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 16
"If we had no faults, we should not take so much pleasure in remarking them in others." -Francois de la Rochefoucauld-
Then the two words rang out.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Derrick Bole dropped dead on the floor. For a moment everything in the World seemed to still. No one dared speak, until little Owein stepped forward. "I killed my father," he said terrified. He had been so confused, yet it seemed the right thing to do. Owein loved his father very much, but he had been lied to and did not know who to trust. In the end it was the uttermost respect he had for his Defense Against the Dark Arts professor that had changed his mind. Also the unconditional love of his mother, even though she was somewhat estranged. The boy dropped to the floor and hugged his knees to his chest. Tears of remorse began to fall from his blue eyes. He had never killed anything before. Ginny swooped down on her son and gathered him into her arms. He felt so small and helpless in her warm embrace.
Ron and Harry stood back not fully understanding what had happened or why. Ron looked gravely concerned for his little sister and the boy she was holding. Slowly, he realized that must be Ginny's son, the one Draco had mentioned. Everything he had said was true, and he had doubted Draco. Worst still , his doubt could have cost Ginny her life, or her son's. He had been so busy suspecting Draco, he had never even considered believing him. Harry wondered silently what would happen. The boy was a killer and he looked only thirteen or so. Would this young boy be put on trial for the murder of his father? Harry's other worries were about Ginny, why and what had happened to her? He still loved her no matter what he had told Ron and Hermione. However, he saw that there was another man who cared for her as well. As Harry watched Draco look at Ginny he saw the love Draco had for Ginny. In the end Harry knew Ginny and him had no future together, but he doubted that Draco and Ginny had any sort of future together either. The two were like polar opposites, their families were even bitter enemies. Somehow Harry couldn't believe Ron or any of the Weasley boys would approve of him, not that Ginny wanted their approval. Harry could not accept that Draco Malfoy had been the hero, and that he himself had lost Ginny to him.
Draco was torn between hugging Ginny and wanting to let her share a moment with her son, who she hadn't been allowed to love for so many years. Draco wanted a family, like the one he always dreamed of. Draco secretly dreamed of returning to the Malfoy Manor and creating new memories. Not the ones of his own miserably lonely childhood, but laughter and gaiety. He wanted to know the feeling so many others had. Although he had loved and lost he had been given a second chance at love. He would always have his daughter to remind him of Elsie and the love that they shared. He even could love Owein, he was so like himself. Neither had a very loving childhood or been raised with the right beliefs, yet they had risen to he top of Slytherin. As much as Draco hated to admit it he was just as spoilt as Owein had been as child. And strangely enough both had been the untimely end of their fathers. Although not a happy coincidence it seemed like a special bond.
Neither of the three men seemed to want to speak, none wanting to break the silence. Finally, Ginny surprised them all by picking up the boy in her arms like a baby. She seemed to an infinite amount of strength, it seemed odd because she had once been the baby.
"We should go to the Ministry, we have to tell them what happened," Ginny said looking at her son. "We have to tell them it was an accident." Draco nodded his head, but Ron looked at her as though she had grown a second head.
"Ginny, are you nuts the Ministry will never believe that, he'll be sent to Azkaban for sure," Ron demanded furiously. Everyone stilled at the mention of Azkaban, Owein was a very young boy to be sent to wizard prison. It seemed impossible that such a young wizard could have committed a crime worthy of Azkaban.
"I'll confess," Draco said quietly. Harry, Ron, and Ginny all looked at Draco in shock and disbelief.
"What?" Harry and Ron asked in unison. Harry was sure he had heard Draco wrong.
"I belong in Azkaban. I murdered my father during the last battle-" Draco began. Ron and Harry gasped at the news of Lucius' death at his son's own wand. Harry knew Draco had been lying during his trial, but he had not realized why.
"Draco, no I can't let you do this," Ginny interrupted almost in tears. Ginny was not going to let Draco take anyone else's sins upon himself. She knew he had already suffered for his guilt. She did not need him to protect her or her son.
"I can take the blame for Derrick's death, but you have to promise to take care of Brangaine, Ginny," Draco pleaded. The only concern he had was for Brangaine, his daughter. He would not leave her alone in the World a second time. It was time to pay for his mistakes. "Owein does not need to be tortured by his father's death as I was. Modify his memory now, and tell him I killed his father," Draco instructed. Ginny looked incredulous at the very notion. "Let the Ministry lock me away instead." Draco felt he deserved this punishment, he had lied. He was in fact a murderer.
