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 11
"Men are stupid, especially the ones who think they're all that and a bag of potato chips. They think when they do something wrong we forgive and forget, but women never forget anything." -KTBallerina, talking about my boyfriend-
When Ginny realized which student was missing, she had almost fainted. Brangaine had been put in her care and she had broken her promise. She had long ago promised Dumbledore that she would care for the motherless child. She had loved Brangaine like her own daughter, but she had allowed her to be kidnapped. Now, one of her children was dead and the other taken by her deranged ex-husband. Her thoughts immediately turned to Draco. She castigated herself for not examining the situation with more clarity. She had seen the similarities in their face, but had chose to ignore them. Ginny had refused to listen to reason, because she was too scared. She felt as though she was turning back into the little girl she was so many years ago. Before she had found someone who believed in her, before anyone had seen what she could be capable of. Now, the same person who had kindled her spirit was breaking apart her World. He had brought out the best in her, but now was sucking her back into his dark civilization. She had left all those years ago believing her son to be safe, that Derrick would not harm his eldest son and heir, but obviously he did not care.
He had seemed like such a proud father, showing off their son to relatives and friends, the whole time hiding their life from Ginny's parents. Derrick had loved his wife and son with a fierce passion unknown to most men. Except, one dark thought always lingered at the edge of his mind, he was a Death Eater. He had been ashamed to tell Ginny, but eventually she had discovered the Dark Mark. Ginny had been horrified, but stood beside him nonetheless. It was he who chose the Death Eaters over his family. They literally destroyed the man she once knew and loved. Instead of crippling her physically, he took her only son and branded her as his forever. Yet, Ginny had risen above. She went to help to the one place where help was always waiting, Hogwarts. Now, she had proved everyone wrong. It was possible to climb to the very top of the mountain, fall and rise again. She was the strongest of all the Weasley children. Her brothers and father might have become great things, but nothing can compare to her stature as Headmistress. Ron might have been Harry Potter's best friend, but Ginny had him proposing marriage to her. She had risen, but it was lonely at the top and few understood her. Snape, was the only teacher she trusted and respected. He too was the best and had risen to the top on his own. The man was nearly twice her age, but he too bore the black tattoo. Perhaps, the real reason she was lonely was because she did not want for anyone to hurt her. Just because she survived one betrayal does not mean she could withstand another. That was why she truly pushed Draco Malfoy away, why she pushed everyone who tried to be close to her away. She had never even gotten to know her son. In all reality Draco Malfoy was another chance at love. He had an amusing sardonic sense of humor, a bit of a rebellious nature, and he loved his daughter. Ginny had seen how Draco had been willing to save her son and it carried a sort of an invisible debt. Not a Wizard's debt, but a profound gratitude, although he had been unsuccessful. Ginny's mind hit upon a cunning plan to save Brangaine. Perhaps if she pretended to return to Derrick she could save the girl and then escape. After all she had escaped him once. She rushed down the corridor to tell Draco about her plan when she collided with something. A Draco Malfoy something.
"Draco I know how to save her, all I have to do is pretend to return and say I'm sorry and Derrick will surely let Brangaine go and then I could-" Ginny began speedily, but Draco cut her off. He was obviously preoccupied with his own plans.
"We already have a plan," he replied helping her up off the stone floor. Snape stood behind him looking uneasily at her. "All we need you to do is to tell us where he most likely is," he continued his voice cold and aloof.
"What about my plan?" she exclaimed feeling as though her notions were worthless. Ginny refused to let them make her feel useless, her idea was just as good as his.
"Ginny, listen I'm sure you have a great idea, but this is serious and dangerous. No one will care if I get hurt, but if something were to happen to you, so many people would be sad. Think of your brothers, and father, and this school they all need you," Snape said in a patronizing voice that reminded Ginny of the time Ron had told her she was not allowed to come with them to save the World.
"I want to help," she repeated in an assertive voice.
"You can help us by telling us where to find that monster," Draco growled. Snape shot him a warning glare.
"If this is a trap, Bole is after you. Ginny, he obviously trying to lure you. I think you should at least consider listening to Mr. Malfoy's plan," Snape said reasonably.
"Like he listened to mine," she snapped.
"Ginny, just let me-" Draco began.
"No, leave me alone. I never asked for your help," she responded angrily. "I can do this by myself."
"Just listen to me," Draco pleaded his temper rising as quickly as Ginny's.
