I own only Erik, Layla and Estelle and I suppose Draco's new personality.
Did Harry Potter kill Amelia Thomas? The horrible question swirled around in Draco's head for the next few days. He had tried asking Ron who had simply pleaded with Draco not to ask and refused to say anything. It was no use, he would never be able to work it out. He would just have to ask Harry the next time he saw him. It was a horrifying thought, accusing the wizard's hero of murder but Draco knew his mind could not rest until he knew for sure either way.
Teaching was proving to be no great challenge to Draco but now that he was occupied by the possibility of the nation's hero being a murderer, he was absolutely useless. He knew that at least one parent had complained about him and it was probable that more would but he simply couldn't find the motivation to teach properly when Harry might be a killer. It was the one thing that he had never thought that Harry would be. Even during the war Harry always tried to capture the enemy rather than kill them. Draco had only heard of Harry killing one person in the whole time that the war went on and that was only because he was completely trapped and was about to be killed himself. He simply couldn't believe Harry would reduce himself to use the death curse on people as stupid as Crabbe and Goyle. It somehow seemed beneath him. In the lead up to Christmas Draco spent his time investigating the case as though he was an Auror. One day after reading a book on the war he realised that there was no other explanation and no other alternative. The only person it could have been was Harry and he had no alibi for that day. Too bad Hermione hadn't done some detective work. She was slipping if Draco could work it out and she couldn't. Suddenly confirming Harry's guilt by confession was of the utmost importance to Draco. He didn't know when Harry would next be at Hogwarts and didn't know where he was to travel by Floo powder. It would have to be by owl. Draco sat down and began to write.
Dear Mr Potter,
No, that wasn't how you addressed a murderer.
To Harry Potter,
In some way that wasn't right either. It was most mystifying as Draco had never had problems writing letters before. In the end he decided to address him as just Harry. After this the rest of the letter just seemed to flow out of the quill. He sent it off as soon as possible and within hours he received a reply. With trembling fingers he tore it open and pulled out the parchment within.
Mr Malfoy I will tell you now that I was indeed present at the time that Amelia Thomas was murdered. I was duelling with your old friends Crabbe and Goyle when she happened to cross the path of the Avada Kedavra curse that Goyle sent at me. I had nothing to do with the killing of Amelia and went back for her body afterwards. I told Hermione I had found her but did not say that I had been present at her murder. I would appreciate it very much if you would refrain from mentioning this to anyone. Sincerely Harry Potter
Draco read the letter with growing shock and concern. Hermione never ever suspected. Hastily he scribbled another letter to Harry. Hermione had to know the truth about her daughter's death if she was ever going to move on. Harry would be less than pleased when he read this letter but that was just too bad. He had kept this secret for years and forced Ron to keep it as well. It was clearly killing Ron to keep such a secret from one of his best friends to protect the other. And it would kill Draco as well which was something that he wasn't prepared to do now that he had rediscovered his purpose in life.
Harry, I apologise for what I am about to do but I feel I have no choice. If you do not inform Hermione of what really happened by the Christmas holidays then I will tell her once school comes back. Sincerely Draco
There was only three days left until the holidays when Draco finally received a reply. The parchment simply stated that Harry had told Hermione who was now extremely upset and was already at home being comforted by Dean. Draco knew he should feel guilty but somehow he just couldn't. He felt that at last Harry had done the right thing and that three men could now move on with their lives. Ron, when Draco saw him, was torn between delight and anguish. He was clearly thrilled that Harry had finally told the truth but it tore him up inside to see Hermione so distressed. He had turned out to be a very good man Draco thought to himself. Ron isn't afraid to show his emotions but when something needs to be done, he willingly does it. Ron had matured so much from the wimpy Hogwarts student that was always in the shadow of the great Harry Potter. Instead of remaining in that shadow Ron had broken away from Harry and created a new life where Harry didn't always come first. It was something that Draco always wanted to do but now he didn't think he would. Ron had discovered that he could live without Harry beside him but still more than anything Draco wanted Paula beside him. And there wasn't a damn thing he could do to get her back.
