The Ancient and Most Romantic House of Black

"The Ancient and Most Romantic Black Part 1"

This is bloody ridiculous. It's so miserable here! I've been stuck in the Order of the Phoenix Headquarters for an entire month. I guess I understand that I'm here for my own protection, but it's incredibly annoying.

I guess it all started at the end of sixth year. Professor Snape called me into his office for a meeting with Professor Dumbledore. They asked me if I was willing to spy on my father and work for them. At first I refused, but the more I thought about it, the better I liked the idea. I didn't want an ugly dark burn on my skin, so I agreed. I spied on father for the first month of vacation, but then father intercepted one of my owls. Because I had just passed my Disapparation test, I left the manor before he could pull out his wand to kill me.

I Disapparated to Diagon Alley and hid in the Leaky Cauldron. I sent an owl to Dumbledore. He came to the inn and brought me to the Headquarters. When we got here, my stuff was in my room. I don't know how he got it out of the Manor; he won't tell me.

So I've been living here for a month. I'm not allowed to go outside at all, and there's usually very few people here. Last week the Weasleys arrived, but that wasn't really much consolation. Between the Weasel and the Weaselette, they haven't provided good company. We haven't been fighting as much as we used to, though. I guess because they realize that I'm not the horrible Death Eater's son they always imagined. But just because there's a lack of open hostilities, that doesn't mean I like the little prats.

Weasley spends his time locked up in his room writing love letters to Granger. His sister's no better. Last night I heard her singing "Harry is my King." Honestly, first the Gryffindors, now her. I'm going to sue these wannabes for blatant copyright infringement of my lyrics!

Yesterday Professor Snape came in, looking much more worried than I've ever seen him.

"What's the matter, Professor?"

"Do you know what today is?"

"No."

"July thirtieth."

"What's so terrible about that?"

"Potter comes of age tomorrow. His mother's protection dies tonight at midnight."

"So?"

"We have to get him to the Headquarters to protect him, but he can't leave that house until midnight. But then we have to get him here safe, which is going to prove difficult because You-Know-Who is planning something big."

"An attack?"

"Yes."

"So what will you do?"

"We don't know."

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"No, I don't' think so."

"Oh."

"But that's not all of it."

"What?"

"His family, the Dursleys, they're in danger as well."

"Why?"

"The Dark Lord thinks that killing them will hurt Potter so bad that he'll surrender."

"But Potter hates them."

"It doesn't matter. They're his only family. It'll still be a big blow to him. Besides, how will we explain three Muggles' deaths?"

"Right...I forgot about that."

"And it gets even worse."

"What could be worse?"

"Lupin is...ill today, so he won't be able to come with us. He's one of our best guards."

"Oh...right. I forgot that tonight's the full moon."

"It's impossible for me to forget. Speaking of which, I have to go brew him another batch of Wolfsbane Potion."

"Okay."

Professor Snape headed off towards another part of the house and I headed for the kitchen to grab a pumpkin juice.

Weasley was sitting at the table, a firewhiskey in his hand, staring at the wall.

"Uh, hi," I said, trying to be civil.

He turned slowly to look at me, took a sip of his drink, and then said, "Hi."

"What's the matter?"

"Just worrying about Harry."

"Oh. Hey, where'd you get that?"

"Over there," he said, pointing at a cabinet. "But we're really not supposed to be drinking it, so keep your mouth shut about it."

"Why can't we drink it? We're of age."

"Doesn't matter. My mum would kill me if she saw me drinking. Especially at three in the afternoon."

"Well, my mum isn't here."

"No, but I bet Snape wouldn't be too happy with you."

"True," I said and poured myself a glass. I sat down across the table from him and stared at my cup. "Well, cheers," I said and held up my glass in mock-toast before taking a large gulp. It burnt all the way down my throat. "Urgh."

"Yeah, that first drink is a kick in the balls, isn't it?" he said and took another sip.

"I'll say," I agreed, but took another sip nonetheless. It wasn't so bad this time.

"You get used to it."

