NOTE: All recognizable characters etc. belong to one JK Rowling.
Draco sat next to his mother in the cold, stone benches that had been provided for them. Beneath the flickering light of candles and Patronuses, he could vaguely make out witches and wizards in long, dark robes. A gavel strike brought the assembly to order.
"Wizengamot, have you made your decision?" A booming voice rolled through the room. There were murmurs of assent, and then the rustling of paper, as though a scroll was being opened.
"I see." An ominous snicker rose and fell. "Lucius Malfoy will enjoy the Kiss and the fine accommodations at Azkaban prison." The sniggering started up again, and somewhere to Draco's right, a door was flung open. He winced at the light that streamed through, but they were quickly closed. He felt a chill pass through him as the dementors brought his father to the chair that sat in the middle of the room.
Draco blinked in confusion. His father looked… just like his father always had. He was sitting straight, his long hair perfectly combed back, and look of sheer boredom on his face.
"Any last words for your father?" The disembodied voice asked.
"Father, I – " He was interrupted by his father's sneering drawl.
"Draco, you fool. Do you think I actually care if you're here or not? Or, I'm sorry, did you have a moment of foolish feelings where you wanted to come support me in my hour of desperation?" The tirade continued until the dementors gave up waiting and swooped in. Before Draco's eyes, Lucius withered. The dementors only let off of him when there was nothing left but drying skin stretched over the frames of Lucius' bones.
"Take him away." The dementors dragged the pile of bones off of the chair and glided out of the room, slamming the door behind them.
Draco woke up shaking. It was still dark, and he could hear the peaceful snores of his roommates through the curtains. He had been having these dreams ever since he had gotten the letter about Lucius' trial. He slipped out of his bed and padded noiselessly towards the bathroom. Turning on the shower and waiting for it to heat up, he pulled his sweaty shirt over his head and divested himself of the rest of his pajamas.
The water beat a soothing tattoo against his scalp and he felt the trembling leave his limbs as it washed over him. He stood there for a long time with his eyes shut, trying to clear his head of what was going to happen today. Finally, Draco exited the tub and wrapped himself in the plain white towels the house elves left by the door. Sitting on the edge of the tub, he lowered his head to his hands.
"Snap out of it, Draco," he said aloud to the empty room. Feeling slightly foolish, he went to get dressed and pack a bag for the night. Glancing back at the slight tinge of dawn passing through the windows, Draco left the common room.
-O-O-O-O-
Narcissa had finally gotten rid of the hideous Oriental carpet that sat in the parlor. Draco knew this because there was nothing to cushion his knees as he stumbled out of the fireplace and fell onto the flagstone. He crawled around until he located his cane and scrabbled to his feet, glancing around. He smiled slightly at the sight – his mother had obviously been busy. The old wooden walls had been painted white and she had replaced the heavy oaken furniture with something light and slender.
"Mother?" he called out as he walked through the hallway. "I'm home!" Had it really only been a few months since he had last been here? Absorbed in his thoughts, Draco didn't notice the patter of footsteps as his mother ran down the hall and crashed into him in a flurry of open arms and blond hair. Caught off guard, he stumbled and landed on his bad leg, which gave way beneath him. For the second time that day, Draco found himself groping around for his cane and hauling himself to his feet before he reached down to pull the lady of the manor up.
"Mother!" he said half-laughing, "What has you in such a tizzy?" He instantly sobered when he saw her reddened eyes and pale cheeks. "Oh, Mother…"
"I'm sorry, Draco," she said shakily. "I don't know what to do. There's nothing I can do! And I know that everything will be fine, or at least I want to know, but…" Her shoulders began to shake. Draco wrapped his arms around her thin ones and pulled her close.
"Shhh. It's going to be alright, Mother," he reassured her as he steered her towards the nearest chair. "I've heard good things about this judge – she's very fair."
"Yes, I know," she replied. "But, Draco, we both know that your father did some things that were… that could make him eligible for Azkaban."
"I won't lie to you, Mother," came the somber reply, "there is a very good chance that Luc- that Father will go to prison. But," he continued as his mother began to shake again, "but I don't think that he will spend much time." At that, Narcissa wiped her eyes and straightened up.
"You're right, Draco. Well, your new dress robes are in your room – I need you to try them on so the elves can tailor them properly." He nodded, unsurprised at his mother's sudden transition into brisk and businesslike.
"Welcome home, son," she added, smiling up at him. He bent down to place a kiss on her forehead before making his way to his room.
-O-O-O-O-
The bench had a loose screw that was digging relentlessly into Draco's leg. He sighed in boredom and shifted his hand slightly in his mother's rigid grasp. The soft murmur of voices hummed in his ears and he could feel a slight headache start to pound at his temples. Sighing again, he closed his eyes and went over the meeting that he had been to the previous day.
Lucius looked surprisingly well for having spent the last few months locked away. When Draco and Narcissa had walked into the meeting room, he slowly rose and walked over to them to embrace them both.
"Be careful what you say," he whispered. "I'm sure you know they'll be watching." Draco's eyes narrowed. Even now Lucius was putting his own wellbeing above his family's comfort. Or, perhaps in his own twisted way, he was trying to protect them. Whatever – he just wanted to get this over with as soon as possible.
"Narcissa… I hope you have been well."
"As well as expected, Lucius. And I see you have held up well."
"Of course." An awkward silence filled the space between the three.
"Father, about tomorrow," Draco began.
"I'm taking the Veritaserum." His father's flat voice cut through his thought. Narcissa gasped.
