A Redheaded Evans

"So did you talk to Draco?" Lisa asked when she caught Julia between her morning classes.

"We're sort of avoiding each other," Julia confessed. "And, well, I've sorted through my feelings. I am in love with him."

Lisa patted her arm sympathetically. "It's good that you know, then. Do you want us to arrange something tonight so that you two can have a moment alone during game intermission?"

"Draco's working late tonight - we might even be done gaming by the time he gets home," Julia said.

Lisa's eyebrows went up.

Julia smiled weakly. "Like I said - we're sort of avoiding each other."

"What about at lunch?"

"Somehow I doubt that he'll be showing up for lunch."

Julia was wrong, however, for when she entered the rotunda she saw Fiona and Andy sitting at a table. Both of them looked flustered, but Draco looked completely calm.

"Bon accent," Fiona said weakly.

Draco tossed his head. "Bien sûr. Ma famille est française."

Andy groaned and banged his head against the table.

"What's the problem?" Julia asked, sitting down. She glanced cautiously at Draco and saw that he was smirking. She recognized that expression from his old school picture - it meant he was tormenting people and enjoying it.

"Pas de probleme," he said calmly. "Vous ne parlez pas français."

"We asked him to help us with our French, and now he won't speak English," Andy moaned.

Julia chuckled. "Je sais. Il est très méchant."

Fiona wailed. "No! She's doing it too!"

Julia smiled. "J'habite avec lui. C'est d'habitude."

Fiona joined Andy in banging her head against the table.

"They asked for my help. Speaking a language is the best way to learn it. You know that," Draco said, and grinned at Julia.

He's acting like nothing is wrong, she realized. He really was a Malfoy.

"Change of subject!" Andy cried, sitting up. "Now Draco, what would we have to do to convince you to play with us tonight?"

"I have to work late tonight," he said, and he actually sounded apologetic. "A couple of the evening guys are down ill and so I need to cover both of their shifts. You lot will probably be done playing by the time I get home from work."

Fiona furrowed her brow, looking concerned. "And then you'll get up and go to work the next day? That can't be good for your health."

"I can use the money," Draco said calmly.

"By the way, I saw Tony in my history class," Andy said, turning to Julia. "He was looking for you."

Julia raised her eyebrows. "Me? He finally wants to get that duel done, or what?"

Andy shrugged. "Didn't say. Just said he wanted to talk to you."

Julia rolled her eyes. "Figures. I'll hunt him down."

"Be sure to travel armed," Fiona said.

Julia sighed and stood up. "Might as well get this over with. I'll see you kiddies later. Have a good day at work, Draco."
She missed the way his eyes darkened as she walked away in search of her ex.

Julia found Tony lingering in the hallways of the history building as she had predicted. He noticed her straight away and dismissed whichever girl he was talking to.

"Julia, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Andy," she replied calmly. "He said you wished to speak to me."

"Ah, yes. That." Tony cast a suspicious glance around the hallway and guided her into a secluded doorway. "I have something to tell you."

Julia crossed her arms and arched one eyebrow, waiting.

"Christie and I talked, and we've decided that you should be careful around Draco," Tony said in a low voice. He leaned in, as if telling her a secret.

Julia felt the first risings of frustration but kept herself calm. "What for?"

"We think he's lying to you. See, we checked around in the library and online and with a whole bunch of sources, and the Malfoy family died out in France in the early medieval ages with the first wave of witch burnings." Tony's blue eyes were utterly serious. "The family patriarch was discovered casting magic and his whole family was slaughtered. No one survived."

Julia resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She knew that the Malfoys had ceased to exist for muggle records years ago. She also knew that the name Malfoy was still going strong in Europe's wizarding community. "Your point being?"

"Draco's lying to you," Tony said, voice low and insistent. "He must have some ulterior motive for being with you."

Like you did? Julia thought, but said nothing. "Listen, Nicola's known him for years. You'd think that she, above all people, would know if Draco had darker intentions."

"Well I talked to her too, and she said that no one in the town she worked in knew anything about the 'family manor' up in the moors, and that the locals warned her away from Draco. She says they told her that the last time a boy looking like him - a guy named Lucius - came through town, things went badly for the locals." Tony gripped her shoulders as if he willed it hard enough she would believe him.

"Yes, well, Lucius was Draco's father, and things always went badly when that man was around, and not just for the locals and Draco," Julia said calmly. "Listen, I've been living with Draco for over a month now and there is nothing dangerous going on."

"Steven admitted to being suspicious of Draco as well," Tony told her.

