chapter 7

dracos Point Of view:

I was headed to the Hospital Wing, McGonnagal had seen the cuts on my forearm when I raised my hand to answer a question. Therefore, sent me to the Hospital Wing, like it was going to help. I was deep in thought when I rounded a corner and ra into someone, knocking me down.

''Sorry.'' someone said. I looked up, seeimg Irulan Anderson, she was holding her hand out to me. I took her hand which seemed to fit perfectly into my own. However, as I did my sleeve rolled up revealing my forearm.

Irulan wrapped her long slender fingers around my wrist in a rather firm grip, ''Draco, you're cutting yourself, why?'' she asked.

''What do you care Anderson?'' I snapped. But my comment seemed to have no effect on her. She ran the pads of her fingers over the cuts on my arm, and looked up at me. Irulan's eyes never were easy to read, but maybe she actually did care.

I sighed, ''My life isn't as perfect as everyone thinks it is Irulan. I don't know what else to do.'' She took in a breath to say something, but I put my finger to her lips to stop her, ''I can't talk to anyone in my house, I'd get my ass kicked. And everyone else hates me...''

I pulled my arm out her grip and walked past her, but she grabbed my hand. I looked back at her, but she was looking at the floor, ''I don't hate you Draco.'' she said quietly, but I heard her. She dropped my hand, I grabbed her arm and spun her back around, pressing my lips to her's. I had expected her to push me off and smack me, but she never did. It was my way of thanking her I guess. I pulled back, she looked completely suprised at what I had just done, I was suprised with myself. I walked around the corner and looked around and watched as Irulan ran her tougne across her bottom lip, and leaned against the wall before laughing lightly to herself and walking away...

I sat up quickly, running my hands through my hair. I shook my head and looked around, I definately was not in my own room. Where the hell am I? I thought with a slight panic. I quickly got out of bed, and walked out of the foreign room into the hallway. Cautiously, I descended the stairs and entered the kitchen. There was a girl standing at the counter, reading the paper. Please tell me that's not who I think it is! I thought.

The girl became aware of my presence and turned around, it was Irulan! She smiled at me, like it was completely normal for me to be standing in her kitchen.

''Look, Draco about yesterday, I'm really sorry I snapped at you the way I did...'' Did she just call me by my first name? I thought. Someone please tell me I'm drunk or dreaming! I ran my hand over my face, Irulan wore a look of concern on her face. ''Draco, are you okay?''

''Answer me one question; Why am I in your house?'' I demanded. Irulan looked suprised for a moment, before she started laughing. LAUGHING! How could she find this funny? ''Why are you laughing?''

She stopped and looked at me, a small smile on her face, ''I see you have your memory back''

''What?''

''Draco, for the past two days, you've been in my custody with no idea who you are'' she said.

''Why am I at your house?'' I asked.

''Because you were remanded to my custody'' she replied.

''What did I do?''

Irulan sighed, poured a cup of coffee and handed it to me. ''You were found unconsious at a murder scene. And your wand was found discarded outside.''

That's when I remembered what happened, ''But I didn't do anything!''

''Well, all evidence points to you my friend'' she said.

I felt like I was about to collapse. I was remanded to Irulan's custody, and I didn't even do anything! This is riddiculous! I took a sip of the coffee she gave me, and sat down at the kitchen table.

Irulan leaned forward on her hands across from me, ''Draco I need you to tell me who you were with at the Spevak's''

I looked up at her, ''Why are you doing this?''

''Because, I know you didn't do it. And unless you tell me who else was with you, you're going to Azkaban, and I'll be the one sending you there'' she said. I knew she wasn't kidding either. The look in her eye, the tone of her voice, everything hinted that she was deadly serious. I was not about to wind up like my father.

I took a breath, but Irulan cut me off, ''Keep in mind, that if you lie to me, you will go to Azkaban, and I will personally bring the dementor to your cell''

I nodded, ''I didn't do it. I didn't kill anyone, I refuse to be my father!''

''Then I need to know what happened!'' she said. God, she suddenly turned auror on me, I thought. ''You know what, I have a better idea, go get dressed''

''Huh?''

''Go get dressed, we're going to headquarters. No one's going to believe me if I tell them what you said, because then it becomes Hear-Say'' she said, kind of talking to herself instead of me. ''Just go get dressed''

''Okay...'' I said slowly, standing up. I walked back to my room with Irulan following me, mumbling under her breath. This girl is crazy! I thought, entering ''my room'' and getting dressed. A few rooms down I could hear I heard Irulan in her room talking to someone. The problem was, I only heard her half of the conversation.

chapter 8

''Level two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquaters, and Wizengamot Administration Services'' the cool female voice said as the gate to the lift rattled open.

''Why do I have to wear this?'' Draco asked pointing to the badge pinned to his shirt.

''Because you're a visitor Draco'' I said, pushing open the large oak doors entering Auror Headquarters.

''God, do you people have any means of organization?'' Draco said, dogging a few memos.

