DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything to do with Harry Potter
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Last chapter guys! So sorry it took so freaking long to put it up. It's these dang professors, I tell ya! Always giving me stuff to do! So yeah, thank you guys so much for reading and I hope you've enjoyed it! P.S. I have a surprise in the author's note, so make sure you check it out! ;) oh and cause it's the last chapter, won't you be kind and leave a review? Tell me what you thought of the story overall! I love all kinds of feedback. Doesn't always have to be positive, but do be nice about it :) Thanks!
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Time seemed to crawl at a glacial pace for everyone waiting outside the courtroom doors. Seamus had fallen asleep on the floor, his head resting on a pillar. Dean, Neville and Susan were sitting on the floor next to him in silence after losing interesting in forcing conversation. Across from them on a bench sat an equally silent Hermione, staring off into space. Ron sat next to her on the bench, slouching so he was reclined with his head against the wall and his eyes closed. Harry was bent over next to him on the edge of the bench. His head was bowed, elbows resting on his knees, palms pressed together and his fingers drumming dully against each other rhythmically. Mr. and Mrs. Weasly were sitting on the bench on the opposite end of the large doors. Mrs. Weasly had conjured up some yarn and knitting needles to keep herself occupied. Mr. Weasly sat straight up with his arms crossed over his chest, only moving to change leg positions. Percy had left without a word a while ago. His departure certainly helped the atmosphere become a little more comfortable.
Harry suddenly sat up and grabbed Ron's wrist for the thousandth time to check his watch. Ron didn't even flinch at the contact, it only being about a minute since the last time Harry checked.
2 hours 14 minutes.
Harry sighed and dropped back to his original position. The two hours seemed like a lifetime, especially after they had seen Lucius escorted into the courtroom. Not knowing what his purpose was there, the tension in the air grew thicker to a point of mental suffocation. Harry thought he very well might go crazy if something didn't happen soon. He despised waiting. He hated not being able to do anything to help the situation. The uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach wasn't going to stop eating away at him until someone shed some light on what was going on with Draco.
Draco…
Just the thought of his name made him catch his breath and a lump form in his throat. He slipped his glasses off with one hand, rubbing his eyes with the other. The physical and emotional stress of the past few days had worn him down significantly, but the thought of trying to sleep now was almost a joke.
The sudden creak of the large courtroom doors opening almost gave Harry a heart attack as he leapt to his feet. Neville nudged Seamus and he jolted awake. Everyone seemed to stand at the same time, silently facing in the same direction. Ron and Hermione quickly took their places on either side of Harry. He didn't notice how audible his breathing was until Hermione took his hand in hers. He wanted to give her some sort of reassurance that he was ok, but he could barely manage to keep himself from looking petrified. As the first wizard escort exited through the doors, Harry suddenly realized that maybe he should have been using the 2 hours preparing himself for the worst.
Harry held his breath as he saw Draco's platinum blonde hair move past the door and into view. Every anxious body in the room tensed as the first and second escorts continued down the hallway and out of sight, leaving Draco to face his awaiting audience. Taking a breath Harry moved to stand by Draco, but flinched and froze as his eyes met damp silver ones. His stomach was churning from the racing and stopping of his heart, his palms slick in anticipation.
Say it…just say it…
Almost as in a response to Harry's thoughts, Draco straightened and drew up his chin, blinking back the few tears that had threatened release. He took a deep breath and turned his head away from Harry, facing the area the rest of the group stood.
"…They let me go" he whispered hoarsely.
Harry just stood there for a second, dumbfounded, until realization set it with a loud gasp.
"Oh!" he cried out as he launched himself into his boyfriend's arms. There was a sudden bustle of noise behind him as a wave of relief washed over everyone. They all started talking at once and running up to the pair to congratulate Draco. Smiles were a mile wide across everyone's face as they laughed together and noisily expressed their relief. Harry didn't hear any of this as he clutched Draco's body to his own, letting the tears of joy run freely down his face. Draco stayed in his spot silently, one arm tightly around Harry's waist, the other soothingly stroking his hair. He nodded occasionally to those around him with a small half smile.
A hurried hush fell over the celebrators as two more escorts made their way out the courtroom doors, Lucius close behind them. Draco gently pulled Harry off of him so he could turn and watch his father walk past. Their eyes met and locked as Lucius was ushered away. Neither man's expression changed. They just watched the other shrink as the distance between them increased, their faces void of expression but Draco's heavy with respect. Then Lucius broke the contact and turned away, disappearing through the door at the end of the hallway. Harry's heart broke for him, knowing how hard it must have been for Draco to see his father and have him taken away again.
