Author's note: I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! For any of you wondering, I am still working on SheWolf. Just very slowly, my apologies. I'm stuck about halfway through the next chapter.

Here's the second chapter of Past And Future Mistakes.

Enjoy!

AliceLupin


Chapter 2 - His Side

One day prior

Draco Malfoy looked down at the front page of the daily prophet pushing his sausage and eggs around his plate absentmindedly, taking a bite occasionally as he read the article.

'MALFOY'S TO WILLINGLY BE QUESTIONED'

In the midst of the final battle, his father had run away, forcing his mother Narcissa to go with him and leaving his 'traitor' son behind to fight with the Order. The new minister, Kingsley Shacklebolt, had shown up on his parents and his, temporary, doorstep the next day with a deal. If they were to willingly submit to questioning and testing, the Wizengamot had agreed to restrict any sentences to life in Azkaban. It was a merlin send for his father who everyone had expected to receive a dementors kiss immediately for all his crimes. There were more than several people protesting this ruling but since he had fought for the Orders side in the end and his parents hadn't fought for either side there wasn't much to back them up.

They were all to be at the ministry today and Draco couldn't contain his nerves. Despite the fact that he hadn't actually killed Albus Dumbledore, if he hadn't let the death eaters in the old man would probably still be alive and there were more than several people who wouldn't let that fact drop. It had taken several weeks of, unofficial, house attest to have everything in place at the Ministry to start questioning captured Death Eaters but they were first on the list.

He sighed, tossed the paper on his, now empty, breakfast plate and headed up to his room at The Leaky Cauldron to get ready to leave.


"Will you, Draco Lucius Malfoy, willingly submit to being put into a deep sleep to have your memories examined?"

"I will." He repeated after the minister.

"And will you, Draco Lucius Malfoy, willingly take a veritaserum dosage in order to be questioned after your memories have been searched?" The dark, slightly imposing man asked.

"I will."

"Thank you. Please lie back." Draco did as he was told. They had been at the Ministry for over a day. His father had been questioned the day before and his mother's was this morning. There was to be a family hearing to get the verdicts when the three of them were done and the Wizengamot was ready.

"Stupify momentum." The minister said, pointing his wand at Draco's blonde head. He fell into a deep sleep almost immediately. The last thought on his mind was to wonder who would be going through his darkest memories.


Two days later

"The Wizengamot is now in session!" The minister called across the courtroom. "This is the hearing of Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, Narcissa Astra Malfoy and their son Draco Lucius Malfoy."

Draco sat next to his mother, his father on the other side of her, in a straight backed leather chair, magically handcuffed, the acidic taste of the veritaserum still in his mouth. They were on the lowest level of the room with the members of the Wizengamot on levels above them. Draco looked through the members and was shocked to see Harry Potter and Hermione Granger sitting on the second level next to the Weasley father, Arthur, he thought his name was. When had they gained positions on the court?

"The charges for Lucius Abraxas Malfoy are as follows." Kingsley shuffled some parchment in front of him. "Actively participating in the group known as the Death Eaters..."

Draco zoned out as Kingsley read off his father's charges, staring straight ahead but watching Granger and Potter. He had lived through the man's crimes, no need to rehash it all. It was all very formal, the minister using words like harbouring and assisting. He glanced around the Wizengamot as the minister was asking his father how he pled, guilty of course, again wondering who had witnessed his darkest moments. He stared straight ahead once more but was still watching the two of his former classmates. It looked like they were arguing silently.

Kingsley turned to address Granger and he snapped to attention. "Mrs. Granger, do you agree with these charges?"

Draco frowned, what did she have to do with it? Granger stood and cleared her throat.

"I do Minister Shacklebolt. After reviewing the charged memories I've concluded that he is guilty of all charges and acted upon his own free will." Panic drowned out the words Kingsley replied with, not for his father, everyone knew the man would rot in Azkaban, even his own wife and son, but for himself. Had Granger gone through all their memories? What had she seen in his? He pushed the thought away as the Wizengamot voted and his father was sentenced to life in Azkaban prison before the attention turned to his mother.

