ONE YEAR IN PARIS

Disclaimer: HP, etc. etc. belongs to JKR. Story, mine. This will be the first and last disclaimer for the entire story. )

Summary: His role in the war for the light side was over. His role in Ginny Weasley's life, however, was far from it as one unnatural event threatens to overturn his perfectly well ordered existence and it was all the Weaslette's fault.

PART ONE: DEVANT PARIS
Chapter 1

A new beginning had dawned upon them. A beginning where life, love, and happiness were finally staging a rebirth in Wizarding England. Lord Voldemort had been vanquished five years past and the rebuilding of lives displaced or lost was already back on their former prosperous and peaceful tracks.

Yet with the rebirth came the call of justice. Many dark wizards that were caught during the Second War were still standing on trial for their crimes against humanity, both magical and muggle. The Wizengamot had convicted Death Eaters imprisoned in Azkaban and had frozen or confiscated their assets following the start of the trials.

Only one purported Dark Wizard was free, and yet…He was not really. The Wizarding world was free of suspicion of darkness. Its denizens knew that they were liberated from the darkness but an infinitesimal doubt was still in their minds as they watched the scion of one of the most powerful dark wizard ever to walk stroll around Diagon Alley freely.

It was infinitesimal, yes, but still a lingering doubt.

Draco Lucius Malfoy had been acquitted following his trial a year after the Voldemort had fallen. The trial's records were kept secret from the public; even the trial itself was closed to the world. Only the Wizengamot, sworn to silence even upon pain of death regarding the delicate matter, Draco Malfoy himself, and, much to everyone's shock, Harry James Potter, were the ones who were present during that day.

The suspicion remained, for not only the Malfoy Scion free as if he was as innocent as the next wizard, but his vast assets also remained untouched by the Ministry.

Just how powerful were the Malfoys? A wizarding line so old and well purely preserved that it was rumored to have existed during the time of Merlin. Of course, the Malfoy name was synonymous to the Galleon itself as one of the pillars of the wizarding economy. It was on the tip of everyone's tongue yet all were afraid to voice out,

How much did Draco Malfoy pay for his freedom?

Draco Malfoy felt the imperceptible change of the hustle and bustle in the Alley as he walked through it surreptitiously watching other wizards through his peripheral view. He tried to suppress a sneer at the way they studied him and the way they were wary of him as if he was going to transform into another dark wizard. He didn't want to disappoint them; it wasn't in his nature to disappoint. But it was simply that he didn't care much for complete rule over them. Partial, yes. Complete, never. It was a far too messy venture.

It had been quite a journey after the Second War. It galled him to have Harry Bleedin' Potter stand as his primary witness to save his arse from the chopping block but it had to be done if he wanted to stay free. Free and wealthy, mustn't forget that, Draco thought with a smirk.

The Boy-Who-Refused-To-Die stood witness and told the Wizengamot that he played a key role as a double agent for the Order. His reports enabled the Order to rally its troops during the siege at Hogwarts. He wasn't going to beg or grovel in front of the assembly and tell them just how much he did to save their lives. If they were set on convicting him just because he was a Malfoy, then whatever amount of money he was willing to pay his Arguers to let him walk free would not amount to anything good.

But the Wizengamot was still not satisfied. They were calling for blood to be repaid for the death of Albus Dumbledore even though he was not the one who wielded the wand that killed him. The Dark Lord had executed Severus Snape during the night of the final battle and there was no one to defend him on that account. And when all hope had been lost, Potter's eyes refusing to meet his, out of guilt that he couldn't save him as he had saved the entire Wizarding World, Draco suspected, the massive oak doors of the trial court opened with a groan much like an ancient ark being pushed on dry land.

It was the youngest Weasley wearing an uncertain look on her pert face.

"Ginny?" Harry cried in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Before Ginny could respond, the Chief Warlock spoke in a gravelly voice bearing no warmth or welcome, "You have no business being here Ms. Weasley. This is a close-court trial. You may leave the same way you came in."

