A/N: I was so excited to see some new names in the comments from last chapter (and of course, thrilled to see comments from my loyal readers as well). I'm really happy that chapter got such a good response.
Emowyen, Thank you! I get so excited when I hear from a new reader 😊 Thanks for commenting!
A fan, Right?! I think we need trumpets to commemorate this moment 😉
Ardentlyadmired, Yay! I'm glad it surprised you and you love 😊 Oh, and I'm really happy you like his lawyer since he's my own personal creation. He was fun to write. Can't wait to share more with you!
LadyL87, Thanks for sharing! I love when a reader tells me when they have a favorite chapter or a favorite part. Glad you liked how everything turned out with Ron. I couldn't bring myself to make him the bad guy in this story, because I do really like Ron (I just like Draco with Hermione better :D). Yeah, and I'm a sucker for Draco and Harry burying the hatchet and becoming friends too.
Lentreen, Haha, Ron is such a drama king (That's why Weasley is our king!) Thank you for reading and commenting. Sorry about making you wait for the chapters but I've been trying really hard to keep my updates consistent. Ah, I missed having Draco and Hermione face-to-face when I was writing these past few chapters. So sad that they couldn't see each other Hopefully, that will be remedied soon!
EStrunk, Lol, you pretty much just summed up my feelings about Ron. I really like it, especially when he proves himself to be a good friend, but yeah, sorry Ron, I prefer Draco with Hermione. Lol, yes, Steven is smitten with Luna (and rightfully so, she's awesome). He talks to Draco about how much he likes her in Chapter 21 and asks him for dating advice XD.
Go Ron! Nothing makes me happier than when Ron is a reasonable human (although I don't prefer him with Hermione). Still that was a very decent thing to do. I love that Steven was mad that Draco didn't tell him about that memory and I bought his explanation. Is Steven smitten with Luna?
Chelsea always, I'm really happy you thought Ron was true to character, and yes, we will be hearing more from Draco about everything we learned last chapter. I hope you like it!
A half an hour later, court had resumed, and everyone waited to see what Minister Shacklebolt would declare concerning the memory.
"After subjecting the memory of the late Bellatrix Lestrange to testing, the court has established that the memory is credible and relevant. It will be admitted into evidence for this case."
There was a mixture of cries throughout the courtroom, and Hermione was pleased to see McLaggen frown deeply, a vein pulsing in his forehead.
"Would the Prosecution like to question the Defendant regarding this memory?" Shacklebolt asked.
"Yes." McLaggen strode to the center of the room, and Draco was given a new dose of Veritaserum.
"Tell me, Mr. Malfoy," McLaggen folded his hands. "If the court will pardon my language, who was the 'Mudblood' that Bellatrix Lestrange referred to in that memory when she read your mind?"
"Hermione Granger," Draco said.
"And would that be the same Hermione Granger you were seen kissing several weeks ago?"
"Yes."
Hermione felt her face flush as murmurs broke out through the crowd. Of course, McLaggen wouldn't miss an opportunity to bring that up again.
"Interesting . . ." McLaggen sneered. "So just when did your obsession with Hermione Granger begin?"
Draco clenched his jaw. "I do not have an obsession with her."
"Perhaps infatuation would be a more appropriate word then?"
"That is not—"
"Objection," Steven stood up. "These questions are not relevant. The Prosecution is harassing the defendant."
"Sustained," Minister Shacklebolt said. "Inquisitor McLaggen, please limit your questions to topics pertaining to the case."
"My apologies, Minister," McLaggen said, raising a hand, "but I would merely like to point out to the court that the defendant has demonstrated unusual behavior towards Miss Granger in the past. He could be a danger to her if he is released."
"Mr. Malfoy," Shacklebolt said, "do you have any intention of harming Miss Hermione Granger?"
Draco shook his head. "No, of course not."
"Inquisitor McLaggen, do you have any more questions pertaining to the defendant's case?"
"No, Minister." McLaggen narrowed his eyes, then stepped down.
Hermione relaxed slightly as Steven finally approached Draco. However, she bit her lip as she scanned the Wizengamot. McLaggen had been aggressive and convincing when he'd first questioned Draco, just as she expected him to be. She only hoped Steven could do better.
"Mr. Malfoy," Steven said, facing Draco, "did you at one time consider yourself loyal to Voldemort's cause?"
"I did," Draco replied, his voice slightly shaky.
"And when was that?"
"When I was a child—before Voldemort's return. Then up until a few days after I actually became a Death Eater."
"And when did you start to doubt Voldemort's teachings?"
"When he commanded me to kill Dumbledore." Draco leaned forward, his voice stronger and steadier. "My doubts increased throughout my sixth year at Hogwarts until the night Dumbledore died. Then I no longer believed at all."
"Earlier today you told the court that you once felt excited about the thought of becoming a Death Eater. Is that how you felt when you actually took the Dark Mark?"
"No."
"So how did you feel then?"
"I felt a lot of different things." Draco squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. "I was nervous because I didn't know what Voldemort was going to ask me to do. I was angry because my father had been imprisoned. I felt proud because I was expected to take my father's place, but I was also worried I would let him down and Voldemort would hurt my mother." His voice was strained. "Mainly, I was scared because I knew I was at a crossroad and, either way, there'd be no going back."