"Don't tell me what to do, Harry!" Ginny yelled, freezing as the moment the words left her mouth. She knew that had not been a smart thing to say, but Draco could not take the stress any longer. Then, Draco Malfoy did the one thing he vowed never to do, hit a woman. He regretted the action the moment he saw Ginny clutching her bloody lip. Immediately he was shaking and afraid. He was afraid he was turning into the man he hated and despised, his father. Countless times, Lucius Malfoy had the audacity to hit his young and fragile wife, Narcissa. Draco had grown up watching and receiving beatings at the hands of his father and it hurt him deeply to know that Lucius had been right. Draco was no better than him, in fact he was worse. He had not struck the woman his father had chosen, but a woman he actually thought he loved. His anger was explosive and Ginny had been on the receiving end of his horrible spoilt temper. All she had been trying to do was save his daughter and Draco had hit her across the face. He was a far worse person than his father, his father whom he had thought deserved death.
"Like I said, I do not need help from you, Malfoy." Ginny stood up, still holding her bleeding lip. Her eyes were brimming with salty tears, obviously hurt by Draco's actions, she had thought he could be the one to mend her broken heart. Draco slumped against the wall and put his head in his hands. "You are not the person I thought you were, you are no person at all." She held her head up proudly as she could and walked off in the direction of her office. Then, Draco began to cry. He cried for his daughter, his father, and most of all Ginny.
He had thought Derrick Bole was so evil to betray his true love, but now Draco had done no less. He had hurt Ginny, even worse than him. Ginny had supported his staff appointment and put herself on the line for him and he had hurt her. Tears poured down his face as he carefully looked anywhere, but at Snape.
"I have to get her back," Draco said quietly as the World seemed to fall on his shoulders.
"Brangaine will be fine," Snape lied hoping she was safe. He had enjoyed the little girl's inquisitive nature and remembered how she was so kind to the old man. He had always liked talking to the exceptionally bright child.
"I meant Ginny."
A/N: Well that chapter was a little sad and dramatic, but now everyone knows they have feelings for each other, but Draco messed up. Sorry the update took so long, it was graduation weekend and even though I didn't graduate I had a lot of parties to attend. PLEASE REVIEW! I love ya, KTBallerina.
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 11
"Men are stupid, especially the ones who think they're all that and a bag of potato chips. They think when they do something wrong we forgive and forget, but women never forget anything." -KTBallerina, talking about my boyfriend-
When Ginny realized which student was missing, she had almost fainted. Brangaine had been put in her care and she had broken her promise. She had long ago promised Dumbledore that she would care for the motherless child. She had loved Brangaine like her own daughter, but she had allowed her to be kidnapped. Now, one of her children was dead and the other taken by her deranged ex-husband. Her thoughts immediately turned to Draco. She castigated herself for not examining the situation with more clarity. She had seen the similarities in their face, but had chose to ignore them. Ginny had refused to listen to reason, because she was too scared. She felt as though she was turning back into the little girl she was so many years ago. Before she had found someone who believed in her, before anyone had seen what she could be capable of. Now, the same person who had kindled her spirit was breaking apart her World. He had brought out the best in her, but now was sucking her back into his dark civilization. She had left all those years ago believing her son to be safe, that Derrick would not harm his eldest son and heir, but obviously he did not care.
He had seemed like such a proud father, showing off their son to relatives and friends, the whole time hiding their life from Ginny's parents. Derrick had loved his wife and son with a fierce passion unknown to most men. Except, one dark thought always lingered at the edge of his mind, he was a Death Eater. He had been ashamed to tell Ginny, but eventually she had discovered the Dark Mark. Ginny had been horrified, but stood beside him nonetheless. It was he who chose the Death Eaters over his family. They literally destroyed the man she once knew and loved. Instead of crippling her physically, he took her only son and branded her as his forever. Yet, Ginny had risen above. She went to help to the one place where help was always waiting, Hogwarts. Now, she had proved everyone wrong. It was possible to climb to the very top of the mountain, fall and rise again. She was the strongest of all the Weasley children. Her brothers and father might have become great things, but nothing can compare to her stature as Headmistress. Ron might have been Harry Potter's best friend, but Ginny had him proposing marriage to her. She had risen, but it was lonely at the top and few understood her. Snape, was the only teacher she trusted and respected. He too was the best and had risen to the top on his own. The man was nearly twice her age, but he too bore the black tattoo. Perhaps, the real reason she was lonely was because she did not want for anyone to hurt her. Just because she survived one betrayal does not mean she could withstand another. That was why she truly pushed Draco Malfoy away, why she pushed everyone who tried to be close to her away. She had never even gotten to know her son. In all reality Draco Malfoy was another chance at love. He had an amusing sardonic sense of humor, a bit of a rebellious nature, and he loved his daughter. Ginny had seen how Draco had been willing to save her son and it carried a sort of an invisible debt. Not a Wizard's debt, but a profound gratitude, although he had been unsuccessful. Ginny's mind hit upon a cunning plan to save Brangaine. Perhaps if she pretended to return to Derrick she could save the girl and then escape. After all she had escaped him once. She rushed down the corridor to tell Draco about her plan when she collided with something. A Draco Malfoy something.
