Note to readers: thank you for taking the time to read my work! I am simultaneously writing/uploading the same story from two perspectives. This version of Broken Souls follows Draco after the second wizarding war. If you enjoy the story, please check out the other version of it, which follows Hermione instead of Draco.
Chapter 1
The Malfoy family was completely falling apart. After the battle of Hogwarts, the Ministry of Magic sentenced each member of the family to face trial separately in front of the Wizengamot to determine their fate. To prevent them from fleeing before their trial, they were temporarily held in Azkaban. Narcissa was quickly released due to extensive evidence showing that she had aided Harry in the battle. She had lied to Voldemort, telling him Harry had died, which allowed him to be victorious in the end. Her change of heart prevented her from receiving a life-sentence in Azkaban; however, her previous support for the Dark Lord meant she would have to spend one-year on house arrest.
Lucius' trial was also completed quickly; however, the outcome was much different. He pretended to show remorse for his actions during the trial, but many of the council members saw right through him. Lucius did not try to fight throughout majority of the battle of Hogwarts, but the Wisengamot believed his actions were purely selfish, stating that the lack of fighting was due to fear for his son, not a change in allegiance. Given his previous crimes, including breaking out of Azkaban a year before the battle, and long-term support for the Dark Lord, no one hesitated to give Lucius a life-sentence in Azkaban. As he was taken back to his cell, he was heard yelling, "you'll all regret this one day! Treating the pure bloods like we are mudblood filth is unforgivable. The Dark Lord might be dead, but the death eaters will rise again."
It took longer for the council to begin Draco's trials. This resulted in him spending roughly three weeks in Azkaban. Dementors were known to drain happiness from those around them, and when Draco arrived at the prison, he had very little happiness to spare. Luckily for him, Kingsley Shacklebolt, the newly elected minister of magic, had removed the dementors from the prison because they were clearly untrustworthy, and Kingsley viewed their ability to cause insanity inhumane. Instead, he had appointed aurors to guard the inmates. This change in authority likely saved Draco from insanity during those three weeks.
When his trial finally came, the Wizengamot spent many days looking through Draco's memories. They particularly found his actions at Malfoy Manor to be interesting, and many argued that he had the ability to identify Harry Potter, but chose not to. Additionally, majority of the council believed that Draco's actions were done out of fear, and not true allegiance to the Dark Lord. Putting everything down to a bad upbringing, Draco was released under the conditions he return to Hogwarts in the fall in order to achieve his required N.E.W.T.s.
And so, later that summer, Draco went alone to Diagon alley to retrieve his school materials. As he walked through the streets, many people stared or whispered behind his back. The Malfoy's were well known in the wizarding community. Previously, this would have resulted in special treatment or immediate respect. However, now the name was tainted, and Draco wished he was born into another family. He saw vibrant red hair amongst the crowd of people and started to think he might have liked to be a Weasley for once. Although Draco had always looked down on the Weasley family for being poor blood-traitors, he now could see how much he craved their family values. Blood purity and money meant nothing if your family was completely rotten.
He checked all of the school requirements off his list as quickly as possible, as he didn't want to spend an extra second in the public eye. Knowing his luck, his trip to Diagon Alley would grant him a front row article in the Daily Prophet with a title such as "Death Eater Walks Free" or "Malfoy Boy is Arrogant Enough to Return".
When he finally got back home, his mother greeted him, "Hello sweetie, how did it go?"
Ever since the war, Draco resented his mother for not standing up sooner. Why couldn't she be strong enough to stop his father from joining the death eaters in the first place? Did she not notice how much pain they caused him by forcing Draco to join them? But then Draco would catch himself and stop his negative thoughts. Deep down, he knew that his mother was also a victim of his father's brutality.
"It was fine mum. Lots of people staring, but nothing I didn't expect. I'll be in my room packing if you need me."
He closed the door behind him a little too aggressively, causing the slam to echo through the hallway. He threw himself onto his bed and screamed into the pillow. Draco Malfoy truly hated his life. He knew that returning to school only meant more ridicule from his fellow wizards, but it was better than the alternative, spending a sentence in Azkaban. He also predicted he would have to see the golden-trio day-after-day and assumed, they would be gloating in their victory. They would be a constant reminder of what he never could be and of all the pain he had caused. He imagined seeing Hermione's face again and being taken back to the night he had to stand and watch her scream in pain from Bellatrix's torture. He probably would have been better off if he fought against his family that day. Granted, he likely would have died, but maybe that wouldn't be so bad.
As he lay on his bed thinking of all the things that had gone wrong throughout his life, he slowly drifted to sleep. Sleep however, would not provide him with comfort. Draco's dreams were riddled with horrific flashbacks. On this particular night, Draco was standing beside Voldemort and being forced to torture those the Dark Lord viewed deserving. Hearing the screams of his victims once again was agonising.
He awoke, covered in sweat, at approximately 6 AM. Not wanting to return to his dreams, Draco got up and packed his trunk. In five hours, Draco would be on the train, headed back to Hogwarts.