Julia gritted her teeth and extricated herself from his grasp. "Listen, I know you're worried about me, and I'm grateful for your concern, but I know that Draco isn't any threat to me."

Tony narrowed his eyes at her. Julia itched to curl her hand into a fist and connect it with the side of his face.

"You're in love with him, aren't you?"

"And what if I am?" Julia asked tightly.

"It's blinding you. This could turn out badly for you," Tony warned.

Julia narrowed her eyes. "Just because that happened in my relationship with you doesn't mean all my other relationships will tank as well."
Tony drew back, anger marring his features. "I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to," Julia snapped. "Ever since I broke up with you, you've been warning me away from every guy that I ever talk to. You hated Andy until you found out that he and Fiona liked each other. You even hated Kenneth's little brother Samuel because he would visit me at work over the summer. You're just pissed off because I've moved on and I'm no longer in your thrall. You have Christie to play with - go mess with her head."

Tony's eyes narrowed. "That's not true."

"Isn't it? You can stand the thought that you're not the most important person in my life." Julia spun on her heel and headed for the door, but Tony caught her wrist and yanked her back.

"Let me go," she hissed.

"What if I told you that Draco came to talk to me and threatened me?"

"I'd say I hoped he finished you off with one of his swords!"

Julia gazed up at him defiantly. But had Draco done such a thing?

It was just after the lunch rush, and Tony was cleaning things up in the cafeteria. He would be glad when he got off work and could have a nap before he got started on his homework.

"Good afternoon."

Tony blinked at the unfamiliar voice and lifted his head. He saw a young man standing before him, a tall young man with white-blond hair and piercing gray eyes. Tony recognized him after a moment. Draco Malfoy. Julia's new housemate.

"Good afternoon," Tony answered warily.

"I've come to talk to you," Draco said in measured tones.

Tony felt his suspicion solidify. "What about?"

"What else? Julia, our mutually beautiful redhead."

"What about her?"

"I saw the way you watched her last night during the game intermission." Draco ran a hand through his hair to push it out of his eyes. "I thought it due time to remind you that she left you for a reason and that her reason has not changed, so you might as well amuse yourself with that strop Christie and leave Julia alone."

Tony lifted his chin defiantly. "And what does it matter to you?"

"You will come to learn that a Malfoy is quite protective over that which he cares for," Draco said.

"The name Malfoy means nothing to me," Tony retorted. He was inwardly disappointed when Draco didn't react.

"It wouldn't, considering that we come from two entirely different worlds. And don't bother trying to read up on it."

At Tony's jerk of surprise, Draco smirked.

"Yes, I know how you think and how you react. I've been hearing about you from Nicola and Julia for years. 'Know thine enemy' and all that rot."

Tony narrowed his eyes. "You know nothing about me."

"On the contrary, as opposed to your attempt at pop psychology on me last night, I am a true aristocrat, and I can read you in a second."

"Oh really?"

Draco smiled, then, a dazzling and unsettling smile.

"The better to eat you up and spit you out, as you plebeians so distastefully put it," Draco said. "You see, you are not the sort of person to fight for yourself physically. My offer of a duel would not matter to you, and as Julia and Nicola tell me you're absolutely abysmal with a sword."
Tony bristled. "I am not."
Draco arched one elegant brow. "That play you call fencing is just that - play. Until you've fought with live steel and drawn blood, it is all a children's game."

"And I'm supposing you have?" Tony demanded.

"Expect nothing less from a Malfoy." Draco drew himself up to his full height, and his gray eyes blazed silver. "I do know, however, that you would prefer to fumble at political intrigue and power play. That is something a pauper like you has no true concept of, and despite your self-delusion that you have the upper hand because this is your domain, I can assure you that the dark grasp of Malfoy reaches far and wide and I would demolish you so efficiently that the world would cease to remember your existence. Now stop your machinations against Julia. None of your pathetic efforts can win her back."

"Don't even think for a second you intimidate me, you European - "

"I hope I only have to say it once." Draco glanced at his watch. "I must be returning to work now." He spun on his heel and strode for the doors. "Do remember this conversation, Antonio," he called over his shoulder.

"You see?" Tony cried once his version of events was done. "He's a violent, manipulative bastard."

"Of course Draco's a manipulative bastard!" Julia said. "He's a Malfoy. And you shouldn't be calling the kettle black!"

"Why does it matter if he's a Malfoy or not?" Tony threw his hands up in exasperation.

"It's a part of aristocracy you wouldn't understand," Julia said coldly. "Surely you, in your relentless pursuit of book knowledge, have understood that most of the power in European aristocracy rises from the reputation of a family, and that reputation is associated with that family's name."