"I'm sorry…" he began, but stopped as Draco subtly shook his head.
"I'm not" he murmured, still staring at the closed door his father was taken through.
A moment of silence passed before Draco turned and faced Harry again, flashing him his favorite smirk. A grin broke out across Harry's face and he wrapped his arms around Draco's neck, pulling him into a tender kiss. Draco responded with a content sigh. The kiss was broken when Draco stumbled forward a step.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked worriedly. Draco straightened himself up again.
"Fine" he replied in a breathy huff. "It's been a long day."
Harry nodded and kissed his forehead. "At least it's over. We can go home."
A curt laugh issued from Draco. Harry looked at him questioningly.
"I've been sentenced to 16 months under house arrest," Draco answered, shooting a glare into the courtroom, "just to make sure I don't go out on a killing spree or some bullshit like that. And to top it all off, my wizarding license has been suspended for 10 months."
Harry couldn't help but laugh at how pissed off Draco was. He knew it was just to cover up how thrilled he was deep down. "Small price to pay for keeping your life."
Draco sighed angrily. "Yeah, I know. Sacrifice a little to gain a lot. But what the bloody hell am I supposed to do with myself without magic for 10 months? And even when I can use it again, I still have another 6 to go looking at the same bloody mess you call an apartment! What am I going to do? Conjure up little gnomes and talking animals to keep me company? I think not!"
A chuckling Harry pressed his forehead against Draco's. "Don't worry, Cinderella. You forget that I'm going to be there with you too."
Draco placed his hands on Harry's waist and pulled him closer. "Oh yeah? Just what good are you?"
"I could make it the most interesting 16 months ever" Harry whispered deeply in his ear with a grin.
Draco looked up at him, his silver eyes stone cold with seriousness. "I'm holding you to that."
Harry picked up his meaning and hugged him close, lips pressed against his head. "You have my word" he promised into blonde stands of hair. "Nothing can take me away from you now."
A cough from behind reminded the pair that they weren't alone. As Harry reluctantly pulled away, he was quickly replaced by Hermione grabbing Draco into a quick hug.
"I knew you wouldn't give up without a fight" she giggled. Draco patted her back.
"I suppose you know me better than I'd like" he teased.
Hermione just smiled and shook her head. "You're never going to change, are you Draco?"
"Not in this lifetime" he winked. Harry raised an eyebrow at his sudden relaxed and buddy-like behavior. Draco glanced back at him and shrugged. He'd been kidnapped, beaten, forced to defend his life and gaining his freedom all in one day. He would act however he pleased.
Ron was next in line to personally offer his congratulations. He shuffled his feet awkwardly and scratched the back of his head. Draco just stared at him. Finally, Ron stuck his hand out, turning a little pink. Draco shook his hand firmly, making a point not to draw away too quickly.
"Glad to have you back, Malfoy." Ron finally managed to say, tripping over his words a little. Draco nodded.
"Thank you."
Ron shrugged and backed up a few steps behind Harry, his face going red.
One by one everyone in the group shook Draco's hand and chatted lightly with him. All too soon, one of the members of the jury came out of the courtroom to confront Draco.
"Just as a reminder, Mr. Malfoy, we will be sending someone to check in on you periodically during your sentence. We hope you will not disappoint us."
"No sir, I hope I won't either." Draco glared back. He had been one of the wizards who voted him guilty.
Harry took Draco's hand in his. "C'mon love. Let's go home." Draco groaned.
"I'm not required to be home until midnight. Let's go out and do something."
Harry laughed in disbelief. "Are you kidding? Draco I can see how exhausted you are! You need some sleep!"
"I can sleep for 16 months straight if I have to. Please?" he begged, pouting his lips a bit. Harry sighed and shook his head in surrender.
"Alright, fine. What time is it?"
"Almost 5pm" Ron answered. "You know, our brooms might still be in that dumpster up on the street…" Harry whipped around.
"That's right! I forgot we left them there." He turned back to Draco, grinning. "What do you say? One last fly before you're stuck on the ground? Can't think of anything more freeing than that."
"Sounds perfect" Draco grinned.
Together they walked down the hallway and out through the Ministry building. No more running, no more hiding. Free of fears they exited the Ministry of Magic feeling like all the weight in the world had been lifted from their shoulders, erasing all memory of the night before.
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