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 13
"Sometimes I think I'm crazy. I'm crazy, oh so crazy. Why am I here am I just wasting my time? But then I see my baby, and I'm not crazy. It all makes sense when I look into her eyes. Sometimes it feels like the Worlds on my shoulders." -Eminem, Hailie's Song-
Draco stood before a large manor home. Although smaller than his childhood home, it still was the size of Hogwarts if not larger. The Malfoy Manor was beautiful and graceful, crowning the hills of Wiltshire like a jewel. The Bole Mansion seemed cold and forbidding, it was set awkwardly as though it did not belong. Struggling to gather his courage he began his trek up the long drive that led to the manor. Thousands of doubts washed over him almost causing him to turn tale and run, yet the thought of his daughter being held in this prison chilled him to the bone. Sooner than he would have liked Draco reached the front door and knocked solemnly. A ghost butler appeared through the door, then returned inside and opened the door.
"My Master has been expecting you Master Malfoy," he said stiffly. The ghost led him into the foyer and then down the hall to Derrick's study where he was already waiting.
"Draco Malfoy, I must admit I was surprised to hear you wanted to meet with me," Derrick said not betraying any emotions. This was not like talking to a mudblood or muggle-lover, this was a man Draco was forced to see as an equal. Not many stood on the same pedestal as Draco had, but Derrick quite possibly had. "I had thought you had turned from this life long ago, Draco."
"Not all is as it seems, my father could vouch for that," Draco replied wryly. He knew it was futile to beg for innocence, it would only prove is guilt.
"Are you telling me your father took the secret of your allegiance to his grave?" Derrick questioned staring at Draco.
"Secret? The Ministry has been hunting me for the past decade. I was able to forge the appropriate documents and gain the trust of several influential people, surprisingly even that fool Weasley believed me. All of them," Draco added with a slight laugh.
"And the girl Weasley?" Derrick asked coldly. Draco's breath caught and his heart skipped a beat at the mention of Ginny.
"She believes I am a reformed Slytherin, a bit too trusting that one," Draco responded indifferently. A sneer formed on the mouth of Derrick as he gave an evil chuckle.
"Is she why you came to me?" he asked. "What did she tell you, Draco? I can not believe you were lucky enough to contact the leader of our cause by chance."
"Partly," Draco admitted not sure how to answer without revealing how much he knew. "Actually it was you son's disposition in my class-" Draco began.
"I heard you gave him quite a challenge, pushing him harder, not allowing anything to slide, and frustrating him by giving him more work," Derrick cut him off.
"All those years Snape let us skive off and slack, did not help me later. Besides, I was already being watched by others and I could not afford to seem to be less than fair to my students," Draco said defensively.
"I did not say it was the wrong thing to do. Very few teachers were willing to tangle with my son, it made him stronger," Derrick answered smirking. Those words reminded Draco of his own father and how hard he was pushed as a child to be the best. Trying to suppress the unhappy childhood memories Draco decided it was time to turn back to the true problem at hand.
"It was not as though Headmistress Weasley was about to punish her son," Draco added nonchalantly. Draco saw Derrick's eyes widen a bit at this revelation, he clearly believed his son's identity to be a secret.
"You know more than you are telling," Derrick accused.
"Perhaps," Draco replied.
"What is it you want? I know Malfoys do not beg or serve, so what is the trade?" Derrick questioned. Draco carefully weighed his options.
"For your little rebellion to work you need a strong endorsement from an old pureblood family, like my own. I am willing to help and keep silent about your situation with Ginny Weasley, on two conditions," Draco paused for dramatic effect. "My daughter is returned to me and you promise she is safe."
"Your daughter? I was not aware you had a daughter."
"Then I am sure you are not aware you have kidnapped her," Draco said icily.
"That girl is your daughter? But she looks like Ginny Weasley, so I assumed it was-"
"Well you were quite wrong. Her mother was Elsie Blaine, a French witch who was killed during the second war. I was not aware of my daughter's birth or even existence until recently. Naturally I have come for her, she is my heir," Draco explained. Draco saw comprehension dawn on Derrick's face.
"I am sorry Draco, I did not know-" Derrick started.
"I was trying to keep her identity a secret, you should not have known," Draco replied as though excusing him from guilt.
"If I had known she was your daughter, I would never have taken her from Hogwarts. Rest assured she is not harmed, I will send for her immediately." Derrick called for his house elves and instructed them to bring the little girl to the study quickly. Draco noticed how flustered Derrick was becoming in his presence. "She has been well treated, I assure you."
"Coming from a man who killed his own son, that does little to reaffirm you statements," Draco noted acidly. Derrick's mouth broke out into another smile.
"Owein is not dead, some muggle under Polyjuice potion is though. My son is in his room, I will send for him if you like," Derrick offered. Without waiting for a reply Derrick sent another elf to find his son. "Was her mother a pureblood?" asked Derrick obviously thinking about a betrothal between the two young children.