"And I suppose you know so much about what it means to be a Malfoy."

Julia smirked, an exact replica of Draco's arrogant expression. "Wouldn't you like to know."

Tony grabbed her and kissed her.

Julia froze for a moment. Rage welled up inside her, and she gathered her wits.

Tony reeled backward after she planted a fist in his abdomen.

"Never touch me again," she hissed, wiping her mouth with the back of said fist. She spun on her heel and stomped away.

Draco wondered if Tony would tell Julia about their little afternoon talk. If he knew Tony - and Draco was almost always accurate when he read people - then Tony probably had done it. Draco reckoned that Julia would probably react in his favor and it would anger Tony more. Draco was now almost sure that Julia knew how he felt. They were avoiding each other, and there was no other way to describe it. She kept running off with friends and he kept taking on more hours at work. They would have to talk to each other eventually. Draco was just glad that he had finished brewing those potions the night before. Now Julia would be safe while he was gone. Had she read the note and taken some of the hex-off?

Draco glanced at his watch and saw that it was almost his break for supper. He turned to Karen - who was also helping cover the night shift - and asked her to run the front desk while he made a quick call home. She nodded and agreed; she had been much more reasonable in her actions toward him as of late. It probably wouldn't be much trouble anyway as business was slowing down. It would slow almost completely once the fall season of the Shakespearean Festival closed.

Draco slipped into the back and picked up the phone. He dialed Julia's cell number and waited anxiously while it rang. He groaned softly under his breath when her voice mail picked up.

"This is Julia. I'm not here right now, or I'm in class. Leave a message and I'll call you back!"

"Julia, it's Draco. Listen, as soon as you get the chance I want you to go home and drink some of that hex-off potion. There's a vial of it with the right dosage in the cupboard under your sink. It's the blue vial, not the gray - don't take the gray. Drink the whole vial, all right? It will keep you safe. Have a good game."

He hung up and sighed. Maybe he should ask Robert and Karen what they wanted for supper and handle the ordering out.

He went to poke his head out of the back office and speak to the front desk when three oddly familiar voices met his hears.

Crisp British accents.

Two male, one female.

Draco's eyes went wide.

Impossible...

"All right, now what kind of rooms would you like?" Karen asked brightly.

"One single and one double," the girl answered calmly.

There was the clacking of keys as Karen typed. "And your names?"

"Put it under Hermione Granger," the girl said.

Draco suddenly wished fervently for his wand. What were they doing here? Had they found him? Or were they tracking the Death Eaters who were on his trail? He knew that the golden trio had become Aurors right after graduation...

Karen asked her how to spell it. "That's a lovely name. I've never heard it before."

"It's a common British name," Hermione said.

Karen immediately perked up. "Oh, you're from the UK? One of our staff is from there as well. He just moved here recently - "
Hermione broke in gently. "We'll be paying by credit card."

"All right." More typing. "Right. Here are your keys. You'll be staying upstairs in rooms 213 and 215 - they're connecting, if you don't mind. Non-smoking all right?"

"Perfect," one of the males said. It was Potter.

"Is there anything else we can do for you?" Karen asked.

"Could you tell us where the university is?" Potter said.

"Sure I can! I'm a student there myself."

Draco silently cursed Karen's ebullience.

"Really?" the other male broke in. Weasley. "Then can you help us? We're looking for someone."

"I'm pretty popular at the college - I know lots of people," Karen said brightly.

"He's sort of skinny and pale looking, and probably awfully rude," the Weasley said.

"Ron!" Hermione hissed.

"His name is Malfoy," Potter cut in.

Draco cringed.

"Oh, you mean Draco? He's not a student," Karen said.

"But you know him?" Hermione asked. She sounded surprised.

Karen nodded. "Yes. He works here. In fact, he's on duty right now. Would you like me to find him for you?"

"Yes please," Hermione said.

"How do you know Draco, then?" Karen asked.

Panic flooded through Draco, and he struggled to hold onto his composure.

"We went to school together," Potter said.

"Oh. Were you friends?"

The Weasley sputtered, but Hermione said, "Acquaintances. We'd just like to speak to him."

Draco sucked in a deep calming breath, and stepped out to the front desk.

The golden trio was dressed in muggle clothes - even the Weasley, who had managed not to look like a total fool.

"Potter. Granger. Weasley. What brings you to America?"

"Malfoy," Potter answered coolly. The Weasley glowered.

