A/N: I wrote this story because one of my friends dared me to write a short story with Draco and Hermione as part of a drinking game. I completed the challenge, that is to say, this story is finished but it's TOO long to post as a single story so I'm breaking it up into three parts and will be posting it every ten hours or less. Here's part 1. I should warn you, however, that this story is dark and will contain some sensitive themes so even though it has a T rating, just be careful. The story is MOSTLY CANON COMPLIANT with one major change and it's dark so again, be careful.
P.S For those looking forward to my other stories, I'm still working on those chapters but I haven't abandoned them. Just give me time.
Disclaimer: Don't own the characters or the elements.
The Trial of Draco Malfoy
...
PART ONE
Hermione let out a sigh as she walked down the dark corridor. If there was a chance she could avoid this case altogether, she would have taken it in a heartbeat but the insistence on behalf on a war ally had convinced her otherwise even though Hermione would readily admit that it would not be an understatement to say that she was uncomfortable with her decision.
The two years after the end of the war had brought about drastic changes. Kingsley Shacklebolt was made Minister of Magic, a position in which he had held for several months before being forced to relinquish his title. The aftermath of the war had created a much harsher Ministry, one hell-bent on removing any and all elements of Lord Voldemort's regime. Strict laws were quickly put into place, some extremely vindictive in nature, and ruthless punishments were served without a second thought. Azkaban had been fully restructured, the Dementors removed and people, most commonly Voldemort sympathisers, were thrown within the cruel structure almost too easily. Hermione gritted her teeth at the thought of Sam Wilkins, a thirty-year-old Muggleborn wizard who was at one time, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, before being given a new position as Wizengamot Prosecutor. Hermione could not count the number of times she had stood toe to toe against her adversary, arguably the biggest reason for why she was taking on this case.
As Hermione stood in front of the steel door, she knocked three times before waiting patiently outside. An Auror, whose name Hermione could not recall, stepped out and nodded to her while standing by the door. Hermione took a deep breath before pushing the door open and stepping into the room.
There he sat, a man with pale skin and white-blonde hair sleeked back as he glared at her with his cold, grey eyes. He was lanky and looked to have lost weight though he still exuded an air of arrogance as he sneered at her. This was a man whom Hermione had not laid eyes on for two years and would have been preferred never to have seen him again.
"Well, well, well," Draco spoke in a cocky tone as he watched Hermione place her bag as well as her pieces of parchment on the table provided. Hermione knew Draco could not harm her, given that he was magically restrained to the chair though he was free to move his arms and yet that thought gave no comfort to her.
"If it isn't Mudblood Granger come to save the day. Tell me, Granger, how much would you be charging? I'm afraid I will be a little behind payment you see, given that my financial assets are currently out of my reach. Of course, you would know that, wouldn't you? This must be a happy moment for you seeing me getting my comeuppance."
Hermione paid no attention to Draco's attempts to provoke her. Instead, she removed her quill from her bag as she took her time preparing her equipment. Her silence seemed to enrage Draco, whose smile had grown much more contemptuous.
"Playing the ignoring game, are we? Fine. If silence is what you want, then silence is all you're going to get."
"Mr. Malfoy," Hermione spoke in a nonchalant yet authoritative tone as she addressed her client. "You have been made aware that due to certain reforms with the Ministry judicial system, the Ministry has reviewed your case on your actions and activities with regards to Lord Voldemort's regime and charges have been brought against you. However, due to your underage status, your actions, particularly that of a Death Eater, will not be decided by the Wizengamot but instead will be referred to the Improper Use of Magic Office where a trial and a sentence will be decided by a representative. Can you acknowledge that you understand of what I have just informed you?"
Draco remained silent as he glared daggers at Hermione. Cursing under her breath frustratingly, Hermione decided to press on.
"Mr Malfoy, I cannot proceed further unless you acknowledge what I have previously stated."
