"You two ready?" Blaise found them in the kitchen and while neither answered him, both pushed off the counters they had been leaning against.
"Yeah. Let's go." Draco said and dropped the eye contact with Theo. This was the first time the boys and Granger hadn't been somewhere on the property while they were here, since they had arrived and those three weeks had been perfect. So good and now it felt scary to not have them here. They were only at her place in Italy. A few hours of sun and distraction so the boys didn't have to say goodbye to them.
Granger had asked them last night if it was alright and they had both agreed without argument. Both Theo and him were still alright with it but it felt better with them here and that was just the way it was. Where they were going didn't help and the tense way Blaise was standing didn't help either. Plunkett.
This was only the first thing they were trying, as the witch had reassured them all last night. Blaise especially and it was even clearer in that moment, how hard their friend had tried and how responsible he felt. Which was ridiculous but until this was over they couldn't really make Blaise feel better and so this was at least a step in that direction.
Twenty minutes later the three of them were striding down the last hallway before they reached the Records Department and ignoring everyone was the only real decision he had made. If he had been alone this would have been worse but Theo and Blaise were here and the lawyers were waiting them for them. Potter was in his office today too, if he was needed. The concept was weird but he didn't care.
The three of them didn't speak to the two lawyers, who stood when they entered the waiting area. Draco stood with Theo, both of them a step behind Blaise and with their backs to a section of wall. Trying to be calm and relatively casual was all either of them could do.
The lawyers stood side by side in front of the long desk that held three clerks. The privacy spells always in place prevented Draco, or his friends, from hearing anything said and so they stood in silence and waited. Finally, it felt like ages later, his lawyer stepped away from the desk and turned toward them. The blank face wasn't unexpected but it was encouraging either.
"If you would come with us." The polite tones didn't get an verbal response but the three of them followed him to the long hallway of doors and waited for the clerk and Theo's lawyer, who was as puffed up as he could be.
It took another minute or two before the Ministry staff made their way over to them and the clerk was as red faced as the lawyer. The clerk looked like he had taken a pepper up, minus the steam coming out of his ears. This didn't bode well and he caught both his friend's eyes quickly, they looked as grim as he felt.
There he was, Plunkett. The lightly veined cheeks and shock of grey hair on his too round head. The eyes were scanning the five of them and looked gloating. It was instantly infuriating and he forced his shields up. Just the thought of this man knowing about his son or hunting their witch was intolerable. To his basest nature and the pillars he had been raised with. They were his and he had to employ all of his training in that moment to keep himself in check.
"I have nothing to say to you." Was what Plunkett finally said and Draco let his mind magics brush Theo's.
In reassurance and a reminder to both of them of what was important. The image of the three of them in her bed and then how he had felt while they lay there together. Quiet and comfortable, becoming more comfortable.
It helped him and he thought the increased awareness in Theo's eyes was a sign it had helped him too. It was easier to remember what they actually had. Really he should have just replayed the witch's words last night. Right now they had everything and the Ministry didn't have anything. They were all together and secure, nothing the man did could change who the boys were or any of what was actually happening.
"We all know that isn't the case." Theo's lawyer, Folden, was pompous but he was also controlled and the nearly hissed words showed that at least the lawyers were as frustrated as the three of them and Granger were. These two lawyers usually battled it out in the courtroom but stood side by side now.
"The vows our clients were under no longer hold. They are not included in the contracts." Soppert spoke in his usual drawl and Draco thought about how familiar it was. How many times he been dragged to the courtrooms or the man's office when he was home on school break. His father hadn't liked Soppert but the lawyer was good and most of the things the older two didn't like about each other were gone now, or acknowledged.
Draco had left a letter, knowing he would see no one if he were arrested instead of dead. The reception he had gotten from the lawyer told him that Soppert was at least letting them begin again and it had been reassuring. Someone, other then Granger and Blaise, was going to let him try and the fact that he was well paid meant little.
"That changes nothing about the ones sealing them now." Draco didn't understand what Plunkett meant and was unwilling to meet either of his friends' eyes now. How could that not change anything?
"The witch is guilty of kidnapping and then fleeing the country with underage scions. Their existence and her crime are linked. Feel free to bring them in." Obviously the man knew this wasn't an option, the fucker was nearly smirking.