''We've had the airplanes for quite awhile, longer than I've been here anyway. They're better than owls'' I said.

''I guess you're right'' he said.

''Your dad never once took you to work with him?'' I asked, knowing his father worked (notice ed) for the Ministry.

''No.'' he said flatly. Ouch, that hurt, I thought. I knew all hell was probably going to break loose because I brought Draco, but whatever.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were all gathered around Hermione's desk looking at something on the desk top.

''Hey,'' I said. At the sound of my voice, all three of them turned around.

''Irulan, you're not supposed to be here'' Hermione said.

And neither is he!'' Harry said pointing to Draco.

Although he was to my left and a little behind me, I know he smirked, ''I know you've missed me Potter''

''Like a plague Malfoy'' Harry spat.

Draco put a hand over his heart, ''That hurt Scarhead, really it did. And to think I came all the way down here to see you!'' Every word that fell out of his mouth dripped with acid and sarcasam, and false hurt.

''Shut it Malfoy!'' Harry said walking up to Draco, I stepped infront of him. That didn't stop Harry from getting in Draco's face. Me being inbetween them didn't really help much, considering I'm shorter than both of them by about five inches, meaning I come about to both their noses. ''You have no idea how much I would love to hurt you right now''

I waved my arms over my head, ''Hey! Short person in line of fire, we don't want any casualties'' I said. I put my hands on Harry's chesy and pushed him back, ''You -'' I pointed to Harry, ''- back off. And you -'' I turned to Draco, ''- Keep in mind that you are surrounded by aurors. I'd do a better job of holding my tougne if I were you''. Draco snorted and rolled his eyes, I feel like I'm babysitting! I thought.

''Anyway...why are you here?'' Hermione asked.

''Is there an open interview room?'' I asked.

''Probably why?'' she said.

''Well, we haven't exactly had a chance to take Malfoy's statement have we?'' I said.

''She's got a point guys'' Ron said.

''Kingsley's gonna flip if he knows you're here Irulan!'' Harry said.

''I'll deal with it later'' I said shrugging. I grabbed Draco's wrist, ''Come on Draco''.

The four of them followed me to an interview room in the very back of Headquarters. There were about fifteen doors, with one way windows next to them on the back wall of Headquarters. I put Draco in one of those rooms, it was small 20 x 15 at the most. There was a crude wooden table in the center with two wooden chairs on either side. I closed the door and watched as Draco paced the room occasionally running his hands through his hair.

''What do you want to do?'' Harry asked me.

''Get him a cup of water laced with Veritaserum'' I replied.

''Isn't that Entrapment?'' Hermione asked.

''Entrapment is a relative term, I prefer...reasonable deception. We believe that if not under the influence of truth potion, Malfoy would lie to us like that -'' I snapped my fingers.

''Are you sure about this Irulan?'' Ron asked.

''It'll be fine if anyone'll get in trouble it'll be me. I'll make sure your asses are covered'' I said, somewhat bitterly I guess.

Harry walked away and came back fifteen to twenty minutes later with a cup of water in hand.

''Who wants to interview this time?'' Ron asked.

We all looked at eachother, ''jenkin?'' I suggested. ''That's how we always settle this, best not break tradition.'' The three of them smiled at me, and we all put our fists in a small circle.

''Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!''

Hermione and I both chose rock while Harry chose paper, and Ron scissors. ''Paper beats rock'' Harry said.

''But scissors cuts paper'' Ron said.

''And rock beats scissors'' Hermione said.

''Damn'' Harry and Ron said. Now it was just Hermione and myself.

''Rock, paper, scissors shoot!''

''Damn,'' I said. I picked paper and she picked scissors.

''Guess it's me this time'' she said, taking the glass of water from Harry.

''Better you than Harry, he might lunge across the table and strangle Malfoy'' I thought, unfortunately out loud. Ron looked like he was about to start laughing his ass off, while both Harry and Hermione just looked at me. ''I say that out loud?''

''Uh, yeah you did'' Ron said.

''Oh, sorry Harry, no offense'' I said.

''None taken'' he said.

Hermione rolled her eyes and walked into the interview room, setting the cup of water infront of Draco.

''Granger, I'm suprised they let a mudblood become an auror'' Draco said. When Hermione only smiled, I could have sworn I saw his eye twitch. See, Hermione has learned to deal with insults after everything we've been through already.

She walked around behind him, put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed. Harry, Ron and Hermione were shocked to see him cringe, ''You want your collarbone in one piece, yes?'' she said.

''Get your hands off me'' Draco said, slowly and clearly. Hermione complied and took her hand off his shoulder before she sat across from him. She's changed so much since school, she really could have done a considerable amount of damage to his collarbone. I've seen her use deadly force before, resulting in a few Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB) investigations. Draco sighed heavily before taking the glass and taking a sip.

Once Hermione was sure that he swallowed his mouthful, she immediately asked, ''So, what happened at the Spevak's?''

I love how Hermione doesn't beat around the bush, most the time anyway. The three of us outside watched outside in amusement as Draco spilled his black, little heart.