"Malfoy, you do understand what this will mean don't you?" Harry asked. "Two counts of murder will earn you about eight hundred years in Azkaban." Draco nodded solemnly. Harry was surprised and taken aback at Draco's sudden change of heart, he was also slightly suspicious.
"But wasn't Lucius a Death Eater?" Ginny asked hoping it would annul some of Draco's crimes. "He's a hero, not a traitor. I thought it's the right thing to do, after all he was a murderer as well."
"Like father, like son," Harry muttered so only Draco and Ron could hear. Harry saw Draco's face tense at the false accusation.
"Gin, it just doesn't work that way. You can't kill someone just because they are evil. Everyone believes in a different set of rules. He is not James Bond, licensed to kill. The Ministry is bound by the same set of laws as everyone," Ron told her gently.
"Promise me you will watch my daughter, Ginny. She loves you so. I need to know she'll be safe," Draco begged again. "Please promise." Harry saw the genuine love Draco felt for his daughter reflected in his eyes.
"I promise, Draco," Ginny replied feeling as though his mind could not be changed. Harry felt he had to offer some help to the man who was saving Ginny's son.
"You just might get off Malfoy. I know two aurors who might be willing to help you, instead of fighting you this time," Harry said smiling. He have Harry a heartfelt look. Never before had Draco been able to rely upon other people for trust and support. It felt rather nice to know there were others to depend on.
"Thanks Potter," Draco replied at a loss of what to say to his one time school boy rival. Harry only smiled, after all he had not expected Draco to change his ways.
"Let's just hope Malfoy here gets acquitted," Ron remarked thinking of how hard it would be for Ginny to raise two children and still run Hogwarts. "For Ginny's sake anyways."
A/N: Alright so chapter 16 is finally up! I have still been busy, so for that I apologize. I'd like to send out some special Thanks to Rainpuddle13 (I love your work so very much, I idolize all of them) Mrs.Shigwa.Cobain (Your reviews keep me going so very often) Darcy16 (I really appreciate your comments) Once again thanks for reading. I originally planned this to be only ten chapters, but it is going to continue if I get enough reviews. I'd like for Ginny to end up loving Draco, but the story is moving in a new direction. Possibly Harry/Ginny, but I'd love to hear your opinion. Remember Harry still loves Ginny. I prefer Ginny/Draco, besides I think they could combine their families. Please review, Thanks 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 16
"If we had no faults, we should not take so much pleasure in remarking them in others." -Francois de la Rochefoucauld-
Then the two words rang out.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Derrick Bole dropped dead on the floor. For a moment everything in the World seemed to still. No one dared speak, until little Owein stepped forward. "I killed my father," he said terrified. He had been so confused, yet it seemed the right thing to do. Owein loved his father very much, but he had been lied to and did not know who to trust. In the end it was the uttermost respect he had for his Defense Against the Dark Arts professor that had changed his mind. Also the unconditional love of his mother, even though she was somewhat estranged. The boy dropped to the floor and hugged his knees to his chest. Tears of remorse began to fall from his blue eyes. He had never killed anything before. Ginny swooped down on her son and gathered him into her arms. He felt so small and helpless in her warm embrace.
Ron and Harry stood back not fully understanding what had happened or why. Ron looked gravely concerned for his little sister and the boy she was holding. Slowly, he realized that must be Ginny's son, the one Draco had mentioned. Everything he had said was true, and he had doubted Draco. Worst still , his doubt could have cost Ginny her life, or her son's. He had been so busy suspecting Draco, he had never even considered believing him. Harry wondered silently what would happen. The boy was a killer and he looked only thirteen or so. Would this young boy be put on trial for the murder of his father? Harry's other worries were about Ginny, why and what had happened to her? He still loved her no matter what he had told Ron and Hermione. However, he saw that there was another man who cared for her as well. As Harry watched Draco look at Ginny he saw the love Draco had for Ginny. In the end Harry knew Ginny and him had no future together, but he doubted that Draco and Ginny had any sort of future together either. The two were like polar opposites, their families were even bitter enemies. Somehow Harry couldn't believe Ron or any of the Weasley boys would approve of him, not that Ginny wanted their approval. Harry could not accept that Draco Malfoy had been the hero, and that he himself had lost Ginny to him.
Draco was torn between hugging Ginny and wanting to let her share a moment with her son, who she hadn't been allowed to love for so many years. Draco wanted a family, like the one he always dreamed of. Draco secretly dreamed of returning to the Malfoy Manor and creating new memories. Not the ones of his own miserably lonely childhood, but laughter and gaiety. He wanted to know the feeling so many others had. Although he had loved and lost he had been given a second chance at love. He would always have his daughter to remind him of Elsie and the love that they shared. He even could love Owein, he was so like himself. Neither had a very loving childhood or been raised with the right beliefs, yet they had risen to he top of Slytherin. As much as Draco hated to admit it he was just as spoilt as Owein had been as child. And strangely enough both had been the untimely end of their fathers. Although not a happy coincidence it seemed like a special bond.
