Old Moon Fades

Chapter Eight: The Hearing

He had been genuinely surprised when Granger had stepped into the room. Malfoy fought back the nerves that began crashing around violently in his stomach the moment she walked through the door. He had used the precious seconds she spent adjusting her eyes to the lack of light in the room to collect himself and to maintain some semblance of order in his mind. By the time she had noticed his presence Malfoy had surrounded himself in the illusion of a perfectly calm young man.

It appeared that she too was unsettled by their chance meeting. Her eyes were wide with shock and her mouth hung slightly open as she gasped audibly. The light from the lamp sung on her features, illuminating her dark curls. Slowly she met his gaze. For the second time he felt her dark eyes penetrating his soul, feeling around for what he was trying so hard to hide from the world. His secrets. The last time he had been in close proximity to her he had been too upset by his father to try to hide from her. But now he quickly built the walls around himself to keep her out. She knew too much about him already. Malfoy could tell the moment that she stopped searching; he could feel the tension leave his body. Her own body seemed to tense even more as if she knew that he was indeed hiding from her. He hated himself for cowering but it was all he could do at that moment to keep his emotions from exploding.

Before he even realized what he was doing, he was speaking to her in cold, harsh tones he usually reserved for those he thought beneath him. Now though he had no excuse. They both knew the truth. They were equals of a sort now that the news had broken about his true parentage, even if they were the only ones in on the secret. He was mildly surprised that she hadn't yet gone to the papers with the news. It certainly would be the greatest breaking story of recent history. Her name would be forever immortalized as the sole witness to the fall of the mighty Malfoy legacy. But, as it was, she hadn't told. That fact worried him almost as badly as what the truth would do if it got out. She held influence over him. That knowledge gave her a power greater than any magical ability ever could. She literally held his fate in her hands. With the hearing before the entire assembled Wizengamot only minutes away he couldn't help but wonder what she planned on doing. Knowing Granger she probably had her entire testimony written and every minute outlined. That was when he noticed the parchment. It was clamped tightly in her fist.

He watched immobilized as she turned back to the door in hopes of escaping. Something welled up inside of him. Standing quickly, the combination of nerves and confusion made him call out to her. He had to know. It was aching inside of him to find out if she planned on telling. The only way he would find the answers he sought was if she stayed. As much as he hated it he needed her to stay. He did the only thing he could think of doing in that moment. He begged.

"Please."

The sound of it was strange even to his own ears. Begging was not in his repertoire, but like so many things recently, he grudgingly admitted to the change.

She rotated slowly back to him, sufficiently confused by the sudden diversion of character.

He fully intended on being civil. But, before he could help himself the wrong words were leaving his lips. Words filled with malice and contempt and maybe just a little bit of fear. Mentally he berated himself for the childish regress, but still the words were pouring from him. Her eyes hardened to him but she remained where she was, refusing to give in. The hate was heavy between them as it had been since their childhood. It was much easier to revert to immature teasing than to illicit an angry response from her. It was childish, he knew, but it was all he was capable of.

She surprised him when she quietly negated his proclamation. She had no right! She couldn't do that, she had to allow him his hate. Hate was all he had left now. He was determined to cling to it for it was all he had that was his. His own name didn't even really belong to him. His home, his family, his entire existence was all a lie. But his hate was his own. The fact that Granger was probably the only ally he had in the world at the moment didn't matter. The fact that she could waltz into the hearing and charm the Wizengamot into sentencing him to a lifetime imprisonment in Azkaban wasn't enough to deter him.

And he deserved her hatred too. He had expected it, counted on it. And here she was declaring that she wasn't going to denounce him. His hate meant nothing if it wasn't reciprocated, because in his heart he truly didn't hate her. Not anymore. He didn't have enough emotion left for feelings that strong. He wanted to hate her, but...

He looked over at her then and realized that as he did so he was also asking why. He wasn't asking why she didn't plan on denouncing him, but rather why she didn't hate him. Why would she keep his secrets? Why did she seem to care? He wasn't Saint Potter or even that Weasley git. He had made it his sole objective to torment them and make their years at Hogwarts as miserable as his own were. And here she was taking up his cause like he was some bloody house-elf or something. That wouldn't do. He may not be a Malfoy or even a pureblood, but he certainly wasn't on the level with servant creatures.

