A/N: Hello... I'm so, so, so sorry about the ridiculously long wait! Between school, theater, and a family emergency, the last few months have been crazy, but the wait is finally over. I'm sad to say that this is the final chapter of A Mudblood and A Traitor. It's been an interesting ride. I'd really like to thank anyone who left a review, positive or negative. They are really helpful and I love reading your feedback. I'd also like to thank (and apologize to) those of you that have been here the whole time. Thanks for putting up with my bad grammar and erratic updates. Without further ado, the last chapter!
Lucius Malfoy stared at the wall of his cell. It was dark and damp. He had no definite answer for how long he'd been in the Ministry holding cells, but he assumed it had been at least 24 hours as he'd been given three trays of food. Each of those three trays sat untouched against the wall. Although there were no dementors, either because they hadn't been brought back or because of Potter and Weasley, he still seemed to be reliving the last few months of his life anyway. Every time he closed his eyes he saw Narcissa's body, Draco writhing silently on the ground, the note his son had left him. I hope you're happy, Draco's voice hissed disdainfully into his mind.
It was ironic really, Lucius Malfoy hadn't been so unhappy in his life. He was in agony. All he could think about was how much Draco must hate him. Every breath was like a kick in the gut because each breath he breathed was one Narcissa never would, and it was his fault. He had taken the mark at 17 like a good little pureblood heir, and he'd taken many others down with him. He'd been ecstatic when he'd made it into the Inner Circle. His life had been perfect. He had earned the Dark Lord's favor, he was happily married, and he'd had a child on the way. But this hadn't lasted. The months leading up to Draco's birth and the year after had been dreadful, as the Dark Lord descended into insanity. Gone was the charming politician with charisma and cunning, replaced by a sadistic megalomaniac caring only for the slaughter of innocents.
When the Dark Lord had fallen, Lucius had rejoiced. He'd bought his way out of Azkaban, and his perfect little life had returned. He'd been naive to think it could have lasted. When the Dark Lord returned, he had demanded that Lucius give him something in return for his forgiveness, and so he'd taken up residence at Malfoy Manor. When Draco had turned 16, he'd demanded that Lucius bring his son to be marked. Lucius had begged and pleaded that his son wasn't ready, but in the end the Dark Lord had given him one final chance, bring Draco or Narcissa would die. So he had, and he hated himself for it.
"Good morning, Lord Malfoy." Lucius started. He'd been so lost in though he hadn't heard the Aurors approaching.
"Good morning," he croaked back, stumbling to his feet. His throat was dry and sore. He hadn't spoken, eaten, or drank anything in at least a day, which made his voice raspy and gruff from disuse.
"It is time for your trial. If you would be so kind as to follow us, you will be allowed a shower and time to change beforehand. I would not be averse to casting a shaving charm on you should you wish it." It took a moment for Lucius to recognize the man as John Dawlish. He'd been repeatedly placed under the Confundus by the Death Eaters. Lucius had undone the spell multiple times in the last month, allowing the man to report to the Order of the Phoenix. This had been his idea of passive resistance against the Dark Lord. This at least explained the odd friendliness.
There was no such kindness from his partner, who Lucius recognized immediately as his niece, Nymphadora, though she wasn't sporting her usual bubblegum pink hair and bubbly nature. In fact, her hair was black and lifeless, and her posture screamed grief. It was then that he remembered that her husband had been killed the day before. Clearing his throat, Lucius tried to act more like himself just long enough to get through this, then he could go back to staring at a cell wall.
"Thank you for your generous offer, Auror Dawlish, and for your time, Auror Tonks." He managed to sound more smooth and collected as he angled his head in acknowledgement of the people in front of him. This promised to be a long day.
"Hermione, I'm fine!" Draco insisted exasperatedly. Hermione was currently fussing over him like he was a small child and insisting that he was not well enough to go to the trials. The Ministry had waited the expected 24 hour grieving period before beginning trials for the Death Eaters and treasonous Ministry personnel. His father and godfather would be tried today. Enough people had vouched for him, giving evidence that he was helping Potter, that Draco himself hadn't been arrested.
"Need I remind you that you died yesterday, Draco? You are not fine," she replied.
"And need I remind you that Madame Pompfrey gave me the all clear, Hermione. If Madame "I will spell you to that bed!" Pompfrey says that I am clear, you can believe that I am all clear!" Hermione huffed a sigh but nodded grudgingly.
"Fine, but you are having an early night tonight and a good long lie in tomorrow," she declared.
