Unexpected
After school reopened Harry felt the whole world was conspiring to make him commit suicide. He was still having dreams about a room in Ministry. His Occlumency lessons with Snape were just another name for torture sessions. He considered suggesting to Snape to marry Umbridge. Together they can surely manage to drive Harry to death. Something even Voldemort couldn't do. As he joined the Ron and Hermione for breakfast, He saw Hermione reading the Daily prophet while Ron was eating as usual.
"Lucius Malfoy has been sent to Azkaban" said Hermione in a low voice with her eyes glinting.
"What?" exclaimed Harry trying to snatch the newspaper from her. Even Ron had stopped eating to stare at them
TRESPASS AT MINISTRY
Lucius Malfoy, 45, of number nine, Malfoy manor, has appeared in front of the Wizengamot charged with trespass and attempted robberyand attack on watchwizard at the Ministry of Magic on 5th of January. Malfoy was arrested by Ministry of Magic watchwizard Roger Tralot, who found him attempting to force his way through a top‐security door at one oʹclock in the morning. Malfoy had also attacked the watchwizard as he tried to stop him and attempted to use an Unforgivable on him .Malfoy, who refused to speak in his own defence, was convicted on both charges and sentenced to five years in Azkaban.
"This is the same door Podmore had tried to break open" whispered Hermione casting a terrified look around.
"But I guess he didn't attack the watch wizards. So he escaped with lighter sentence" Said Harry deep lost in thoughts.
"But why did Malfoy do something so stupid? And 5 Years? I thought he will escape Azkaban with all the money he got. He is pretty high up in the Ministry. Got lot of friends you know" said Ron knowingly
"Maybe.. he does want to be in Azkaban" Said Harry slowly.
"Is he mental?" exclaimed Ron looking at him. He saw Hermione look at him with narrowed eyes
" And what makes you say that Harry" Asked Hermione.
He looked at her guiltily. He hadn't told about his dream about Malfoy to them. Harry knew Hermione will disapprove
"Well maybe Voldemort was not so happy that Malfoy had used his diary to open the Chamber of Secrets. He might have had other plans with it, you know. So maybe he got angry and tortured Malfoy. And maybe he forced Malfoy to trespass the ministry as a punishment." Mumbled Harry
"Oh so you mean to say Azkaban was better than You-know-who 's torture. Yes That might be true" said Ron slowly
" And maybe Harry has already seen all this in his dreams. And maybe you don't want to close your mind. Maybe you are not interested in learning occlumency" Hermione said as she continued glaring at Harry.
"You know Snape is not the best teacher for me. And I have just attended only one class. I cant learn it within one day Hermione" Harry said angrily.
Hermione looked pacified by his answer though she threw angry glances at him throughout their charm session in the morning. But Harry's mind had drifted to the Malfoys. Harry hadn't seen Draco and Estella during breakfast. He saw them during Care of Magical creatures. Hagrid was explaining about threshals while he surreptitiously threw glances at the Malfoy siblings. Draco looked in shock. Estella looked determined .She was exuding arrogance .He could almost see a trace of Bellatrix Lestrange on her face today .She looked scary ,an air of cruelty to her. She had out an arm around Draco and it seemed that her housemates were weary to talk to them.
The following days were filled with rumors of the Malfoy case. The siblings had been sent back to their home on exceptional leave. Harry saw the Malfoy family history splashed across the daily prophet. They seemed to be hell bent on diverting the attention from mass breakout in Azkaban. The Malfoys had requested for a retrial at the ministry and Lucius Malfoy had pleaded guilty by acting under the imperius Curse. The sentence was reduced to two years. Harry saw Estella 's face splashed across the front page along with their defensewizard. As he examined the photo in daily prophet, He could see Draco looking miserable as ever. Narcissa Malfoy had her head held high with arrogance on her face. But having known Estella for a while, he knew the fake expression that Narcissa had on her face. It was the same expression that Estella held after she had failed the practical exam for DADA last year. She had failed but she didn't let anyone know that.