Neither of the three men seemed to want to speak, none wanting to break the silence. Finally, Ginny surprised them all by picking up the boy in her arms like a baby. She seemed to an infinite amount of strength, it seemed odd because she had once been the baby.
"We should go to the Ministry, we have to tell them what happened," Ginny said looking at her son. "We have to tell them it was an accident." Draco nodded his head, but Ron looked at her as though she had grown a second head.
"Ginny, are you nuts the Ministry will never believe that, he'll be sent to Azkaban for sure," Ron demanded furiously. Everyone stilled at the mention of Azkaban, Owein was a very young boy to be sent to wizard prison. It seemed impossible that such a young wizard could have committed a crime worthy of Azkaban.
"I'll confess," Draco said quietly. Harry, Ron, and Ginny all looked at Draco in shock and disbelief.
"What?" Harry and Ron asked in unison. Harry was sure he had heard Draco wrong.
"I belong in Azkaban. I murdered my father during the last battle-" Draco began. Ron and Harry gasped at the news of Lucius' death at his son's own wand. Harry knew Draco had been lying during his trial, but he had not realized why.
"Draco, no I can't let you do this," Ginny interrupted almost in tears. Ginny was not going to let Draco take anyone else's sins upon himself. She knew he had already suffered for his guilt. She did not need him to protect her or her son.
"I can take the blame for Derrick's death, but you have to promise to take care of Brangaine, Ginny," Draco pleaded. The only concern he had was for Brangaine, his daughter. He would not leave her alone in the World a second time. It was time to pay for his mistakes. "Owein does not need to be tortured by his father's death as I was. Modify his memory now, and tell him I killed his father," Draco instructed. Ginny looked incredulous at the very notion. "Let the Ministry lock me away instead." Draco felt he deserved this punishment, he had lied. He was in fact a murderer.
"Malfoy, you do understand what this will mean don't you?" Harry asked. "Two counts of murder will earn you about eight hundred years in Azkaban." Draco nodded solemnly. Harry was surprised and taken aback at Draco's sudden change of heart, he was also slightly suspicious.
"But wasn't Lucius a Death Eater?" Ginny asked hoping it would annul some of Draco's crimes. "He's a hero, not a traitor. I thought it's the right thing to do, after all he was a murderer as well."
"Like father, like son," Harry muttered so only Draco and Ron could hear. Harry saw Draco's face tense at the false accusation.
"Gin, it just doesn't work that way. You can't kill someone just because they are evil. Everyone believes in a different set of rules. He is not James Bond, licensed to kill. The Ministry is bound by the same set of laws as everyone," Ron told her gently.
"Promise me you will watch my daughter, Ginny. She loves you so. I need to know she'll be safe," Draco begged again. "Please promise." Harry saw the genuine love Draco felt for his daughter reflected in his eyes.
"I promise, Draco," Ginny replied feeling as though his mind could not be changed. Harry felt he had to offer some help to the man who was saving Ginny's son.
"You just might get off Malfoy. I know two aurors who might be willing to help you, instead of fighting you this time," Harry said smiling. He have Harry a heartfelt look. Never before had Draco been able to rely upon other people for trust and support. It felt rather nice to know there were others to depend on.
"Thanks Potter," Draco replied at a loss of what to say to his one time school boy rival. Harry only smiled, after all he had not expected Draco to change his ways.
"Let's just hope Malfoy here gets acquitted," Ron remarked thinking of how hard it would be for Ginny to raise two children and still run Hogwarts. "For Ginny's sake anyways."
A/N: Alright so chapter 16 is finally up! I have still been busy, so for that I apologize. I'd like to send out some special Thanks to Rainpuddle13 (I love your work so very much, I idolize all of them) Mrs.Shigwa.Cobain (Your reviews keep me going so very often) Darcy16 (I really appreciate your comments) Once again thanks for reading. I originally planned this to be only ten chapters, but it is going to continue if I get enough reviews. I'd like for Ginny to end up loving Draco, but the story is moving in a new direction. Possibly Harry/Ginny, but I'd love to hear your opinion. Remember Harry still loves Ginny. I prefer Ginny/Draco, besides I think they could combine their families. Please review, Thanks KTBallerina.