"Yes," Draco replied warily not wanting his precious daughter to marry that scum. Nothing, but the best for his daughter and that was certainly not this boy.
"Those two would make a handsome match, two old wizarding bloodlines unpolluted by muggle filth," Derrick said watching Draco's face. Draco thought for a moment, he needed to gain the trust of this man to succeed and to do that he had to play a part. Hesitantly, Draco nodded with a small shrug.
"I suppose that would be best for the children," Draco conceded. In truth he would rather have his daughter marry a muggle, a fat ugly stupid muggle.
"I am beginning to think this is exactly what our cause has been waiting for," Derrick sighed. Draco felt ready to vomit, this man was insane.
"Father? You requested my presence?" Owein Bole said as he entered the room. Upon noticing Draco he blanched. "Professor Malfoy, what are you doing here?" he asked rudely.
"Owein, Professor Malfoy has come to 'assist' us in our cause," his father answered in a warning voice.
"Where is my daughter?" Draco demanded feeling as though too much time had passed since she had been sent for. He was tired of playing with Derrick Bole and wanted to see Brangaine. "I am losing my patience, Bole." Luckily for Derrick, at that moment in walked Brangaine with a pair of house elves. She looked unhurt, but frightened.
"Daddy!" Brangaine called out excitedly and ran over to where Draco was standing. Draco knelt and scooped her up in his arms, hugging her close to him.
"Brangaine, are you alraight?" Draco asked fearing the answer. The little girl nodded her head and smiled.
"I made a new friend," she said pointing at Owein and smiling. Draco was astounded, perhaps the little boy had been nice to his daughter. Draco knew that some people wore masks that they only took off for certain people and Owein was obviously one of them. Perhaps the boy had simply needed a friend and not a follower. As a schoolboy Draco had often wished for companionship. Owein gave her a small wave and returned the smile, it reminded Draco of Ginny's smile. Derrick looked pleased by his son's actions and smirked. He stuck out his hand for Draco to shake. Draco took it and smiled falsely.
It was that moment when Ginny Weasley apparated into Derrick Bole's study to see them shaking hands as Draco held his allegedly kidnapped daughter. Her scream seemed to pierce the tense room.
"Traitor."
A/N: Sorry this update took so long, I have just been really busy. I know this is a bit of a cliffy, but I had to stop somewhere. I hope everyone is enjoying this fic, but if you're not just say so. I am always looking for critiques and I try to take them to heart. Please Review, Love 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 13
"Sometimes I think I'm crazy. I'm crazy, oh so crazy. Why am I here am I just wasting my time? But then I see my baby, and I'm not crazy. It all makes sense when I look into her eyes. Sometimes it feels like the Worlds on my shoulders." -Eminem, Hailie's Song-
Draco stood before a large manor home. Although smaller than his childhood home, it still was the size of Hogwarts if not larger. The Malfoy Manor was beautiful and graceful, crowning the hills of Wiltshire like a jewel. The Bole Mansion seemed cold and forbidding, it was set awkwardly as though it did not belong. Struggling to gather his courage he began his trek up the long drive that led to the manor. Thousands of doubts washed over him almost causing him to turn tale and run, yet the thought of his daughter being held in this prison chilled him to the bone. Sooner than he would have liked Draco reached the front door and knocked solemnly. A ghost butler appeared through the door, then returned inside and opened the door.
"My Master has been expecting you Master Malfoy," he said stiffly. The ghost led him into the foyer and then down the hall to Derrick's study where he was already waiting.
"Draco Malfoy, I must admit I was surprised to hear you wanted to meet with me," Derrick said not betraying any emotions. This was not like talking to a mudblood or muggle-lover, this was a man Draco was forced to see as an equal. Not many stood on the same pedestal as Draco had, but Derrick quite possibly had. "I had thought you had turned from this life long ago, Draco."
"Not all is as it seems, my father could vouch for that," Draco replied wryly. He knew it was futile to beg for innocence, it would only prove is guilt.
"Are you telling me your father took the secret of your allegiance to his grave?" Derrick questioned staring at Draco.
"Secret? The Ministry has been hunting me for the past decade. I was able to forge the appropriate documents and gain the trust of several influential people, surprisingly even that fool Weasley believed me. All of them," Draco added with a slight laugh.
"And the girl Weasley?" Derrick asked coldly. Draco's breath caught and his heart skipped a beat at the mention of Ginny.
"She believes I am a reformed Slytherin, a bit too trusting that one," Draco responded indifferently. A sneer formed on the mouth of Derrick as he gave an evil chuckle.
"Is she why you came to me?" he asked. "What did she tell you, Draco? I can not believe you were lucky enough to contact the leader of our cause by chance."
"Partly," Draco admitted not sure how to answer without revealing how much he knew. "Actually it was you son's disposition in my class-" Draco began.
"I heard you gave him quite a challenge, pushing him harder, not allowing anything to slide, and frustrating him by giving him more work," Derrick cut him off.
