A/N: This chapter took an accidental dark turn. This story has no beta.
A/N: TW for prior injury. TW for coarse language. TW for sappy quasi-declarations of love.
Draco stared into his closet. Rather, Hermione's guest closet. The moments he considered himself at home in her house were rapidly increasing in frequency.
He could not stand long enough for a shower so he drew himself a bath. The water was just on the right side of scalinding when Draco sank into it. Once the bandage and tape softened enough, he slowly peeled it away and tossed it on the floor where it landed with a loud squelch. Draco got his first good look at the gaping hole in his side and grimaced.
Potter ripping his chest open was horrific, but it was different. Those were scratches, slices, straight lines that cut through him with ambivalence. The Slow Death, as Hermione called it, was far more intimate. The curse had hit him in the side, as close as it could get to his heart. Draco could literally see inside himself and gagged at the visual. He was missing parts of three ribs and Merlin only knew how much muscle. Draco hesitantly pressed two fingers on the edge of the wound and felt nothing. The skin there was dead. He slowly moved his fingers inward and winced, but the warm water soothed a bit of the pain. The wound was as wide and deep as his fist and, for the first time since he landed in this world, Draco was truly afraid. This was not something Hermione could fix.
They could regrow his ribs. The Healers could fix most of him, but the curse was still there taking its toll. His left side was weaker than it had been the day before. The counter-curse was using Draco's energy to combat the Slow Death and he was fading. He took a deep breath and submerged himself entirely below the water. Time moved slowly down there, and Draco desperately needed more time. But he rose up and grabbed the shampoo bottle.
Next thing he knew, he was staring into the closet.
"I doubt what you wear will matter much."
Draco jumped when he heard Hermione's voice behind him. He grabbed the first t-shirt he saw and pulled it over his head before turning around. Hermione was dressed just the same, a t-shirt and jeans, holding the salve and a bandage.
"Sorry," she said, "I didn't mean to frighten you."
"You are right anyway," Draco replied. "I will wear this, no use getting dressed up for this farce."
"Shall I?" Hermione asked as she held up the salve bottle.
Draco nodded and they took their places on his bed. She worked quicker this time, but it still hurt like hell. As she screwed the stopper back into the bottle, Hermione admitted,
"It is harder for me to lock reality away today."
Draco bit down on his lip for a moment and asked, "Will you do me a massive favour?"
"Anything."
"I need you to make me an appointment at St. Mungo's. No later than tomorrow."
"Will you tell me what's wrong?"
Draco shook his head.
"Consider it done."
.oOo.
They were the last to arrive at the hearing room. Scheduled at two o'clock, Draco and Hermione arrived at 1:55. It felt far more personal than the last time he was there. Last time was only a negotiation about his friends' happiness. Now they were threatening to take away Draco's soulmate, something that hadn't existed two weeks earlier. Sure, Hermione was not actually his soulmate. No ancient magic chose to bind them together ... Except it had.
Hermione held out her hand and asked, "Are you ready?'
"Only if you are, love."
Draco took her hand in his free one and they slowly walked inside together. Draco with more of a hobble than a walk. Everyone appeared surprised to see him. Draco supposed his near-death would have made the gossip rounds by then. They eyed his cane warily, another thing to bind him to his father as if his face didn't do that well enough.
It was the same room with the same people in the same seats. Except, Chiara Lobosca had taken Draco's seat at the end furthest from the door. Susan Bones sat at the other end and Draco smiled at her. She frowned in response and Draco finally realized this was not the Susan he knew. Her hair was tightly wound in a knot at the back of her head. She wore the hihg-collared navy robes of the Chief Sorceress, which looked so foreign on her. The susan Bones that Draco knew never wanted to be on the Wizengamot, much less chief Sorceress. She wanted to fight on the ground, to be an Auror, to make change with her own hands.
This was not Susan.
