Author's Notes:
Here's Chapter 115 for you!
This is the first of eight upcoming shorter chapters that are themed around the Christmas holidays of 2000. I am really excited to write these as Christmas is my favourite time of the year. I love being cosy and drinking hot chocolate and the feeling of coming out of the cold into my warm house. I hope to convey my love of winter through these upcoming chapter, while also incorporating some drama.
It was my Mam's 50th birthday today so I'd like to dedicate this chapter to her, even though she will never read my story. We spent the day at the beach going for a walk and then a picnic beside a river in a nearby village. Thankfully it was very quiet due to cold and windy weather.
Love DW
PS Enjoy
Hermione has Scorpius cradled in her arms as she steps into their fireplace, clearly stating "Leaky Cauldron" as she throws the Floo powder down. She waited at the bar for Draco to follow behind with their son's pram. They had a little agreement with Tom behind the bar that they could use his fireplace as many times as they wanted as long as they ate lunch in the pub once a month.
"I can't believe they've already got Christmas decorations up," Draco disapproves, scanning the tinsel covered pub.
"It is the first of December," Hermione points out, waving at Tom further down the bar, who raises a finger to signal, he'll be with them in a minute.
"Some people seem to confuse the whole month with the one day," he says, sitting on a barstool.
"I thought I cured your hatred of Christmas last year," Hermione teases. "This is our first Christmas as a family," she kisses the top of Scorpius' hat. "I want it to be the best Christmas we've ever had."
"It's not going to be hard; all you need to do is improve on last year." Draco pouts.
"We have Scorpius this year; it's already an improvement." She reminds him.
"Welcome, and Merry Christmas," Tom greets them, leaning over the bar to get a glimpse of Scorpius.
Draco sighs with an eye roll, picking the collapsed pram up and heading over to their usual table, which was thankfully empty.
"He doesn't like Christmas," Hermione explains to Tom.
"Doesn't like Christmas," the barman frowns. "If he weren't your husband, I'd kick him out for that alone." He jokes.
Hermione smiles, "I've had to drag him out of the house today for the light switch on tonight. We're also shopping for some decorations, we didn't bother last year, but feel it's necessary now we have Scorpius. We can't take pictures of a barren house." She explains.
"You do right," Tom nods, softly stroking little Scorpius' cheek. "Are you getting some lunch before your full day?" He asks.
"Yes, I promised Draco food before our shopping trip. I'm sure this is the only reason he actually came." She compliments the bar owner.
"The usual drinks?" He asks, smiling.
"Yes, please," Hermione nods, amused that they'd apparently become regulars at the Leaky Cauldron. "We're at the usual table. We'll be back with our food order." She tells him as he begins making her drinks.
"I'll send these over," Tom nods.
Hermione joins Draco at their table, sitting opposite her husband after placing her quiet son in his pram. Scorpius seemed more than content to lie there, sucking on his fingers.
"I don't know what we did to deserve such a relaxed child," Draco says, staring at him.
"He's only twelve weeks old; just you wait," she teases. "What do you fancy for lunch?" She asks, handing him the menu, already knowing she was going to order the new teriyaki chicken sandwich.
A new bartender brings them their drinks on a levitating tray and asks if they're ready to order any food. They each order, then enjoy a conversation about their afternoon shopping plans while they wait. Draco awkwardly makes eye contact with Audrey as she enters the Leaky Cauldron from the Muggle entrance. She offers him a small wave, and he returns her greeting with a small smile. She's easily forgotten, though, when their lunch arrives a few minutes later. As usual, they both cut their sandwiches in half and exchange one half. Draco had ordered a prawn marie rose sandwich, which Hermione enjoyed having ordered it herself last time.
By two o'clock, they were ready to leave, having finished their lunch, fed Scorpius and relaxed with a cup of coffee each. While Hermione was still feeding Scorpius; she stuck to her pregnancy diet, meaning two caffeinated drinks a day, at minimum, and since becoming a mother, those drinks had become increasingly a cup of coffee rather than tea.
Draco returned Scorpius to his pram, ensuring his blanket is tucked under him, and his hat was on straight before they left the pub, waving goodbye and thanks to Tom, and stepping into the bustling street of Diagon Alley.
