A hand on his shoulder gently woke him. His body ached from sleeping in an awkward position. He opened his eyes and looked up. It was Dumbldore. He was instantly filled with so much hate he could hardly stand it. He wanted to hurt him. He was the root of everything.
"I'm afraid you need to come with me, Mr. Malfoy."
Draco didn't move, "Why?" he whispered. His throat hurt, he was so thirsty.
"There are some aurors that need to talk with you about your father and time is of the essence."
Draco pushed himself up and was quickly and callously led up to Dumbledore's office. Draco was numb, he didn't feel and he didn't notice. His chest still ached dully, like a fresh bruise. He felt hollow and dead, like all the emotion had been ripped from him. He almost started crying again but forced himself to stop.
Up in the office he was lead to a chair where he sat gingerly. Sitting across from him were two grim looking aurors who looked at him coldly.
"This will only take a moment, Mr. Malfoy. There has been a rush put on the trial in order to make sure your father doesn't have the time to cover up the evidence as he has in the past. As of this moment there is a team searching the Malfoy manor and your father's been taken into custody. We need to verify your statements to Mr. Potter for the trial tomorrow, if you would talk to us."
(a/n: I know that book five had a trial scene but I don't care to look it up and figure it out. I've decided that in my little dimension of false reality that the wizards use a modified muggle trial. Same as muggles except that the evidence usually has magic involved. Then again I don't recognize the last two books so, no problem.)
Draco looked impassively at a wall, "Why does it matter what I say? Ha-Potter told the truth and you probably examined his memories."
"Yes, but it would help the case enormously if we could verify with the person who spoke the statements. As of right now the case is fairly strong but there is not doubt that Mr. Malfoy, your father, will try to turn it to his advantage. He's hired the best defense lawyer in the country. We have a difficult case ahead of us and not nearly enough time to make sure it will hold."
"But if you had more time he would just destroy you."
One of them coughed awkwardly, "Yes, that is what would probably happen. Do you confirm or deny that you told Harold Potter that you father had and has been using the Imperus on your mother and threatened to use it on you?"
"I confirm that Mother was put under the Imperius by my father but he never directly threatened me with the Imperius I just knew that if I stepped too far out of line that that's what would happen to me."
"Thank you, that's all we'll be needing from you-" They started to stand.
Draco cut in, closing his eyes but not looking away from the wall, "I have other things I could tell you about him. Things that could help cement your case and I know where he buries the bodies."
The Aurors sat back down.
After they finished speaking with him he was moved several times. One of the first stops was a sterile white room with a stainless steel table and chairs. There he was subjected to a battery of tests to check for spells. He was then moved to another and another. He wasn't sure to where because he didn't care to ask. He ended up in a small windowless, door less room. It was nice for what it was. The mattress on the bed wasn't lumpy and there were books. They said as they were leaving that it was a safe room. That they had to make sure he was safe until the trial. Draco didn't much care. He would probably be killed once the trial was over but in his mind it was better than the Imperius.
The room was so quiet. It was enough to drive a person mad all by itself but what was true terrible was his own mind. He could not stop thinking. His mind kept trying to return to the night before and every time he pushed it away and ended up thinking about the past and the things he had told the aurors and the things he hadn't.
"I did what I had to do to get the job done."
Draco bit his lip and squeezed his eyes shut. He didn't want to think about it but that line kept running through his head over and over. Harry had lied and he had hurt him more than his father ever had. He had never even considered loving someone like he had loved Harry even if it had only been a day. He angrily wiped his eyes and collapsed onto the bed. He curled up into a ball and slowly let himself fall apart. Here in the silence with no one around he died a little and cried until he couldn't anymore.
He didn't touch the food they sent. He only managed to drink some water but he had no appetite. He only slept when he couldn't keep his eyes open any longer.
He was awoken later and given a fresh set of clothes. They weren't his but they fit him perfectly, a loose, warm grey sweater and a nice pair of black pants. He was the most grateful for the sweater; it was so warm. It was comforting in it's own way.
He was moved to the place where the trial was being held. They had already started when he got there. He was allowed to wait outside of the great doors for which he was extremely grateful. He didn't want to be inside when Harry testified. He didn't want to see him ever again.
