AN: Hello lovely readers! I told myself I was done, but then this plot bunny popped into my head and wouldn't go away. So I started writing and couldn't seem to stop.
Here's the deal – Lost Souls of Nott Castle (LSNC) is actually complete. It's 43 chapters (if I don't make major changes as I edit) I will not commit to a posting schedule, but I do promise not to leave you hanging on this one. : ) Also, I do not have a beta reader, so any mistakes you find are mine.
I love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to leave me reviews as you read. Typically I don't respond unless there is a direct question asked.
Rated M for sex, language, violence, etc.
This is a story about friendship, romance, mystery and following your heart, even if you don't know where it will lead you.
Lost Souls of Nott Castle
Chapter One – The Advocate
Draco Malfoy stood in the center of the round courtroom. In the stands before him sat the Wizengamot, ready to pass judgment on him for his sins.
The war was over. The good guys had won. Unfortunately for Draco, his parents had aligned themselves with the wrong side, and they had dragged their only son along for the ride. He did not realize that he was on the wrong side until he was tasked with an impossible mission and branded with a mark that he never wanted. At that point it was too late for him. His fate was sealed.
He knew he was going to Azkaban. The only question in his mind, in anyone's mind, was for how long. It would not surprise him at all if they told him he would be sentenced to that rock for the rest of his life, though he did hope for some leniency. He had freely admitted to everything that he had done. He knew he could not hide it, even if he tried, as most of his actions were common knowledge, so he hadn't even tried.
Suddenly there was movement behind him. He could hear someone moving in the audience chamber. Then he sensed someone directly behind him.
"Please, if you would permit me, I would like to speak on his behalf."
He knew that voice. His blood ran cold. What in the bloody fuck was she doing there?
He did not look at her. He didn't dare. He kept his eyes straight forward. His hands clenched into fists. There would be no leniency once she described the way he had treated her for the past seven years. It was over.
"We'll allow it," Kingsley Shacklebolt said after a moment of deliberation, and Draco's heart dropped.
"Thank you." She stepped forward to stand beside him. He kept his eyes facing forward and concentrated on his breathing. It would not do him any good to have a panic attack in front of the court.
"Please state your name for the record," Shacklebolt asked.
"Hermione Granger," she answered clearly.
There was a murmur that ran through the courtroom that told him those that did not know her at least knew her name. Of course. She was famous now, didn't you know?
"Miss Granger, please continue."
"Sir. Draco Malfoy and I have known each other since we were eleven years old. We met on the Hogwart's Express on our inaugural trip to Hogwart's. I think I speak for both of us when I say that we disliked each other immediately." She paused to take a deep breath and her eyes flicked towards him for the briefest of moments. "I can tell you that while Malfoy is certainly unpleasant, he is not evil."
She pulled a vial of clear liquid from her pocket and held it in front of her.
"I present to you memories that were given freely by Professor Snape before his death. These memories show that Draco was forced to take the Dark Mark against his will, as punishment for his Father's failure in a task given to him by Voldemort. As his first assignment, he was tasked with repairing the vanishing cabinet at Hogwart's to allow Death Eaters to enter school grounds, and to murder Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. These memories show that he was not meant to complete nor survive these tasks. He was threatened not only with his life, but also the life of his mother if...when he failed." She cleared her throat before going on. "You will also see the punishment he received for not completing the second part of his task."
Draco felt himself tensing as his own memories of that day flooded his mind.
"We will review the memories. Do you have anything further to add?"
She cleared her throat and he could see her tilt her chin up ever so slightly.
"Yes. During the time that Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and I were searching for a way to defeat Voldemort, we were captured by snatchers and taken to Malfoy Manor. I disguised Harry with a stinging hex and gave them a false name for myself. When we arrived at the Manor, Draco was asked to identify us. He knew who we were, but he lied and said he couldn't be sure if it was us or not." She took another shaky breath, and he found himself holding his. "By lying, it gave Harry and Ron a chance to come up with an escape plan. That act alone likely saved our lives."
Silence settled over the room as the impact of what could have happened instead settled into everyone's mind.
"Mr. Malfoy, is Miss Granger correct? Did you know their true identities at the time?" Shacklebolt asked him.
"Yes," he answered. Even if he wanted to lie, the veratiserum he had taken prior to the trial would have made it impossible. "I knew it was them."
A murmur ran through the ranks of the Wizengamot.
"Miss Granger, thank you for your testimony. If you would please wait outside while we confer."
"Of course." She turned to leave and for the first time her eyes landed on him.
The dark rings under her eyes gave him pause. He wondered if they were there because of the war, or because of her decision to stand up for him that day.
As she exited out the back of the room, Draco was led to a holding room off to the side. He assumed they were reviewing the memories that she had submitted. It was almost an hour later before he was led back into the room. She was standing there already, waiting.
"Miss Granger, do you stand by your testimony today?" Shacklebolt's voice was harder than it had been. His eyes drilled into the witch that was standing next to him.
"Yes, of course," she answered easily. She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin.
Shacklebolt cleared his throat.
"It is your opinion, then, that young Mr. Malfoy is not a danger to others?"
