The Phoenix Court: Chapter 10
Draco took in the sight before him; the distrustful, angry, and downright gleeful expressions on the faces of various members of the advisory council sickened his stomach. The King stared blankly, coldly back at him. Draco always felt the King had been hard to read, and even more difficult to understand. At this moment though Draco understood that he really knew nothing of the King's mind. He felt afraid. Was this the moment of his fall?
Trying to keep his movements to a minimum, he scanned his surroundings. His eyes took in the cold hard stone on all four sides of the room with no windows. Floating candles filled the room with light, but cast eerie shadows across the walls and on the faces of the people in the room. The King was flanked on either side by a member of the royal guard. And Draco knew two guardsmen had been stationed at either side of the only exit behind him. He and his father were trapped. Not that either of them would entertain the idea of escaping, nothing created a sense of guilt like the accused fleeing. No, they were going to stand their ground and face this.
His father stood tall, back straight, and facing down the King as if he was facing an opponent in battle. Since Draco was a child his father had always been powerful and strong and now his father seemed to draw up all the strength he possessed. He fixed his face in an impassive expression, one that Draco mirrored. But Draco couldn't miss the shaking in his father's hands, that he now balled into fists. Draco too felt the outrage and the humiliation of this moment.
The King spoke again, his voice calm, "Have you nothing to say, Lord Malfoy? And you Prince Draco?"
The room quieted, all eyes focused on them. When Lucius spoke his voice was even, "What would you have me say, my King?"
King Albus did not speak. His blue eyes pierced the two Malfoy men with a long stare. He gave a small sigh and closed his eyes, as if weary as if disappointed.
"We would have you confess, Malfoy," a balding red-haired man spat, "you are nothing more than snakes, the pair of you."
Lucius ignored the red-haired man's comment, instead, he took a step forward and addressed the King. "You think me—us—your prince and your most faithful servant, guilty? My King please, see that we are innocent. Have we not served you faithfully for many years? The Malfoys have always been loyal to the country of Alban, to this land. There is no cause for us to commit such treason."
Madam McGonagall snorted, "No cause? You do not think we are so naive as to forget that if this assassination were successful, your son would have a straight path to becoming heir?"
"My family would never commit such treason and we would never devise a plot so wicked as this."
"So what plot have you been scheming then?" Another advisor asked.
Lucius looked down his nose at the advisor who shrank back in his seat, "Are you so ready to blame us? I can see that you have already decided that we are guilty."
"Do not act so blameless, Lord Malfoy. How many people have you sent to the dungeons and death, guilty before proven innocent? Why should you be any different?" the red-haired man said again, "My King, I urge you to throw these snakes in the dungeon. Let the royal guard get the truth from them!"
Draco could not contain himself any longer, "My King and council members, I can prove my family's innocence to you all. I will take veritaserum! Question me and you will see that the house of Malfoy has and will always be true to the crown and the laws of Alban."
Lucius looked to his son, his face was a mix of pride and anguish. Draco stepped forward to once again stand side by side with his father and placed his hand on the older man's shoulder.
The King turned to face Draco and for a moment, Draco thought he saw a twinkle in his eye, but it vanished before he could be certain, "Veritaserum, though powerful, is not an absolute truth. There are ways it can be resisted. The council will deliberate on this matter. For now, you and your father will be confined to your apartments. Visitors will be allowed, but I will station guards outside the rooms. This council is dismissed."
Four guards escorted Draco and his father back to their apartments. The courtiers lined the hallway, craning their necks to watch their prince and his father being treated like prisoners. Their whispers and suspicious glances followed them. The news of the failed assassination attempt had spread quickly and the rumors were sure to be out of control. A group of reds jeered at them. One fool even tried to spit on the prince, but he was pushed aside by the guard.
Once the doors of the Malfoy apartments slammed shut, the gravity of the situation crashed down upon Draco's shoulders. His mother rushed to embrace both men, "I heard about Prince Harry. Oh my dears, this will not be the end of us," she said with conviction, "I have sent messages to our allies. Severus and Nott will investigate this for us."