The door swung slightly open and a suit stuck his head out, "Mr. Malfoy?"
The two aurors that stood on either side of him looked at each other and back at the man in the door. One spoke up, "I was under the understanding he would be the Crown's last witness. The defendant has one more to call first."
The man nodded, "I'm afraid he is the defendants last witness as well. Character witness."
Draco grimaced and stood up. His father was so predictable, so thick headed. He probably spoke with Blaise and was told what Draco had said the first night he came to the school. He wouldn't believe Draco had betrayed him until it was rubbed in his face. He went into the courtroom led by the bailiff. The room was packed, every seat was taken and quite a few stood in the back, aurors lined the walls, three sat behind his father.
He went to the front and swore to tell the truth, an old formality because they had spells in place that would go off in the presence of a lie. The first lie was usually tolerated so long as you changed your statements to truth and didn't try it again. After the first warning, if the person tried it again, they were arrested for perjury.
His father's defense lawyer stepped up to him. Draco recognized him immediately; he was the family's lawyer. He couldn't remember his name, he didn't want too. There was no one slimier than him, no one quite as good at twisting the question to fit his case.
"You are the one and only son of Lucius Malfoy are you not?" He hissed, he truly reminded Draco of a snake.
"Yes." Draco answered flatly. He kept his eyes fixed on the wood ledge in front of him. The panel was the front of the box and the front of his cage.
"And he was a good father?"
Draco paused and closed his eyes.
"Answer the question pleassse, Mr. Malfoy." His words were oiled with irritation.
Draco looked up slightly and looked over at his father for a moment then back at the snake, "Honestly?" He said softly, a slight ironic grin slipped onto his face.
The snake nodded, "Of course, truth is the most important thing here."
Draco ran a hand over the wood ledge, "Well then, no. He was a horrible father. He hit me and neglected me and took my mother away from me."
The whole courtroom went deathly silent, waiting in apprehension for the telltale whistle that denoted a lie. There was none. Draco looked up at his father. He was looking at him with the same look of hated he had looked at his mother with when he had stormed into the room that day. That ironic grin wouldn't go away, he felt himself on the verge of cracking and he wasn't sure, if he did, if he would begin to laugh or cry. Either way he knew he wouldn't be able to stop one he began. He pulled what little was left of his self control together and kept his gaze locked on the wood in front of him.
The snake tried to pick up his case by doing what he did best, "But he wasn't cruel to you."
Draco felt the grin melt, "Yes, he was."
"He-he," The snake seemed at a loss, "He gave you everything you could possibly want."
Draco froze, his words going cold, "He gave me every thing I could ever want. He gave me lots of things and money but nothing more than that. I don't think he's ever said a word to me in affection or genuine kindness…I was never good enough for him."
A weight lodged in Draco's gut. In that moment he suddenly felt more alone than he had in his entire life. He suddenly felt relieved that after this it would end. Voldemort never forgave a betrayal. He just hoped it wasn't too painful.
The snake switched tactics, "On the night in which you first arrived at school, is it not true that you told you're housemates that you were on a mission to deceive Mr. Potter?"
"Yes." Draco closed his eyes.
Is it true that you planned to gain Mr. Potter's trust only to betray him and his secrets for your own advantage?" The snake was back on track. The careful wording in his question impressed even Draco.
Draco hesitated on the answer. He had the feeling that both sides were trying to hide what had happened between Harry and himself. Both sides were probably embarrassed by the idea. It just wouldn't do to have the poster boy of good and poster boy for evil having a relationship, of any kind. It wouldn't do at all. Draco suddenly hated himself, himself and his stupidity. How could he even think that they'd allow…
"I thought I did but now I'm not so sure that I that was my intention even in the beginning. After that night I had no desire to ever betray him. No desire to ever hurt him again."
The snake hesitated and stepped back, he looked at Draco in such a cold manner it sent shivers up his spine, "The defense rests."
The judge nodded, "Would the crown like to question the witness?"
The crown's attorney stood up, she was a friendly but stern looking woman. As Draco understood it, she was the best the crown had. They had canceled all her other cases for the day just to take this one.
Her heels clicked softly in the silent courtroom as she moved in front of Draco's cage.
