Chapter 10 - Draco and the Girl
July 24, 1997
Harry spent the next couple of days away from the Fortress of Solitude. It wasn't that he was neglecting his quest. He just had some pressing concerns that needed his attention. He had arranged for the Grangers to stay in his house. The injuries that the other three girls had sustained required two days in St. Mungo's to treat plus they would need three visits per week for quite a while for emotional and psychological counseling. They all had relatives in the area who could take them in, for the time being. The money Harry had given them meant that they could take some time to recover and heal from their brutal ordeal. He would also cover the cost of all of their counseling sessions. To say that they were overwhelmed by his courage in saving them and generosity in looking after them would be an understatement. Harry had warned them all against mentioning anything about this and to keep as low a profile as possible to prevent Voldemort from targeting them again.
Hermione's recovery was, ironically, harder because her ordeal was easier. She had not witnessed her family murdered. She was not raped hundreds of times over several weeks. She had not suffered beatings and malnourishment. Her time as a captive amounted to less than a half hour. She was raped twice in that time. She was beaten by the first attacker to subdue her while several of his fellows held her. In any other context, this would be a brutal assault that would be reasonably hard to come to terms with. But when she compared her fate to the other girls, it was like complaining about a paper cut when someone next to you had their arm cut off. By not allowing herself to feel just as violated as the others, she was hampering her recovery. She was a mass of guilt. She felt guilty about being caught off guard and getting captured. She felt guilty about being raped, as if she could have prevented it in a room with twenty assailants. She felt guilty about being bait for Harry. She felt guilty that he had taken the bait and come to get her. She felt guilty about making Harry lie about not saving her again. She might as well have asked him to stop breathing. And mostly, she felt guilty about not being able to stop her sudden outbursts of crying. The other girls didn't do that. When Harry told her of his visit the next day, they had shown him the clothes that Dobby had brought them and talked to him normally about their plans now that they didn't think they would die in that bloody cellar. When she saw Harry, she burst into tears and she didn't know why. She felt guilty about that, too.
Harry, for his part, did the best he could to comfort Hermione. He made sure that Ron was around as much as possible. He thought that when Hermione felt vulnerable, her boyfriend should be the one to be there for her. Ron wasn't very good at the job. After a few minutes of having Hermione crying in his chest, he would be beet red and have to excuse himself. Of course, he felt a little insecure himself. He knew Harry was more powerful than he was but, blimey! Harry would then sit and talk to Hermione and reassure her, as the healers had instructed, that it wasn't her fault; that she was a wonderful person and what other people may have done to her didn't change that.
It was into one of these support sessions that Dobby popped in with the most unwelcome name on his lips since Voldemort.
"Harry Potter, sir," began Dobby. "Master Draco Malfoy is wanting to be seeing you."
"Malfoy!" raged Hermione. "It's his bloody Father that did that to me!" She got up and paced back and forth. "What the hell does he want?" she demanded.
Dobby recoiled and covered his head with his hands. This infuriated her even more, since she knew where he had learned that behavior.
"Dobby isn't knowing, Miss Granger," said Dobby. "Master Draco is only asking to see Harry Potter."
"Well, let's go see Master Draco, then!" shouted Hermione. She wanted to take her anger out on someone and it seemed that Draco had drawn the short stick.
"I don't think that ..," began Harry.
"I won't kill him!" said Hermione. She was seething. She didn't say anything about him not begging for death after she did do whatever she had in mind.
"Remember," said Harry. "He left that life before we caught him. Don't take out his father's sins on him."
Hermione glared for a moment more and then calmed down. "You're right," she said. He wasn't there. He could have been and decided to turn his back on them." She seemed to be disappointed. She had wanted some Malfoy blood and she knew where she could get some.
Harry looked at Hermione for a few seconds. He then said "I'll go see what he wants. You can stay here and"
"NO! Harry," said Hermione. "I have to face him sooner or later. You are right. He didn't do anything to me. He gave it up when there was nothing in it for him. I will not confuse him with his father." She looked calmer but Harry couldn't tell for sure. After a few more seconds, he nodded.
"OK, Hermione," he said. "We'll go together." He turned to Dobby. "Dobby, please take us both to the Fortress."
Both Harry and Hermione took Dobby's hands and with a pop, they were standing in front of Draco's cell. He was reading the Daily Prophet. The last two or three editions were in front of him. When he saw them, he stood up and motioned that he would like to speak to them. Harry had Dobby pop them into his cell.
"Thank you for coming, Harry," said Draco. Harry thought that it was the first time he could remember Draco calling him Harry. What was up?
"No problem, Draco," replied Harry. "I haven't been here for a couple of days and I needed to check on things anyway."
