A/N * I think this chapter is a little weird. If it's hard to fallow I am sorry. Lots going on. This is a transition chapter…hope you enjoy…
The smell of ammonia burned his nostrils.
The cell was no more than a glass box floating five feet above the ministry marble floors, surrounded by curious and angry spectators. They all wanted to see the mighty Malfoy heir die a social and if they were lucky physical death.
Draco could feel the hatred radiated off the formed crowd. The hairs on the back of his neck stood at attention while he willed his body into remission. He sat relaxed. Every nerve ending fallowing his every command; his leg stretched out before him crossed lazily at the ankles, his arms loose and wiry at his sides. The appearance of calm arrogance feeding the vultures anger; Draco smirked in spite.
It had been three days since the Order's victory. He had already been questioned twelve times, six of which under the influence of a powerful truth serum.
The politics of the new ministry were baffled, nothing of Draco or Lucius' sins could be proven. One action weighting against the other. In all unjustified clarity; some believed no punishment would be harsh enough, while others felt any form of capital punishment would be bias prejudice against pureblood families.
Even Ron and Harry were forced to question means of the Malfoy's sentence.
Hermione had yet to be found, and both men realized that the most likely chance for them to find her would be through Draco Malfoy.
And they hated him so much more with such an epiphany.
Having to solicit the ministry court for the slimy git's survival to which would force the ruling to a mediocre slap on the wrist probation period and a joke of a fine, that would hardly leave a dent in the Malfoy family savings.
It was all total bullocks; after all the pain and ciaos the Malfoy family created they would be set free with out adequate repercussions.
The morning of Draco and Lucius' release Aurors searched Malfoy Manor for dark artifacts and connections. Nothing was found, Nothing more uncovered.
Narcissa sat in the foyer at a small dinette offering tea and cucumber sandwiches to those that raided her home. Ever playing the part of most gracious hostess.
No one took her offerings. Many walking past in silence, ignoring her very presence. This made her smile brighter stopping a few and asking polite questions of intrigue all the while her home under went a brutal strip search.
She knew what they were looking for, or should she say for whom.
Bright blue eyes caught attention of dark green. Narcissa smile widen when Harry Potter suddenly changed his course from the east wing stair case to her.
"Where is Hermione Granger?" Harry's directly blunt approach making Narcissa frown slightly.
Harry was disappointed when the older woman shrugged daintily, "Who dear?" Her tone Dripping with sweet falsity.
Harry frowned his head was beginning to hurt from all the games people were trying to play with him.
"We will find her. Your husband and brat may of gotten away with murder, but I saw you at the last battle. You and Hermione were the only ones unaccounted for. I will find her and the proof needed to put you away for kidnapping." Harry threaten. His eye brows scrunched together and face pinched to the point of unadulterated hatred.
Narcissa picked up her tea cup taking a sip of the dark brew.
"What an active imagination you have, and here I thought Draco had embellished the finer points of such heroics." She gave him a warm smile that did not reach her eyes. Almost condescending.
Harry continued to glare down at Malfoy's mother wanting an answer.
"Don't worry my dear, if I happen upon your little girl friend I will most obligingly send word. Now if your done destroying my house…" Narcissa let her voice trail off, the sharp tone smothered in a sugar coated smile letting Harry know without a doubt that out of all the members of the Malfoy family Narcissa was the most apt and dangerous of the breed.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The first thing Narcissa did after sweeping Hermione home was pocket the girl's wand. Prying said object from the unconscious girls grasp proved to be a near to impossible task, in the end it took a muscle relaxing potion, and three house elves to uncurl Hermione's fingers from the wooden handle.
Still Hermione's body remained ridged, coiled to the point of petrifaction. Too scared to force Hermione's limbs anymore than necessity, Narcissa used magic to remove the filthy and tattered muggle cloths.
Any remaining blood or dirt from Hermione's face and body, was seen to by Narcissa's own hand. The purpose of such barbaric transgressions was Narcissa's sight, wanting to see small inquires of Hermione's life. Narcissa was not disappointed as visions of the girls past that came as pale skin connected with dirty blood.
Hermione's birth, the small pink quilt that Hermione's mother had made with love, Narcissa saw Susan wrap the gift around the newborn, so much love surrounding something so small…..
Next….a faint smell citrus and dust, a glimpse of a very old woman with dark curls setting at a piano….
a young child….Four maybe five, a cherub face and long chestnut rings swinging as legs that were not as long as the older dark haired boy being chased, the girl fell farther and farther behind….
now Hermione was on Hogwarts train…Neville…Ron….Harry….Friends…..
then the small wild girl stood face to face with a pale blond boy… perfection… He sneered Hermione didn't like this boy, he was so mean for no reason…
He called the girl a name she didn't understand…Ron was mad….Harry held her hand….Ron explained….Hermione cried….the pain of ignorance…..