"No, I don't think he is a danger at all." Her head tilted to the side and her eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
Draco held his breath, wondering where this line of questioning was going and finally allowing himself to hope that he would not go to Azkaban after all.
"Very well. It is our decision that Mr. Draco Malfoy will be on probation for no less than eighteen months. During this time, Miss Hermione Granger will vouch for his actions. Both parties will be held responsible for any transgressions. This court is adjourned."
The shackles around his wrists and ankles disappeared and the Wizengamot filed out one by one.
Hermione turned to him slowly. Her face was pale. Her hands clenched into fists. Her eyes narrowed.
"I swear to Merlin, if you land me in Azkaban, you won't need to worry about the dementors because I'll kill you myself," she practically growled. Then she stormed past him and out the door before he even processed what had just happened.
He was free.
He was on probation, but he was not fated to Azkaban.
She had just saved him from a fate worse than death.
"What in Merlin's name were you thinking?" Ron yelled so loud that his voice echoed off the walls of the Burrow. His face was etched with fury. His hands practically vibrating with rage.
"I was thinking that he saved our lives! He doesn't deserve Azkaban." She had been right in her assumption that they wouldn't understand. That's why she didn't tell them what she was doing before she went to the Ministry. Now that it was done, though, she figured she should tell them before they heard it elsewhere.
To say they had not taken her announcement well was an understatement.
For the first time ever, the Weasley home was silent. Harry, Ron, Ginny, Molly, Arthur and George all glared at her with such an intensity she could actually feel their hatred rolling off of them in waves.
"Yeah, and Fred didn't deserve to die either, but here we are." Ginny's words cut like a knife through the tension in the room.
"Get out of our home, Hermione," Molly growled. "Get out and never come back."
Her eyes flitted around the room, landing on Harry. She waited to see if he would stick up for her. A slight shake of his head gave her the answer.
"Fine." She took a deep breath. "Okay. I'll just get my things."
She moved towards the staircase, but Ginny stepped in front of her.
"Just go," she demanded.
Hermione started to argue, but as she turned around the room she saw at least four wands aimed her direction. She didn't think any of them would harm her, but she knew they were going to need some time. She swallowed thickly, turned and walked out the door with nothing but her wand and the clothes on her back.
The night air was warm and there was a slow drizzling rain falling as she walked down the pathway to the edge of the wards. She had no idea where she would go or what she would do now. Despite that, she couldn't bring herself to feel bad about testifying for Malfoy. It was the right thing to do, and she knew she would do it again in a heartbeat.
The terms of his probation were relatively simple. He had a probation officer that he had to meet with every week. His wand would be checked for traces of dark magic. If any were found, his probation would be revoked and he (and Granger) would be sent to Azkaban.
"I don't understand why she did it, though." He put his head in his hands and leaned his elbows on the table.
"You saved her arse, she saved yours. I'd say you're even, mate." Blaise tipped back his butterbeer.
"I'd hardly say I saved her arse," he groaned. "I stood by and watched my crazy aunt torture her."
His stomach turned just thinking about it. That was one of the worst days of his life. And she had made him out to be some kind of a hero or something.
"Who cares? You're free. Isn't that all that matters?" Theo could always be counted on to be a voice of reason.
The three of them were sitting at a corner table at the Leaky Cauldron, celebrating Draco's new found freedom.
"I guess," he finally admitted that they might be right. She was a bleeding heart Gryffindor, not a Slytherin. She was not thinking about how she could use this against him in the future. Probably.
Maybe.
"Well, well, well," Blaise grinned. "If it isn't the woman of the hour."
Draco followed his line of sight to the door. Granger had just walked in. She was wearing the same clothes that she had on that morning. Her hair was a wild mess. Her shoulders were slumped. Her eyes held a lost look as she stumbled towards the bar.
He watched as she talked to the bar keep. The man shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. She slumped even further onto the stool, her head falling into her hands.
It was late. The place was nearly deserted.
Draco took a deep breath before pushing his chair back from the table and standing up. Before he could talk himself out of it, he crossed the room and slid onto the barstool next to her.
"Granger."
She glanced over at him, took a deep breath, and sank even further into herself.
"Malfoy."
He was taken aback by the tone of defeat in her voice.
"I just wanted to say thank you." He cleared his throat and turned to face her.
She hesitated a long moment before releasing a shaky breath.
"Glad I could help," she told him.
She certainly didn't sound like she was glad. She sounded like she was about to burst into tears at any moment.
He took in her appearance once again. This time he saw that her eyes were tinged red, her hands were shaking, and she looked even paler than normal.
"You're welcome to join us, if you'd like." He had no idea where that had come from, but now that it was out there he held his breath waiting for her response. He wasn't sure if he was hoping she would accept or that she would decline.
"I can't," she replied. "I need to find a room for the night, and it's only getting later."
His brow furrowed for a moment.
"See you around, Malfoy." She stood and walked away before giving him a chance to reply.
He watched her go, wondering idly about how strange that encounter had been. Then he returned to his friends, to his celebration, and thought no more about it.
AN: Disclaimer - I have no idea why this chapter is displaying in all bold text. The preview is not like that, but the published chapter is. I added a couple of horizontal lines to see if that helps. Otherwise, just know I tried. LOL