De-resurrection

CHAPTER THREE

A Malfoy Never Gives Up

It was not so bad, Draco decided. He could get out whenever he wanted, but he wanted to see if Harry came to rescue him. It would be fun. Draco looked at his hands. Since he had become strong enough to do spells without needing a wand to magnify his magic, he had only carried his wand for the sake of it, and it had turned out to be a very good idea. They had no clue that he did not need it, and could apparate away in an instant.

Draco rolled off the bench that served as a bed for him, and walked around the room. He had done this many times since his arrival. He knew it served no purpose, but what did that matter? It was a bare stone room, with a tiny window high up, about twelve feet above his head. There was no furniture, save a bench and a bucket. He walked to the barred gate. He could not touch it, he knew that. There was some kind of spell on it, and it shocked his hand if he came too close.

Draco sat back on his bench, leaning against the stone wall. He had learned to ignore those nasty little voices in his head telling him he was being horrible, but now they were so loud he could hardly think. He kept hearing Neville crying, and Hermione, and all the other people he had hurt. Then there were the people he had watched his father kill, all of them played through and through his head, until he swore he was going insane.

He sighed and brushed his hair out of his eyes. He was still in his heavy black boots, black trousers and black shirt, as they had decided not to take them from him. He rubbed a spot of mud off the toe of his boot with a finger, and rolled sideways to lie on his back, and gaze at the ceiling. He crossed his ankles, and folded his arms, and, thus arranged, he waited.

-------

'What the hell d'you mean?' Sirius shouted.

'Just what I said. Draco has gone to Azkaban for killing his father,' Harry said patiently.

'Fuck.' Sirius paced the room, running his hand through his hair. 'Fuck, fuck, fuckedy-fuck. Why have you come to me?'

'Because we always come to you. You're the one who knows what to do,' Hermione wheedled.

'No! Not this time. Not bloody this time.' He resumed his pacing, and muttered to himself.

'Why do you care?' Harry asked him.

'Narcissa, his mother, was a good friend of mine before she got together with Lucius. She was scared of him, and she asked me to promise I'd always protect her. Draco is a part of her, she'll die without him, she loves him so much.'

'Fuck,' Harry echoed faintly.

'You're not supposed to say that,' Sirius grinned, looking up briefly.

'He's right, Harry,' Hermione said sternly.

'That I shouldn't say naughty words?'

'No, that you should do something about Draco.'

'We,' he reminded her.

'Yes, we,' she snapped.

'Okay. If you two will just shut up, I've got a plan...'

-------

Ginny and Ron sat anxiously in the common room, totally silent. Ron kept glancing at his sister, who had not spoken a word since the previous day. He was really worried about her. She kept going off into a little dream world, and he could not tell why. Malfoy had snogged her. He would have thought that was cause for panic, but apparently not. Ginny looked as though it was the most wonderful thing in the world.

'Come on, Gin,' he encouraged her. 'A watched pot never boils, and all that.'

'What? I don't want Harry and Hermione to boil, I just want them to turn up,' she said vaguely.

'No... uh!' he gave up, throwing his hands up in defeat. 'You don't get it, do you?'

'Get what?' she asked, turning back to stare at the portrait hole.

'That I'm really a gigolo named Paul, and I desperately want sex with Hermione and Harry, both at the same time.'

'Oh, okay.'

'Ginny! Don't be gross!' Ron was totally incensed. 'I would never, ugh. Bad mental place. Bad, bad, bad. Ugh.' He shook his head. 'Come on. So what?'

'So what, what?' Ginny frowned, turning back to him.

'Malfoy kissed you, do you need to see a doctor?'

'Don't.'

'Don't what?'

'Be mean about him.'

'Sorry, I won't be nasty about your boyfriend, if he stops being Malfoy.'

'RON!' Ginny shouted, red-faced, and stamped up the dormitory stairs, slamming the door behind her.

'Can you tell me exactly what bit made you angry? I need to write it down for future reference,' he called, but she did not seem to hear him, so it was wasted.

--------

'Visitors, Mr Malfoy.'