Rowan Khanra sat to her left and Percy Weasley kept minutes at her right. The only open chairs were on opposite sides of the table, so Hermione helped Draco walk to the chair between Angelica Cole and Ernie MacMillan. He lowered himself gently into the chair and felt the bandage tape strain against his skin. He bit down against the pain and hissed when he caught his tongue in the process.
"Ah, fuck."
Chiara leaned forward and asked, "Are you going to make it through the meeting, Malfoy?"
"Well, that depends on you lot, doesn't it?" Draco quipped.
"You did not dress appropriately for the meeting," Penny Haywood observed.
"The last time we were in this building we ended up in a holding cell," Hermione replied. She placed her hand on Draco's shoulder and said, "Thought we would wear something a bit more comfortable this time, just in case."
"We have names if you all wish to check," Draco added. "It would be a shame to arrest us without cause again."
No one seemed to have a response to that. Draco placed his hand over Hermione's for a moment.
"Thanks, love."
"Are you good here?" she asked, a bit worried.
"Yes," Draco said. Not that he believed it. He could tell by Hermione's face that she didn't either, but made her way around the table anyway.
"We are pleased you are able to join us, Draco," Susan said, sounding like she meant exactly the opposite. "You as well, Hermione."
"Why are you here?" Draco asked, malice coating his words.
"The Chief Sorceress is present for votes on all major legislation, Malfoy."
Right. She was there to ensure the vote went her way. Intimidation through the presence of power; he was familiar with that tactic. It is far more difficult to defy your boss to their face, after all. Susan straightened in her chair and adjusted the parchment in front of her.
"I now call this meeting of the Wizengamot Legislative Committee to order. As all nine members are in attendance we will not read off the roll. The purpose of this meeting is to vote on Wizengamot Bill 8725: The Reclassification of Marriage Act, colloquially known as the 'marriage ban.' I will now read aloud from-"
Draco had taken out an emery board and filed his nails. He did not stop until he felt everyone's eyes on him. He glanced upward and asked,
"Sorry, was I supposed to pay attention to this drivel? I am only here to watch as you all sign my rights away. Along with my friends' and not to mention Hermione's. "
Susan chastised him with, "You are being a distraction."
"You know what else is distracting, S
usan?" Draco asked. "The gaping hole in my body. The curse inside of it that is killing me by the minute, but none of you lot seem too concerned about that."
"I never wanted-"
"Going to own up to your part in this?" Draco asked.
She snapped her mouth shut and said nothing. Draco shrugged.
"Thought not."
Susan cleared her throat and said, "I will now read aloud the finalized text of the legislation:
Due to the toxic history of followers of the Dark Lord, and
Due to the lack of repercussions faced by many of his ardent supporters, and
Due to the continued animosity of former death eaters,
The Wizengamot council of Great Britain hereby declares that all marriages including a Death Eater or the child of a Death Eater are void and unions already established will hereby be dissolved."
There were several seconds of silence around the table.
"Now, we have the chief opposition here for final discussion. Draco, you have the floor first for your argument."
"There is no argument," Draco countered. "Either I have the right to love someone or I do not. Either every human has the right to love, or they do not. I believe that they do, and the government does not get to define that. Even if this god-forsaken Skrewtshit bill is made into law, do you truly believe you will end romance for Death Eaters? Do you think the law is more powerful than love?"
"No," Rowan Khanra answered. "But that is not the purpose of this. It is my understanding that this legislation will serve as punishment to those who aided the Dark Lord during the war. Revoking privileges they took from so many others."
Draco stared at him for a moment, amazed at what quick work fear can make of logic.
"What of Scarlett and Sebastien?" he asked.
"Who?"
"Scarlett and Sebastien are my god-" Draco stopped himself. "Scarlett and Sebastien are the children of my best friend, Theo. Theodore Nott, yes, son of the notorious Death Eater who was a foul bastard most of Theo's life. Theo, who never considered embracing the traditional Pureblood ways. Theo, who loves his family more than I have ever seen anyone care for anything. Are you planning to punish Scarlett and Sebastien for being the grandchildren of a Death Eater? They had the same amount of choice in the matter as Theo."
