Obsession

Chap. 13 - CALL IT HOPE

I was surprised to see how many people were in the Wizard's Court that day. Sure, there were a lot of my father's enemies waiting to see me fry, but there were also many friends of mine. Yes, I discovered that day that I had friends in spite of what I thought. And they were all cheering for me to get out of that mess.

Dumbledore stood by my side all day. I felt ashamed of a time when I used to say that Dumbledore was just an old fool who didn't have capacity to run Hogwarts. That was so not true. I didn't even know how old Dumbledore was but on that day he looked younger than ever and ready for battle. He helped me even though I'd never done anything to deserve it.

Harry was there, too, trying to calm me down with his intense looks. I sat on the bench and listened to Ryan's deposition against me. He said such horrible things about me. The sad thing was that some of them were true. I had been a spoiled brat; I had deceived and lied about a lot of things. I had treated muggle-borns very badly.

Hearing him say all that made me realise that maybe I did deserve to go to prison. There was a question about my minority. I couldn't really be arrested because I wasn't eighteen years old yet. But in the matters of Death Eaters, the Council had long before approved a law where minor wizards could be punished for being associated with Voldemort.

I could defend myself if I wanted. I didn't though. I couldn't speak. My lips were sealed and even if I did talk, the words would get stuck in my throat. I didn't look at Harry. I didn't want to read the disappointment in his eyes.

Finally, my father was brought into the room. He was thinner than I remembered but still had the same snobbish posture of the old days. His hair was longer, too, and not at all as shiny as it used to be. I pitied him. My father was even vainer than I, and it must be very hard for him to live like that.

He stared at me with a blank expression and my heart stopped. I swallowed hard and looked away.

As his deposition started, I was amazed by his coldness. Of course, if he had been in Azkaban, that would probably not have happened. He would have been terrified of those Dementors. He wouldn't act so cold but rather troubled and lunatic. But Lockham prison wasn't the same as Azkaban. My father's sudden raising of voice broke my chain of thoughts.

"It's nonsense! What does it have to do with anything? If I understood it right, Draco is being accused of burning some papers that could have compromised me, which I already denied! I'd never given him orders of any kind. He was never a Death Eater. He was too stubborn for that. Even though I'd tried to raise him to be just like me, he'd always had a will of his own."

"Your testimony is not very reliable, Mr. Malfoy," said the Minister of Justice.

"Well, you moron," There were gasps everywhere. "If my testimony is not reliable, then what am I doing here?"

At that moment I really admired my dad.

"Ryan Farley is just a problematic drunk. He made my son's life a living hell. He's only doing this now because..."

And Lucius stared at Harry, who nodded. What was that all about?

"Because Draco is having a relationship with Harry Potter and Farley is jealous. Farley wants Draco to suffer."

More gasps around the room. A woman in the bench choked. I gasped myself. I mean, that was too great to be true. Harry had let my father speak about our relationship out loud! In front of all those people. Oh. My. God.

"Are you saying that Harry Potter has a loving relationship with your son?"

"That's right. Are you deaf?"

"Mr. Potter," the man turned to Harry. "Is this true?"

All eyes turned to Harry, including mine. I noticed his flushed cheeks and I smiled weakly.

"Yes, it is." In spite of his shyness, his voice sounded very firm.

A woman fainted. I couldn't really blame her, as I was too stunned myself.

"See?" My father said. "Can I go now? I have a bridge game to attend to. Is my son free? Honestly, you'll be stupid if you don't free him. It's obvious that Farley is lying. Potter there knows what I'm talking about. He has proofs that Farley is just a rioter and has a bad record with the muggles."

I could kiss my dad at that moment.

"The juries and I will gather to discuss it. Mr. Potter, could you please present you proofs?"

Harry stepped forward and handed them over to the Minister. My father was being taken away and I ran towards him before he could vanish. The guards tried to stop me but I didn't care. I had to talk to Lucius.

"Thank you," I said, grateful.

"Well," he smirked. "It was the least that I could do to you, right? You don't belong in prison. Besides, Potter was very persuasive."

I frowned, asking myself if Harry had bought my father's testimony.

"No, Draco, he didn't," Lucius said as if he had read my thoughts.

"How do you know that-"

"I know how your mind works. As for the testimony, I did it because I wanted to. You should visit me in prison some day."

And before I could say something, the guards took him away.

----------

As I waited for deliberation, I bit all my nails. I was about to bit the last one when I felt a hand taking mine. It was Harry.

"Don't do that," he said.

"What should I do then?"

"Talk to me. At least you can be distracted for a bit."

I squeezed his hand. "Thank you, Harry."

"Don't mention it." He winked.

"What you did was amazing! You told everyone that you and I are... and... I... I'm speechless!"

"Hermione and Ron said that it was about time." He smiled. "What I did wasn't that great. I confess to you that I was scared. I still am. I don't know how people will react about this. The hero of their world, the Boy-Who-Lived, in love with another guy instead of a girl..."