"The charges for Narcissa Astra Malfoy, nee Black, are as follows. Aiding and harbouring the dark wizard known as Tom Riddle, being involved in plotting the death of Albus Dumbledore, passing along information that endangered a minor and led to the death of Sirius Black, and planning to fight alongside the group known as the death eaters. Mrs. Granger, do you agree with these charges?" Draco looked to her again and his stomach sunk. She was probably the Head Memory Inspector and had done all the suspected head death eaters. What had she seen in his?

"I do." The woman replied. "However I'd like it on record that Narcissa always acted with the sole intention of protecting her family. She was forced into the role by her husband Lucius but the bravery she showed just before the final battle saved Harry Potter's life and greatly aided in the defeat of Tom Riddle." His heart fluttered a little, both due to the curly haired womans kind words and the hope that his mother would remain mostly unscathed from his and his father's mistakes.

"Very well." Kingsley replied. "Narcissa Malfoy, how do you plead?"

"Guilty." Came his mother's soft voice, shakily. As the Wizengamot voted, Draco looked at his mother. She was once very outgoing and brave... Protecting her only son for over a decade only to watch him take the punishment anyways had taken a serious toll on her. She looked at least 10 years older than she really was. He made a mental note to ask her about a few of her charges later... If there was a later.

"In the case of Narcissa Malfoy, we find her guilty of all crimes. Taking the circumstances into account, the Wizengamot has sentenced you to a week in the ministry's prison and four months of house arrest. Your wand will be checked every week for any sign of dark magic, your owls and floo network will be monitored regularly, you will aid in the rebuild of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and get involved in some type of muggle appreciation." Draco let out the breath he hadn't known he was holding. It could have been much, much worse. By the way she sagged in relief he knew she was expecting worse. He was surprised by his father's sigh of relief...

"The charges for Draco Lucius Malfoy are as follows." Kingsley said. Draco straightened up and focused on the minister. "Actively participating in the group known as the Death Eaters, taking the dark mark with the intention of following the dark wizard known as Tom Riddle, aiding in the events that led to the death of Albus Dumbledore, plotting to kill Albus Dumbledore, planning to fight alongside the group known as the death eaters, and property damage to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Mrs. Granger, do you agree with these charges?" Kingsley finished.

"I do." Granger replied. It seemed to him she was pointedly not looking at him but he could have been wrong. "However, I'd like it on record that he was forced into his roles by threat of both his father and Tom Riddle and under threat with his mother's life. He concealed Harry's presence on a raid rather than turn him and his friends in, he tried to help conceal their identities when they were later captured, and eventually fought on the Order's side at the end of the final battle." His stomach dropped lower and lower with every word. She knew. He knew she knew. There was no way she couldn't know. He almost missed the Minister's next words but answered from memory of his parent's trials.

"Guily." He said, slightly unsure. Kingsley nodded and Draco started sweating bullets as the Wizengamot voted. He chanced a look over at Granger and almost fell out of his chair when she smiled reassuringly at him

"In the case of Draco Malfoy, we find him guilty of all crimes. Taking the circumstances into account, the Wizengamot has sentenced you to a week in the ministry's prison and two months of house arrest, your first month after house arrest you will be accompanied by an auror at all times when you leave your home. Your wand will removed from your possession for three months, your owls and floo network will be monitored regularly, you will aid in the rebuild of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and get involved in some type of muggle appreciation." Draco sat there in shock. He wasn't going to Azkaban?!

"This concludes the hearing. The three of you will have a moment to say goodbye outside the courtroom before being separated." Kingsley said. And he got to talk his mother before being put in a cell? He had to repress a cry of joy as they were shuffled out of the courtroom.


Draco woke with a start. His nightmare had him screaming out.

"Quiet!" The guard yelled.

"I'm sorry. I can't control what my nightmares make me do." Draco replied calmly. There was no reply and he sighed, desperate for a conversation. He got out of his cot and started running in place, then dropped to the floor and started counting out pushups. His entertainment ended there. All he could do was sleep and exercise. He ate when they fed him but other than the guard that passed out meals he'd seen no one. He was in a cell at the very end of a hall, so even if the other prisoners had visitors he couldn't see them.

Thank merlin his prison sentence had only two days left. He had started to mumble to himself just to have some kind of noise.