Their first port of call is to Gringotts. Hermione waits in the foyer, talking to Bill, who had been on his way out, while Draco goes down to his and her vault.
"He's gotten big," Bill comments, peering into the pram at Scorpius.
"He has," she grins. "How are Fleur and Victoire?" She asks.
"They're well; I'm actually on my way to meet them now for a late lunch. I'm coming back to work in the New Year, so I've come to pick up the new policies," he rolls his eyes. "The Ministry is always making new decrees about one thing or another."
"Oh, I know, Pansy's told me we'd had quite a lot of decrees at Hogwarts since we've been on leave. At least we're not back until next September." Hermione complains.
Bill nods, glancing around the bank's foyer. "He's getting worse," he mutters. "Fleur and I are thinking about moving to France for a few years, living near her parents, getting away from here." He mentions.
Hermione's mouth falls open. "What did your mother say?"
Bill looks panicked, "Godric, we haven't mentioned it to her yet, we aren't sure, it's just an idea we're throwing around. Please, don't bring it up to my Mum, or any of my siblings." He asks, almost begging.
"Of course, I won't say anything." She nods to assure him. "I think it might do you good, moving away for a few years, get away from all of the Minister's craziness." She smiles.
"Thank you; I better get going, I'm already late." He smiles. "I'll no doubt see you before the holiday, but have a merry Christmas."
"You too, give Fleur and Victoire out love," she hugs him goodbye.
When Draco joins her a few minutes later, they head straight for the new Christmas shop that had opened on the corner of Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley. As to be expected, the shop is full of people buying decorations. Hermione removes Scorpius from his pram, leaving it in front of the storefront, and cradling him, as he naps in her arms.
"This is… a lot," Draco states, eyes scanning around the entire shop in horror.
"Have you got our list?" Hermione asks.
Draco removes the fifteen-inch length of parchment she had written their list on las night. "Firstly, a Christmas tree," he reads.
"I want at least a six-foot tree," Hermione states, walking over to the back of the shop where she could see the foliage.
"Can I help you, ma'am?" A young man greets them.
"Yes, thank you, we are looking for a six-foot Christmas tree."
"Would that be real or artificial?" He asks.
Hermione looks at Draco who just stares back, not seeming to have an opinion.
"Artificial," she answers, turning back to Draco. "That way we can keep it or a few years."
Draco nods in agreement.
The young man leads them down to the artificial trees. "These are our model trees; we have boxes in the back. If you find one you like, give me a shout, and I'll grab one for you." He steps away to help another couple.
"What do you think?" She asks.
Draco runs his fingers through the fake pines of the different trees, inspecting each on individually. "This one," he states. "It's a fuller tree and doesn't become too bare near the top." He explains.
Hermione grins, glad her husband is finally getting into the Christmas spirit.
"I don't understand the need for the trees with pine cones stuck on. They look awful." He frowns.
"Let's order one then," she smiles at the young man, who comes back over.
"Great choice," he smiles. "Would you like to take away today, or order for delivery tomorrow?" He asks.
"We'll take away today, thank you." She tells him. "Although we have quite a long list, would you be able to keep it in the back until we've finished shopping?" She asks.
"Yes, I can do that. If you would like, I can give that list of yours a look and collect some samples to show you. It will save you wandering around the shop with the little one." He nods at the still sleeping Scorpius.
She looks at Draco impressed. "That would be amazing, thank you."
Draco hands the list over to the young man, who excitedly sets off on his mission to collect all their items. While they wait, the couple wanders down each aisle, picking up extra things they hadn't thought about, such as stocking hooks for their fireplace and some mulled wine and cookie candles that smelt amazing. Half an hour later, the young man returns, a basket full of items. He leads them over to a couple of chairs near the tills.
"On your list, you mentioned a red and green theme, which are perfect colours for Christmas. I've taken some liberty with some other colours, as have a two-coloured theme can become overwhelming, although, I'm confident you will approve." He grins. "First, tinsel, we have these full bundles. I got you five red and five green, then three silver and three gold. Gryffindor and Slytherin knew their complementary colours when setting up their houses." He winks.
"They're perfect," Hermione tells him.
