The Lost Potter-Draco Malfoy

Chapter 37 ✔️

Charlotte-

We spent the next couple of weeks at the Grimmulad place. Harry and I helped get the place clean for all of us to live in, thanks to Sirius who wouldn't even open the door to this place for the last 12 years. The trial was the next day, and Dumbledore asked to meet with us in the kitchen, without my brother. 

"As you know, Harry's trial is tomorrow- "Dumbledore said.

"He can't lose, it would go against several rules that the ministry has created," Mum breathed, cutting Dumbledore off.

"You're right, Mrs. Potter, it would. But the ministry thinks Harry is lying. The paper has been slaughtering Harry's name, so the Ministry is not going to want to let Harry win this case easily."

"Then what do we do?" Dad asked. He had a hard expression on his face. He seemed to always have a hard expression on his face these past couple of weeks. 

"James, tomorrow bring both Harry and Charlotte to the ministry. I want Charlotte to be our surprise witness." 

"But I'm his sister. Would they even take my testimony seriously?" I asked, they could easily think that I could lie for my brother. 

"They will have to believe you. Be honest, sincere, and truthful, and they will have to believe you." Dumbledore said, he looked me straight in the eye, wanting me to see how serious he is. I nodded in response, wanting him to know that I was taking his words to heart.  

"You think we have a chance at winning?" Mum asked, Dumbledore nodded his white head. 

"I do. Even if the witness is Harry's sister, we also have James that can testify. He's very well respected at the ministry. They cannot ignore a top Auror telling you this has happened, many of the members will believe you." Mum looked at her hands, her shoulders still tense, still worried. 

"Don't worry, I won't let Harry be expelled from my school," Dumbledore said. Mum and Dad both visibly looked more relieved at Dumbledore's words. 

"Right, I must leave. I don't want to stay here long." Dumbledore rose from his chair. I knew he was trying to avoid Harry, our meetings were very brief, and taken place early in the morning before everyone else woke up. I'm sure I was going to have dark circles thanks to this later today. Lilliana stumbled in, bumping right into Dumbledore, her eyes very heavy, and half asleep. Her blond roots were gone now, dyed black just like the rest of her hair. 

"Oh, I'm sorry Professor Dumbledore, I'm just so tired after my turn at guarding the prophecy." Liliana yawned; she rubbed her eyes walking towards the dinner table where I was sitting.  Dumbledore chuckled, dipped his head and vanished from the kitchen. 

"Would you like some coffee?" Mum asked, Lilliana sat down next to me, nodded. 

"Yes, please. I have to work after this. I'm going to crash tonight." Mum stood up and poured her a cup of coffee. I stared at Lilliana Malfoy, there was still shock that no one had even breathed her name before this summer. Not even my boyfriend. 

"So, Lilliana, you don't believe what your parents do, do you?" I couldn't help but ask. 

"I wouldn't be here if I do." Lilliana shrugged. She answered so casually that I guessed a hundred of people had asked her that before.

"Have you spoken to your family? Since you left, I mean." I asked, my mother handed her a glass of coffee. Lilliana grabbed the cup of coffee with both hands, closing her eyes and inhaling the scent of coffee.  

"Not since I left Hogwarts, and that was six years ago." I grabbed a chocolate chip cookie off the table and bit into it, whipping the crumbs that fell on my lap. 

"What about Draco?" Lilliana smiled, her eyes flying open. 

"It's interesting you say that since he started writing me letters since his third year." She met my gaze, her eyes sparkling with a knowing glint.

"He has told me very much." I looked over at my parents, trying to fight off the blush I could feel coming. My parents were whispering next to the stove about my brother's trial. 

"Much?"

"Much."

"I-um... that's good. I don't know Malfoy that well, I mean." I shrugged but Lilliana laughed into her mug, only making me lose the battle with my blush. My face was probably beat red. 

"Really?" Lilliana asked.

"Really."

"I feel like they are talking about something we're not understanding," I heard Dad whispered to Mum, he always failed to whisper. 

"I think Charlotte likes Draco." Mum whispered even louder. Lilliana sipped her coffee and shrugged.

"No! No, she can no-"

"Keep your voice down or they will hear you," They started whispering the only words I could ever hear between the two were 'NO,' 'deatheater,' 'Why not Fred?' This morning could not get more embarrassing. 

"What are they talking about?" I wondered out loud. 

"Don't know. I do know what Draco tells me." Lilliana shrugged a shoulder. 

"So, Draco really told you everything," I asked.

"I feel like I know you more than I know anyone else here, cause he talks about you in like what? Every single letter. Charlotte did this. She told me this. She likes this. What will I get her for Christmas next year?" I smiled sheepishly.

"You knew him before you came here. He was mean and cruel, and yet you still chose to like him. Why?" 

"I don't know why, I didn't at first." I decided that the conversation had drifted far too much about me. I wanted to talk about her.

"So, what did you do after you left? You needed somewhere to stay?" Lilliana smiled.

"I went to Sirius, knocked on his apartment, and I told him everything. He stared at me for what felt like two minutes, and then said, come on in."

"You still live with him?"

"Nah, I moved out. When I started making money, I didn't want Sirius to spend on both of us any longer," Lilliana said, her eyes drooping again.

"Lilliana, why don't you go rest for the day? I'll take your shift. I don't mind." Dad said, he got to the table in two long strides, and grabbed the coffee cup from her, ending the conversation, and the questions I was going to ask her. 

"No, I don't want to be a bother, I'll be fine-"

"No, I insist. You can't even keep your head up anymore."

"If you insist, then I'm going to bed!" She stood up, the chair scratching the kitchen table. I decided that Lilliana Malfoy was just like Peter. A mistake that happened because of me, because I came back to change the events of the war. But these two mistakes were more than mistakes, they were people that deserved better lives.