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 18
"This have I known always: Love is no more than the wide blossom which the wind assails, than the great tide that treads the shifting shore, strewing fresh wreckage gathered in the gales; Pity me that the heart is slow to learn, that the swift mind beholds at every turn." -Edna St. Vincent Millay-
The Headmistress was not eating again. Every one of her students had begun noticing the change in the usually enthusiastic young woman. She had dark circles under her eyes and often looked weary at mealtimes. By her side sat her adopted daughter as usual, but her gaze often drifted over to the Slytherin table to rest on Owein Bole. Everyone in the Great Hall knew Owein's father had been murdered a little over a week ago, rumors had been flying everywhere. The Headmistress was truly Owein's mother and in a fit of jealousy Draco Malfoy had murdered the upstanding man. Or even better was the story of how Draco had kidnapped the young boy and Ginny had saved him, but Derrick Bole's life was sacrificed for his young heir. No one dared ask Owein since he had returned to school, he had an air of tortured longing about him. He was no longer the same carefree boy he had been two weeks ago. Although his friends attempted to cheer the little boy, he would not smile or talk. Sometimes he would sit and listen to his friends talk and joke, but he would never participate. During class he was demure and did his work without complaint, no one could connect the quiet boy with Owein Bole, resident trouble-maker of Slytherin.
A snowy white owl caught everyone's attention as it glided into the Great Hall. Post owls rarely delivered during dinner time and it headed straight for the Headmistress who took the letter. Ginny allowed the bird to eat a bit of food from her untouched plate before opening her letter. Ginny had recognized the owl immediately as Harry's Hedwig. She opened the letter careful not to let any others see its contents. As she glanced down the staff table she saw every professor's eyes watching her curiously. Exasperated by their coddling she got up from the table, scooping Brangaine up in her arms and leaving for her study.
She did not need to be looked after anymore. It had taken her so long to prove she could do it on her own, all of it. She had survived the second war, terrible things had happened to her, but she had survived. Ginny had not needed anyone. With her mother and third oldest brother dead her family was destroyed. Molly Weasley had been the backbone of their family. Without her everything had changed. Mr. Weasley had turned into a workaholic, not wanting to come home to his wifeless house. Fred and George had also become obsessed with their work, stamping out all competitors to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes even their beloved Zonko's. Charlie and Bill stayed away from England at all costs, not wanting to relive memories from the war. Before the war Ginny had been so close to Charlie, who was her second closest brother after Ron, hardly wrote to her at all. Only Ron seemed to stay the same. Ron had become an Auror, but then again so had Harry and there had never been any doubt what those two would end up together. Ron was also the only brother of hers to marry, yet Hermione and he did not have any children. Ginny could not bear to think of her broken family, who avoided each other. Even worse than the broken Weasley family was the mess of her own life.
Her son pleaded with her every day to let him take the blame for his father's death and accept his punishment. Part of her wanted to save Draco, but she could not put her son in Azkaban as long as there was a breath in her body. Owein was so dear to her heart, and Ginny needed to save him as to redeem herself after twelve years of neglect. She saw Derrick when she looked at him, the Derrick she had fallen in love with. She looked at Brangaine who sat in a chair opposite her, curled up sleeping peacefully. With her eyes closed she looked very little like Draco. For all this time she had not been able to look at the little girl's eyes, she could see Draco's eyes staring at her. When she and Brangaine had visited him in Azkaban, Ginny had been shocked to see how the once arrogant Malfoy lived. His cell had been so cramped, usually no visitors were allowed to Azkaban, but as the Minister of Magic's daughter some special allowances had been made. Draco had seemed so eager and happy to see them, to hold them- both of them.
Ginny had been slightly scared by her own feelings. She did not want to admit it, yet part of her already knew how strongly she felt. Ginny loved Draco, plain and simple. However, their situation was anything, but plain and simple. Both of them had one child of their own and no one would ever accept their love. They might pretend to be happy for her, but in reality no one could or would understand. Angry at the thought of needing everyone else's approval Ginny tore open Harry's letter. She was surprised to find the letter was not from Harry or Ron.
My Dearest Daughter Ginny,
I am sorry. For so long I was angry that our once happy family was falling apart. Please understand I did not want to cut you out of my life, it was wrong of me. I love you and your brothers very much, darling. I would do anything for you, which is why I have written you this letter.
I have spoken to Draco Malfoy. I know it has been a long time since we were close, but I need to know everything. I know Draco is trying to protect you by lying to me, please tell me the truth. I can not help you until I understand what the problem is, I promise to support you this time. I can not change what happened in the past, but I can help save him. He loves you, the way he talks about you, the way I can tell he is thinking about you. A father knows.