"Don't proceed. I don't need help from anyone, especially the likes of you. Mudblood."
"Mr Malfoy, I would advise you to watch your language."
"And would advise you to fuck off. Who do you think I am? Weasley?" Draco replied bitterly before smirking at Hermione. "Tell me, Granger, how does it feel to be part of a real wizarding family even one as piss-poor and a pathetic excuse for a Pureblood as the Weasleys. Of course, Molly Weasley must be pleased. Her riches must have gone up ever since there's been one less mouth to feed."
"HOW DARE YOU!" Hermione roared at Draco's cruel jab towards the death of Fred Weasley. "You…you…foul, evil, loathsome monster! How dare you say things about the Weasleys! About Molly! ABOUT FRED! FRED DIED A HERO! He gave up his life for others, even for the likes of you. And you sit there and mock him and his family? Have you no shame." Hermione was trembling with rage as she realized that she had pointed her wand at him. Every instinct inside of her was screaming at her to walk out of the room. Yes, she had made a promise but as Draco was clearly unwilling to cooperate and was just being his cruel, spiteful self, she would feel no regret or guilt for breaking that promise.
"Finally, we understand each other. I'm a monster and you're a Mudblood. I don't want your help. I don't need your help. Go on and live your perfect life, Granger. Call the Auror. I wish to return to my cell." Draco whispered callously before averting his eyes.
A part of Hermione wanted to walk out. It was the easier choice and Hermione knew it was a decision she could live with. Yet there was something inside her that wanted her to stay. Perhaps it was hatred for Malfoy, or her competitive nature or even her unwillingness to be told what to do but whatever the reason was, Hermione knew there was only one option she had to take.
"The holding cells here would be a luxury compared to where you're going to. Given the grave nature of your crimes, Malfoy, whoever passing the sentence on you would not be sympathetic in any way. I guarantee at least a two-year stay in Azkaban unless I, who is speaking on your behalf to defend you, present my argument for you to be given house arrest. Which, since you know so much about me, is something of a possibility. But I can't do anything if you do not help me. Just something for you to think about." Hermione replied as she proceeded to pack her things. She noticed how Draco's eyes had widened at her mention of Azkaban and she could see his fingers fidgeting uncomfortably. As Hermione reached for the door, Draco called out to her.
"My mother made a deal with your Ministry! She gave up the names of all the Death Eaters and Voldemort supporters that she knew, including what they did. She did it so that you lot would let us go free!"
"As I have already told you, there have been changes. Any deals made with the previous officials of the Department have now been overturned. Your mother is safe. Your father, as you know, wasn't so lucky."
"Mudblood!" Draco bellowed as his eyes blazed with rage. "You backstabbing bitch! My mother made a deal! She said that I would be safe!"
"Who do you think convince me to take up your case? No one would come close to you. If you're not going to do it for me, then do it for your mother. You owe her that much at least." Hermione replied coldly before shutting the door.
…
Hermione was seething. She was a witch on a warpath as she stormed through the sea of wizards and witches who have arrived via the Floo Network. Hermione could have Apparated, of course, yet she knew she was far too angry to concentrate. As she headed to the Minister's office on the first level, she noticed how quickly the Ministry officials moved out of her way as all of them were much too afraid to cross paths with her. How she wished one particular wizard felt the same way.
"Hermione." cried a voice belonging to a short, plump man with brown curls and a stodgy face. Hermione acknowledged Minister Patrick Kettleburn with a nod before narrowing her eyes at the tall and well-built individual standing next to him. The wizard had long, brunette hair with piercing blue eyes as he matched the glare that Hermione gave him. Despite Sam Wilkins having a foot over her, Hermione was unflinching in her appearance as she fixed a fierce look on her adversary.
"Hermione," Patrick spoke before giving an uneasy glance towards her. "I take it you've heard the news."
"Yes, indeed I have, Minister. Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy came to my home to inform me of what Mr. Wilkins here did and I would like some clarification before giving him a piece of my mind."