"How much of this stuff have you drunk?"

"Today, or just in general?"

"Both."

"This is my first glass today, but I sneak it up into my room every day."

"I thought you were writing to Granger in there."

"Sometimes I do...but usually...I'm just thinking. Worrying. Everything just seems so..."

"Overwhelming?"

"Well, that too, but I was going to say unfair."

"How?"

"Harry didn't ask for that stupid scar. He didn't ask for that stupid prophecy. And it's ruined his entire life. Just like I didn't ask to be born poor, and I'm sure you didn't ask to be born to such awful parents. Just like...just like Hermione didn't choose to be a Muggleborn," he stressed this last part.

I got the message. "True enough."

"It's not fair that we have to fight a war. We're so young. And...what if...what if we don't make it?"

"It's war, Weasley. Of course there will be casualties."

"But why us?"

"I don't know. But these are the circumstances we were dealt, so we just have to deal with them."

"Good point."

"So," I said, trying to change the subject. "How is Granger?"

"Good. She's coming in a few days, as soon as a guard can be arranged to transport her. She and Harry have been home all summer so they couldn't take their Apparation tests."

"Must suck to be caught up in something like this, but have to go home where you don't get much news."

"It is. It's driving her and Harry crazy." Weasley sighed, "I'm worried about him."

"Well, he's coming here tonight, so you don't have to worry."

"Yeah, but they're bringing his whole family. He hates the Dursleys. He'll still be miserable."

"Yeah, but at least now he'll have you and your sister to talk to."

"I guess so."

"What's his family like?"

"They're horrible. Everything You-Know-Who feeds to his followers about how horrible Muggles are? They're actually like that."

"What about his cousin?"

"Well," he said, a smile creeping across his face, "Harry once told me that Dudley reminded him of someone."

"Who?"

"You."

"How?"

"Both of you love to torture him."

I smirked. "Ah, a kindred spirit."

"Yeah."

Professor Lupin entered then. He was incredibly pale and sweaty. He looked horrible. He was looking dazed and was muttering to himself. He crossed the room and grabbed a bottle out of a cabinet and left without ever acknowledging us.

"I hate seeing him like that."

"Maybe after the war, someone will invent a cure for werewolves."

"Maybe."

"I bet Granger could."

"Yeah...she can do anything she sets her mind to. I'm telling you, it's scary sometimes."

"How are things with her?"

His grin got broader. "Wonderful. She's so...perfect."

I laughed. "Well, that's informative. What's so great about her?"

"I don't know, really. She just...is."

I thought about that for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I think I understand what you mean."

"Yeah...that, and she's a excellent kisser."

I laughed again. "That's a bit too much information, Weasley. I was just trying to make small talk. Besides, I doubt Granger would appreciate you telling me about her prowess between the sheets."

"I'm not...we haven't...I..." he stuttered.

I raised a brow. "Good to know. At least I don't have to deal with that mental image."

"Malfoy, you're such a git."

"Some things never change," I said and stood up, putting my empty glass in the sink. "Well, see ya." Weasley gave a small nod and I headed up to my room.

Scene Change-

That night, almost all of the adults left to go get Potter and the Dursleys. I sat with Weasley and his sister in the kitchen. As soon as we entered, he went straight for the firewhiskey again.

"Haven't you drank enough today?"

"You can never have too much to drink, Malfoy. You want one?"

"No thanks."

"What about you, Gin?"

"No."

He shrugged and poured himself a glass before sitting down.

"Where's the butterbeer?" the girl asked.

"I'll get it," I said and pulled out my wand. "Accio butterbeers!" I said and two flew into my hands. I handed one to her and said, "The best part of being of age is definitely being able to use magic outside of school."

She laughed and we clinked our bottles together.

The night wore on, and the two of them became more and more worried as the time passed.

"Why aren't they back yet?" she asked, panicked.

"It's only 11:30. They couldn't leave the house until midnight. Give them time."

"God, I can't stand this," Weasley said, slamming his glass down.

"They'll be all right."