She smiled reassuringly at Draco even though he didn't lift his head to look, "Mr. Malfoy, when were you first aware that your father was involved in the dark arts?"
The room suddenly filled with whispers and the judge had to bang the gavel several times before the court was quiet once more.
"Young Mr. Malfoy?" The old judge inquired when Draco didn't answer.
"I'm fine." He replied, running his hand over the wood again, "I didn't know what my father was doing was wrong. He had taught me many spells, it was what I was expected to do. When I failed or questioned him he hit me, I never really questioned it until…" He stopped, he knew but he didn't want too. His throat closed painfully.
"Mr. Malfoy?" The lady lawyer asked gently.
Draco rubbed his throat and then his eyes, "Can I get some water?" He whispered.
The judge pour a glass from his pitcher and Draco drank slowly. His throat loosened slightly but it made him feel slightly sick, he suddenly wished he had eaten something before coming in. Perhaps though it would have only made it worse.
He cleared his throat and took a deep breath, "The three forbidden spells. I didn't know they were illegal when I was taught them. When I first learned them I didn't even know what they did. Spiders were the first that I used the spells on. I didn't really understand the implications. They were just spiders and I didn't like spiders much. Then…that night….it all became so clear that it was all so very wrong…." He stopped, clenching his hands together.
The lady moved closer to him laying a hand on the witness box looking at Draco with sympathy that seemed genuine, "Would you please tell the jury what happened that night?"
Draco squeezed his hands tighter, he had hoped it wouldn't come up but he knew he had to talk about it. It would make sure his father was taken care of forever; if the jury convicted him he would be put to death. It was time to remember.
He stared at his hands as eh began to speak, "It was late…my father came to me and led me down into the dungeons. He said it was time for me to prove myself…"
"It's time for you to prove yourself. Prove that you are truly a Malfoy."
"…I followed, I was ten, I think. Down…it was in the torture chamber." He choked on his words slightly and had to swallow several times before he could continue. The lady attorney stood silently, watching him with patient eyes. He wondered why she hadn't asked him if he was all right or prompted him. She probably knew that he would continue in his own time.
"I-in the center of the room is a drain. I can only imagine what it drain's. Around the drain are four rings and chained to one of the rings were two little kids…" His hands started shaking and he gripped them tighter, "A little boy and a girl a little younger than I was and they were clutching each other…" His voice broke and he paused, his fingers were white, "They were chained around the neck with these iron rings and they were wearing only rags. They were so scared…so thin, the little girl was crying. Everything was so wrong…"
"What happened next?" the lady prompted but Draco wasn't listening, he was caught up in his memories.
"Then father gave me his wand and he told me to use the killing curse. I wasn't stupid, I saw what it had done to the spiders, and I wasn't going to do that to them I… I couldn't…" Something hot and wet hit his hands; he reached up with a shaking hand and touched his cheek. He hadn't though he had any tears left.
The people of the court watched in stunned silence, hanging on his every word.
Draco watched the tear run down his hand with avid fascination, "I told him I wouldn't do it and he slapped me. He told me to do it again. He said that they were orphans that no one would miss. That they would die in their homeland anyway and I said no again. This time he hit me so hard across the face I flew back. I could hear them crying behind me. He-he…"
He picked up the glass of water and tried to drink but his hand was shaking too much and put more tears in than he got water to his mouth. He put the glass down, "He screamed at me to do as he said. I couldn't speak, I was so afraid but somehow I managed to shake my head. He said that if I wouldn't do as he said he would show me true pain. He'd show me so much pain that giving death would pale in comparison."
He closed his eyes as tightly as he could and bit his lip. He couldn't hold it in anymore but it didn't make it any less painful to tell. He looked up for the first time and met the eyes of the lady attorney. Even her eyes widened, whispered circulated through the courtroom. He decided that he would tell her his story and began to speak once more. This time he didn't bother to stop the tears.
"I said no and he took his wand back from me. He dragged me by my arm over to the hanging manacles and put my wrists in them He chained me so that I faced the little ones…so, so that I could see them. I think he wanted me connect my pain to them and blame it on them." He wiped his eyes with one rough hand, "He took one of his whips and hit me with it. At-at first he only made welts and he would stop….to ask me if I would do as he said and every time I said no he would hit harder and harder until he broke the skin. I remember the blood running down my black and legs and I remember screaming until I was hoarse but I don't remember the pain." He looked from the lady lawyer over to the jury and then down at his hands, they were white and shaking. He hadn't realized.
