After a night of rest, Draco arrived of the Ministry.
Potter and Weasley were in his office, both pacing nervously while lost in their thoughts.
''Where were you, ferret?'' Weaslebee snapped.
Knitting his brows in misunderstanding, Draco answered,'' sleeping, maybe? That's what people do at night, usually.''
''Sleeping?!'' The Weasley was outraged and his face was getting redder by the minute. ''Hermione's out there, being tortured, probably r-raped,'' he stuttered in anger, ''and you're sleeping?''
''Oh Weaslebee, always getting your knickers in a twist, I see,'' Draco replied with a scoff. ''I am not wasting my time here, I want to save Granger as much as you want her back! But I need a little rest from time to time, because I cannot think if not. Simple, really. I would have thought that even you could get that.''
Taken aback, Ronald kept quiet. Even though he still despised Malfoy, he had to admit it the blond auror had a point.
''Now that's settled, I need you two to help me build Hermione's profile. ''
After hours of speaking, Draco's brain was filled with Hermione this, Hermione that, and how amazingly brilliant she's supposedly always been. At least, he had a more precised idea of who she used to be in Hogwarts, and who she was now – well, before her kidnapping.
''Past relationships,'' resumed Draco, ''Krum, McLaggen, and you Weasley. Is that all for boyfriends?''
Potter nodded. ''She didn't really dated McLaggen, she went on a few dates with him but that was all.'' He added to be more precised. ''The lad completely nuts.''
''Her two parents were obliviated during war, the ministry of magic made them recall everything. At age 18, she started to work as an auror. At age 19, when the chief of the department retired, she got promoted chief auror, being also youngest chief auror in all history of magic. ''
''Yet, everything is correct,'' interrupted the redheaded man.
Draco went on.
''Her favorite book is Hogwarts: A History. She used to borrow your invisible cloak to read at night in the restricted area, what a surprise. She is the brain of the Golden Trio – thought that I'm not surprised of, you two aren't hard to beat off.''
A thought crossed his mind.
''Say, Potter, does '' I solemnly swear that I am up to no good'' means anything to you?''
Potter looked at Weasley discreetly, but Draco caught the subtle glance.
''Potter...'' He insisted. The boy who lived sighed.
''My father was known to be a part of the Marauder, along with Sirius, Remus and Peter...'' he started,'' The made a map of Hogwarts, the map of the Marauder, where you could see people walk around the castle. The map looked like an empty piece of parchment until you would say '' I solemnly swear that I am up to no good'', then the ink would appear on it. We used it a lot throughout our adventures,'' he explained. ''How do you know about that Malfoy?''
Bloody hell. The Marauder's map was Potter's invention?!
''Just a clue among others. See you later lads, I've got place to be.''
Just like that, he flood back to Granger's place. The flat had been cleaned as he had ordered sooner that day. All traces have been noted and taken in picture, to add to his file. He walked in direction of her room, his mind constantly analyzing what Potter had said.
He took out the journal in the room, waiting for something to guide him through his investigation.
Again, the word appeared. This time, a new sentence joined.
''I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.
Don't be seen.
- HG.''
And so he spoke aloud, repeating the words loudly and clearly, the s rolled softly on his tongue and the feeling of intruding Granger's life got heavier on his shoulders.
'' I solemnly swear that I am up to no good. '' The phrase sounded incredibly wrong in his mouth, like he had stolen it from Granger's past. It shadowed over him and a slight chill shook him.
Before he could think about it further, a whole piece of the library moved on the left side, revealing a gaping hole in the wall. Draco observed it. It looked as if someone had dug it. A light caught his eyes, and his extended his arm in attempt to collect to source of light.
A long golden chain slipped through his fingers, when he finally reached the jewel on the chain. He took out the masterpiece to observe it. In the middle of the chain was hanging an hourglass in which the sand seemed to be slowly drifting away from side to side, not even considering the gravity in their movement. All of sudden, the hourglass started to rotate anticlockwise.
Draco, once again, ended up in the past against his will.
XX
He recognized the place instantly: Diagon Alley. A movement caught his sight, as he turn to notice Hermione Granger, dressed in a dark cloak and walking in the shadows. She turned to face him, her white face uncovered by hood of the cloak. Her pink lips twisted in an awkward smile as their eyes locked.
''Gran- '' he started but he was cut in his words when she quickly silent him but walking the distance between their bodies to put her hand over his mouth.
''Hush, Malfoy. Put this over your clothes,'' she handed him a cloak similar to hers, ''Follow me from afar and don' be seen.'' She hissed the last words as someone turned to them, walking slowly past them.
For the first time in his life, he actually followed her orders without any further interrogation. She started to walk again, putting the hood of the cloak over her head, pieces of her untamed hair floating in the wind. Her gracious silhouette moved easily through the crowd.
Malfoy had the hardest time trying to keep her in sight. People pushed him backwards with force, as if the memory knew he was an intruder.
''Hey, watch it!''
''How do you think you are? – Out of the way! ''
But as he continued to follow Granger, he recognized the place they were heading to. The last time he penetrated the shop, it was with the weight of the curse of the mark on his shoulders, and his beloved mother was accompanying him. Now he was all alone, following the memory of Granger to a place he promised himself never to step in never again.
Borgin & Burkes.
The bell rang when Granger pushed the door first; he quickened his pace so that he wouldn't make sound entering the shop. He slipped in the door ajar.
