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Chapter XXVI: The Lost Souls

Draco's stomach was an angry den full of poorly-fed and ill tempered rabbits, that had taken to chewing on his lower intestines and poking their unwelcome heads into his liver. His eyes scrunched together erratically therefore, and this was all most uncomfortable for him. His hands, he had spent much time as of late staring at his hands, those hands what had strangled his Astoria. The last few hours were all blended together in his mind, he was trying to sort through all of the details, but they slipped through his hands like running water. He shook his head and raised his head upwards, eyes focused on the ceiling and not on the woman in front of him.

He had not wanted the investigation to start so early, but he knew within him that everything would be too early for him, there would never be sufficient time for him to recover from this. Talking was so difficult, it was like trying to bend a Galleon with your bare hands. His mind was slow, not from lack of details, but he was felt like there was a missing segment in the story, something just didn't flow- like a textbook with pages ripped out. So, it was understandable that Hermione had taken to prodding him occasionally whenever he appeared to be slowing down and drifting off.

"Draco, once again- I want to paraphrase what you have just stated to me, that way I am absolutely certain of the details. You say that you came home to try and settle differences with Astoria, who then proceeded to Imperius and rape you, correct?" Hermione had a look on her face similar to that of a lioness, ferocity emanated from every part of her.

"That's what happened, yes." his voice was hallow, and there was no trepidation in his response, that is what he knew to have happened. He was unsettled, his hands wrung at his robes, and his eyebrows furrowed in thought. He had remembered everything going well, until a point at which Astoria and he started fighting…but then she raped him? He couldn't make sense of it all, so how was he supposed to explain it to Granger?

Hermione let him rest for a few seconds as she collected her thoughts on the matter, he didn't break the silence and she knew it was hers to break. She steadied herself as she did so. "Tell me, had you been truly under the Imperius curse, why would you have put up a resistance?" Hermione eyed him, before extending one of her hands- the other hand resting on her wand now. "Corbin?" she said, turning around to face her assistant. "The wand, please."

Corbin nodded and shuffled over to a table where Draco watched him pick up Astoria's wand, Draco sensed Hermione's idea but did not want to accept it. He was telling the truth, they would have to realize that and let him off. He didn't want to cause any problem, he was so confused about his Astoria's means of passing on. He felt stinging behind his eyes that mingled with his panic as Hermione took the wand from Corbin.

"Draco, I understand this to be Astoria's wand, is that correct?" Hermione looked at the wand, and then to Draco, she stared without faltering.

"That is her wand, yes." he told her, truthfully, as he had all morning. He prayed that Scorpius would remain asleep upstairs, he didn't need to be down here for this. Draco knew he was supposed to be returned to Hogwarts today, but he couldn't…not now that this had happened. He needed to be near his son right now, he wanted to hold his son so badly.

"Prior Incantato!" Hermione said, pointing her own wand to Astoria's.

There was a rush of light that burst forth from the wand like the winds of a gale, and a miniature version of Astoria was seen cleaning her makeup off of her face. "Deletrius." Hermione said calmly. "Tergeo, was the last spell cast by this wand, Draco. Not the Imperius. I think we had better revisit your story." Hermione was stern, and in her eyes shone passion. She was in her element, and she relished the thought that just maybe- she would finally bring Draco under the hammer of justice.

"I can't tell you anything different, Hermione- I've told you the truth." he ran his fingers through his hair and his breathing became labored. He was rocking in his chair slightly, and he just kept looking back at Astoria's wand. "I remember that she used Imperio on me, then she raped me, that's all I have to offer- Merlin, I'm sorry and I wish there was more! Look at me, I wouldn't murder Astoria,…we were just starting to get our marriage back together." he pleaded, the stinging feeling behind his eyes growing stronger.

"Draco," Hermione said, handing the extra wand to Corbin, who tucked it into his robes and stood behind Hermione defensively, arms crossed across his chest. "You must see it the way the Ministry will. The facts are these," she started counting things off on her fingers. "Your wife and you have been fighting for custody over Scorpius for a good while now, it is known that you want full custody. You have cheated on Astoria with Ginny Potter. You have had to split half the Malfoy accounts with her. Your and your wife were all alone in that room last night, you admitted this yourself. Now, you say she used illegal magic against you- which cannot be backed up; just like your story."

Draco started to think that maybe he should get up, maybe he should grab Scorpius and run as far away as he could. But it brought bile to his throat and he knew he could not do it. This was wrong, what Granger was saying was all wrong- he knew exactly where she was going and he did not want to complete the thought. He was an innocent man, he hadn't murdered Astoria to gain custody of Scorpius and regain Malfoy assets. The mere thought of it was ludicrous. "Hermione, please- I did not kill Astoria for personal gain, it was self defense…" he said weakly, not really believing it himself, but not knowing what else to say. He had never believed Astoria to be violent.

"Draco, you have the motive. You have the means. You have the opportunity. The thing you lack, is a solid alibi. Until you can present me with proof that you did not intend to kill your wife, until you present me with evidence showing that she did Imperius you and threaten your well being, I have no choice but to place you under arrest for the murder of Astoria." she said, as she stood up and held her wand at the ready. "I am placing you under arrest, please" she said as kindly as she could. "relinquish your wand, and give me your hands." she held her wand out to his hands after he had willingly given Corbin his wand.

"Please, Hermione- my son. Please, just try to make sure he stays safe. I don't know what's happened to me- but I promise you I am innocent. Just make sure my son is safe- let him know how much I love him." Draco said, the stinging giving way now that he had given into the tears.

She looked at him, standing pitifully before her as she tapped his wrists with her wand and his hands were bound together. She had not noticed how much he had changed since they last saw each other, he was no longer a bouncy little ferret- but a concerned father. The mother in her felt her sympathies stir for him. 'No, he is the prime suspect in Astoria's death, be indifferent!' She urged herself on as she brought him to the fireplace and away from the front door which was likely littered with paparazzi still. But as she tossed the Floo Powder into the grate she couldn't shake the feeling that she owed him comfort.

"I will make sure he stays safe, Draco. Your son will be safe. Corbin," Corbin was at her side. "Stay here with Scorpius until I return." With that she walked into the fireplace and brought Draco with her. The smell of smoke was present as she spoke clearly and with conviction "Ministry of Magic." The flames burst out of the grate and Corbin was left in the Malfoy estate- a still sleeping Scorpius upstairs.

"I do hope the examiners get here soon, I never do well with the dead." Corbin shuffled about the room uncertainly, trying to maintain bravery until he was freed from this particular duty.

AN: A review is like a meal at breakfast, I'm happier when I have one. So please, review or give me breakfast. Your starving writer, TowerMage.