Draco turned to Karen and said, "Ask Robert what he'd like for supper and order out, all right? I have to talk to my old schoolmates."
Karen nodded and beamed. "Anything for you."

Draco smiled thinly and stepped out from behind the desk. The golden trio followed him to a corner away from the desk and the door.

"What are you doing here?" he hissed.

"Looking for you, of course," Hermione said.

"Why?" Draco demanded.

"Don't try anything funny," the Weasley warned. "We have our wands with us."

"Headmaster Dumbledore sent us to look for you," Hermione said calmly. "We have news for you. Your father's dead."

Draco kept his expression cold. "I expected as much. The Dementors, I suppose?"

Hermione nodded. "Your mother - committed suicide."

Draco arched one eyebrow. "Flung herself off a prison tower, did she?"

Potter gaped at his coldness; Draco had to resist the urge to sneer.

"No. She accepted the kiss along with him. We still haven't caught Voldemort, but we know that Voldemort is after you," Hermione continued doggedly, ignoring the boys behind her.

"I could have told you that," Draco drawled. He hated himself for slipping into his old school façade, but right now he needed something to keep him calm, and if it took old habits then old habits it was.

"We need you to come back to England," Potter said.

"Why? There is nothing there for me," Draco said. He tossed his head carelessly.

"Actually, you're the new Lord Malfoy and there's a load of legal work to be taken care of," Hermione said.

"I'll sell the manor after you Aurors have a good poke at old Lucius' dark arts toys," Draco said.

"It should be duly noted that part of the condition of you inheriting is that you are of age and married," Hermione said. "Or else the property falls into the hands of a guardian."

"Let my guardian handle it, then. I'm not going back," Draco told her coolly.

Potter grabbed him by the shoulders. "Have you forgotten that your guardian is probably some evil Death Eater? Do you want the Death Eaters to inherit your fortune and destroy us all?"

"The Death Eaters don't need money." Draco shook himself out of Potter's grip and drew himself up to his full height, eyes glittering coldly. "And for your information, my godfather is one Severus Snape. I'm sure he doesn't take kindly to being reminded of his past transgressions."

Hermione blinked. "Professor Snape is your godfather?"

"That's why you always got such good marks in potions!" the Weasley cried.

"Did it not occur to you that some things I can earn on my own?" Draco drawled. "Not everything at school was earned by leeching off of Miss Granger's brilliance."

"So Snape can have all your money then?" Potter asked. He muttered under his breath, "The Order could use it."

"Probably not, seeing how I am of age and married," Draco said.

The trio looked shocked.

"Who would marry you?" the Weasley cried.

"Just what does Voldemort want with you, anyway?" Hermione asked.

Draco smirked. "Wouldn't you lot love to know."

He saw Potter's hand twitch and knew that he was reaching for his wand.

"I wouldn't risk the public magic if I were you," Draco said softly, dangerously. "And I wouldn't underestimate me without my wand, either."

"We know your mother snapped your wand," Hermione said. "And we know that the Death Eaters are looking for you. Tell us why and we can help you."

"The only thing that would help me would be my death." Draco smirked at their horrified expressions. "You don't know anything about me, do you?" He turned and called over his shoulder, "Karen, please call Alexander and have him come in for me. Something just came up and I must hurry home. Do send my apologies to Robert."
Draco cast a last smirk at the golden trio and Disapparated.

There was a sudden POP! The group in the kitchen shrieked.

Nicola cut her story off and called out, "Hey, what happened?"

Andy, Fiona and Kenneth gaped when Draco strode into the den. "Julia, did you get the message I left on your cell?"

Julia shook her head. "No. What happened? You were supposed to be at work -?"

Draco hurried down the hallway. He returned with a blue vial. "Drink it all, now."

Julia obeyed, watching him worriedly. His face was flushed slightly and his gray eyes were bright with panic.

Lisa spilled in from the kitchen. She was gazing at Draco in terror.

"He - he just a-appeared in the middle of the kitchen," she said, pointing at him with a shaking hand.

"Draco, what the hell is going on?" Steven demanded.

"Everyone, clear out now," Draco said. "Things are about to get messy."

Christie stepped out of the kitchen and shrieked when a sword flew past her head and into Draco's hand.

Everyone gaped at him.

"Leave! All of you! NOW!" Draco yelled. Immediately they scrambled to obey, grabbing their things and running for the door.

Tony pulled it open and moved to burst out, but he let out a small cry and fell back a step.

Three people stood on the front porch wielding wooden wands.

"Out the back door," Draco ordered. Everyone but Steven and Nicola followed.

"What's going on?" Steven asked again.

