Hey, guys! Thank you so much for all the support and I want you to know that every review makes me so happy! I noticed that it isn't very clear how much time Hermione and Draco were in Azkaban. He spent there a little more than 5 months while Hermione is there for 4 years. It will become a lot clearer later in the story why neither Harry nor Ron made an attempt to rescue her or how she ended in the prison in the first place. This chapter is a bit shorter but I'll try to post the next one before Monday in a kind of a compensation.

Disclaimer: I own nothing that belongs to the Harry Potter universe.


The next couple of days Draco was in a haze. Around noon he had woken up in a secluded room with just one window. He felt like an intruder but was still grateful that he had a room on his own, a small cube to contain his chaos. He still felt the burning anger even when he recalled just the name of the blonde haired woman but he understood that Blaise had every right to put him in his place.

And so on the next day after his return, Draco came out of the room. Not a word escaped his mouth, not a single sigh or sound. The couple could barely hear his breathing as he ate and drank with them. Luna didn't mind his behaviour and just propped him on a stool and took care of him - she cut his hair, the stubble was gone. She put him in the shower, like a child but Draco did nothing so she started bathing him as she had no other choice. Draco felt that if even a twitch escaped his control he might coldly murder the love of his friend's life

And so Blaise and Luna turned to take care of the numb body of Malfoy. Though paralyzed with fear for his wife, Zabini knew that Draco would never lay a finger on her again or at least he hoped the man wasn't mad enough to do it. Although Malfoy slowly started to look like a proper wizard, Blaise was worried he wouldn't be able to last through the whole inquiry, especially when discussing the probable situations. But a man can only hope. Weeks passed and Malfoy began slowly feeling more at ease in the home of his friend.

Blaise did everything to put off the questioning but there wasn't much to be done about it. Such scandal could hardly be kept out of the media especially when concerning the war-heroes and the Golden Trio. Too much time her picture kept circulating in the press with theories each more absurd than the other. The all famous Potter kept low profile which provoked much of a gossip while Ron was always in the tabloids with fist-fighting and other boyish behaviour. Blaise was from the few to know that Harry was going through therapy for various drug abuse, depression and thorough psychological breakdown. But he was still working in the Ministry as he had no other choice but continue the life he hated so much. Blaise was worried how the Gryffindors coped with the news for Hermione and was aghast that Draco might not come out of this with only a bruise or two. But the date was set, the whole ministry buzzed with anticipation to see the wizard that was so long out of reach.

Draco, on the other hand, while he would never admit it, was terrified to go back. To see all wizards that hated his blood, his name, his face. Years ago it didn't matter because he had despised them. He had everything a man could wish for - wealth, honor, nobility, cleverness. He had been aware of his handsome features, he was really good at magic which also made him very powerful. And he had met the love of his life. Even the war couldn't spoil this or so he had thought then. Now, when he had lost almost all of this, he felt too weak and the worst part was that he felt he deserved the wrath of her closest friends more than anything. Draco just hoped that they had enough mercy in their hearts to kill him faster.

As the day came, Luna refused to leave Draco only with Blaise on his side and went with them. She had gained much power in the Ministry and was maybe more praised and even feared than Potter. As they passed the long halls nobody even dared to speak to them as they saw her pale hand on Draco's arm. For now at least he was safe and he wasn't sure if he's grateful for that. As they passed the long corridors, Draco could hear the voices of nervous wizards. For a first time in four years he prayed just how a girl he loved had taught him many years ago. And he didn't know what he was praying for in the beginning and was thoroughly surprised to find he was praying to come out of this alive. At least until he could see her face once more.

The moment Luna opened the doors to the meeting room all went silent. Gasps could be heard when seeing the blonde witch on Draco's arm. Nobody knew for sure how Luna became so powerful in the Ministry. She never pursued carrier as a Minister but she had worked restlessly day and night the years after the war to try to put the wizarding world back in its tracks and won the admiration of most of the wizarding society. Draco put his chin up and led Luna to her stool on the big table before them. As he turned to go to the place of the questioned one, Luna told him to remain by her side.

And that's what Harry saw when entering the hall. He felt sick when he saw Draco - and not because of hatred. For Harry Malfoy was one of the few wizards who hadn't changed so drastically after the war. This lay in the fact that Draco was isolated for the time being, but seeing him so devastated, un-noble looking made Potter wishing to throw up. Ginny who immediately sensed that something's wrong with her husband put her hand on his arm, half-supporting him as they went up to their places on the long table. Draco was surprised on his own how bad Harry looked and guessed that Ginny was more like a nurse to him than a wife which wasn't very far from the truth.
Harry took a deep breath and hoped Ron would not show up.


Okay, I feel really bad about how short and uneventful this chapter is, so here is a sneak-peak from the next one:

' "Said in details, Ms. Granger asked me during a very well known battle to keep silent that she is about to go and rescue her beloved one. It is not a secret that she and Mr. Malfoy were in a very serious relationship and that even engagement was discussed. He, on the other hand, was at that time imprisoned in Azkaban for suspicion of being a Death Eater. I myself was in contact with Ms. Granger as she followed her mission to release him. But here comes a part that is better to be told by Mr. Potter as his own orders made this situation possible."

Luna was very calm during her speech and even smiled when the baby kicked in her belly. But Harry became very pale by her words which made Ginny to stand up and put his hand around him to support him.

"What do you mean by this?" '