Mine

[54]

Tuesday morning I came downstairs dressed and ready for work, making my way into the kitchen and smiling brightly at my mother. "Good morning!" I said, going straight for the coffee pot.

I poured some coffee into my mug, turning to find my mother standing on the other side of the kitchen island, staring at me.

"What?" I asked, my smile faltering slightly from the grave expression etched onto her face and the unidentifiable look in her eyes.

"Gemma," She said quietly, placing her mug down on the countertop.

"Mum, what is it? You're worrying me." I said, placing my mug down as well.

"Draco's trial is today." My mother said quietly.

My smile dropped completely from my face as I stared blankly at my mother, trying to process what she had just said. "He...Draco is back?" I asked, my voice coming out tight. My mother just nodded her head slowly, her eyes carefully watching me. "Why didn't anybody tell me?"

"Your father only told me just this morning. I think they were just brought in." My mother said.

"Brought in from where? Are his parents on trial too? Wait – why didn't dad tell me?" I asked, my questions shooting out quickly.

My mother sighed, raising her hand to her forehead, and rubbing her temples. "Your father left for work early today when he was notified. From what he briefly told me, it sounds like they were found, and Draco and his father will be held on trial just like other Death eaters have been."

"I need to be there." I mumbled, more so to myself than to my mother.

"Wait! Do you want me to come with you?" My mother called out as I began to rush out of the kitchen.

"No," I called back. I basically ran up the stairs, frantically shoving my feet into my shoes. I didn't have much time to think, I just knew that I needed to be there.

* * *

When I got to the Ministry of Magic, I went straight to the floor that trials were held on. There were swarms of people standing in the hallway outside of the courtroom. I barely caught fractures of conversations, most notably recognizing that they were speaking about Lucius Malfoy and how his trial had gone. I realized that Lucius Malfoy had already been tried, his hearing having recently ended. They clearly must have started early today. The idea made me uneasy. They were desperate to get this over with.

People started heading back into the courtroom, indicating that the next trial was about to begin. I followed suit, pushing past some people so that I could get towards the front. I found a spot in the second row, towards the center.

The minister, Kingsley Shacklebolt, was seated up top and called out for silence once the traffic of incoming people had slowed down. My eyes were trained on the minister, my stomach twisting in such a way I thought I might be sick if I didn't focus on my breathing. I saw his mouth moving, but I couldn't register any of his words because then there he was.

Draco.

He was led out by an auror, being shoved down into the seat set centered before the panel of witches and wizards that made up the Wizengamot. I stared at the back of his head, his platinum blonde hair disheveled. I hadn't even realized that I had forgotten to breathe until someone sat down beside me and whispered something to me.

I snapped my eyes to my right, seeing Blaise having taken the spot next to me. "Gemma," He said softly, his voice trying to soothe me. I must have looked like I'd seen a ghost. It felt like I had.