Hey Guys, sorry for the little time lapse there! I thought I had loaded my chapter four two days ago. Busy bee. I hope you are still enjoying the story. Please feel free to share your feedback! I have thick skin for more negative reviews but as long as they remain constructive I will remain very much openminded.
The room was dead silent. No body said a word. Most only peered at the parchment in front of them. Hermione closed her eyes tightly and took in a deep breath. The wooden doors to the courtroom screeched in an unwelcoming fashion. Hermione opened her eyes and concentrated on Draco, trying to send him, though probably unhelpful and unfelt; good energy.
Harry winked behind Draco and tried to smile at Hermione giving her the feeling of utter support. Suddenly a shriek echoed through out the room, it was a man's. It was Lucius. Hermione could no longer avoid the inevitable entrance of the most wanted man in the wizarding community. Lucius was shouting things; obscenities from the past that Hermione thought were terms of an almost dead language.
"Filthy, blood traitors! Muggle-loving, whores!" A mere shadow of the old Lucius shouted out looking around the room. He eyed the new generation of the Wizenmagot, he spat at the spectators, who all sat on the prosecuting side. How could he ever believe it would even be beneficial for him to apply for an appeal? As he was locked into the chair in the middle of the court room by Aurors, he spat, he fought against the chains sporadically.
The horrid sound reverberating off ever surface in the room, he looked at the Minister, a dead stare. His once vibrant gray-blue eyes had become a null mass of dark gray. Hermione looked to the Minister, Kingsley only stared back at the man, a vein had grown more visible on his fore head as his hatred had become more obvious for the man in the chair. Hermione bit her lip. She took one more deep breath and spoke with absolution.
"The defendant Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, comes in front of the Wizengamot today in order to appeal for early parole. His sentence is two lifetimes of imprisonment in Azkaban, he is convicted of committing treason in the highest affliction against the Ministry and convicted of almost one hundred and twenty-three counts of torturing and murdering in the third degree, he is also convicted of committing the act of embezzlement counted to over one million pounds from Ministry funds." Hermione stared at the men below her in the chair. He stared at her with more hatred, her very blood felt like it was about to boil.
She heard someone clear their throat. It was Draco, as he stood he supported himself on the table. She watched him take a quick intake of breath. He then stood tall and walked to the chair. Draco didn't glance at his father. Hermione watched the mask creep over Draco Malfoy's face, like it had almost a decade ago.
"Minister, and members of the Wizengamot, the prosecution refuses to hear the case. It is unfounded; the prosecution realizes that the law states that all prisoners are to be treated fairly. But, this is not just an ordinary prisoner. This prisoner is one of the most notorious followers of Voldemort. He has been convicted of many horrendous felonies, and only Merlin knows how many others we have yet to unearth. The prosecution finds that some of the stipulations of Ministerial Law has been over looked in the case of this defendants sentence." Draco said coldly looking only at the Minister. The Minister looked at Hermione; she felt the heat rise in her face.
"Proceed." Hermione said quickly, her voice dry and she hoped had the same effect as Draco's cold demeanor. Hermione watched as Draco rubbed his hands together. She looked back at Lucius, who had gone quiet. His emotionless eyes could not shield his surprise of what his son had become.
"The prosecution feels that thought two life sentences even though is a long term of imprisonment it is not the right sentencing for his crimes. One count of murder in the third degree is, if proven an immediate sentence of a Dementor's kiss." Before Draco could finish the Minister himself cut in.
"Are you alluding that the prosecution wishes to alter the sentencing?" Kingsley asked almost giddily.
"Yes, Minister." Draco said stiffly.
"His sentencing has been decided. Must the Wizengamot remind you this is not a restipulation of the defendant's sentence but the appeal for early parole?" Hermione asked Draco trying to tell him, his agenda or simply his vendetta was not allowed in her courtroom.
"Is the prosecution over stepping its limits?" Draco asked genuinely.
"Yes." Hermione said quickly. She watched Draco inwardly struggle he looked down at his shoes. A cackle emitted from the once still Lucius Malfoy.
"Are you going to let a silly mudblood talk to you like that, Draco?" Lucius chuckled heinously.
"Words such as that are not to be used to your betterment. They will only deter us from giving you a remote chance in freedom." Hermione spat back.
"You think I give a flying fuck what you have to say, you should be polishing my boots you filthy mudblood!" Lucius yelled.
