Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows but if Draco was less horridly stupid

Draco being less stupid for once in his miserable life

Notes:

So just to let everyone know, I may or may not have accidentally mashed the movie and the books into my brain and only realized 3000 words in so lets just pretend Harry manages to get away from old voldy alrighty? (Sorry)

Oh and I took a LOT of dialogue from the book later because I didn't remember basically any of it but it has a lot of special Draco comments on it so I hope you don't mind rereading some of those bits 😭

Sorry if I got anything wrong too I was looking up most of this as I don't remember shit from the books cause I read them when I was ten lmao but I binge watched the movies last night and realized they didn't give Draco a redemption arc :(((((((

"Anyone who wishes to join us may step forward now." Voldemort cried, Harry Potter had just been declared dead, the entire student body was a mess, looking as if they were to give up.

After all that, Harry Potter was dead in Hagrid's arms.

Lucius Malfoy and his wife Narcissa Malfoy began to beckon their son over, already death eaters themselves and Draco held the mark of one. He practically almost killed Dumbledore and was surely much too worried for his parent's well-being to disobey.

Or so they believed.

They called... but Draco stood firm. His head raised high and he appeared to be looking down his nose at everyone per usual but... this time it held some sort of sick genuine loyalty. Something that seemed to shock everyone including The Dark Lord himself.

"Hm... I'm disappointed in you Draco, I thought your father would be the last disappointment in your family but I was wrong as it seems." Lord Voldemort seemed much unbothered despite the clear looks of horror and anger displayed on Lucius and Narcissa's faces.

Draco swallowed, he was terrified. Despite everything he always found himself feeling this way, he loved his parents but if he was going to die, which he will eventually, it might as well be on the side against being in constant fear which he so despised.

Despite his terror he took a step towards his supposed master, he shoved all his fear and shame deep down so he could speak. "I've had enough of doing what everyone tells me to. I've had enough of the box I've always been forced to fit into because of my parent's insolence. I've had enough of being and thinking the same way as my father. I am my own person and I will die my own person."

Crabbe stood with his mouth open in shock like the buffoon usually would, he grabbed him and whispered "Are you out of your mind?!"

Draco shoved him off of him, "If you want to join him so bad, why don't you then?!" Crabbe almost shrunk when Draco spoke to him like that, so frustrated.

Crabbe immediately shut up and slunk away from Draco, too pussy to do anything about it. Draco can't help but roll his eyes at the pathetic display.

"Hmm... How... disappointing. I will deal with your parents later." Lord Voldemort decrees causing a few gasps from the more intelligent of the lot figuring out Draco was basically being blackmailed.

Despite them being his parents he can't help but feel they got themselves into this and in turn got Draco involved which in general caused a lot of trauma that could have been avoided.

Besides... after Harry Potter of all people saved him and Crabbe from the Fiendfyre that Goyle created, he kind of owed him something at least. He could and should have just let Draco burn, he would have deserved it and it may have spared his parents if he had just died instead of... this.

What was done was done.

Neville stepped forward.

Plain, clumsy, awkward, Neville Longbottom.