"Very well." Sam snarled before turning his attention to the Minister. "As I have informed you, Minister, we have had a breakthrough with regards to the young Mr. Malfoy. Now as you have been made aware by the irrefutable evidence we have gathered through former testimonies by Death Eaters as well as Malfoy's old friends, Draco Malfoy officially became a Death Eater on the 5th of June 1996. This brings about the assumption that Malfoy was sixteen when he started performing his crimes making him underaged. But as you can see from this document here –"
Sam removed a parchment from his robes and placed it on the Minister's table for all to see.
"… Narcissa Malfoy gave birth to Draco Malfoy on 5th June 1979 as per St Mungo's records. Due to her unwillingness to part with her only child, the Malfoys had refused to allow Draco to attend Hogwarts until he had turned twelve. This was collaborated with the old school records which were unsealed when we took Malfoy into custody. This means that, by the laws put up by the Ministry, Draco committed the crimes at the age of seventeen instead of sixteen, meaning he was an adult and should be sentenced as one. The sentence of being a Death Eater warrants the death penalty without trial. The law is incontestable in this case. Draco Malfoy is to be put to death."
Hermione turned her attention away from Sam for a while as she glanced at the documents on the table. As she looked over the documents, Hermione felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. The official stamps both by the Ministry and Hogwarts made the documents legitimate.
"Why didn't we find out about this earlier?" Hermione growled as she turned her attention back to Wilkins.
"According to sources, Lucius used his influence within the Ministry to delay Draco's entry into Hogwarts because he wanted his son to go to Drumstrang. He and his wife argued as to where Draco was supposed to go and by the time Narcissa won the argument, the term in Hogwarts had started and Draco was made to wait till 1991."
"Was Draco aware of this? Because if he wasn't, I refer you all to the section within the Decree which explicitly states…"
"Save your breath, Granger." Sam interrupted with a triumphant look on his face as he took out a photograph and threw it on the table. It was a picture of Malfoy wearing his new Prefect robes while in front of a cake which said Happy Sweet Sixteen. Hermione cringed, noting that Malfoy had those robes when he was in his fifth year. "This photograph, as well as other sources, fully collaborate that Draco was aware he was a year older than the rest while at Hogwarts making him also fully aware that he was of age when he chose to become a Death Eater."
"Draco didn't choose to become a Death Eater!" Hermione snapped as she glared at Sam. "He was forced into service by Voldemort due to Lucius's failures in attaining the prophecy."
"He certainly didn't shy away from it, did he? I have several accounts of Death Eaters stating that Draco took pride in being a Death Eater." Sam retorted as he took another step towards Hermione.
"Minister, you can't possibly sanction this. The timing is too coincidental, almost as if someone…" Hermione spat as she glared at Sam. "…is hell-bent on letting Draco die for a personal vendetta."
"Screw yourself, Granger!" Sam roared, no longer caring about remaining professional. "Draco Malfoy is a Death Eater and he is getting what he deserves. You should consider yourself lucky that you're even allowed to defend him. I thought you would be on a personal crusade to defend the rights of house elves and other magical creatures! Or is your friendship with Potter the reason you're once again allowed to bend the rules to defend monsters like Malfoy!"
"ENOUGH!" Patrick shouted before Hermione could retort. The Minister rubbed his slightly sweaty forehead before giving Hermione a sympathetic look. "Hermione, I've admire your passion for justice but I'm afraid Wilkins is right. Draco Malfoy is a Death Eater and he is of age which means that the law is clear. Draco has to be given the death penalty. I'm truly sorry, Hermione."
"Minister please!" Hermione pleaded as Patrick shook his head while Sam had a smug expression on his face. Pushing his anger aside, Hermione turned to the rational part of her brain to assess the situation. Patrick Kettleburn as Minister had always surprised her as he was known to be a little indecisive when it came to hard decisions. In fact, the only time Patrick appeared decisive was when he wanted to please the wizarding community. If there was one thing that Patrick held dear to his heart, it was his image and reputation. Smiling to herself, Hermione gave both wizards a smirk.