"I suppose that is an issue to be decided at a later time," Rowan said.
"No!" Draco insisted, "it is not! This is an all-or-nothing play here. Either you plan to ruin the family lines of every Death Eater or you don't. Either you will punish people who have done nothing wrong, or you won't. Pick a fucking side, you thick-headed centrists! Take a moment to consider who you are hurting."
Penny Haywood said, "The intended targets of this bill are-"
"Allow yourselves a moment of honesty," Draco said. He huffed and shifted to lean more against his right side. "The target of this bill is me. You will punish thousands of people just to make sure the Malfoy line dies with me. No need, I have done a hell of a job of it myself. Dissolve all the unions you want. If the Dark Lord himself failed to rip my parents apart, you lot have no chance in hell. The same goes for Theo and Tracey, for Weasley and Astoria, and there is nothing in this world that will pull me away from Hermione."
Angelica Cole's eyes nearly popped out of her head and Chiara smirked from the end of the table. Hermione smiled at him like she knew it was the truth.
"Nothing except that," Ernie said, nodding to Draco's left side.
"Anyhow," Susan said, not wanting to linger on the topic of Slow Death. "That was a very impassioned argument, Draco. I appreciate your input."
Fuck you too, Susan.
"Are there any additional questions for Malfoy, here?"
"How many people do you represent in CODE?" Ernie asked. "I forget the total."
"Two thousand two hundred and eighty-one at last count," Draco answered.
The colour drained from Ernie's face as he said, "We would be ruining the lives of two thousand people?"
"Plus non-CODE members who wish to marry one. Plus any children they may have, so I would double it to be on the safe side."
"Moving to Miss Granger," Susan hurried along. "What have you to say before the vote?"
Hermione asked, "Do you plan to punish me twice?"
No one responded and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Since Draco Malfoy, my soulmate, was both a Death Eater and the son of a Death Eater, do you plan to punish me twice? Do you intend to rip my arm off so you cannot see his name on my skin any longer? Draco is right; there is nothing in the world that will separate us, not even being arrested by the Ministry."
"We will issue an official apology for that," Susan said.
"Well, I hardly have much of an argument," Hermione said. "Two days ago, I was at a party with my soulmate. We are still getting to know each other in a way, but I felt like he was finally introducing me to his world. Really starting to make me part of his life. I asked him to dance and the next thing I knew, my hand was covered in slick red liquid. I was confused at first, because it looked like blood but it couldn't be.
"I don't remember much after that. I realized it was Draco's blood right as his knees gave out from under him. He fell to the ground and no one noticed because no one really sees when Draco is in pain, do they? I called out for help, gave instructions, but ... That was one of the most terrifying moments of my life.
"So I wish to know what you mean in the legislation by 'lack of consequences.' Draco nearly died because the Ministry refuses to grant Healer certifications to anyone remotely associated with the Dark Lord. My soulmate nearly died! Do you understand?! I had to watch as a curse ate away at his skin. It is not just Draco that your prejudice hurts, it is me, too. It is Ron. It is all of us because you force us to live in two completely different realities. I think back on how I couldn't get Draco's dried blood out from beneath my fingernails. If you vote for this bill, his blood is on your hands, too."
Silence.
Holy shit.
Holy fucking Hippogriff shit. Draco could only offer her a soft smile when she glanced his way. He wasn't in love yet, but goddamn he was close. She said it so easily, so passionately that he almost believed it was real.
"And what of the blood on his hands?" Susan asked. "And his father's?"
"I never killed anyone," Draco said through gritted teeth.
"You benefitted from those who did," Susan countered. "Now, we will take the vote in alphabetical order by surname. Committee members are to respond with 'aye' or 'nay.' First, Ali, Badeea."