"It could be that the letters and lack of actual ability to do anything, prior to our clients release of course, that this has given you the false impression that we are ineffectual or without recourse." The way that Soppert looked to Folden after speaking and the other man looked considerate was nearly funny. Draco didn't know that either lawyer ever had fun and certainly not together, Blaise hadn't said anything.
"Certainly the Ministry is not willing to back child abuse and the active attack on a war heroine." When it was put that way, the man's slight decrease in his puffed up appearance was understandable. Folden nodded once, and then they were all waiting for a response from the Ministry official.
Silence reigned and Draco watched the two lawyers exchange another glance before they turned to the three behind them and Folden spoke.
"We will begin with both the legal and public plans with your permission. Mr Zabini is well aware and will be able to brief you. If you need me before our appointment three days hence please owl. I will be available." All three of them got a glance and then Soppert gave Draco himself a long look and a nod. Their appointment was in two days but both knew that.
"I advise we all leave this room together." Soppert didn't order them but it was a firm suggestion and he nodded. They did need to leave, being in this room with this man and no witnesses wasn't wise.
Half an hour later the three of them were in the lounge room and none of them had spoken a single word. They had checked each other for trackers and the rest of the things on the list Blaise rattled off every time they came or went from the Den.
Then he had walked directly in here and looked around. Looked at all of the things in here. Games and books. Papers and the blanket on the boys floor couch, that's what Blaise called it. What the witch had told him to go and get them.
They weren't here now and he didn't like it at all. Didn't know if seeing the three of them right now was a good idea either though.
"Soppert made a comment last year. We were still there and it was late. Whiskey had replaced the coffee and we were just going through old arcane law books like we did once a week. His wife always sent dinner, and we always invited Folden who always had an excuse not to come. He said we should just set it up so the witch found Plunkett in a dark alley and clean up the mess." The silence was still there but it had changed after Blaise spoke. Draco was looking at Blaise and the dead serious look on his face. As if this were a real consideration and Draco thought about that.
"No." Theo's low sound was descriptive and he understood the look on his friend's face.
"Too close to her." Draco said to Blaise and the wizard scoffed and then met Theo's eyes.
What he thought but also an acknowledgement of what Theo felt. That their witch should never be within sight of the man and certainly not listen to what he thinks. Not that she couldn't but the witch had unknowingly walked into a place Theo had built in his mind. Where first his absent mother had been and then what he wanted more than anything for his son. That place was perfected and shielded, it wasn't real but a lot of how Theo felt was bound up in that. His son had a mother and he would do everything in his power to keep her there, for Tray. So the boy could have what Theo hadnt had.
None of them had what she was to the boys but Draco and Blaise has been loved by their mothers. Blaise still was, but it was wasn't warm like that. That was something else and something none of them were willing to lose.
"Was that why? Why you never offered her an out." He asked Blaise and Theo's interest was firmly fixed on the two of them. In the second of silence, he realized that maybe Blaise hadn't followed his train of thought.
"The way she is with them?" Blaise asked and Draco nodded once and watched Blaise sit back. Then waved his hand and the familiar ritual of whiskey being poured and handed out took a minute.
"I might have tried, if she wanted one. Never was really an issue though. She had already decided to keep them and the first time I met them, it was crazy. The suspicious eyes and the way Tray asked me if I made her cry." He watched the dark brown waves fall forward as Blaise looked away from the wall and into his glass. The heaviness and real feeling of the moment helped a bit. Helped ground him and pull his thoughts back, to what was real and away from what wasn't.
"I didn't know what to think. All I could see was you two. They were small and tired still. The healing was done but it takes a lot. They hadn't been fed all that well. Not starving but nutrition was big for a while. Not that they knew that. It was clear that they trusted her, the way they let her touch them and touched her. Just her soft voice and her rage. That night when I came back, she had been thinking all day. Said she gave them squirt guns, they shoot water, in the bath and watched them. I had talked a lot about the war with her, more than anyone else. The look in her eyes though and the things she said. I couldn't believe it but she could. She did. More than that she could see them, as who they were. Not just victims but your sons. I won't see them and tell them I found them but don't know where they are." There was a ragged tone in his friend's voice and the emotions shifted as he spoke but it became clearer. Some of how it had been and how they had felt.
