By: CNJ
PG-13
3: Hearing of Malfoy
Harry:
Looking back on the seven-year conflict between Draco Malfoy and me, I guess I'd have to admit that we are both to blame. I was shaken up a little that Sunday after, but oddly relieved. I knew Malfoy's father was now in Azkaban for his part in the floo-jacking incident that took place last year; that much had been reported in the Daily Prophet. Malfoy's mum had not had a career and had mostly depended on Lucius for the family's income.
Now with Lucius being arrested almost two years ago, that was gone and I'd heard that Narcissa had to now live with her parents and Draco Malfoy had to go there for holidays, which I could tell didn't make him happy. Disgusted as his behavior often made me feel, I now realized that I pitied Malfoy, in fact his entire family; his dad had been an even bigger ass than his son and he'd passed a lot of his bigotry and snobbiness to Draco.
"You really should have kicked his ass," Ron told me at breakfast on Monday morning.
"What good what that have done?" I shrugged.
"He'd have quit harassing you, for starts."
"But then Harry would have gotten into trouble too," Hermione put in.
"It sure wouldn't have been worth it so close to graduation," Luna added.
"You know what Luna and I are going to do?" Ginny asked.
"What?" Hermione and I asked simultaneously.
"Miss you all next year when you're gone," Ginny's mouth drooped.
"We'll miss you too," I told her.
"Let's all promise to owl often," Hermione told us. We did.
"Speaking of owls, the mail's here," Neville looked up.
Sure enough, owls floated toward the tables from the ceiling. I got a reply from my aunt and we got the announcement that our Enlightenment Ceremony was on Friday, May 6. The Enlightenment is a formal ceremony welcoming sorcerers into adulthood that all seventh years go through.
There was also the formal announcement of the exchange trip that the seventh years were taking to the United States to visit a wizard/witch school in New York City, the Shankspell Academy of Sorcerery. That trip will be over spring break in April. The whoops and cheers of several seventh years bounced up and down the Great Hall. A last letter plopped down in front of me and opening it, I gasped a little when I saw it was a notice to report to McGonagall's office tomorrow at two.
"It's Malfoy's hearing," I said, my brows taught in worry. "I'm...I'm...supposed to testify." Hermione reached over and touched my slightly shaking hand. Then we all looked over at the space at the Slytherin table where Malfoy once sat.
"Well, you can kick his arse verbally," Ron grinned. "Just tell it like it is and don't mince words."
"I'll try," I tried to relax. "I'm...kind of feeling bad for Malfoy...I know he acted like an asshole most of the time we knew him, but I think of his home situation and his awful dad..." I shook my head sadly.
"Still doesn't excuse the crap that he pulled, especially on you," Ron stated. "I mean, look at all you went through with your nasty aunt and uncle before you met your great-aunt Miranda. You didn't use that as an excuse to act like a centauri's behind." We laughed a little then, then got ready for class.
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I tried to put Malfoy and the hearing out of my mind and just concentrated on my classes. I turned in the Women's Suffrage paper and the professor beamed, pleased that I'd turned it in early. McGonagall reminded us of the huge final exam in Transfiguration and we all groaned predictably. The day sped by and as I headed upstairs to change after classes, I heard a little voice calling me. I looked around, startled a minute with one foot on the winding staircase, then saw the source of the voice.
"Oh...hello, Dobby," I greeted.
"Hellooo, Harry," Dobby smiled up at me. "Dobby just wants you to know that Dobby will be at Mr. Malfoy's hearing and will testify in your defense."
"Thank you." I started up and Dobby bounced up beside me. "I got a letter to come too." I fished it out of my pocket and showed it to Dobby.
"Dobby receives like letter too. Dobby is forever grateful to you for freeing him from the Malfoys back in your second year when you were still a child. It gives Dobby pleasure to see what a mature young man you've grown into."
"Thanks..." I blushed.
"Must go and help with supper, will see you tomorrow." With that Dobby leaped back down the stairs and vanished through a side door that only house elves can fit through. I smiled softly and headed to our dormitory. In the dorm room, I dumped my books and quills beside my bed, letting out my breath. At first, I thought I was the first one here, but then sensed another presence. It was confirmed when I saw a movement at Ron's bed.
"Ron?" I called. I headed over. The curtain was partially open and sure enough, Ron was there. But he was hunched over a letter and his shoulders seemed to be...heaving some and his breathing was ragged. "What's...?" Ron looked up and I was surprised to see tears in his eyes. Ron rarely cries. "What's the matter?" I asked in alarm.
"I...didn't get in..." Ron took a deep, shaky breath.
"Oh, dear..." I then knew it was a college rejection. "Which one?"
"Bartmey..." Ron struggled to hold back his tears, but they spilled over anyway. My heart went out to him.
"Oh, dear, I'm so...sorry..." I told him softly. Quickly I put a silencing charm around the bed, so others coming in wouldn't hear us. I knew Ron would be mortified if anyone else saw him in tears. I then put a tentative hand on his shoulder.
I guess that got to Ron because he dissolved into tears and I encouraged him to lean on me and let it out. He'd done the same for me so many times when I'd needed to cry over these past seven years, so now it was my turn. After a few minutes, Ron's tears had slowed and I handed him tissues. "Feeling better?" Ron shrugged. "You haven't heard from Braxton or Hazelfield, have you?"
"No..."