'Yes?' Draco swung his legs down, sitting up. He flicked his hair back, and waited.

Two people came sheepishly into his cell. A girl and a boy. He recognised them immediately, but could not recognise the logic in their appearance.

'Potter? Is this really the best plan you could come up with?' Draco sneered.

'I think it's perfectly good!' Harry protested, folding his arms.

'This is why you should always let me tell you what to do, Potter. You make crap plans.' Draco re-folded his arms and lay back on his bench.

'Excuse me! So getting yourself in here in the first place was a good plan, was it?' Harry asked sarcastically.

'You're abusing sarcasm, Potter, and it wasn't a plan.' Draco refused to look at him and his companion. Instead he gazed up at the ceiling, lost in darkness above.

'Will at least one of you remember I'm here?' the girl demanded hotly.

'Oh, hi there Ginny.'

'Not you Harry. Draco.'

'You said either of us...' Harry drizzled off as Ginny stared at him.

'Hello, Ginny. How have you been?' Draco asked politely.

'Just mangled, thank you,' she replied cheerfully, then her face dropped. 'How the hell d'you think I've been?' she demanded. 'You get dragged to prison, just after kissing me, and saying you love me, and I'm never going to see you again!'

'Well, that's hardly my fault,' Draco said mildly, sitting up and looking at her. 'I really thought I should tell you, before I got banged up.'

Try as she might, Ginny could not fault his logic. She opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again, then was aware she looked like a fish. She looked at the floor. She heard Draco get up, his heavy boots clumping on the floor as he came over to her, the rustle of his shirt as he lifted his hands to her cheeks, and tilted her face up to his. He was unbelievably close, and she could smell him. It was hard to say exactly what he smelt of, but it was sort of brandy crossed with lime juice, and very nice. It made her feel slightly dizzy, and she was aware he was talking to her, but she did not hear a word.

'I love you,' she said, and gasped, clapping a hand to her mouth. His silvery eyes rimmed with sea green widened slightly. His mouth stopped moving, as he fell silent. His eyebrows raised slightly, and he stepped back, running a hand through his cheekbone length hair. There was a worried expression on his face, and he was talking to Harry. Her face dropped again, and she began to cry.

He was there immediately. She buried her face in his chest and wept, clinging to him. He lay his cheek against her hair, stroking her back gently.

'Well, what are you planning to do, Potter?'

'Well, um, we were going to, um, fetch you and bust out.'

'Lame.'

'Yeah.'

'Okay. Here's a plan. I'll stand on your shoulders, then Ginny stands on mine, goes up to the bars and makes them disappear, then we'll all climb out.'

'Lame.'

'Yeah.'

'Well, we don't have any wands, so we're magic-less. There's nothing we can do.'

'Lame.'

'Yeah.'

'Well,' said Draco, still holding onto Ginny, 'our options aren't too varied. Let's just apparate out.'

'We can't. No wands, and Ginny doesn't know how.'

'I don't use a wand, and we know how, anyway, she doesn't have to.'

'Oh yeah. But won't there be wards up?'

'Probably, but they're not expecting magic. They strip searched you, didn't they?'

'Not exactly, but they did search us magically.'

'Well, same difference. Either way, they're not going to be expecting anyone to apparate out. The wards'll probably just cut us a bit short of our destination.'

'Are you sure, Draco?' Harry frowned.

'Not even slightly,' Draco said cheerfully.

'Urgh! Well, d'you want us to go away and come back when you are sure?'

'No,' came Ginny's muffled voice. 'I'm not leaving Draco.'

'She likes me,' Draco mouthed, grinning smugly and pointing at himself.

'You're a dickhead,' Harry mouthed back, putting a hand to his forehead and waggling a finger at him.

Draco did not say anything, but made a really rude gesture at Harry.

'We're going, Ginny,' Harry said shortly.

'No, we're not,' she told him, still talking into Draco's shirt.

'Yeah. So there.' Draco stuck his tongue out at Harry, and wrapped his arms around Ginny protectively.

Harry sighed and sat down on the bed, resigned to stay for a long time.