But, the way she was looking at him, the way she was speaking to him now made him feel like he was nothing more than he was. For as long as he could remember everyone he knew or had ever come in contact with had spoken to him in reverence. They had made him feel like he was so much more than he really was; they practically sanctified him. Growing up with those pressures made him forget that he wasn't any better than everyone else. No wonder he was such a prat as a first year or even a fifth year for that matter. It had been so easy to assume he was better than everyone else because he was a pureblood. Granger was one of the first people that had ever taken him at face value and not made him up to be so much more than he was. And, when she found out that he was less than that she didn't treat him any differently. Maybe she was wearier of him now than she had been before. Hell, he would be weary of him too if he were in her shoes. But she still acted like he was nothing more or less than what he was. At least that was the same. In fact, it was the only thing that was the same.

Recognition of that fact stilled him, calmed him. When he met her eyes again the hatred he felt was not gone, but dormant. It was still there because he couldn't relinquish anything so quickly. But he had to admit, albeit grudgingly, that he couldn't feel for her what he used to. Not after everything that had happened. He was fairly confident she wouldn't discredit him now. If she planned on doing it she would have done it already. He couldn't admit to himself that her acknowledgment that she wouldn't say anything to sentence him was the true reason he felt himself safe. It was enough that he trusted her with this no matter what the reason.

"Granger, I..."

"Don't. It's alright, I understand. You don't have to say anything," she said, cutting him off quickly. She looked up at him unsure of what to say, absently biting her lip.

He nodded slowly and straightened his tie. He watched her mentally struggle with herself. He could practically see the wheels turning in her head before he heard her voice, quiet and unsure, calling out to him.

"So, are you staying at Hogwarts, then? I mean, I read that the Ministry is conducting a search of your house."

He hesitated slightly before replying, "Dumbledore asked me to stay at school for the rest of the summer or at least until this whole matter is settled."

She nodded, her suspicions confirmed. Since she had showed a modicum of concern for his whereabouts, he naturally felt obligated to return the sentiment. "I guess you'll be staying with the Weasley's until start of term." He had to swallow the contemptuous remarks he wanted to make about the state of their home.

It was new, talking to her without malice. Odd, but not terribly surprising considering the ordeal they had survived together. It seemed she was just as unsure about how to act around him as he was around her.

"After the hearing I'll be going to the Burrow with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. My parents won't get released from St. Mungo's for quite some time or so I'm told." She looked away from him as she spoke, her voice cracking. "The Weasley's are kind enough to let me stay with them for as long as is necessary."

He wanted to say something, to apologize. Guilt was killing him from the inside out. It was his fault. His and his father's. Her sympathy was confusing to him, giving him even more reason to feel responsible. But he was interrupted from having to come up with an adequate response by a light knock on a side door.

A clerk poked his head in. His face was round and soft. The man took notice of Granger and looked back at Malfoy quickly, surprise evident in his face. "The hearing will begin in five minutes, Mr. Malfoy, sir." As quickly as he was there he was gone.

Malfoy paused for a split second before crossing the room to the door eager to escape from Granger and the guilt that was choking him. This time however, it was her voice that called him back.

"Malfoy, wait." She looked up at him shyly as he turned back around. "I meant to give these to you earlier. I'm sorry I kept them for so long."

He watched her reach into the pocket of her robe and pull out a small package wrapped in white linen. She took a cautious step toward him. He purposefully walked the remaining distance and took the package from her. Their fingers brushed but he ignored it. She stepped back as soon as the package left her hands.

Slowly he unwound the linen. A small breath escaped his lips as his father's signet ring and the emerald encrusted dagger fell into his palm. He looked up at Granger and saw a multitude of emotions race across her face too quickly for him to name. They both looked down at his "would-be" murder weapon resting on his palm. Both items were cold in his hand and he was unsure what to do with them. Without glancing back up at her, he rewrapped them both in the cloth and tucked them away into the robe he had left draped across the arm of the chair. Carefully he donned the black garment and again adjusted his tie.

Not sure what words to use to convey his feelings, he nodded at her and turned to leave the room. He thought he heard the words, "good luck," whispered as he shut the door behind himself.

Unbeknownst to him, his own trial was held in the very same room as his adversary Harry Potter. Courtroom 10 was surrounded on all sides by dark, stone covered walls, the only light in the room seemed to come from torches equally spaced along them. The assembled members of the Wizengamot milled around high above him in their dark purple robes, an elegantly embroidered silver "W" distinguishing their status.

It appeared that the hearing had yet to start so he took the spare time to calmly collect his thoughts. Unlike Granger, Malfoy hadn't brought an assortment of notes to support himself with during his testimony. He'd have to rely on the good old Malfoy charm to sustain him. Several older witches stared down at him and were whispering behind their cupped hands much like the women in the Atrium had after his arrest. He winked at them. A giggle floated back down to him in response. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. It appeared that he already had the support of the female Elders.

