Disclaimer: Don't own it.
Chapter 10: Carry That Weight
We stepped out of the fireplace and immediately entered a stream of never ending people moving in a seemingly endless direction. I was separated from the others almost instantaneously. I caught sight of Ellen's golden head through the crowd, and I tried to follow it. I saw her turn to the right and I followed her. I recognized the hall we were in from my trial with the Wizenmagot. Anger burned in my chest. They were putting the children on trial? How dare they.
We turned into the trial room and when I saw the Yaxley twins standing in the center of the room looking scared out of their wits I nearly went to them. Draco seemed to be thinking along the same lines because Harry rushed over to us.
"I tried to tell them," He started.
"This had better be over quickly." Draco growled. Harry swallowed hard.
"They wont listen. They're all consumed with fear and anger. They are going to put these kids in the program."
"They can't do that!" Jasper exclaimed incredulously. Harry ran a hand through his thick hair.
"They can." He swept an arm around the room. "Look who is in the Wizenmagot." We all looked. My heart sunk. It was filled with people unlikely to support our cause. "We can't do anything about this. They refused to put me on the Wizenmagot. We can't even speak up for them." He rubbed his nose and I noticed the deep circles under his eyes. We took a seat near the bottom to watch the trial unfold. The Chief Warlock called the trial to order looking just as angry as he had for my trial.
The twins – Romeo and Valentine – stood gripping each other's hands. Valentine hugged her brother while he struggled to keep the tears in his eyes from falling. There were lacerations on both of their arms – I'm assuming from being chained together. A young witch who was probably a few years older than me stood up.
"I'm not sure why we are having this trial at all! It should be obvious that these children belong in the reformatory program. Their parents were Death Eater's! They belong in the program. They were practically raised to be followers of Voldemort." A few people gasped at the use of the Dark Lord's name. I saw Jasper roll his eyes. "They will never be able to be like us. No one raised in the shadow of Voldemort can ever be allowed to – "
"That's enough!" Harry roared. The Wizenmagot went silent. The witch looked surprised and then angry. She pointed at him.
"You should know better than anyone that these people are evil! You can't reform evil!" She shouted. I knew that most wizards did not hold her views, but her words still stung. "I would rather break my wand than ever have to work beside one of these abominations." People started to murmur.
"You're right." Harry said at a normal tone. "I should know better than anyone. I've been working with these people for almost two years. And in all that time the only thing I have discovered is that they are not evil. They are like us. They are just like us. They are people, and they have rights. You should be ashamed of yourself. The only children being raised in evil are the ones who are being taught that these children," He pointed at Romeo and Valentine. "Are not their equals." The witch's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"Traitor." She hissed. The Wizemagot exploded. Half of the people seemed to want to attack her, and half seemed unsure what they were screaming about.
"How dare you!" A wizard shouted from the crowd. "He saved us!" The Chief Warlock tried, in vain, to call the trial to order. Valentine and Romeo had burst into tears. I watched them, feeling their pain acutely. Once upon a time I had been just like them. When it became too great to bear, I ran to them. I pulled a handkerchief out of my pocket at started to wipe their tears away.
"Shhh." I whispered, as the room around me dissolved into chaos. "Everything is going to be alright." Romeo gripped my hand. They both had white, blonde hair like Draco. Their eyes though, were dark, like mine. With tears streaming done his face, Romeo pulled my face down to his. He whispered in my ear.
"Don't let them take us." I pursed my lips. I looked over to where the other's sat. Jasper was watching me and the others were watching the trial. Or rather the mob. I shook my head at Jasper. He came over slowly as if he didn't want to scare the kids. He leaned down next to me and I put my head next to his.
"I think the safest place for them might be with us. I know it isn't ideal, but these people," I gestured to the Wizenmagot, "How can they take care of them?" Jasper nodded.
"I agree. I will go tell Draco." He got up and hurried over to Draco. Suddenly I felt a hex hit my face. I felt blood start to run down my face. I put a hand up to it surprised.
"Away from the prisoners!" A guard shouted at me. I looked at him in shock.