"That was very stupid, Malfoy," the girl spat, striding into the house, wand leveled at Draco. "We had to obliviate some memories and then explain to an official what sort of wizard has been performing high-level wandless magic."

"I told you not to underestimate me because I didn't have a wand," Draco answered coolly.

"You're coming back to England with us whether you like it or not," the dark-haired boy said, brandishing his wand threateningly.

Draco raised his sword, poised to fight, and Steven drew a knife, when Julia said,

"Cousin Harry?"

The dark-haired boy blinked. "What?"

Julia offered a shaky smile - anything to stall for time. "You don't remember me? I remember you. You're Harry Potter. Aunt Lily's boy."

Uncertainty crossed the boy's face. "How do you know my mother's name?"

"Julia, you know Potter?" Disbelief shone in Draco's eyes.

"Yes. My father, Daniel Evans, was your mother's brother," Julia said calmly. "You probably didn't hear much about us from Aunt Petunia growing up. Dad was the shame of the family because he married an American. But you don't remember me? We came to visit the summer of your sixth birthday. You and my sister and I hid from Dudley and threw rocks at him. You don't remember?"

Harry shook his head. "No. No. I don't remember. Aunt Petunia never said anything about you. Who are you?"

"My name is Julia Malfoy. I'm Draco's wife," she said.

"You're married to Draco?" Nicola cried. "When did this happen?"

"Over the summer, but never mind," Draco said. "This was a great family reunion and all, but these three have to go."

The redheaded boy looked horrified. "Malfoy married a redhead? And now he's related to Harry?"

"Enough talk," the girl snapped. She aimed her wand at Draco and said, "Petrificus totalus!"

Draco smirked when nothing happened.

"We'll take her then." The girl turned and shouted the same spell at Julia.

Julia cried out and flinched, but again nothing happened.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" Harry demanded.

"I don't know!" she cried. She glared at Draco. "Malfoy must have done something."

"Just a simple potion," he drawled. "Nicola, Steven, I recommend that you leave this fight to me."

"No. I want to know what's going on," Steven said firmly. "So those herbs you wanted were for a potion and not for some veela ritual."

"What would you know about veela rituals, Malfoy?" the redhead demanded.

"I told you, Ron," Hermione said. "I thought that Malfoy was part veela."

Draco ran a hand through his hair. "It's where I get my good lucks and my strength for wandless magic."

"Why do you want to take Draco back to England?" Julia asked.

"His parents are dead and he has to resume his place as Lord Malfoy, among other things," Harry said.

"So you weren't kidding about the aristocracy then," Nicola said faintly.

"I'm offended that you doubted me." Draco looked hurt.

"What other things?" Steven asked. "Because I don't like it when strange people with wands try to kidnap my friends for no good reason."

"We want Malfoy because he's a bloody traitor!" Ron yelled.

"I am not a traitor," Draco hissed, voice icy. "I am not a Death Eater. I am not my father. You wanted to know why the Dark Lord wants me? I shall tell you."

"There's a dark lord involved?" Nicola asked faintly.

"Whenever a Death Eater joins the service of his lord, he must sacrifice something to gain power. The bigger the sacrifice, the more the power," Draco said. He didn't lower his sword. "Lucius Malfoy wanted the most power he could get when he joined the ranks of the Death Eaters, so he sacrificed the greatest thing he could - his firstborn son."

Nicola and the three looked horrified, but Julia and Steven just listened grimly.

"The Dark Lord bred my parents just so they would have me, the perfect combination of veela and wizard, so I would be the most powerful wizard of my generation. And I am. I can do all of my magic wandless. I know more dark magic than a fully trained Death Eater, and more defense against the dark arts than the most skilled Auror." Draco spoke steadily, his voice cold and brutal. "You see, the Dark Lord knew that trouble was coming and planned for it. When little Harry Potter was born, the Dark Lord knew trouble was arising. He knew about the prophecy and he knew he had to destroy you. And you destroyed him instead. In our fourth year he used some of your blood to give himself a corporeal form, but it wasn't enough. It couldn't hold him and his power. His alternative was...me. As soon as I became of age my father was to surrender my body to Voldemort and Draco Malfoy would cease to exist. In my body the Dark Lord would rise again, my power compounding his. My mother just thought I was meant to take Lucius' place as a Death Eater. She was wrong. And she let me escape. Voldemort plans on making me his final bid for power. So if I go back to England he will take me and the war is lost."

"And if we kill you now?" Harry demanded.

"Neville Longbottom is his second choice. And we all know that Longbottom wouldn't last half a second against the Dark Lord," Draco drawled.

