Project 137.43.M.D.

XLVII. | OMNI MODO FACTURUS

XLVII.
OMNI MODO FACTURUS
(criminal intention)

He had changed his running track.

Now that the August heat was at its peak, there was no point in jogging along the banks of the River Thames, as there was little protection from the sun, which was relentlessly scorching everything and everyone.

Instead, Draco had searched for a suitable alternative and finally discovered a little park near his apartment that was ideal for his purposes. There he could run in the shade of tall oaks and elms, and he didn't even mind that it was a Muggle park and therefore constantly full of strollers, tourists and their screaming children.

All of that was meaningless since he had left Hermione's apartment, because she had called him Draco again - and this time not under the guise of unbridled lust. He, on the other hand, had actually said her first name aloud for the very first time ever. And then she had kissed him. Just like that. At that moment, Draco had been certain that her entire behavior from the night before had been just a protective mechanism. Although he hadn't dared to ask her about it, his heart had lightened a little at the realization.

Oddly enough, he felt more than fine ever since. For the first time since his memory had been restored. Probably even for the first time since his conviction.

Draco didn't share the concerns Hermione had about Parkinson and the retrial. In fact, he couldn't care less. The only thing that mattered to him right now was her. His name out of her mouth. Her hand in his. Her kisses. It was unexpected and maybe a bit silly, but there it was.

A secret smile crept onto his lips as he completed the final meters of his lap. He shifted to a slower pace and finally stopped, taking a deep breath and allowing his heartbeat to settle into a more comfortable rhythm.

And then it happened.

His attacker made no noise, so Draco was surprised when suddenly a silhouette appeared in the dense undergrowth in front of which he had been taking his breather.

Instinctively he took several steps backwards, but the brief moment of shock delayed his reactions. He quickly looked around. There was no one there. The path that ended at the gate Draco had intended to use to leave the park was surprisingly empty. There had to be a Muggle Repelling Charm on this section. He had been so distracted by his thoughts of Hermione that he hadn't even noticed, even though he usually had to dodge countless people while running.

Draco gasped at the next realization, namely that he wouldn't be able to defend himself at all. He didn't have a wand. But the person in the bushes did.

"Stupefy," the unknown attacker hissed, what left Draco literally stunned.

***

Once again, Hermione scurried through the DMLE's public archives, but this time it wasn't Draco's file she was looking for. Thanks to its extensive censorship it was of no use anyway. Instead, she now turned into the corridor with the general records of all Wizengamot trials.

1996, 1997, 1998. Hermione stopped and frowned at the endless series of carefully sorted documentation volumes. Five of them alone contained information about the trials in May 1998. There were another seven for the trials in June.

It was, of course, no surprise. The Wizengamot had seldom faced so many proceedings and convictions in such a short time as after the Battle of Hogwarts. Despite this knowledge, she muttered impatiently to herself and snatched up the first two volumes of the May records.

She didn't find anything in the first volume. In order to be more logical, she skipped the second entirely and went straight to the third. Draco had been the 43rd convict from the Death Eater ranks and his trial had taken place on May 15th. Of course, there had been a few other normal proceedings besides the Death Eater trials, so the documentation of his trial had to be somewhere in the middle.