"Then you leave me no choice. I guess I will have to go to the Daily Prophet."
"The Prophet? Why on earth would you go to the papers?" Patrick gasped as Sam narrowed his eyes at her.
"Well, to tell them of all the injustice happening within the Ministry. How the Ministry gleefully and readily executed a young boy who Albus Dumbledore tried to save from himself. How they were so willing to throw away a person's life by judging them first instead of giving them a fair trial. I suppose that's what I could tell the Daily Prophet. And the Quibbler. And all other wizarding papers. Maybe I'll even give Rita Skeeter a call."
"RITA SKEETER?! But you hate her!" Patrick cried.
"True, but the lesser of two evils. I could do all this Patrick and you know what I've done for the wizarding community. A member of the Golden Trio, they will lap my words faster than a Niffler goes for shiny items. Or you could reconsider your position and give Malfoy a fair trial. Do so and the country will see you as a man who is not only wise but fair and just. Better than Fudge and Scrimgeour. Better than Crouch would have been."
"Minister, she's just messing with your head. Don't listen to her. We can stop her going to the papers! Arrest her or something!" Sam argued fiercely.
"Arrest Hermione Granger, war hero? ARE YOU MAD?!" Patrick roared as his face turned red. He was sweating profusely now as Hermione could see the Minister considering her suggestion. All of a sudden, Patrick's face became fair once again as he let out a huge sigh.
"I know it's pointless to argue but I still think that this is a bad idea. Even so, I suppose my people would want to see that we at the Ministry are fair in the way we passed judgment. Our laws have been harsher than we would like them to be although I cannot deny their effectiveness. Very well, Granger. You have your trial." Patrick said before he dismissed them both.
….
Hermione was walking back towards her office before making a slight detour towards two empty cubicles at the end of the room. Entering one of them, Hermione could only shake her head and smile at the clutter of files, parchment and other knick-knacks littered around the desk. Ron, together with Harry were on a three-month mission with the Aurors and though she got letters from him as well as Harry each day, Hermione could not help but miss her boyfriend very much. Several photographs were placed around the desk and one caught Hermione's eye. It was a picture of the Weasleys' Wizards Wheezes, now a booming business in Diagon Alley and a place where Ron had told her he was thinking of working at. The photograph had been taken a few years back and in front of the building stood two lanky beaming wizards with red hair while trying to hex the other. A tear streaked down Hermione's face as she placed a finger on one of the wizards.
Fred
"Hurts, doesn't it?" came a harsh whisper as Hermione turned around to see Sam Wilkins glaring at her. "And yet you still want to defend that monster."
"Draco's not a monster. He's just…"
"What? Young? I think we've established that in the meeting, Hermione. His age won't save him from the crimes he had committed." Sam snarled as Hermione lost her patience.
"What's your deal, Wilkins?! Why are you insistent on letting Malfoy die?!" Hermione yelled as other officials in the office decided to give the pair of them a wide berth.
Sam said nothing as he motioned for Hermione to follow him into his office. Once the doors were closed, Sam brought out a glass of Firewhiskey and pour two glasses before sitting down on his couch. He pushed a glass towards the other side of the table as Hermione took a chair to sit across from him. She watched as he sipped from his glass while staring off into the distance.
"You know of all the laws I fought for to be implemented by the Ministry, the one I'm most proud of is the one concerning Death Eaters. That anyone bearing the Dark Mark should be sentenced to death. We were foolish once to keep them in Azkaban. Never again." Sam said as Hermione folded her arms.
"You know, you, Harry and Ron might have been the Golden Trio, saviours of our world but we, people like me, are the ones who paid the most for it. Muggleborns, the lot of us having to run for our lives when Umbridge and her cronies decided to take action. But for the ones who weren't so lucky, you know what happened to them."
