Summary: I'm not particularly good at summaries. Let's try this out. - After the war, Draco had to participate in Auror training with old school nemeses. Little did he know the means to an end didn't always lead to a path predetermined. Harry thought his life would soon be just like how he planned. He would become an Auror, be with Ginny once she graduated, and live happily ever after. Oh well, sometimes life had its own way of working things out.
Author's notes: This fic was originally inspired by GypsyRaeyven's video on youtube. The video can be found at .com/watch?v=booYXyX0Mcw. I hereby include a link to it. Awesome video, by the way!
Warnings: Epilogue spoilers, slash, bad language, sex, angst, fantasy
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe (all recognizable characters mentioned all institutions, situations, events and happenings) is copyrighted by J.K. Rowling and her corporate affiliates. The following work is fanfiction. No commercial use of this work is intended nor is any revenue being made from it or any website which it may be archived on.
Scandalous
Prologue A Mad World
Malfoy Manor
It was an early September night; the starry night sky was clearly visible, whilst the wind still blew gently. Draco Malfoy stood in darkness, looking through his window, waited for the moon to arise. The manor always seemed so peaceful at this time of the night. The window muffled the sound of wind, but he could almost see the water in the fountain waving, the shadow of Klorofi tree on the ground dancing to even the lightest touch of wind. A few inches apart, his reflection frowned in the framed glass.
A flash of green light suddenly lit in the fireplace, 'Draco, a word in the study, please.' His father's head popped up.
'Yes, Sir.' Draco replied quietly.
As he walked down the stairs, he wondered what this might be about. At a loss, he stepped into the study. Lucius was seated behind the mahogany desk. He looked up from a pile of scrolls when he heard the footsteps, 'Have a seat, Draco.'
'Is there a reason you wish to see me, father?' asked Draco.
'Well, as you are aware,' said Lucius, slowly sitting back in the armchair. 'The recent events have left the family name in shambles. While you and I have a duty to restore the family name, we must act out of our ways in doing so.'
The family name, Draco signed. This was the subject he was hoping to avoid because there was no easy answer. He shut his eyes for one quick second. The room fell into silence. The only sound could be heard was the clock hang on the other side of hallway making faint 'tick, tick' noise.
'How may I be assistance, father?' He asked.
Lucius replied nothing but handed him a scroll from his desk. Draco held it out and read:
The Ministry of Magic
Kingsley Shacklebolt
(Order of Merlin, 1st class)
Mister Draco Lucius Malfoy
Malfoy Manor
Wiltshire
Dear Mister Malfoy,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Auror training program administered by the Ministry of Magic. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary reading materials and equipment. Program begins on November 1. We await your owl by no later than September 30.
Trainees will require:
The Advanced Book of Spells: For Things that Change by Euty Chides
Irresistible Potion by Rhy Senn
The Object of Dark Forces: A Comprehensive Manual to Preservation by Azrael Geffen
Soldier's Welcome: A Guild to Magical Combat Strategy by Lomon Aaeren
Reparation: Advance level of Healing Spells by Sara's Girl
The Procedures of Discovery: 101 Ways to Detect Secrets by Vora Biza
Power Play: How to Master Non-Verbal Spells by Dah Lia
….
Draco stared into the letter in bewilderment. Something exploded in his head and the echo just went on and on. He looked into his father's eyes, wanting to find some pieces that might solve the puzzle in front of him. But his father revealed nothing. Slowly, he mumbled, 'Father, it must be a mistake. I have the mark…'
'Yes. Shacklebolt is aware of that,' said Lucius, watching him. 'However, he agreed that an example should be set for those families who were affected by the war. After all, the war is over. One must move on. He also felt that your knowledge of certain aspects might be appreciated amongst Auror. Now, I see it is a great opportunity to-'
'But father, the battle has only been over for three months. I cannot possibly join Auror given-'
'I am not asking you.' Lucius's voice now had a stern to it. 'You ought to know what is expected of you. You will attend Auror training. We must each act our role in rectifying what others see in us.'
'How am I supposed to get along with…'
'Enough. You are going to attend.' Lucius said with a wave of his hand. That was a sign of dismissal. Draco knew it when he saw one. 'Now your mother wishes to have a few words. She is expecting you in Salon.' His father directed his attention back to the pile on his desk.
Draco felt his inside writhing, filled with wonder. He gazed up to his father, wishing he could say something to change his father's mind. Then it was clear to him, he didn't have a choice or opinion in this. Finally he reached for the door.
Salon was a smaller reception room that his mother favoured now. They all avoided the drawing room, and a number of other parts in the Manor. Perhaps if they just stayed out of those places, the awkwardness, the unpleasant memories would eventually fade away.
His mother was seated in one of the French lounge chairs. On the side table besides her, he saw a small tea service that had white steam coming out. She called out, 'Draco, would you like to join me for tea?'
'Tea is lovely, mother.'
