Chapter nine… The traumas of Trial and Error
The next day was Narcissa Ashbury Malfoy's trial. Draco was so nervous he was hardly able to sleep. He woke up early that morning and sat on the end of his bed listening to Hermione's light snores as she slept soundly.
Malfoy and Granger had decided not to announce their engagement until Draco had a chance to tell his mother first (Even though Ron already knew because he was eaves-dropping.) Draco hadn't spoken or seen his mother in five years as the death-eaters who were trialled and sentenced were not given the right to visitors or even mail. Draco hadn't been sentenced even though he spent most of his seventh year watching the death-eaters kill innocents, because he had refused to take the dark mark when his father attempted to force him and suffered days of torture for this as a result. His father sent unforgivable hexes flying at him. Draco winced as just thinking about it made his toes curl.
"Draco baby are you alright?" Hermione said kneeling behind him rubbing his shoulders. Draco didn't even know she had woken but he sunk back into her. His head resting on her shoulder as she stroked his platinum blonde, soft hair.
"Yes, just nervous." He said softly. The room was still dark as they sat there silently until the sunshine spilled in. Draco had finally fallen back to sleep in Hermione's safe comforting arms. He had never had somebody to comfort him. Even his mother, who he knew loved him with all her heart, had no idea how to comfort Draco. So as a child Draco decided he didn't need it anyway. Until Hermione he just kept it inside. All the pain, all the torment he suppressed it. For the first time in Draco's life he had someone to rely on, and it felt so good he was never going to let that go.
Hermione and Draco arrived at the ministry and made their way to the room where Narcissa's appeal was being held. Harry had already arrived and was waiting nervously in his seat. The room was large and cold. Enchanted ceilings which never seemed to end, Cold hard timber benches which all looked up upon a towering wooden stand where the Minister would sit along with his board to decide Narcissa's fate.
Draco and Hermione joined Harry in their seats and Draco clasped Hermione's hand in his as he trembled nervously.
Ministry officials began piling into their seats and chatting amongst themselves. Kingsley Shacklebolt entered and shook Harry's hand and smiled brightly at Hermione. When his eyes met Draco's they seemed to fill with fear. Shacklebolt cleared his throat.
"Well, let's hope for the best outcome today then shall we Master Malfoy?" He said insincerely before scurrying off to his seat up in the stands.
"What the hell was that!" Draco seethed to Hermione who had also noticed Shacklebolt's forthcoming. "None of these people care what Harry has to say do they!? They don't care whether or not Narcissa is innocent! What chance has she got." Draco said in hushed panicky tones.
Hermione cupped his face in her hands and look deep into his eyes.
"Calm down Draco. Just breathe. Everything is going to be alright. Just breathe."
Draco smiled gratefully at his loving fiancée as she left one gentle kiss on his forehead.
Just then the back doors opened and the all too familiar feeling of gloom filled the room as the dementors presence sucked all feeling of hope and happiness from the people who currently graced the chamber. Behind the two dementors a frail woman entered. Her feet were barely able to lift from the ground. Her eyes looked weary and sunken into her thin face as she stared at her feet. Hermione looked at Draco whose face showed his sheer torment. Harry took one look at the broken woman whose soul had been slowly being torn from her day after day for five years, and felt guilt fill his every morsel. He quickly looked away and stared at the floorboards. Narcissa look like she had already died, the only difference was not only was she dead but she was could still feel all pain inflicted upon her.
Narcissa lifted her head and her eyes met Draco's. Her eyes filled with tears at the site of her healthy blossoming son, whilst Draco's filled with tears at the site of his sick, frail Mother.
"Draco" She cried softly. 'Is that really him?' she thought.
"Draco!" She cried as she tried to break free from the dementors to hold her son.
Draco had to look away. He couldn't stand to look at his mother suffering when he still didn't know if whatever evidence it was Harry had would be enough to free her. Even if she was freed Draco feared she may never recover from this.
