One Year Later.
Once again the courtroom down in the Department of Mysteries was at full capacity. All week the courtroom had been packed as Xavier Goyle finally stood trial almost a year after his arrest. Despite hopes that he would change his mind and plead guilty after all, it had never happened and a full trial was required. Although to be fair, the result was a foregone conclusion as the evidence against Xavier was overwhelming.
For most of the week, the prosecution evidence had been presented, with both Xavier's brother and girlfriend testifying against him. There was even a full confession from Xavier himself, which had came from the interview he gave to Harry while under the effects of Veriteserum. For most people, that would have been enough to force them to plead guilty, but Xavier had refused to do as, and as he was entitled to by law, he got a full trial and the chance to defend himself.
The defence case had lasted a mere two days, and most of that time had been spent trying to smear the Malfoys. Xavier's lawyer brought up every little problem his client had with the family, even though it just made him sound like a petty child throwing a tantrum. Everyone already knew about the deals Lucius had made after the war, and while there was some slight pity towards the likes of the Parkinsons and Goyles, who had lost so much, most people were aware that some of their problems could have been avoided if they'd done what Lucius had done and spoken to the Ministry, rather than either waiting until it was too late, or kept quiet in the hopes they would get away with their crimes.
After trying to smear the name of the family he'd tried to destroy, Xavier then committed an even worse sin by trying to pin the blame on his younger brother. Despite the evidence, and his own confession under the influence of a truth serum, he then tried to claim that Kyle was the mastermind and he'd just gone along with the plan to try and stop his little brother from messing up and getting caught.
His claims were not believed by anybody, and worst of all, they just hurt his parents even more. Pansy and Greg were both visibly suffering as they watched their eldest son stand trial, but when he'd started to blame his brother, Pansy had broken down and had to be escorted from the courtroom. Following that incident, she'd been absent while Xavier's defence wrapped up and the closing statements were made. However, it was now time for the verdict and for that, she was back sitting by her husband's side, clinging tightly to his hand.
Pansy wasn't the only one holding onto her husband, as on the other side of the room, Hermione was doing the same with Draco. The entire family had returned to Wizarding Britain for the trial, with both Scorpius and Alex giving evidence. Now they were just waiting for the final justice to be served so they could truly forget this terrible incident had ever happened.
"They're not going to buy his lies, are they?" Hermione whispered to her husband as the purple veil hiding the Wizengamot from view remained down far longer than anyone had anticipated. Given the fact everyone knew Xavier was guilty, Hermione had expected a super quick verdict and sentence, but things seemed to be taking longer than she'd expected.
"No, more than likely they're discussing how much to add to his sentence for being such a despicable human being," Draco muttered.
"I hope so," Hermione replied with a sigh.
Thankfully the tension didn't last too much longer as the veil rose and Kingsley got to his feet. The second he looked at Xavier, Hermione could feel the disgust pouring from him, and she knew they had won. Whatever sentence Kingsley was about to pass out, it was going to be a harsh one.
"Xavier Goyle, we find you guilty of all charges laid against you," Kingsley announced to no-one's surprise. The verdict was an inevitable conclusion, what people wanted to hear was what sentence would be handed out. "The evidence against you was overwhelming, so much in fact that a trial was not at all necessary. Any decent person would have admitted to their crimes when faced with so much evidence. We even have your own admission of guilt via the interview which was conducted using Veriteserum. To continue to deny your guilt was selfish and hurtful. Your defence was so inadequate you can hardly call it a defence. It was clear to everyone in this court that you pleaded not guilty so you could share your personal grievances. That is not what this court is here for, and we do not appreciate having our time wasted." Kingsley took a moment to let his words sink in as the court prepared for the final blow. "As for sentencing, we are all agreed that your crimes are among some of the most serious we have come across in many years. Combining your convictions together, we sentence you to twenty five years in Azkaban, with no chance of parole for twenty years. I also want to add that parole will only be considered if you show genuine remorse for your actions. You have hurt so many people, Mr Goyle, and not just your victims. You have torn your family apart, turned your impressionable younger brother into a criminal and given your parents a life sentence. I hope that as you begin your sentence, you will see the damage you have caused and come to regret it. Sadly, given your attitude since your initial arrest, I won't be holding my breath. Take the prisoner away, please."