"Yes, dear." Draco sighed in mock resignation, his eyes sparkling mischievously as a blush lit up Hermione's face.
"Don't you 'yes, dear' me, Mr. Malfoy. I can still change my mind." Hermione's tone was angry, but the effect was lost as she was giggling the whole time. He leaned up and kissed her in retaliation. Hermione insisted on helping him to the bathroom, but she left him in peace to shower and change after extracting a promise that he would use the shower chair that was always in the Hospital Wing bathroom. It was a mark of how worried she was that she was being so irrational. She herself had cast many diagnostics and seen that he was in perfect health, but still she treated him as though he was on his deathbed.
Done with his shower, Draco dried himself and dressed. He donned a light grey button down shirt, black trousers, black dress shoes, and a light blue outer robe with the Malfoy crest emblazoned on the breast in grey. He also used Sleekeazy Hair Potion on his hair and ran his hands through it before combing it to one side into its normal immaculate style. With one last glance in the mirror, Draco left the bathroom and returned to his bed in the Hospital Wing where Hermione, Potter, and Weasley were waiting. Hermione was perched on the edge of his bed, as was Potter, and Weasley was in the visitor's chair.
"And I'll tell you like I told Draco, Mr. Potter," Hermione was saying sternly. "You will come straight back from these trials, have an early night, and you will be having a lie in tomorrow."
"And I'll tell you like Draco assuredly did, Healer Granger, if Madame "I will spell you to that bed!" Pompfrey says I am fine, I am fine." Hermione huffed.
"Does everyone call her that?" she asked in exasperation.
"Yeah, Hermione, Harry started that back in second year!" Ron told her. She shook her head fondly.
"Well, are we ready to go?" Draco called from his position leaning against the wall with his arms across his chest.
"Now we are," said Potter. "I got us a portkey from Kings- erm, Minister Shacklebolt so we don't have to cross the grounds and apparate." Potter pulled a length of rope from his pocket and held it out to them. Crossing the room, Draco grabbed onto it, as did Weasley and Hermione.
"Well, here we go. Constant vigilance." Potter spoke the activation words and they disappeared in a whirl of colors. When they reappeared, they were in the Ministry atrium. Ten minutes later, they were seated in the witness stands of Courtroom Ten. Draco would not be allowed to testify due to his relation to those being persecuted, but he was given permission to sit with Hermione, Potter, and Weasley, who would be testifying. They hadn't been seated long when a squat wizard called for all to rise for Madame Amelia Bones, who many had thought to be dead. In actuality, she had faked her death in the hopes that the Death Eaters would leave her only niece, Susan Bones, alone if she was dead. When she entered the courtroom, she made her way to her place before addressing the room at large.
"Everyone but the Wizengamot may be seated. Mr. Credence, please swear in the Wizengamot," Madame Bones requested. Draco heard Hermione mutter something about similarities to the muggle court system.
"Please raise your wand hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will truly listen to this case and render a true verdict and a fair sentence as to this defendant?" Mr. Credence asked.
"I do," came the collective voices of the entire Wizengamot.
"Members of the Wizengamot, your duty today will be to determine whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty based only on facts and evidence provided in this case. The prosecution has the burden of proving the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt. This burden remains on the prosecution through the trial. The prosecution must prove that a crime was committed and that the defendant is the person who committed the crime. However, if you are not satisfied of the defendant's guilt to that extent, then reasonable doubt exists and the defendant must be found not guilty. Mr. Credence, what is today's case?"
"Madame Bones, today's case is Magical Britain versus Severus Snape," Credence announced. "The accused is being charged with murder, support and participation in a terrorist organization, and treason."
"How do you plead?" Madame Bones asked Severus.
"Not guilty," he replied.
"Is the defense ready?" Madame Bones asked. Sev's lawyer, some witch called Balbec, stood.
"I am, Madame Bones."
"Is the persecution ready?" Madame Bones asked of the Wizengamot representative, Lord Nero Barca.
"I am, Madame Bones," Barca responded.
"Very well. Lord Barca, call your first witness." So it began. Barca called three witnesses, all of whom Balbec cross examined, before he reached the so called "Golden Trio." It was clear that the man thought himself better than the others due to his status as a pureblood Lord. He was sneering down at the witnesses and Sev from his seat and twisting the witnesses words to suit his case. He really was a nasty old git.
"I call Mr. Ronald Weasley to the stand," Barca called. Weasley stood as gracefully as Draco had ever seen him move and approached the stand.