The young man places the tinsel to the side, making a note in his receipt book. "Next, a wreath, you didn't specify a theme for this, so I brought a few," he pulls three wreaths out of his basket, and both Hermione and Draco realise he's using an extension charm.
"I quite like that one," Draco takes the one with mistletoe weaved through and a large green bow.
"We'll have that one then," Hermione agrees.
"Great." The young man waves his wand, sending the two other wreaths away. "I've got a similarly themed garland here, with mistletoe and holly strung through." He shows them.
"Lovely, we'll take three of them," Hermione tells him.
The man nods, adding the items to his receipt book. "If we go back to the tree; you wanted glass ornaments. I wasn't sure if you meant clear glass or coloured glass, so I brought both. We have this lovely muggle inspire clear glass theme, with reindeer, bells, presents and star figurines, or we have these baubles with gold and silver painted designs. For the coloured glass, I stuck to your red and green theme; we have some teardrop-shaped glass and bauble shaped in both colours, again with gold and silver painted designs." He holds the boxes out for them to inspect.
Draco and Hermione conifer for a few minutes before agreeing on the two-coloured ornaments and the glass baubles.
By the time the three of them have gone through each item on their list and decided upon which option would best suit their house and theme, it's gone four o'clock, and they've been in the shop for over an hour. The join the young man at the till to pay for their amassed products.
"I apologise for taking so long," Hermione tells him as he rings up their bill.
"No need, I work on commission, from your bill alone I'll make more than I usually would in a week." He grins at them.
"Really, don't they pay you the minimum wage," Hermione frowns.
"There is no minimum wage anymore, ma'am." He sighs. "A recent decree stated wages were to be set by the employer. Most places have stuck to the minimum wage but some places," he pauses with a strained grin. "Have lowered the wage and explained it away by having their employers work for commission, so now it's our fault if we don't make enough money. Obviously, we haven't been working hard enough." He sighs, then shakes his head. "I apologise for venting. Your bill comes to seventy galleons, four sickles and twenty-two knuts." He reads from the till.
Draco quirks his eyebrow, not realising they had spent so much, but it was worth it to make this holiday their best one yet, as Hermione put it, and he wanted Scorpius' first Christmas to be special. He hands over the right amount of coins. Once the young man had placed the coins in the till, Draco hands over another ten galleons, specify that it was a tip for putting up with them and their list for over an hour. The young man thanks them both gratefully, placing the coins in his jeans' pocket.
Outside, the sun had already set creating a cosy atmosphere up and down Diagon Alley. All the shops had come together with the decoration, stringing garland across they Alley in a zigzag pattern, hanging wreaths from every door and creating beautiful Christmas themed scenes in their front windows. Since it was Diagon Alley's Christmas light switch on, the first-ever after a Muggleborn reporter had written an article in the Daily Prophet about Muggle Christmas and they had then received many letters expressing the want for a Christmas lights switch-on in Diagon Alley. Minister Shacklebolt had obviously taken this suggestion as a way to look good in front of his community and gain some support and agreed to this new tradition.
Hermione was excited, having not been able to experience a Christmas light switch on since she was ten years old before she attended Hogwarts. She had expressed her excitement to her friends, most of whom had been sceptical at first, but eventually agreed to meet up outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream parlour. The stage for Kingsley, who would be switching on the lights, was going to be outside Gringotts bank and Knockturn Alley. The event wasn't due to start until half-past five, with a performance form the weird sister, before the actual light switch on being at six o'clock.
They look up Diagon Alley towards Ollivander's shop, but the street had been closed off from Gringotts, where the stage had been erected in preparation for the night event. Instead, they make their way back down towards the Leaky Cauldron, window shopping as they go, until they bump into Pansy and Ron outside Flourish and Blotts around five o'clock.
Hermione and Pansy hugging, having not seen each other for over a week. "You are not going to believe what Neville did yesterday," she grinned widely.
"Pansy, you promised," Neville groaned, coming towards them, hand in hand with Hannah.
Pansy turns to face him and burst out laughing at his embarrassed cheeks.
"It could happen to anyone," Hannah kisses his cheek.
"But the fact it happened to him twice," Pansy laughs.
"Pans, come on, you verging on bullying him," Ron warns her.