Lucius took his wife's face in his hands and gently kissed her forehead. She melted into him and they stayed like that for a while. Draco was grateful to his mother, she was already thinking ahead. Although they were trapped inside, he was certain that their allies would be able to find information that would prove their innocence.
"Father, Mother, I stand behind you," Draco said, breaking the silence, "we need to find out who the real hand behind the assassin is. This was a declaration of war against the house of Malfoy. Someone wants us to fall, and in the most horrific way possible."
Draco knew that his allies would be helpful, but he knew he needed to do more. There was something that he could do to clear his name and his father's name, but he knew he would need to humble himself. He needed to write a letter.
The following night, a guard came for Draco. It was late and most of the castle was asleep but the prince was ready. He had dressed himself in a simple but well-made tunic, with leather breeches and plain leather boots. He wanted to appear unornamented, simple, and above all else, honest. The guard handed Draco a roughly woven linen cloak to cover himself and they made their way to the bowels of the castle. They passed behind a tapestry which was hiding an arched corridor that was covered in swirling carvings of fish and sea monsters.
At the end of the corridor, Draco came face to face with the carving of the head of a giant sea serpent. It bared its fangs but its mouth was sealed shut. The guard took a dagger from his waist and cut his palm. He placed his bloodied hand on the monster's mouth and its jaws began to open, wide enough for the two of them to enter.
Draco found himself in a small empty chamber and standing before him was the King. Draco immediately fell to his knees and bowed in supplication. King Albus motioned to the guard to leave, then addressed Draco "You may rise. I was surprised, but hopeful when I received your letter Draco."
Draco stood and removed the cloak. He stood tall and locked eyes with the King, "I want to prove here and now my innocence and my father's innocence in this matter. Please use legilimency and see that someone else is setting us up to take a fall."
Dumbledore gave Draco a hard look, assessing the young man's conviction. Draco felt he could scarcely breathe but exhaled with relief when the King nodded. The old king stood in front of the son he fostered since the boy was a child. When the two locked eyes, Draco could feel the faint intrusion of the King in his mind. If he wasn't conscious of the fact that it was happening he never would have known that his mind was laid bare for the King to read his very thoughts. He thought of his father, proud and calculating but also loyal and brave. He also thought of his mother, shrewd and strong with a love as vast as the sea. He would establish their innocence.
The minutes dragged by as the King probed Draco's mind and after a long while Draco could feel the King's reach recede from his mind. When the King spoke, his voice was sincere, "You were brave to come to me like this," King Albus said, "I saw the love you have for this country but it pales in comparison to the love you have for your family. You are a worthy son and prince. I know your mind and I see your innocence, but I do not know that of your father."
"I will take the veritaserum at the trial and so will my father. Let him prove that he is innocent before the people. Let us regain their trust."
The king was silent for another moment then said, "I will allow it. You deserve the right to try and win back their trust, but people are fickle, as changeable as the wind."
"Those who matter to me will see and know that I and my family are true and loyal."
"And I understand you want to examine the assassin's letter. I can't let you take it from this room but I will allow you to see it now." The King took the letter from inside his robes and handed it to Draco who held it up to the light.
He scanned the letter, it was short and simple. He recognized the handwriting as his father's but knew that there were ways to spell and replicate handwriting. The parchment was of fine quality and showed that the writer was a person of means. Draco noticed a peculiarity in the image of the Malfoy crest in the wax seal. It showed a shield with two dragons flanked on either side and at the top of the shield two serpents twisted about each other, but the seal was missing something…
Draco looked up at the King, "This is not our family seal, or at least it hasn't been since my father and mother were married." Draco pointed to the top of the shield where the snakes were entwined, "At the top here, there should be a flower with five petals, to represent my mother. My father added it to our crest after they married. We've used that version of the crest ever since."
The King thought on this for a moment, "What an interesting peculiarity. I understand what you are saying, but your father could have used an older version of the crest for his seal, could he not?"
"It's unlikely, the flower has been on his seal since his wedding. It is possible that someone else could have been using an older version of the crest, but it wasn't my father."
"Your insight is interesting, but hardly proves anything. Nonetheless, I will take that into account. You have given me a lot to think about. For now, I ask that you remain in your family's apartments."