"You still have those two you're likely to get into," I said softly. "And besides, Braxton U. was impressed by your Quidditch record. Braxton has a swell Quidditch team. Your NEWT scores were good too." Ron nodded, seeming calmer. We'd taken the NEWTS back in the fall. Two years ago, we'd also taken the OWLS as well.
"I guess I'd better get into either of those two or my dragon's cooked," Ron managed a weak laugh. I smiled a little too, knowing that he was feeling better. As I headed to my own bed, Ron called, "Harry...." I turned. "Thanks."
"Anytime." I went to my bed and worked on my homework until dinner.
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Tuesday I was too nervous to do anything with my lunch besides toy with my food. I'd been excused from class to testify. As I left, my friends called good luck. By the time I got to McGonagall's office, my hands were shaking and my legs felt rubbery. I felt a bit of the fear that I'd felt on Saturday night when Malfoy had cornered me in the loo. Relax, I commanded myself. Malfoy's being watched and the teachers are there too. Dobby met me outside the tall door and we smiled at each other.
"Come in, dears..." McGonagall looked out and waved us in. Much to my relief, Malfoy wasn't there. Several security aurors were there too and I swallowed when I saw a black-cloaked dementor in the corner. Dementors are really not pleasant creatures and I'd fainted the first time I saw one at the beginning of my third year. They used to guard Azkaban, but for the past two years it's regular aurors that guard Azkaban.
"So, Harry...all you will have to do is enter this pensieve and talk into this CD," Professor McGonagall explained. "Since Mr. Malfoy's hearing is a closed one, that will be your testimony. You too, Dobby." I let out my breath in relief. So I wouldn't have to testify with Malfoy's cold gray eyes glaring at me. I shivered slightly, remembered that glare from Saturday and his threats.
"Don't be nervous, Harry," McGonagall stroked my back. "Just take some deep breaths and try not to shake so much." I nodded. Several security officers spoke, then several aurors. It turned out that Malfoy had broken the arm of one of them, had given another a moderate concussion, and put the crucio curse on several others. Three were still in the hospital recovering. Their testimony had been taken already.
Dobby described what he saw through the pensieve, then it was my turn. I told what I remembered and I was encouraged to see McGonagall smile and nod. I stammered quite a bit and my hands shook, but I got through it without an anxiety attack and sat back when I was done.
McGonagall added her piece last. What had happened when I was in the loo was that Dobby had gone to get McGonagall and the security. When the security came, Malfoy had tried to "casually" head back to his own dorm, but some of the security had caught up to him in the hall and that must have been when he'd yelled about it being a private matter between Potter and me.
The security had surrounded him, insisting on knowing what was going on and who was in danger. That's when Malfoy started swinging at them and one of the security had then summoned the aurors. When the aurors came, Malfoy had assaulted several of them physically and with the crucio curse
That's when McGonagall had come, stunned Malfoy and the aurors managed to bind Malfoy and levitate him away. Just as quickly as it had begun, it was over. I think all of us were relieved. McGonagall stroked my shoulder and smiled down at me. "Well done, Mr. Potter. You may head back to class now."
"Thank you." I had one more class, so I headed to it. As I walked down the hall, I passed another office and sure enough, Malfoy was being ushered in there with who I assumed to be his grandparents and a horde of aurors. He must be testifying too, I realized. My throat went dry as Malfoy saw me and his gray eyes grew hard with hatred. I'd been hoping to go by without him seeing me, but had no luck.
We stared at each other a long minute, Malfoy's eyes full of cold hatred and mine a bit sad, but mostly expressionless, I think. I felt no anger, no hatred, just plain pity and a trace of sadness. Sadness, I guess for him being lost and his soul being buried in hatred.
"Oh, it's you...Potter," he spat. "Come to gloat, you rotten bastard?"
"No, Malfoy," I said softly and sadly. "I just..."
"Then get your sorry behind out of my sight, you disgusting slime," Malfoy snapped.
"Draco, get in here..." I could hear his grandfather bark from the office.
"I'm very sorry things ended this way with us, Malfoy," I shook my head, then turned and fled down the hall, not looking back again as the aurors pushed Malfoy inside, I suspect to give him his final sentence.
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"So, did it...?" Ron asked at dinner.
"Yes, it's over," I finished another chicken piece. "He's out."
"Good." Luna nodded.
"Are you all right?" Hermione asked.
"I guess I will be," I told her.
"God, you're gloomy for someone whose worst enemy got his come-uppance," Ron quipped.
"I guess I am," I said sadly. "I really didn't wish this on Malfoy, even though he acted like an ass."
"Harry, Harry, you're a hopeless idealist," Ron laughed a little. "You try so hard to give even the worst idiots the benefit of the doubt. You even got all reflective over Malfoy ever since last November when he burned your album."
It was true. I guess Malfoy had done the worst thing that November day when he tossed my parents' photo album into one of the torches and burned it to ashes, bringing me to tears in front of everyone and humiliating me. I'd survived that stinging experience and had bounced back and that I guess when I realized that getting angry over Malfoy's behavior was counterproductive and useless.
"Either way, I'm glad it's over," Hermione added.
"Me too," I agreed.
And it was. I was relieved and ready to move on with my life, especially
getting ready for our last two months here at Hogwarts. There was
also next year when we'd be adults and move out on our own as well.
That was a new start to look forward to.
Copyright 2002 by CNJ