"Those in favour of restoring Lucius Abraxas Malfoy of his freedom say aye." Hermione announced into the room, she had known everyone had seen and heard enough. She listened to a silent room, and then heard Lucius begin to chuckle once again. "Those in favour of disallowing this appeal or any other appeals from this defendant, say aye." The room erupted with ayes, no body wanted to see the scum of the war crawl back into this courtroom again and certainly not this particular one. Aurors rushed forward trying to remove a now hysterical Lucius Malfoy.
"Have you become their dog, Draco? Have you lowered yourself to their level of murk and indiscretion? Have you given up your lineage for charity?" Lucius screamed out as the Aurors pulled him from the room. But Draco stood planted in his spot in front of the Wizengamot.
Draco felt like the air from his lungs had been sucked from its place, he was breathless. He stared continually at the large deep mahogany 'W' on the booth. He felt as though his feet were glued into place as he heard the Aurors stupefy his father and drag him out of the courtroom.
Draco thought Granger had been right about something there was little for Lucius could do for his freedom, yet he still came out here. Screaming things Draco had never wanted to hear again.
Then a dawning of a thought came to Draco, Lucius didn't want to be freed. He simply wanted all to know that he was still here. Still alive, not well, but memories can do all sorts to different people. Draco felt a soft hand on his shoulder. He then heard a remote voice that reminded him of Pansy.
"Draco, Draco? Are you with us?" Pansy voice echoed in his head. She grabbed onto his shoulder causing the slight feeling of pain.
"Yes." Draco heard himself answering and as if he were having an out of body experience he felt his body turn to his desk and gather his things at his desk. He heard Pansy talking to Harry and Blaize, and a slight apology that she had simply put the appeal out of her mind as a way of coping with the past.
But everything seemed so fuzzy, he couldn't see straight. He felt his body shake ever so slightly. He slumped down in the chair, slowly so not to disturb anyone. Then something came in loud and clear.
"Are you alright, Draco?" Draco looked up in confusion it wasn't Pansy's sultry feminine voice but yet another familiar female voice. It was clearer then daylight. He looked in front of him, it was Granger. He saw her outline through the blurry mess. She kneeled down beside his chair. Draco realized that he could see her clearly like he had heard her voice. He looked back up at Pansy, Blaize and Harry they were still blurry. He felt her warm hand brush against his forehead.
"Draco, you're having a panic attack. You need to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth." Granger said nonchalantly. She took her hand in his and placed his against his heart. "See your heart is beating too fast. Breathe." Granger sounded almost motherly this time.
Draco slowly breathed in through his nose and slowly out through his mouth. Soon the blurriness faded. He looked at Granger with one of his blonde eye brows perked up in question.
"I have them once and a while." Granger said quickly looking at the door longingly. Draco knew that she wanted to get out of here as much as he did. He cleared his throat as she stood and walked towards the group.
Draco watched her, she didn't engage them in anyway, and she merely stood there looking fairly disconnected. Something Draco was becoming to understand was something she did often.
On the Saturday night dinners that he attended and from what he had heard she too rarely attended as well. She was very dull conversation, though very intelligent and sometimes a book of knowledge herself, she rarely offered any conversation outside of the pleasantries.
He watched her closely. She played with the sleeves of her robes. Draco couldn't understand why a person who was once such know it all, shove what she thought in your face, could completely three-sixty into an introvert personality with a newly discovered anxiety problem. Draco didn't get it. Draco also couldn't get why now after years of being an acquaintance to her had he realized that she was significantly broken inside.
If he hadn't known better he would have put her beside him in the most affected by the war, but he would never vocally or internally really accept that he too was broken. Not that he was proud or that he felt he was weak. But simply the fact is that if he admitted his misgivings he might let them consume him.
He shook his head and grabbed his briefcase. He slowly walked over and joined the now fervently conversing group, minus Granger. Harry nodded at him he simply nodded stiffly in response. Granger suddenly said her goodbyes sighting another forgotten appointment. She took her leave before Draco could even process she was leaving. Draco shook his head in confusion.
"Draco, would you like to go for a quick lunch?" Pansy asked sweetly.
"No, I have the rest of today off, I think I will just mosey on home." Draco said politely and squeezed her arm in a friendly gesture. She merely nodded and asked Blaize and Potter to go with her. Draco watched as his friends waved goodbye. Draco walked slowly out of the room. He wanted to go home desperately. He wanted only one thing. A silent afternoon in the garden.
Hello once again, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Remember to review. I would love to hear what you think!
MDM
Also I will try to update tomorrow, but if I don't get to you'll have to wait for Sunday. I am going on a camping trip which means no technology... I know not cool.