Disclaimer: See Chapter One!!!!
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.:Chapter Two ¡V Innocent:.
He hated them all.
Draco Malfoy regarded the rest of the students body in the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with dislike as he sat, alone and separated from all other students, picking at his food during dinner one November Friday night during his seventh year. He suddenly stabbed at his sausage savagely, and Crabbe and Goyle, who were both sitting near by, and though forbidden to go near him by Malfoy himself, jumped, then somehow appeared to be very interested in their long-empty plates as Draco glared at them.
He didn¡¦t understand. After all these months, these two years, he still felt furious with everyone ¡V everyone who didn¡¦t believe him, who believed the hero to be a murderer, who forgot all that he did for the wizarding world and took to despising him instead. Why didn¡¦t they believe him? He had sounded so sincere, so frightened, so helpless, so scared¡K
He still remembered, the night when he found Harry, trembling, crouching, crying under a large oak tree by lake. His hatred for the Golden Boy, back then, had already lessened ¡V he had heard of the poor boy¡¦s encounter and his misfortune, and he had felt sorry for him. His heart took such a turn for Lucius¡¦ step sister, Cheryl Malfoy, had taught the once cold family how to love, to pity, to care.
¡§Potter?¡¨
Their conversation that night still rang clear in his ears.
¡§Potter, what¡¦s wrong? Are you okay?¡¨ Draco stood near the other, not daring to go any nearer.
Harry suddenly stopped sniffing, and looked up. His emerald eyes were filled with tears, with a lost look about them, as he whispered, ¡§I didn¡¦t do it.¡¨
¡§Didn¡¦t do what?¡¨ Draco took a tiny step Harry.
¡§I didn¡¦t kill them¡K I didn¡¦t murder them¡K I didn¡¦t¡K I didn¡¦t!!¡¨ Harry¡¦s voice shook as emotions over took him.
Draco went over and knelt beside him. ¡§Calm down, Po- Harry. Tell me what¡¦s going on.¡¨
Harry had poured out his entire soul to him, telling of his fears, of how one day some Ministry members had charged into the Dursley-less Privet Drive No. 4. Why didn¡¦t they believe him? He spat angrily in his mind.
Just then, Professor McGonagall called, ¡§Everyone quiet,¡¨ and Professor Dumbledore stood up. The entire Hall went quiet. ¡§I would like to tell you all that the exams will be pushed back for two days due to some internal business,¡¨ the aged professor announced. The Hall erupted into loud cheers. Albus Dumbledore beamed around at them, before clearing his throat, at which the students became quiet again. ¡§Also,¡¨ he said, ¡§I would like to see Mr. Draco Malfoy, Mr. Ronald Weasley and Miss Hermione Granger immediately after supper.¡¨
Draco looked over to where Hermione was snuggled into Ron. They were looking at each other, wondering what was happening, before smiling and giggling at each other once again.
Draco was disgusted ¡V totally disgusted. How could they act as if nothing had ever happened? Yes, yes, yes, he knew it was already two years, but, hey, they were supposed to be his best best best friends. How could they do that to him?
After supper, the three summoned went, the Slythering slightly faster than the two flirting Gryffindors, went up to the Head teacher¡¦s table. Professor Dumbledore waited until all the other teachers had left the Hall, before turning to them and saying,
¡§The crime on the Dursleys was found to be committed by a Death Eater. Mr. Potter is to be released tomorrow.¡¨
The three students gasped. Draco couldn¡¦t help but let a full, honest grin escape on to his face, which only fell again when he glanced at Weasley and Granger. The two were expressionless, staring at Dumbledore and at each other. Clearly they did not know how to handle this news. Were they supposed to celebrate? But how could they, after what they did to Harry? And, to be frank, for a year and a half before this incredible announcements, they had bearly thought of, not even remembered, the existence of the jet black haired boy who dwelled in a dirty cell in the Wizarding Prison, Azkaban.
¡§I have,¡¨ Dumbledore had started to speak again, ¡§decided to take you three along with me when I am to sign the papers that will permit the release of Mr. Harry Potter. However, I have decided not to let you three see him all at once.¡¨ The three seventh years looked at the old man curiously. ¡§Listen carefully. I want Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger to go to see him first, then I would like Mr. Malfoy to join you, and no, I do not wish to explain why I want to do this,¡¨ he added as Ron opened his mouth. Ron closed his mouth sheepishly, then gave a lopsided grin to Hermione, who linked her little finger around his.
Draco turned away. He was disgusted. He hated them, above all people in the world. ¡§You will wait for me here in the Great Hall tomorrow at 1 p.m., and I will take you all to Azkaban,¡¨ instructed the headmaster. ¡§Do you understand fully and clearly?¡¨
Silently, Draco nodded, then glared under a furrowed brow at Weasley and Granger, who nodded as well, though hesitantly. The headmaster stood, however, and smiled, his eyes twinkling. ¡§Very well then. You can run along to your dormitories now.¡¨
Draco stalked silently towards the dungeons. He definitely won¡¦t be able to go to sleep tonight.