Draco bowed low, "As you wish, my King. Thank you."
With those words the two men parted, each had a lot to think about that night.
The assassination attempt was all anyone would talk about for the next few days. Tensions between the reds and greens grew even worse and fights were becoming a commonplace occurrence. The reds bemoaned the attack against prince Harry and the greens staunchly defended Prince Draco. Then it was announced that the Malfoys would be given a trial and a chance to prove their innocence. The King and council would accept the use of veritaserum and the trial would be held the following week.
Prince Harry for his part remained neutral, at the King's insistence, and he refused to acknowledge the rumors. Only his closest companions knew his true mind and the assassination attempt only caused the rift between the rival princes to grow. The courtiers whispered that Harry hated and distrusted Malfoy since childhood and that Prince Harry was too kind and honorable to think his rival would be capable of such a disgusting act of treason. In the minds of the courtiers, Prince Harry's silence was the mark of a man who was just and fair, a stark contrast to a villainous prince who would assassinate his rival.
Soon it became too difficult to tell the truth from the malicious rumors. False information traveled from person to person like a plague infecting the castle. Hermione hated hearing talk of the assassination when she spent time with Hannah and Neville. She had been outraged and horrified when she heard of the failed assassination attempt against Prince Harry. When she found out the accused was Prince Draco her outrage turned to dread. She was torn between her loyalty and friendship with Prince Harry and her feelings for Prince Draco. To her, Prince Draco seemed like a just man. He was the hero of so many battles. He worked hard for his people. But there were sides of him she did not know. She knew he wore a mask of politeness, but could a conniving and murderous intent also be hidden in his heart? He had secrets, she had for a time been one of those secrets. She knew he wanted the throne, but would he really be capable of killing his rival to obtain it? She wanted to believe in him, but she realized she knew very little about him.
What she knew was that he was kind, beloved of his friends and allies. She knew he cared for her. The smiles he gave her were so warm and contrasted with the cold politeness he gave to the court. His eyes held a passion that she saw when they were alone together. But she realized she saw him through the skewed lens of a lover. Logically the evidence pointed to him or a family member as the true master behind the assassin, but could she really believe that the man she cared for was so evil?
The day before the trial she was sitting at her writing desk. She was writing a letter of encouragement and affection to Prince Draco. As she penned the final words, Lady Granger entered the room and placed a kiss on Hermione's forehead.
"Who are you writing that letter to, sweeting? Are you planning on meeting with the young lady Abbot?"
"No, I was writing to… no one."
Lady Granger dropped the act of innocence and frowned, "At least think of a better lie, child. Has your infatuation with the prince caused you to forget your wits?"
Her mother gave her a sharp look. Hermione could practically hear her mother's thoughts and braced herself as her mother continued, "I know you care for him. We are all fools where the heart is concerned, but I don't want you to be caught in this mess. The Malfoy prince and his father will pay for their crimes. Don't let this lingering attachment pull you down with them. We must show our support for Prince Harry. "
"Mother, the King himself has not decided on the matter, but you already think they are guilty. We should wait until the trial."
"Trial or no, the people already chose their heir. We have to think about our family. We will find success in supporting Prince Harry."
"I can support prince Harry and still lo—care for prince Draco."
"Look me in the eye daughter and tell me that you think he is innocent. Look me in the eye and tell me that you can still love him if he turns out to be a murderer!"
Hermione looked at her mother with defiance in her eyes. She stood tall but when she went to speak, no words came out of her mouth. Oh, what a time for her doubts to come and cloud her mind. He is not guilty yet! She thought, but a cold voice in the back of her mind whispered that his innocence was not yet proven either.
Could she truly say that she cared for him, that she loved him even, if she couldn't support him now? Did she even truly care for him or was she just caught in the moment, in the passion of desiring and being desired. She didn't know anything. She crumpled the letter in her hands.
Her mother took Hermione in her arms and rocked her back and forth, "There, there, my sweeting. I knew you were a smart woman."
Hermione felt no comfort in her mother's arms, all she felt was confusion.
A/N: Thank you for reading! :)