused, but no one dared to stir.

"Well then, I shall continue. My original plan was to hide Mr. Malfoy here at the house of Mr. Black." At the mention of the name there were many loud sighs and shifts in seats among the original Order, who were all still distressed over his tragic death.

"However, I believe Mr. Malfoy would not like to be cooped up in this old house all summer and it is too risky to once again summon the Knight Bus here to return him to Hogwarts. So, I have come up with another plan.

"I have decided that Mr. Malfoy should stay with a family over which I will cast a spell similar to the one I had caste on Mr. Potter and the Dursleys. Is there anyone who is willing to take Mr. Malfoy into their home?" he asked, looking around for volunteers. Everyone stared at him in shock. Surely, he didn't really mean it! How could he expect anyone to take the wretched son of Lucius Malfoy into their home?

"Is no one willing to assist me?" he asked, again looking out into the crowd for volunteers, "No one will do it? No one at all?"

At last a chubby, quivering hand was slowly raised, "I-I will do it Dumbledore," came the faint voice of Molly Weasley. Everyone turned to stare at her in surprise. Beside her, Arthur Weasley became pale, and his eyes grew wide in shock.

"We will be pleased to assist you in any manner possible, Dumbledore. Won't we Arthur?" Mrs. Weasley glanced sharply at her husband, who sat speechless. She had to jab him in the ribs to make him speak.

"Er...y-n-uhh," obviously still very much stunned, all he could utter were a jumble of incoherent phrases.

"Both Arthur and I would love to be a part of your plan," said Molly Weasley briskly, answering for the both of them.

Dumbledore's wrinkled face broke out into a slight smile, "Thank You, Molly. I am most grateful to you." Molly nodded. She tightly gripped the hand of her husband, who was sitting in an utterly horrified silence.

Chapter 1 - An Awful Announcement

It was Saturday afternoon. The Weasley household was busy preparing for lunch. Ginny swept the kitchen floor with Hermione, who was staying with them and had insisted on helping. They were currently discussing what they would do had they been Metamorphagus' like Tonks. On her left, Ron was trying to dry the just-washed glasses as fast as possible, so that he could continue his conversation on the Chudley Cannons' latest win with Harry, who was also staying with them and was presently setting the table. Although Mrs. Weasley had repeatedly tried to stop him and Hermione from doing any work - "You must be tired, you poor darlings need rest!" - they hadn't relented. At the far corner of the room, Fred and George were trying to enchant all the spoons so that they made loud, rude noises every time someone picked them up.

Ginny watched as her parents entered the room - her mother sweeping in, as was her usual fashion, and her father quietly trailing behind. Both of them, for some reason, looked oddly tense.

Her mother cleared her throat, signalling her father to join her at the head of the table.

"Ron, Fred, George, Ginny - EVERYONE!" shouted mum, causing the entire room to become completely quiet, "I have an announcement to make."

"Ok...well, as you know - we had an Order meeting two nights ago...and well...."

"Well?" asked Ron impatiently as he arranged the glasses on the table.

Ginny saw her mother glance somewhat pleadingly at her father. He looked taken aback, but recovered after a moment.

"Oh...right. Well - Weasleys, Harry, Hermione, we will be having a...well, an unusual, house guest this summer..." dad was stammering, this couldn't be good! "His name is.....ummdracomm-malfoy. Anyway, what's for lunch?"

But the whole room stayed quiet, and nobody answered his question. Ginny couldn't believe her ears. Surely, she wasn't hearing correctly!

"Wait...did you just say -"

"Draco Malfoy?" inquired Fred and George, who seemed just as confused as Ginny.

No. There must have been a mistake. Draco Malfoy coming to our house - that was ludicrous! "Have you two been sniffing dung bombs? - Of course dad didn't say that!" said Ginny in a mater-of-fact tone of voice, "What did you say, dad?"

"No, I'm afraid you heard correctly. Draco Malfoy will be staying with us this summer," said mother curtly.

Merlin's beard she's serious! Oh no...this will be the worst summer ever! Worse then the summer before my first year when Harry stayed over! Thought Ginny wrinkling her forehead in frustration.

A series of outbursts, started by Ron, broke her concentration, "WHAT?!" he yelled, gripping his glass so tightly that it cracked.

