Black Sheep

Draco blinked slowly at the men in front of him. He'd almost forgotten the way that Veritaserum felt. Dean and Neville were watching him, though with rather different expressions, and Dean was the first to speak up. "State your name for the record," he commanded Draco in a clipped tone.

"Draco Adonis Malfoy," he said, the words spilling from his mouth without any thought or decision from him.

His full name was surely listed in his criminal records, but still Dean snorted and asked with apparent amusement, "Adonis?"

Draco wanted to frown at the fool, but the potion only allowed him to speak and only then the factual truth. "From the legend of the youth who was so beautiful that the goddesses of love and death fought over him." You uneducated idiot, he added in his mind.

Dean's levity left him soon, though, and his face settled into harsh lines as he next asked, "Are you the Draco Malfoy who was questioned five years ago regarding your actions as a Death Eater?"

"Yes, I am."

"Were you a Death Eater, acting on behalf of the Dark Lord?"

"Yes, I was."

"Did you kill my parents?"

"No, I did not."

Dean's eye twitched and he leaned further across the table as he repeated his question. "Did you kill my parents?"

"No, I did not."

The answer couldn't change, of course, but Dean couldn't forget Draco's taunt from the day before. He exclaimed angrily, "Tell the truth, goddammit! Did you kill my parents?"

Draco repeated his denial mechanically, unable to do anything else, and Neville looked at Dean in consternation. "He is telling the truth," he reminded his fellow Auror. "He can't not tell the truth. He's not the one you're looking for."

"Were you there?" Dean asked sharply, ignoring Neville and looking straight at Draco.

"No, I was not."

"Do you know who did it?"

"No, I do not."

Neville considered interrupting, since this had nothing to do with the current suspicions against Malfoy, but he didn't want to anger Dean enough to be removed from the investigation. He watched silently as Dean continued.

"Do you have any idea who did it?"

"I could make an educated guess," Malfoy said, causing Dean to sit up straighter. At the Auror's command, he continued, "London, as I recall, in the spring of 1998. Around that time and area, I would guess either the Carrows or the Lestrange brothers. Both were famous for their taste for Muggles."

It seemed Dean might continue in this vein, but Neville took the chance to speak up and he asked, "Do you know why you are here today?"

"Yes," Draco answered in that matter-of-fact voice that he couldn't control. "I believe I do. The Ministry obviously suspects that I am trying to get my magic back and that I may be a threat if I do so, so I was thrown back in Azkaban. And I am out of Azkaban and here today because Potter made the situation embarrassing for the Ministry by getting the public's attention with a tell-all interview."

"And were you attempting to get your magic back?" Neville asked patiently, to Dean's dissatisfaction.

"We were researching it," Draco said precisely. "We hadn't made any attempts yet."

Dean jumped in and asked, "Just who do you mean by 'we'?"

Sorry, Granger, Draco thought to himself as his mouth continued obligingly, "Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and myself." Now she was sure to be questioned and dragged into their mess, but he couldn't help it.

Neville tried to take back control of the questioning and he spoke up next. "How did the three of you come to start this research?"

Draco listened to his own voice curiously; it was an odd experience to hear yourself tell things not in the way you remembered them or viewed them, but simply as they were. "I had done what research I could on my own, but my library was ransacked by the Ministry and the information I needed was too rare to be found in any bookshop. I got Granger to offer her help in my research and access to Hogwarts' libraries by reuniting her with Potter, who she'd lost contact with since the war. Potter offered to help of his own accord, though I may have influenced him through his guilt regarding my losing my magic in the first place."

Dean hadn't been present at the last questioning, five years ago, but he'd heard enough of what had transpired then to know of Malfoy taking a curse for Harry. He didn't know any more than that, though, so he asked to hear just how it had happened.

"I'd taken Harry to the location of the last Horcrux and we managed to get near it, but there were all sorts of protections on it. One was the curse which struck me. I could see no way to remove the curse and so, assuming I would be dying sooner than later anyway, I let the curse act on me and tried to ensure that Harry would be able to go on to destroy Voldemort."

Draco was cursing himself in his mind.

Frowning, Dean started to ask, "Hold on now, what is a hor-"

Neville abruptly cut him off before he could finish the question, at which point Draco would be powerless to stop himself from answering. "We covered all of this the last time, Dean," he said bluntly, "The Horcruxes were weapons that Harry used against Voldemort. That's all. We're concerned with what's happening now. Malfoy, please tell us what you found out in your research."

The truth was that Neville and his superior, Hornblower, had been the two to question Malfoy the last time and learn the horrible truth of the Horcruxes. They had chosen to strike their description from the record of Malfoy's questioning and had both performed memory charms on themselves to forget the truth. All Neville could remember now was that the Horcruxes had been something so dangerous that no one should ever learn of them again. The knowledge of the Horcruxes should die with Draco and Harry, just as the knowledge of how to make them had died with Voldemort.

Happily Draco continued on with the present tale and said, "We had just found a possible theory that might have led us to find a way to restore my magic in some way. We didn't have any time to investigate further, though, before I was taken to Azkaban."

"Where did you find this information?"

