Using the prompt 'miracle'
Chapter Seventeen
A day passed. And then a week. There was still no news. The Prophet speculated, and the magazines published stories about Hugo's mum and dad, but there was still nothing official.
Hugo watched as his sister became more and more reckless each day. There were times where she would lock the door to her bedroom and not even let him in to talk to her. Other times, she would walk through the big house, snapping at everyone who got in her way (and somehow, everyone did seem to get in her way).
Seeing the house had made Hugo feel at peace with what had happened. For Rose, it seemed to have had the opposite effect. She wasn't dealing with what had happened at all, yet no one was able to figure out what to do with her. Even Hugo couldn't get through to her, and if he couldn't, no one else would stand a chance.
While Hugo talked about going back to Hogwarts soon, Rose seemed to refuse to even think about it. Even when he tried to be nice, she took it as an insult.
Hugo had given up trying. He hoped that she would come around one day, but he wasn't going to try and make her. Everyone knew not to force Rose into something she didn't want to do. It would only end badly.
Nine days after they went to their house, there was a knock at the door. Hugo had been sitting on the small verandah at the back of Grimmauld Place, soaking up the limited sunlight London gave him. He had that morning's Prophet in his lap, reading the newest speculation that his parents had died at the hands of escaped Death Eater, Rodolphus Lestrange.
If it hadn't been for loud whispers from Harry and Ginny inside, Hugo wouldn't have even noticed someone was at the door. The only visitors Grimmauld Place had was family and they tended not to knock. In fact, Hugo was pretty sure Grimmauld Place was protected by enchantments that kept it well hidden from both Muggles and wizards. Whoever it was, someone must have given them the address.
Tossing the paper aside, Hugo went back inside just as Ginny was leading none other than Draco Malfoy into the kitchen. He was dressed in the traditional Ministry robes Hugo had seen his parents wear time and time again. He was there on business, not for a friendly catch up.
"Would you like some tea?" Ginny asked hesitantly. "Coffee?"
Malfoy shook his head. Neither of them had noticed Hugo standing in the doorway and he wanted the keep it that way. Though, it was rather awkward watching his aunt and Scorpius' dad make small talk. From the stories he had heard, their relationship had been far from friendly in their Hogwarts days.
"Have a seat," Ginny offered, indicating one of the chairs at the table. "Harry shouldn't be long. He's just gone to get Rose."
Draco gave a short nod and remained silent until Harry returned a few minutes later with a disgruntled Rose. Her expression was sour, but seemed to brighten slightly when she saw who was waiting for her. Hugo wasn't sure why she was happy to see him – perhaps she thought Scorpius had come with him.
Harry ushered the two of them into the room and they took a seat beside one another, watching the man in front of them. He stared at them in return, seeming to feel something between disdain and pity. Hugo broke the gaze.
"As you both are probably aware," Harry began, albeit awkwardly, "this is Draco Malfoy – Scorpius' dad. He's a lawyer at the Ministry."
Hugo and Rose both nodded, telling him that they already knew that. The question was why was he in their uncle's house?
"I'm here to offer you my assistance," Malfoy said. "You will need someone to fight your case and –"
"What case?" Rose interrupted, glaring at him.
Hugo watched, anticipating a retort from the so-called lawyer. The only time he had seen Scorpius' father was when he had shown up – unwelcomed – at his parents' funeral. But he looked like the type of person who wouldn't take any nonsense from Rose – whether she was friends with his son or not.
Instead, Malfoy merely answered her question calmly. "There will be a case, Miss Weasley. There will be a trial for your parents' murder eventually and you will need somebody to represent you. I think I would be the best person for the job."
Rose opened her mouth to argue again, but was silenced by Ginny resting a hand on her arm. Hugo guessed what she was going to say, though. Their dad hated Scorpius' dad. Even though he was gone, there was no way he would appreciate Draco Malfoy working so close with his children. He'd hate it, actually.