Draco looked at Hermione. Could it be a concerned look? He said "I don't know if Hermione needs to hear this," he began.
Immediately, Hermione fired up. "Oh, I don't do I?" she spat. "Well, I may only be a mudblood but I can understand that anything to do with any of our prisoners," she emphasized the word, "is something I need to hear about." Her face was fire truck red and her eyes were brimming with tear of fury.
"That's not what I meant," said Malfoy, backing away and raising his one arm in a calming gesture.
"Well, what the bloody hell do you mean?" asked Hermione, her anger remaining unchecked.
Draco looked between the two of them and said "I meant that what I need to ask might hurt you more than you already have been." His voice was quite low but they could hear him as if he had shouted.
Hermione didn't seem to calm down much but she remained quiet. She motioned Harry to carry on while she sat in one of the extra chairs. Harry and Draco followed suit.
Draco looked at Harry and said "I need to know," he said motioning towards the newspapers on his table. The headlines read "Daring Raid Cripples Death Eaters/Saves Witches", "Death Eaters in Panic", "Potter saves Naked Witches" and "What Really Happened".
Harry said "Your father wasn't there." He assumed that Draco wondered if his dad was among the dead.
Hermione was on her feet again when Draco said "That isn't what I want to know." He waited for Hermione to settle down again. "I need to know if... I mean, you saw my memory of the girl?"
Harry knew what he meant. He had seen the girl that had been brought in to Riddle Manor for the amusement of the recruits. He had heard her screams just as Draco had. "What about her?" he asked.
"Was she one of the girls that you rescued?" Draco asked, his faint voice with a strange pleading in it.
Harry looked at him as if for the first time. Gone was the swaggering Draco, the child of privilege, the son of Lucius Malfoy, the future Death Eater. Before him was a repentant young man who hoped that his nightmare had escaped her fate.
"Yes, she was," Harry said. "She..." He didn't finish. Draco had fallen to his knees and was sobbing.
"Thank God, thank God, thank God," he chanted. "I ran away when I saw what they were doing but I didn't think to take her until it was too late." Tears were spattering the floor. Hermione, who a few minutes ago would have cheerfully handed Draco his beating heart, now was on the floor next to him, comforting him.
"She's OK, now," she whispered, tears gleaming in her own eyes. "Harry has taken care of them all. They will be OK." She looked to Harry, not really knowing what else to do.
After a few minutes, Draco got himself under control. He stood up and then sat in the chair again. Hermione and Harry also sat back down. Then Draco asked them both "I would very much like to see her, please." He seemed almost desperate. "I have to apologize for what they did; for what I didn't do."
Harry and Hermione both looked at each other. They knew that this could be a turning point in the redemption of Draco. Could they even ask that poor girl to confront the son of the man who was in charge of her tormenters?
Harry and Hermione found themselves standing outside a middle-class brick house in London's east side. The neighborhood didn't have any particularly unusual characteristics that would lead one to believe that unusual people lived nearby. The house itself bore no outward signs of wizardness. Harry could feel the anti-apparition wards but knew that they were weak compared to the ones at Hogwarts or even Grimmauld Place. No, they knew it was a wizard house because they had taken Martha Murphy there after she was released from St. Mungo's. She was the Daughter of Minter Murphy, an auror in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement who had been killed, along with his wife, by Death Eaters. Martha was taken to Riddle Manor where she stayed for over a month as a diversion for Lord Voldemort's Death Eater recruits. She was rescued a few days earlier by Harry Potter when, during a solo raid to rescue his friend, Hermione Granger, he had killed over twenty of the recruits and escaped with Hermione, Martha and two sisters, Jinny and Jazmera Jorgenson. The sisters went to stay with their Aunt in Kent while Martha went to live with her brother, Merehammer.
Harry rang the door bell. After several seconds, Martha answered the door. She was expecting them since Hedwig had delivered their request for a meeting. This house had no floo.
"Good Morning, Martha," said Harry, smiling. "How are you getting along?"
She smiled back. "I'm doing fine although that seems to upset my counselor," she mused as she ushered them inside. "She can't seem to understand why I am so happy. I told her to lock herself in a room with a few dozen serial rapists for a month and see how she feels when she gets out."
Hermione went pale and started to cry again. Immediately, Martha went to hold her. "I'm so sorry," she said. "I shouldn't have said that in front of you." She really looked sad that she had caused Harry Potters girl, for that is how she saw Hermione, to break down.
"It's my fault," cried Hermione. "I just can't feel good about getting out of there. I'm not as strong as you, I guess." She regained control fairly quickly with both Harry and Martha's help.
"There are no rules on how you should feel," said Martha, sternly. "The other girls and I were wrecks for days after our capture. After a while, you accept that you are going to die and get used to the idea. When you are plucked from certain death, like we were, you just can't help being happy about it. You didn't have as much time to think about it so it will be different for you."