"You're kidding!" exclaimed Fred, who was looking at mum and dad as if they had suddenly transformed into frogs.

George who had been standing next to Fred quietly suddenly broke out in laugher. Ginny craned her neck to see what the matter was.

He was rolling on the floor, obviously very amused. Once he got a hold of himself he stood up and said, "I never knew you had a sense of humor, Mum. You almost had me convinced!"

"I wasn't joking!" bellowed mum, now very annoyed, "Can we all just please sit down and have dinner? Harry, dear, are you, ok? You look a bit sick.."

"You just told him Draco Malfoy's coming to stay with us this summer - what'd you expect him to start singing Joy to the World?" said Ginny, slumping into her chair.

Fred turned to her wide-eyed, "You took the word's right out of my mouth, Gin!"

When were those two going to grow up? "Well, you two aren't the only one's that can make jokes," Ginny snapped.

"Oh, lookie here George, we got ourselves some competition!"

"Don't worry Fred we won't let nasty little Ginny - "

"Harry, dear," cut in mum abruptly changing the subject, "Are you sure you're all right?"

"I'm fine...." mumbled Harry, who was obviously trying his best to be polite. He pulled out a chair and sat down. Everyone followed his example and soon they were all eating, and for once no one had a thing to say.

"What I don't get," said Hermione breaking the awful silence, "is why Malfoy agreed to this! I mean he isn't really a fan of the Weasley's, is he?"

"He must be up to something!" said Ron suspiciously, "What if he's a spy?"

"Of course!" exclaimed Harry, "Why else would he be willing to stay at the Burrow?"

"N-no, I mean I wouldn't put that past Malfoy, but Dumbledore trusts him. He must be on our side now," replied Hermione.

Hermione was right, there must be a reason Dumbledore all of a sudden trusts Malfoy. But what could it be? Thought Ginny who wasn't really paying attention to the conversation going on around her.

She zoned back in to hear Ron, exclaim, "Nothing to worry about? We've got a Malfoy staying at our house for the entire summer - we've got everything to be worried about!"

"Now, now, Molly's right, we've got nothing to worry about!" declared dad who was absently cutting up his chicken.

"I know what he's up to!" shouted Fred jumping up, "He's going to try and steal our newest items for our joke shop!"

Ginny snorted, "Oh and a faithful servant of Lord Voldemort would really need those."

Ginny looked up too see her mother throw her a menacing look, "Can we all eat in peace?" she hissed. Everyone slowly nodded and the rest of dinner was spent in complete silence.

Ginny who wanted to think welcomed the silence. A series of questions raced through her mind causing her to get a headache. Why did mum and dad want to be a part of the Dumbledore's plan? So, Malfoy's on our side now? But why? He seemed like a shoe in for the next most evil Death Eater! So the rumours are true then, Malfoy turned in his father! Malfoy's coming to our house...what will we say to him? Or more important than that, what will he say to us? Ginny sighed and rubbed her aching temple. She quickly got up and excused herself from the table. She left her half-full plate on the table and ambled up the stairs to her room. She lay on her bed for quite some time trying to digest the shocking news. Though she would have like to spend the rest of the day lying on her bed in misery she had to come down when her mother called.

***

The rest of the day was dedicated to making the Burrow look presentable for Draco's arrival the next morning. Ginny, to her dismay, was put in charge of de-gnoming the garden.

Ginny was kneeling down in a particularly weedy part of the garden wearing large protective gloves to prevent getting hurt by nasty gnome teeth. She seized a small gnome that was eyeing her suspiciously and threw him over the hedge. She sighed, knowing that he would be back in a little while. She grabbed another that was trying to run away, and using all of her bottled up anger and frustration, threw it with all her might.

"Wow, Gin! That must have been at least 40 feet!" said a voice from behind her.

Ginny turned around to see her oldest brother smiling down at her.

"Bill!" she shrieked, "When did you get here?"

"Just a little while ago. Mum told me you were here and I thought I'd bring you a drink," said Bill. He hadn't changed a bit. He still wore his long red hair in a ponytail and still had his earring. He grinned at her and offered her a glass of cold lemonade. Ginny smiled and took the glass from his hand. It was so great to have Bill back again.

