Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Chapter 24
August 1998
Draco watched as the new Minister for Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, swished his wand, releasing the chains around Draco's wrists and ankles. He had spent the last three months in Azkaban while he awaited trial for his involvement during the Wizarding War.
The weeks following Potter's victory in Voldemort's defeat had been spent rounding up known Death Eaters and throwing them in Azkaban to await trials. With all of the damage the war had caused, many of these trials were not a priority in the Ministry. The Death Eaters could rot away while more important things in the magical world were repaired.
Draco didn't know how he survived it. The coldness… the dementors… the loneliness. He had been stuck in a dirty old cell with no visitation from anyone except his mother. Lucius Malfoy had been locked away in a cell right next to him and Draco had watched as his father slowly lost his sanity day by day. He had sworn that he would not end up like the man he hated so much, which was probably how he had survived his time.
Memories of his father tearing out his own hair, scratching his bare nails against the stone walls, screaming prejudice slurs at anyone nearby and muttering to himself during the nights rushed back to the forefront of Draco's mind and he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block the memories away. It was an odd feeling, watching the man he hated so much deteriorate before him for three months straight.
"You have been ordered by the Wizengamot to complete your education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this coming September." explained the Minister, eyeing Draco up and down. "You can expect an owl with a full summary of the conditions of your pardon within the next week."
Draco ignored the man, his silver eyes fixed on a spot just above Kingsley's shoulder. He didn't give a fuck about any of this… he wanted to go home.
"Failure to comply with any of these conditions will result in your return to Azkaban. Do you understand, Mr. Malfoy?" Kingsley continued, staring at him expectantly.
"Yes." Draco muttered, his voice hoarse. He wasn't used to speaking very often anymore.
"Well then, you are free to go." Kingsley stepped aside, allowing Draco access to the Floo.
"Malfoy Manor." Draco called, shutting his eyes and letting the flames engulf him.
"Draco my darling!" cried Narcissa Malfoy as soon as he stepped out of the fireplace, engulfing him in a hug. "I've been awaiting your arrival all day. Come along." she ordered after peppering his face in kisses.
He silently followed her into the Manor, pausing when they passed by the drawing room. This was where she had been tortured…
"Mippy has cleaned your room and made a wonderful dinner for you." Narcissa continued, pulling him gently along when he paused. "Tomorrow we can go gather your school things-"
"Stop." Draco said, cutting her off. "I just need a few minutes…" he muttered, brushing past her and heading up to his room.
He knew his mother would do this. Act like everything was normal when it wasn't. Nothing was normal anymore. He was a newly released inmate at Azkaban who was now known in the Wizarding world as a criminal. He couldn't just stroll into Hogsmeade and go about his shopping as if this was a regular year at Hogwarts. He didn't even know how he could go back to the school after what he had done…
He looked around his perfectly tidy bedroom, his eyes landing on his lavish bed. A bed… he immediately headed over before collapsing on the plush mattress. It had been so long since he had gotten a good night's sleep, especially on a real bed. His long fingers caressed the cool silk fabric of his sheet under him and he shut his eyes, trying to relax.
He didn't know how long he had laid like that, eyes shut as his mind wandered to what the future could hold for him. He would leave the country as soon as he was finished with Hogwarts. He would start off somewhere new, where no one knew of his past. There was nothing left for him here.
A light knock on the door interrupted his thoughts and Draco slowly sat up as the door opened. A tall, dark skinned Slytherin slipped through the door, shutting it behind him before he approached Draco.
"You look like shit, mate." said Blaise, eyeing his friend.
Draco hadn't seen a mirror in months, though he was sure Blaise was correct. "I feel like shit." he muttered, raising to his feet.
The boys stood, facing one another for a few moments before Blaise closed the distance between them, enveloping Draco in a loose hug. Draco stiffened at the unfamiliar gesture, not returning the hug.
"I'm glad you're out." said Blaise, releasing him and sitting on the edge of the bed. "A lot's changed since the war."
Draco didn't respond.
"I tried to come visit you." Blaise continued. "They wouldn't let me in. Family only."
Draco still didn't respond, moving to sit on the edge of his bed as well.
"Hermione tried to visit you too…"
Draco's head snapped up and he stared at Blaise in shock. She had tried to visit him? Why?
"She'd been trying to pull some strings at the Ministry to get you out. Potter too. Your mother spoke to them, asked them to try and help since they're pretty much royalty now that they defeated him." Blaise explained. "Shacklebolt wouldn't hear it though. He insisted that you would have a fair trial like every other Death Eater. Their statements definitely helped clear your name though…"
Draco listened to every word, his mind racing. Why would they try to help him out? After what he had done, they should've pushed for a harsher sentence. It didn't make sense. Did she still care?