Without warning, Sam waved his wand as a file came flying out from one of his cabinets and landed on Hermione's lap. As she opened the file, a wave of nausea and disgust overcame Hermione as she felt sickened to see what it contained. Images of people being tortured in Azkaban, many of whom were children. Each image had people screaming and crying as they were tortured by the Cruciatus Curse. Yet it was the last few ones that Hermione knew would haunt her for the rest of her life. They were pictures of dead wizards and witches and there was even one of a young witch, no more than five years of age, clutching her teddy bear as her eyes were shut, never to see the world again. The last photograph contained a mass grave, with the dead piled up one after the other, rotting as flies swarmed over them.
"This isn't some fucking children's book where war has no consequences. You lost friends, Hermione but your family remained largely intact. What about the rest of us, some of whom no longer have anyone? What do you think happened to all those young wizards and witches who were on their way to Hogwarts only to be detained by the Ministry? They were sent to Azkaban to be tortured and in some cases, killed. I was one of the few who first entered Azkaban after the Ministry was retaken. What I saw…will haunt me forever, Hermione. It was then that I vow that never again shall such a thing ever happen to us. So yes the laws may be cruel but they are necessary." Sam spoke slowly as he emphasized his words. "We can't let anyone like Voldemort ever rule again."
"But we're losing our humanity in the process, Wilkins!" Hermione said as she threw the file onto the table. "While we claim them to be monsters, we're becoming just like them. I didn't fight to end the war so that we can pass judgment simply because we feel like it. What we're doing, those laws, it's seems more like revenge than justice. We're better than they were and we need to show it. Otherwise, we become like Barty Crouch did. And you know what happened after that."
"Barty Crouch is a legend to me, Hermione. He helped win the war the first time around and had he been a little tougher in his laws, we wouldn't be in this mess right now."
"Barty Crouch couldn't even be a good father to his son and he sent his own son to Azkaban! You know what happened! Crouch Jr. became Voldemort's most loyal servant and helped him get back into power!" Hermione snapped as Sam rolled his eyes at her. "If Barty had just listened to his son and be a little fairer in his judgment, we wouldn't be this mess either!"
"You want to tussle, Granger? Let's tussle! Barty was right in the end, wasn't he? His son was a monster. His son tortured Alice and Frank Longbottom. His son became a Death Eater. His son was responsible for bringing Voldemort back and nearly ended the life of your best friend. The only mistake Barty ever made was not executing his son when he had the chance! Crouch Junior was always a monster! Look what he did! The evidence is incontrovertible!"
"Is it?!" Hermione replied, raising her voice. "We had no idea what happened to the Longbottoms? Maybe his kid did torture them! Maybe he was just at the wrong place at the wrong time! We will never be sure of what Crouch Junior did but what is indisputable is that the minute Barty sentenced his son to Azkaban was the moment of no return for Crouch Junior. He could have been good, Sam but we put in on a bad path and sealed his fate. It was his hatred for his father that made him who he was. I'm not saying they shouldn't be held unaccountable for what they did but just because someone stumbles and loses their way doesn't mean we shouldn't help them to the right path!"
"They can't be helped, Hermione! You are completely naïve!" Sam roared as he slammed his glass down. "You think that just because someone has the potential for good, we shouldn't give up on them but you are blinded because you haven't experienced true loss yet. It's easy for you to sit on your pedestal and say these things when you haven't lost people like I have!"
"I HAVE LOST PEOPLE I CARE ABOUT! Just because I believe in the good of people doesn't mean I don't know how bad evil can be!" Hermione snapped.
