NOT EVERYTHING IS LOST

CHAPTER 1

It was a lovely day but not all that lovely for one Draco Malfoy, 24 years old, blond hair and grey eyes. He was a ball of nerves, his hands were shaking very badly and it wasn't only because of cold, it was more due to the fact that he had not eaten anything for two days . Draco was hiding in an alley behind an old grey building beside the Ministry's main entrance and sneaking glances at the ministry workers entering the Ministry of Magic. He had been waiting there for the past half an hour and was already exhausted. He didn't even know if his idea was going to work. Before you think anything, let me make it clear that he is not plotting to take over the Ministry. He was merely waiting for one of the Golden Trio so that he can explain his situation and ask for help. Yes, Draco Malfoy wanted help from the Golden Trio! How the mighty have fallen! Afterall he didn't have a choice...he had thought of a million things already and couldn't come up with anything else. It was almost an hour when Ron Weasley showed up , by which time Draco had already given up, thinking the Golden Trio obviously wouldn't use the Main Entrance. They were likely to directly floo over to the Ministry.

Ron was very agitated. He had had a row with his wife because he forgot to buy eggs along with a million other groceries he had to get from the supermarket. Hermione was always in a very bad mood nowadays because she was finding it very hard to manage their two-yr-old daughter Rose. It wasn't like she was babysitting her the whole day. Rose spent almost the entirety of the day at the Burrow with Molly while Ron and Hermione worked at the Ministry and only stayed with them in the evenings, but today Molly was visiting Bill and Fleur and had wanted to spend the day with Victoire .So Hermione will not be coming to the Ministry. Their fight had escalated pretty quickly from eggs, to the bread he had forgotten the previous day ,and the milk he had forgotten the day before, by which time Ron had given up and left the house, slamming the door shut. He now couldn't use the floo and had apparated to two blocks right of the Ministry and was walking to the Main Entrance to flush the toilet. He hated using the toilets as portals.

Draco was about to leave when he caught sight of the bright red hair. Draco had wanted one of the Golden Trio to show up but he was hoping for it to be Granger as she will not draw conclusions before listening to him. Weasley was most likely to hex him into oblivion as soon as he caught sight of him but he neither had the energy nor the time to wait for Granger . Claire will already be waiting for him. So, he slowly crept towards him not wanting to get caught. He took hold of Weasley's arm from behind just before he entered those toilets and dragged him along to the alley.

"Let go of me! " he screamed.

Draco let go as soon as they were safely hidden in the alley and Weasley spun around to face him with his wand. Draco could see that Auror training had not been wasted on Weasley as Draco had not even seen him trying to grab his wand and he looked menacing with his height and sturdy, muscular physique.

"What the hell , Malfoy?! What do you think you're playing at?! Whatever you are trying to do is not going to work."

"Weasley-"

"Do you know how much trouble you are already in by trying to abduct an auror?"

"I wasn't trying to abdu-"

"Do you know how many years of jail that could earn you!?"

"No, listen-"

"You will never tire of your nefarious schemes will you?"

"What are you-"

"Are you plotting to take over the Ministry?!..Because I'm warning you your plan is not going to -"

"WEASLEY,CAN YOU JUST SHUT UP FOR A MINUTE?!"

That definitely shut him up. Draco took a deep breath and tried to calm himself . This was already turning out to be a very bad idea. At this rate he didn't even know if Weasley will listen to him.

"I didn't try to abduct you, Weasley. I'm not plotting any nefarious schemes and I'm not planning on taking over the Ministry." , he said slowly like talking to a kid who doesn't understand anything.

"Then what are you-",began Weasley.

"Will you just hear me out?!"...No,he couldn't lose his temper, not now. He wanted to just let it all out but he didn't know how to begin or where to begin from.

"Will you say something?" , asked Weasley.

"Yeah, just give me a minute."

Surprisingly, Weasley nodded.

So, with a deep breath he began his tale. "As you know, I was sentenced to two years imprisonment. After being released from Azkaban, I found out that all the Malfoy property was confiscated and all our Gringotts' vaults were empty. The Ministry had seized everything in the name of reparations. I had nowhere to go .I tried contacting mother but no one knew her whereabouts. Rumour has it that she fled the country. Father of course is serving his life sentence in Azkaban. No one would hire an ex-death eater, obviously. My friends were either in Azkaban or they didn't want anything to do with me .