"Draco I know how to save her, all I have to do is pretend to return and say I'm sorry and Derrick will surely let Brangaine go and then I could-" Ginny began speedily, but Draco cut her off. He was obviously preoccupied with his own plans.
"We already have a plan," he replied helping her up off the stone floor. Snape stood behind him looking uneasily at her. "All we need you to do is to tell us where he most likely is," he continued his voice cold and aloof.
"What about my plan?" she exclaimed feeling as though her notions were worthless. Ginny refused to let them make her feel useless, her idea was just as good as his.
"Ginny, listen I'm sure you have a great idea, but this is serious and dangerous. No one will care if I get hurt, but if something were to happen to you, so many people would be sad. Think of your brothers, and father, and this school they all need you," Snape said in a patronizing voice that reminded Ginny of the time Ron had told her she was not allowed to come with them to save the World.
"I want to help," she repeated in an assertive voice.
"You can help us by telling us where to find that monster," Draco growled. Snape shot him a warning glare.
"If this is a trap, Bole is after you. Ginny, he obviously trying to lure you. I think you should at least consider listening to Mr. Malfoy's plan," Snape said reasonably.
"Like he listened to mine," she snapped.
"Ginny, just let me-" Draco began.
"No, leave me alone. I never asked for your help," she responded angrily. "I can do this by myself."
"Just listen to me," Draco pleaded his temper rising as quickly as Ginny's.
"Don't tell me what to do, Harry!" Ginny yelled, freezing as the moment the words left her mouth. She knew that had not been a smart thing to say, but Draco could not take the stress any longer. Then, Draco Malfoy did the one thing he vowed never to do, hit a woman. He regretted the action the moment he saw Ginny clutching her bloody lip. Immediately he was shaking and afraid. He was afraid he was turning into the man he hated and despised, his father. Countless times, Lucius Malfoy had the audacity to hit his young and fragile wife, Narcissa. Draco had grown up watching and receiving beatings at the hands of his father and it hurt him deeply to know that Lucius had been right. Draco was no better than him, in fact he was worse. He had not struck the woman his father had chosen, but a woman he actually thought he loved. His anger was explosive and Ginny had been on the receiving end of his horrible spoilt temper. All she had been trying to do was save his daughter and Draco had hit her across the face. He was a far worse person than his father, his father whom he had thought deserved death.
"Like I said, I do not need help from you, Malfoy." Ginny stood up, still holding her bleeding lip. Her eyes were brimming with salty tears, obviously hurt by Draco's actions, she had thought he could be the one to mend her broken heart. Draco slumped against the wall and put his head in his hands. "You are not the person I thought you were, you are no person at all." She held her head up proudly as she could and walked off in the direction of her office. Then, Draco began to cry. He cried for his daughter, his father, and most of all Ginny.
He had thought Derrick Bole was so evil to betray his true love, but now Draco had done no less. He had hurt Ginny, even worse than him. Ginny had supported his staff appointment and put herself on the line for him and he had hurt her. Tears poured down his face as he carefully looked anywhere, but at Snape.
"I have to get her back," Draco said quietly as the World seemed to fall on his shoulders.
"Brangaine will be fine," Snape lied hoping she was safe. He had enjoyed the little girl's inquisitive nature and remembered how she was so kind to the old man. He had always liked talking to the exceptionally bright child.
"I meant Ginny."
A/N: Well that chapter was a little sad and dramatic, but now everyone knows they have feelings for each other, but Draco messed up. Sorry the update took so long, it was graduation weekend and even though I didn't graduate I had a lot of parties to attend. PLEASE REVIEW! I love ya, KTBallerina.