Narcissa was sat down in a chair across from Draco, Harry and Hermione, her shackles too heavy as they made her slump down. She was shaking and crying softly, afraid that if she was any louder the dementors may torture her once again as they had so often.
The dementors left the chamber, yet the mood in the room hardly seemed to lighten.
"Narcissa Ashbury Malfoy was trialled and sentenced for life, on the 27th of October 2002. She has been called to trial as an appeal was requested for her release by a Harry James Potter in the light of evidence which he considers substantial enough for her release." The wiry-haired woman to the minister's right read from a parchment before her. The minister grunted and ushered Harry forth. He leaned forward over the stands so as he was able to see Harry clearly.
"Harry, Mrs Malfoy is here on serious charges. We don't take death-eater cases lightly at the Ministry as you are well aware of! I hope you know what you're doing here. Your reputation may precede you, but this board of witches and wizards are tough nuts to crack."
"I know minister. I know what I'm doing."
"I hope you do Harry." Shacklebolt sighed. "I hope you do." And signalled for Harry to take to the floor.
Harry stood in the centre of the large trial room. Draco stared nervously at his feet. He could sense his Mother's stare upon him as she took in the site of her 22 year old son.
'I've missed so much.' She thought.
Harry took a deep breath and began to read from the plea he had prepared earlier.
On the night of Voldemort's defeat. Several board members gasped at the sound of his name. 'stupid gits' Harry thought. 'Get over it.' Narcissa flinched in her chair at the sound of his name and Harry continued. I had thought to have been defeated by the death-eaters and Voldemort. Another gasp was heard in the room 'Oh for Christs sake Harry thought' Narcissa let out a whimper in her chair and leaned over and vomited on the floor. Draco shielded his face as the tears rolled down. Hermione clasped his hand under the table and he heard her whisper once again "Breathe baby, just breathe." Draco looked up at Harry as he continued. As I lay on the forest floor faking death, I heard Voldemort…Once again a gasp invaded the room. "Oh for Christ's sake people get over it! This plea happens to have a lot to do with VOLDEMORT so stop gasping every time I say his bloody name!" Kingsley stifled a laugh at this outburst and several ministry members looked down at him shocked. "As I was saying.." Harry continued. I heard Voldemort strike Narcissa and order her to check whether or not I was alive. Instead of announcing to Voldemort that the killing curse had not succeeded in killing me, she betrayed the Dark Lord. She let me live. Harry noticed many of the board members mumbling between each other at this, unsure of what they were talking about. As Voldemort's supposed faithful servant this was odd, as surely she would take the chance and give me away. Instead she leaned in and whispered in my ear. Harry could hear many members of the room talking in hushed hissing tones, some distraught and others obviously furious. She said to me Harry took a breath as he looked over at Draco quickly before turning back to the parchment. 'Is Draco alive? Is he in the castle?' Draco's head shot up as he looked at Narcissa as tears fell from her eyes streaking across her dirt splattered face. She stared hard into his eyes, as if asking for forgiveness. Narcissa Ashbury Malfoy then announce to the onlooking death eaters and Voldemort, that I was dead. The room fell silent at this; apart from the sobs ushered from Narcissa. If it wasn't for Narcissa's act of compassion, I would have been slaughtered right then by Voldemort. He would have won. None of this would still be here. He said moving his arms in a gesture to show he was referring to their surroundings. We would all be dead. Draco hadn't moved his eyes from his mother. He had no idea this had ever happened. He knew his mother loved him, but he did n0t know that his mother had the ability to look the Dark Lord in the eye and lie to save Harry…to save Draco. During the final battle which ensued when we returned to the castle, neither Narcissa nor Lucius Malfoy raised their wands to fight. Narcissa was no longer on Voldemort's side. All she wanted was her son. Harry looked at Malfoy as he said this and smiled meekly. Draco returned the smile and look down at his shoes. After Voldemort's defeat he had spent a fleeting moment with his parents, before ministry officials arrived and took them away to Azkaban. His father had killed and tortured many innocent people and Draco did not for one second believe the sick demented man didn't belong in Azkaban. But his Mother never used a single unforgivable curse on another; her only downfall was her family honour. She felt she had no choice but to support her husband and join him in his death eater ranks. I believe it is in thanks to this woman who is before you facing trial today that the world is still intact and Voldemort no longer terrorises Witches, Wizards and muggles alike. If only you could show a small part of the compassion this woman has shown and give her the freedom she deserves. Narcissa look up at Harry, eyes wide at the plea he had set forward. A weak smile graced her face as she whispered "Thankyou." To him softly. Even when she had been rotting away in a cell in Azkaban for five years, her elegant graceful features were unmissable. Her once fine blond hair had a stale look about it yet it still glistened as none other than a Malfoy's could.