-------

'That's not a plan!' Lupin objected.

'I know!' Sirius snapped, running his hand through his hair distractedly, and slumping to sit on the footstool.

'Well, what's going to happen when they get caught trying?' Lupin asked him seriously.

'Now you just sound like my mother,' Sirius snapped irritably. 'You're just uglier.'

Lupin laughed, and Sirius scowled at him.

'Bugger off,' Sirius groaned, putting his face into his hands.

'My house, why don't you bugger off?' Lupin grinned.

'You're obnoxiously happy, you little fart. Go away.'

'Not until you say the magic word,' Lupin wheedled.

'Abesse,' Sirius snapped, waving his wand, Lupin shot out of the room, and found himself standing in the corridor.

'Good word,' he muttered, grinning to himself as he went back in.

'Why are you tormenting me?' Sirius demanded of the ceiling, an anguished expression on his face.

'The lamp doesn't mean it, Padfoot, it had no idea you cared.'

'Shut up, you irritating little arse.'

Lupin nodded, and drew his fingers across his closed lips, indicating a zipper.

'Ah, blessed silence!' Sirius rejoiced, then turned a stern face to Lupin. 'You can un-zip now. What do you think we should do?'

'I don't know.'

'I hate you, Remus.'

'I know.'

-------

'Why did he take Ginny?'

'He knew it would get to Draco more.'

'Oh,' Ron nodded, as though he understood. Hermione smiled.

'Come on, shouldn't we go there?'

'No.'

Hermione looked shocked that he had refused to do as she asked. 'Okay, what do we do, then?'

'Call Sirius?'

'He won't want to hear from us...' she stopped as an owl swooped in, poked its letter into her mouth, and winged out again.

She pulled it out irritably, and pulled it open. 'It's from Draco's mother,' she said, scanning the page.

Dear Hermione,

I'm sorry to trouble you, if you don't want to hear from me. You may have judged my son and I on Lucius' deeds, but we aren't like him. Draco tried to be, to save his own skin and mine, but he isn't really that way. You probably already know what happened, but it wasn't his fault. I would like it if you could come to Draco's trial as a witness. Please, I would like to be your friend, and I need friends right now. I hope I don't sound too cheesy, but it's a lonely existence, being the wife of a death-eater. He killed all my friends, and in the end, his own master got him back. The only friend he hasn't got to yet is Sirius Black. I gather that you know him. He can't come to the trial, but can you get word to him that I would like to see him soon?

Narcissa Malfoy

'She's friends with Sirius?' Ron spat.

'She isn't like Lucius, you dipstick.'

'Yeah, but, I mean, why isn't she with our crowd, if she likes Sirius?' Ron objected.

'How should I know. I wouldn't put it past Lucius to curse her, but it's really none of our business.'

'You're right,' Ron nodded. 'Yeah. Do you think Sirius is good looking?'

'Ron! I had no idea your bread was buttered that way!'

'It isn't,' he snapped, blushing. 'Just answer.'

'Well, yes. Tall, dark, dashing, muscular, blue eyes, Yeah...' she trailed off thoughtfully.

'Ick,' Ron shuddered. 'Okay, so why isn't she with him?'

'Maybe she wanted to be. I thought we weren't going to talk about it?'

'Yeah. Hermione, d'you fancy Sirius?'

'NO! He's good looking, yeah, well, he's gorgeous, but NO! He's, hang on...' she counted on her fingers, 'old enough to be my father!'

'Barely,' Ron sneered.

'Still.' Hermione looked sternly at him.

'Yeah, I guess. Well, you never know, he did have a lot of girlfriends at school. Dad was a prefect when he was in second year, and he was already a legend by then!'

'Sirius is not my father, Ron!'

'He could be my father.'

'I doubt it, Ron.'

'Me too.'

'You just aren't cool enough...'

'You should have stopped back there, when I said 'me too'. Now you've screwed it all up.'

'Sorry.'

'You should be.'

-------

'Well, just make sure you come back with a decent plan, Potter,' Draco called after him.

'Will do,' Harry grinned, delighted that dementors could not hear.