"Hermione…" Sam said wearily in an effort to compose himself as well as calm the tension between them. "Crouch Junior was a lost cause. Fine, we DON'T know what really happened when Frank and Alice were tortured but we do know that he was there. What was he doing there? Was it because of the hatred of his father that pushed him to Voldemort's side? Didn't he also have a loving mother? But his mother's love wasn't enough, was it? He chose to be a Death Eater just like Draco did. Draco, who also had a loving mother. Mark my words, Hermione Granger. Draco is on a path just like Crouch Junior and he's not going to change. If we don't do this, once Draco is free, there's every possibility that he could at the very least influence others to their own dark paths and I cannot entertain even the thought of the slightest possibility of something like that coming true."
"He won't be like Crouch. Draco may be an arrogant prat and a despicable person but he's not evil. And I will prove it during the trial." Hermione said as she took a sip from her glass before she headed for the door. "I might be naïve Wilkins, but I rather believe in the good of people rather than judge them for what evil they might bring. It is after all, what I fought for in the war."
"Hermione," Sam called out as Hermione reached for the doorknob.
"Yes?" Hermione said as she turned around.
"I just have one question," Sam said as he stared at her curiously. "Draco Malfoy made your life a nightmare back in Hogwarts. He insulted you, called you vicious names, threatened to hurt you and your friends and basically bullied you from the first time he laid eyes on you. Perhaps if it was someone else, a part of me would still understand but I don't. You, more so than anyone else, have a reason to hate Malfoy and support me in my actions so I ask you this. Why are you defending Draco Malfoy?"
…
"Malfoy, are you listening? Draco!" Hermione barked as Draco refused to look at her. Gone was the usual arrogant sneer. Instead, Draco's face remained passive as he did when Hermione informed of the events that had transpired. Hermione noted the look in Draco's grey eyes as it held the look of a man resigned to his fate.
"My mother came to visit me today. She looked nice though she hasn't been eating much."
Hermione was mildly surprised. Usually, all that came out of Draco's mouth was insults but she could hear the concern in his voice. Draco loved his mother dearly, that much she knew.
"I'll tell her to eat more then but right now, Draco, we need to talk about your case."
"What's the point, Granger?" Draco replied in a resigned tone. "You know what's going to happen. It's inevitable. I'm going to end up like my father."
Hermione's stomach shifted uncomfortably. She could remember that day well when the Ministry came to the Manor to escort Lucius Malfoy to Azkaban. It was the day after the law was passed that anyone found guilty of being a Death Eater would receive capital punishment. She recalled Narcissa's Malfoy plea for forgiveness while Hermione, Harry, and Ron each gave testimonies on behalf of Draco's mother for her role in protecting Harry in the forest. Yet, the Ministry stood firm and Lucius Malfoy was executed a week later. As Draco and his mother came to the Ministry to collect the body, the last thing she saw was the look of pure hatred on his face as they locked eyes from across the corridor.
"Not if I can help it. Wilkins will pass me the charges tomorrow and I will work night and day on your case to see if I can argue a lighter sentence for you."
"If he's passing the charges tomorrow, why are you here?"
Hermione sighed as she put aside her quill and parchment. "I'm here because right now, Malfoy, I can tell you for a fact that this trial isn't about what you've done. It's about what you are and what you're going to be. The court wants to punish you but I want them to see you as a person who needs a second chance. A person who lost his way and right now, still has good in him. I need to present them an image of the person I think you can be."
"And what person is that?"
"Good. Maybe even generous, kind and nice given the right time and the right effort."
"It would be easier to kill me," Malfoy said as he gave a loud yawn. "I'm tired, Granger. Take me to my cell."
Hermione couldn't believe her ears! She was incensed. Here she was, fighting so hard for Malfoy and he couldn't give a damn. Hermione slammed her fists on the table.
"What's wrong with you? Have you no backbone to fight even for yourself or are you always a coward, Malfoy?"