"They are not prisoners!" Harry yelled, coming over to me. "How dare you attack her?" By now, the Wizenmagot was complete pandemonium. "I am taking these children." Harry declared. He took Romeo by the hand and I took Valentine by her hand. We walked out of the trial room to the floo's and went straight back to Malfoy Manor.
When we arrived Lucius Malfoy was still sitting in the living room. He took one look at us and sighed.
"That bad was it?" He asked. Valentine burst into tears. I kneeled down next to her and hugged her head to my chest. Romeo broke away from Harry and ran to his sister and I. I hugged them both and looked up at Draco. His face was downcast, and his forehead creased. He walked into the other room, and I turned to the children.
"Let's go upstairs." I said quietly. I picked up my wand on the way out and watched as Ellen and Jasper followed Draco. The children nodded and followed me up the stairs. I took them to my room and helped them get out of their prison garb. I shook my head in disgust. How could they put children in prison garb? I took them to the bathroom and filled it with water. They got in and I helped them wash away their tears and sweat.
"What's happened?" Valentine asked. Romeo nodded. I could tell he looked up to her. I sighed and looked at them sadly.
"Your parents have died." I started slowly. "They weren't very good people."
"We know." Valentine said softly.
"We weren't very good people either." I said. "We worked with your parents for a very bad man. Because you were your parent's children, the others think you belong with us." It sounded so stupid. Valentine swallowed.
"We can't help being our parent's children."
"I know that." I said washing her hair. "We all know that, here. The problem is that some people think that it makes you dangerous." Her brow furrowed.
"I can't do magic yet." She said.
"Not dangerous like that." I said. "They think you're dangerous because your parents raised you to be like them." Her face soured.
"I don't want to be like them." Suddenly she looked frightened. "Do I have to be like them?"
"No!" The words came out louder than I intended. "No, you do not have to be like them. I am not like my parents." I said. Even as I said the words I wondered if they were true. Romeo spoke up, quietly.
"I don't want to be like my parents."
"You don't have to be." I said. "Look at me." I said to both of them. Two pairs of identical dark eyes looked into mine. "You can be whoever you want to be. Don't ever let anyone tell you that because of who you are related to you can't be who you want to be." They nodded. I continued to wash them in silence. There was a knock on my door.
"I'll be right back." I said to them. I got up and went to the door. I opened it and let Narcissa in. She was holding a pile of clothes for the twins. I wonder where she got all these clothes. I took them from her and thanked her. She nodded with a grim look on her face.
"I'll set a room up for them down the hall." I looked at the two children, hardly moving in the bathtub.
"I don't know." I said. "I'm not sure that being alone is the best thing for them right now." Narcissa nodded.
"I can have Draco set up some cots in here?" She asked. "Tomorrow you three can move into the other master suite." I nodded stiffly. I hadn't really been suggesting they stay with me, but I supposed that was all right. She suddenly put a hand on my cheek.
"Dear what happened?" I touched the cut. I had forgotten about the hex-throwing guard.
"Oh, nothing serious." I said. She took her wand out of her pocket and waved it over my face. I hoped I didn't look too surprised. I would not have expected Narcissa to know healing magic. She smiled and left down the hall. I finished up with the twins in the bathtub and got them into some warm nightgowns. Draco hadn't come by with the cots yet so I set them up in my bed. They curled up together and were sound asleep in a matter of minutes. They had, had an exhausting day. The sun was just setting outside, but I felt pretty tired too. I changed into a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt and climbed into bed with them. I didn't sleep, but I felt relaxed. All three of our chests rose and fell in unison.
A soft knock on my door alerted me to Draco's presence. I got out of bed and opened the door a crack.
"They're sleeping." I whispered. I stepped out into the hall and closed the door behind me. He was levitating the cots behind him and dropped them to the floor quietly.
"I can set them up tomorrow?" He asked. I nodded.
"That's fine. They can sleep in my bed tonight." He nodded and then he shook his head.
"I can't believe this."
"Who was she?" I asked. "The witch who was so keen on putting them with us?"