"Among several original manuscripts in Hogwarts' vaults."

"They describe a way to create magic?" Dean asked with a bit of unhealthy fascination.

"No. They simply describe theories on the nature of magic and how it moves from one object or being to another. I have some ideas of directions to go in, to try to make a charm that would allow me to gather magic to myself, but that is all."

Neville asked the important question, "Did you tell your ideas to either Harry or Hermione?"

"No," Draco answered. "I only told Potter that I was on to something. I assume he relayed that information to Hermione. I'm the only one who has read the relevant manuscripts, as far as I know."

"If you were able to use magic again, what would you do?" Neville continued, asking the questions they needed for the record.

"I don't know." Draco answered, proving that he really hadn't thought that far ahead. "I'd like to fly a broom," he said honestly.

The two Aurors were staring at him, slightly dumbfounded. Neville cleared his throat awkwardly and continued, "Would you wish to hurt anyone with your magic?"

"Probably," Draco said, wincing internally.

Like a dog with a bone, Dean jumped on that and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"I'm rather sure I would wish to hurt people from time to time. I generally find people to be tedious and idiotic."

"And you," Dean said coldly, "would attack others because you find them tedious."

"No," Draco said firmly. "I said I would wish to. I did not say that I would."

"Would you?"

"Possibly." Fuck, fuck, fuck. This was why Draco hated Veritaserum. Things came out all wrong when you couldn't colour them yourself.

Neville was shaking his head slightly, his eyes scrunched shut, unable to watch Malfoy screw himself over.

"State your name for the record, please."

"Harry James Potter."

Harry would have started in surprise, if he could have. But the clear, flavourless potion that they'd made him drink had left him in the backseat, while his mouth took control of the wheels. He felt punch drunk and disconnected from his body, which didn't seem to mind at all as it continued answering questions whether he wanted to or not.

"You are here today because of your connection with former Death Eater Draco Malfoy is that correct?"

"Yes, that's right," Harry answered Neville without any pause.

"What is your relationship with Malfoy?" Dean asked next and Neville winced slightly, having an inkling of what might come next.

"We make fun of each other and then we have lots of sex."

Harry already hated Veritaserum.

Neville glanced at the ceiling, as if looking for some divine intervention. He couldn't say he hadn't suspected it; what kind of Auror would he be if he hadn't? Apparently the type that Dean was, because his fellow inspector spluttered in shock, "You have what?"

"Sex," Harry repeated, then clarified himself unwillingly, "Intercourse. Lots of it."

All lewd taunting to the contrary, Dean had never imagined that Malfoy and Harry were actually having a physical relationship. "You're lovers?" he asked flatly.

"You could say that, yes."

Dean asked coolly, "And what would you say?"

"He's the most important thing in my life." Harry had known that he'd felt that way, obviously, given the absolute misery he'd been in for the past week - but it was still odd to hear himself say it aloud.

"You're..." Dean had to get a hold of his incredulity, before he could continue. "You're in love with Draco Malfoy?"

Was this love? Had he fallen in love with Draco Malfoy?

He had no choice and his lips rounded into that one final syllable: "No."

Harry was more shocked than either of the Aurors by his answer and he stopped listening to the conversation he was taking part in for several moments. Yes, he'd never admitted to himself that he might be in love but...

He didn't love Draco?

If this wasn't love, then what was it? If this wasn't love, then what was?

He was vaguely aware that Dean was asking about the seriousness of his relationship with Draco and he tried to listen again.

"Would you break the law for Malfoy?"

"Yes, I would," Harry answered, marvelling at himself. Why would he, if he didn't love him?

Neville flinched. Normally Veritaserum cases were much simpler; people either admitted that they were innocent or that they were guilty. They didn't normally involve watching a perfectly good person throw his own chances away.

"Do you wish to restore Malfoy's magic?"

"Yes and no."

"Explain yourself."

"If he wants it, then I want to give him that, especially since I'm the one who took it away. But I'm afraid that he won't need me anymore and he'll leave me."

"But you don't love him?"

"Not quite."

Neville glanced up from his notes and asked curiously, "'Not quite'? How do you 'not quite' love someone?"

Harry was just as curious to hear his answer as Neville was and he didn't have to wait long for his voice to spill from him: "I would love him, but I'm too afraid to."

Neville opened his mouth to ask more but then caught himself. It was utterly unfair and wrong to pry personal details out of a friend when he had no choice but to answer. He hesitated for a moment, then continued on the appropriate path of questioning. "Would you break into Azkaban for Malfoy?"

"Yes, I would."

"Would you restore his magic, if he wished it, even if it were considered a punishable act by the Ministry?"

"Yes, I would."

Dean muttered to Neville, "What more do you need to know?"

"Would you defy the rulings of the Ministry if you thought they were not in the best interests of Mr Malfoy?" Neville persisted, needing to be sure that they were absolutely clear.

"Yes, I would."

"Even if the rulings were in the best interest of society?"

"Yes, I would."

"Would you defy the rulings of the Ministry simply because they were not what you wished?"

"Yes, I would."

Neville sat back with a sigh. Neither of the two men was making it any easier for him. He only hoped they have more luck with Hermione.

