Summary: Draco Malfoy stands trial before the Ministry for his crimes as a
Death Eater. His only vote of confidence is a letter from Albus Dumbledore,
who died during the Final Battle. The current headmistress, Ginny Weasley
mistrusts her new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, but Dumbledore
must have known something.
Disclaimer: My name is not J.K. Rowling, I do not own Harry Potter, and am not either Warner Brother.
Crimes Against The Heart
Chapter 7
"I have never had any pity for conceited people, because I think that they carry their comfort about with them." -George Eliot-
Draco left the Headmistress' office feeling smug for three important reasons. One, he had bested Potter in his own little game of sniping and insulting. Two, he was very pleased with the conditions of his contract. Third, there was nothing either of them could do to puncture his inflated ego. He felt like he was sitting on top of the World at the moment.
Those were the reasons he admitted to himself, but another part of him had seen the way Ginny was reacting to Potter and had found it...hilarious. The fact Harry Potter couldn't even get with his best friend's sister was almost too much for Draco to handle. Also, the fact Ginny was simply not interested in him seemed to make him feel cheerful. It was a very odd feeling that those of Slytherin house hardly ever felt, except in their third year when they had learned Cheering Charms in Flitwick's class. As a child he had been happy, no doubt due to the enormous amounts of money his father and mother had spent to ensure he was so, but cheerfulness was rarely felt. Draco made his way to his rooms to find a school barn owl already waiting for him. It was ruffling its feathers and squawking trying to get his attention. Finally, Draco walked over and read the note attached to its leg and the owl flew off.
Professor Malfoy,
Sorry to add to your heavy load, but it is necessary to delegate certain tasks to every teacher. I am sorry to inform you I have three transfer students who require tutoring in Defense Against the Dark Arts. As such, I expect you to help them. They will need to learn to fight dark creatures and basic knowledge of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Please meet them in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom at eight o'clock on Tuesday for their first lesson. Also, all teachers must take turns patrolling the corridors with a ghost. Your partner will be Moaning Myrtle, you will have patrols on Friday and Saturday nights. Thank you for your help and cooperation.
Ginny Weasley, Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Draco's thoughts could hardly contain their screams of injustice. It seemed so unfair for her to force him to tutor and patrol with Myrtle. He knew she was trying to punish him for his behavior and her punishments were mediocre at best. Even though her requests were none too horrible, he was irked by the idea she thought she could gain the upper hand. So, without complaint he attended to his duties for three weeks before they were lifted by the headmistress whom decided Draco had had enough. He had been courteous to her ever since the day in her office. He had also learned much about the castle, even things he had not seen as a student.
As the weeks wore on he grew to love the schedule he had as a Hogwart's teacher. The students were enthralled with his lessons, even if they would not admit it. He taught with a passion reserved for those who love what they do, except in some cases. He glanced at his watch and realized he had to teach a class in about forty minutes with the second year Slytherins and Hufflepuffs again by far his least favorite class.
Out of all of his classes he liked teaching the seventh and sixth years the best. He liked the older Slytherins and Ravenclaws students, because they were the most practical and receptive to his teaching. Many of the seventh years had come to Hogwarts only a year after Draco had left. They had been raised in a time where the famous Draco Malfoy was still discussed. They heard about his quidditch skills, his excellent marks, and his torture of the other houses. In fact he was somewhat an idol among those students, who hardly cared what their parents thought. Draco Malfoy had been the Slytherin icon for seven years and had returned to continue the tradition. The younger students had made Owein Bole their unofficial leader and flocked around him. Draco was continually at logger's head and Owein Bole seemed determined to undermine him no matter the cost. Draco imagined he was once like Owein and was an arrogant little prat to boot, but that did not stop him from giving him detention. Draco strongly suspected Owein was doing this on the orders of his father. Other Slytherin students had tried to disrespect him, but found Draco was not easily intimidated. They eventually gave up, but Owein still challenged his authority. It was odd the second year was more obnoxious than any other student.
The oddest part of the whole situation was the Headmistress' lack of action. Draco had never seen Ginny be lenient to any other student the way she favored the dark haired boy. Whenever he sent him to her, she sent him back saying he promised to behave. She would look the other way sometimes, or worse blame Draco for the boy's insolence. She believed any cock and bull story Owein fed her. The problem seemed to worsen every day.
Another problem pressing Draco was the fate of his daughter. It had been almost two months since she had told him the truth and he had done nothing. He did not know how to approach the volatile Weasley, without incurring her wrath upon him. Draco desperately wanted the World to know the truth, but he also worried for her safety. He had seen the number of threatening letters the Headmistress had received concerning him and knew he deserved their anger. He had acted terribly at school and hurt so many. Although, he never became a Death Eater his father had been one and revenge against the Malfoy name is what most wanted. He feared for his little daughter's safety. He vowed by Christmas he would tell her, but Christmas was beginning to come faster and faster.