He put an arm around Ginny's shoulders, and they walked out to the gate of Azkaban. It was a very cold night, and the wind whistled and moaned over the stones of the fortress, and pounded the sea hard against the rocks beneath.

The guard at the gate gave them back their belongings, and they picked up their broomsticks from a rack. Shivering at the horror of the prison (which, despite the fact that Harry had become used to it, was still terrible) and the cold, they flew away.

Harry was desperately worried about Draco. More worried than he would have been if the boy had been sitting on the floor screaming, or slashing his wrists. Draco's nonchalant air was even more frightening. It meant that something was seriously wrong. Draco was a sulker, but pushed beyond sulking to misery so intense it hurt, he was a joker. Harry knew this, because he was the same way. He sulked, and held grudges. He got angrier than Draco, but still...

Ginny did not seem alright either. Her eyes were glazed, and she looked straight ahead the whole time. This did not change as they plunged down over land and dismounted in the dark street outside Lupin's house. She still had that dimmed look in her eye as they opened the gate. She still looked as detached as ever as they walked up the path, and crashed into Snape.

-------

Draco stared after Harry and Ginny, then slumped onto his bench, which dug into his backside. He ignored the painful experience and lay down. He was so cold. It was never warm here. He pulled his cloak around him, and curled up in a ball. Once again he considered the possibility of apparating out. Harry and Ginny had, after all, succeeded very well in their challenge, and turned up for him, even if he was still there.

No, he thought. His trial was only a few days away. It was not exactly worth getting in deep shit just to be stubborn, he could still get off.

It just was not Malfoy to hang around and wait. Potter made a living out of hoping for the best, but that was not Draco's way. He swung his long legs down and walked to the centre of the room. He took a last glance around at the cell, before ducking his head and closing his eyes. He spent a long time drawing in his diminished strength, then released the spell.

Nothing happened.

He opened his eyes and looked up. He was still there. Moonlight still slanted steeply across the room from the tiny window, and the shadows were still as dark as pitch. He smacked a fist against the wall and felt his legs shake under him. He was just too weak. Azkaban was drawing on him, so was the worry, the lack of sleep, and the lack of food. He was not strong enough. He realised that he had failed as the strength-charm bearer.

Draco threw himself down on the bench, and ignoring the splinters, fell asleep.

--------

'Why aren't they here?' Hermione demanded, standing up furiously and pacing the dark common room.

'They'll be fine. We said we'd stay here, anyway,' Ron soothed, putting a hand on her arm as she pounded past him.

'Guuurrrr!' she shouted, throwing her arms in the air. Then she dropped them to her sides and looked defeated.

'Don't worry, it'll be okay,' Ron told her, patting her head, which, surprisingly, he could reach while sitting down.

She nodded and began to walk towards him, then tripped on the edge of the rug, landing right on top of him. She had literally tripped and landed on his lips. She pulled back, embarrassed. Ron's eyes were wide and he was not blinking.

She rolled away, blushing furiously. But Ron caught her elbow. Surprised, she rolled back on top of him, and allowed him to press his lips against hers. She was shocked when the thunder of relief, happiness and love rolled in her head. She had never thought of Ron that way, but she kissed him fiercely, wrapping her arms behind his back.

It seemed like a relieving thing to do. He tasted like apples, and cereal. He smelt a little of cream, and chocolate. She could hardly imagine why she was enjoying this. She and Ron had been shouting at each other for years. this somehow made up for it. Hermione's heart leaped over and over until it was too tired to jump anymore. But it was then that it got a kick-start.

'I do hope I wasn't interrupting,' Professor Dumbledore said, sounding lightly amused.

'Professor!' Hermione spluttered, coming to her feet, wiping her mouth.

'Don't get up on my account,' he told her, waving a long hand. 'I was just coming to look for Harry. Do you know where he might be?'

'No, sorry, no.' Ron shook his head.

'Oh, is he in school? I can't seem to keep track of anyone.'

'No, he went to -Draco's house. To comfort his mother. Sirius knew her, you know, but Sirius can't go there, because all the Ministry blokes are out, about Draco,' Hermione supplied, making the whole thing up off the top of her head, and a few memories she had.

