Disclaimer: This will only be said once throughout this entire story. All the characters and the wizarding world are J.K.'s.

Chapter 1

Draco Malfoy glanced uncomfortably around his surroundings.

This place could use some decoration, he thought as he took in the grimy walls. Why Sirius Black never moved out of this festering hellhole is beyond me.

Of course, Draco's brain was only throwing up these basically useless rfacts to take his mind off the fifty or so eyes fixed upon him.

He had recently joined Albus Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix, shortly after his father, Lucius, had been incarcerated. This was his first time at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, and the first time, he would officially meet the other members of the Order.

Dumbledore cleared the awkward silence. "As all of you can plainly see, our new ally in the fight against Voldemort is Mr. Malfoy."

Silence. And a few flinches.

"I was pleased when Mr. Malfoy approached me shortly before the last school year ended to inform me of his desire to join our side."

More silence.

"Will someone say something?" Dumbledore finally cried in exasperation.

Silence again.

Then a woman with short, flyaway, apple-green hair spoke. "How do you know he's not just a spy for his father, Dumbledore? How do you know he won't stab us in the back?"

"I know his intentions, Tonks. And he means well," Dumbledore replied.

"I don't get it," Draco heard Ron Weasley whisper to Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. "Has Dumbledore gone daft? He's a Malfoy, for heaven's sake! I'm telling you, he'll betray us!"

Draco struggled to bite back the pithy comeback he longed to throw at Ron.

"I assure you all, Draco is very much with us," Dumbledore continued. "His skills as a wizard will be definitely useful. And it will be good for Severus to have a little help."

The apparent disagreement still hung in the air, but no one spoke against Dumbledore.

Finally, Remus Lupin, clapped a hand onto Draco's shoulder. "Welcome to the Order of the Phoenix, Draco."

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Draco prepared to Apparate home. While he was a member of the Order, he did not live at the Blacks' old house as the others did, but still went home to his mother. He knew that Narcissa Malfoy now needed him more than ever, after her husband's imprisonment, and as a son, it was his duty to comfort her.

However, Harry and his posse stopped Draco.

"If you really turned to our side before term ended, then why still attack Harry on the train?" Ron demanded.

Draco sighed. "Weasley, you are so completely witless, I have no idea why you're still here. To keep up appearances, of course. I was with those two dumbbells Crabbe and Goyle. They may have IQ's less than fifty, but I think they'd notice something odd afoot if I suddenly started being nice to you. Not that I would actually want to." He looked down his nose at the redhead.

Harry and Hermione quickly grabbed Ron's arms before he could launch himself at Draco.

"Calm down, Ron! He's not worth it," Harry ordered. As he and Hermione dragged Ron away though, Harry shot Draco a very formidable glare.

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"I don't trust him," Harry said to his friends after Draco left.

"I'd trust Aragog more than that snake!" Ron exploded.

"Dumbledore has some very weird ideas, but this is by far the worst! How could he even think that Malfoy will lift a finger to help us? He'd sooner sell us out to—to—" Hermione stopped and shook her head as she paced around the room she shared with Ginny Weasley.

"Well, you guys do have to remember that Dumbledore never does anything without a real good reason. I think trusting him is the best thing to do. Besides, hey, who knows? Maybe Malfoy's not as bad as he's led us to think," Ginny offered.

"Gin, sometimes you are way too soft for your own good. This is Malfoy we're talking about! Malfoy knows nothing about being remotely decent!" Ron retorted hotly.

"People can change!" Ginny argued.

"Time out, Ron, Ginny," Harry sighed. "We get the point."

They were interrupted by Mrs. Weasley suddenly throwing the door open.

"I thought I said BED!" she cried. "Harry, Ron—to your room THIS INSTANT!"

"G'night Ginny, Hermione," Harry managed quickly before Mrs. Weasley slammed the door shut behind them.

"Do you really believe what you said? Do you really think Malfoy can change?" Hermione asked as the two girls got ready for bed. "You do remember what he's done to us over the past five years, don't you?"

"I'm saying we should give him a chance to prove himself. After all, he's already risking a lot to be here, you know," Ginny replied.

"Not if he's been sent to spy on us."

"I trust Dumbledore. If he deems Malfoy to be all right, then he is."

"I think Dumbledore's been hoodwinked," Hermione muttered.

Ginny decided to change the subject. "So, has Viktor written you lately?"

"Oh. Didn't I tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"That we've broken up."

"No! Crikey, what happened?"

"It was a classic case of being too far apart and seeing far too little of each other."

"Did he cheat on you?"

"Oh no, nothing like that at all. It was a mutual decision we made together to just let go."

"Oh…well I did always think he was too old for you."

"He kind of was, wasn't he?" The girls giggled.

"Be careful, Hermione." Ginny smirked. "When word gets out that you're free, you'll have to beat the boys off with a stick."

"You really like to dream, don't you?"

AN: I hope you guys like it! The funnies will start coming next chapter…

God Bless! :)