Estella however looked determined. She had handled the press graciously releasing public statement on how her father had been "denied justice leaving our family devastated"
From what Harry had heard, it seemed that Lucius Malfoy was less than willing to defend himself. The Malfoy family had to throw considerable amount of money to get Mr. Nole Desyum , one of the renowned defensewizards to represent Malfoy. The press attention on the case was very high and Estella and Draco had given several interviews detailing what a wonderful father they have. Harry Snorted as he read those lies
"The way they describe Malfoy, you'd think he is an angel" Said Ron
"Angel in Azkaban" Said Harry with amusement
"But they have done a good job in confusing the public. They have given him an image of loving father who could do no wrong. It helped in the case" scoffed Hermione.
"Squib Malfoy should enter politics. Dad says she can charm anyone. She had paid a few visits to the ministry and Fudge seemed to be convinced Malfoy is innocent." Said Ron grumpily.
"Quite a charmer" mumbled Harry. Hermione gave him a puzzled look before going back to her breakfast.
As Harry thought about Estella, he wondered whether she had charmed him too. Had she faked it with him? So that she could get all information about the order from him. Was she interested in him only since she wanted to be the one to betray him to Voldemort? But she wasn't a death eater. She had been talking to him from their third year. Voldemort hadn't even risen then. The way she blushed, the way she smiled at him, their kiss, he didn't feel it was all an act. Or was it?
The next week both the Malfoy siblings had come back to Hogwarts. They looked happier than the last time Harry saw them. But the change was visible. Draco Malfoy no longer walked as though he owned the castle. He was subdued usually drawing less attention to himself. Estella on the other hand was having trouble controlling her temper. She had snapped at two second years for playing a prank on her and was compared to the Hungarian horntail. She was breathing fire at anyone who even dared to look at her.
"She has gone mental. That one. She had purposefully spilt her portion on me" ranted Ron who was sprouting tentacles on his head.
Harry and Hermione had taken him to the hospital wing after Snape told them that tentacles made him look better than his ginger hair.
"And Snape. I tell you. The man is in love with her. He even smiled at her. Have you ever seen him smile Harry?" Said Ron while Madam Pomfrey was applying the antidote lotion on his head. The tentacles were slowly disappearing to be replaced by ginger hair.
Yes Snape had given a faint smile at Estella after she told him " Sir, Weasley had asked my help to give him a portion to make him better looking. I did the best I could"
Snape had dismissed the class after congratulating her on her "excellent work"
Harry was boiling with anger as the slytherins howled with laughter
"I will kill her Harry. I really will" said Ron whose ears were red.
"I will help you" Said Harry who was trying to be supportive.
" Well she deserve to be punished for what she did but.."said Hermione slowly
Harry looked at her disbelievingly as Ron growled "Don't you dare tell me I deserve it Hermione"
"No No Ronald. But You shouldn't have insulted her family and provocated her. Yes Lucius malfoy deserves to rot in hell but that's not what you tell his children. And I certainly do not appreciate the comments you made on Narcisaa Malfoy. I think your mother would agree with me on that" Said Hermione nastily
"I cant believe you" Said Ron "You heard what she said"
As his friends continued bickering, he felt sorry for Ron. But even he agreed Hermione had a point. But Estella was vicious in attacking Ron. She sang Weasley is our King song which drove Ron off the edge.
Harry closed his eyes. Estella was not herself lately. She had become something like a ticking bomb. As a matter of fact, the word was Harry was the only person in Hogwarts who had more anger management issues than Estella at the moment. Considering that his temper was the same as voldemort's temper, Estella needed help.
As the homework piled up, DA meetings were less frequent. He and Cho had shared a couple of glances at each other, both blushing. He didn't get much of a chance to talk to her. He tried to talk to her during the last DA ,meeting but she got nervous and she mishit the spell causing the room to be on fire. He kept his distance from her since he didn't want her to be nervous and he was scared she might cry. She still cried a lot judging by her eyes. Harry felt annoyed at times. Why was she crying? She had him. Wasn't he enough?
Harry was looking at his marauder map after his DA meeting. Filch seemed to be always on his trail. After the last group left safely to their common room, Harry came with Ron and Hermione to the Gryffindor tower. As Harry looked in the map, he saw Estella Malfoy sitting in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. His mind was telling him not to go. It was too risky with Filch still looking for him. But his madness got the better of him as he sneaked off to find her in his invisibility cloak.
