CW: mentions of murder, discussion of murder, implied threats of danger, discussion of discrimination/bullying behavior, apologies
:SEVENTY-ONE:
Meanwhile, at Hogwarts…
"Harry," Hermione commented one day in the greenhouses. "Have you noticed Draco's behavior lately?"
"Hmm?" Harry ducked, as the plant they were working on took a swing for his glasses. "No, I haven't."
Hermione's brow furrowed. "Exactly. He's been...normal lately. Which is abnormal for him."
"Hermione," Ron said around his fat lip - he hadn't been as lucky as Harry with the plant. "Why are you worried about Malfoy not being a git?"
"I think he's up to something, that's why."
Harry shrugged. "He might be, but I'm not about to go and jinx it."
Draco Malfoy's behavior had been a little better ever since that first Care of Magical Creatures class in third year. But now, besides a few stares every so often, Draco had left them alone. He was still pompous and melodramatic, but he didn't bully people anymore. And, though it didn't excuse him saying it in the first place, he had not used the M slur since second year.
Hermione didn't let up on her theory the rest of the afternoon or the next morning as they went down to breakfast.
'I'm telling you, something is off -" Hermione gasped, unfolding the morning newspaper quickly to read the front page.
"Oi!" Ron said crossly. "What's it say then?"
Hermione shushed him, her eyes dancing frantically over the page. When she'd finished, she handed the paper off to Ron and Harry to read themselves, her brow furrowed in concentration.
Barty Crouch found Dead in his home
Barty Crouch, Head of the Department of International Magic Cooperation, was found dead in his home this morning. An investigation is being conducted and on the circumstances surrounding his death, but Aurors suspected it was a homicide.
"It was the Killing Curse, for sure and certain." Ministry Auror reported.
Another victim of the Killing Curse, who has not yet been identified, was found shortly after Mr. Crouch. Aurors are not yet willing to declare these cases connected, but encourage people to use caution and report any suspicious activity.
For more information, see page 6.
"Blimey." Ron said in a shocked voice. "Percy's going to go postal over this."
"I wonder who the other victim was." Harry said thoughtfully. "They don't give any details."
The whole school was abuzz with gossip that morning about the killings. No one knew who the other person might have been, but they certainly guessed. Some students told anyone who would listen that the victim was a high-ranking official on some sort of top secret investigation.
"That's why they couldn't give us any physical descriptions." A Ravenclaw 5th year said importantly. "It would compromise the mission they were on."
In Defense Against the Dark Arts, Professor Moody fielded questions from everyone about the attack.
"We'll know more about the victim later," He growled. "What's important is the criminal at the moment. It's like I've been trying to teach you all year - constant vigilance!"
It had been weeks, but some students still jumped when he yelled that.
"But sir," A girl in the second row asked hesitantly. "Do you know anything about the criminal? I mean, do you have any connections with the Auror department that would have told you anything?"
Professor Moody shook his head. "No, but it won't be long now. The truth about killers, which is universal, is that at some point they will mess up."
He stood in front of the classroom, speaking low and slowly so that the class was craning their ears to pay attention.
"Killers will mess up." He repeated. "For any number of reasons, but they all eventually make a mistake that will get them caught. Some get too bold, some leave traces, but all of them fail. It's an auror's job to make sure they fail sooner rather than later. And it is your job...to practice constant vigilance and to report what you see."
He flicked his wand, the contact information for the Auror department writing itself on the blackboard.
"You lot are here at Hogwarts, which is one of the safest places in the world." Professor Moody growled. "But your families are not. Get them this information if they don't have it already. And learn how to defend yourselves, while you're in a classroom and not the real world."
The entire class paid extra attention to Professor Moody's lecture, and then performed the practicals with more dedication than normal. It was one thing to practice something for an unseen possibility, it was another to practice when one knew about a potential threat. Even Neville managed to succeed during his practice with Harry, who was the only student in the classroom who didn't go easy on him.
"Well done, Longbottom!" Professor Moody's booming voice could be heard at the front of the room. "Class dismissed!"
Neville's face was tomato red as they left the classroom, but he was very pleased with himself.
"I think I almost got Hermione too, on that last one." Ron said proudly.
Hermione smirked. "Not even close, Ron."
They were about to enter the Great Hall when Harry felt a tap on his shoulder. Harry looked around, and then sighed.
"Hullo, Malfoy." He braced himself for a taunt, ready to blame Hermione entirely for jinxing the previously decent behavior.
"Potter," Draco said, his eyes betraying his nerves. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Yeah, I suppose so." Harry waited, but Draco's eyes just darted from his face to the others behind him. Harry also noticed for the first time that Draco wasn't with Crabbe or Goyle.
"...Alone?" Draco added eventually.
Ron looked ready to say 'absolutely not', but Harry nodded before he could.
"I'll see you guys in there."
"Are you barking?" Ron whispered furiously to Harry.