The smell hit him like the slap Granger graciously gave him in third year. The place was dark, no sunray was strong enough to pierce the years of dirt accumulated on the windows. Piles of unknown object were tossed here and there. Granger made her way to the back of the shop.
No, please, no. He thought to himself.
But Granger never took his prayer into account.
The vanishing cabinet was still standing tall, like a threat, where Draco had left it. Imposing itself as a proof of his past failure, the young man felt a pang in his chest that cut his breathing. Tears tickled his eyes as he tried to push back the memories of his previous and countless mistakes. Someone had died because of his choices. A great man had sacrificed himself so that he, Draco Lucius Malfoy, could have a second chance. A second chance he never dared to look at when Severus Snape killed Dumbledore.
Hermione pushed down the hood covering her face, and turned to face him. A sad smile painted on her lips, she looked at him with tired eyes. Bags were under her eyes, and as second flew by, cuts slowly appeared on her face, piece of hair fell down to the floor, she seemed to lose weight. She looked deathly. She stepped in his direction, and tried to touch his face with her pale hand, but she went right through him. She was literally ghostly.
''I've got to go, Draco.'' It was only a whisper, but it was loud enough for him to feel the need to grab her in his arms and protect her for everything that could possibly hurt her. His breath got knocked out in his lungs. He was so close, but so far at the same time.
He made a step into her direction, but she vanished. And so did he.
Painfully, he snapped back to reality.
XX
He head back to his house, not wanting to have another verbal intercourse with Weasley and Potter. When he arrived home, an owl was waiting for him by the window. He opened in the let the creature in, and detached the roll of parchment from it.
''Malfoy, the report of Hermione Granger's last 72 hours of freedom is waiting on your desk. Shall I send it to you?
- Zabini. ''
At least, his sidekick was really helping him, not alike these useless Gryffindor boys who were mourning all day long about their kidnapped friend.
Draco wrote a fast answer.
''Send it here, please Zabini. Thanks for everything, mate. ''
A little thank you never hurt anybody. Merlin knew how much he appreciated the help Zabini was bringing him on a daily basis. In his career, Zabini had always brought a great support to Draco. In the back of his mind, the blond man noted to buy a bottle of firewhisky as a thank you for his fellow Slytherin mate.
Draco took the time to shower, to cook something to eat – something excluding the fast food and the coffee he has been eating the previous days.
Within an hour, the owl was back, this time with the report in handy.
Malfoy sat on his sofa. He remembered that when he first received the message from Zabini, it has been followed by a patronus, an otter more precisely.
Granger's patronus was an otter. He remembered clearly.
''Mister Malfoy, do you reckon participating to the invasion of the Death Eaters in territory of Hogwarts using a vanishing cabinet? ''
''Yes.''
''Do you reckon accepting to receiving the dark mark?''
'' I was force because you-know-who had a hold on my family, sir.''
''But in the end, you agreed to it on your on will, excluding the Imperio?''
''Yes.''
''Do you regret your doings Mr Malfoy?''
''Yes.''
''Those in favor for Mister Mafloy to serve a sentence in Azkaban for10 years and then be rehabilitated in the magic community?''
The totality of the jurors raised their hands.
''Call the dementors.'' The sentence echoed in the empty room.
Draco started to feel cold, incredibly cold. Though the dementors could not feed much on him, for he had not been happy for the majority of his life, he felt incredibly weak – almost dead. A dementor was touring him from above. He didn't want to fight, he didn't know what to fight for. What he had thought to be good was just a lie, his whole life was destined to serve the wrong cause. He had never known good.
''No! You cannot do that!''
The doors of the room opened revealing Harry Potter, in company of Hermione Granger.
''Expecto Patronum!'' She yelled. A blue filament of magic oozed out of her wand and turned into an otter. The animal swam around him, making multiple circles, the dementor fighting back in retreat.
''Malfoy made his mistakes – true. '' She acknowledge. ''But he saved Harry's life. Furthermore, he gave Harry his wand to defeat the Dark Lord. Instead of punishing him, you should help him.''
''Malfoy's never had the chance the make the good choices. You would expect a child to choose death instead of saving his family? He has been thought that dark magic and pureblood traditions were the right thing. Help him see the truth.''
''So what is it you suggest mister Potter? '' Asked one of the juror.
Potter took a breath. '' Malfoy has to needs redemption himself, true. Here is what I suggest: I take Malfoy under my wing and coach him into an auror and he dedicates his life to the security of the magic community. ''
''Miss Granger? What do you think?'' Questioned the same juror.
''As newly promoted to Chief of the Auror department, I have thought about this solution back and forth, and I believe this is the best way to keep him under watch and teach him another way of living. Plus, let's not forget Draco Malfoy is a skilled wizard. We could use extra hands in the department.''
''Well, those in favor for Mister Malfoy to become an auror, under the supervision of Harry James Potter and Hermione Jean Granger?''
The crowd raised their hands.
No need to say that Malfoy was forever in dept of Harry Potter, but also Hermione Granger. The girl whom he'd called mudblood so often, the girl he had ridiculed at every occasion life has given him back at Hogwarts, the girl – never would he admit it outloud – he admired for being the brightest witch of their generation. Surely, Malfoy was not far behind, being quite brilliant himself. Still, she was something.
His eyes lids started to feel heavier. The time lapse he had experienced sooner that day had drained all energy from him.
He chose to take a nap before starting the reading of the report Zabini had sent him.
Uhhm, so who is the culprit? Starting to see the clues? What do you think?