As expected Harry saw Estella brewing a portion that looked bubbling green in the bathroom. Harry had known that she used to sneak off in the nights to do experiments on potion ever since the second year. Hermione had even sneaked out some polyjuice portion from the bathroom while Harry and Ron distracted Estella. Harry wondered how Estella knew about the secret passage from slytherin common room to Myrthle's bathroom. He assumed that Salazar slytherin had made the passage so that his heir can have easy access to the chamber of secrets. But how she found it was still a mystery.
Harry pulled out his invisibility cloak. Estella was so immersed in potion making that she didn't notice him. Harry cleared his throat to gain attention. She gasped on seeing the intruder. Then she went back to brewing the potion without another word .Harry looked around awkwardly before perching on the edge of the kitchen sink, which was the entrance to the chamber of secrets. Trying to ignore the fact that he was sitting on top of some dirty secret chamber, he looked over to Estella. She had tied up her hair in a bun; Harry could see her face was flushed from the heat coming out of the potion.
"Need any help?" asked Harry awkwardly.
Estella looked at him as though he had turned into a Blast ended skerwt. "You are pathetic in potions" She snorted.
"Why are you here Potter? Came to gloat over the fact that my father is in prison? Or came to offer fake sympathy? I have no time for both. So you may leave" said Estella nastily. She glared at him for a moment before going back to her potion.
Nice way to start the conversation, thought Harry. He considered leaving her alone. He didn't even know why he had come. It just seemed like one of his mad ideas.
"You should also leave. Filch might come and catch you" said Harry
"Oh he doesn't mind. We have an arrangement" Smirked Estella.
Harry was bewildered. He couldn't believe Estella had made some deal with Filch . The man hated students. How could anyone strike a deal with the devil?
"what… arrangement ?" stuttered Harry
" I can use this place for potion making as long as I supply him the kneeswud potion" said Estella looking proud
" What is kneeswud potion?" asked Harry
"My own invention. I am not giving you details Potter. Its between me and Filch" snapped Estella.
"Maybe I should make an arrangement with him as well" said Harry who was having idea to blackmail Filch.
Seeing the devilish look on his face, Estella responded "If you even think of trying to blackmail Filch, I might well give him one of my memory regarding a kiss in the train. I assume that the Dark lord will shower Weasel with presents for murdering you after he sees your actions"
"And you think Voldemort will not kill you for that? I expect you to be dead before me" Said Harry coldly
" Do I look like someone who cares, Potter? I don't care what people think of me anymore. Nor am I scared of the Dark Lord. He has done the worst. He has broken my family" said Estella with hatred laced in her voice
"Malfoy's sentence got reduced. Moreover maybe prison is safer for him" Said Harry carefully.
Estella looked up from her potion. Their eyes met. He felt as though she was trying to read his mind.
"you always know more than you ought to know Potter. Keep your nose off the things that doesn't concern you. You will live longer" said Estella
" I think the lives of men whose mission is to kill me does concern me Malfoy" replied Harry. Estella remained silent.
"what potion are you making? " asked Harry just to keep talking
"Polyjuice potion. I had used up the last batch. Potion brewing relaxes me" said Estella. Harry thought it was weird. Potion and relaxation just didn't mix.
"I thought watching me flying relaxed you" Said Harry with a smile. Estella just looked at him and continued making potion. She was in a silent mood today
"How did you manage to get Malfoy off the hook?" asked Harry bluntly. He had tried to broach the subject subtly. But that was not working. And subtle conversations were never his forte. So he decided to ask her directly.
"Very poor conversation skills Potter. That mouth of yours will get you killed one day" Said Estella who looked mildly amused at his bluntness
" So are you going to tell me? I wont be able to change the ministry decision anyway. I am their number one enemy" Said Harry
"yeah in know that. Fudge told me that you were a nutter. He actually believes it too. He's got a point " Said Estella
" Charmed the minister as well I see. I heard you charmed half of the ministry and wizengamot" Said Harry bitterly. But as soon as he said it, he regretted it. He shouldn't have said that. Why?