"And would you?" Ron demanded.

"I already have," Draco said.

"Then we have to keep you alive," Hermione said grimly.

Draco nodded. "It's your best option."

"But Harry is the one who has to kill Voldemort."

"Doesn't mean he has to kill him alone," Draco said.

Harry exchanged looks with his friends. "Wait a minute, are you suddenly offering to help us?"

"I've never truly been against you," Draco said softly.

"We'll help in whatever war this is," Nicola said suddenly.

Hermione shook her head. "No. You don't know what you're getting into."

"We deserve to fight as well," Julia spoke up. "Voldemort plans on killing muggles. We have to fight for ourselves."

Harry eyed her shrewdly. "You're right. But none of you have the skills."

"Sure we do," Steven said, and he grinned dangerously. "You people are trained in magic, but not in combat. If a guy's busy tossing spells he's not expecting a knife in the back."

"He has a point," Hermione confessed.

"If you don't let us help you, that's two more memories you have to obliviate," Julia said.

"More?" Ron echoed.

"A house full of people saw Draco Disapparate into the kitchen," Julia said. "As for me - you'd have to erase years of my memory for me to forget the wizarding world."

"Years?" Nicola echoed. "But you and Draco barely met each other this summer."

"Actually, that's sort of a lie," Julia said.

Nicola and Steven raised eyebrows.

"You remember that first summer you worked in England? You put that pen-pal ad in the paper as a joke? Well, Draco picked it up and so we've been writing each other for years." Julia smiled weakly.

"So you wrote each other for years and decided to get married," Steven said, doubt coloring his tone.

"It's more complicated than that - can we close the door and put down our weapons and talk about this inside?" Julie asked.

The three Aurors exchanged looks and nodded. Draco lowered his sword as well.

Julia moved to close the door, ignoring Steven and Nicola's intense stares fixed in the middle of her back.

"Why doesn't everyone take a seat in the den and I'll get us some drinks?" Julia said.

The others seated themselves in the den, and Draco smiled tightly.

"No need to play hostess."

"Yes. Let's cut right to the chase," Harry said. He turned to Nicola and Steven. "It goes like this. There's another world, full of magic and witches and wizards, a world that you can't see every day. In that world there is a war, between us and the Dark Lord. Malfoy's father served the Dark Lord and Malfoy is meant to serve him too, but he chose the side of good or something and ran from the Dark Lord. Now the Dark Lord is rising to fight, and he wants Malfoy back."

"Another world full of magic?" Steven asked. "So you're witches and wizards. Okay."

"You're taking this well," Ron noted.

"Harry found all of this out the exact same way when he was eleven," Hermione said.

"We're more open-minded than most people," Nicola said. "So, what does this Dark Lord want?"

"To kill everyone who isn't pure," Hermione said.

"Sounds like Hitler." Nicola sat back and frowned.

Hermione nodded. "Indeed. You see, there are magic-users like Harry and me who were born to muggles, non-magic people. And then there are people like Ron and Malfoy who were born to pure wizarding lines, purebloods. The Dark Lord wants to kill all muggles and magic-users like Harry and me so purebloods can rule the world."

Draco smiled bitterly and said, "Of course, all of the Death Eaters who serve Lord Voldemort conveniently forget that he was a half-blood himself."

"Hitler indeed," Steven mused. "So, this guy wants to get rid of basically everyone, and most of the world doesn't know it?"

Julia nodded. "The wizarding world has a sort of masquerade going on."

"Just how do you figure into all of this?" Nicola demanded. "And how do you know so much?"

"Draco and I have been friends for five years. Pen-pals," Julia said.

"I remember the ad, now," Nicola said. She frowned at Julia. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It was something to which we mutually agreed." Draco sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I told Julia all about my world."

"So, you grew up as a wizard, and that's why you were so clueless when I let you watch movies on my laptop and stuff?" Nicola sat back, frowning thoughtfully. "And I just thought you were some weird sheltered old-fashioned aristocrat."

"In some ways I am," Draco said. "In the summer of my Fifth Year my father was in Azkaban, the prison of our world. He escaped and was free during my Sixth Year, was recaptured and went through a series of appeals in my final year at school. My mother was fighting and appealing for him, and she wanted me to join her in London for his last appeal. If he lost, he would be executed, and I would have to step up and serve the Dark Lord in his place. I refused. My mother broke my wand and promised me a head start. Then she sent some of the Death Eaters, the Dark Lord's elite forces, after me. I wrote to Julia to tell her that I wouldn't be in contact for a while, and she offered a solution."