"Wait!" MacMillan interrupted. He turned to Hermione and asked, "You don't actually plan on marrying Malfoy, do you?"
Draco held his breath; even he was desperate to hear Hermione's answer.
"He hasn't asked me yet," she said. She turned to look at Draco and added, "But he knows what my answer would be if he did."
"I am sure as hell not going to drop down on one knee in here, love," Draco teased.
"Still, I am just waiting on you, babe."
Draco wished he had a photograph of everyone's shocked faces. They had all believed it was fake. They weren't wrong, not really, but there was enough truth in their relationship to convince their audience.
"We can't break up Hermione's marriage," Ernie insisted.
"They're not married," Susan quipped. "Badeea, Ali?"
"Aye."
And so it began.
"Cole, Angelica."
"Nay."
She received a stern look from Susan. The one-to-one odds gave Draco a brief flicker of hope. Perhaps they were wrong and their efforts would prevail after all. Angelica nodded at him as if to say, I was always on your side.
"Finch-Fletchley, Justin."
"Aye."
"Haywood, Penny?"
"Aye."
"Khanra, Rowan?"
He couldn't answer at first. Rowan considered it. He looked at Hermione, looked at Draco, then finally back at Susan.
"Rowan?" she repeated.
"Aye."
Hermione gasped and Rowan stared resolutely at his lap. He refused to look at Hermione, the betrayal evident on her face. Draco was surprised she didn't hex him.
"Lobosca, Chiara."
"Nay."
She nodded toward Draco in solidarity and he mouthed Thank you.
"MacMillan, Ernie."
"If someone like Hermione can fall for Malfoy, then maybe we have been looking at this wrong. Who is to say this won't just make everyone hate each other more? Isn't that the exact opposite of what we are trying to accomplish?"
Susan demanded, "Say your vote, Ernie!"
"Nay," he said. "I vote nay."
Susan glared at him as well.
"Truman, Gabriel?"
"Aye."
The emery board snapped between Draco's fingers. He hadn't realized how much hope he had until it evaporated. Five aye votes left him feeling strangely empty, a hole that quickly filled with a dangerous cocktail of failure and despair.
"Weasley, Percy."
"Abstain."
"With three nays, five ayes, and one abstention the bill passes and will be brought in front of the Wizengamot for oral arguments in no less than two months' time. This meeting is adjourned."
.oOo.
They stood in Hermione's foyer for a minute, processing their loss. Hermione looked over at the painting on the wall where the dragon had stood up and begun to pace. Hermione smiled at it.
"He guards the entry," Draco observed.
"He makes me feel just a bit safer. Like he can see things we can't." She turned to face him and said, "We will continue to fight and we will win this, Draco. I promise." Hermione placed a reassuring hand on his arm but Draco pulled away.
"You cannot promise me that."
"I just have to find the right argument-"
"There is no argument!" Draco shouted.
Hermione paused and stepped closer. Draco wanted to step away, but all the fight seemed to leave him when Hermione took his free hand in hers. He ran his thumb across the back of her hand.
"You have more faith in me than this. Tell me what is truly wrong, Draco."
He didn't want to. He shouldn't scare her, hell, it terrified him. But she deserved to know.
"I cannot feel anything from the bottom of the wound to the top of my left knee. Walking is more difficult today than it was yesterday. Whatever counter-curse they used is feeding off my magic, and I only have so much to give. Given enough time, this curse will still manage to eat me alive."
"I will take you to St. Mungo's tomorrow," Hermione insisted. "All the top Healers will be there, including Chief Healer Battlehunt. You are going to be okay."
"But what if I'm not?" Draco asked. "How many times do I get to stare Death in the face before my luck runs out?"
"You have something better than luck this time," Hermione replied.
Draco chuckled darkly and asked, "What's that?"
"Me."
A/N: This is just an early Friday chapter. Next post will be up no later than next Friday, June 7th.