"Mr. Weasley," Barca sneered after the redhead had been sworn in. "You were taught by Mr. Snape for six years, correct?" Weasley glared up at the man.
"Yes, I studied under Professor Snape for six years." Weasley replied, emphasizing Severus' title. Draco mentally applauded him.
"In those six years, did you ever suspect him of any illicit activity?" Draco winced internally. Potter, Weasley, and Hermione had always pointed the finger at Sev.
"When Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and myself were eleven years old, we falsely accused the Professor of trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone while he was protecting it, and over the last two years we have falsely accused him of being a Death Eater and a traitor countless times," Weasley responded cooly. Draco had to hand it to him, he was doing well. Sensing he wouldn't get anything of use from Weasley, Barca asked a few more inane questions, all of which Weasley answered with startling articularity, before Balbec took up the questioning.
"Mr. Weasley," Balbec began. "Is it true that Professor Snape has personally protected you, Harry Potter, and Hermione Granger on multiple occasions?" Draco smirked at the question.
"Yes, Ma'am. In our first year, Professor Snape saved Harry when his broom was being cursed by the possessed Professor Quirrel. In our third year, Professor Snape stood between the three of us and a percieved mass murder, and he also jumped butween us and a fully transformed werewolf who was not under the influence of the Wolfsbane potion. In our sixth year, as he left the castle, Professor Snape saved Harry from being cursed by Bellatrix Lestrange." A few questions later, Weasley was dismissed and Hermione was called to the stand. Her testimony was much the same, although Barca sneered nastily at her, no doubt because of her muggleborn status. Then he called up Potter.
"Mr. Potter," Barca began derisively. The voice that interrupted was so icy that if he hadn't seen Potter's lips move, Draco would have wondered who had spoken.
"That's Lord Potter-Black." Barca looked taken aback. Draco could have cackled with glee. Potter, by pureblood standards, was both more important and of purer heritage than Barca.
"My apologies," he gritted out. "Lord Potter-Black, is it true that Professor Snape treated you and your cohorts with excessive disdain and hatred, all while favoring the children of known Death Eaters?" Potter's eyes blazed with hatred for the man before him.
"Professor Snape was a spy and is a master Occlumens. He had a role to play and he did it well, showing no cracks in his facade to keep all of the children safe. So yes, he favoured his Slytherins and other Death Eaters' children because he knew they were reporting back to their parents, who were in turn reporting to Voldemort." The courtroom gave a collective shudder and Potter rolled his eyes. "He is dead. Do not fear his name or his memory. Don't give him the satisfaction of having power over you even after death."
"Mr. Po- Lord Potter-Black, is it true that on the evening of June 30th, 1997, you witnessed the murder of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore at the hands of Professor Severus Snape?" Draco flinched slightly, guilt pooling in his gut at the reminder of the late headmaster.
"I did. We had just returned from a mission to help destroy Voldemort when we were confronted by a group of Death Eaters and a student. Headmaster Dumbledore wandlessly froze me where I stood under my invisibility cloak. They tried to coerce the student, who was under duress, to murder the Headmaster. Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape knew that this was going to happen, and so they had pre-arranged the headmaster's death. The Headmaster had been in possession of a powerful weapon that would transfer its allegiance to his murderer, and there was no one he trusted more to have access to this."
"Who was this student?" Barca asked. Draco stiffened. Potter turned to Amelia Bones.
"Madame, I hardly see how this line of questioning is relevant." Draco nearly sighed in relief when she responded.
"I agree. Move on or be finished, Lord Barca," she declared. Barca, looking frustrated, announced that he was finished questioning Harry.
"Lord Potter-Black," Balbec began her cross examination. "I have only one question for you." Potter nodded. "Why do you trust Severus Snape?" Potter looked torn for a moment before turning to Madame Bones.
"Madame, I have some memories I would be willing to share, but only with yourself, the defence, the prosecution, and the Wizengamot. I would also ask that you all take a secrecy vow. The evidence is extremely private." Madame Bones looked Potter in the eyes, searching for something. Whatever she was looking for, she evidently found it, because she nodded sharply.
"We shall reconvene after an hour long recess in which this evidence shall be viewed."
Draco stood shakily and allowed Hermione to tug him towards the Ministry cafeteria. He was suddenly exhausted, both mentally and emotionally. He followed Hermione and allowed her to order his food and collect plate from the witch behind the counter. He pushed the food around his plate, lost in thought. He was worried about Severus, but that wasn't what had him so distracted. It was very likely that Severus would be cleared, but his father would probably not be so lucky. Draco had so many conflicting emotions towards his father in that moment, but he knew one thing for sure, he didn't want his father kissed by dementors. He continued playing with his food until he felt a hand on his shoulder.