He watched Narcissa poured with elegance and ease into a green porcelain cup, inlayed with a gold trim on the edge. 'I trust your father has informed you the news?' Narcissa asked while stirring milk and sugar in his cup.
'I don't know what to make of it.' Draco answered, his eyebrows raised.
'Your father only has the family's best interest at heart. One ought to improvise at difficult times.' His mother said with an air of reproaching.
Draco signed, feeling slightly exasperated. 'I know. I am just no sure this is the best option. Didn't Shacklebolt make the announcement in the Daily Prophet? That one says all students fought in the battle can join Auror without the N.E.W.T.? They hardly gonna dance up and down for joy to hear a death eater joining them, not to mention a Malfoy, not even for Merlin's sake…'
'Draco, there is no need to exaggerate. We just wish you to try this out for the family.'
Draco watched his mother, sensing another surge of defeat. 'Fine. I will be at the Ministry's paw. Let my ancestors roll in their grave, a Malfoy taking up employment.'
'Now you just made it sound preposterous,' his mother managed a small smile. 'I got you down here to tell you, your father and I thought you should reside at the Malfoy townhouse while you trained.'
'I don't understand. What do you mean, mother? Surely, I can just apparate. ' Draco asked tentatively.
'Well, it might be good for a young man to explore the world a little. We love you and the Manor is always your home. We just thought you might want to spend your time here and there. Besides, it is closer to the Ministry'.
So this was it. He was going to work in the Ministry and he was moving out of the Manor. Draco looked pass his mother until his gaze fell upon the window behind her. The moon had just risen and he could see the Klorofi tree glowing pearl light. Those curtains of light twirled across the night sky, into a spread of silver fog in far distance. Oh, Merlin, give me strength, he thought.
12 Grimmauld Place, London
'Harry, Harry,' Ron's voice came from downstairs, 'I don't believe this…'
'What is it, Ron?' Harry asked as he stepped outside the door, leaning over the stair railing and looked down.
Ron was waving his hands furiously at the fireplace, 'Dad, this cannot be true. You must be pulling my leg…'
'What is it?' Harry asked again, walking down the stairs.
'Well, Kingsley and I had a word. He told me there would be someone unexpected joining Auror training with you and Ron…' said Arthur Weasley's head in the fireplace.
'Why don't you just tell him it's the bastard Malfoy-'
'Ron, really-'
Harry was confused now. This was a name he certainly did not expect to hear. And truth to be told, he thought very little about that name for quite some time. 'Mr. Weasley, surely there has been a mistake. He is a death eater…'
'Was a death eater. The war is over, Harry,' Arthur paused, then added with dedication, 'Kingsley thought it was in everybody's best interest to put it behind us. The family did switch in allegiance in the war…'
'Yeah, the very last minute,' said Ron angrily. 'It is a wonder they are not all in Azkaban. He has the mark…bloody death eaters deserve rotten in hell…'
Harry digested this development in sheer amazement, remembering the last time he saw the Malfoy family. It was two weeks after the battle in Hogwarts, there was a hearing for the family's suspicious involvement at Wizengamot. Harry was there by the Ministry's request to give testimony on death eater activities. The family seemed agitated and uncertain, which was probably only nature under the circumstances. Ron and Hermione also gave their testimony, then three of them went to Diagon Alley before the verdict was delivered without a second glance. It wasn't until later he heard that the family narrowly escaped imprisonment in Azkaban only because Narcissa lied to Voldemort concerning Harry's death.
'...Listen, I know you boys are upset. But if the Malfoys are willing to correct their ways, this can send a message to the rest of them. We lost enough of our kind in the war. Now we must hold together to get through this…'
'Did Malfoy's dad buy his way into this, like always?' Ron demanded.
'Ron, I've got to go. We will talk about this more later.' Arthur's head disappeared in the fire place.
'Harry, what do you think?' Ron turned to look at Harry. 'Speak to Kingsley, would you? He must listen to you. This is bad joke and I am not bloody laughing. If the Malfoys can reform, I can bloody drive a Muggle car.'
Harry contemplated the thought of speaking to Kingsley, amused by the idea of Ron driving a car. Ron seemed to be fixated ever since Hermione took him to see a movie. It must had driving scenes in there. No matter how many times they explained to Ron afterwards that the movie must have been edited and it took training to do special stunts with vehicles, he still was fascinated with the notion. Then he didn't know what came over him, 'Well, I am sure Kingsley had his reasons. I mean, they must have enough to deal with right now…'
Ron gasped, staring at him with month open as though Harry had suddenly grown two heads. Harry chuckled lightly, the war was over, maybe it was time to concentrate on something else for a change. He watched as Ron was walking to the kitchen, still muttering, 'This is utter madness. Got to tell 'mione. The whole world has gone mad. Madness, I tell you…'
Harry laughed loudly, with a huge grin on his face, he thought, yes the war was over. It was the beginning of a new era.