Harry once again took his seat as the members of the board mumbled between each other. To believe the fate of his Mother was in their hands scared Draco senseless. He looked over to his pale mother once again and gave her a small smile. Narcissa burst into tears. She never saw her son smile. Even before Voldemort's defeat Draco never smiled, his life was too depressing. But now as he sat next to an oddly familiar, pretty little witch he was smiling at her. Draco's eyes filled with tears. He felt Harry's hand on his shoulder and mumble.
"I gave it my best Draco, I hope it's enough."
Draco didn't look at him. "You have done more than I could have asked for Harry. You showed me where my Mother's heart lay."
They sat in silence. You could have cut the tension in the room with a knife it was so thick. The suspense was killing the three magical forms who sat on there seats all looking at the fragile Narcissa who stared only at Draco.
Finally Kingsley Shacklebolt spoke.
"As the board of Ministry officials is here to help me to come to a conclusion we shall here their opinion, but as my opinion counts as five of their's, I shall have the final say on the matter."
Draco was squeezing Hermione's hand so hard that Hermione felt she could possibly lose circulation down there, but she knew how nervous Draco must be, as she too was cringing inside in suspense of their decision.
The Minister spoke up in his official voice.
"All in favour of the release of Mrs Narcissa Ashbury Malfoy please raise your hand."
Of the twenty witches and wizards who had assembled inside the chamber, only nine raised their hands. Draco scanned their faces in desperation. 'Why?' He thought. 'How could they seriously think she deserved to rot away in here?'
"All those in favour of Mrs Narcissa Ashbury Malfoy's appeal being dismissed, and for her to continue to carry out her life sentence in cell #1087 of Azkaban prison?"
The remaining witches and wizards hands rose from the stands.
Harry hung his head and Draco let out a whimper as his mother began to writhe in her seat.
"Please, please don't send me back, let me go! Let me go…" She screamed amongst the tears beating against her cheeks.
"Let me go." She said in a last attempt falling softly into her chair sobbing. The shackles which had been clasped around her hands feet for the last five years had cut deep into her skin and Draco noticed a slither of blood dripping down her ankle.
"Mrs Malfoy if you cannot control yourself we shall bring the dementors in here to settle you down!" Shacklebolt yelled.
Draco let his tears fall, unable to look at his mother any longer in all her pain. He laid his head upon Hermione's shoulder and she held his hand tightly and continued to repeat, "Just breathe baby, it's not over yet."
'What is she talking about?' Draco thought.
"As Minister for Magic I have come to a decision, that Narcissa Lucius Malfoy be set free."
Draco's head shot up as did Harry's. There was uproar in the stands. Those opposed to her release were outraged, whilst those who had agreed she should be released clapped and cheered. Shacklebolt smiled down at the three who stared up at him.
"I told you, my vote counts for five of theirs." He grinned. "I don't care what they think, your mother is as innocent as anybody else in this room Draco."
