The Calm Before The Storm

Draco watched as his father was lowered into the chasm below. Heard the grinding metal of the cage door open, chains rattling. He hadn't seen his father since his capture. And now there he was, a Malfoy, locked in a cage like some filthy animal! Draco was furious. He turned to his mother who was staring blankly at the empty hole where her husband was standing earlier.

"Mother?" he asked

Narcissa turned to look at him but her eyes were eerily glassy, as if she were blind.

"Mother? You shouldn't be here!" he said

"He needs me…" she mumbled pathetically. "I saw his eyes."

"Your not well! Mother! You need to get some rest. You haven't slept in two days." Draco was holding back tears.

He signalled to one of his mother's minders. The burly man approached and offered her his arm. Narcissa still glassy eyed and vacant, took it and prepared to be lead out.

Molly Weasley was cooing over Ginny, Harry and Hermione. All had some injury from the fight in the department of mysteries, and she insisted on showing the wounds to every person in close proximity. "Could have killed them…evil man…poor Harry…Sirius has gone but his memory will live on!"

Her shrill voice erupted across the courtroom. Arthur and Ron looked up to see Draco marching over to them.

"Oh God! NOT AGAIN!" Arthur placed himself between the two boys. Draco's minders were not far from his heel, obviously conflicted about helping his ailing mother, or stopping another potential brawl. Draco however, came to a halt and took on an aura not dissimilar to his father's. Clearly he was taking on the role of man of the house.

"Weasley! A word?" Draco barked and swiftly passed Arthur and headed for the exit.

Ron, who was expecting a punch to be flown at him any second, obediently followed. Harry wanted to go with him, but having not being invited, he thought it best to avoid another confrontation with his blonde nemesis.

Draco pushed open the double doors that lead to a large lobby. There he waited for Ron, who was caught behind the men carrying Narcissa from the room. Then he sidled over to where Malfoy was standing.

"Malfoy?" Ron said crossing his arms in a defensive manner.

Malfoy merely waited until his mother was out of earshot.

"Have you seen the state of my Mother recently Weasley?" Draco asked. His nerves and his anger were showing in his posture. Barely able to stand still Draco leaned this way and that, his hands on his hips, and then folded across his chest like Ron.

Ron glanced over at Narcissa and gave a shrug "Given the circumstances I am not surprised about how she looks!"

"I wasn't asking for Sympathy!" Draco hissed.

"Then what is it Malfoy?" Ron demanded.

"Tell your Mother to stop talking about my Father like that!" Draco ordered.

"Why the hell would I do that?" Ron retorted with a snort.

"She can say whatever the hell she wants but I would appreciate it greatly if she wouldn't say such things in the same room as my mother!" Draco's wrath was starting to break through the peace barrier, and Ron could sense it.

"…its killing her." Draco whispered.

Ron nodded in response, and went back into the courtroom to chat with his Mother.

The crowd had once again seated. Narcissa looked even more worse for wear after her rest. Draco had once again seated himself by her side at the far side of the room. Molly Wealsley's remarks were now at a more manageable pitch, Narcissa could not make out what she was saying over the crowd, which calmed her a little. Draco squeezed her hand as a bell signalling for the prisoner to be brought in rang shrilly from somewhere below.

Harry, Hermione and Ron were locked in a conversation about the use of Dark magic, Hermione claiming that there was no evidence that Lucius was under the imperius curse, so that would make him guilty. Ron argued by mentioning the fact that there was no evidence that proved he was not under the imperius curse either, and that could make him innocent, even though he wasn't. Their argument was cut short however when a loud scream of pain filled the air.

It had come from the hole in the centre of the room, where Lucius Malfoy was expected to emerge. It was so loud, Harry suspected that even the jurors in the next room could hear it.

The screams of pain were quickly replaced by screams of wrath as the voice, which was unmistakably the voice of Luicius Malfoy, hurled threats at his jailor. Then there was nothing but shocked silence at what was said.

The small guard had returned with the pathetic excuse for a first aid box. "There aren't any healing potions left!" He squeaked.

"Oops!" Lug droned sarcastically.

Lucius lifted his icy eyes to his tormentor "You did this deliberately!" He whispered with a hiss.

Lug leant toward him "You-know-who can't rescue you from where you're going!" he giggled delightfully at his own cleverness!

Malfoy's eyes froze as he thought of spending his last days in Azkaban.

"No." he whispered "But I'll make he knows what you did!"

"Was that a threat? Strike 2 Malfoy! Not doing too well are you your highness?"

What Lucius wouldn't have done to get his wand back right now?

The wound was bound up, the red blood soaking through the bandage and dribbling down his face.

"Back in the cage maggot!" Lug pushed Lucius hard into the cage. His back hit the sharp spikes and he tried not to cry out again. The door was shut and the spikes tightened so much that he could barely move his head.

"Raise the Cage!" Lug shouted "Enjoy Azkaban!" He muttered loudly

Malfoy did not take his eyes off Lug until the cage was fully surfaced. Then he was faced with a courtroom filled with silence.

Slowly the jury entered the room. One by one they took their places. The small, dainty witch, lucius had been scaring now looked at him in disgust, her head nodding in disbelief. They had heard every word.

A note was passed to the judge. All strength and pride vanished from Malfoy as a tear rolled down his cheek and he closed his eyes.

"Lucius Malfoy, You are hereby found Guilty of conspiring with and carrying out acts of terrorism with you-know-who, said acts leading to the murder of your wife's cousin Sirius Black and the attempted murders of children Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ronald and Ginevra Weasley, Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom and a number of the ministries Auror's which included Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Alistair Moody. Other charges include the use of unforgivable curses, grievous bodily harm, kidnapping, theft and owning dangerous and illegal artefacts…"

Lucius winced at the word 'Guilty.' Narcissa's scream of despair was lost in the rupture of clapping and praise from the court. Lucius heard none of the background noise, focusing instead on the words the judge was speaking.

"…Such acts of violence prove that not only are you a very dangerous man, you are deceptive, cruel and sadistic. I sentence you to no less than four life sentences in Azkaban, with no appeal. Get him out of my sight."

The cage started to wind down into the dark below. Draco was sat in stunned silence. He was still processing the verdict, his eyes as big as saucers, while his mother stood up and howled in agony. The cage began to roll, and he suddenly realised this could be the last chance to see his father.

"NO!" he screamed and ran towards Lucius. The burly minders grabbed his arms to stop him, but Draco was nimble and quick. He wriggled free and clambered over the crowd of people, landing swiftly at the side of the cage!

Lucius had opened his eyes when he heard his son's voice "Draco?" he called out.

The cage was still lowering, his torso still above the opening. Draco grabbed his face through the bars. "NO!" he screamed again, his face contorted with terror and fury.

"Look after your Mother." Lucius whispered, and he disappeared into the darkness.