'Ah, well. When he returns, eh? I'll leave you to it,' he smiled, his eyes twinkling, as he turned and departed.

'How embarrassing,' Hermione groaned, sitting back down.

'He thought it was funny,' Ron reminded her.

'Not that. How embarrassing that I've been so nasty for such a long time, and then I realise I really like you.'

'You do?' Ron choked. 'Cool! I mean, I knew all along, Herm. You can't hide things from me,' he said, solemnly.

'No?'

'No.'

'I've got a nail file hidden in my clothes somewhere. Fancy trying to find it?'

-------

Remus stirred the contents of the pan on his stove with a wooden spoon, gazing out of the window at the quiet street. His calm, pensive moment was disturbed entirely when Sirius slammed his way into the small kitchen, vaulted over the table and wrenched the fridge door open, staring at the contents.

'What do you bloody live on, Remus?' he demanded, pulling out a pot of 'Bio-live' yoghurt, disgust all over his face.

'That, for one thing,' Remus said, nodding at it.

Sirius snorted and shoved it back inside. He continued to sneer at Lupin's food for a few minutes, before muttering 'Cervisia,' and popping the ring pull of the resulting can of beer. He downed it in one, crumpled it, and hurled it in the bin. Grunting sourly, he jumped up to sit on the counter beside Lupin. The grey T-shirt he wore may have fitted him in Azkaban, but it certainly did not now. The impressive muscles in his chest were pressed tight against the fabric, and his strong arms were barely covered at all. At least his black jeans still fitted him, and so did the prison style hobnailed boots he wore all the time. Lupin could not recall having seen him without them for the three years since his escape.

Sirius' upstanding hair and disgruntled expression coupled well to make him look like a six foot seven teenager. Lupin smiled at the thought, and it was all he could do to keep from laughing as he told Sirius to cook the pasta. His friend's resulting expression was worth taking a picture of. He looked so put out. Mumbling about the vicious unfairness of it all, he slid off the counter and stalked over to the fridge.

'Wholemeal,' he sighed, looking at the packet.

'Afraid so,' Lupin nodded, a sad expression on his face.

'It would have to be.'

-------

'Shit!' Harry cried, falling back.

'You're lucky you're out of school, Potter,' Snape scowled.

'Lucky?' Harry snapped. To meet Snape in a dark street, Harry though, was far from lucky.

'Yes, otherwise that'd be twenty points,' Snape told him silkily.

'On or off?' Harry inquired, infuriatingly. He was determined to make the most of this.

'Why are you here?' Snape sneered at them, changing the subject completely.

'Why are you here?' Harry retorted.

'I am here because Sirius Black is, and I plan to kill him.'

'Great plan! I'll turn up, by myself, the night before Lupin becomes a werewolf, at his house, to kill his best friend, who used to be an Auror. And, being his worst enemy, I reckon they'll offer me supper, too. God you're stupid,' Harry spat.

'Stay out of those things you don't understand, be that a huge portion of the world. I might just be able to dispose of three birds in one visit,' Snape threatened.

'Actually, can I be a lion, instead of a bird? Birds aren't really my thing,' Harry said, making a face.

Snape was shaking with outrage as Harry made the last comment, and he leaned towards him, his hooked nose inches from Harry's. 'Don't think I won't, Potter. You aren't protected here. I could get rid of you in an instant, and they'll only think the Dark Lord got you. I can be done,' he hissed, his rank breath ruffling Harry's fringe.

'I could just as easily get rid of you, and say you cursed me. Draco killed his father under a curse, and his father was the one controlling him. It could be done,' he hissed back, mocking Snape, but at the same time, being perfectly serious.

'Snape! What the hell are you doing here?' Lupin exclaimed, pushing open a window beside the door.

'He's come to kill you, me and Sirius,' Harry told him, not taking his eyes off Snape's face, now level with his own.

'Better not let the bastard in, then,' Sirius suggested, sticking his head through the window, grinning.

'Definitely not,' Harry agreed.

