The Marriage Decree

Chapter 151: I Have No Further Questions, Mr Malfoy

A few minutes later, Shacklebolt calls everyone to be quiet so the trial can proceed.

Graham Goldman takes to the floor again, a sterner expression on his face, unsettling Draco. He's had many run-ins with this lawyer over the past few years. Despite Goldman not succeeding in sending Draco to Azkaban, like his father, they had reached an agreement since he helped put twenty-one other Death Eaters away.

"Good morning, Mr Malfoy," Goldman greets him.

"Good morning, sir," Draco politely replies.

"How are you this morning?"

Draco glances at Theo, who gently nods for him to answer.

"All things considered, I'm happy to be here."

"What do you mean by 'all things considered'?" Goldman asks, looking at him for the first time.

"Well, we've had a lot going on at work this year so far that has caused quite a bit of stress. Then, on top of all that, I've had this trial to prepare for, which has been difficult, but it's nothing new. I think this is the twenty-third case I've testified in," Draco admits.

"You would be correct. Over the past three years, you've proved to be a great asset to my law firm regarding Death Eaters," Goldman agrees.

"Thank you, sir."

"At your father's trial, you told me you only wanted to testify against him to protect your mother, correct?"

"As the war raged on, my father's fear of the-" Draco pauses. "His fear of You-Know-Who developed into insanity, which made him more dangerous. It was my father who offered up our home to the Death Eaters. He brought that man into the only place my mother and I felt safe. I saw how sick my mother grew with fear and knew I would protect her from my father when given the opportunity."

"Why did you then choose to testify against so many Death Eaters?"

"I'm the first to admit that I'm a selfish man. I didn't testify against them for the good of the world. I needed something from the Minister and knew he would only agree if I had something to give him in return," Draco answers truthfully.

"Objection," the Chief Warlock calls out.

"That's not your decision, sir," Goldman states, then moves on. "What was it you want from the Minister?"

"Access to the Department of Registration's Archives."

"Did you receive the access?"

Draco smiles. "Did I testify in those twenty-one trials?"

Goldman chuckles, "You did. What were you looking for in the archives?"

"That information is private."

"You are under oath to tell the truth," Goldman reminds him.

"I didn't lie."

"Mr Malfoy, it sounds like you have something to hide."

"I do have something to hide."

"Well, that's suspicious. I'm sure it's in your best interest to let the Wizengamot know your reasoning for wanting access to our Ministerial Archives," Goldman pushes.

This topic had not come up while he was preparing for the trial with Theo. Draco stares up at his wife, silently asking for her permission. Reluctantly, she nods her head.

Draco sighs, hoping Sophie and her friends aren't listening to the trial proceedings on the radio. "My wife's uncle had been conducting research on his family tree. I had taken a look and recognised a name similar to someone from the wizarding world. The name was the mother of his child, who had abandoned them when their child was two weeks old. My wife was reluctant to believe they were the same person, so I required access to the Archives to check if this woman was the mother of my wife's cousin."