Ginny looked uneasily around her before clearing her throat. "This is Trial Court number seventeen, is it not? The case concerning Malfoy, I mean, Draco…uh, Malfoy?" she said, obviously unused to giving her former schoolmate any name at all. Her eyes met the blank expression of the boy in question apprehensively before turning her gaze back to the Chief Warlock.

"Yes, as you well know it is. However did you even get near this trial court is a puzzle in itself! Ms. Weasley, I will not repeat myself. You must leave at once!" A slight buzz of disquiet arose behind the Chief Wizengamot. They were about to convict the young Malfoy for conspiracy to murder, as they could not pin him down for other counts.

"Begging your pardon sir, but I was instructed to appear here at this date and hour at this trial court," she persisted meekly, fishing folded piece of parchment from her pockets before walking towards the high podium. "It's a letter from Professor Dumbledore—"

"A what?" Harry asked in alarm, suddenly standing up from his seat.

She gave him a slight glance before handing the letter to the Chief Warlock and continued, "I know it may sound unlikely but my father already performed authenticity charms on it. Fawkes delivered it. I recognized him from my, well…my first year and he gave it to me just this morning. It was Fawkes who brought me here outside this trial court."

"What does it say?" Harry demanded at the Chief Warlock who was reading through the contents of the letter in amazement.

The Chief Warlock looked above his spectacles and sighed. "It seems that my predecessor had some remarkable foresight. And continues to be meddlesome, even after the grave, if I may add," he grumbled lightly. He glanced at Ginny Weasley's uncomfortable stance and said to her directly, "Albus Dumbledore recommends that you stand witness for Draco Lucius Malfoy."

This earned a startled glance from the defendant.

"She will what?" Harry cried out in surprise, gripping the armrests of his chair. He looked from the Chief Warlock to Ginny's suddenly wary façade. 'What do you mean she will stand in witness for Malfoy?"

Harry wore a puzzled look on his face, how could Ginny be involved in this trial? As far as he knew, the Weasley that had most contact with Draco Malfoy had been his best friend. There must be some kind of mistake.

"It means Harry, that I have evidence that will keep the Ferret out of Azkaban. And as much as it galls me to do so since I firmly believe that he belongs in there along with his dratted sire, Professor Dumbledore, God rest his soul, asked it of me," she said with a voice drier than five-day old toast.

Ginny was asked to stand in front of the Wizengamot after voluntarily imbibing the required two drops of Veritaserum with the proffered pumpkin juice. She started to recount the memory that Albus Dumbledore knew she saw.

Ginny had been in her fifth year and just like her older brothers, had a stubborn streak of brushing off rules...

It had been the start of the school year and Ginny had missed the Opening Feast because of the incessant prattle of her dorm mates. Thanking all that was holy that her twin brothers gave her the location of the Hogwarts kitchens, she silently walked down the corridors, stealthily watching out for signs of Filch or Mrs. Norris.

Just as she was about to round the corner, a flash of movement caught her eye. A flap of someone's school robes rounded the corner on the other side of the stairs. With the curiosity inherent to every Weasley, she brisk-walked until she almost caught up with the person. It couldn't be a prefect doing rounds. A prefect would have a partner and wouldn't be walking that quickly; walking that quickly would mean not being able to peruse the grounds and catch rule-breakers like her.

Just then, the stranger walked passed a corridor and went up the stairs. Ginny glimpsed the almost disembodied figure robed in black, with only his platinum blond head visible from below the stairs. Only one student had that hair color.

The poncey git might be a prefect but he's not really that good at his job, Ginny mused, walking up the stairs to follow him. Her previous hunger had disappeared.

When he stopped, Ginny was shocked. Even as she was covered by one of the large marble statues in the corridor, she knew where that Phoenix-carved marble staircase led.

The Headmaster's Office.

She watched in fascination as the revolving stairs accommodated the blond Slytherin without any hesitation.