"Oh, please, you were crying when I told you," she reminds him.
"Ron has the decency to look disappointed in himself. "Sorry, mate."
Hermione watches the back and forth waiting. "You can't leave us out," she looks hopefully at Neville.
His colleague rolls his eyes, sighing in defeat. "I didn't have my ear muffs on tight enough in my mandrake lesson yesterday."
"Oh," Hermione bites her lips to avoid laughing. "I'm sorry, Neville, that must have been awful. How did the class react?"
"They thought he died," Pansy grins, and Draco coughs to hide his laugh, but unable to remove his smirk.
"I'd just lectured them on the importance of keeping their ears covered because the cry could kill. Well, their screaming had Hagrid running from his hut. He carried me to Pomfrey." Neville explains, his embarrassed blush deepening.
"Then McGonagall had to give a little announcement at dinner to announce that he hadn't died." Pansy sighs in satisfaction. "Yesterday has peaked my list of best days at Hogwarts." She admits. "I wish you were there."
"Okay, it's out now, can we move on. I heard Fortescue's has a hot chocolate deal for tonight." Neville pulls Hannah across the street to the ice cream parlour.
The two other couples with their children, follow amusedly behind them. Already inside the parlour were Harry, Ginny and James with Andromeda and Teddy, enjoying their hot chocolates. The large group pull the remaining spare tables together, creating enough space for all of them.
"Who else are we waiting for?" Ron asks, scanning the tables.
"Just Luna and Pandora," Ginny answers. "Is Blaise coming?" She asks, looking between Pansy and Draco.
"No, he's on a date tonight with Cara," Draco announces. "Since Luna has their daughter for the night." He adds.
Pansy huffs with an eye roll at the mention of Cara, but doesn't say anything instead of turning her attention to her daughter, who was sat on her lap, slamming her fists on the table.
The group of friends drink their hot chocolates, with extra cream and mini-marshmallows, while enjoying friendly conversations and laughter, until the two staff behind the counter, announce they will be closing at half-past, in line with the Ministry ruling that no shops be open during the switch-on of the Christmas lights.
They all leave, buckling their children into either prams or chest carriers, and find an open space outside the Christmas shop, which was now closed. They don't have to wait long until a ministry official uses a microphone to call everybody's attention. The large crowd of around five hundred people quickly quietens expectantly.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, please give a warm, Christmas welcome to the Weird Sisters!" The official announces excitedly into the microphone and the crowd cheers eagerly as the band members walk on stage.
"Next year, if the Weird Sisters return," Hermione speaks softly to Draco. "We should invite Alarte since he knows of our world. Maybe he could bring Damion if he's not completely weirded out by everything." She suggests.
"Really," he raises his eyebrow. "That's risky, with all the Auror's and officials around." He nods to the stage were multiple officials are stood guarding the stage, and Aurors are stood between each shop, keeping an eye on the crowd.
"He's taking quite the precautions," she rolls her eyes.
"Luna, over here," Ginny jumps up, waving at their approaching friend.
"Hi," Luna smiles brightly, hugging all her friends tightly.
Hermione hadn't seen her since she and Blaise had gotten divorced. She hadn't intentionally chosen sides, but with Luna travelling the majority of the time, they naturally spent more time with Blaise. So, when Luna wraps her arms tightly around Hermione's neck, she pulls her friend in close.
"Is this Scorpius?" Luna asks, tucking her hair behind her ear as she peers into the pushchair. "I've heard so much about him. He's beautiful." She comments. "Blaise was right; he looks so much like Draco but with your hair and complexion." She smiles, squeezing Hermione's hand.
"I can't believe this is the first time you're meeting him." Hermione states.
"I know, he's a lot bigger than the picture you sent me, and his hair is a much lighter shade of brown now. I'm in love with his curls." She gently strokes the sleeping boy's hair.
"It's similar to Pandora's, isn't it?" Hermione points out, looking at the ten-month-old girl peering back at her, with long curly brown hair. "How are you feeling?" She asks, quieter.
"I finally feel free," she sighs. "I love Pandora with all my heart, but I'm so much happier being out in the world." She smiles, looking truly happy. "Blaise sends me many pictures and letters, keeping me up-to-date but it's nice to come home every now and then." She admits.