Estella's eyes flashed. She looked at him with fury clear on her face " So that's what you think Potter? You with your self righteous beliefs that you know everyone. You think you have the right to judge anyone and only you are right. You call us prejudiced against mudboods. But what are you? You have been prejudiced against the slytherins for years. You think we are all death eaters ,mudblood haters who have no morals " Said Estella with her voice raising
" I have been trying to be civil to you. I believed you even when your housemates deserted you. I have tried to be a good friend to you. I have kept secrets for you. I never told anyone about that damn map and cloak you have. And you think I am some scarlet woman who has charmed her way into the ministry. Draco was right. You are a git" Said Estella with cold fury radiating from her
She seemed to be panting. Her anger had slightly lessened after the rant but she still looked like a snake wanting to bite him. Harry suddenly realized she had taken his comment in the wrong way. But to be honest, a small part of him had accused her for being a scarlet woman.
"Sorry" said Harry genuinely." I didn't mean it like that. I thought your family bribed the ministry. Nothing else. You are not scarlet woman and you are not death eater either. I know that" Harry went red
"Oh" said Estella looking confused
They looked at each other for a moment. Then Estella spoke.
" Yes I bribed" she said quietly
"Not you. Your family I guess" replied Harry
Estella looked as though she was struggling whether to speak or not. After a long moment she came to a decision and started to speak
"Draco and mother had the easy life Potter. Father took care of everything. The Malfoy name was enough to get perks in every office. So once he was gone, Mother was a mess. Many of our family friends deserted us. I think that hit her hard. She was used to people bowing before her. Suddenly she had to bow. Draco was in shock for days. He didn't think anyone had the guts to put father in jail. That left me only. I couldn't sit in shock or wail around for the misfortune. I had no choice. Someone had to pick up the pieces." She sighed
Harry listened intently letting her speak. She seemed to forget that he was there. It was as if she was speaking to herself
"Professor Snape called me up and helped me to appoint Mr. Nole Desyum. He is the best in the business. We had to pay a hefty sum. Not that gold matters. We got challenge was to convince the ministry to give a re-trial. Father was in good terms with Fudge and some other officials. But once you are having a bad time, they will distance themselves from you ..politics. We had to bribe, manipulate and beg people to get them on our side"
" And I suppose you did the begging while Snape manipulated and bribed?"Questioned Harry
" I did what was necessary at the time Potter. I did what I could do for my family. The Malfoy surname still helps to get what you want. " said Estella
"I read your interview. " said Harry evenly
" Had a laugh I suppose" Shot back Estella
"Well lines like 'I am always his little girl, his favorite ' is hard to digest when I know the truth" replied Harry
" he loves me" Said Estella as though trying to convince herself " Father was not close to me as compared to what he was with he had his reasons. I am almost a squib. There have been several occasions where I have embarrassed him due to my poor magical skills. But he is still my father. He might have many faults Potter but I love Him"
"Everything will be alright" Said Harry lamely. It was a line that people told him when he was down. He never believed them but somehow those words would always come true
"Unless you plan to kill the Dark Lord this year, I don't see that happening" said Estella evenly
"I will try" said Harry with a smile. " Good to know that you are starting to sound more like yourself now. People had started to compare you to a ticking bomb"
"Oh I didn't know that I had stolen your title." Smirked Estella. "Anyway what's the point crying over it? After the initial shock, I am starting to see the truth. Dementers have left Azkaban. So father will be in a cell alive and fed. That is better than getting killed during his missions for his master or worse, killed by the master himself"
"Yeah its better that he wont be able to kill anyone as well" snapped Harry. "You should try talking some sense into him"
"Being a death eater is a lifetime service Potter. Either you kill or die .if you are lucky you end up in Azkaban. Father seems to understand that. Maybe that's why he didn't want to defend himself" Estella said thoughtfully.
" what are you making? " Harry asked pointing to the potion.
Estella seemed to snap out of her reverie ." I told you. Polyjuice potion , you idiot."
"I am not an idiot. You don't add 8 mandrake nuts to Polyjuice potion. I have gone through the recipe" snapped Harry
Estella looked mildly impressed.
"this is my version of polyjuice . I have added some ingredients to make it last longer. Four vials for 2 hours as compared to the standard one of seven vials for an hour" glowed Estella
She placed the lid on the potion and Harry helped her to hide it into the cubicle. Just as he was about to leave Estella asked him,
"why did you come here Potter?"
Harry looked at her. His brain seemed to be frozen giving him no satisfactory answer
" To annoy you" Harry replied lamely.
"goodnight Potter" Estella said with a knowing smile. Harry didn't like that smile. It was as though she knew why he came