"What's wrong with me?" Draco snarled. "I'm a realist, Granger, that's what's wrong with me. I've lived in this world a lot longer than you and I know how the system works. You think the Ministry is going to give me a second chance? Me? A Death Eater? I know why you're really doing this! Potter and Weasley are out playing hero but they don't want you to tag along. After all, your only job is pleasing the Weasley, giving him a good shag now and then and making babies though why you would want to with that piss-poor blood traitor is beyond me. Other than that, you belong in the kitchen or better yet, in the trash with the likes of Wilkins!"
Hermione felt her anger rising but she would not take the bait. Too often had she allowed Malfoy to control the conversation. She decided to try a different approach.
"What do you have against Ron and his family? They're good people."
Draco had a look of shock on his face before reverting back to his usual sneer. "You think I have a problem with Weasley other than he's Potter's lackey? Please! As much as I despise Weasley, what I cannot understand is why he would lower himself to be with the likes of you! Weasley may be a blood traitor but at least he's a Pureblood which is more than I can say for you. Mudblood!"
"What's your problem with Muggleborns, Draco? Where did it start?" Hermione asked calmly as she sat back in her seat. Draco narrowed his eyes at the bushy haired witch.
"I see what you're trying to do and you can stop. I'm not playing Healer and patient with you."
"Fine but we're going to have more and more of these sessions. Unless of course, I could bring in your mother for questioning. Over and over again until I get an answer." Hermione replied curtly as Draco's eyes flashed dangerously.
"You leave my mother out of it!" Draco bellowed as he glared at Hermione.
"Not until you talk, Draco! I need to understand why you are who you are before I can defend you. I'm the only thing standing between you and death and so help me, I will do whatever it takes to make sure you don't end up like your father."
"But I am my father, aren't I?" Draco roared. "I thought the world of him! I wanted to be like him!"
"And now? What do you think of him?" Hermione asked as she noticed the air of confidence and passion that Malfoy put up started to disappear. Draco remained silent, his eyes staring at the wall behind her.
"Draco," Hermione said quietly yet loud enough for Draco to hear. "Why do you hate Muggleborns?"
Draco Malfoy glared at Hermione, putting as much contempt as he could into his eyes before his shoulders start to sag. Smirking at her instead, Draco reached for her set of quills across the table before breaking one in half. Hermione watched the scene carefully without saying a word but instead raising her eyebrow at the blond wizard.
"Tell me, Mudblood, how do you feel about this?" Draco said as he placed three quills in front of her, the broken one in the middle.
"You know I have a name, don't you? Besides Mudblood or Granger."
"I will never say your name, Granger, so don't even try. Tell me what do you think?"
"I think you owe me a new quill," Hermione replied as Draco gave a derisive laugh.
"Yes. See, even though you can still write with the broken quill and I've not changed its purpose, you still feel the need to go and get a new one and throw this one away. That's how I feel towards Muggleborns. You're all broken to me. Nothing but an unwanted hybrid of dirty blood, tainted by your ancestors."
Hermione said nothing as she glared at Draco who seemed to enjoy hearing himself speak.
"All my life, my father taught me how important it was to be a Pureblood. It wasn't just because of status or prestige, it was because of duty. That it was OUR duty to maintain our magic within our blood. Whenever I would question him, my father would show everything Muggles have done. From killing themselves in senseless wars to tearing nature apart, my father showed me the relentless assault that Muggles have done not only to themselves but to all those around them. So I argued, back when I was still young, that we shouldn't judge all Muggles to be like that and that's when he showed me. Pictures of Salem, Torsaker, Wurzburg, Bamberg and even in our country, the Pendle trials. And I looked at those pictures and saw not only men, but women and children smiling gleefully as a witch was burned at the stake. My father taught me to be wary of Muggles and thus it began. If Muggles were so dangerous, why do wizards and witches still chose to mate with them?"
"Not all Muggles are evil, Draco. Many are good and I suppose they mated with Muggles because they were in love." Hermione interjected as Draco shook his head at her.
"Love?! Muggles are beasts! If a Muggle were to have sexual relations with a dog, you would call it beastiality, would you not?"
