"My motivation makes no difference. The fact remains, my life is on the line when yours is." He'd known even when he first made the Vow that it would more than likely complicate things, and Draco's change or heart, or whatever had prompted him to make his about-face last year, left him even more uneasy about exactly what he'd promised to do. "I am not concerned about what anyone but the Dark Lord thinks of me, and neither should you be. It's clear you do need help, and you need to stop placing your pride above the greater good. I am generously offering to help you, with no questions asked, and if you value your life, you'll accept." He prodded beneath the cauldron with his wand, raising a flame, and watched his face carefully. If Dumbledore had assigned him something, he wanted to know as much of it as he could. It was unfortunate that he had to fall into this double-agent role, but at least he wouldn't have to cope with it for fifteen years. Knock on wood.