"Don't worry. You're not a boy anymore. You're a man, at least to me." I stroked Harry's hand. "Besides, they won't think it's weirder than giants and wizards getting married. Or mermaids and sea-horses, or merpeople and..."

"Mermaids and sea-horses?" he shuddered. "That's definitely weird! Ugh. Tell me you're joking."

I laughed. "Well, there was a case in 1860."

He made a face. "You're such a liar."

"I'm not! Ask Hermione!"

"I will."

Speaking of which... Hermione and Ron appeared by our side with their hands enlaced.

"Did I hear my name?" she asked.

"Yes, I was just telling Harry about a marriage of a mermaid with a sea-horse!"

"You're such a liar, Draco," she exclaimed. "There was never such a case!"

"Of course there was! You haven't been reading enough, Hermione! There's a book about it."

"Hmm... I need to check it out then. But as far as I know, it's rubbish."

"Oh, Herm. Don't listen to him! He's just teasing you and Harry."

"I'm not!"

Well, I was, just a little. There was a case like that once, though. The thing was that in the end they had found out that the mermaid had been under a love spell cast by a dumped and revengeful lover. It had all the elements to be a tragic story, but it was rather funny. My father used to tell me about it when I was little. My father... Why did he have to choose the wrong paths in order to succeed in life? Why did he have to be the way he was?

"Drake?" Harry called me.

"Yes?"

"Don't be sad. You'll get out of this one."

I smiled feebly. "I hope so."

Finally, the Minister of Justice appeared with the jury behind him. Harry gripped my hand and we waited for the verdict. After a lot of rigmarole, it finally came to the interesting point. And when he said that I was free to go, I closed my eyes and sighed heavily in relief. Harry hugged me tightly as if he would never let me go.

"I told you so," he whispered in my ear.

"Indeed, love. Indeed."

-----------

Back at Hogwarts, they threw a big party for me. I was flattered by all the attention. Of course, most of the students were there only to skip classes and party all day and night, but who the hell cared? I sure didn't! I had Harry by my side. Nothing else mattered.

The most exciting moment of the day was when he pulled me to the dance floor with him and he kissed me in front of everybody. His actions eliciting a few disgusted faces, but most people didn't seem to care, which for me - and him - was such a relief.

When he pulled away, I stared at him startled.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"What do you think? I'm kissing you, in case you didn't notice."

"Oh, I wouldn't miss that, Harry." I kissed the tip of his nose. "But it's so unbelievable! It took me so long to earn your trust and to make you realise that you wanted me as bad as I wanted you! If I knew sooner that all it took to get your attention was to get myself in trouble..."

"Don't be silly. It was your insistence in getting my attention that brought me here. No, that's not the right word. Persistence, maybe? Yeah, I think persistent is the right word to describe you. You must really love me to put up with me and the things I did to you these past few months."

I latched myself in his arms and buried my nose in his hair, whispering softly in his ear, "You have no idea, Harry Potter. And if we go to my room right now, I can show you just how big my love for you is."

He giggled. "You're such a teaser."

"I'm serious!"

"If we get out right now, people will talk about it."

There wasn't any kind of worry in his tone of voice. He was finding the situation amusing.

"Let them talk!"

"I have to keep my good reputation."

"Oh, please! Wandering around with me... you can kiss your good reputation a big au revoir."

I led him out of the Great Hall, aware of the curious eyes following us until the exit door. We kissed all the way to my room. At some point I doubted that we would ever get to my room at all. Harry was so... inspired! I was having a hard time controlling myself. But after what seemed like ages, we arrived in my room and tossed our clothes carelessly onto the floor. Then I stopped. I didn't want that moment to be rushed. I wanted it to take forever.

I kissed him very slowly, our lips and tongues touching each other quite tenderly. I savoured his lips as they were the most delicious things I had ever tasted. He tasted so good. Then our bodies touched from head to toe and I felt the adrenaline running through my veins. The kisses became a little more intense, a little more passionate - if that was possible since we were burning from the beginning. We needed each other. Well, at least I needed him. But by the way he was reacting to my every kiss and touch, I pretty much could say that he was feeling the same way as I was.

We lay down on the bed and I loved him just like on our first time. There wasn't any rush. We had all the time in the world. After the ecstasy, I was still feeling a little uncertain about him. He hadn't said that he loved me. I knew he cared for me, but what if he didn't love me? He noticed that I was suddenly tense and he held me in his arms.

"What's wrong?"

"I was just wondering..."

"About?"

"I have a question to ask you and I need you to be very, very honest about it," I began nervously.

"Just shoot."

I took a big breath and then I asked, "Do you love me?"

I felt him tense and I feared for his answer. Now, I could only hope that he wouldn't crush my heart after everything we'd been through together...