"But what if they aren't? The Dursleys are Muggles. They don't have wands, they can't do magic. They can't even defend themselves."

"They'll be okay. They have to be."

"Why do they have to be?"

"They just do. Isn't good supposed to always triumph over evil?"

"It should, but it doesn't, as you well know."

"Hey, don't blame me. I'm on your side now."

The girl sighed. "He's right, Ron."

"I know," Weasley grumbled. "Sorry, Malfoy."

"Call me Draco," I sighed. "We've been sharing a house for a while now. I'm sick of all this last name shit."

"Fine...Draco," he said, sounding pained. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"And I guess you can call me Ron."

"And me Ginny," his sister said.

"Okay."

We sat in silence for a long time, watching the clock. Ron drank two more firewhiskeys before Ginny convinced him to switch to butterbeer.

Midnight passed. The whole house seemed deadly quiet. Twelve thirty came and went. Ginny whimpered. Ron put his arm around her to comfort her, but the fact that he was crying as well didn't do much to soothe her.

"They'll be all right," I tried to assure them. They just hugged each other tighter.

One AM came. Still no sign of them.

At exactly 1:42, we heard the front door open. The three of us gasped and trained our ears to the door, listening for Potter's voice. We all waited with baited breath. The kitchen door opened and Professor Snape walked in, shaking his head. Behind him was Potter, Tonks, Dumbledore, a tall man I didn't recognize, a woman holding on to his arm as though for dear life, and a large blonde-haired boy doing his best to hide behind them.

Potter ran straight for Ron and Ginny and hugged them. The three of them began to speak quickly and catch up. I kept looking at the three people I didn't know. I assumed these were the Dursleys. Potter thought I reminded him of that fat lump? I didn't know whether to be offended or ask that his eyesight be checked.

"Draco," Professor Snape said, "these are the Dursleys. This is Vernon," he motioned to the large man, "this is Petunia," he motioned to the woman, "and this is Dudley," he motioned to the large lump of a boy. "They're Muggles. Potter's family. Show Dudley to your room. He'll be sleeping in the spare bed in there."

"Okay," I said and motioned for the boy to follow me. I started up the stairs and turned to see if he was following. He was, slowly and timidly, so I tried to make small talk. "So, Dudley, is it?"

"Uh-huh," he said shakily.

"I'm Draco Malfoy."

He didn't respond.

"So, uh...you're a Muggle, huh?"

"What's a Muggle?"

"Non-magic people."

"Yes. I'm perfectly normal, thank you very much."

"You know, there are some people who think it's normal to be a wizard and that you're weird."

"They're idiots."

"Maybe, but they're trying to take over. If they do, they'll kill all the Muggles. And it's up to your cousin to stop their leader."

"Really?"

"Yes," I opened the door to our room. "Didn't realize that he was so important, did you?"

"No."

"Well, the whole bloody wizarding world thinks he's some kind of god or something. Except, of course, those who would love nothing better than to see you and your whole 'normal' family dead."

"Who are these people?" he asked, sitting down on the spare bed.

"They're called Death Eaters. My father is one of them."

"So why are you here?"

"Because, I don't believe the same way as him. I know you didn't choose to be born Muggle. I'm sure if you were given the choice, you would've picked to be a wizard."

"No, I wouldn't."

"Why not? Magic is dead useful."

"How?"

"Well," I said and pulled out my wand. Dudley flinched. "Watch. Lumos!" The tip of my wand lit up the dark room.

"You could've just used a candle."

"That's not the point. Magic just makes everything more convenient."

"Well, I'll take being normal over convenience any day."

"I guess our definitions of 'normal' are very different."

"I guess."

"Well, good night. I'm going to bed."

"Night."

"Nox!" I said and the light on my wand went out, plunging the room into darkness.

"Uh, Draco?"

"Yes?"

"Could you maybe turn that light back on for a moment?"

I smirked in the dark. "Lumos!"

"Thanks. I couldn't see to get into bed."

"Told you magic was useful."

"Maybe. Good night."

"Night. Nox!