Brangaine seemed to call out to him whenever she saw him. She would sit by Ginny and glance at him during meals and watch his classes. Professor Snape would encourage him to keep the news quiet, seeing as how he was the only other one that knew, but something inside Draco could not let it go. He also had begun having nightmares about Elsie being locked in the dungeons of the Malfoy Manor being tortured by Death Eaters. He could not believe his father knew every one of his dirty secrets and Draco worried others knew them too. Yet, somehow Draco had the distinct feeling his father would hide Brangaine's heritage from the other Death Eater's. It would tarnish the Malfoy name if anyone knew there was a bastard Malfoy. Still, Draco questioned what had happened to Elsie? Had she escaped with Pansy's help too, or was she killed like Pansy. Too many doubts lingered in his head. He could almost hear Elsie telling the Death Eaters that he did not love her. Draco had said those words to her, but he had been trying to save her and he had hurt her. And now he was doing the same thing to their daughter. With these thoughts he put his head in his hands and began to sob. It seemed as though he would never escape his haunted past.
As he threw his bottle of butterbeer against the wall in a fit of rage, but outside in the corridor a strong willed Headmistress heard it smash against the wall and break into a thousand tiny pieces. She dashed into the room, without knocking and saw the scene before her. The smashed bottle had left butterbeer running down his wall and Draco sat on a chair breathing heavily, his face tear-streaked.
"GET OUT," he roared at her drawing himself up to his full height.
"I just want to help," she said quietly contrasting her voice with his. Ginny stood her ground and looked into his troubled eyes. "I can help you," she repeated.
"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE," he yelled turning his back on her. Ginny had to think of a way to reach him. She had always been able to help everyone. It was part of what made her an excellent leader.
"I know what its like-" she began.
"You know what its like to be me?" he said disbelievingly. "The Dark side got her, I lost her. No, I pushed her away... I did everything the wrong way." Ginny rolled up the sleeve on her robe and muttered something at her arm to reveal the Dark Mark.
"So did I."
A/N: Yeah, I know a cliffhanger is not much fun, but the next chapter will explain a lot of reasoning. Draco and Ginny are not falling for each other, they just find themselves drawn to each other because they lived a similar life, but at the same time not very similar. All the information about Draco's experiences at Hogwarts might come into play later. I wrote 1621 words all for you. Thanks, a bunch KTBallerina. Please Review, or I might die. Hey anything's possible.
Disclaimer: My name is not J.K. Rowling, I do not own Harry Potter, and am not either Warner Brother.
Crimes Against The Heart
Chapter 7
"I have never had any pity for conceited people, because I think that they carry their comfort about with them." -George Eliot-
Draco left the Headmistress' office feeling smug for three important reasons. One, he had bested Potter in his own little game of sniping and insulting. Two, he was very pleased with the conditions of his contract. Third, there was nothing either of them could do to puncture his inflated ego. He felt like he was sitting on top of the World at the moment.
Those were the reasons he admitted to himself, but another part of him had seen the way Ginny was reacting to Potter and had found it...hilarious. The fact Harry Potter couldn't even get with his best friend's sister was almost too much for Draco to handle. Also, the fact Ginny was simply not interested in him seemed to make him feel cheerful. It was a very odd feeling that those of Slytherin house hardly ever felt, except in their third year when they had learned Cheering Charms in Flitwick's class. As a child he had been happy, no doubt due to the enormous amounts of money his father and mother had spent to ensure he was so, but cheerfulness was rarely felt. Draco made his way to his rooms to find a school barn owl already waiting for him. It was ruffling its feathers and squawking trying to get his attention. Finally, Draco walked over and read the note attached to its leg and the owl flew off.
Professor Malfoy,
Sorry to add to your heavy load, but it is necessary to delegate certain tasks to every teacher. I am sorry to inform you I have three transfer students who require tutoring in Defense Against the Dark Arts. As such, I expect you to help them. They will need to learn to fight dark creatures and basic knowledge of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Please meet them in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom at eight o'clock on Tuesday for their first lesson. Also, all teachers must take turns patrolling the corridors with a ghost. Your partner will be Moaning Myrtle, you will have patrols on Friday and Saturday nights. Thank you for your help and cooperation.
Ginny Weasley, Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Draco's thoughts could hardly contain their screams of injustice. It seemed so unfair for her to force him to tutor and patrol with Myrtle. He knew she was trying to punish him for his behavior and her punishments were mediocre at best. Even though her requests were none too horrible, he was irked by the idea she thought she could gain the upper hand. So, without complaint he attended to his duties for three weeks before they were lifted by the headmistress whom decided Draco had had enough. He had been courteous to her ever since the day in her office. He had also learned much about the castle, even things he had not seen as a student.