There he was again the perfect one…the beautiful one….he knew how to hurt…knew where to hit…
Hermione ignored his taunts…it was hard…but it didn't matter what he thought of her….he was evil….out to destroy innocence….that would not be stand for….an open palm left a burning red imprint…
He could tease her…call out many faults she possessed…but she would not stand by and let him do it to others….not while her lungs still posses breath….
Narcissa pulled away gasping for air. It had never came that strong, or perhaps it was the emotional tie to Draco that had made the connection so draining.
In the future, Narcissa would be careful, the less physical contact would be better, at least for now. Narcissa wasn't sure if she could handle another sense of emotional rage toward her own flesh and blood.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Arthur and Molly clung to each other in mourning as they looked upon the empty shell of their third born son. The chance of finding Percy alive, they knew had been slim to none, but still in the far corner of their hearts they had hoped.
Ginny had come home safe. For that they held small thanks.
Her return however had left something hallow and unfinished. None of it seemed real.
They had found Ginny sitting in the family room when they finally returned home after the last battle, curled up in an over sized arm chair reading.
She had smiled warmly before greeting her family in an odd and polite manner. All the while looking serine and completely untouched.
"Where is everyone?" Her innocent question making both her parents cringe in horror. Her memory had been modified, not even she could point a finger at Draco, he would be getting away with two counts of murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy against the ministry.
Ron had taken the news fairly well.
He had stormed out of the house, to the ministry prison down the high risk hall and into dank cell Draco had been kept. Ron had been ready to bran his own form of justice, witness or no.
Draco and his father however had already been sent home.
Ron did not see his luck in this, though his parents and friends didn't agree. The last thing any of them needed was Ron in trouble with the ministry.
When Harry arrived to the Burrow that evening, Ron found the outlet he had needed for his rage.
"Don't tell me Hermione wasn't there! I know that prick knows where she is, Harry. You let that cowardly asshole free. He will only hurt her…Malfoy Manor has to be searched again, this time I am going. They have her, you and I both know that." Ron was red faced arms waving about like a lunatic, and while Harry agreed, he had no proof, no evidence for a warrant or another arrest.
His hands were tied.
"I hate this too, Ron, But there is nothing I can do. We are watching his funds, if any thing suspicious comes up you know I will be in his face demanding answers, but that is all we have at the moment. I have Tonks on the case, she's the best. I'm hurting too. Don't presume you're the only one. Hermione was mine to protect, my family, I have done noting but let her down." Harry looked defeated. Ron couldn't help but let all his steam sizzle down.
"I could of made him talk." Ron said, pounding his fist into a near by wall.
Harry couldn't help but smile. "Ron, not even truth serum could make that ferret talk."
"No, odd that." Ron conceded.
"Half truths, lies that are believed to the point of truth. If he has her, if the Malfoys have Hermione, you can bet they will get what's coming to them." Harry told his best friend.
"How long do you suppose she'll be out?" Ron asked truly concerned.
"Fifty put her out four days, five hundred…two weeks?" Harry guessed.
"Its been a week." Ron commented looking a bit worried.
"You know that is a good idea. I wonder if any one from St. Mugo has paid the Malfoys a house visit?" Harry asked getting up. Now that they had a possible lead, he had to get to work.
"Coming?" Harry asked Ron over his shoulder.
"Right by your side." Ron vowed fallowing Harry to the floo.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
His mother had been direct when explaining the extent of Hermione's injury.
Nearly every blood vessel in Hermione's nasal cavity had burst, the result having nearly claimed the girls life from blood loss alone. Narcissa had been prepared for several possible out comes, having saved Hermione's life in the process.
Hermione had yet waken rather the cause an actual side effects of fatigue from the spell or the endless draughts and potions Narcissa seemed to be pouring down Hermione's throat, Draco wasn't sure.
He hovered over Hermione's unconscious body, offering his mother what help he could, though his thoughts were hardly on the task.
Draco wanted her to open her eyes. He needed her to.
"What else can we do?" Draco asked his tone almost child like.
" All we can do now is wait. She will wake up, Draco, Hermione will be fine. Now all she needs is rest." Narcissa reassured leaving the room.
Draco felt tired. Having spent a life time fighting a battle he no longer had to worry about all he wanted to do know was relax. He took his boots off, before climbing into the bed next to Hermione.
He turned to his side, pulling her potion induced limp body up against his. He just wanted to hold her, let it show how much he cared. He would not be taking anything from her, not tonight and not until it was offered willingly.
Draco was aware what game he had been playing all along.
The game of lies and deceit.
He had tricked Ginny Weasley into giving him ammunition. Then for him to of happened upon a most delicious scene with Ronald Weasley exchanging saliva with Lavender Brown, on his way out of the ministry earlier today. Not to mention Hermione believed Harry was dead. Draco had all he needed to ensure she never leave him. He knew he could play it up to the point of her taking off the ridicules protection charm making her want him, her to love him. He could achieve it all with three simple memories.
But having collected the recollections was on a different level then actually using them.
Draco let his fingers trace the edge of Hermione's skin, his face buried in her hair, he felt the tears prick his eyes. He loved her and hated her, but he knew from this moment on…
He would no longer hurt her.