"I almost passed out but he stopped and forced a potion down my throat so that I couldn't. He wanted me to watch…" His voice choked for a moment, his eyes hurt from crying. It was all too much.
"Young Mr. Malfoy? Draco?" It was the gentle voice of the lady attorney.
Draco looked up slightly. She seemed to care which, is more than most had ever done for him. Her look reminded him of Harry's. He had seemed to care too. Were they both liars or was he just a good actor? His heart ached and he clutched his chest with one hand. He just wanted everything to be over. He wanted it to be done! He was suddenly so angry and tired and he just couldn't hold the pain in any longer.
"He wanted me to watch him kill them! He made me watch!" He half yelled, half sobbed, "He just pointed his wand and killed them both. The killing curse…I didn't want to watch but I couldn't look away. I felt as if it was my fault they were killed. I had to bear witness. I had to watch and remember for them so that they could be avenged. I still hear their screams sometimes in my dream…still hear them crying…" his last words came out in a strangled whisper.
Some people were still absorbing what he had said, some were in shock and a few were crying. Draco didn't see any of them he just looked straight through.
The snake shot up, "Objection! I want to see proof of this supposed event!"
The judge looked over at the lady lawyer, "Well?"
She sighed and looked over at Draco as if she was sorry for something. Then see looked up at the judge.
"I was hoping it wouldn't come to this, for young Draco's sake…The crown would like to enter into evidence the proof Mr. Neilson requested."
The judge nodded and the lady turned on her heel, back towards Draco.
She smiled sadly, "I'm sorry, Draco, but could you please remove your shirt and show your back to the jury."
Draco froze for a minute then mechanically stood and pulled his shirt over his head, keeping his arms in the sleeves. He turned, looking at the floor as whispers filled the room again. The judge waited for the room to quiet. Draco pulled the sweater back on.
The lady's heels clicked, "I know this has been difficult for you but could you tell me what happened right after that?"
Draco felt numb but somehow managed to find his tongue, "He summoned a house elf and told him to get rid of them, to bury them in the northern rose gardens. He said that at least they would be useful for something…"
The lady spun on her heel to face the jury, "And that was where two skeletons of two small children were found. Residue of the killing curse still remained on the bones linked directly to Mr. Lucius Malfoy's wand. The same residue was found in the torture chamber."
The snake bolted up again, his eyes glinting darkly.
"Yes, Mr. Neilson?" The judged asked tiredly.
The snake smirked, "I want to know if there is anyone that can vouch for the character of the witness. How do I know that the witness isn't twisting his statements?"
The lady lawyer spun around, "Why would he lie?" she snapped, showing anger for the first time since Draco had come in.
The judge banged his gavel and she stepped back, glowering at the snake.
The snake smoothly step forward, "It's very simple. If my client is put to death then your witness, the defendant's son, stands to inherit all of his fathers assets. That might compel anyone to twist their story."
Draco felt his eyes begin to burn again. Would no one believe him?
"I'm not lying. I'm not twisting my words. I have nothing to gain from this. Whether or not my father is convicted I will be killed by father or him. No one can protect me from that fate." He whispered bitterly.
His words were quiet but the whole room heard him.
The snake scowled, "Your fate has nothing to do with this trial. I want to know if even one person in this world can vouch for you, for your character."
Draco was about to shake his head when someone stood up in the second row.
"I can." The person said.
It took a moment to recognize him. The black hair, the green eyes were all that Draco needed to recognize him. Harry.
"I can vouch for Draco. We may have not been friends but I knew him better than anyone. He was my rival more than my enemy but as the saying goes, 'know thy enemy'. The first day of school, just few days ago and the day after that…I discovered the real Draco…the one you've seen today. I know he's told the truth here today."
The snake soured, "You're just rivals. You wouldn't watch anyone that closely if they were simply a rival. Kids your age are too self centered and full of themselves to look beyond their own noses."
