Disclaimer: I own none of these characters, only the story built around them, J.K. Rowling has that pleasure.
Warning: This fanfic will have themes of sexual and physical violence, domestic abuse, rape, content of the sexual nature.
A/N: Happy Monday! Every chapter now feels so hard to write! Why do fics have to end? Oh, yeah so we can write new ones! I'm debating whether I want to take a break or get right into the next fic. Decisions, decisions. Anyways, hang on for a few more chapters at most! Thank you for the amazing reviews from last week. I felt so much love for my fic and the themes I chose to include. You all are just so wonderful! So as always thank you so so much for your amazing reviews, follows, share, and sub. Until Next Week!- DCP
Chapter 36: Forever
"You may return to your seat Ms. Granger."
Just as the Chief Warlock uttered those words, time seemed to slow. He saw Weasley reach into the pocket of his lawyer's pocket and pulled out the wand that lay inside. Draco shot up and managed to push Hermione out of the way as Weasley flung a curse towards her. He felt the curse slam into his body and he crumpled. Warm liquid was oozing out of his chest and he felt his body weaken.
He struggled to remain conscious.
He heard Hermione scream his name and felt her gentle hands cradling his head.
He heard her say, "No, no, no. No not like this. Draco. Its okay. Its okay. They can fix this. They can."
Then he blacked out.
...
His mind swayed between semi consciousness and unconscious. He fought with his body to remain present, but he shifted deeper down. He felt his body start to seize and his mind shook with each convulsion.
Deep in his mind he heard Hermione scream, "Blaise! Get a Healer!"
He tried to fight to stop the shaking, but he couldn't. His mind drew ever deeper into the void. He had almost touched the endless void, when a hand shot out and grabbed his. The hand pulled him up into a light so bright, it blurred his vision.
As his vision cleared, he focused on his surrounded. He was at a train station, Platform 9 ¾ to be precise. The platform was devoid of any life, yet the Hogwart's Express waited on the tracks, puffing away.
"Ah. Draco, my boy. How nice to see you."
He turned towards the voice and locked eyes with twinkling blue eyes.
He fell to his knees and looked into the lined face, "Professor Dumbledore…..I…."
The man reached down and grasped one of his hands, "Oh my boy. I know."
The hand tightened and pulled him off his knees, " But I…."
The blue eyes twinkled at him, " No need to worry. Everything you have done since the war has been forgiveness my boy. I never needed it anyway. You were a boy, one that was pushed into a place he shouldn't have been by an insane wizard who played your father like a puppet. I know what he did to your mother, and for that I am truly sorry that I did not step in for you."
Tears trickled down Draco's face, "But...I never got to say sorry to you."
"Yet, you have said it to nearly everyone else. You have atoned for your sins Draco and then some. You are a different man and you have proven it to the world. You have done your house a service. You have shown that from the ashes anyone can rise anew."
Draco swiped at the tears on his cheeks, "But sir. Where exactly am I?"
Dumbledore smiled at him, "You are at a junction my boy. You are truly done good in this life. If you wish to board the train, you'll head to a good place."
He cocked an eyebrow at the old man, "And if I don't…."
Dumbledore smiled, "I think you know where that goes. I am sure she is waiting for you."
Draco turned and saw a dark blue door appear.
"You did well. She needed you. And the world needs her. She is truly a good person, one of the few. Take care of her Draco."
Draco turned from the door, "Does everyone see you when they are ready to leave?"
Dumbledore smiled, "No. Only the few that need to. Perhaps you can tell Mr. Potter I said hello?"
Draco nodded, "Of course. Goodbye sir."
Dumbledore waved and disappeared in a crack. Draco turned back to the door and pushed it open.
...
"Hermione! Hermione! Come quick. His eyes are fluttering!"
Draco struggled to push his lids open. The bright light burned, but he fought to focus on the face in front of him.
Draco looked into bright green eyes and whispered, "Dumbledore said hello."
He saw the man's mouth drop and his eyes grew wide in surprise. A body shoved the man out of Draco's field of vision.
"Oh Draco, I lost I had lost you."
"Hermione," he whispered.
He felt Hermione grab one of his hands and hold it close, "Do you remember what happened?"
He nodded his head weakly, "Where…?"
"In Azkaban. Away from anyone he can hurt. Forever."
A man in a white coat placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder, "Ms. Granger, can I see you in the hallway? I need to talk to you about Mr. Malfoy's overall condition and discuss recovery treatments."
Hermione looked at him and caressed his face, "I'll be back soon. I'll send Blaise in. Him and Theo have been worried sick. We all have."
He nodded and he squeezed her hand before letting go. He watched her leave the room and motion to a waiting man. He smiled as Blaise approached the bed.
"You little prick. We thought you were a goner. Can't do that shit to me mate. If I had to look at Theo trying to be stoic for a minute more, I would have gone insane."
"It's nice to see you too Blaise. Is it true? He's locked up?"
Blaise frowned, "Yeah. Too bad those Ministry fuckers got rid of dementors. If anyone deserves a little kissy kiss, its that prick."
Draco shuddered, "I don't particularly miss their presence myself."
"Mate, I need to talk to you about something. You can't breathe a word to this to anyone."
Draco nodded, "Of course Blaise. What is it?"
Blaise sat down on the chair by his bedside and leaned in close to his ear, "The Ministry planning a vote for Weasley's execution. But they are planning a secret execution."
Draco's eyes widened, "A secret execution? But why?"
"All the methods of execution were pretty much banned after the war, but the Ministry is receiving a lot of backlash from the wizarding community over Weasley. But it is a bit hard to put to death a war hero isn't it?"
"But Blaise...That's practically murder. The man hasn't even had a proper trial… And what about his family? The man is a fucking prick, but that doesn't mean his family deserves this."
Blaise hung his head, "Kingsley has made his stance clear. We were made to make a vow of silence. Only way I can tell you is because of a loophole. You can't do anything to stop it so the silence will remain."
Draco looked towards the door, "When?"
"Two days."
"How?"
"They are going to cover it with saying a group of distraught family members took justice into their own hands, but officially they will say it was a suicide. He will be executed by a lethal dose of dreamless sleep. Humane at least."
His eyes scanned the form of Hermione gesturing at the Healer, "It's going to hurt her."
Blaise sighed, "I know Draco. You know you can't tell her. She can't do anything, none of us can. She'll hurt for a bit, but perhaps after that she can truly heal."
Draco looked at the still too skinny form and nodded, "Maybe one day, I can tell her. But not now. Sometimes, things are meant to be secrets. Forever."
"Rest up mate. Look at the Prophet in two days."
Draco weakly reached up and grabbed Blaise's hand, "Thanks mate. For everything."
Blaise grinned, "Anything for my best mate."
Hermione came rushing back into the room, "Thanks for keeping him company Blaise. How are you feeling Draco?"
Blaise raised a hand and left the room, "I'm okay Hermione. I no doubt will be in tip top shape in no time."
Hermione pressed a hand to his cheek, "I know you will. Healer Jordan is going to put you to sleep while he does some recovery spells on you. Is that okay?"
He nodded, "Stay with me?"
She smiled at him, "Of course."
The Healer waved his hand and Draco drifted off.
...
Two days later the news came via the Prophet. Hermione cried for hours. Yet he held the secret in his heart as he stroked her head.
Sometimes secrets needed to be kept.
Forever.