"That's the problem," said Hermione. "I wasn't there for thirty minutes and I am a mess. I have no right to feel this bad when you survived thirty days."
"Then feel good about the fact that your man came and got you before you got used to it," said Martha. "Believe me, I wouldn't have stopped snogging him yet." She smiled at Hermione and Hermione finally blushed and smiled, too.
"Harry is my best friend, not my boyfriend," she said, quietly.
"That's not what the papers all say," countered Martha. "I read that you have been an item for years."
"That's just Rita Skeeter's handiwork," said Harry. "She couldn't believe that we were as close as we are without a romantic component. Hermione is dating our other best friend and I am sort of dating his sister."
"Sounds cozy," said Martha, dryly. "So, what brings you by today?"
"Well," said Harry, "we have this ... What is he, Hermione?"
"It's a little hard to explain. We must first make it very clear that you can't tell anyone anything about what we are about to tell you. It would be very bad for us," said Hermione.
"I won't tell," agreed Martha. She was starting to really wonder what was about to happen.
"Well," began Harry, again. "He is someone who used to be one of my worst enemies. I just about killed him once and he tried to Crucio me." Harry paused and looked at Hermione.
"He was an evil little git and joined with You-know-who." She used the euphemism since she didn't want to cause the girl any grief. "Anyway, he was in Riddle Manor when you were brought in. He saw what happened to you and decided to leave You-know-who. We caught him a few weeks later. He is in a prison cell and wandless. He is not one of the ones who attacked you. He has requested to see you. We are here because we believe that he is ready to turn to the good side, once and for all. If you would consent to talk with him, it might save his soul. If you do not choose to do so, both he and we will completely understand."
Martha thought for a moment and then asked "He was in the cellar?"
"Yes."
"But he wasn't one of the Death Eaters?"
"He was a Death Eater but he didn't attack you."
"How can you be sure?"
"I saw his memory. He didn't attack you and deserted a day or so later."
Martha thought some more. She didn't ever want to see another Death Eater as long as she lived. However, Harry Potter had pulled her from the fires of Hell itself. If he just wanted her to talk to someone to save them, she felt an obligation to do so. "I'll speak to him," she said, finally.
They apparated into the cell area of the Fortress of Solitude. Martha looked around a little. This was a place very different from anywhere she was used to. The clear glass cells, the snake pillars, the obvious caveness of the place was quite unsettling. It reminded her faintly of the Riddle cellar. She instinctively pulled closer to Harry. They walked up to Draco's cell. Draco was standing in the middle, waiting patiently. Dobby had removed his version of the anti-apparition ward so Harry would be able to enter and leave the cell. Draco did not have Harry's ability to apparate through Hogwarts' wards so he couldn't leave anyway. Harry removed the silencing spell and signaled to Draco.
Draco walked up to the glass as Harry and Hermione backed a few paces to the side, still in view of Martha but allowing some privacy. "Are you Martha?" asked Draco, his voice a little hesitant. He looked very nervous about this meeting.
"Yes," she replied. She looked at him. "Are you related to Lucius Malfoy?" she asked, noticing the family resemblance. She looked a little colder than before.
Draco nodded and said "He is my father." He did not want to meet her eyes but finally forced them up.
"He was in charge of that place," she said, louder and quicker than before. "He raped me himself, more than once. He liked to watch, too." She was letting her anger out and, like Hermione, was letting Draco be an exemplar for his father and the other Death Eaters.
Draco lowered his gaze again. He knew that his father was evil and was responsible for this woman's tragic fate. He also knew that his father would never know remorse so it was up to him to confront her.
"I spent my whole life trying to live up to what he expected of me. I became a cruel, evil git like him, took the dark mark and proudly accepted an assignment from the Dark Lord to find a way to kill Dumbledore. I succeeded in that and betrayed the greatest wizard I will ever know." He paused for a moment. He was clearly having a hard time saying this. Martha looked on, waiting for him to say something about why he wanted to see her.
"It wasn't until I arrived at Riddle Manor, when I saw and spoke to the types of wizards and witches who chose to be the rank and file Death Eaters that I really saw the person I had become. My father had always been very close to the Dark Lord. He had power and prestige. But for the most part, the Death Eaters are cruel, vile little brainless wanna-bes that hoped to get to have an outlet for their depravities. They got that when you were brought in." Again Draco stopped. He was getting close now.
"Why did you want to see me?" asked Martha. She had stopped being mad at Draco. He was, after all, not his father. It seemed that he didn't want to be like him, either.
"When I saw what they did to you, what they wanted me to do, I knew that I could not; would not; be one of them. I saw you ..." He stopped again, turning away from her.
