𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐀 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐘𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄

Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen: To Hope

Draco didn't wake.

They were celebrating. Word carried faster than anyone had expected and before long, the grounds were covered by journalists and curious youngsters and disbelieving elders that needed to see the proof.

However, the body was quickly whisked away so those prying eyes didn't see anything the Ministry didn't want them to see. The dead and the injured were rushed to the Hall, where they were catalogued if dead and treated to if injured.

Those who hadn't participated in the fight were turned away at the doors. Before midday, a large group had congregated; bottles of alcohol hidden in their robes (or blatantly in their hands if they'd had enough to sample already). It had started to look like the Quidditch World Cup or some sort of Muggle music festival.

For this very reason, Aurors and members of the Order were told to stay inside the castle. Floos were cut off but relatives - especially the parents of the students in Dumbledore's Army - were allowed in as special cases. Tents were pitched, reporters were ready, shifting with every silhouette that passed by the windows. The silhouettes, however, provided entertainment for the alcohol-influenced youngsters who figured any shadow could have been that of their saviour.

Their saviour, however, was missing. He'd long singe locked himself in in Draco's room, waiting for night to fall so his love would wake.

Draco didn't wake by eleven in the morning.

Remus disappeared for a short time. When he returned, it was without Teddy and with a silver wisp or two in a vial. He requested an audience with the Order and the Minister and wouldn't say why until it was granted.

So they assembled in Dumbledore's former office, Scrimgeour looking not-so-pleased that he was being dragged to the castle - he apparently wanted to be there for the world's greatest autopsy. Nevertheless, he gave the war hero (they were war heroes now) the attention he wanted and was genuinely shocked by his presentation

It was Remus' plea to see that Severus was innocent.

"I know that none of us want to believe it - he killed Albus - but I promise you, it wasn't his choice. I have his memories as proof."

And with that, he added the wisp to the Pensieve and took them with him into the memory.

It didn't take long for Minerva to cave. She watched the conversation, Albus' consent and Severus' unhappiness. Scrimgeour was forced to admit he could see what Severus had done what was asked of him - it was euthanasia, not murder.

"I want you to see this, too." He dragged them through to the next memory.

They were following Severus. He was running away from the largest snake any of them had ever seen. Doors were shut in a hurry and the snake was locked out. They watched as he got Draco out of the manor, at the risk of his own life and they saw how he got Draco through to Hogwarts. Scrimgeour wasn't pleased at all that Remus and Harry had kept the secret.

They watched as Harry and Remus figured it out.

"If you take him to trial, both Harry and I will fight against you." They left the memories. "Furthermore, to prove my faith in him, I'll have you know I've left Teddy with him."

Gasps came from Molly, Minerva and Tonks. Despite everything that had happened during the day, that shocked Remus the most. It was the first time he'd seen Tonks react to their child's life.

"I'll have to clear it. He'll be charged with Dumbledore's murder but not as a Death Eater," Scrimgeour decided and left as sour as he'd arrived.

By one, when they'd catalogued the dead, Draco hadn't woken.