"Where are you going next?" Hermione asks.
"Daddy is taking a much-needed break for a few months to focus on the newspaper, but we made wonderful friends from Spain who is going on an expedition to Argentina in the New Year, they've invited me along with them." She explains.
"I'm glad you are happy, but I do miss you, Luna." Hermione admits.
Luna hugs her again. "I miss you too. Sometimes I feel like the world is moving too fast, and I'm missing so much at home, but I daren't slow down when I am having the best time of my life."
"You need to do what makes you happiest. Blaise is taking great care of Pandora, and he has many friends to support him if he needs us, so you don't need to worry about them. Just keep yourself safe and well, and we'll be here for you whenever you find yourself back home." Hermione smiles.
"Thank you, Hermione." Luna returns the smile.
"Alright, Diagon Alley, for our final song of the night, we're going to sing a popular Muggle Christmas song, since their traditions are why we're here. Join in if you know the lyrics," Myron calls into the microphone as the band begins to play the opening tune to 'All I Want for Christmas' by Mariah Carey.
"Is this the song your Mum was singing last year?" Draco asks Hermione.
"Yes, it was, and I'm sure she'd love it if you brought it up again this year." She grins at the memory.
Draco laughs, wrapping his arms around Hermione's waist, pulling her close in their embrace.
"Are you cold?" She asks.
"Nope," he says, burying his face in her curls. "Your hair smells like coconut." He adds.
"Thank you," she chuckles. "If these Christmas lights are anything like those in the Muggle world, we're in for a magical night, in the Muggle sense of the word." She sighs, leaning back against her husband's chest.
As the Weird Sister's finish their set, Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt enters the stage, waiting patiently at the microphone for the crowd to quieten.
"Welcome," his deep voice erupts through the microphone and spreading through the crowd. "To our first Christmas Lights Switch On. Many people in our midst have experience Christmas in the Muggle world before, myself included, and I can account for how beautiful they decorate their towns and cities throughout the country in celebration of the holiday. It's lovely to see how much our hardworking shop owners and their staff have prepared for tonight by dressing up their storefronts; we are very much impressed. In Muggle tradition, after the lights have been switched on, there will be a fireworks display, so please take the necessary precautions to protect your own and your children's ears from the loud noises as we count down from ten." Kingsley announces.
Draco takes his wand out of his pocket, placing an imperturbable charm on Scorpius' pram. Hermione kisses his jaw in thanks.
"FIVE," The crowd joins in with the countdown.
"FOUR."
"THREE."
"TWO."
"ONE."
"MERRY CHRISTMAS," Minister Shacklebolt waves his wand in a circle and the whole street beams as Christmas lights of every colour and shape twinkle above them.
"Oh, wow," Draco's face freezes in a look of wonder as he watches all the lights.
The sudden explosion of a firework breaks the magical daze of the crowd for a moment until everyone is mesmerised by the colour explosions in the sky.
"Merry Christmas," Draco whispers in Hermione's ear as a red explosion lights up the night sky.
She turns her head. "You said it," she beams, an explosion of blue lighting up her face.
Instead of making a sarcastic comment, he returns her smile, slowly leaning down to press a soft kiss to her lips. Hermione stares back at him for a split second before turning in his embrace and pulling his face back down for a proper kiss, and green flashes across their faces, their eyes flutter closed to enjoy their private moment.
Until a blood piercing scream brings them back to their surroundings. They break apart, scanning the crowd as people start either disapparating on the spot or running towards The Leaky Cauldron.
"What's happening?" Hermione shouts, pulling Scorpius' pram closer, her eyes frantically looking for danger and she finds it at the opening to Knockturn Alley.
Both Hermione and Draco watch in horror as a group of seven Death Eater's exit the adjoining alley, shooting spells into the sky and scattering the crowd.
"Gin, go, take James to the Burrow. Andromeda, go with her, please." Harry shouts at them before he runs against the crowd towards the Death Eaters.
"Draco, Draco, come on, we have to go," Hermione pulls on Draco sleeve with one hand as she tries to manoeuvre the pram with the other, but her husband already has his wand out and a look of anger on his face. "Don't you dare, Draco." She shouts at him, knowing he has already made his mind up about fighting back.
