Silhouettes
A/N: This was based on Smile Empty Soul's song, 'Silhouettes'. It is not a songfic but just where the inspiration for it came from. It's a four-parter which I have written so the updates will come quickly. This chapter is set shortly after the 7th book.
Also, thanks to Suuz112 for her review last chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own the song Silhouettes or the associated lyrics. I do not own Harry Potter or any related characters within the franchise. If I did, Tom Felton would be all mine and in the movies far more!
Draco didn't even bother to look up as the bars of his cell rattled. He was due to be sent to Azkaban that day and was dreading that moment. He hadn't even had a proper trial; the only evidence presented was his left arm bearing the dark mark. He had been in this cell deep within the ministry for a few days now, Draco had lost track of the time a while ago. Not that he would need to know the day or time where he was going, he was there for life. All he had to count down to was his eventual death. He heard the creaking of the cell door being opened and sensed the light flood his cell, but still didn't open his eyes, what was the point? Hope really had died for him.
Grey eyes flew open, however, when he heard a female's voice softly tell the guard that she would be quite alright on her own. That he was of no danger to her.
'Draco? Draco, it's me Hermione,' the soft voice called out into the darkness.
Draco registered the voice searching through his memories. Of course it was. How could he have forgotten that voice? Suddenly embarrassed, Draco sank back further into the corner of his cell. Why had she come now? Did she really need to come here to gloat that she had been right that night, which seemed to have been decades ago rather than just over a year ago, on the cliff edge?
He was suddenly aware that Hermione's face was in front of him.
'What are you doing here?' Draco asked, mirroring what she had asked him before.
'I'm here to tell you that your sentence as been overturned. You're a free man, Draco.'
'Hermione, I know I have nothing left anymore but don't joke with me.'
'I'm not joking Draco. You really are free to go. I went to the minster himself.'
Draco stood suddenly and paced to the other side of the cell, shouting 'I know everyone thinks I'm the lowest of the low, a blight on this earth or whatever. I know I used to bully you, but I never believed that you would be capable of this Hermione. Is there any point in kicking a man when he's already down? Why are you trying to get my hopes up only to knock them back down again? I told you, hope for me is dead.'
Hermione stood and walked cautiously over to where Draco stood with his back to her and gently replied, 'I'm here to show that there is always hope. I've got the sentence overturned form signed by the minister here.'
Draco turned without warning, forcing Hermione to back up into the cell wall. He covered her body with his, essentially trapping her between his arms.
'Why are you doing this to me? I deserve this. This is what I get for the choices I made, the life I followed,' he shouted at her.
Hermione had begun to reply when she was interrupted by the guard knocking on the cell door. 'Are you alright in there Miss Granger? I heard shouting. Do you need any help?'
'I'm fine thank you,' Hermione reassured him and used the temporary distraction to remove herself from under Draco.
'Never say you deserve this, Draco. You don't. You said yourself you had no choice. So why should you be punished for something that's not your fault?'
'People were tortured and killed in my home. You included. That won't ever be forgotten.'
'You can change people's minds. Show them that you are a good person, that past actions mean nothing. You can redeem yourself; make the Malfoy name respected again.'
'What's the use?' Draco sat back down on the cell floor, his back leaning against the cold stone wall, his head resting in his hands.
Hermione was once more reminded with the silhouetted image of Draco in a similar position a couple of years back. Her heart broke once more.
'But if you don't try, if you give up, then hope really has died. There's nothing in this world that you can't be if you want it enough.'
Draco didn't reply.
'You really are free to go, Draco.' With nothing left to say to convince him that she was not lying, Hermione fished through her pockets and pulled out a piece of parchment, placing it on the floor, and left Draco sitting there.
Draco raised his head slightly, to watch Hermione leave. He heard the cell door close behind Hermione but was surprised to not hear it lock. Maybe Hermione had been right? Maybe he really was free to go? But how had she got his sentence overturned? Why did she care so much anyway? What was he to her? Nobody cared about former death eaters, preferring that they were locked up in Azkaban. Hermione especially should hate him, shun him.
He looked at the cell door. He had nothing else to do with his life. In a short while he would be shipped off to Azkaban. He might as well see if what Hermione had said was true. Now she wasn't here, Draco felt more inclined to try; Hermione would have left by now and so wouldn't laugh at his desperate and pathetic actions if she had been lying. Draco stood up and pushed open his cell door.
A/N: Well that's the third part. Please review. I'll update tomorrow probably.