A father also knows how to make his little girl's dreams come true. I know how to make amends, please let me help.
Your loving father, Arthur
Ginny did not know how to respond to the letter. It was asking her to trust and forgive her father. Ginny did trust her father with her life, but she was not sure if he could be trusted with Draco's. She knew her father would fight for his daughter, but doubted if he would fight for the heir to the Malfoy Clan. Arthur Weasley might not be able to forget old grudges and see this as his opportunity to prove to the Wizarding World Death Eaters would not be forgiven for their heinous crimes. She was not the only one who would lose Draco if he was given the Dementor's Kiss. His daughter would sorely miss him, Brangaine had already missed out on having a father for so many years. Owein had also gained a new liking and respect for the man who was willing to take Owein's sins upon himself. Severus Snape would also lose his Godson. Even though the boy was old enough to take care of himself Snape still felt some measure of responsibility for the Malfoy heir. Draco's students were also deeply sad at the loss of one of their favorite teachers. After all, not many teachers had such reckless regards for Ministry standards or the other professors' opinions.
"Ginny?" a sleepy voice called from Brangaine. The little girl looked as tired as Ginny did.
"Yes, sweetheart," Ginny called not looking at Draco's daughter. She loved this girl as much as she loved Owein, maybe more.
"Can we go see Da again?" she asked still sounding sleepy. A little fist reached up to rub dust away from her eye. Ginny hesitated, she did not want to promise the little girl anything she could not deliver.
"Perhaps, Brangaine," Ginny replied avoiding answering altogether. "Time to sleep, go to your room." The little girl stood up and kissed Ginny goodnight. As she watched the little girl leave she knew she could not let her grow up without a father.
Ginny realized how much it had hurt to live without close contact with her father and she was an adult. There was a special bond between fathers and daughters. She could not deny Brangaine her father. No matter how much Draco loved Ginny and wanted to save her son, Draco had to care for his daughter first. And he could not care for her from Azkaban.
Ginny knew once again she had no choice. She needed Draco and Owein in her life, and if using her father's position as Minister was the only way to accomplish it, then so be it.
A/N: Thanks for reading so far into the story, I know it's a bit rough around the edges, but I think I'm going to continue this story. Probably at least another five or six chapters! Please review, thanks a bunch 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 18
"This have I known always: Love is no more than the wide blossom which the wind assails, than the great tide that treads the shifting shore, strewing fresh wreckage gathered in the gales; Pity me that the heart is slow to learn, that the swift mind beholds at every turn." -Edna St. Vincent Millay-
The Headmistress was not eating again. Every one of her students had begun noticing the change in the usually enthusiastic young woman. She had dark circles under her eyes and often looked weary at mealtimes. By her side sat her adopted daughter as usual, but her gaze often drifted over to the Slytherin table to rest on Owein Bole. Everyone in the Great Hall knew Owein's father had been murdered a little over a week ago, rumors had been flying everywhere. The Headmistress was truly Owein's mother and in a fit of jealousy Draco Malfoy had murdered the upstanding man. Or even better was the story of how Draco had kidnapped the young boy and Ginny had saved him, but Derrick Bole's life was sacrificed for his young heir. No one dared ask Owein since he had returned to school, he had an air of tortured longing about him. He was no longer the same carefree boy he had been two weeks ago. Although his friends attempted to cheer the little boy, he would not smile or talk. Sometimes he would sit and listen to his friends talk and joke, but he would never participate. During class he was demure and did his work without complaint, no one could connect the quiet boy with Owein Bole, resident trouble-maker of Slytherin.
A snowy white owl caught everyone's attention as it glided into the Great Hall. Post owls rarely delivered during dinner time and it headed straight for the Headmistress who took the letter. Ginny allowed the bird to eat a bit of food from her untouched plate before opening her letter. Ginny had recognized the owl immediately as Harry's Hedwig. She opened the letter careful not to let any others see its contents. As she glanced down the staff table she saw every professor's eyes watching her curiously. Exasperated by their coddling she got up from the table, scooping Brangaine up in her arms and leaving for her study.
She did not need to be looked after anymore. It had taken her so long to prove she could do it on her own, all of it. She had survived the second war, terrible things had happened to her, but she had survived. Ginny had not needed anyone. With her mother and third oldest brother dead her family was destroyed. Molly Weasley had been the backbone of their family. Without her everything had changed. Mr. Weasley had turned into a workaholic, not wanting to come home to his wifeless house. Fred and George had also become obsessed with their work, stamping out all competitors to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes even their beloved Zonko's. Charlie and Bill stayed away from England at all costs, not wanting to relive memories from the war. Before the war Ginny had been so close to Charlie, who was her second closest brother after Ron, hardly wrote to her at all. Only Ron seemed to stay the same. Ron had become an Auror, but then again so had Harry and there had never been any doubt what those two would end up together. Ron was also the only brother of hers to marry, yet Hermione and he did not have any children. Ginny could not bear to think of her broken family, who avoided each other. Even worse than the broken Weasley family was the mess of her own life.