"Follow Ginny to the Burrow, and don't leave. I'll meet you there." He presses a quick kiss to her forehead then chases after Harry, firing stupefy towards the Death Eater's, three of whom were stood on the stage shooting spells at random people in the crowd.
Hermione quickly unfastens Scorpius from his pram, clutching him to her chest before disapparating straight to the gates of the Burrow. She sees Pansy and Ron ahead of her, running down the garden path and follows.
Ginny and Andromeda are already inside, along with Bill and Fleur, who had already been at the back of the crowd and had disapparated at the first sign of trouble with Victoire.
In her arms, Scorpius is screaming, never having disapparated before, and so not used to the pain that accompanied the travel the first few times. Hermione is shaking as she tries to calm her son, but nothing seems to settle him.
"Hermione, dear, pass him here, you're shaking like a leaf," Molly holds her arms out for the child, and she gratefully hands him over.
She rubs her face with her shaking hands, realising for the first time that she's been crying. She takes five deep breaths before standing up. "I need to go help them." She states, turning for the door.
"Hermione, that is the stupidest idea you've ever had," Ron snaps at her. "Sorry, but there were many Aurors and officials there tonight. Harry is there, and Draco. You can't risk your life too." He tells her.
She knows he's right and sits back down at the table defeatedly. Just then, Percy burst through the door.
"Percy, where have you been?" Bill asks. "You were supposed to meet us with Audrey. Where is Audrey?" He asks.
Percy is out of breath when he answers, "I don't know. There was a body, at the opening of Knockturn Alley. She looked so young." He runs his hands through his hair, angrily pulling on the ends. "No one I recognised as if that makes it any better." He scoffs. "He disapparated, he bloody left, no thought for the crowds of people fleeing for their lives, and he fought in the bloody war." He states, pacing the length of the table.
"Who?" Hermione frowns.
"Kingsley," he states, a look of hatred burning in his eyes.
"He left, are you sure? He was the leader of the Order; Kingsley wouldn't do that." Molly shakes her head in disbelief.
"I was stood outside Gringotts. I was at the front, I saw everything, but not enough. I didn't see them coming." He slumps down in a chair. "Last I saw, Harry and his mentor had one each tied up." He looks to Ginny, who sighs in relief.
"What about Draco?" Hermione asks, on the edge of her seat, leaning over the table hopefully.
Percy's eyes widen as he shakes his head. "I didn't see him; I didn't know he had stayed behind." He looks apologetically at her.
"It's fine, he'll be fine," she says, turning to Molly, with her arms out for her son. "Thank you, Molly." She whispers, hugging her son, who had calmed down, to her chest and rocking him back and forth, in an attempt to relax them both.
Draco glanced down Diagon Alley from the stage, taking in the chaos that remained now that three of the Death Eater's had been arrested and taken into custody. The four remaining had disappeared as quickly as they had appeared just fifteen minutes ago. Unconscious bodies of the crowd were being woken up by officials and Healers, who had been called onto the scene. There was nothing more he could do. He had stunned one of the Death Eater's, which Harry had then tied up, and chased another two towards Ollivander's until they individually disapparated.
His eyes fall onto the body of the young girl who had been the only fatality of the night. She had been covered with one of the Auror's cloaks, protecting her identity. Draco climbs down from the stage, walking over to her without realising until he is stood six feet away. He feels guilt settling in his stomach. This innocent life had been lost at the hands of the Death Eaters, who's new leader seems to have a personal vendetta against Draco and his family, all because of the Malfoy prophecy. He walks forward, bending down to reveal the girls face, eyes staring blankly up at him. He drops the cloak in shock, stepping away as realisation dawns on him.
"Mr Malfoy, what are you doing?" An Auror he doesn't know snaps at him, recovering the girl. "Mr Malfoy?" He asks hesitantly. "Do you know her?" He adds.
Draco nods, "Her name was Tabitha Penn, she's the assistant of Magnus Maddox, the Daily Prophet journalist." He explains.
The Auror places a firm hand on his shoulder. "You're going to have to come with me, Mr Malfoy." He states, disapparating them to the Ministry of Magic.