'What's up, Shit-for-Brains?' Sirius inquired amicably of Snape. Something about his tone suggested to Harry that the name was a regular thing.

'I'm very well, you, however, will have been much better, by the time I finish with you.'

'Sorry, Git-Face, my man. I'm not in the mood for smacking your head in right now,' Sirius grinned, and disappeared from the window. He soon appeared in the open doorway, and ushered Harry and Ginny inside. He went out, and they all ran through to the kitchen to watch, slamming the door behind them.

Sirius was almost a foot taller than Snape, and he was clearly far stronger. The cool night made his caramel coloured skin glow, and set his sooty hair glinting. His blue eyes were so bright in the waxing moon that they looked like there were lights inside them

'I'm going to kill you, Black,' Snape hissed, softly.

'You're going to try,' Sirius corrected him.

'I can almost guarantee success.'

'I beg to differ.'

'Stop grinning at me in that insolent manner.'

'Yes, Professor.'

'I told you to stop!'

'And I ignored you, but that's just the way it goes.'

Snape raised his wand so quickly that Harry barely saw it, but Sirius obviously did. He grabbed Snape's wrist, and spun around, pulling it over his shoulder, and then using it to flip the smaller, slimier man over his head. Snape lay on his back, coughing weakly, and Sirius twirled his enemy's wand, then pocketed it. At that moment, Harry desperately wished he knew some kind of Martial Art. Sirius looked so smooth, calm and in control.

'And that worked,' Sirius grinned.

Snape snatched his wand out of Sirius' pocket, and disapparated. Laughing like a huge bronze bell, Sirius cart-wheeled over to the door, pulled it open, and strolled through.

'Didn't I flip him good?' he beamed, jumping to sit on the table.

'You flipped him good,' Ginny confirmed. She had not spoken up until then, but she had always liked Sirius. She sat on the table next to him, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Harry was glad, she needed someone like Sirius right now. He said something, then grabbed her head, and rubbed his knuckles into it, mussing up her hair, and making her squeal with laughter.

Harry turned to help Lupin, who was draining the pasta at the sink, satisfied that Ginny was in good hands. He ladled sauce onto the pasta and passed it to Lupin, as Ginny's laughter rang through the cosy, warm kitchen.

--------

'Bugger,' Draco muttered on waking up. His back was so stiff he could barely move, and a splinter was firmly embedded in his hand.

'Once more, with feeling,' a soft voice said.

He leapt up to see his mother sitting on the foot of his bench. She was wrapped and cowled deeply in a violet cloak, and her silver-blond curls flowed over her shoulders like rivers of molten white-gold.

'Mum!' he exclaimed, leaping forwards and throwing his arms around her. She was bowled over slightly, considering the almost six foot of her son. When she had regained her balance, she embraced him, rocking him from side to side slightly, as though he were only a child. He did not seem to mind. He clung to her desperately.

'Are you alright?' she asked him, concerned.

'No. I killed my father, and now I'm in prison going mad.'

'You won't go mad, we'll get you out,' she promised.

'How?' he demanded, pulling away from her and staring into her eyes.

'Hermione Granger's coming as a witness too, and it isn't like Voldemort using the Imperius curse is new.'

'But it hasn't happened for so long, and they refuse to believe that he's back. I'll die in here.'

'Now, now. Remember your father's favourite saying, "Only the good die young",' she smiled.

'Then I'll die very old in here,' Draco insisted.

'The other favourite was "a Malfoy never gives up",' she reminded him.

'I haven't, I'm just taking a break from trying,' he pouted, folding his arms.

'Can you finish your break-time? Your trial is in ten minutes.'

'What the hell?' Draco yelped, leaping up and running his hands through his hair to try to make it neater. He brushed the dust off his clothes and wiped his face with the hem of his cloak. 'How do I look?' he panted.

'Lovely, dear,' she smiled, but inside it hurt to look at him. His bones were poking through his skin, and midnight smudges decorated the pale skin beneath his eyes. He had only been there two days, but he had never been very bulky, and it took its toll quickly. Draco had very rarely eaten more than a few mouthfuls of each meal, and that had been enough, but with the extra strain, his body could not take it.