"All those years Snape let us skive off and slack, did not help me later. Besides, I was already being watched by others and I could not afford to seem to be less than fair to my students," Draco said defensively.
"I did not say it was the wrong thing to do. Very few teachers were willing to tangle with my son, it made him stronger," Derrick answered smirking. Those words reminded Draco of his own father and how hard he was pushed as a child to be the best. Trying to suppress the unhappy childhood memories Draco decided it was time to turn back to the true problem at hand.
"It was not as though Headmistress Weasley was about to punish her son," Draco added nonchalantly. Draco saw Derrick's eyes widen a bit at this revelation, he clearly believed his son's identity to be a secret.
"You know more than you are telling," Derrick accused.
"Perhaps," Draco replied.
"What is it you want? I know Malfoys do not beg or serve, so what is the trade?" Derrick questioned. Draco carefully weighed his options.
"For your little rebellion to work you need a strong endorsement from an old pureblood family, like my own. I am willing to help and keep silent about your situation with Ginny Weasley, on two conditions," Draco paused for dramatic effect. "My daughter is returned to me and you promise she is safe."
"Your daughter? I was not aware you had a daughter."
"Then I am sure you are not aware you have kidnapped her," Draco said icily.
"That girl is your daughter? But she looks like Ginny Weasley, so I assumed it was-"
"Well you were quite wrong. Her mother was Elsie Blaine, a French witch who was killed during the second war. I was not aware of my daughter's birth or even existence until recently. Naturally I have come for her, she is my heir," Draco explained. Draco saw comprehension dawn on Derrick's face.
"I am sorry Draco, I did not know-" Derrick started.
"I was trying to keep her identity a secret, you should not have known," Draco replied as though excusing him from guilt.
"If I had known she was your daughter, I would never have taken her from Hogwarts. Rest assured she is not harmed, I will send for her immediately." Derrick called for his house elves and instructed them to bring the little girl to the study quickly. Draco noticed how flustered Derrick was becoming in his presence. "She has been well treated, I assure you."
"Coming from a man who killed his own son, that does little to reaffirm you statements," Draco noted acidly. Derrick's mouth broke out into another smile.
"Owein is not dead, some muggle under Polyjuice potion is though. My son is in his room, I will send for him if you like," Derrick offered. Without waiting for a reply Derrick sent another elf to find his son. "Was her mother a pureblood?" asked Derrick obviously thinking about a betrothal between the two young children.
"Yes," Draco replied warily not wanting his precious daughter to marry that scum. Nothing, but the best for his daughter and that was certainly not this boy.
"Those two would make a handsome match, two old wizarding bloodlines unpolluted by muggle filth," Derrick said watching Draco's face. Draco thought for a moment, he needed to gain the trust of this man to succeed and to do that he had to play a part. Hesitantly, Draco nodded with a small shrug.
"I suppose that would be best for the children," Draco conceded. In truth he would rather have his daughter marry a muggle, a fat ugly stupid muggle.
"I am beginning to think this is exactly what our cause has been waiting for," Derrick sighed. Draco felt ready to vomit, this man was insane.
"Father? You requested my presence?" Owein Bole said as he entered the room. Upon noticing Draco he blanched. "Professor Malfoy, what are you doing here?" he asked rudely.
"Owein, Professor Malfoy has come to 'assist' us in our cause," his father answered in a warning voice.
"Where is my daughter?" Draco demanded feeling as though too much time had passed since she had been sent for. He was tired of playing with Derrick Bole and wanted to see Brangaine. "I am losing my patience, Bole." Luckily for Derrick, at that moment in walked Brangaine with a pair of house elves. She looked unhurt, but frightened.
"Daddy!" Brangaine called out excitedly and ran over to where Draco was standing. Draco knelt and scooped her up in his arms, hugging her close to him.
"Brangaine, are you alraight?" Draco asked fearing the answer. The little girl nodded her head and smiled.
"I made a new friend," she said pointing at Owein and smiling. Draco was astounded, perhaps the little boy had been nice to his daughter. Draco knew that some people wore masks that they only took off for certain people and Owein was obviously one of them. Perhaps the boy had simply needed a friend and not a follower. As a schoolboy Draco had often wished for companionship. Owein gave her a small wave and returned the smile, it reminded Draco of Ginny's smile. Derrick looked pleased by his son's actions and smirked. He stuck out his hand for Draco to shake. Draco took it and smiled falsely.
It was that moment when Ginny Weasley apparated into Derrick Bole's study to see them shaking hands as Draco held his allegedly kidnapped daughter. Her scream seemed to pierce the tense room.
"Traitor."
A/N: Sorry this update took so long, I have just been really busy. I know this is a bit of a cliffy, but I had to stop somewhere. I hope everyone is enjoying this fic, but if you're not just say so. I am always looking for critiques and I try to take them to heart. Please Review, Love KTBallerina.