As the weeks wore on he grew to love the schedule he had as a Hogwart's teacher. The students were enthralled with his lessons, even if they would not admit it. He taught with a passion reserved for those who love what they do, except in some cases. He glanced at his watch and realized he had to teach a class in about forty minutes with the second year Slytherins and Hufflepuffs again by far his least favorite class.
Out of all of his classes he liked teaching the seventh and sixth years the best. He liked the older Slytherins and Ravenclaws students, because they were the most practical and receptive to his teaching. Many of the seventh years had come to Hogwarts only a year after Draco had left. They had been raised in a time where the famous Draco Malfoy was still discussed. They heard about his quidditch skills, his excellent marks, and his torture of the other houses. In fact he was somewhat an idol among those students, who hardly cared what their parents thought. Draco Malfoy had been the Slytherin icon for seven years and had returned to continue the tradition. The younger students had made Owein Bole their unofficial leader and flocked around him. Draco was continually at logger's head and Owein Bole seemed determined to undermine him no matter the cost. Draco imagined he was once like Owein and was an arrogant little prat to boot, but that did not stop him from giving him detention. Draco strongly suspected Owein was doing this on the orders of his father. Other Slytherin students had tried to disrespect him, but found Draco was not easily intimidated. They eventually gave up, but Owein still challenged his authority. It was odd the second year was more obnoxious than any other student.
The oddest part of the whole situation was the Headmistress' lack of action. Draco had never seen Ginny be lenient to any other student the way she favored the dark haired boy. Whenever he sent him to her, she sent him back saying he promised to behave. She would look the other way sometimes, or worse blame Draco for the boy's insolence. She believed any cock and bull story Owein fed her. The problem seemed to worsen every day.
Another problem pressing Draco was the fate of his daughter. It had been almost two months since she had told him the truth and he had done nothing. He did not know how to approach the volatile Weasley, without incurring her wrath upon him. Draco desperately wanted the World to know the truth, but he also worried for her safety. He had seen the number of threatening letters the Headmistress had received concerning him and knew he deserved their anger. He had acted terribly at school and hurt so many. Although, he never became a Death Eater his father had been one and revenge against the Malfoy name is what most wanted. He feared for his little daughter's safety. He vowed by Christmas he would tell her, but Christmas was beginning to come faster and faster.
Brangaine seemed to call out to him whenever she saw him. She would sit by Ginny and glance at him during meals and watch his classes. Professor Snape would encourage him to keep the news quiet, seeing as how he was the only other one that knew, but something inside Draco could not let it go. He also had begun having nightmares about Elsie being locked in the dungeons of the Malfoy Manor being tortured by Death Eaters. He could not believe his father knew every one of his dirty secrets and Draco worried others knew them too. Yet, somehow Draco had the distinct feeling his father would hide Brangaine's heritage from the other Death Eater's. It would tarnish the Malfoy name if anyone knew there was a bastard Malfoy. Still, Draco questioned what had happened to Elsie? Had she escaped with Pansy's help too, or was she killed like Pansy. Too many doubts lingered in his head. He could almost hear Elsie telling the Death Eaters that he did not love her. Draco had said those words to her, but he had been trying to save her and he had hurt her. And now he was doing the same thing to their daughter. With these thoughts he put his head in his hands and began to sob. It seemed as though he would never escape his haunted past.
As he threw his bottle of butterbeer against the wall in a fit of rage, but outside in the corridor a strong willed Headmistress heard it smash against the wall and break into a thousand tiny pieces. She dashed into the room, without knocking and saw the scene before her. The smashed bottle had left butterbeer running down his wall and Draco sat on a chair breathing heavily, his face tear-streaked.
"GET OUT," he roared at her drawing himself up to his full height.
"I just want to help," she said quietly contrasting her voice with his. Ginny stood her ground and looked into his troubled eyes. "I can help you," she repeated.
"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE," he yelled turning his back on her. Ginny had to think of a way to reach him. She had always been able to help everyone. It was part of what made her an excellent leader.
"I know what its like-" she began.
"You know what its like to be me?" he said disbelievingly. "The Dark side got her, I lost her. No, I pushed her away... I did everything the wrong way." Ginny rolled up the sleeve on her robe and muttered something at her arm to reveal the Dark Mark.
"So did I."
A/N: Yeah, I know a cliffhanger is not much fun, but the next chapter will explain a lot of reasoning. Draco and Ginny are not falling for each other, they just find themselves drawn to each other because they lived a similar life, but at the same time not very similar. All the information about Draco's experiences at Hogwarts might come into play later. I wrote 1621 words all for you. Thanks, a bunch KTBallerina. Please Review, or I might die. Hey anything's possible.