Harry frowned then his face softened and he sighed, "You're right. I wouldn't watch a rival that close but," he paused and looked up at Draco, "I would watch someone I loved that close."
The room broke into chaos. Sitting beside Harry, Dumbledore and Ron grabbed at him, frowning and saying stern words that couldn't be heard over the noise. He shook them off. The judge was finally reduced to casting a silencing spell onto the room. He released it after a tense moment.
Draco grabbed his chest again. He couldn't believe it, he didn't want to. He didn't want to get hurt again. Not again.
Harry glanced defiantly around the courtroom before locking eyes with Draco again. Draco felt his heart skip a beat and held his breath.
"I love him and I won't deny it. I had a crush on him for a several months, before the summer break, and who doesn't watch the object of their infatuation? So when Dumbledore asked for volunteer to try and gain Draco's confidence and try to learn something I jumped at the chance to get close to him without getting any shit from anyone. He's telling the truth."
The judge raised he eyebrow at the swear word but made no other expression then looked at the snake, "Will that be all, Mr. Neilson?"
The snake fell back in his seat, defeated. A soft, barely audible snarl slipped through the room. Only Draco followed it to his father who scowled at him through eyes that were slits and in those slits Draco could see the black seething hatred he kept barely contained. Draco shuddered and looked away and met those eyes, green as sweet dreams and the summer's breath. Suddenly, without warning he was overwhelmed by the feeling that everything would be ok, just so long as those eyes were looking at him.
"You may step down, Young Mr. Malfoy. Lady's and Gentlemen of the jury I leave you to your work. The court will recess until the jury reaches its verdict." And there was a banging of the gavel.
The people began to move and stretch but none bothered to leave. Everyone knew that the verdict wouldn't take long. Draco slowly stood, his legs were stiff and his whole body ached. He was suddenly so tired and hungry; he wanted to go home, so long as home was where Harry was. He slipped down the steps in a haze, barely watching where he was going, keeping his eyes on Harry. He was afraid that if he looked away he would disappear. It was such a childish notion, so stupid but he was too broken to rationalize.
Harry was pushing through people, trying to get to the aisle to the gate that separated them. Finally he broke through and made his way to the gate. Draco had almost reached the gate as well when suddenly Harry's eyes widened. Draco saw a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye and spun around. His father lunging at him, he had something silver in his hand. Draco was frozen, unable to move. The point of sliver moved towards him, his chest, his heart; moving so fast and so slow. He closed his eyes. All he could think was that it wasn't fair, it just wasn't fair.
Suddenly, he was enveloped in a warm darkness and felt himself begin to fall. He hit the ground but not hard, he was cushioned, protected. He thought for a moment that this was what death was like. Then he opened his eyes.
"Are you ok?" a soft voice whispered. It was Harry's voice.
He feel Harry's arm around his back, keeping him off the floor, the other held him up. He looked up into those green eyes that looked back at him with fear and worry.
Draco nodded and whispered back, "Yes."
Harry smiled slowly sat up, pulling Draco up with him. He held him tight in his arms and Draco hesitantly clutched at Harry's shirt burying his face in Harry's shoulder.
"I'm so glad that you're ok…" his voice faded as he spoke and his whole body began to fall onto Draco.
Draco struggled to hold up his weight, "Harry? Harry?" His voice sounded so soft and broken he didn't recognize it as his own. Then he saw the shining silver handle of a letter opener, protruding from Harry back. Everything fell apart. He was suddenly assailed by the sounds of the screaming, struggling and shouting. Aurors surround his father, subduing him, others scrambled to try and get to Harry. Draco pushed it all away and tightened his arms around Harry, holding him up with all his strength. He cried without heed, whispering Harry's name over and over again. He wouldn't let go and they had to pry Harry from his arms.
(cliffhanger...I know, I'm sorry but what can I say? I was the perfect place to stop. All I can tell you is that the next chapter is the last, it will be short and I will be posting it soon. Hopefully by this weekend. Also I would like to recognize the fact that I cannot write as has been pointed out o me several times in the past. At least not perfectly. My spelling has errors and is not always true to the books, my grammer sucks, commas suck and my plots aren't always theat great but lets face it- This is a fanfic not a published work. Please, I know I suck, don't rub it in. Thanks.)