"Lucius, are you sure?"
"Cissy…" Draco frowned – he had rarely heard his father be that gentle with his mother, certainly never in public. "Narcissa – I have nothing left except you. I do not need others doubting my word, and they won't see my stain the family honor any more. There can be nothing that I hide if I expect to be with you."
"Of course." And then Narcissa crumpled into her husband's arms, gripping his cloak as tears streamed down her face. And Draco watched in shock as his father did not push her away. Instead, he pulled her closer and whispered into her hair something that Draco couldn't hear. Wanting to give them space, he looked at his toes and scratched his neck as Narcissa straightened and wiped her eyes. "Of course, Lucius."
They held each other for a few moments more before Lucius turned towards his son and heir.
"Draco."
"Yes, Father?" He addressed his shoes.
"Take care of your mother."
"Of course, Father." They needed polishing. He would have to do it tonight, before the trial tomorrow.
"And, Draco?"
"Yes, Father?" Yes, definitely in need of a good coat of polish.
"Be good."
"Of course, Father."
A final embrace and a lingering look between the husband and wife before Draco and Narcissa swept out of the room.
And now they were out in the hall, waiting for the verdict. Seeing Lucius under the effects of the Truth Potion had been hard for Draco – his normally proud and stern father was strapped to a chair in front of the jury and babbling his secrets to strangers. He had felt his mother's shaking for the whole of the trial, and now that they were simply waiting for the results, her stillness seemed even worse, somehow.
"M-M-Mrs. Malfoy?" a stuttering Ministry official emerged from the courtroom where the trial had been. "Th-the jury has s-spoken. If you are r-ready to hear the r-results?"
Draco shot a condescending look at the man before pushing himself to his feet and offering his arm to his mother. She took it gratefully, though took pains not to look it, and they made their way back to the courtroom. It was still full of people who had come to watch the trial, and Draco felt a rush of anger at their nosy, petty interest.
The only Ministry official in the room, besides the guards stationed to keep an eye on the prisoners, was the judge. She held a sealed scroll in her hand and had a grave look on her face. Seeing that the two blondes had entered the room, she motioned them to stand behind Lucius as they awaited his judgment.
"I will hereby read the verdict of the jury and determine what will become of this decision." She broke the seal on the envelope and read the writing on it. "Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, the jury has found you guilty of fraternizing with the Death Eater organization, use of various illegal Dark Arts and breach of the International Statue of Wizarding Secrecy." Draco felt something drop in his stomach – though he had mentally prepared himself, it still was not the same. He felt his mother lean into him even more and braced himself on his cane to keep them both from falling over.
"Mr. Malfoy, these accusations could land you a life sentence in Azkaban Prison. However, due to your willingness to cooperate with the Wizengamot and the Ministry, I have decided to sentence you to ten years in Azkaban prison, with a chance of parole after five, depending, of course, on your behavior. This court is adjourned."
Draco heard an angry buzzing from the audience as they heard this proclamation, but he ignored it as he felt the relief flow through his veins. He saw his mother move to embrace his father out of the corner of his eye, and he ran his hand through his hair as the tension drained out of him. Lucius could walk in five years – assuming he behaved – which was nothing compared to what some of his fellows would be serving. He was so giddy he could have joined his parents in a hug.
The room slowly emptied and one of the guards approached and cleared his throat.
"Excuse me, marm, but I'm afraid it's time to take Mr. Malfoy here."
"Just one moment more, Bryson?" The guard gave a curt nod at Lucius' request. "Narcissa, do you remember what I told you that night when the Dark Lord came?" She nodded silently. "And do you remember what I told you the first night after our wedding?" Another nod. "I need you to remember that. Promise me you will?"
"Of course, Lucius, of course. How could I forget?" She smiled up at him through her tears.
"Draco." His head jerked up in surprise. "Draco, when you get home, there are some documents I need you to read through. My desk, left side, there's a compartment behind the bottom drawer." Draco nodded before he felt his father's arms wrap around him. "I'm so proud of you, son. Don't forget that. Ever."
The sudden lump in his throat prevented Draco from doing any more than nod and wrap his own arms around his father's sturdy frame.
-O-O-O-O-
The common room was dark and quiet. Draco crept through the portrait and flung himself onto an armchair near the still-flickering fire. Loosening the tie that went with his dress robes, he draped it over the back of the seat and gazed into the fireplace.
He had left his mother curled up in her huge bed – a bed meant for two – after ministering a dose of Dreamless Sleep and instructing the house elves to watch her. She looked fragile and calm, with her pale hair spread over the pillowcase and her red eyes hidden by fair lashes.
Needing to get away from the temptation of his father's liquor cabinet, Draco had Flooed back to McGonagall's office. She had been up, waiting for him, but perhaps the expression on his face persuaded her not to ask any questions aside from the results of the trial.
So now he was back in the common room, not feeling particularly tired and with the mysterious document of his father's. Knowing it would nag him all night. Pushing aside the packet from the Ministry about parole rights, he opened the sealed scroll and ignored the small envelope that fell out. His eyes zoomed over the opening lines, "Herein is contained the last Will and Testament of Lucius Abraxas Malfoy…"
A/N: So, I hope you enjoyed! It was a little long, so let me know if I packed way too much in and didn't get to explain things enough. Thank you thank you THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed (cough cough, hint hint, cough). Madame Lure, DragonMaster 65, and Mother Midnight. You guys rock!
P.S. Fanfiction will be the reason I fail out of US. Yay essays! (naaht!)