Draco stepped into the main lobby of the Department of Transportation on Thursday morning. He attempted to steady himself as the room jolted. He wasn't use to the abrupt modes of transportation he had used just a few years earlier. Before he could reorient himself, Draco felt himself become enveloped into the arms of someone who could only be his mother.

"Draco!" she all but sobbed into his chest. "How I've missed you!"

"Mother. I can't. breath."

Narcissa reluctantly let go of her son, and Draco rubbed his arms where it felt as though she had cut off his circulation. Narcissa put her hand to his cheek and looked up into his eyes.

"It's nice to see you, my dragon."

Draco felt himself smile just a bit. Despite not wanting to be here, he had missed his mother and was excited to see her.

"You are cutting it very close, Draco," his mother started to scold as they left the Department of Transportation and made their way to the main elevator. They stepped inside and Narcissa pressed two: Department of Magical Law Enforcement. "You know how those aurors can get. Very agitated when justice can't be served quickly enough. They will want you there on time.

Narcissa must have been able to see the unease in her son's eyes as she rambled on because she quickly changed the subject.

"It shouldn't take that long for them to talk to you about tomorrow's trial. Then we will go back to the manner. I had the elves make all your favorite dishes. I thought you might want dinner to consist of just the two of us, but if you want me to owl anyone else before we leave…"

"Just us," Draco cut in almost immediately as the elevator chimed and let them out on the second floor. He didn't know who else she thought he would want there. He left for a reason. He didn't need reminders of the past. Most of their family was either dead or imprisoned after the war. His friends too. The only friend he would remotely care to talk to, Blaise Zabini, was probably too angry to speak to him. Blaise had tried to contact him once he had left for the U.S. and, despite the twinge of guilt it left him with, Draco had ignored his contact. What was the point of leaving your old life behind if you brought bits and pieces of it with you.

A set of aurors opened a heavy door into a small office. In front of an oak desk sat a single chair. An auror that Draco immediately recognized as Alec Park sat behind it. He was a broad man with dark hair and thick eyebrows. Despite his intimidating look, the man wasn't really that bad. He had been respectful of Draco when they had first met even though most aurours had held his previous Death Eater status against him.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Malfoy, but you are going to have to wait outside," said one of the men holding the door open.

Draco felt panic rise up again as his mother politely nodded and turned to him.

"I'm going to take the floo network to Diagonally. I'm going to stop for a cup of tea at Rosa Lee's. I will wait for you there."

Draco tried to respond but the lump in his throat made it impossible to speak. He nodded quickly instead and watched as she disappeared down the hallway and back to the main elevator.

"Come on in Mr. Malfoy," he heard Park call from behind the desk.

Draco obeyed and sat down in the chair provided for him. Without looking up from his paperwork, Park began to give Draco a rundown of why he was there.

"As I'm sure you remember from Rowle's previous trial, he was given 10 years with the possibility of early parole for his war crimes. His first chance at parole has officially arrived, and I don't know about you, but I would like to keep that bastard locked up for at least a couple more."

When Draco didn't respond, Park looked up to see a very pale-much paler than usual anyway- Draco Malfoy. He could obviously tell that something was wrong and he stopped his explanation to ask if everything was alright.

"It's just been a long day and a bit of a shock after so long in the states," Draco explained. "This isn't something that I ever planned on being involved in again."

Park frowned and rubbed his eyes before responding, trying to sound as understanding as he could.

"I understand. I had heard you left the country not long after the trials finished up. I don't blame you. Sometimes its hard to come to work and deal with these slimeballs on a frequent basis. Most people just want to forget about the war. If I was-," he hesitated for second. "-in your position I don't think I could do what I do. I know it has to be hard coming back and being asked to relive all of this, but you have got to think about the good this is doing. Rowle deserves every moment of his 10 years. We may not have been able to pin any definite murders on him, but the people he forced to turn a blind eye to Lord Voldemort with the imperious course… they deserve some retribution."

Draco nodded and Park continued.

"Plus the longer he stays in Azkaban, the longer I have to pin something bigger on him. I know he's connected to the Carne's family murder. I just need more time. You're testimony could let that happen."

Draco took a calming breath before trusting himself to say anything.

"I know. I want to help. It's just going to be difficult, that's all."

"Thank you, Draco. Once again we are in your debt. Let's go ahead and discuss how tomorrow is going to go."

Draco's wand quivered as he held it out, pointed at the blond Death Eater on the ground. His breath was labored, but not as labored as the man's in front of him, writhing in pain from the curse that he just flowed through his body.

"More, Rowle, or shall we end it and feed you to Nagini?" The Dark Lord circled the long room, speaking to the man quaking of the floor. "Lord Voldemort is not sure that he will forgive this time. You called me back for this, to tell me that Harry Potter has escaped again?"

Voldemort's voice grew in anger as he spoke these last words. Chills ran down Draco's back as he felt the Dark Lord come up from behind him, his lips almost to his ear as he as all but hissed his command into his ear.

"Draco, give Rowle another taste of our displeasure."

At this command, Draco pointed his wand back at Rowle who stared up at him with pleading eyes.

"Please," he begged, spittle forming on his lips and tears streaming down his cheeks. "Please don't. I won't fail you again!"

Draco felt bile rising in his throat and he felt his stomach lurch. He couldn't keep doing this. He couldn't keep watching his fellow Death Eater scream on the ground in pain from his own spells. His hand started to lower as he looked back at the Dark Lord with pleading eyes of his own.

Voldemort looked into the young face of his newest Death Eater and laughed.

"Do it, or feel my wrath yourself!" he warned. His wand hand twitched and Draco's eyes fell on the gnarled white wand that was more than ready to inflict this same excruciating pain on him.

Draco found his mind flashing through the events that had brought him here. His family's public adoration of their pureblood lineage. His father's devotion to a man that was presumed to be dead. The example of several generations that taught him that this "calling" was the highest honor he could ask for. All their filthy god damn lie- this was no honor.

It was then that he found that his terror was turning into something else. He wasn't afraid of the Dark Lord's threats. He was angry. Angry that he was in this situation. Angry that his whole life he had been told the mark that know scarred his skin would be his greatest triumph. He turned then. His ward hand was much steadier now.

"Crucio!"

Draco heard the words bursting from his lips. He saw the bright red spark erupt from his wand. He watched as Thorfinn Rowle writhed in pain beneath him, muscles tense, eyes squeezed shut.

The screams echoed in Draco's ears, but he did not stop. If he had to do this thing, he would let his anger drive him.

Rowle finally opened his eyes in the midst of a soul shattering scream, a scream that became Draco's as he woke in a cold sweat.

A/N: Reviews are much appreciated... and motivating! I hope you liked the chapter :) As I said, Catelyn will be back after the trial, and I suspect she will be much needed because Draco doesn't seem to be handling being back very well.