Unfortunately, Draco Malfoy is not mine, he belongs to JKR.

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Chapter 4

Two down, one more to go

The day he would finally be free again had been long awaited, but when it finally arrived, he wasn't quite sure he was ready to leave. In a few hours he would step foot outside of Azkaban and go home, or at least to what was left of it.

The question was whether home would be the best place to be right now, but there really was nowhere else to go. He just hoped there was something left of the Manor he used to live in, play in, of the place he loved and used to be proud of. But between being the Dark Lord's headquarters during the War and being cleaned out by Ministry officials in the period afterwards, he wasn't sure what would be left.

After being arrested, the day after the Final Battle, he had only been back once, to pick up some clothes and necessities for his trial. He had been just in time to see Aurors dismantle the century old library, smacking volume after valuable volume onto the Persian rug, searching for anything that might have to do with Dark Arts or the Dark Lord. Like his father would have been stupid enough to put his Dark Art tomes next to his mother's collection of early 17th century romance novels.

Ever since he had been a small kid he had loved that library, it had been his safe haven, a place to hide and get lost into other people's adventure. And they were ripping it down, book by book, shelf after shelf. That was the last he had seen of his home, after that it had been the Ministry holding cells the high security tract, the court rooms and finally Azkaban. Ever since, he had been waiting. Waiting to go home.

Currently however, he was relishing every minute of the first decent shower he had since he left his holding cell at the Ministry five years ago, the day he was sentenced. He had been standing under the hot water for at least half an hour now, enjoying the fact that it didn't turn into ice within 5 minutes like it usually did, scrubbing of the grime he still felt all over his body although it had washed off a long time ago. He wasn't sure if he would ever feel clean again, but at least the strong warm beam of water helped a little, making him feel better.

After he had cleaned up and dressed in whatever they would put out for him, he would briefly meet with a legal council who would shortly explain the future procedure, although it was already quite clear to him. Restrictions would still be in place, would always be there. He would be watched by many and most of them would only be waiting for him to mess up and send him back where he belonged. Theoretically he was a free man starting today, practically it was probably just a manner of time before he would be back here. Well, in that case he could always still…..

A rap on the door of the bathroom finished that thought, before it could get hold, which was a good thing, no reason to get all depressed today, there would be plenty of time for that tomorrow! Within hours he would be breathing fresh air and set foot on main land and he would try and enjoy at least some of it.

When the moment came, the way up to the exchange rooms seemed to be longer than ever before. Three more doors and he would be out. "Just three more doors, keep your nerves together Draco", he told himself over and over all the way down the long dark corridor, while the guard kept prodding in his back to make him move faster.

When they arrived at the door to the exchange room, the guard gave him a last check up and left him standing there, walking back the way they had come from.

Three more doors, just three more doors!

Why was it so hard then, to step through the first? "Just step through, pick up your Rehabilitation Officer and go, Draco!" he told himself while he stood there, frozen, staring at the door. But wasn't that the problem? Behind that door someone was waiting for him, someone who would control his life from now on, who could do with him whatever they wanted. Somebody hand picked by the Ministry, the same Ministry that got him here in the first place. Somebody he didn't now at all.

Taking a deep breath, he decided he could do this, no matter who would be waiting there and put his hand on the doorknob, slowly turning it to the left, opening the door, while stepping into the room, not knowing that while doing so, he closed his eyes and held his breath, mentally preparing himself for the worst. Blinking confusedly, trying to get out of his own head and back into the room, he needed a moment to register that he was standing in front of a tall blond, her hand stretched out towards him in order to shake his.

He had totally missed what she just said, but from the looks of her official Ministry robes and the fact that the file in her other hand clearly read his name, she must be his Rehabilitation Officer. A job she seemed to be far too young for, she barely looked 18, like a 7th year that lost its way and accidentally ended up here, her hair in a ponytail, held together with a silver striped dark blue ribbon and a blue polo peeking out from under her robes, which matched the high heeled shoes that were peaking out from underneath them.

Brilliant, just brilliant, they send out a ton-sur-ton loving girl to torture him. Some one at the Ministry must be having a major laugh at this moment.

In the meantime, said girl had put back her hand behind her back and her expression had changed from an inviting smile into a frown. Obviously he had done something wrong, but he wasn't quite sure what, he had really just been standing there, thinking, not doing anything. It would probably help if he quit staring at her, so he averted his eyes, looking to the floor instead of meeting her gaze.

Next thing he knew, she cleared her throat and said, "Well if you have nothing to say for yourself, I suppose we should go" and turning on her heel, she walked over to the door leaving him there to follow with a baffled expression on his face.

"Two doors down, one more to go", his head kept reminding him all the way up the corridor towards the exit, bolts and locks coming into view. He could remember the sound of those bolts and locks moving back into place after he had entered like it had been yesterday. And once again he drifted off reliving the day he arrived, totally missing out on the frustrated questions uttered by his companion.

When she put her hand on his back to push him forward towards the now open door, he startled, flinched and stepped away from her, throwing her a dirty look to cover up his panick. He didn't like to be touched out of the blue and definitely not by strangers. His look was reciprocated by an even dirtier look from her after which she stepped through the door, disappearing into normalcy.

The only thing he had to do was follow.

Follow and never come back.

He counted to ten to calm his nerves and, without looking back, stepped through the door, into the reception area. Nothing could be worse than what was lying behind him, he was sure of that.

The bright light that met is eyes made him close them immediately, his eyes, no longer used to its brightness, needed a moment to adjust. By the time he got back his senses, he could feel everyone present stare at him, like he was some anomaly, some freak. All he really wanted right there and then was to get out. Maybe he was wrong about nothing being worse.

Unfortunately, Miss X, as he dubbed her, had other things in mind. She had him fill out an enormous stack of papers that she smacked in front of him onto the reception desk, while she chatted with the receptionist covering every day trivialities. The receptionist kept on throwing glances into his direction, like he was planning on murdering her any time now, making him feel more and more uncomfortable.

And even when he was done filling out all the paperwork, she insisted on having a cup of coffee first, before getting on their way. She was stalling, effectively torturing him like a pro. Sipping his coffee, which was far too strong for someone who had nothing but water these last five years, he decided he had been wrong once again today; she most definitely was up to her job, making him as miserable as humanly possible.

When they finally left they used the Ministry's high security floo connection straight into the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, which was luckily quite deserted when they arrived and from there they went straight away to the Manor, exiting in its ancient, marble entry hall. So much for fresh air and solid ground!

Stepping out of the fireplace, his eyes fell on the rows and rows of paintings, lining the walls of the hall. Every single one of his ancestors was throwing him a disapproving look.

Draco Malfoy had at long last come home!