With this, two guards came and removed Narcissa's shackles. She simply sat in the chair stunned, too shaken to move. Hermione let go of Draco's hand.
"Go to her Draco." She whispered in his ear.
He nodded and gulped before slowly walking up to his shaken mother in the centre of the room.
"As of today Narcissa Ashbury Malfoy is a free witch." And with that the minister slammed his mallet down hard against the stand and left the room.
"Draco." Narcissa said softly as she stood shakily from her chair. She began to fall and Draco lunged out and caught her in his arms.
"Oh Draco" she cried as he wrapped her arms around her and kissed the top of his broken mothers head.
"My beautiful son, you're all grown up… Oh I've missed you." She cried
Draco's tears dropped into her silvery hair as he stroked it.
Hermione and Harry stood watching.
"Harry, I'm so proud of you." She said smiling. Harry was smiling too. His guilt lifted as he saw Draco embrace his mother for the first time.
Chapter twelve… Succumb to the future
Draco opened the front door to his villa with his mother in tow.
"Oh darling this is beautiful." She beamed.
"May I take your coats?" Manny the house elf asked.
"Oh! Oh Manny oh how I missed you." Narcissa beamed and lent down and embraced the house elf.
"Mrs Malfoy? Is that you?" The little elf squeaked. Narcissa had never hugged the house elf. She had been kind to her, as had Draco, but never hugged her.
Draco smiled. He had never been this happy in his entire life. Hermione had decided that Draco needed to spend some time alone with his Mother, so decided she would pop in tomorrow morning before work and leave them tonight to talk things through.
They settled into the lounge and Manny brought them both cups of tea. Narcissa had showered and come up looking the ravishing beauty she was once upon a time. At first glance you wouldn't notice her sunken cheeks, and blisters on her wrists and ankles. Draco pulled his wand out and healed the wounds that had been inflicted and his mother smiled. They sat in silence for a while, unsure of what to say.
"That girl that was with you, she wasn't …"
"Yes Mother, that was Hermione Granger." Draco smiled as her name left his mouth.
"The mudblood that was tortured in our dungeons?" She asked surprised.
Malfoy got angry at the mention of this. The word mudblood being used against her now stung him as he remembered the copious amounts he had said it to her himself, and remembering the torture his father had inflicted upon her that grave year in Malfoy Manor made his stomach twist.
"Mother don't call her that, don't call her a mudblood." Draco said in all seriousness staring straight at his mother.
"Sorry, old habit." She frowned.
"It's okay." Draco said softly, she smiled understandingly.
"You love her don't you Draco."
Draco beamed.
"With all my heart. I have matured mother, left all of the bloodline bullshit behind. It doesn't matter to me anymore and I would like it if you could leave it behind as well."
"I would like nothing more than to forget all of that rubbish Draco. It never did any good to anybody. If being in Azkaban has taught me anything, it's that none of that rubbish was ever worth it." She began to tear up and wiped her eyes against her sleeve. As she had refused to go to Malfoy Manor to collect her own clothes she wore a pair of Hermione's track pants and a sweatshirt that she had left there. Not that Narcissa knew that it was Hermione's but she suspected as much.
"I'm going to marry her mother, I've waited for you to be released to marry her because I want you to help organise the wedding."
Narcissa brightened up.
"Oh this is wonderful Draco!" She said and flung her arms around him before withdrawing quickly and looking back embarrassed. She had never hugged him as a child as Lucius had said it wasn't good for the boy.
"It's okay now mother." Draco said softly.
She smiled and once again pulled him close. Narcissa finally had her boy back. The one person she would give her life for in her arms, safe.
"So tell me Draco. Tell me everything. I've got five years to catch up on and we only have till morning to hear it."
Draco smiled. He loved his mother, more than he thought he could. Being in Azkaban had changed her and it wasn't all in a bad way either. She was no longer afraid.
A/N: Awww... together again... What did you think?? Review sweetums. xoxo