Awkward Encounter

After the trial the death-eaters were sent back to their cells. Their wands were already in the Order's possession and now they had to watch as they were destroyed by Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape. One after the other had to step forward and throw all their magical belongings into the big fireplace then watch as their wands were broken and the pieces thrown into the fire, burning brightly as the cores were burned to ashes.

Rudolphus Lestrange stared into the flames with an impassive face and pure hatred in his eyes. It was worse than murder for him to watch all the things he had taken for granted go up in flames. Next in line was his wife. She was not quiet or dignified. Bellatrix screamed her rage and fought her guards as they ripped of her wizard cloak and through it into the fire. As Dumbledore broke her wand and threw the pieces into the flames, she roared like a wounded animal and lunged forward. She would have jumped right into the flames herself had Rudolphus not wrapped his arms around his wife and drew her back.

"Let go off me, you spineless worm! They are burning my wand! I can't live without magic!! Let go off me!! I'll kill them!" she screeched in a blind fury.

Again and again she tried to throw herself at the growing pile of robes and wands until Sirius raised his wand and shot a Stupor Curse at his cousin. Rudolphus snarled at him but was kept at bay by Remus' wand.

"I don't want her to hurt herself", said Sirius and picked up his cousin to carry her to a comfortable couch at the other side of the room.

The last in the line of death-eaters was Lucius Malfoy. His eyes were icy grey like steel and blazed with a fire of their own. Almost impassively he handed over his robe and observed it being thrown into the fire, faintly wondering if you could still rewrite his essay about Witch Burning in Medieval Times. Then he watched his wand being broken and destroyed by the roaring flames. His mind was roaring with the same intensity as the fire and he directed his burning gaze at Albus Dumbledore.

"You can't stop us by destroying our wands or exiling us from the Wizarding Community. Mark my words, we will come back, stronger than we were before", he said, calm and matter-of-fact.

Then Lucius Malfoy, the sole heir of one of the oldest and richest Wizarding Houses, turned away from his enemies and stalked over to the door, leading out into the stark night and exile.

----

Draco Malfoy wasn't strutting along the corridors anymore. He was deflated and meaner than he had ever been before. All the younger children were afraid to cross his path, even the children of his own house. The teachers were worried for the other student's safety and it was, for them, just a matter of time till he blurted out what he had been told from his father. Albus Dumbledore was very worried that Draco would blurt out that he was the leader of a secret organization, that two members had been held hostage and had to undergo horrible tortures, that the Order of the Phoenix had attacked the death-eaters and defeated them. Albus didn't want the Ministry to find out anything, he wanted them ignorant and not asking questions.

One fine day Draco had had enough of school. His father had always promised him a place among the death-eaters. Now his father was in exile in the Muggle world without a wand and his wandless magic blocked. His mother had tried to talk to Draco ever since she had come to live in Hogwarts but he had avoided her. Draco didn't know all the details but what he knew was that his own mother had betrayed her family and the Dark Lord. The way he had been raised, betrayal was worse than any other crime a death-eater could commit. Now that his mother had destroyed his plans for a future, Draco was angrier than he had ever imagined he could be. School sucked more than ever and he just wanted to get out!

Without hesitation he stood up in the middle of Charms Class and walked up to the front of the classroom. Professor Flitwick was more surprised than really angry that a student suddenly stood in front of him.

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy? Do you have problems with the assigned exercise?" he asked in his squeaky voice, looking up into Draco's eyes searchingly and waiting for him to answer. When no answer came, he grew worried and asked again, "Mr. Malfoy, is something wrong? Answer me!"

But Draco just walked out, no explanation, no goodbye. Aimlessly he walked the corridors of Hogwarts while Professor Flitwick created two patronuses which he sent to Professors Dumbledore and Snape. He asked himself why all of a sudden his students decided that his lessons were too boring to follow. First Harry had left his classroom weeks ago and now Draco Malfoy. He sighed but went on with his lesson. No need to let a whole class fall apart.

"Puberty takes its toll on everybody", he tried to joke before returning to his teaching.

Meanwhile Draco walked through the corridor towards the Hospital Wing. He didn't know why his feet stirred him to that place. All he knew was that he needed to walk as far as he somehow could but obviously his sub-conscience had other plans.

----

Molly had just had another healer appointment with Poppy because of her pregnancy and exited the Hospital Wing when she saw a lonely figure walk towards her. Suddenly the boy lifted his head and revealed the aristocratic features of the Malfoy family. He had more of his mother in his face than of his father, so maybe it was the Black family he took after. The blond hair and the greyish eyes were his fathers and Molly shivered involuntarily.

Draco raised his eyes when he heard soft footsteps in front of him and discovered Molly Weasley. A horrible sneer, so like his father's, spread over his lips and he saw with satisfaction the shiver washing over Mrs. Weasley's body.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the fat brood sow of the Weasley clan", he snarled aggressively.

He didn't exactly know how but this woman had something to do with his mother's betrayal and his father's exile. And the adjective fat didn't really describe Mrs. Weasley anymore. She had lost a lot of weight. She seemed frail and easily breakable. Draco was surprised to see Ron's mother after so many months.