"He doesn't look like he's in a fighting mood." Harry whispered back. "And you can come get me if I'm not back in five minutes, alright?"
Ron hesitated, but then nodded. The others left with him into the Great Hall, while Draco and Harry walked away to a corner to talk more privately.
Harry waited for Draco to explain what was going on, but it looked like Draco had swallowed a lemon and was refusing to open his mouth.
"Right, well," Harry said eventually. "If you're not going to tell me what this is about, I'll just go -"
"We need to be friends!" Draco practically spat it out, grimacing as he did so.
Harry's face froze in shock, and then he started laughing humorlessly.
"I really don't see how that's possible, Molfoy." He retorted venomously. "You said so yourself, I picked 'the wrong sort'. And I haven't forgotten the things you said about Hermione either."
Draco flinched at the reminder, his face betraying a sense of shame Harry hadn't seen before.
"I...that was wrong of me." Draco muttered quietly. "But you don't understand!"
"What, exactly, don't I understand?" Harry asked sarcastically.
"My family is in danger, and being friends with you might keep them safe!"
Well. That was new.
"What do you mean?"
Draco sighed. "The unidentified victim, in the paper? He was one of dad's...old contacts."
"A Death Eater." Harry deadpanned.
Draco's face flushed, but he went on. "There have been a few more - this is just the first one that got reported because it was in public. And my family might be next, but if I'm publicly friends with you..."
Harry was torn. He didn't like Malfoy, and personally felt like his father had known the risks when he joined up with the Death Eaters. But, seeing Draco here, looking so humbled and small…
"Did your dad kill anyone?"
"No, he never killed anyone. He was used for financial support and his position in the Ministry."
"Did your mother ever hurt anyone?"
Draco flushed with anger. "You leave my mother out of this!"
"Oi!" Harry retorted angrily. "If I'm going to help you, then I need to know who exactly I'm helping."
They glared at each other, until Draco caved.
"No," He muttered. "She never hurt anyone. She didn't even want to be a part of the Death Eaters, she was just supporting my dad."
Harry nodded. "You need to apologize to Hermione and the others first."
Draco looked stunned. "You...you mean you'll do it?"
Harry shrugged, putting his hands in his pockets. "If my other friends don't kill you first. I'll let them know what's going on, and then you're on your own for the next bit."
He walked off down the hall, with Draco trailing along behind him.
"Is that why you ditched your bodyguards too?" Harry asked sarcastically as they walked into the Great Hall. "They no longer fit the image you're going for?"
"They left me." Draco said quietly. "Their families are pulling them out and moving them to Durmstrang right now."
"Oh." Harry replied, disconcerted.
He was saved from having to say anything else by Ron, who glared as Malfoy sat down next to Harry at the Gryffindor table.
"Before you pounce on him, Ron." Harry said quickly. "I've got to tell you all something."
And he explained Draco's situation to them all - Hermione, Ron, and Neville anyway - everyone else was busy or at a different table.
"So," Harry turned to Draco. "Now it's your turn."
Draco gulped, looking very nervous. Ron was glaring at him, Neville looked conflicted, and Hermione was a blank canvas. Draco couldn't tell what she was thinking, and that scared him much more than Ron and Neville's reactions did.
"Well, it's like Potter says." He started. "And, well, I know I hurt all of you."
"Especially you, Hermione." Draco tried keeping eye contact with her, though it was difficult. "I've been learning, and trying to do better. But I can't take back how I treated you before that. I guess what I'm trying to say is...well, I'm sorry."
Hermione just looked at him, considering his apology like a hawk considering a rabbit. Draco, uncomfortable under her gaze and the others' glares, looked down at his hands. It was humiliating, doing all this, but he knew he had to. There was absolutely nothing he wouldn't do for his family.
"I know you have no reason to help me." He murmured to the table. "But...it's my family at stake. Not just me."
Hermione gazed at him a moment more, then looked over to Harry and nodded.
"Hermione!" Ron yelled. "Are you sure?"
"One shot, Malfoy." She nodded again. "You screw up, you're out."
Malfoy nodded, trying not to smile. "Okay, I understand."
He got up to go back to the Slytherin table, but Harry spoke up.
"Where are you going, Malfoy?"
"Over to...the Slytherin table?"
"Nope," Harry grinned. "My friends sit with me over here. Even Luna comes by sometimes."
Draco looked hesitantly from the Slytherin table and then back to the Gryffindor table. One symbolized past comfort, the other meant security for his future. He sat down next to Harry, and slowly picked up a fork to fill up his plate.
Harry clapped him on the shoulder, smirking. "That's it, Malfoy."
"Draco," He attempted a smile. "Friends...call me Draco."
Notes:
Some big plot points were started here, and I think this way I can write a redemption arc without being an apologist for the behavior. I think it's good to clarify here that Draco stopped being cannon after 2nd year, has made choices to be better, and has now apologized. But, if you still don't like Draco after that I completely understand. We're going back to Sirius and Remus now, and on to the second task!
Happy Reading!