Did Harry Potter kill Amelia Thomas? The horrible question swirled around in Draco's head for the next few days. He had tried asking Ron who had simply pleaded with Draco not to ask and refused to say anything. It was no use, he would never be able to work it out. He would just have to ask Harry the next time he saw him. It was a horrifying thought, accusing the wizard's hero of murder but Draco knew his mind could not rest until he knew for sure either way.
Teaching was proving to be no great challenge to Draco but now that he was occupied by the possibility of the nation's hero being a murderer, he was absolutely useless. He knew that at least one parent had complained about him and it was probable that more would but he simply couldn't find the motivation to teach properly when Harry might be a killer. It was the one thing that he had never thought that Harry would be. Even during the war Harry always tried to capture the enemy rather than kill them. Draco had only heard of Harry killing one person in the whole time that the war went on and that was only because he was completely trapped and was about to be killed himself. He simply couldn't believe Harry would reduce himself to use the death curse on people as stupid as Crabbe and Goyle. It somehow seemed beneath him. In the lead up to Christmas Draco spent his time investigating the case as though he was an Auror. One day after reading a book on the war he realised that there was no other explanation and no other alternative. The only person it could have been was Harry and he had no alibi for that day. Too bad Hermione hadn't done some detective work. She was slipping if Draco could work it out and she couldn't. Suddenly confirming Harry's guilt by confession was of the utmost importance to Draco. He didn't know when Harry would next be at Hogwarts and didn't know where he was to travel by Floo powder. It would have to be by owl. Draco sat down and began to write.
Dear Mr Potter,
No, that wasn't how you addressed a murderer.
To Harry Potter,
In some way that wasn't right either. It was most mystifying as Draco had never had problems writing letters before. In the end he decided to address him as just Harry. After this the rest of the letter just seemed to flow out of the quill. He sent it off as soon as possible and within hours he received a reply. With trembling fingers he tore it open and pulled out the parchment within.
Mr Malfoy I will tell you now that I was indeed present at the time that Amelia Thomas was murdered. I was duelling with your old friends Crabbe and Goyle when she happened to cross the path of the Avada Kedavra curse that Goyle sent at me. I had nothing to do with the killing of Amelia and went back for her body afterwards. I told Hermione I had found her but did not say that I had been present at her murder. I would appreciate it very much if you would refrain from mentioning this to anyone. Sincerely Harry Potter
Draco read the letter with growing shock and concern. Hermione never ever suspected. Hastily he scribbled another letter to Harry. Hermione had to know the truth about her daughter's death if she was ever going to move on. Harry would be less than pleased when he read this letter but that was just too bad. He had kept this secret for years and forced Ron to keep it as well. It was clearly killing Ron to keep such a secret from one of his best friends to protect the other. And it would kill Draco as well which was something that he wasn't prepared to do now that he had rediscovered his purpose in life.
Harry, I apologise for what I am about to do but I feel I have no choice. If you do not inform Hermione of what really happened by the Christmas holidays then I will tell her once school comes back. Sincerely Draco
There was only three days left until the holidays when Draco finally received a reply. The parchment simply stated that Harry had told Hermione who was now extremely upset and was already at home being comforted by Dean. Draco knew he should feel guilty but somehow he just couldn't. He felt that at last Harry had done the right thing and that three men could now move on with their lives. Ron, when Draco saw him, was torn between delight and anguish. He was clearly thrilled that Harry had finally told the truth but it tore him up inside to see Hermione so distressed. He had turned out to be a very good man Draco thought to himself. Ron isn't afraid to show his emotions but when something needs to be done, he willingly does it. Ron had matured so much from the wimpy Hogwarts student that was always in the shadow of the great Harry Potter. Instead of remaining in that shadow Ron had broken away from Harry and created a new life where Harry didn't always come first. It was something that Draco always wanted to do but now he didn't think he would. Ron had discovered that he could live without Harry beside him but still more than anything Draco wanted Paula beside him. And there wasn't a damn thing he could do to get her back.