These Past Shadows
Chapter 14
A Strange Act of Kindness

I do miraculously well, considering that I just found out that my father is the reason I am currently sitting inside Malfoy Manor, staring across the sitting room at the young master of the house. But no matter how hard I tried, I could not contain the tears.

I heave deep, panicked breaths, finally grasping the full extent of the situation. Soon tears are streaming down my cheeks and I am bawling. The last time I cried like this, I was a little kid.

I pull my knees up to my chest and turn on the couch, putting my forehead against my knees. I don't want him to see me cry. I don't need that.

I hear him get up, but I don't think much about it. Then I feel the couch dip with the pressure of someone sitting down beside me and lift my head, wiping away my tears and looking behind me. I am shocked to see Draco Malfoy sitting there.

Needless to say, I am even more shocked when I feel an arm wrap around me.

We sit like that for the longest time before I can finally calm down enough to function. Then I realize my position and move sharply away, shocked at myself.

Draco gets up, probably feeling just as awkward as I am. I mentally slap myself, muttering about idiocy as I move through the house to the bathroom.

Once I am in the bathroom, I pull the door shut and lean over the sink, splashing warm water on my face.

I can't believe that lying traitor I call my father. Just who does he think he is? A new Voldemort? He isn't. No one is. There will never be another Voldemort in this world. That kind of person comes around only once.

I shake my head. Why am I so surprised? I know how corrupted my "father" is. I know how he feels about the Malfoys. He has hated Lucius for years. I suppose that this is some elaborate way to get to…wait.

"Hey Malfoy!" I yell, running through the manor. I am not paying attention and soon I run into a solid mass and stumble backward into a wall. He reaches out a hand to steady me reflectively.

"Yes?" He asks, looking at me mockingly. I roll my eyes.

"You can be a prat any time. But you can't get this information any time, so I suggest that you listen." I snap. He nods slowly, probably thinking that it is important.

"I just decided to inform you on something I realized just now and found rather interesting." He nods as if to say get on with it. "Did you know that Alec Greengrass has a grudge on one Lucius Malfoy? Just a little known fact for you."

"And what does this have to do with anything that is going on?" He asks.

"Use your brain, Malfoy! Greengrass is supporting the Carrows! I think that his motivation is that grudge. I think that we should pay your father a visit."

"How? They won't let me into Azkaban. You heard Harry. They don't trust me." He snaps. I consider this before quickly scribbling a short note to Harry outlining the situation. He said that the auror department would help. This is what we need. We need him to pull some strings to get us both into and out of Azkaban. I can't go to visit Lucius by myself. That would end badly.

"Do you have an owl?" I ask. He looks affronted that I even have to ask.

"Of course. I'm-"

"Draco Malfoy. And I'm Astoria Greengrass. Glad we've got that all cleared up." I snap. He shakes his head, trying to hide a slight grin before leading me to the window where a beautiful eagle owl is sitting. I quickly tie the letter to his leg and send the owl to the ministry.

We wander back to where we were and I take a sudden interest in the tiled floor while I await a response to my owl. I try to ignore the awkwardness of the silence before I break.

"Thanks for earlier," I mutter, so quietly that I almost don't think that he heard me. Which would have been just as well. I look up and see him nod mutely. I assume that his response is the best one that I will get.

I hear a small chirping coming from outside and run to the window, anxious to read Harry's reply.

Astoria-

I do believe that we could find a way to get Draco in to Azkaban. But it would probably take longer than you are willing to wait.

Both of you come over tonight for dinner. Ginny wishes to speak with you, and I want to see if Malfoy can be trusted. I understand why you want him to come with you, but it will be difficult to convince the ministry since he was a death eater.

See you tonight-
Harry

I groan. The last thing I want is to go over to his place and be studied like I'm some kind of freak. I wouldn't mind so much if it was just Draco being studied, but I know that he wants to watch me and make sure I'm still stable. He probably assumes that this most recent development in my father's ickiness sent me off my rocker. But I am still completely sane.

I sigh and hand the letter to Draco so that he can read it. When he is done, he crumples it up and shoots it into the fireplace, basketball style. The letter slowly burns to ashes.

"Why?" I ask simply. He shrugs.

"Why not?" He responds, walking out of the room. I stare after him in shock. Mind blown. He has a point there. I follow him, knowing that I am not going to be able to make him come to this dinner party.

Three hours later, I am banging my fist on Malfoy's door, screaming at him to come out of his room and come to the party. He already agreed to it. He may as well come.

"Get your arse out here! You're the reason that Harry wants us to come. I just happen to be the unfortunate side kick." I yell. Finally he opens the door with a harsh glare.

I apparate us to Harry's house.