"Your name, please, for the record."

"Hermione Jean Granger."

"And the reason you are here today?"

"Because of my relationship to Harry Potter and, through him, to Draco Malfoy."

"And what is that relationship?"

"Harry was my best friend as a young girl. Malfoy is Harry's lover."

Dean didn't even try to stop himself from asking, "And how do you feel about that?"

"I don't particularly like it," she said smartly and Neville wondered if they had even needed to use Veritaserum on her - she seemed almost unchanged. "I'm still ill at ease with Malfoy, but he has succeeded in getting Harry out of his shell, so I have accepted the situation."

Neville, as usual, tried to get back to subject at hand, asking, "How do you feel about the idea of Malfoy getting back his magic?"

"I would be just as happy for him to not get it back," she said immediately, though she had no choice under the potion's sway.

Needing to clarify for the record, he continued pressing her. "So you do not wish for Mr Malfoy to get his magic back?"

"No, not particularly."

Dean stared openly, asking rudely, "Then why do you help with it?"

Hermione answered calmly, "Because I promised to do so. I was grateful to him for bringing Harry back to me. I felt that deserved something in return."

Neville was practically holding his breath. He was silently wishing that Hermione wouldn't get herself strung up like Harry had. "Would you break the law for Malfoy?"

"No, I don't believe so."

He flinched and asked before Dean could get the chance, "Could you be more specific?"

"I would not try to break him out of Azkaban, if that is what you mean. Nor would I try to restore his magic if the Ministry had forbidden it. The only way in which I could imagine myself going against the Ministry would be if I thought justice was not being served. "

Neville mentally pumped his fist in the air. That should be enough to satisfy Dean and his hawks. Now if they could just get past the critical question, then at least he could feel less guilty about one person. He knew what the Ministry had in mind. He chose his next words very carefully.

"Would you go against the Ministry on the behalf of Harry Potter?"

"That would also depend."

Neville swallowed, praying she would respond in the same way again. "In what situation would you go against the Ministry?"

"If I thought he were being punished without due cause."

He wanted to kiss her. She should be safe. Now they just had to clear up the last point and Hermione at least should be free to go.

"How would you react if you were told you would never be able to meet Harry again?"

After each of the three had been given the appropriate antidote, they were assembled in yet another white holding cell. Knowing that their secrecy was long since blown, Harry didn't hesitate to rush to Draco, grabbing him in a quick, urgent hug. Then he stood back, though he still held onto one of Draco's hands, and with Hermione to one side and Draco to the other, he faced their fate in the form of two very different Aurors.

Neville glanced at Dean, who waved him ahead without a word. Clearing his throat, he began to speak uncomfortably. "I would like to thank you all for your cooperation today. It has been a long day, for all of us, I'm sure." Now he saw Dean looking impatient and he hurried along. "Based on the result of today's questioning, the Ministry is prepared to offer a deal, in light of Mr Malfoy's contributions in the downfall of the Dark Lord and, of course, Mr Potter's pivotal part in that same war."

Harry sucked in his breath and looked to Malfoy, a nervous little smile on his face. He squeezed Draco's clammy hand. He didn't even glance at Hermione, who was nowhere near smiling. She knew where this was going; they'd had to ask her about it, after all. She watched Harry expressionlessly.

"The Ministry is willing to let Malfoy go free--" Neville didn't get any farther for the moment, as Harry had shouted out, crowing their success. Struggling to get the excited wizard's attention back, Neville spoke even more loudly.

"If ," he said in a carrying voice, "if Mr Malfoy undergoes thorough memory charming so that he would have no recollection that he ever was a wizard and would retain no knowledge of our world or the powers he once had."

Stunned into silence, Harry gripped Draco's slick hand. "You mean, you - you'd take away everything. Wouldn't you? Every memory he has must be linked to being a wizard!"

Dean smiled darkly, enjoying watching Neville miserably explain to his friend what would happen. "That's right. He would remember little more than his name. He would have to forget his family, Hogwarts, everything that has happened until now." His eyes shifted from Harry to Malfoy and he continued softly, "He would have to forget you, but he would at least be able to forget about the war, and everything that he did, and everything that was done to him."

Draco looked up at him with inscrutable grey eyes, understanding what Neville was trying to do, and the Auror continued awkwardly, "Of course, he would still be under supervision. The Ministry would keep tabs on him, but that would be all and no more than they have already been doing for the past five years."

Harry looked at Draco with wide eyes. Certainly it had to be better than Azkaban, but...

Dean spoke up, "That's not all though, is it, Neville?"

Harry's eyes flicked back to his old roommates. Hermione had to close her eyes and she turned slightly away, not wanting to watch. Harry noticed at last and he half turned to search her face.

Neville spoke into the confused silence. He told the man who had saved them all, "The Ministry can't trust that you wouldn't break the memory charms, Harry. This is a package deal. Malfoy only gets to go free if you agree to it as well - if you agree to be memory charmed and forget everything. Otherwise he's going to be sent back to Azkaban."

Harry's hand loosened, slipping from Malfoy's and falling limply to his side, empty.