All at once, Amelia Bones strode into the upper portion of the Courtroom. She cleared her throat and ushered the members of the Wizengamot reluctantly to their seats. The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, had yet to make his appearance as did Dumbledore. Granger wasn't allowed in until it came time for her testimony. Suddenly the doors swung open and Fudge sauntered into the upper portion of the courtroom followed closely by another red-haired Weasley git. But, Fudge's desire for a grand entrance was undermined by Dumbledore who chose that very next moment to show up. Instead of going up into the upper level, Dumbledore walked calmly into the bottom portion. Dumbledore ignored Malfoy for a moment and concentrated on greeting several Elders who had already taken their seats. A few smiled and waved openly, the others looked cautiously toward the Minister before calling out a greeting in return.

Fudge it seemed was taking Dumbledore's action extremely personally and looked near apoplectic. He sputtered and turned toward Weasley, violently shaking his arms. Weasley shook his head in response and quickly took his seat. Fudge reluctantly sat down beside him and glared down at Dumbledore. Dumbledore, on the other hand, spent the next few seconds smiling and winking at various Elders completely oblivious to Fudge's anger or else rather blatantly ignoring him.

Finally Dumbledore turned towards Malfoy and gestured toward the single chair sitting in the center of the room. The manacles adorning the arms sat silent and eagerly awaiting an occupant. Feigning indifference, Malfoy strode toward the chair and sat down. Dumbledore conjured a chair next to Malfoy's and also sat. With the entire Wizengamot now in order and the defendant and his counsel at the ready, Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement called the hearing to order.

The Court Scribe feverishly attempted to keep up with Madame Bones as she addressed Malfoy. "Mr. Malfoy, you have been summoned to this court today because serious allegations regarding the kidnap of one, Hermione Granger, a muggleborn witch of your year at Hogwarts, and the subsequent murder of your father have come to our attention. We must also take into account that Ms. Granger's parents, both Muggles, were gravely injured in the attack on her home and are currently being housed at St. Mungo's Hospital until they are fit to be released." She gazed down at him, her eyes narrowing behind the glass monocle resting on the bridge of her nose before continuing. "As far as anyone knows, only you, your father, and Ms. Granger were in the underground chamber at Malfoy Manor at the time of your father's untimely death." She sneered as she said that last bit and went on to say, "The court must also be made aware that Lucius Malfoy and several of his 'colleagues' escaped from Azkaban prison shortly after being arrested and tried for being supporters of You-Know-Who."

"What exactly are you insinuating?!" came Malfoy's quick reply.

Dumbledore put a hand out to still the young man and calmly looked back up at the Wizengamot before speaking up for his pupil. "Madame Bones, young Mr. Malfoy certainly cannot be held accountable for the actions of his father and his father's associates. The purpose of this trial is not to convict Mr. Malfoy of becoming a Death Eater but to clear the charge of murder from his name."

He had spoken clearly and without pageantry. Madame Bones hesitated before briskly nodding her head. "Mr. Malfoy, I do hope you will forgive me. In no way did I intend to imply that the actions of your father are in any way indicative of the way you have acted." She turned toward the Elders and addressed them. "The Elders will please strike the association between the late Mr. Malfoy and his son from their conclusion of a verdict."

Malfoy could see the witches and wizards nodding in agreement. He settled more comfortably in his chair and gazed back up at Madame Bones arrogantly as she addressed him again. "Mr. Malfoy, could you explain for the court how Ms. Granger wound up at your residence?"

He glanced at Dumbledore quickly but not letting on that he wasn't sure how to proceed. Dumbledore minutely nodded his head indicating that Malfoy should speak candidly.

"It has always been my father's wish that I follow in his footsteps, so to speak." He spoke confidently and looked directly at Madame Bones. "As many of you know, my father can be... quite persuasive when it comes to getting what he wants," he singled out the women that had giggled at him earlier and put on the perfect face of innocence as he spoke. "When he initially came to me with the plan, I knew that there was no way that my father would take no for an answer."

"So, you agreed to go along with the plan?"

"Indeed I had no choice. Many of you knew my father, certainly someone here can attest to his manipulative persuasion? Minister Fudge?" he asked innocently. The Minister's eyes widened in shock but he didn't immediately deny the veiled accusation.

Madame Bones' eyebrow quirked and she appeared to stifle a snort before resuming her questioning. "Mr. Malfoy, could you please tell us how Ms. Granger came to be at your residence at the time of your father's death?"

"She came with my father and myself by means of an illegal portkey he had arranged specifically for the occasion."

"And what, Mr. Malfoy, were your father's intentions with Ms. Granger?"

He paused a moment before answering, "He wanted me to kill her."