"Marissa Gray. She's an auror. Her whole family was killed during the war – she was a muggleborn." I frowned.
"So now she's on a crusade against anyone ever affiliated with Voldemort?" He nodded.
"Pretty much."
"These poor kids. They don't even understand what's going on." He sighed deeply.
"Are you hungry?" I nodded.
"Tibet feels like a lifetime ago."
"That's how it always goes." He said. "Mother made some roast beef and potatoes." I followed him down to the kitchen and when we arrived Harry was sitting with his head in his hands. Ellen and Jasper sat whispering in the corner. Harry looked up and placed his glassed back on his nose.
"How did this happen?" He asked sounding genuinely confused. "I'm going to get fired." He took his glasses off again and put his head back in his hands." I heard the floo activate in the other room and an exclamation from Lucius. Two people came rushing into the kitchen. Hermione Granger and Ginny Potter rushed in. Hermione looked more like the girl I remembered, with her hair down and her muggle clothes. Ginny was starting to show a little bit with the child, but was still fiery as ever.
"What happened?" Hermione asked sharply. "We agreed those kids could not come here under any circumstances." Her piercing eyes seemed to go right through Harry.
"I know." Harry moaned. "I know. We just, we couldn't leave them with those people. They would never have a normal childhood with them. They might not have a normal childhood here, but at least they'll feel welcome here." Hermione shook her head.
"That's not acceptable Harry."
"Well it's going to have to do!" He said raising his voice. "I'm sorry." He said quieter. "I know it isn't acceptable, but what choice do we have? Leave their fate up to people like Marissa Gray? That isn't acceptable either."
"Of course not." Ginny said softly. She went to Harry and rested her hands on his shoulders. He closed his eyes and rubbed his nose. I watched all this unfold in silence.
"Where are they now?" Hermione suddenly asked. Draco turned to me slightly. I sighed internally.
"They are asleep in my room. I've agreed to stay with them." I said. Hermione ran a hand through her hair.
"The Ministry has basically cut us off at our knees – at least legally. The twins don't have a legal guardian. They are technically just prisoners in the program. We have absolutely no say in what happens to them. The Ministry basically owns them until they come of age."
"Like it owns us." Jasper spoke up. Hermione nodded grimly. She glanced at a clock in the wall.
"I'm sorry I have to cut this visit short, but I've arranged a hearing with the Minister of Magic. I plan to give him a piece of my mind." Harry grabbed her arm as she turned to go.
"Don't agree to anything without knowing all the details. Alright?"
"Alright." She agreed. She walked into the living room briskly and the sound of the floo sounded a few seconds later. Ginny kissed Harry's cheek.
"Should we get going dear?" She asked quietly. "You've had a long day." He nodded. He looked up at us and his face was twisted in worry.
"I'm so sorry about this." The four of us gave a variety of shrugs.
"We will take care of them." I said finally. He nodded and Ginny and he left. Draco basically fell into a chair after they left.
"I hope Hermione doesn't push the minister too much." He said. "She could end up making it worse." Jasper snorted and we all looked at him. His face was a mask of anger.
"How? Those kids are stuck with the title 'Death Eater Jr.' for the rest of their lives. Please explain to me how it could possibly get worse that that?" I knew he spoke from personal experience and it only made it all the more painful.
"This is hard for all of us." I said quietly. "I remember being just like them. But that doesn't mean we can just give up. We can give these children a good life. We have to." They nodded in agreement.
"That means one hundred percent." Ellen added. She looked at all of us. "No bowing out when the going gets tough." She said looking down. "I'm notorious for giving up when I feel like I can't go on. We can't do that here. I can't do that here." I nodded in agreement.
"I better go see how they're doing." I said quietly. I left them in the kitchen in deep thought. When I reached my room I saw that the twins were still sound asleep in their bed. I climbed in beside them and wrapped my arms around them. I would protect them. I promised.
A/N: What do you think of the Yaxley twins? Their names are both from the play Romeo and Juliet (duh), but Valentine is a boy. Oh well. I liked the name and I wasn't going to name her Juliet because, that's weird. Let me know what you think!