Her heart pounded frantically when the stairs resumed their original position. What was the Ferret up to? She had no idea if Dumbledore stayed in his office at night or if he had separate rooms for retiring. And how the hell did the Ferret posses the password for Dumbledore's Enclave? A dozen other questions sprung up in her mind. She knew that nothing good ever came out of Malfoy's actions and so she continued to wait at her current vantage point until Malfoy returned from the office.

Three-quarters of an hour later, when Ginny was fighting off sleep from her eyes, the revolving stairs started to move, jolting her to wakefulness. She watched as Malfoy walked out of the office, his eyes bleary and his normally immaculately fixed hair was rumpled, as if he ran his hand through it far too many times.

She stood up and ran after him. She watched as he suddenly stopped walking and slowly turned around. She froze.

"Weaslette." It wasn't a greeting.

Ginny regained her voice. "What were you doing at the Headmaster's Office?" she demanded.

He shot her a glare. "And how would that be your business? It's nearing midnight, almost two hours past curfew, what are you doing out of your dormitory?"

"Don't change the subject! I know you're doing something illegal!" Ginny said, trying to sound braver than she felt.

This time, Draco didn't deign to give her a response. "Ten points from Gryffindor. Go back to your dormitory Weaslette before I start taking off more points," he said grimly before turning his back at her and started walking down to the dungeons.

"Don't you walk away from me!"

"Last time I checked, we weren't dating and I didn't break up with you," he answered sardonically, not bothering to stop and turn around.

"You infuriating berk! I'm reporting you to—"

This time Draco turned to the redhead and held her gaze cooly, "Report me to whom Weasley? In case it slipped that maggoty noggin' of yours, I just came from the Headmaster's Office. See, here's the thing that will bug you for the rest of the night since you are not in possession of the password. You'll not know if I did do something dastardly or not so go ahead, report me to whomever. See if I bloody care." With that, he turned and walked down another flight of stairs.

Stunned at his reply, Ginny collected her thoughts before hissing loudly. "Malfoy, I'm not yet done talking to you!"

"Another twenty points from Gryffindor for disobeying a prefect," he muttered, finally rounding the corner below and disappearing leaving a thoroughly disoriented Gryffindor behind.

The next night, Ginny became even more determined.

She had sneaked into Harry's dormitory after dinner and nicked his Invisibility Cloak hoping that he wouldn't need it for the night. And just in case he did need it, she left a note at the bottom of his trunk with a simple scrambled message only readable to which the note was intended for. It said, Harry, I have your cloak. Malfoy's up to no good and I'm getting to the bottom of it. Don't worry. Ginny.

She was prepared to stake out near the Headmaster's Office if need be. Being a dubious creature, she knew Malfoy would be back sooner or later. She hoped it would be sooner because as much as she hated to admit it, something about the situation made her uneasy down to her bones. It would be easier to just turn over her covert operations to Harry as soon as she got sufficient evidence that Malfoy was indeed up to no good.

The marble statue gave her ample coverage so when Draco Malfoy rounded the corner and stopped in front of the Headmaster's Office, she slipped on the Invisibility Cloak and walked as quickly as she could to catch the revolving stairs. When it finally stopped, she pressed her back to the solid wall behind her. She did not dare peek into the office and remained hidden near the stairs.

…but Professor—

…No buts Mr. Malfoy, it is your duty to accompany Professor Snape to the Astronomy tower. Your father does not doubt your allegiance anymore?

After Voldemort marked me, I don't think so. Father's unsuccessful attempt at the Ministry made him eager to prove his allegiance and so he offered my arm. Draco grimaced distastefully. But I still don't understand why you must be killed.

Malfoy was marked? Dumbledore killed?

Blood was starting to rush into Ginny's ears as her eyes widened in shock. They were talking about Professor Dumbledore getting murdered?

It is for your own protection Mr. Malfoy. You must continue your undercover status for the Order as much as you can. Remember that your defection from Tom's ranks make you an excessively vulnerable target.