Her son pleaded with her every day to let him take the blame for his father's death and accept his punishment. Part of her wanted to save Draco, but she could not put her son in Azkaban as long as there was a breath in her body. Owein was so dear to her heart, and Ginny needed to save him as to redeem herself after twelve years of neglect. She saw Derrick when she looked at him, the Derrick she had fallen in love with. She looked at Brangaine who sat in a chair opposite her, curled up sleeping peacefully. With her eyes closed she looked very little like Draco. For all this time she had not been able to look at the little girl's eyes, she could see Draco's eyes staring at her. When she and Brangaine had visited him in Azkaban, Ginny had been shocked to see how the once arrogant Malfoy lived. His cell had been so cramped, usually no visitors were allowed to Azkaban, but as the Minister of Magic's daughter some special allowances had been made. Draco had seemed so eager and happy to see them, to hold them- both of them.
Ginny had been slightly scared by her own feelings. She did not want to admit it, yet part of her already knew how strongly she felt. Ginny loved Draco, plain and simple. However, their situation was anything, but plain and simple. Both of them had one child of their own and no one would ever accept their love. They might pretend to be happy for her, but in reality no one could or would understand. Angry at the thought of needing everyone else's approval Ginny tore open Harry's letter. She was surprised to find the letter was not from Harry or Ron.
My Dearest Daughter Ginny,
I am sorry. For so long I was angry that our once happy family was falling apart. Please understand I did not want to cut you out of my life, it was wrong of me. I love you and your brothers very much, darling. I would do anything for you, which is why I have written you this letter.
I have spoken to Draco Malfoy. I know it has been a long time since we were close, but I need to know everything. I know Draco is trying to protect you by lying to me, please tell me the truth. I can not help you until I understand what the problem is, I promise to support you this time. I can not change what happened in the past, but I can help save him. He loves you, the way he talks about you, the way I can tell he is thinking about you. A father knows.
A father also knows how to make his little girl's dreams come true. I know how to make amends, please let me help.
Your loving father, Arthur
Ginny did not know how to respond to the letter. It was asking her to trust and forgive her father. Ginny did trust her father with her life, but she was not sure if he could be trusted with Draco's. She knew her father would fight for his daughter, but doubted if he would fight for the heir to the Malfoy Clan. Arthur Weasley might not be able to forget old grudges and see this as his opportunity to prove to the Wizarding World Death Eaters would not be forgiven for their heinous crimes. She was not the only one who would lose Draco if he was given the Dementor's Kiss. His daughter would sorely miss him, Brangaine had already missed out on having a father for so many years. Owein had also gained a new liking and respect for the man who was willing to take Owein's sins upon himself. Severus Snape would also lose his Godson. Even though the boy was old enough to take care of himself Snape still felt some measure of responsibility for the Malfoy heir. Draco's students were also deeply sad at the loss of one of their favorite teachers. After all, not many teachers had such reckless regards for Ministry standards or the other professors' opinions.
"Ginny?" a sleepy voice called from Brangaine. The little girl looked as tired as Ginny did.
"Yes, sweetheart," Ginny called not looking at Draco's daughter. She loved this girl as much as she loved Owein, maybe more.
"Can we go see Da again?" she asked still sounding sleepy. A little fist reached up to rub dust away from her eye. Ginny hesitated, she did not want to promise the little girl anything she could not deliver.
"Perhaps, Brangaine," Ginny replied avoiding answering altogether. "Time to sleep, go to your room." The little girl stood up and kissed Ginny goodnight. As she watched the little girl leave she knew she could not let her grow up without a father.
Ginny realized how much it had hurt to live without close contact with her father and she was an adult. There was a special bond between fathers and daughters. She could not deny Brangaine her father. No matter how much Draco loved Ginny and wanted to save her son, Draco had to care for his daughter first. And he could not care for her from Azkaban.
Ginny knew once again she had no choice. She needed Draco and Owein in her life, and if using her father's position as Minister was the only way to accomplish it, then so be it.
A/N: Thanks for reading so far into the story, I know it's a bit rough around the edges, but I think I'm going to continue this story. Probably at least another five or six chapters! Please review, thanks a bunch KTBallerina.