As Xavier was led from the court, looking completely unrepentant, cameras flashed and the reporters got their pictures for the next day's papers. Plenty of the reporters called out to the Malfoys and Zabinis for their reaction, but the family ignored the press as they made their way out of the courtroom.
Outside of the courtroom, the family came to an abrupt halt as they found themselves face to face with Pansy and Greg, who had exited via a different door.
"I'm so sorry," Pansy whispered, her dark eyes looking wide and hollow in her pale face. "I don't know how we managed to raise such a monster."
"We don't agree with him," Greg added, looking at Lucius. "Neither of us blames you for what happened to our fathers, Mr Malfoy. They made their own choices in life."
"As did your son," Lucius said gently. It was hard not to blame Pansy and Greg for their son's actions, but he of all people knew that no-one should pay for the sins of their family.
"We don't blame either of you," Draco informed his old friends. "I just wish none of this had happened."
"You're not the only one," Pansy muttered with a sigh. "Goodbye, Draco."
"Goodbye," Draco replied softly, knowing he wasn't likely to set eyes on either Pansy or Greg again. Even though he couldn't blame them for their sons actions, he knew the friendship would never recover and things could never be the same between them.
"Pansy looks so ill," Daphne commented softly as they watched their old friends head off to face life with both of their sons serving severe sentences in Azkaban.
Not wanting to dwell on the past, or what life was now going to be like for Pansy and Greg, the family made their way back up to the main atrium. Given the verdict had been secure since before the trial started, a celebration had been arranged. Lucius had booked the entire floor of the fancy restaurant Hermione and Draco had visited when first having dinner with Harry and Ginny a year ago. They'd also invited several friends, including the entire Potter family, the Notts and even a decent portion of Weasleys. Also on the invite list was Luna Lovegood and her husband, Neville Longbottom, although Luna had been made to swear that she would be there as a friend, not a reporter. The only person who wouldn't be there was Ron, as even though Hermione had forgiven him for thinking the worst of her son during the kidnapping nightmare, too much had happened for them to be friends again. Instead, they'd developed a cordial relationship and exchanged polite greetings, but nothing more substantial if they ran into each other.
"Once we've picked up Lexi, we'll be there," Blaise said, referring to his and Daphne's gorgeous baby daughter who had been born a few months previously.
"Why didn't you just invite your mother to the celebration?" Hermione asked. "She could have brought Lexi with her."
Over the course of the trial, various people had remained at the manor and looked after Lexi, as Daphne hadn't wanted her in court. However, for the verdict and sentencing, no-one had wanted to miss it, so Blaise's mother had reluctantly been roped into babysitting her granddaughter.
"It took a massive bribe to even get her to have Lexi for a few hours," Blaise snorted. "And she only agreed to that with a promise that we would collect her as soon as possible so she can get home to her new toyboy."
"Isn't she at all interested in how things went today?" Narcissa asked with a tut of disapproval. "This wasn't just about Scorpius. Alex was involved too. His entire life was changed by what happened last year."
"That's a tad dramatic," Alex laughed. "All that's really changed is my nifty specs."
"But it could have been so much worse," Narcissa pointed out. "Even with glasses, your eyesight isn't perfect and you could very nearly have ended up blind."
"You know what my mother is like," Blaise remarked with a shrug. "If it's not about her, she's not interested. Besides, I'd rather celebrate with my true family. So Daph and I will go and get Lexi, and we'll see you there. Just make sure the champagne is waiting."
"It'll be on ice," Lucius laughed.
While Blaise and Daphne headed off to collect their daughter, everyone else headed to the restaurant. Lucius had booked the top floor, and arranged for a buffet style lunch to be served once everyone arrived. Tables were already set out for the food, and several other tables were dotted around the floor so that people could sit and chat. It may have seemed a bizarre way to react to the end of the trail, but for the family and everyone else involved, it was their way of celebrating the end of a bad chapter in their lives and looking forward to the next one.
Shortly after the family had arrived, their guest started to arrive. Theo and his family were the first to arrive and they were followed by the Potters. Even though Hermione and Harry had kept in touch, and had met up pretty regularly, she'd yet to really meet his children. Of course she'd briefly met Lily the previous year, and she'd briefly been introduced to Albus at the initial sentencing, but it was her first time meeting James.