"Muggles and wizards are all human, Draco!"
"Why? Because we look alike? Sound alike? Get your head out of the clouds, Granger, we are different. If you can't see that, then at least accept that it is how the Muggles perceive us! If an alien came to our world and looked and sounded like us but had green skin and tentacles sprouting from their head, would you be okay with them mating? Doesn't it feel weird to you? Wrong to you?"
Hermione open her mouth to speak but Draco held a finger to silence her.
"If there were no consequences, perhaps I would be more inclined towards you, Granger but then comes the loss of magic. Do you know that the reason you are what you are is because somewhere along your bloodline, where pureblood wizards and witches should be born comes many generations of Muggles or Squibs?! Yes, there are Squibs in the Pureblood families as well but it's nothing compared to the loss of magic from Muggleborns' bloodlines. Sooner or later, there might come a day when not a single wizard or witch will roam the earth because the Muggle gene would take over and eliminate all magic around the world. You, Granger, are a stark reminder of that possibility."
"So you hate what I am but not who I am?" Hermione asked as Draco gave another laugh.
"That's really another question although I can say with absolute certainty that you being a Muggleborn is only ONE of the reasons why I despise you."
"Tell me Draco, if I were Pureblood, would you despise me as much?"
"But you aren't, are you? So why don't we cut away the fantasies? My family and other Pureblood families have worked hard to preserve the old ways but the Ministry has always for some reason looked down upon us for it. Hogwarts readily accepts your type and many concessions are always being made for Muggleborns. Don't they realise how dangerous that is? All it would take is for some blabbering Muggle to spread the news that magic exists and our worlds would collapse."
"You still haven't answered my question, Draco. Everything you've just said are from your father but not you. So why do you, Draco Malfoy, hate Muggleborns?"
"I am my father's son, aren't I? The apple doesn't fall far from the tree and all that. All my life, my father taught me to hate your type and I did love and respect him. So here we are."
"So you hate them because your dad told you to hate Muggleborns?" Hermione said incredulously. "You're going to hide behind your father, once again."
"What do you want from me?!" Draco yelled, startling Hermione. "You want me to say that I did out of fear or that there's some other convoluted reason for being who I am?"
"No! I want to know why you hate us? Why you called me names all throughout my years at Hogwarts? Why you hated me!" Hermione roared back, glaring at Draco with as much contempt as he did to her.
"Oh, like I said being a Muggleborn was just one of the reasons. I despise you, Granger, because you always thought you were better than us. Fighting for lost causes like the elves! Pretending to understand our ways when you spend ten years growing up as a Muggle! Just because you read it in a book doesn't mean you understand how our world works! You think I haven't figured out why you want to help me? I remember that day when I came to collect my father's body. You and your bloody laws! You fight so hard but can't live with the consequences, can you? Seeing my father covered by a sheet must have made you guilty. That's the only reason you're here. Guilt. You're still the same naïve, arrogant little bitch I first laid eyes on all those years ago and you haven't changed a bit. How's this for wanting to know about who I really am? You remember that day at the Manor when the Snatchers brought you in?"
Hermione held her breath as her eyes closed tight. She was trying very hard to suppress the memory of that day.
"When my aunt tortured you, all I did was watch and you know what I thought? I thought to myself that if you had revealed Potter's identity faster than you held out, the three of you would be dead and I would get to live in peace with my parents. I didn't think about you. I didn't think about anyone else but me and my family. If you had died or Fenrir had his way with you, I would have still gone to bed sleeping as soundly as a baby."
"Fuck you, Malfoy. I'm done with this! Rot in hell for all I care!" Hermione said as she grabbed her things and reached for the door.
"Glad we had this chat, Granger. I'll be sure to say hi to your friends when I get there!" Draco yelled as Hermione stormed out into the corridor.
…
End of Part 1. Like it? Review it if you can. Thank you!