"Why you, Malfoy?" Harry questioned, seeming to lose any formality he possessed a few moments ago. "What possible interest would you have in the murders of my two friends? I was expecting this eventually, but I certainly wasn't expecting you to appear on my doorstep."
Hugo couldn't help but disagree. It was actually a miracle that something was being done at all. It had been over a month.
Malfoy hesitated, probably debating whether or not to tell them the truth, or lie. It seemed the truth won out in the end.
"I received a letter from my son," he confessed. "A letter that suggested – or more demanded – that I do something to help you in this difficult time." He looked directly at Rose and Hugo assumed he hadn't been mentioned in Scorpius' letter.
"So, you don't really want to be here, then?" Hugo questioned, knowing his voice was accusing.
"That's not what I said," Malfoy replied with a tone of irritation. "I would like to help. Your parents didn't deserve to die like they did, and whoever killed them deserves to be punished and sent to Azkaban. Even I will admit, they've done a lot for the wizarding community over the years."
Hugo wondered if he really meant what he was saying, or his words were coming from Scorpius. What had Scorpius said in his letter to make his father decide to help them? What did Malfoy not want his son to reveal to the public?
Or maybe – as odd as it sounded – he really did just want to help. Glancing around, Hugo saw that no one else believed that to be the case. Rose simply glared at him, while Harry and Ginny looked more surprised than anything.
At least he's offering, Hugo thought. It's more than anyone else.
"How much do you want?" Harry eventually asked. "Name your price."
Malfoy lifted a large briefcase onto his lap and dug through pieces of parchment. Eventually, he found what he was looking for and handed it over to Harry. Hugo was too far away to see what was on it, but he guessed it was his rates. Would they be able to afford him?
Harry studied the parchment and then glanced up with a raised eyebrow. Ginny – who had also read it – frowned.
"Surely you expect more than that," Harry stated.
Malfoy shook his head. "They're just children," he said. "They could never afford anything more."
And Scorpius would probably kill you if you did anything to upset Rose, Hugo found himself thinking.
"We'll have to think about it," Harry continued.
"I am the best lawyer the Ministry currently has," Malfoy said. "I have complete faith in my ability to fight this case and put the culprit in Azkaban. You could look at others, but they wouldn't be nearly as effective, or as efficient, as I would be."
The look on Harry's face told Hugo that that was the truth, as much as he didn't want to admit it.
"Could you give us a moment, please?" Harry then asked, getting up from the table. Ginny followed, but not without a glance behind her shoulder at the three remaining people. It seemed she was unsure whether or not to leave Rose and Hugo in the same room as a Malfoy, but she left eventually.
"Go and listen," Rose hissed into Hugo's ear.
"What?"
"Go and see what they're talking about," Rose explained, giving him a slight nudge.
With a look towards Draco Malfoy – who was doing his best to pretend not to have heard Rose – Hugo got to his feet, unsure if he should or not. When they had been younger, Rose would always send Hugo to eavesdrop on conversations. He was the best at it – everyone knew that. But he hadn't done that in years. Once he got a little older, his parents started including them in conversations and decisions anyway, so there was no need for him to do it anymore.
Before he could make a decision, Malfoy coughed uncomfortably. They both looked at him. "Do you think eavesdropping is the best solution?" he asked awkwardly, seeming unable to control himself any longer.
Rose's eyes narrowed for a moment, and then she gave her brother another – slightly harder – push.
Hugo made his way into the hall, following the trail of whispers coming from his aunt and uncle. They were on the first landing. He tiptoed up the stairs, making sure to avoid the ones that creaked. Ginny's voice echoed from where she was down the hall.
"I don't care if you think he's telling the truth," she said. "The point is... it's Malfoy!"
"He will be good, though," Harry argued. "I've seen him in action. He's brilliant – I'm not going to deny that. Once we catch her, Malfoy can make it work for them. Ginny, we have to think about what's best for Rose and Hugo, and do what Ron and Hermione would have wanted. We have to put any past conflicts behind us."