"The boys both look like you," Hermione said to her friend as his sons made their way over to Alex and Scorpius and introduced themselves.
"Yeah, poor sods," Harry laughed.
"Don't put yourself down Harry, you're a very attractive wizard," Hermione replied with a smile.
"Whoa, what is going on here?" Draco questioned with a light-hearted chuckle. "Are you flirting with my wife, Harry?"
"I rather think she was doing the flirting," Harry returned with a smirk.
"That was not flirting," Ginny laughed, from where she was standing beside Draco. "She was merely appreciating what a fine looking man you are, Harry. Just how I appreciate what a sexy husband Hermione has."
"Sexy?" Harry questioned as Draco smirked smugly. "Why am I merely attractive and Draco is sexy?"
"Some wizards just have that extra bit of sexiness, Harry," Draco remarked with a laugh. "And us Malfoys are known for being sexy and irresistible."
"Speaking of irresistible, does Scorpius possess the Malfoy charm?" Ginny asked. "Because it's looking like Lily is certainly charmed by him."
Turning around, Hermione smiled at the sight of Scorpius and Lily very obviously flirting with one another. Alex was sitting nearby in deep conversation with James and Albus, but Scorpius and Lily had moved over to one of the windows and were seemingly lost in each other. It was the first time Hermione had seen Scorpius show an interest in a witch since the incident the previous year, and even if nothing came of his flirtation with Lily, she was pleased to see her son moving on with his life.
"They make a lovely couple," Ginny remarked.
"Don't go getting ahead of yourself, Ginny, they're merely talking," Harry warned his wife.
"Scorpius hasn't exactly been very confident on the girl front in recent months," Hermione admitted.
"Maybe Lily is just what he needs then," Ginny suggested.
"Maybe," Draco agreed. "But they don't need us watching over them. I don't know about you, but having my parents watching me flirting with a girl, wouldn't exactly make me feel comfortable."
"Yeah, let's leave them too it," Harry agreed as the two couples turned back to the rest of the gathering, which was filling up nicely.
Half an hour later, everyone had arrived and Blaise and Daphne were back with Lexi in tow. With everyone being present, the buffet had opened and people were diving into the food. Settled at one of the tables near to the window, Hermione was sitting with Lexi while Daphne and Blaise got some food and caught up with Theo and his wife, Tracey.
"This is the first time in a year that I feel as though we can truly move on," Draco remarked as he dropped into the chair beside his wife. "I know we said it would happen when we went home, and in some aspects it did, but with the trial hanging over us, it was as though we were never truly free to move on. But now, I feel as though we are truly done with this nightmare."
"I know what you mean," Hermione agreed with a nod. "Just look at the difference in Scorpius. I know he threw himself into starting the business with Alex, but in his personal life, he was holding back. But look at him now. He's been with Lily all afternoon, and he's smiling so much more than usual."
"Our boy is coming back," Draco said with a smile, watching as his son said something to Lily to make her laugh prettily.
"That he is," Hermione agreed.
Before his travels last year she could remember thinking how much more light-hearted than Draco he was, but over the last year that light-heartedness had vanished and her son had been burdened with memories of his kidnapping ordeal. But now there was a lightness about him again. Hermione didn't know if it was simply because the last of the sentences had been given out and he now knew everyone involved in his kidnapping had been punished, or if it was more to do with the pretty girl by his side. But whether it was justice or Lily making him happier, Hermione didn't care. All that mattered to her was that her son was once again living his life to the full. Finally, they could put events of the previous year behind them. It was time to leave the past behind them, and look to the future.
The End.
A/N - Thank you al for reading, and I hoped people enjoyed Sins of the Past. I do have an After the End piece for this story which I plan on posting sometime next week. I will then need to check my stories to see if I have any finished ones I haven't yet posted. But as I've mentioned before, my writing has been coming along pretty slowly just recently, and I know for a fact I have no long stories ready to go. However, I am hoping to finally get going this year, and with any luck I will soon be in a position to post new stories. But until then, thanks for reading and hopefully I'll be back soon with another story.