Atlast, I found Astoria. The Greengrasses weren't involved with the dark side so they retained all their wealth. Astoria was kind enough to help me, eventhough her parents weren't all that happy about it and we soon became friends. After about a year of my release, Astoria realized that she was deeply in love with me and asked me to marry her. I didn't love her in a romantic way but I did have a lot of affection for her and seeing as I was very well indebted to her with all that she has done for me , I agreed. She went against her parents' wishes to marry me. Her parents didn't want her to get involved with a death eater. She was almost disowned but retained her individual fortune which wasn't a lot and she started working as an apprentice in a law firm. I tried very hard to seek employment . I didn't want her to carry the burden of the family , especially when she became pregnant. I only found the job of a janitor in the new shop in Diagon Alley. He was an American and didn't know about my past so agreed to hire me. I worked hard and then Scorpius was born.

We were very happy but one day, Astoria wanted to take Scorpius shopping in Muggle London and I agreed to accompany them. I wanted some air, so got out of the book store and started walking a little. It was my first time in any muggle neighbourhood and I didn't know how to cross a road or anything. Suddenly Astoria came running out of the store and pushed me out of the way . Before I noticed what was happening she was already hit by the approaching truck and died on the spot.

I was devastated. I was left alone with only my son. We also lost the house we were staying in as Astoria's parents retracted all of her wealth after her death. I missed her terribly. Scorp and I stayed on the streets for a few days before I rented a one room flat in Holbeck with my meagre savings . I went back to work to find out that I had lost my job because I was absent for many days without a notice. I realized I had come a full circle. I can somehow take care of myself but with no job I couldn't take care of a 6 month old baby. So, I ventured out into muggle London and after many difficulties I-"

At this point , Draco stopped. He didn't want to tell Weasley what he had become. It was already taking a toll on him to tell Weasley of his struggles and destitution when he had mocked him for his poverty in his childhood.

"I found a job", he finished lamely.

Ron could see that Draco was hiding something but didn't want to prod him. He could see how difficult it was to Draco to admit to his poor status. He actually felt quite bad for the git. He couldn't let it show so rather asked - "Now, what do you want me to do , Malfoy?"

Malfoy glanced into his eyes. Obviously, Weasley wouldn't have patience and want him to get to the point as soon as he can. It was a miracle in itself that he listened for so long without interrupting.

"Scorpius is sick. Very sick. Mungo's is not ready to treat him. They won't even let me step foot into the hospital. They outright told me they will not treat a death eater's son. I already lost my wife, I couldn't bear to lose my son as well, Weasley."

Draco's eyes were stinging. Ron could see he was on the verge of tears but didn't allow them to drop. To say he was shocked will be an understatement. He couldn't imagine that Malfoy will willingly cry in front of Ron of all people.

"I just want you to use your influence and somehow get my son admitted into the hospital."

"My influence?" asked Ron.

"Yours, Potter's or Granger's...I know only you people can help me. They cannot deny anything the Golden Trio says, can they?"Draco finished with a hopeful look.

Ron stared and he stared and he stared. He knew he should say something but he didn't think he can decide on his own. He didn't want to help the prat. It was a good retribution for all that he had said and done to them in school but they were just kids and Malfoy was a kid. He cannot be held responsible for everything he did as a kid and they themselves did some pretty horrible things in return. No, it wasn't time for some petty revenge. Malfoy had suffered a lot and it's a serious issue here. It wasn't totally about Malfoy at all, it was about a child and he couldn't let a child die no matter how horrible his father was. But he will have to speak to Harry or Hermione before making any commitments.

"Ok, I'll try. Don't worry."

"There's one more thing." Malfoy spoke hesitantly, not meeting his eyes. " I need someone to look after Scorpius when I'm at work. I had my neighbour looking after him all these months but she is now shifting to Australia and I don't have any friends or relatives to leave him with. I tried for some daycares and baby centres but the fees is too high. I...I don't have...enough money to pay for him. Can you do something about that?"

Ron gaped like a fish. It must have cost Malfoy a lot to openly admit he didn't have money and to ask for monetary help from him. This was too much to grasp. He needed to speak to someone about this. He hurriedly said-"Malfoy, I'm taking you inside the Ministry ok? I want to talk to Harry before I can help you. I'll cast a disillusionment charm on you, so people won't be able to see you but the Ministry has ways for detecting intruders. Luckily, only the Auror department will be notified so I will be able to manage. But that doesn't mean you can try anything funny. I want you to stay close and don't wander off anywhere. Is that understood?"

Malfoy nodded. Ron cast the charm and started walking towards the entrance. He instructed him what to do and they were off.

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