She tapped the wall beside the cell door, and it opened. They walked out into the dank corridor, and Narcissa turned a sharp left, out to the exit. Draco's long legs meant that he kept up with her easily, even though he walked very slowly. He made it look like insolence, but he could not, in truth, have gone any faster.

They were ushered outside and to a platform, where they were handed a portkey. The jerk behind her navel was familiar, in such an unfamiliar situation. Narcissa pulled her silken gown straight as they arrived in the ministry. Draco's black made him look so miserable, but he was still holding his head high.

A Malfoy never gives up.

--------

Hermione was desperately scared. She kept checking her robes in the mirror. They were dark green, quite fitted, and flowing. She had plaited her hair, and it made her head look small. Her hands snapped up to undo it, but it was too late. Ron came up into the dormitory with a small box clutched in his hand. He passed it to her.

'Portkey,' he said.

She gave him a tiny smile. He kissed her cheek, and she opened the box. Inside was a little marble. She tipped it into her hand, and the world twisted slightly. A whirl of colours accompanied her on her journey to the Ministry, and as they faded she prepared herself for landing.

Her knees buckled, of course, and she made a singularly ungraceful descent from the small platform in the tiny courtyard. She glanced up at the scudding stormy clouds above, and the scowling windows set in the grey cement wall, before walking to the door, and stepping into the musty darkness.

The first thing that hit her was the dust. It was so thick in the air, that she felt if she jumped it would support her weight. The smell of old books and damp walls clouded her vision, and she moved quickly into the light at the end of the corridor. She emerged in a dazzlingly bright walkway the size of a tennis court. Huge windows stood at either end, but high up in the walls. Robed witches and wizards glided past, clutching files and talking in low voices about important things. Hermione hugged one butter-milk coloured wall as she made her way down to courtroom four.

She glanced at the note in her hand, and up at the brass letters set in the oak doors. Courtroom four was right at the far end, and lots of people were going in and out, looking important. Gulping down the butterflies, she marched across the hall and pushed through the door. The first thing she saw was Draco, sitting at one of the desks in front of the podium. He looked up when she came in, and smiled.

She felt her breath catch in her throat. He looked so weak. Glancing around the room, she guessed it was still bustling enough, and ran over to him. He stood up, and she hugged him. They held onto each other for a while, when the judge at the podium began to tap his hammer. She ran over to the witnesses bench, and sat down carefully.

The trial got under way quickly enough. The charges were presented against Draco, and he gave his side of things. His calm cultured voice, and raised chin gave him that extra convincing air. The witnesses were called. Hermione first.

She stood up, dully aware of the sweat in her palms. Her shoes sounded incredibly loud against the marble floor. Dust motes floated across the rays of light from the windows. Everything seemed exaggerated. She climbed the stairs onto the block. A small wizard handed her a sword. Casting her memory back to the trials she had researched, she set the point against her chest.

'Do you swear on your life, as true as that sword is sharp, as honest as it would draw your blood, that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?'

'I do,' she promised. The man took the sword from her and she stepped forward to rest her hands on the wooden barrier.

'Miss Granger, you were there when Lucius Malfoy died?'

'Yes, I was,' she nodded.

'Did you see the exact thing that happened?' the pompous looking man below her asked.

'Yes.'

'Could you please tell us, Miss Granger?'

'Of course. Draco invited us to come to his home, and as soon as we got into the house, we could tell he was being strange. He kept shouting odd things out...'

'What kind of things?'

'He said "leave", "get out of here", things like that, in between normal speech, then he was taking us to our rooms and he kept stopping on the way.' Her mouth was dry, she took a gulp of the water on the table beside her. 'He wasn't being himself, he said really weird things, and his eyes were all glassy. Then he tried to kill Ginny. It bounced off the mirror behind her, and hit his father.'

'Are you saying he missed?'

'No. Harry Potter threw himself in the way, and knocked her down.'

'Thank you,' the judge nodded, waving a hand for her to go and sit down.