They stood there in complete silence, for a while. He had been gone for so long; it was almost surreal to have him back again. Where had he been? Should I ask him? No, he wouldn't tell anyway...gosh, I didn't know I missed him this much! I'm glad he hasn't changed...he still my same old Bill...

"Did mum and dad tell you?" she asked him.

"Tell me what?" asked Bill who was absently swirling his glass, "Oh you mean that Malfoy kid...what's his name again...hold on it was something weird -- Draco?"

Ginny nodded and he continued talking.

"I already knew, was at the Order meeting when mum volunteered.."

Mum volunteered? Why in the world would she do that! Mum must really trusts Dumbledore if she's letting that prat Malfoy stay at our house...

"Well, no one else was and she knows she can trust Dumbledore's plans," offered Bill who seemed to have read her mind.

Ginny hesitated for a moment, and then said "I-I don't want him to come...he's awful! Bill...your so lucky don't have to go to school with him..." she shuddered.

"What? He hasn't ever done anything to you, has he?" questioned Bill - he looked concerned.

"Well...nothing more than taunting me. Oh, he's horrible! He'll be tormenting me all summer about dating..." she stopped, realising she had said too much. Why does Bill have to be so easy to talk to? I always say too much when I'm around him!

"Dating who?" asked Bill sharply.

Ginny sighed, why were her brothers so protective? She wasn't a little child anymore!

"Michael Corner," she said, "He'll be teasing me about how he left me for Cho...and he'll be teasing Harry, too!"

Now, Bill will be really mad, maybe he'll throttle Michael for me! Ginny smiled at the idea.

"He left you? Who is this bloke anyway? I think I should be informed on whom you're dating! Why didn't anyone tell me?" he asked. His face twisted into an ugly frown that really wasn't becoming on him.

"Bill, please let it go! And, and what about you and Fleur?" she asked, smiling evilly.

"What about Fleur and I...?" he said trying to avoid the subject, "She's just a colleague!" He turned away from her and looked up at the sky as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.

Ginny was going to let him off that easily; she walked after him and took a seat on the grass next to him. "Just a colleague? Hmmm...Fred and George have been saying that you've been helping her out with 'er eenglish," she said casually.

Bill looked very uncomfortable; Ginny wanted to see him squirm around a little but then decided to cut him some slack. After all he just came home after a two-month absence...she didn't want him to wish he hadn't come home...

"OK, fine let's drop the subject. Anyway...what were we talking about?" she asked quickly.

"About Draco Malfoy," replied Bill, slightly smiling in relief, "Look, Gin, if he gives you any trouble just come to me, all right?"

She smiled and jumped up, throwing her arms around him. He kissed her on the forehead and said, "It's good to be home, Gin, I've missed everyone."

"Well, everyone's missed you too... and Charlie," she looked away.

God, how she missed Charlie. First Percy's gone, then Charlie goes on a mysterious mission and doesn't return, and now Malfoy's going to stay with us for the summer! Good lord what is the world coming too?

"He's been gone for months! And not a word! Not a single word," tears began streaming down her face as she spoke.

Bill brushed away her tears. "He can take care of himself. He's smart -- don't worry about him. He's just on a mission for the Order...sometimes they take a while, but he'll be back...I promise.."

"I know...you're right, I'm just being silly...anyway, I should get back to the gnomes," she said rubbing her eyes.

"I'll do it - why don't you go rest? You look tired," said Bill.

"No, no...I'm not tired. Besides, you just got back, you're the one that needs rest, I'll do it myself - it really isn't a big deal."

"Well, how 'bout we do it together?" he offered.

Ginny nodded, "Yeah I'd like that...thanks."

The two of them spent the next two hours competing against each other on who could throw their gnome the farthest, who could knock a gnome unconscious, and various other categories. Bill won in the first category when he threw a skinny little gnome nearly 60 feet into the sky. However, Ginny won in the second contest when she the squirming gnome she hurled hit a gnarled tree branch and was knocked unconscious. This was the fist time de-gnoming the garden had been so amusing. Ginny smiled happily as she walked into her home with Bill. She had almost forgotten how easy it was to talk to him and how fun he was to be around.