A soft clicking noise indicated the arrival of two other people and Draco turned around in surprise. Before him stood Madam Pomfrey and his own mother.

"What are you doing here, blood traitor?" he yelled at his mother.

"Mr. Malfoy!" exclaimed Poppy, shocked to her core by the outburst of the spoilt and disillusioned boy.

"It's alright, Poppy, but thank you for caring", said Narcissa quietly then she turned to her son and fixed him with a stern look. "Now, listen here, Draco. I am still your mother and you will treat me with respect."

"The hell I will", screamed Draco, "because of you, father's wand was broken and he had to leave the magical community! And you don't even care!"

"No, Draco. Your father was exiled because of his crimes and not because anything I did. I am only ashamed that I didn't find the courage to leave your father earlier."

"He is not a criminal. He fought for ..."

"For all the wrong things", stated Narcissa firmly.

Draco stared at his mother, open-mouthed but still glaring fiercely at her. But she was his mother and he loved her even after her betrayal. Some small part of his mind reasoned that she was probably right for she knew his father and his work for the Dark Lord better than he did. He was still so angry, though. With a new sneer on his lips he turned to Molly.

"I see you are knocked up again ..."

Narcissa hissed at the new attack line of her son and threateningly stepped forward. Madam Pomfrey was instantly by Mrs. Weasley's side and supported her silently, glaring fiercely at the school boy. But Molly stepped forward herself and squared her shoulders.

"And what's it to you?" she asked protectively.

Draco drew his wand but before he could really point it at Molly she had her own wand in head and fixed dead on between his eyes.

"I'm a hell of a lot more woman than you can handle, my dear little boy!" she hissed out. "Don't even think of jinxing me."

Narcissa laughed out huskily and put her hand on Draco's arm pushing it down to rest by his side. Madam Pomfrey chuckled herself and winked at Molly with a slight smirk on her lips. She had been put down by man herself and now rejoiced in the fact that someone stood up to the proud male pure-bloods who thought themselves better than any woman.

Draco was furious and wanted to hurt that cheeky woman, to teach her a lesson. Subconsciously he thought along the same lines as his father when it came to Molly Prewett Weasley. His wand was still in his hands and he knew of a curse Snape had talked about in the one lesson of Defence against the Dark Arts in his third year.

As soon as Mrs. Weasley and Madam Pomfrey turned their backs on him before he whipped up his wand again and cursed Mrs. Weasley.

"Legilimens!" he cried and hit Mrs. Weasley's back squarely.

Suddenly his mind was filled with images. He saw his own father leaning over a whimpering Mrs. Weasley who begged him not to hurt her. He saw his father laughing while he raped her. He saw his father leaning over Mrs. Weasley with a knife in his hand. He saw his father beating her. He saw him ripping her clothes off her.

And then he was catapulted out of her mind violently. He stumbled slightly as he was thrown backwards but regained his footing quickly. Only to stumble further back as he was slapped hard across the face by a furious Molly Weasley.

"You low, despicable, loathsome ... bastard!" she screeched. "How dare you!?"

For once Draco was at a loss for words to defend his father. What he had seen in Molly's memories had destroyed the almost heroic picture of his father he had built up for years. His eyes searched Molly's to see the terror he had read in them in her memories. All he found in her eyes was determination to shield herself from him.

"I'm sor ..."

"I don't believe a word you say!" hissed Molly, furiously interrupting the boy's ramblings.

Draco eyed her again and suddenly saw her in a whole new light. All of a sudden his eyes lit on her stomach and widened considerably.

"Did it ever occur to you that it might be my ... father's child?" he cautiously asked, twirling his wand between his hands.

"IT'S NOT!" screamed Molly, still in a mindless rage about Draco invading her mind.

"There is a very simple spell to be sure of that", he said slyly, eying Molly through lowered eyelashes and waiting for her outburst.

"Draco", warned his mother. "Leave Molly alone. You ..."

"Alright", Molly gritted out through clenched teeth. "If you are so smart, go ahead and use that 'little spell' of yours."

Molly dared Draco to raise his wands again and cast a spell on her, a spell that would get results. Poppy, though, looked thoughtful and suddenly saw Draco in a new light. She knew a spell which could determine a child's father before it was born. The only problem was that only a relative could cast this spell and hope for any kind of result. She nodded to Molly to let her know that she too knew the spell and deemed it safe. Molly thought it over for another minute then raised her chin defiantly and squared her shoulders, nodding to the boy.

"Muestra tus colores verdaderos", he said softly, almost too afraid to voice them.

He wasn't sure if he was more afraid that no reaction would occur or that a reaction would occur. A soft emerald light surrounded Molly's stomach.

"Oh my God", whispered Molly before her legs gave out under her.

She slid to the ground and sat there trembling. She knew that her husband had blue magic and she herself had lilac magic. The only explanation for the faint green shine was that Arthur was NOT the father of her child.