The Malfoy Project

𝟏𝟎𝟒 - 𝐓𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐡

They say when you witness an explosion from a distance, it is the light you first see. So bright and blinding that you don't quite understand what is happening. Then the sound follows, ripping through the air like a scream — and by then, it's already too late. It is in this manner of witnessing an explosion that I can recall, with perfect clarity, everything else that happened after. 

I was not put in handcuffs, but escorted, very sternly and solemnly, out of the castle by five Aurors and Professor Sprout, who had been summoned at once from her holiday in Greece. She had shown up still in her sundress and smelling of margaritas, sputtering and complaining. "My students couldn't have done anything like this," she insisted. "It's impossible, quite impossible of my Hufflepuffs!" 

Of course, they needed only to look at Draco Malfoy to believe her.   

Three young Ravenclaws, of the few who had to remain at Hogwarts over the holidays, watched our sorry procession through the hallways with their mouths agape. The moment we were away from the castle and the prying eyes of its students, I was promptly Apparated to the Ministry of Magic. Professor Sprout had insisted on coming with us but was promptly stopped by the Aurors. "She needs an adult to go with her!" Sprout tried to argue, but they explained that it was not necessary since I was considered an adult. I would understand too late why they had not wanted her chaperoning the interviews. 

When we arrived at the Ministry, we did not use the main entrance, but one I presumed specifically for Aurors bringing in persons of interest. I, flanked by two young Aurors, who couldn't have been more than two years older than me, marched quietly and hurriedly down a long, dark corridor toward what seemed to be a flat stone wall. As we approached, the wall split open to reveal the inside of a lift with no operator. The lift worked as efficiently and quietly as we had entered it. There was no jostling about or erratic turns. In fact, it felt as if we barely moved until the doors opened and I found myself looking right into the Auror office.

I was brought to a corner and made to sit for hours — this time literally — while the two junior Aurors watched over me. Aurors bustled around the office, holding mugs with self-stirring spoons and chatting about their upcoming holiday. Everyone was acting busy, not knowing one of the biggest lights in my life had just been blown out. 

What a waste of time and resources to have two Aurors watch over a wandless witch, ourselves surrounded by dozens of other Aurors. I would've laughed if it didn't feel like I would never smile again. Having been awake for more than twenty-four hours, I barely had the energy to cry. But worse than the lack of sleep are the memories that looped over and over in my mind, waking nightmares with no end.

The horrible image of Ernie's body on the floor was emblazoned on the backs of my eyes. Had it only just been a year ago that he had been helping me with homework? Ernie might've been a cheeky devil, but he'd always been ahead of our classmates. He would make Hannah and me sit at the stiff study desks instead of on the couches by the fire — he insisted good posture helps with concentration — and go through each charm and potion recipe until we had them at our fingertips.

And there was that time when he started spending a lot of time with Cheryl Leanne from Ravenclaw. When he began to buy Cheryl sweets and little gifts from Hogsmeade and giving them to her paired with little scribbled notes, we were convinced he was madly in love. Until it was revealed that Cheryl's parents had disowned her for being queer, and that she had been depressed for years. Ernie had known all along (he wouldn't tell us how), and striven to do everything he could to be her friend when she had none.

I could still picture the moonlight on his face that night in Greenhouse Seven. When I, a flaming ball of anger, had hurled vitriol and frustration at him which he never returned. I remember the feeling of being embraced in his spindly arms, and dancing in them. There had been whispers about our intimacy, which sometimes ruined Ernie's chances with other girls. Yet, he never once begrudged me a hug or word of affection because despite how well of a front I put up, he knew how deeply afraid I was of Montague, of life, of my future. He had always known so much about people without being told.