"Marriage?" Steven raised one eyebrow.

"Marriages of convenience are not uncommon among pureblood wizarding families," Draco said.

"But Julia's a muggle," Harry pointed out. He slid his gaze over to his cousin, but she avoided everyone's questioning gazes.

"I knew that the best way to escape would be to live as a muggle. Julia - and Nicola - helped me find my way to America, and Julia said that if we got married I could get citizenship faster. I thought it was a good idea, because the Death Eaters would never think I would go to such lengths, let alone that I can survive as a muggle." Draco didn't flinch away from the others' condemning gazes. "Julia said she needed financial independence from her parents, so I agreed to work so she could go to school."

"Do you even love each other?" Ron cried.

Julia lifted her head to peek slightly at Draco.

He held his head high, always a proud Malfoy. "I've been in love with Julia for years, but that wasn't the point."

Ron turned to Julia. "Do you love him back?"

She froze when all but Draco looked at her, and then she heard herself say, "Yes."

Draco lifted his head. "What? When did this happen?"

"I'm not sure," Julia whispered. "We were talking and I realized that you were right - I have given up my entire life marrying so young. But I also realized that I didn't care because I love you and you make me happy." She smiled tentatively.

Something flashed in his eyes.

Harry cleared his throat uncomfortably. "This is really sweet and all, but we have things to talk about."

Julia flashed Draco a brighter smile that promised they'd talk later.

"Yeah," Steven said. "What can we do to help?"

"We found Draco because we saw massive influxes of magic where they shouldn't have been, and they had his familiar tint to them," Hermione said. "However, my initial reading told me that someone much more powerful was wielding the magic. Of course, with the revelation about Draco's veela blood, I see that it was his wandless magic. Hopefully the Death Eaters haven't caught on yet. We need to spread the word to any muggles and half-bloods that we need help. People need to be aware of what's going on so we can be prepared."

"What about Draco?" Julia demanded. "How do we keep him safe?"

"First of all, no use of magic, no matter how small," Hermione said.

"I brewed a load of Hex-off and Polyjuice potion," Draco said. "That's why your attempts at hexing us earlier didn't work. Steven knows loads about Herbology - he can help me."

"We can probably tell the others," Nicola said.

"What others?" Ron demanded.

Draco sighed again. "The others who saw me Disapparate."

"No, not Tony and Christie," Steven said. "Tony will do something stupid."

"Call these people, and we'll do the necessary memory-fixing." Hermione stood up and stretched. "And the rest of these friends of yours are trustworthy?"

"And open-minded," Nicola confirmed.

Harry nodded grimly. "We need all the help we can get."

"What about those kids who were in your little army fifth year?" Draco asked. "Are you still in contact with any of them?"

"Most of them have become Aurors as well," Ron said. "Why?"

"Because there's a load of magic you need to learn if you hope to stand up to those Death Eaters." Draco stood up and crossed the den to his books, scanning the titles.

"Are you implying that we're bad wizards?" Ron jumped to his feet, anger marring his features.

"I'm saying I've fought Death Eaters and know how they act in battle," Draco said. "The extra training you took on in Fifth Year was good, but probably not enough."

"How much do you know?" Harry asked.

Draco lifted his head from a Charms book and said, "More than you ever want to know, but will probably need to know."

"Harry's a great wizard!" Ron cried. "He's defeated You-Know-Who plenty of times!"

"Say his name! It's Voldemort!" Harry and Draco yelled as one.

They blinked at each other, and everyone stared at them.

"If you fear his name you give him even more power," Julia said softly.

"Voldemort?" Steven echoed. "That's a lousy name."

"Sounds more intimidating than Tom Riddle," Draco murmured.

"You know who he is, then? Who he really is?" Harry asked.

Draco met his gaze. "I'll admit, Potter, you have me beat - you met the Dark Lord when you were but an infant. But I'm still way ahead of you - he and my father were teaching me to withstand the Cruciatus curse by the time I was five."

Hermione gasped. "Your father cast that on you?"
Draco nodded. "Many times."

Julia was unnerved by the horrified reactions of the three wizards. She didn't know much about magic, but a curse sounded bad.

"What kind of man would do that?" Ron shook his head.

"A man like Lucius Malfoy." Draco shoved the book back onto the shelf. "Julia, Nicola, Steven, call the others. I'd rather not tell the tale too many times again."

Julia, Steven and Nicola fished out their cell phones to obey.

"I need a drink," Draco muttered, and headed for the kitchen.

Harry followed him.