The Elders erupted with questions and comments, all battling to be heard. Madame Bones raised her arms for quiet and they slowly restrained themselves and settled back down. All eyes were on him as she calmly continued the interrogation.

"Could you elaborate on your last statement please?"

"He wanted me to kill her for part of my initiation." He was speaking quietly and tried very hard to control the wording he used before it escaped his lips.

But, he waited too long before continuing and Madame Bones gently prodded him onward. "Do you mean as part of your initiation as a member of the Death Eaters?"

"Yes. It was his wish that I join him in support of the Dark Lord."

"As Ms. Granger is still alive and your father is not, I would assume that it would be safe to say that you did not acquiesce to his demands." Her monocle had dropped from her eye and hung on a delicate gold chain as she waited for his response.

"I did not."

The whispering resumed and Madame Bones quieted the Elders again with an irritated wave of her hand. "How then, Mr. Malfoy, did your father come to be dead if neither you nor Ms. Granger killed him?"

This time he looked back at Dumbledore before answering. Again the Headmaster nodded his head. Malfoy looked back up at Madame Bones. "Naturally my father was angry that I refused to comply with his demands. But, I couldn't do it; I couldn't go through with it." He couldn't help but relive that horrible morning during his testimony. He tried, but couldn't keep the fear from creeping out into his voice. It was small and quiet when he spoke again. "He came at me, cursing. He tried to use the Killing curse on me." The gasps from the Elders were audible and for the third time Madame Bones had to restrain them. She nodded her head, urging him to continue. Malfoy regained control of his emotions and went on. "He almost had it out but something happened. He fell over wheezing and... I don't know what happened. He just died."

Madame Bones asked him if anything else had happened. His response was that there had been nothing else. She then called for Granger to be brought forth and to give her testimony.

The side door opened and Granger was admitted to the room. She looked genuinely nervous as she made her way forward. The law enforcement officer left her standing off to the side of the courtroom. She glanced quickly at Dumbledore and up at Fudge before fumbling with her papers. Madame Bones addressed her quickly, asking her to confirm that the late Mr. Malfoy and his son had been involved in her kidnap and the assault on her parents.

"It appeared to me that Mr. Malfoy led the attack. Malfoy stayed in the back while they attacked my parents." She was speaking quickly, her nerves apparent.

"By 'Malfoy,' do you mean Lucius Malfoy or Draco Malfoy, the young man on trial today?" Madame Bones spoke softly.

"Draco, Draco Malfoy stood behind his father and the others." She made a face as if the memories were too vivid in her mind.

Madame Bones' voice was startled as she asked, "There were others? Did you recognize them or know who they were?"

Granger looked over at him quickly, her thoughts rapidly crossing her face before responding, "I couldn't tell who they were. They all wore masks over their faces."

Madame Bones looked disappointed by the lack of information, but continued in her questioning. "Was it obvious what the late Mr. Malfoy's intentions were regarding your life once you had reached Malfoy Manor?"

"He wanted me dead if that's what you mean."

"And, how exactly did he plan on achieving that goal?"

Again she looked over at him, confusion and stress evident on her face. "He wanted his son to do it. But, Malfoy, I mean Draco Malfoy that is, said 'no.' He said that he wouldn't do it. And then his father got very upset. He attacked him. Malfoy was quite badly beaten."

The entire assembled Wizengamot turned to him, their eyes wide with shock. Madame Bones looked at him and asked if it were true. He nodded his head but didn't say anything. She turned back to Granger. "What happened next? What happened after Mr. Malfoy stopped beating his son?"

"He asked Draco to try again, but he again said 'no.' That's when he, Mr. Malfoy, tried to use the Killing Curse on him." Madame Bones gestured for her to continue. "He fell over before he could get it all out, the curse I mean."

"What happened next, Ms. Granger?"

She didn't look at him this time. She looked straight up at the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, the Minister of Magic, and the entire Wizengamot and said, "Nothing. He died right after. Then the Aurors showed up."

"Thank you, Ms. Granger, that will be all." She gestured toward the guard who escorted Granger back through the door leading the small antechamber.

Madame Bones looked back down at him before calling the Elders to order. One of the guards took his wand from him and it was tested for Priori Incantato. Since the last spell cast had been a simple packing charm, it was declared that he couldn't have cast the Killing Curse to murder his father. A sixth year student wouldn't have the knowledge anyway to cast such a curse, or such was the consensus of the Elders. It was put to the vote, and Malfoy was cleared of the charges.

He stood to leave, eager to get back to his temporary residence at Hogwarts, but Madame Bones called out to him again.

"Mr. Malfoy, before you go, would you be so kind as to give us the names of the other people involved in the kidnapping?"