A pregnant pause reigned in the Headmaster's Office as they all took in what this meant. Ginny's breathing started to become erratic. Dumbledore being killed, and now a marked Malfoy being a double agent for the Order? What was happening here?

Professor, surely you know that you alive will give your side an advantage. Draco's voice had a strangled quality in it as he voiced his sentiments as if he had trouble voicing them out in the open.

It is your side as well too, Mr. Malfoy, Dumbledore corrected gently. As for my life, I have lived it to its fullest. To regain the quality of another's life, hundreds of lives, in fact, is worth dying for. There is no other way to die that is nobler in nature. Do understand that my death will be one of the Order's catalyst to fight, and Harry's catalyst to defeat Tom. Do not be afraid Draco when the time comes for you to do your task. Severus will be the one to place the Killing Curse on me.

Ginny was unable to hear anything after that. Her heart continued to beat so hard that her chest hurt. How could Dumbledore plan such a thing?

She pressed herself even further to the wall when out of nowhere, Draco swiftly walked past her to exit the office. She had barely time to digest what had happened when she was jolted back to her senses.

"Miss Weasley, if you please," Dumbledore's kindly voice spoke up. "It is unwise to eavesdrop," he added, looking straight at where she was, his eyes twinkling. "Care for a lemon drop?"

Ginny's fingers trembled as she struggled to free herself from the cloak. "Professor—" she started, her eyes wide with shock and fear. Tears started to fall from her eyes.

"It's all right Ms. Weasley, it's going to be all right," the wizened man said quietly with a soft smile, understanding her distress.

Ginny breathed deeply when she finished her tale, watching beneath her lashes the reaction of the Chief Warlock and the Wizengamot. "Professor Dumbledore eased my distress that night by telling me that his death will not be for naught. Draco Malfoy's involvement in the Astronomy Tower that resulted to Professor Dumbledore's death was for Voldemort and his Death Eaters' benefit. And even though it was Professor Snape who administered the Killing Curse, it was under orders from Professor Dumbledore," she said as she tried to blink back the tears that were threatening to spill, remembering that night and accepting it as Dumbledore advised her to do so.

"Why didn't you tell me or Ron or Hermione about this?" Harry asked with a frown.

Ginny gave him an exasperated look. "Professor Dumbledore swore me to secrecy in his own way. He placed a time lock on that particular memory, which would only resurface today as if I've never lost it. When I received the letter, the memory came rushing back to me. So as much as I wanted to inform you, I couldn't have done it," she said with a rueful smile, thinking about Dumbledore's ingenuity.

Turning her head back to the Wizengamot she followed, "I wanted to blame Malfoy, who wouldn't? I wanted him to pay because if not for him, Professor Dumbledore would still be here. I wanted that." For an instant, she was bathed in pain of the memory of the old wizard. Then steeling herself and clearing her throat, she looked directly at her grave audience and continued. "But if, if not for Malfoy, the final battle wouldn't have commenced. The Order, Dumbledore's Army, Harry, we, we wouldn't have gotten that chance to defeat Voldemort. We wouldn't be here today."

Draco Malfoy was acquitted on all counts against him.

No one outside that trial knew that Ginny Weasley had been a witness. She preferred that it stayed that way. Only in the main records did her appearance and testimony existed and the Wizengamot kept it under lock and key. So in the eyes of the rest of the Wizarding World, Draco Malfoy had gotten lucky once again.

The unease between the younger Malfoy and the rest of the Weasley Clan did not abate even though he had been cleared of all charges seven years past. The Weasleys had stopped bugging Harry about what had happened during the trial since he would not give them any sort of information. He had envied Ginny during that time since no one knew of her role during the trial.

But an easy respect had arisen between the youngest Weasley, the Boy-who-Lived, and Draco Malfoy. They were occasionally seen passing the streets greeting each other with curt nods and even going as far as handshakes during formal gatherings.

But aside from that, all allegiances were non-existent. As far as all parties were concerned, Draco Malfoy's role during the war was over.