The guard came by with breakfast 100 pushups and 50 situps later and he took his tray with a 'thank you' as he always did. He took a nap after lunch and was awoken by a voice that seemed to be in his cell.

"Draco Malfoy, you have a visitor. Prepare for cuffing." He was startled awake. Someone was here to see him? Who? He sat up on his bed and placed his arms straight out in front of him as the door opened. The guard stepped in and magically cuffed his hands.

"Put your feet over the edge of the bed." The guard said. Draco quickly did as he was told and the guard cuffed his feet and attached them the floor. "If there are ANY problems your jail sentence will immediately double." Draco nodded in understanding and the guard stepped out. "You have two visitors but only one at a time is allowed." He said as Harry Potter stepped into the cell.

"Potter?" He asked surprised. The raven haired, bespectacled man rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

"I've been assigned as your auror after your house arrest and as your case manager." He said. "I just wanted to let you know and see if there's anything you need. I would have come earlier but we've been really busy."

"Anything I need?" Draco asked, slightly incredulous.

"Yeah. You've been on good behavior since the trial and they're willing to give you a privilege or two." Potter explained slowly. Draco thought hard. Out of all the things he wanted, what could he get away with asking for?

"I'd love a dose of dreamless potion at night. I've been..." He paused, wondering if he could tell the boy wonder his main weakness.

"Having nightmares?" Potter finished for him. He nodded silently. "It's understandable. We've all been through a lot. I'm sure that won't be a problem."

"Would I be able to get a muggle parchment pad and a drawing utensil? Even a dull pencil?" The man looked surprised. "I have a thing for drawing." Draco finished lamely.

"I'll see what I can do. They may consider even a pencil to be a possible weapon." He said.

"Is my mother okay?" He finally asked desperately. Potter nodded.

"She's a couple rows down from you. I'm headed to see her next."

"Will you please tell her I'll see her soon?" Draco asked. Potter looked startled again, probably not used to hearing such sincere words come from the blondes mouth, but he nodded and turned to leave. "And Potter?" Draco said quickly. The man stopped but didn't turn around. "I'm sorry. I put you through hell all through school knowing full well that your life was under constant threat. I'd like to do my best to make up for it." He slowly raised his hands and put one out for the man to shake. Potter turned and considered it, a thoughtful look in his eyes behind the round glasses.

"Thank you." He didn't take Draco's hand but he sounded sincere, especially when he said his next words, "From what Hermione says, you've been trying to make up for it for quite a while... And- whatever the reason," he frowned, "I really appreciate it." He stepped away to leave.

"Would-could I... possibly talk to her?" Draco asked quickly, against his better judgement.

"She's... your other visitor." Potter said slowly before quickly stepping out. Draco had a moment to brace himself before the woman, who's screams haunted his nightmares, stepped around the corner and into the cell.

"Hello Malfoy." She said heaitantly.

"Granger." He replied, inclining his head. "It's... Good to see you." He said lamely. She looked slightly taken aback and he wondered if maybe she hadn't been in his memories.

"Umm. You too." She fiddled with her fingers in front of her as she talked quickly. "I just wanted to apologize."

"Apologize?" He asked incredulously. She nodded.

"Memory filtering is incredibly... Intrusive." His stomach sank at her words. "I make a point to go around and tell everyone that it wasn't meant to intrude just to gather facts." Draco gathered all his bravery and blurted the first thing that came to his head.

"Do you say that to everyone or just the ones that you find out might like you?" Her head snapped up and she stared at him in shock for a moment before sputtering out a response.

"I-umm. I... tell everyone that." She turned red and looked down again. "Thank you though." She almost whispered. She took a deep breath and looked at him again. "What you did for us in the forest, putting up the barrier spells, Ron was half dead and we wouldn't have survived an attack."

"I didn't do it for Weasley." He said pointedly, with his last ounce of courage.

"I know." She said, turning red again. Draco studied her for a moment. This was a girl he was taught to hate from the moment he met her. And he had tried. Oh how he tried to hate her. But somewhere along the lines it had turned to jealousy and then admiration. He could barely admit it to himself and here he was practically hitting on her while chained to the floor. He shook his head, trying to get his priorities straight. This woman was just not in the cards for him.