Theo looked to him then and Draco could see the increase in his frustration. Not the immediate situation but that any of this had happened. It had though and he held Theo's eyes, waiting for him to accept that. Partially at least.
"Does Granger know the plan?" Draco asked into the heavy silence and could see Theo shift to now.
Away from then and what they couldn't do. So many things were helpful. That he had to keep Theo on track. Had Blaise to do it for them too and the fucking brilliant normalcy of the boys and the witch. Her acceptance and expectation.
The way she didn't expect them to be broken but seemed to know that they were. Didn't expect them not to able to do things but maybe just not what exactly to do. Hermione did expect them to try though and credited them for doing it. Let them be with them or leave if they needed a minute. He was glad the witch understood. Not glad she had been through that but that she understood some of him. Seemed to have thought a lot about it and he didn't doubt Blaise had told her what he could without betrayal of any kind. Would have let her know if she was way off base anyways. It all combined together and felt settling.
"No, I can't remember the last time she really asked me anything." Blaise's tone said he knew why she didn't and that he didn't like admitting it. Draco waited for Theo to look at him and then grinned, it took a second but Theo did too and then Blaise was rolling his eyes.
"Sometimes she is a bit much. Like who can be that considerate all the time." Blaise's tones were incredulous and he chuckled at the truth in it. The way his friend really meant this.
"It's not hard to reciprocate though. To tease and argue with her. I've spent a week or more on end with her and we just get along. Not like we do, she's different so I don't always understand her, but she likes me." These kind of moments, conversations, it made it nearly worth it. Being here with Theo and Blaise. The honesty of it, understanding each other.
"More time spent in the shower but you don't mind." Theo spoke as if he totally got it and he could only smile at the real thoughtful nod Blaise responded with.
"Then she says something. Casually usually and it isn't until she realises I am staring at her that she explains. I listened to her explain home to them once. How they lived there but home was really wherever they were. A place you could know exactly who was there and trust those people. How important it was to able to sleep at night, whatever they had to do was fine. The wards or asking an elf to wake them if something they were worried about happened. That it was okay to need a light on or sleep with your back to a wall. It was okay to want to change these things, but that things had happened to all of them. How you would understand." The way Blaise trailed off and looked between them made Draco tense. Not outwardly but inwardly and he didn't want to interrupt his friend talking like this. Blaise didn't, not much. Small things but not so much of his own thoughts or her words.
"They have nightmares sometimes, so does she. At first she silenced herself but after a talk with them she left them down. Asked Snitch to wake her so she didn't just scream and scare them but Tray asked me about it. If you would understand like she did, of course they had asked her like always and Bella always answers them. Coming to me was just the only other source so they did. The solemn eyes and the way he asked if you had been scared like she said. That being helpless is scary and that's what they dream about. All three of them. I just stared at him. She never gives me any warning other than a firm glance toward whatever door. Scorp walked in then and sat down beside Tray. Serious eyes and so watchful. Did I know what she dreamed about. Did you? Would you understand." This time he didn't know what to say. Couldn't imagine being asked that. Blaise hadn't been there. He knew enough but he hadn't been there and hadn't been helpless like that.
"I told that that I didn't know. I had heard but I didn't know and assured them that as she had said, you would understand. Then they thanked me politely and left to find her. I sat there and thought for a long time. About how much she did understand, even just about trauma. I mean her and her friends are mostly alright but she has told me countless times that everyone is broken and it's how each one puts themselves back together. Why they do it what motivation they have. Really I've only been fucking grateful for her, tried to make sure she knows it and the witch wasn't miserable, isnt now." Blaise remembered the original question and answered it, before he sat back and closed his eyes.
Leaving a Theo and him into each other's eyes and think until Treacle came to tell them that the boys and the witch were coming back now.
Author's Note: Thanks to Guest for responding :) I'll try and keep it up. Please remind me if I fall into bad habits. I know who is talking when I write it and when I read it back. Hope everyone is well. Thanks to JkR for this world and these characters.
-Maybenotahufflepuff