Chapter One - 'Freedom'
It had been seven years since the war. Draco Malfoy was now 24 and staring into the first rays of sunshine he had seen since he had been thrown into Azkaban all those years ago.
He had forgotten what it was like to feel the sun warmth on his pallid cheeks, how the wind ruffled his, now long, hair reminding him of days of Quidditch and how it was to fly. He hadn't flown in so long, his body ached to be in the air again.
Malfoy stepped forward, wobbling slightly as he did so, a nurse near by held his elbow softly incase he should fall. He hadn't walked in so long, not because he didn't want to, there was just no reason to.
Since being locked in Azkaban he had been in the same room day after day, night after night in constant darkness. The only company he had were the howls and screams of other inmates as the Dementors power slowly drove them into insanity. It was a miracle Draco hadn't fallen into their ice cold clutches. Neither he or the nurses knew how he had managed to survive.
It was a rare occurrence that someone walked out of Azkaban that wasn't a visitor.
After what Draco thought was a prolonged examination of both his mind and body he was free to leave, in a manner of speaking. He wasn't exactly free, he was released on conditions and if such conditions were broken he'd be handed straight to the Dementors, no if, ands or buts about it. It was as simple as that. Or so Draco thought. In his mind all he had to do was be courteous, do what he was told and not do anything illegal, obviously. The only question that burned behind his lips was who was behind his early release? Who thought his life worthy enough to spare him a life long sentence behind icy bars? And who, above all, was he to be staying with? After all he was in this persons custody and they somehow had Draco's life in their hands, something Draco wasn't sure he was relieved or terrified about.
'Mr. Malfoy? The Minister's ready for your debriefing now.' said a portly Wizard in front of Draco, who nodded in acknowledgment and was lead to an official looking car.
'Since when did the Minister use muggle cars?' thought Draco as he clambered haphazardly into the backseat, still thinking that he had chains about his ankles. The Ministry Official clambered in next to him and tapped the back of the drivers headrest to signal that they were ready.
They drove mostly in silence. Occasionally the official would try and make light conversation to ease the tension but Draco was so out of practice of even speaking he wasn't used to such verbal interaction.
The car eventually stopped in, what Draco thought was a very shabby-looking street. It was hard for him to break old habits of taste he noted privately, at least he hadn't changed too much.
It wasn't until the Ministry Official stood next to him that he recognized the road and ended up turning on the spot looking for something. Eventually his eyes locked onto the old red telephone box, that still had the appearance of disuse, with the panes of glass missing and being stood in front of a heavily graffitied wall.
'We're taking the visitors entrance?' questioned Draco.
The port man next to him chuckled. 'Of course, you didn't think you could just walk straight in without being registered did you?'
The corners of Draco's mouth twitched. He hadn't smiled in a long time, not that it was a natural occurrence before the war at that.
In moments the two men had descended into the Ministry of Magic. It looked like it always had, even before the war, as beautiful and magnificent as ever. Draco found himself gazing at the fountain in the splendid hall. The faces of the golden statues looked calm and joyous at the same time.
As Draco took in the Ministry's architecture he noticed two looming shadows appear either side of him. Aurors. No matter how many times he had seen them when he was younger, they always made him nervous, even more so since the ferret incident. Draco shivered visibly.
'Shall we get going then.' It wasn't a question. The portly Official began marching forward through the crowd the odd trio following in his wake.
Whispers ran through the large hall as people stopped and gawked at Draco being marched through. Besides the hiss of observers the only other sound was of the numerous fires floo-ing people into the Ministry, but it wasn't long before newcomers joined in the gossip.
Draco didn't feel embarrassed, he guessed this would happen eventually if he was to ever see the outside world. He did however feel a wave of sadness flow through him and made a point of keeping his eyes on the marble floor.
'Here we are.' chirped the Official, knocking on a grand oak door with a pudgy hand.
'Come in.' came a voice from the other side. Draco scowled, he knew that voice, but he couldn't place it. Not until he saw who was sat behind a grand desk which was covered in parchment and strange contraptions did he put a name to the voice.
Percy Weasley, whose nose was bent so low to the desk you could almost assume he'd fallen asleep if it wasn't for the large magical magnifying glass in his left hand.
'Minister?' the Official said timidly trying desperately not to disturb him.