Draco drained the glass of water and set the glass in the sink. He slumped back against the counter with a sigh. What the hell had happened to his life? It was as if his world was turning upside down again, as if he were back in summer and he was still under close reach of the Death Eaters. The golden trio turned Aurors were here to save him, Julia was in love with him and he was planning on helping the wizarding world take down the Dark Lord. Was he suddenly a Gryffindor or something?

"Do you really mean it, Malfoy?"
Draco's eyes flew open, and he saw Harry Potter standing in the doorway.

"Do I really mean what?" he asked, unable to keep the exhaustion out of his voice.

"Do you really mean to help us?"

"I've been searching for an escape from my father's despicable destiny for years. I'd be a fool not to take the chance now." Draco straightened up. "I had an image to keep up at school, Potter. Never forget that I am a Malfoy, and we never do things halfway. I had to act like a pureblood snob if I didn't want my father taking me out of school, presenting me for the Mark and ending up as Voldemort's personal slave by the age of twelve. I'd apologize for being a prat all those years, but I enjoy being alive."

Potter smiled tentatively. "Well, seeing how we're working together and related and all, maybe we could come to some sort of truce?" He offered one hand.

Draco enjoyed the surprised look that crossed the other man's face when he reached out and shook his hand firmly. "I think we can learn to be friends. I don't really hate you, really, and I don't hate Hermione and Ron. After all, I'm in love with a muggle girl myself."

Potter smiled, more tentatively this time. "So you'll call me Harry, and I can call you Draco?"

Draco laughed, and Harry looked even more shocked. "Contrary to popular belief, I know all of your first names. Yes, you can call me Draco."

Both men spun around when the back door flew open and Andy leapt into the room, brandishing a wooden practice sword. Harry had his wand up, and Andy made to lunge, but Draco stepped between them.

"Andy, I see you're the first to arrive. Your constant vigilance is appreciated but unnecessary at this moment," Draco said calmly. "Lower the sword and come into the den while we wait for the others to arrive."

As if on cue, Fiona, Kenneth and Lisa burst into the kitchen, wielding homemade practice swords.

"Get him!" Fiona yelled, diving for Harry.

Draco caught the end of her sword and held her back.

"No, he's not an enemy. In fact, he's one of Julia's cousins from England. Lower your weapons and we'll talk."

"He's lying!" Tony and Christie stepped into the kitchen.

Tony's blue eyes flashed with rage.

"These people are friends of his and they're going to hurt Julia," Tony said.

"'These people,' as you so inelegantly put it, are old school acquaintances of mine, and I take a rather large offense to you suggesting I'd let anything untoward happen to my wife," Draco said coldly.

Tony's eyes went wide. "Julia's your wife?"

Draco smirked. "Has been for a couple of months now."

"I remember now!" Fiona cried. "It was the first day of French, and Professor Hendricks called out a Julia Malfoy but he didn't call for Julia Evans, and she said she got a name change, that something happened over the summer..."

"You liar!" Tony lunged, one fist cocked back to punch.

"Draco!" Julia shrieked from the den.

Draco and Tony turned toward her voice.

"Julia? What's wrong?" Draco cried, voice colored with alarm.

But soon he realized that she was shrieking with laughter. Along with everyone else.

"Did you really get turned into a ferret fourth year?" Nicola demanded.

Draco realized with horror that he was actually blushing.

"Whichever one of you told will find himself cursed into next Tuesday," he yelled.

He turned and saw Harry smothering a laugh under one hand.

"All right, everyone into the den, now," he said.

Fiona and prodded Andy in the shoulder. He closed his mouth and set down his practice sword and followed her into the den.

Kenneth stepped up to Draco and said, "If you hurt Julia, when we're done with you no one will be able to find the pieces of your body."

Draco smiled. "While I appreciate the sentiment, I'm not exactly intimidated."

Lisa tugged on her fiancé's arm and led him into the den.

"These two, then?" Harry asked, eyeing Tony and Christie with distaste.

Draco nodded.

"What are you going to do to us?" Christie demanded, but fear ran beneath the anger in her voice.

Harry lifted his wand and said, "Obliviate!"

Tony and Christie blinked, looking dazed. "What happened?"

Draco shrugged. "Nothing. Good game of Vampire. Same time next week, all right?"

Tony nodded, though he still looked suspicious, and led Christie out the back door.

"That was simple," Harry said.

"Now to tell the gruesome tale again." Draco headed into the den and sat next to Julia.

Hermione began explaining their situation, asking the newcomers to hold their questions to the end of her speech. Julia enjoyed the shocked expressions the others wore, and slipped her hand into Draco's.