Steven nodded. "You mentioned your father twice. Who were you more interested in pleasing, your father or Voldemort?"
"My father," Draco said without hesitation. "I always wanted to make my father proud. He believed in Voldemort, so I believed in him too." Draco shook his head. "I proclaimed my loyalty to Voldemort, but really, I was just loyal to my father."
"And now? Are still loyal to Voldemort's cause?"
"No."
"What about your father's beliefs and those of the Death Eaters? If they rose to power again, would you be inclined to join them?"
"I would not."
"Why is that?"
"What they believe . . . it's not what I believe anymore. I don't want to live in a world based on hate and fear."
"So, if you were pardoned of your charges, what would you want to do with your life?"
"I'd like to finish my education, if possible. I never attended my last year at Hogwarts, but Miss Granger was kind enough to lend me her old textbooks when she was my Inquisitor—"
A conspiratorial murmur broke throughout the courtroom as if lending someone one's textbooks was the height of passionately scandalous behavior. Hermione struggled not to laugh as Draco paused to scowl at the crowd.
"I've been studying them," Draco said, returning his gaze to Steven. "Eventually, I'd like to get a job where I could contribute to society."
Steven nodded encouragingly. Hermione was happy, but not surprised, that Draco's answers under the effects of Veritaserum matched what she had previously discussed with him when she was his Inquisitor.
"You mentioned Miss Granger," Steven said. "Could you tell me what Bellatrix Lestrange saw in your memory that caused her to threaten Miss Granger's life?"
Draco took a deep breath. "Hermione Granger and I had a conversation earlier that day in the Hogwarts library. I was at the lowest I'd been that whole year, sick over what I was going to have to do that night . . . And she said something to me that I couldn't stop thinking about."
"What did she say?"
"She said she didn't hate me."
"And why did that stay with you?"
"Because I knew she should have. Everything I'd said and done to her and her friends over the years . . . I'd just gotten into a horrible duel with Potter a few days earlier and almost really hurt him. I'm pretty sure she even knew I was up to something terrible that year." He shook his head. "But it didn't matter. She still didn't hate me. And then I realized, despite everything I'd been taught to believe about her, all the reasons I'd told myself why I should, I didn't hate her either."
"And how did you feel when Bellatrix Lestrange threatened Miss Granger's life?"
"Terrified for her." Draco swallowed. "I knew I wouldn't be able to help her even if I managed to get away from the Death Eaters. There's no way she would have trusted me enough to listen."
"Did that threat impact your actions?"
"Yes. There was a part of me that was already resigned to the fact I wouldn't live past that night. I knew I didn't have it in me to kill Dumbledore, and I was ready for it all to be over—I just hoped Snape would be able to protect my mother." Draco wrinkled his brow and stared off in the distance. "But when Bellatrix said that . . . I knew I had to try. It was strange, but I felt like Dumbledore would understand."
"I see . . ." Steven said gently. "And could you also tell me why you chose to help Miss Granger the evening she was being tortured at your family's house?"
"I don't know," Draco said, rubbing his shoulder. "I guess I felt guilty, like Bellatrix was making good on her threat to me the night Dumbledore died."
"Was that all?"
Draco shook his head. The room fell silent as everyone waited for him to continue.
Draco felt the Veritaserum working in his veins, and having no control to stop them, words spilled from his mouth. "It was because . . . she's everything . . . everything I could never be. We weren't friends—I wasn't even nice to her—but that doesn't mean I didn't see her . . . her cleverness, her kindness, her spirit." He looked down at his hands. "I couldn't bear to watch her fire be put out. I needed it. I needed her to remind me there was still something good left."
At his words, Hermione's heartbeat quickened. Ginny, who was seated next to her, grabbed her arm.
She'd never had anyone say something like that about her before. She never imagined someone would think that about her. Especially not Draco Malfoy, of all people. What was most amazing of all was that she knew he truly thought it. Veritaserum didn't lie.
When she'd become Draco's Inquisitor, she had slowly gotten to know him. To move past her resentment and learn who he really was. Now she realized, he'd known her all along.
Looking back, the way he'd kissed her all those weeks ago finally made sense. She'd thought it had been an impulse, a fluke . . . a mistake. But it was none of those things.
It was the truth.
Hermione ignored the buzz of whispers and gasps around her as she continued to stare at Draco. Suddenly, his troubled gray eyes met hers and held. Searching, apologizing even, pulling her toward him until she felt there was no one else in the room but the two of them.
"No further questions." Steven's voice broke their connection. Hermione turned to see Steven looking at her as he returned to his seat, a small smile on his face.
Draco was led from the stand as Shacklebolt stood up. "The Wizengamot will now deliberate."
A/N: What a spot to leave you, right? I'm heading to my social media RIGHT NOW to post a Chapter Preview that will reveal the outcome of the trial. It is obviously a SPOILER, so I will leave it up to you if you want to find out what happens now or wait until my next update 😉. Find me at:
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