In one quick, and obviously well practiced movement, Percy flicked a hand to indicate to wait a moment. It was then that Draco took to looking around the office. Most of the walls were occupied with bookshelves fit to burst, but on other smaller tables posters, newspapers and other odd contraptions were dotted. Draco even noticed a Foe-Glass in the background of the room, and next to it was hung a framed picture. It was hard to make out but to Draco it looked like the same photo he had seen in the Daily Prophet just before starting his third year of the entire Weasley clan in Egypt waving like the maniacs they were.
With a loud clunk Percy put down his magnifying glass and Draco's eyes snapped back to him.
'Do sit Mr. Malfoy.' he motioned to the chair opposite him. 'You may leave Browning, I'll call you when Mr. Malfoy needs to travel to his new home. Cook, Hoyle, if you could stand outside that would be grand.' Percy smiled, putting on his horn-rimmed glasses as he did so. The three men did as they were told.
Silence fell over the room. Draco sat awkwardly in the chair, he felt as though the comfort it gave him was a trick, that any minute he'd awake in his cell and continue his hell. He noticed in his peripheral vision that Percy was observing him through and over his glasses, as though undecided whether to keep them on. Draco heard an intake of breath.
'You don't remember me do you?' the red-haired Minister asked, an amused smile playing across his features.
'I do, Minister.' mumbled Draco more to the floor than at Percy.
'Really? After all this time?' Percy leant back in his chair his fingers entwining in front of him.
'Yes, Minister.'
Percy laughed. 'Well Mr. Malfoy I never thought I'd see you again, not for a long time. Especially here in the Ministry and you sat before me calling me Minister. It's funny the way things change.'
'I wouldn't know Sir.' Draco said bitterly, Weasley knew very well he had been cut off from the outside world for roughly seven years. It was then it hit him. He knew nothing of what had happened in the world around him, who was alive, who was dead, what had happened to the Ministry or even Hogwarts for that matter. After a moment Draco realized that not all of that was true, he knew of two people's lives that had changed drastically. His mother and father, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. Draco swallowed uncomfortably.
'Of course not, but you'll be happy to know that things have changed for the good and that lives are slowly coming back to normal.'
Draco wasn't sure if Percy was talking more about himself or the world around him, he didn't dare question.
'Now, to business.' Percy stood and went to a small table and poured them both goblets of what looked like pumpkin juice.
Handing one goblet to Draco he continued. 'You have been released from Azkaban by a noted member of the public for they deem that your actions in the war were not as damning as originally thought and even if they were you would be reformed and ready to be reintroduced into society under the supervision of said person. Understand?'
Draco nodded into the goblet.
'Now certain precautions will be enforced, such as a trial period and monitoring of your actions and mental stability before reinstating you with a wand, so before this moment, no magic or wand is to be used by you. Understand?' he didn't wait for a response. 'Also you will not be able to use floo connections, apparition or a broomstick until you are completely released by Ministry precautions.'
Draco's eyebrows furrowed.
'Until you're completely free that is.' Percy explained, then launched into the rest of his speech. 'Along with magic and transportation, unless aided by authorized persons, such as your guardian, you shall also be under a restraint of distance. In other words, you can only go so far from your new home unless permission is given by myself to your guardian. Understand?'
Draco suddenly got the impression that Percy always finished any speech with the word 'understand' but nodded silently.
'Good, now, any questions?' Percy smiled looking more like a certain younger brother of his than himself.
'Just one.' croaked Draco, who placed his cup gingerly on the desk. 'Who is my guardian?'
At this Percy simply chuckled and said 'All in good time, Mr. Malfoy. All in good time.' and the meeting was over. Browning was called and with a small bow left the Minister to his work.
'Here.' Browning said suddenly pushing a small old-fashioned suitcase into Draco's arms as they walked, followed closely by the Aurors. 'Money has been drawn from your account and placed in here and also some of it has been converted into muggle currency, along with a couple of changes of clothes that were picked out for you from... In honesty, I don't know, one of the nurses I should guess, considering they took your measurements and all.'
Browning soon drifted off into his own thoughts. Draco guessed his mind was focused on one of the nurses by the telltale shine in his eyes. It wasn't long before they left the Ministry of Magic and were back in another car traveling towards what Draco guessed to be his new home.