"Have you spoken to her?" Draco finally asked.
"Yeah. We've been keeping contact." Blaise confirmed. Draco felt a wave of jealousy coarse through him, though he was much too tired to act on it. "She never wanted you to end up in there. She was furious when they arrested you. Made a whole scene at the Ministry and everything. Wasn't much she could do though… Shacklebolt is really trying to make a point to the Wizarding World that former Death Eaters would be treated accordingly."
"Take me to see her." Draco said, his tone almost pleading. "I need to see her, I need to-"
"She's not going to take you back, mate." Blaise cut him off. "She wanted you out but not so you could be together. She doesn't forgive you… not yet."
Draco felt the tiny bubble of hope within him pop. Of course. Why would she forgive him? "Right." he muttered.
"You'll see her soon. At Hogwarts." Blaise tried to reassure him.
"Yeah, right." Draco said dryly. "At Hogwarts."
Ex-Death Eater Draco Malfoy Released from Azkaban!
The front page of the Daily Prophet stared up at her when she unrolled the paper, a magical image of Draco sorting the front page. He looked so different. He had lost a ton of weight, his skin was paper white and his hair was much longer, brushing against his shoulders. His jaw sported a light stubble and his eyes looked dull and almost haunting.
Her breath hitched as she raised a shaky hand, brushing her fingertips against the image. He had been in Azkaban for three months… She couldn't imagine.
Despite her broken heart, she had not wanted him to suffer such a terrible punishment. She knew what Azkaban was like. Three months in that place could feel like three years. That was why she had fought so hard for his release. She had begged Kingsley both on and off the record, as a Minister and as a friend to ease up. But Kingsley had been firm in his decision.
Now though… Draco was finally released. And Hermione had no idea where to go from there. She wanted to visit him, make sure he was okay but she knew she couldn't. She couldn't make herself accessible to him… he had too much control over her heart. She wasn't strong enough. Because despite everything, she still loved him. And she knew it was stupid of her.
She sighed, pushing the paper aside as she made to get up from her bed at the Weasley's. She had spent most of the summer searching for her parents, however she was unsuccessful in her attempts. She had done her job too well and they had been impossible to find. But she wouldn't give up. She would finish her education and continue her search next summer. She had even hired a magical private investigator to search for them while she would be at school.
Her search for her parents had been a good distraction to keep her mind off of all of the sadness deep within her. Knowing that Draco was rotting away in Azkaban, knowing that so many lives had been lost in the war, knowing that her parents were lost somewhere with no memory of their daughter. It all kept her up at night and she honestly couldn't remember the last time she had felt at peace.
She had returned home just last week, only to realize that she longer had a home. Her parents were gone. Hermione had tried to get an apartment in Hogsmeade for herself with the gold she had been given for her part in the war, however Mrs. Weasley had insisted that she stay with them, at least until she graduated. She had agreed, only because she didn't want to be alone.
Harry, Hermione and Ron had turned into overnight sensations after the death of Voldemort. They had been compensated heavily for their efforts and had been contacted by several media outlets to be interviewed. They had all declined. The war wasn't something to be profited off… They needed to heal, or at least try to.
The war had taken a terrible toll on everyone. The loss of Remus, Tonks, Fred, Dobby, Moody, Lavender, Colin, and so many other innocent lives had been hard to recover from. It wasn't fair. None of it was fair.
She squeezed her eyes shut, rubbing her lids with her palms. She had to stop thinking about it all. It was eating her up inside.
"Hermione?" Ginny called from the door. "Are you coming down for dinner?"
Hermione glanced over at her copy of the Daily Prophet, eyeing the image of Draco before she shook her head. "No, I'm not hungry." she said softly.
"Hey…" Ginny said, moving to sit next to her. She placed her warm hand over Hermione's. "It'll be okay. We're gonna be okay. If you want to talk-"
"No." Hermione cut her off, shaking her head. Ginny had lost her brother in this war. She didn't feel right receiving comfort from the girl about her ex-lover. It wasn't right. "I'm gonna go to bed. I'll see you tomorrow for breakfast."
Ginny eyed her friend before standing. "Alright… don't forget we're going to Hogsmeade tomorrow. McGonagall sent out everything we need this year."
Hermione nodded. She had forgotten about that. "Yeah. Hogsmeade tomorrow." she said, trying to sound excited.
Ginny smiled before slipping out of the room.
Hermione sighed, laying back on her bed. She wasn't ready to go back to the real world. Not yet.
A/N: Thank you guys so much for all of your reviews! This is a filler chapter for some post-war info but I promise the next chapter will be more juicy! I'm going to try and have chapter 25 uploaded this weekend so you guys don't have to wait too long!
