Even before the hands released me and my back met the closed door my wand was out and pointed threateningly in front of me.

My eyebrows rising was my only reaction to Zabini, Greengrass, and Davis standing in front of me. Davis was whispering something indistinct to the others.

She swung around to face me and I renewed my grip on my wand. Davis raised her arms in an innocent stance, but I wasn't so convinced. Slytherins were a slippery lot, as Draco would say.

"Woah Granger," Davis said defensively, "We just want to talk."

"Really"? I replied mockingly, "Then why the cloak and dagger?" I didn't slack on my grip, visions of Dolohov throwing a cutting curse at me when my attention was distracted by Sirius falling through the veil dancing in my head.

"We just wanted to talk," Davis repeated, "We weren't sure when to do it, and we didn't want to be overheard."

"So you abducted me?"

"Abducted is such a strong word," Zabini drawled, an amused smile painted across his face.

I merely stared at him in response, still not letting up on my wand.

"Granger," Greengrass whispered, throwing a glance behind her. He seemed unnerved by the darkness and quiet. "I know you know about Harry and me," she continued after a pause.

I remained motionless, not sure where she was going with this.

The blonde girl looked distinctly uncomfortable, "Well I'm very serious about Harry, and I, along with Blaise and Tracy want to fight on his side; your side."

My brow scrunched in confusion, "So why not approach Harry?"

"Harry has enough on his plate right now, and if I went to Harry, he would never want me to do anything. He would have me in an underground bunker the minute I finished my sentence. No, I-we needed someone who would open others to consider us switching sides and working with the Order, until the point that our true allegiance can be safely revealed."

"Why me?" I asked, still on guard.

At this point, Tracy spoke up, looking sheepish "I-er, overheard you and Draco talking one day. He mentioned something about you helping him switching sides, and Draco is as deep into the Death Eaters as you can get at our age. We figure if you can help him, our situation will be a piece of cake."

I reluctantly lowered my wand, but didn't sheath it. Disregarding the fact that they had essentially lifted me from a deserted corridor in the middle of the night, they were asking me to do for them what I had done for Draco.

"Why do you three need my help? I hadn't heard that you all were allied with the Dark Side."

"In our house Granger," Zabini spoke up, "if you're not allied with the Dark Side, it's only a matter of time until you are. Allying yourself with the Light Side is a death sentence."

"So why would you three accept the death sentence?" I was honestly curious. The Slytherins seemed honest, but I really didn't know what to expect from them. I wished Draco was here, he would know what to do with them.

A thought struck me and I discretely grasped my bracelet while keeping them talking. If I could delay any decisions until Draco arrived, he'd be able to help me with them.

"None of us could live in a world with the Dark Lord at the helm. We're all logical enough to understand that. So we don't want to be allied with or support the losing side, especially for a side that is making life difficult for a very many peoples." Daphne explained. "And besides, I don't think they'd ever accept my choice of boyfriend."

True, the fact that Daphne was dating my best friend was a point in their favour. I trusted Harry's judgement, though I didn't know any of these three very well.

"Well what do you all expect from this? You know I can't just waltz you into headquarters and sit you down to dine with the Weasleys?" The same idiotic urge that had made me accept Draco Malfoy into my life was once again striking me. If these three were being sincere, I really wanted to help them. I was all too aware of the dichotomy of good vs. bad that most of our classmates adopted, and exactly which side the Slytherins were placed in- en masse.

"If it comes to a fight, we are all prepared to fight for the good, to the best of our abilities," Zabini started, "In exchange for full immunity from persecution as Death Eaters once the war is over. If the situation arises, we are prepared to reveal ourselves as members of the light side, but until it's necessary, we'd ask that our allegiances not be publicized. Living in the Slytherin house may get very difficult-"

Zabini's calm tone was cut off by the door behind me bursting open.

I turned in time to see Draco grab my hand and pull me from the room, his wand out.

"Woah, wait Draco!" I exclaimed, trying to stop his desperate actions.

Draco glanced at me, confused. His grip slackened enough for me to pull me to a halt in the middle of the corridor.

"Seriously, they aren't a threat."

"What? They had you cornered in a dark classroom! Are you trying to tell me-"

"Yes honey," I impatiently interrupted, "The Slytherins really just wanted to talk to me. I mean, the situation was a bit sketchy, but I think I trust them."

Draco's jaw dropped, "Hermione, they're Slytherins! Which means-"

"Nothing, as you well know." I whispered furiously, "Case in point, you."

Draco looked sheepishly accepting at that, so I continued, "They want to switch sides, allegiances. They overheard us talking and they know you have. I really think we can help them."

"They overheard us? Shit, if they did, others could have too."

Draco looked a bit panicky, "Yes, but since nothing has happened yet and we haven't been confronted or outed, we can continue assuming that our secrets are safe. In any case, we should talk to them."

Draco crossed his arms stubbornly, "Give me one good reason."

I rolled my eyes at his theatrics. "Well they've never really given me any trouble personally. And they all seem very sincere, between Zabini's calm demeanor and Daphne dating Harry I don't-"

"Wait wait wait. Are you trying to tell me that Daphne Greengrass is dating Harry Potter? That's just impossible."

I glanced at Draco distractedly, as Davis peered around the door. I gestured to her that we'd be there in a minute. "Oh, Draco, did I forget to tell you? It's totally a thing. I caught them snogging in the library and asked Harry about it. But let's go!"

Draco gaped at me as I dragged him back into the Charms classroom to face the three enemies- turned- allies.