The trial continued for a long time. Draco, of course, pleaded guilty. The jury left them quietly. Hermione leapt up and ran to Draco. He turned to her slowly.

'Thanks for trying,' he said quietly.

'They haven't decided yet!' she exclaimed, shocked at his attitude to it.

'It's too late.'

'It's never too late!'

'And only the good die young,' he said, giving her an odd one-sided smile, before walking out.

--------

Narcissa was crying. She knew she had to be strong for Draco, but she could not be. Seeing him plead guilty, she had melted totally, but it was not pleasant melting. It was a sort of burnt crumbling. Hot pain flowing through her body, and as soon as court had adjourned, she had run out. Now she sat against a wall in the courtyard, sobbing brokenly.

'There, there,' said someone, patting her head gently.

She pulled her face out of her hands and looked to the side. Remus Lupin stood off to one side, looking worried. Ginny Weasley was wringing her hands, and Harry Potter stood with beside Narcissa. He reached out his hands to her, and pulled her to her feet.

'There's no way they can convict him for this,' he reassured her.

Although Harry was plainly no longer a child, and she would never hug a man she did not know, she could not help it. She flung herself into his outstretched arms and cried into his light blue shirt.

Harry patted her back gently and smoothed her hair. Ginny looked at him questioningly. He shrugged. Lupin pointed to the door Hermione had gone in through before, and Harry nodded. Lupin and Ginny went off to find Draco, leaving Harry with Draco's mother.

Harry soon lowered her down onto a bench, where he put a comforting arm around her shoulders and waited for her to calm down. She soon settled into taking huge shuddering gasps, and wiped her eyes with her cloak.

'I'm terribly sorry,' she said hoarsely, giving him a watery smile.

'No problem,' he smiled. 'I don't mind offering a bit of a hug to beautiful women.'

She gave a weak laugh. 'Thank you.'

'It's not a compliment, it's a fact.'

'Nice to know I've still got it,' she said, sniffing exaggeratedly.

'You have nothing to worry about. Draco'll get off.'

'I certainly hope so.'

'Sirius sends his love,' Harry told her.

'Sirius?' She looked surprised. 'I would have been so much better off if I'd just asked him out instead of getting snapped up by Lucius.'

'You liked him?' Harry was sure she had.

'Like him. I wish I could see him again,' she trailed off thoughtfully.

'I think we could arrange that,' Harry smiled.

-------

Ginny poked her head around the corner. She had looked everywhere. He had to be here, or he was already gone. She was rewarded with a flash of silver hair, and the trademark black clothes. Ginny ran over to him. He did not turn around, but said 'You found me. Congratulations, Ginny.'

'How did you know it was me?' she gasped.

'Call it a feeling,' he smiled turning around. He put a finger under her chin and tilted her face up, then he kissed her. He still smelt the same, spices, lime and brandy, and he still tasted like lemon. Ginny thought this was amazing, considering that he had probably only had a few bread crusts since she had last seen him. She kissed him back, linking her hands behind his waist. He put his hands flat against her shoulder blades and pulled her closer. She reached up and twined her fingers into his silky hair. Then she felt an odd buzzing against her chest. Draco let go of her, pulling away, and sticking a hand into his breast pocket. There was a little brass token in there.

'They've decided,' he said quietly. 'Come too,' he pleaded, holding her hands in his.

'Of course, of course,' she nodded, and followed him back into the corridor. He pushed his way into the court room, and pulled up a seat for Ginny next to his own. He held it out for her to sit down, then sat down beside her, looking defiant, as though he dared them to make her move. They did not, and as the room fell silent, he reached for her hand. She gripped his strong hand in terror, and saw him smile slightly to himself. Harry and Lupin sneaked in with Narcissa, and stood against the wall.

'Now jury,' the judge began,' what say you on the case of Draco Malfoy versus Lucius Malfoy?'

'We have come to the decision that...' the man paused. His eyes were glazed, and he moved and spoke woodenly. 'he is guilty of murder. By his own free will he killed his father.'

'Life,' the judge bellowed, smacking the hammer down on the table.