"I'm the one who should apologize." He finally said, calmly. It was clear she was growing uncomfortable with the silence and his gaze. "I treated you terribly at school just because of who your parents are. And that's not fair." She almost smiled.

"You're not the only one who's judged based on parentage." She said before turning and quickly leaving the cell.


"Compliments of Harry Potter." The food guard said that night. Draco jumped up and reached for the tray. "Thanks for not being difficult." He said, slightly softer. "I hope this helps with the nightmares."

"Thank you." He said, honestly. He sat down on his bed and stared at the tray. Next to the pre-cut up bangers and mash, water and spoon was a light pink no-dream potion with directions stating that it wouldn't knock him out, only give him dreamless sleep when he did fall asleep, a small pad of paper and a box of muggle crayons. Apparently they didn't trust him with a pencil yet but he was grateful none the less.

He ate his dinner quickly before gulping down the potion. He got and slid his tray under the door for them the guards to pick up then went back to his bed, laid down on his stomach and started sketching.


Today was the day. He was being released in five hours. He was incredibly restless, ready to be out of this tiny cell. He jumped as a voice coming from somewhere in his cell disrupted his pacing and note making with his pad of paper and a black crayon.

"Draco Malfoy, you have a visitor. Prepare for cuffing." He sighed and sat down on his bed, hands out in front of him. The guard came in and magically cuffed him.

"Last day Mr. Malfoy." The guard said. "Don't cause a ruckus."

"I won't." Draco replied as Potter stepped into the room. He nodded his head at the man as the guard stepped out.

"How have you been sleeping?" Potter asked conversationaly.

"Much better." Draco replied. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." The man replied, seeming uncomfortable with the pleasantries. "You're in the process of being released. It may be a bit ahead of schedule even. Your mother requested to be able to meet you in the atrium and continue home from there but it was denied simply because we're busy, we don't have time to waste." Draco nodded.

"That's understandable." He replied.

"I'll come get you when all the paperwork is done and escort you to your manor. An auror will be posted outside the manor to keep an eye on and out for you and your mother. You may request time out but it must be submitted in writing, with the reasoning, no less than a week in advance and you will be accompanied by an auror at all times, if it's approved." Draco nodded his understanding and Potter left, leaving him to go back to his drawing

Several hours later his cell door opened with no warning.

"You're officially a free man. Ish." Potter said. Draco practically jumped out of the bed.

"Thank Merlin." He quickly shut his pad of paper, trying and failing to hide it from the raven haired boy, and walked out into the hallway, sighing in relief. Potter led him down the hallway with a thoughtful look on his face.

"Why did you do it?" He finally asked. "Why did you hide us from the Death Eaters?"

"I didn't want Riddle to win." He said, lying and trying to sound nonchalant.

"As your case manager, you're not supposed to lie to me." Potter said. "Hermione said she knew but that she wouldn't tell us. But judging by your drawing I'm guessing you didn't do it because it was the right thing to do."

"My drawing is none of your business." He snapped on instinct. He stopped short when Potter swung around to face him.

"It does if it involves one of my best friends. Hermione is like a sister to me and if anything happens to her, physically or emotionally, you can bet I'll make the person that hurt her pay."

"Is there a problem Mr. Potter?" A guard asked.

"No. We're fine." He replied quickly, obviously waiting for an answer from the blonde.

"I won't hurt her. I won't even try anything." He sighed, knowing he had to admit his feelings for the muggleborn. "She's too..." He searched for the right word and Potter glared at him threateningly. "Good." He finally said. "For me, I mean. She's too good for me."

"Something we finally agree on." Potter said, continuing to lead him down the hall in silence. Draco shifted uncomfortably. It was bad enough he'd had to admit it. The bastard didn't have to agree... They walked in silence to the prisons front desk, Draco signed some paperwork and Potter led him to the elevators and out of the ministry.

"Is my mother out yet?" Draco finally asked as they reached the floo network.

"She's next on my list." Draco nodded and grabbed some floo powder.

"Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire." He called out, tossing the power down.


Authors note: I'm pleased with all the reviews on this already! This has been fun to write and I can't wait to get more out! I already have a lot of ideas but I like to hear readers opinions too. How do you think they should eventually get together?

Hope you enjoyed!

AliceLupin