Drarry : A Snake Life

Chapter 31 - Confession

July 1998, seven months earlier, at the Ministry of Magic

"Your brother fought during the Battle of Hogwarts and died honourably. He was a very young wizard, but he was courageous. We're giving you the Medal of Bravery on his behalf. This is little comfort considering his sacrifice, but the Ministry hopes it will help you remembering his courage and what he did for the Wizarding World."

Young Dennis Creevey took the box that the Minister was handing him. In the box, on a crimson piece of velvet was a large coin of gold.

"This is... little comfort indeed" Dennis said in a broken voice, touching the medal with his index finger.

Kingsley gave him a smile full of compassion and put his hand on Dennis shoulder. He pressed it once.

Dennis went out of the room and slumped onto a bench in the corridor. At that moment, he didn't really pay attention to the person sitting at the other extremity of the bench. He had other things in mind.

He sighed.

His older brother was everything to him. They used to spend all of their time together, even if they weren't the same age. Dennis was proud he fought during the war, but now he was alone. Colin and him had a plan: becoming Aurors together. How was he supposed to carry on without him?

Dennis sat backwards and his skull hit the wall softly. His eyes stopped on 'Have you seen this wizard?' poster in front of him. The face of Lucius Malfoy made him wince. After the war, Malfoy disappeared into thin air and the Ministry offered a reward to anyone who would give information about him.

The young boy felt a sour taste in his mouth. This Death Eater was alive and free, whereas his brother, who was on the good side, died. He gritted his teeth.

"There is no justice" he muttered. Then he realised that the person who was also sitting on the other end of the bench had said the exact same thing.

He looked up and recognised Gregory Goyle almost immediately. The two boys looked at each others in surprise. What was he doing here?

Dennis glimpsed at what Goyle was holding. It was a long parchment with a red stamp across it that said 'denied'. He also saw the name of Goyle's father on it and he understood that the Slytherin boy had tried to appeal the Ministry decision. And he failed, apparently.

The trial of Goyle's dad was a month ago, Dennis had read his name in the newspaper. The Death Eater had been sentenced to a life-long imprisonment into Azkaban. The Slytherin boy was certainly resentful to see that his father was in jail, but not Lucius Malfoy.

Goyle's eyes fell on the medal that the Gryffindor kept in his hand and gave him an odd, similar look. Dennis understood that Goyle probably also knew why he was here. They stared at each other for a long time, but remained silent for a while.

"Tough day" Dennis finally let out.

"Yes."

They paused.

"Especially when you see that the law is not the same for everyone" Goyle spitted, waving towards Lucius Malfoy poster.

Dennis nodded ; after a few seconds, the Slytherin teared the parchment he was holding. He stood up and left.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1st of September, Platform Nine and Three-Quarter

Dennis put his luggage into the train. His mood was slightly better, he was happy to go back to Hogwarts. Not only could he see his friends again, but he could escape from his house. His mom was sinking deeper and deeper into depression and his dad was barely home... He was walking along the platform when he saw Goyle. Already sitting in a compartment of the train, he was with Malfoy, Zabini and Parkinson. Even if he was tagging along with his childhood friend, he looked dull.