He turned to find Hermione there. She gave him a soft smile. Her hand came to rest under his chin, and she tilted his face towards hers. Leaning down, Hermione pressed her lips to his gently, almost hesitantly. He kissed her back sweetly. It was as if that kiss had breathed life back into him. When she pulled back, Draco smiled brilliantly at her. She crossed back to her side of the table and sat down. Suddenly ravenous, Draco scarfed down his food as fast as years of etiquette lessons would allow. It was then that he noticed that someone was missing.
"Where's Weasley?" Draco asked after swallowing the last bite of his food. He and Hermione rose from their seats and threw away their trash before sitting once more. It had only been twenty minutes since they left the courtroom.
"He went to talk to his dad. Mr. Weasley came back to work today, and Ron is insisting that he go home." Draco nodded his understanding. The next 40 minutes seemed to crawl by. Eventually, however, they decided to head back to the courtroom. Evidently Draco had risen from the table too quickly because the room had started to spin. They made it back with five minutes to spare.
"All rise for the honorable Madame Amelia Bones," Mr. Creedence called to the assembled witches and wizards a few moments later. Madame Bones re entered the courtroom followed by Potter and the Wizingamot. She watched and waited for Potter to get to his place.
"You may be seated."
"After viewing the evidence provided by Lord Potter-Black, the Wizengamot has deliberated and come to a decision. Severus Snape, you have been found not guilty and you are hereby cleared of all charges. A small smile graced Draco's face as his godfather was released from the bindings and into spectator stands of the courtroom. He smiled a bit wider when Hermione grabbed his hand.
His father's trial was a blur to him. The only word he caught before Potter was called to the stand was his father's plea. He pleaded guilty. Draco tried, but he couldn't keep his focus on the trial. He caught bits and pieces of it, but he couldn't even focus long enough to listen to the Golden Trio speak. His vision was getting a bit hazy and, though he hadn't noticed it, a thin sheen of sweat now coated his face. He was jerked back into the present moment by Hermione shaking him.
"What's wrong?" she whispered.
"I don't know," he whispered back. His words slurred together incoherently. He knew that was not a good sign.
"Draco, are you alright?" Potter asked. The room was spinning rapidly now. Draco opened his mouth to respond, but the words never came. Instead, his eyes rolled back in his head, and he fainted.
When Draco finally came around, his head was pounding. He opened his eyes the tiniest bit and immediately closed them again against the harsh light of the Hogwarts infirmary.
"Draco, are you awake?" Hermione's voice asked. Luckily, she had the sense to speak softly.
"Yes, could you turn off the lights?" Draco managed to croak. His throat was dry.
"Oh! Sorry, Draco." Hermione exclaimed lowly. When his eyelids stopped glowing dull red, he opened his eyes.
"What happened?" he asked. One minute he'd been fine and the next he had passed out.
"You were poisoned." Draco started. He hadn't seen Potter enter. He and Weasley were hovering by the infirmary door.
Poisoned?"
"Yep," Potter confirmed cheerfully. Draco smirked when Hermione cuffed the back of his head.
"The DMLE reckons that someone didn't like that you got off without a trial, so they took matters into their own hands. The lady who served your food at the ministry yesterday slipped a poison of her own invention into it. Professor Snape had to specially brew an antidote." Weasley told him. Draco's eyes widened as he suddenly remembered the trials.
"Father," he started. Hermione cut him off.
"He's fine. He got off easy because of his spying. Ten years in the minimum security wing was all he was given. No dementors." Hermione's words soothed away the worry he'd been feeling. He sighed in relief.
"He said he'd like to speak with you if you're willing to see him. He also said he understood if you never want to see him again. He did request that you at least owl him to let him know you're okay. He was beside himself when you fain- passed out." He shot Potter a small smile of gratitude. He hated the idea that he had fainted, passing out sounded so much better. After a few more moments of idle conversation, Potter and Weasley left. Hermione kissed him and turned to leave, but he grabbed her hand.
"Stay with me?" he asked.
"Always."
A.N: Keep an eye out for an epilogue soon, maybe even today! Also, I'm thinking about posting a few of my out takes for this story. Is there anything you guys wanted to see that I didn't include? Thanks for reading!