Ginny's voice was harsher than Hugo had ever heard it. "Two things, Harry. One, you haven't caught her or anyone else for that matter. You have no leads. You have nothing."
"That's not my fault!" Harry protested, sounding just as angry.
"Two," Ginny continued, "do you really think my brother would want Malfoy defending his children?"
"No, but he'd want Begonia Webb caught and sentenced to Azkaban."
"Not by Malfoy!"
"Actually, if we had caught her before she... before she did what she did, I have no doubt Malfoy would have been the first one Ron turned to."
"Ron hated him!"
"Of course he did, but Malfoy would have made a convincing argument as to why she should be sent to Azkaban. If she had gone after the kids instead of them and Malfoy had come knocking on their door, offering to help, they would have accepted."
Ginny's silence told Hugo she agreed with what Harry said and he assumed the argument was settled. Draco Malfoy was going to help fight their case.
"Well, I think Rose and Hugo should have the final decision at least," Ginny eventually said.
"Fair enough," Harry agreed. "So, are you ready?"
"I still don't like the idea of working that closely with him," Ginny answered. "I never thought I'd see the day I'd be getting his help."
"You're not. Rose and Hugo are."
Hugo heard footsteps coming his way, so he hurried back into the kitchen.
"What did they say?" Rose asked.
But he didn't have a chance to reply, because Harry and Ginny had also just walked in.
Malfoy got to his feet, watching them expectantly. "You've come to a decision?" he asked.
Harry shook his head. "It's up to Rose and Hugo."
Rose looked slightly shocked that the decision had been put on her. Her mouth hung open as she stared at Scorpius' father, all anger gone.
Hugo, who had had a few moments longer to prepare for his answer, nodded. Ginny didn't look too happy about it, but didn't say anything. "This is the first we've heard from anyone," he explained. "No offence, Uncle Harry, but the Aurors are doing a pretty lousy job at finding who did this. All we've got is Dad's watch and their wedding rings. We want more. We want to see the person who took our mum and dad away punished. And if that means getting Mr. Malfoy to help us, then I want him to. No one else has offered."
Both Harry and Ginny stared at Hugo blankly, while Malfoy gave them a smug look. Rose simply nodded in agreement.
"I want to know, too," she said.
Harry nodded. "Very well. We'd like you to help in the case, Draco."
Draco Malfoy nodded. "Thank you."
"Is that all you came to tell us?" Rose's tone had returned to cold.
Malfoy nodded again. "For now, that is all I have to say. I will talk to the department that takes care of the wills and try and get that sorted as soon as I can."
"Will? What will?" Rose asked, looking from Malfoy to Harry.
"Your parents have a will, Rosie."
Rose looked surprised by that news and so was Hugo. They'd never told him. He'd never even heard them mention it before. Then again, they probably weren't expecting to die so soon, either.
"Well, if that's all?" Draco Malfoy looked around uncomfortably.
Everyone nodded and Harry showed him to the door. No one even mentioned the idea of Apparition or using the Floo Network. Apparently that honour was reserved for only those who were welcome in one's home.
"Are you two sure about this?" Ginny asked and Hugo could hear the resentment in her voice.
They both nodded.
"Uncle Harry thinks he can help," Hugo said. "That's all that matters."
As she walked away, Ginny shook her head, probably in disgust or confusion. Inviting Draco Malfoy into their lives probably wasn't the best idea, but it was done now, and if he got results for them at the end, then that was all that counted, wasn't it?
Hugo looked at Rose and gave her a small smile, letting her know it was going to be okay. She smiled back, which warmed him. He hoped their parents were proud of them. This was the closest they had ever been (it was the nicest Rose had ever been to him).
He had to hope that wherever they were, his parents were happy.
Thanks for all of your fantastic reviews so far. And thank you to those of you who have reviewed every chapter. Much appreciated! And thank you to Joanna once again for beta-ing. Jo is currently away, so I'm not sure when the next chapter will be posted, though. Sometime after she gets back.
I hope you liked this chapter and please don't forget to leave a review, because that always means a lot! Thanks!