Martha looked at Harry. "Is there someplace that we could talk a little more privately?"
Harry looked confused at first. They were a mile below ground in an apparition warded cave only physically accessible by a parselmouth. They were not likely to be interrupted. Hermione knew what she wanted.
"You want to see him somewhere without us?" she asked.
"Yes, please," replied Martha. She didn't seem to feel any fear or anger towards Draco now and was starting to understand why she was brought here. Draco watched silently.
"Let me have your wand," asked Harry, "just in case." He didn't want to take any chances.
"I didn't get a new one yet," she said. She, like Hermione and Ginny, had her wand taken upon her capture.
"Oh, sorry," said Harry. "Where would you like to talk to him. Inside his cell is not too bad but I can bring him out if you prefer."
Martha looked through the glass to the furnishings in Draco's cell. It looked comfortable enough. "Inside would be fine," she said.
"Dobby," said Harry. With the usual few seconds delay for Dobby to realize that Harry was in the Fortress, Dobby appeared.
"What is Harry Potter needing?" asked Dobby.
"Please bring some butterbeer and a few biscuits to Draco's cell for Miss Murphy and him," said Harry. Dobby popped away.
"We will be on the other side of the hallway. Just call when you are finished. We will hear," said Harry. He held out his arm and she grabbed hold. "It's a little different in here so hang on." With that, he apparated into Draco's cell.
Speaking to both Draco and Martha, he said "Hermione and I will be across the hall. We will probably only hear the usual odd word from that distance. You may talk in confidence. I do not yet feel comfortable leaving you totally alone." Thinking for a second he added "Bloody hell, I sound like a chaperone." They all laughed a little at this. Harry smiled and apparated back to Hermione.
He summoned their chairs from the office and they sat down. Harry saw Dobby bring the refreshments. It appeared that Draco thanked him and this had surprised Martha. Her family probably didn't have house-elves but she would know how they were usually treated, especially from a family such as the Malfoys.
Harry and Hermione watched carefully. They had taken responsibility for her safety. It was unlikely that Draco would be so stupid as to attack her here, in sight of Harry, but you never know.
Inside the cell, Draco had picked up a glass of butterbeer and Martha had joined him. He seemed to try to gather his thoughts and she sipped patiently, waiting.
"I appreciate you making the effort to see me," he began. "I have to first apologize to you."
Martha was surprised. "They told me that you weren't one of the ones who ..." she trailed off.
"I wasn't. But I was there," said Draco. "It was the sight of you, your screams that forced me to leave behind that life." He put the glass down and looked away from her again. "I left when I had the chance but I realized afterwards that I should have taken you, too." A tear formed in his eye and he had to pause again.
"How could you have done that?" she asked. "There were loads of Death Eaters in that room. Probably dozens outside, as well. You would never have gotten me out."
"It doesn't matter. I should have tried," said Draco, his voice rising. "I could hear your screams in my nightmares every time I fell asleep. I left you there and was too scared to come back to save you."
"Nobody could save me," she countered. She saw Draco look over her shoulder and she looked, too. She saw Harry. Turning back she smiled and said "Well, almost nobody. He didn't come for me, anyway; just her."
"He didn't leave you, though," replied Draco. "He didn't have a chance in hell of saving her, either, but he came, anyway." Draco looked thoughtful. "I hope to have courage like that, someday."
Martha looked at Draco. "You are confronting your whole life and finding it wanting. You are trying to do something about it. You are trying to make amends with your past. This takes courage and don't you ever forget it." She stopped and decided what had to be said, the reason he had brought her here. "I forgive you for not saving me. I am glad that you are changing your life and if my torture has brought even this much good to the world for someone, it was worth it."
Draco sat in silence for a minute. He had wanted just this; an acceptance of his apology. He had not thought that it would have such an effect on him. He took a few more seconds to compose himself and then said "Thank you. I will try to make myself a better person, if only to justify your confidence." He then added "I don't really have any means of changing things anyway, but are you being taken care of now?"
"Yes, I am," replied Martha. "Your friend has made sure that I have everything I need. Time will take care of the rest."
"My friend?" asked Draco, confused.
"Harry Potter," said Martha.
"Oh," said Draco, "that friend."
"He has the same trouble you have," said Martha. "He didn't want to call you "friend" either. He is, though, or he wouldn't have taken the time to bring me here. I'm glad I came, Draco. I feel better now, myself."
"It was nice to see you are getting along," said Draco. "When this is all over, I would be pleased to call you "friend" as well." He shook her hand and she gave him a quick hug.
She signaled to Harry that they were done. Harry and Hermione apparated in and, with a quick goodbye to Draco, they were gone.