****

Ginny thrashed in her sleep. She was having horrible nightmares, all of which involved a certain blond haired adolescent. He turned his nose up to their humble dinner, laughed at her shabby clothes, refused to help out with the chores, teased her relentlessly about liking Harry, and kept asking her how Tom was doing...

Ginny groped for her wand and whispered "Lumos." She sat up and sleepily rubbed her eyes. She looked over at Hermione, and was happy to see that she wasn't the slightest bit worried about Draco's arrival. Hermione was sleeping peacefully, and didn't seem to be bothered by the light. Ginny sighed and got out of bed, whispered "Nox," and went down to the kitchen.

The dim kitchen light was already in; telling her that someone was already down there. Harry sat at the kitchen table eating some toast. He saw her and beckoned her to sit down. She took the seat opposite of him.

"Couldn't sleep, either?" asked Harry, offering her a piece of toast.

Ginny took the toast gratefully and confessed, "I kept having these horrible nightmares about Malfoy."

"Me too, he was throwing me evil looks and kept jumping out of nowhere shouting "Avada Kedavra" with a stick in his hand. Apparently he found it amusing and started laughing his head off..."

Ginny chuckled, "Well, in mine he was laughing at my shabby clothes and... and....kept asking me how Tom was..." she trailed off.

"Stupid git," muttered Harry as he scraped some butter out of the butter dish.

Ginny laughed out loud, "Do you remember...when you came to the Burrow for the first time and I dipped my elbow into the butter dish after you asked me if I was going to Hogwarts?"

"Yeah," said Harry, "I pretended not to have noticed."

"Fortunately you were the only one to notice...God, if Fred and George found out they'd have teased me till I died!"

Ginny smiled, I can't believe I used to be afraid to talk to this guy! He's so easy to talk to, well perhaps it's because I don't worship the ground he walks on anymore...

At that moment, Ron and Hermione came rambling down the stairs. Apparently, they were having yet another argument.

Ginny caught Harry's eye and they both stifled laugher. Ron sat next to Harry and Hermione took the seat next to Ginny and both refused to speak too each other.

"I see you two couldn't sleep either," said Ron, eyeing Harry and Ginny who were both biting into their toast.

"We kept having dreams about Malfoy," Harry told him.

"What have you two been up to?" asked Hermione, raising an eyebrow. She looked over at Ron who was glancing back and forth at Ginny and Harry.

"We've been eating toast and talking...and that's it!" spat Ginny, utterly disgusted at them. The way they talk to me, you'd think I was still in my first year! I am not in love with Harry Potter! Do I need to paste a sticker on my forehead declaring the fact?

"Talking about what?" asked Ron.

"Why do you care?" said Ginny heatedly.

"We just want to know!" said Hermione who seemed to have forgiven Ron.

"All right, if you really want to know...we were talking about you two," ventured Harry.

"About us?" asked Ron giving Hermione a bewildered look.

"Yeah," said Ginny playing along, "How it's sooo oblivious that - "

"That what?" asked Hermione sharply.

"That you two like each other," finished off Harry.

Ginny stole a glance at the both of them -- Ron looked utterly horrified and Hermione was frowning.

"Oh, really, you two!" she said exasperatedly.

"It really is obvious, Hermione, dear," said Ginny.

Harry nodded in agreement.

"N-no...it's not!" said Ron who was beginning to flush pink.

"Oh it isn't than why are you blushing, Ron?" said Ginny.

"I'm not blushing....I don't know what you two are talking about!"

"Well, we'll leave you two here," said Harry as he rose from his seat. Ginny scrambled to her feet and followed him.

"Maybe they'll finally admit it to each other," said Harry, chuckling.

"I don't know - Ron's a little stubborn," mentioned Ginny.

"Everyone knows it's true."

"Yeah," said Ginny as they both parted ways.

"See ya, in the morning," said Harry as she disappeared into her room.

Ginny sighed as she walked into her messy room and collapsed on to her bed, utterly exhausted. Tomorrow would be a long day, but right now all she wanted to do was sleep. She tucked a stray flaming red lock behind her ear, and pulled her warm blanket over her and immediately fell asleep. This time, however, she somehow managed to forget his approaching arrival and slept serenely, having pleasant, Draco-free dreams.