In the Auror's office, Draco sits on the other side of Alphard Vale's desk, him being third in command of the department and the Head and Deputy Head being in the holding cells interrogating the three Death Eater's that had been arrested. He's been sat there for fifteen minutes before Auror Vale shows up to speak to him.
"I've been informed that you have identified out victim," Vale says, sitting down at his desk as he produces a quill and parchment.
"I met her once; she wanted an interview for Maddox at the Daily Prophet. I entertained her for ten minutes, then sent her away." Draco sighs wanting to go home with his family.
Vale hums, making his notes. "What did the two of you speak about?" He asks.
"About the prophecy her boss Magnus Maddox wrote about in the Daily Prophet after the birth of my son. She told me she collects information for Maddox and questions the people he's interested in. I asked her if she was the one to find out the information, she told me it was all Magnus, from a seer in Germany." Draco explains.
"What did Miss Penn tell you about the prophecy?" Vale asks.
Draco frowns, "You think the Death Eater's killed her because she knew more than the article printed?" He asks.
Vale stares back at him. "What further information did she divulge?"
"All she told me was about the prophecy was that it foretold the end of the Death Eater's; I was surprised when the article didn't mention that part. After she told me that, I dismissed, I was just using her for information." Draco explains, guiltily.
"Did you ever use her for information after this day in question?" Vale asks.
"No, I told you, I met her once." Draco reiterates. "Am I being questioned here? I did not kill this girl; I was stood with my family and friends when the Death Eater's attacked." He glares at the Auror.
"Rather convenient," Vale mutters, scribbling on his parchment. "You are no doubt aware that the Minister does not trust you. You are on our watch list, as a former Death Eater," he nods at his forearm, where they both know Draco's Dark Mark has faded. "It's convenient that you were at tonight's event, where this poor girl was murdered in front of hundreds of innocent people's eyes. You are far from innocent, aren't you, Mr Malfoy?" He slams his quill down on his desk.
"Vale, why is Draco here?" Harry asks his mentor, standing behind him.
"He knew the victim," Vale states.
"We've got three Death Eater's downstairs who were responsible for the attack tonight, and you can write my name down as Draco's alibi for tonight. He was stood beside me the whole night, and he was right behind me after the Killing Curse was cast." Harry explains. "Come on, Draco, you can leave." He taps Draco's shoulder.
Draco stands, nods once at Vale then leads the way out of the Auror department. Harry catches up with him at the lifts.
"I'm sorry about that, Draco. I don't know why you were brought in; everyone knows this was the result of the Death Eater attack," Harry says as they enter the lift.
"Exactly, Harry." Draco stares pointedly at him.
Harry rolls his eyes, "You helped just as much as the Auror's tonight. Don't worry; I've got your back." He claps Draco on his back. "I'm sure everyone is worrying about us."
Back at the Burrow, everyone is still sat around the kitchen table, quietly chatting away in an attempt to distract themselves from Harry and Draco's absence. Scorpius is asleep with his cousin's in Molly's enlarge crib. Hermione stands watching over him, watching his tiny chest rise and fall with each breath, calming her down as she follows.
"They're back," Ginny shouts from the kitchen window, where she had been keeping watch for their husbands.
Hermione races outside with Ginny, jumping into Draco's open arms and hugging him tightly.
"Don't you ever do something that stupid ever again. I was worried, sick. I can't lose you, Draco." She kisses him deeply. "You're an idiot." She mutters, burying her face in his neck.
"I'm sorry I should have listened to you. Vale questioned me about the death. It was that assistant of Magnus Maddox, the one who told me about the prophecy." Draco explains, arms still wrapped around her waist.
"That's awful, and they thought you were involved." She frowns.
Draco nods, "I was a Death Eater," he sighs.
"Draco-"
"I know, I've done my best to move on from my past, but it's difficult when the rest of the world remembers," Draco says.
"Not everyone, Draco, you have so many friends and everyone in that house is your family," she gestures to The Burrow behind her.
"All thanks to you," he smiles, kissing her forehead.
"Okay," she laughs. "Let's get Scorpius and go home. You can tell me what happened tonight."
They quickly bid everyone in The Burrow goodbye as they collect Scorpius from the crib and Floo back to their house.
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