Draco and Harry walked down the sleek, black tiled hallways of the ministry. The dim lights portrayed a harsher, more pointed look on the men's faces. The day was here to face the Malfoys, face the possibility of sending them to their demises, face the possibility that things were changing, and changing fast.
Draco looked severe in his completely black suit with black turtleneck shirt. The only pop of color on him was a few pewter rings and the silver chain that connected to his pocket watch. His ice blonde hair slicked back neatly, grey eyes stormy and vacant. Focused on not letting the turmoil within him be shown on his face, in his mannerisms, his body language.
Harry dressed similarly, a black suit with a deep maroon button up. Slight stubble dotting his face, making his cheekbones seem sharper. Hair tousled about as always; magic wasn't even able to calm those tresses down.
The men walked in silence behind Headmistress McGonagal and Tinsley Prewett, the liaison of criminal justice for the ministry. The case was beginning soon, but as assured, McGonagal was able to get Draco some time to meet with his parents beforehand.
The silent group walked briskly, turning left and into the further more part of the department of the Wizengamot, rapidly approaching the room that the Malfoy's were being held in. Draco's heart began beating quickly, the pound of blood rushing through his head, distracting him but also reminding him of what was about to transpire. Harry reached out and grabbed Draco's hand, squeezing it reassuredly, a grounding measure that helped Draco take a breath.
"Well, here we are. Through that warded door are Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy. There are wards on the outside and inside to keep them contained. They will not be able to move much or do anything to put you into harm as you are in there. However, there is an enchantment to mirage the window in there so that we can look in and monitor. Something we learned from the muggles. Are you ready sir?" Tinsley gestured to the door, not giving Draco much of a choice on the matter regardless.
"I suppose so.." Before Draco could step closer, Harry grabbed his arm and pulled him into a hug. "You'll be okay, Dray. And we will be right here if you need us. Alright?"
Draco smiled, the joy not reaching his eyes or heart just yet.
"Here goes nothing."
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Draco entered the holding room, surprised at the space allotted. His parents were in chairs, seemingly bound to them by enchantments. A table and an empty chair for him were all that was left in the room.
"Here to gloat Draco? I'm sure you're happy to be rid of us. All because you didn't want to obey your family, as you should." Lucius barked out, red eyes ringed in black and his neck hollowed out.
"What is there to gloat about? What are you on about now?"
"Oh you know bloody well what, Draco. You get to go on about your life, choosing to tarnish the Malfoy name, destroying everything that we have worked for FOR CENTURIES IN THIS BLOODLINE." Lucius spit out his words, figurately and literally. "You get the riches, the manor, and everything that YOU DON'T DESERVE. You are not a true Malfoy. I should have known."
"Is that what you're on about? I don't give a bloody damn about the money or the manor. My freedom and my LIFE not being in danger are what I care about?! And the lives of my friends?!"
"Draco dear, there is time to reconsider. What your father is trying to say--"
"Neither of you get to speak to me like this. I am in control of this conversation, as you have everything to lose. I don't. Now, be quiet and listen to what I have to say. FOR ONCE!" Draco banged his fists on the table, causing it to rumble and move a few inches towards his parents.
"You had it all. You had immunity from the war. You had your lives back. You had your son, your manor, your money, everything that you considered precious to you. You had time to think about your mistakes, the awful things you have done, to become GOOD and BETTER PEOPLE. And instead, you became MORE DERANGED. Attempting to kill my boyfriend, my friends, and myself? How much lower can you have gotten?"
"And that is the thing about you both. You never seem to learn. Never seem to WANT to be better. Because somehow, you think that being awful human beings serves you more than being good. When you have seen first hand how wrong that assessment is.
I CHOOSE to be a better person. A person that cares for others. A person that protects the underserved. A person that REJECTS evil, blood status, and the disgusting things that come with it. You will pay the price for what you have done. You have ruined your own lives, again and again. And this time... no one is going to bail you out.
That's the funny thing about consequences. They only matter and make a difference when you actually experience them."
Draco took a breath, feeling the anger and frustration coiling up in his chest, burying the sadness and regret underneath.
"You will get what you deserve. And I am done exposing myself to your lies and evildoing. But before I go..."
Lucius and Narcissa looked up suspiciously.
"I need you to tell me where Grandfather's ring is. I know you know where it is and I am not going to go on a goose chase for it."
Lucius and Narcissa looked at each other inquisitively. "Why should we let you know? So you can pawn it off or burn it? Continue to beseech the Malfoy name? Why--"
"It is none of your business what I want to do with what will legally be mine in a few hours. But, I'm feeling generous. Or, maybe I just want to see you angry again....
I am going to ask Harry to marry me. I am not going to pretend and live my life with anyone else. And I need Grandfather's ring. It will be a symbol of unity, of breaking blood ties, of letting go of the Malfoy ideals."
Lucius' eyes were bulging out of their sockets, his face turning a puce color.
"HOW DARE YOU, YOU WILL NEVER--"
"It's in our vault in Gringotts. In the mahogany chest lined with green. The heirloom jewelry is in there. You can take your pick." Narcissa rushed out, her hand over Lucius' mouth slipping as he fought roughly against her.
Draco startled, shocked that his mother offered the hiding place so easily. "Why... why would you tell me? Why would you help me? I didn't expect either of you to..."
"Because you're my son. I love you and I want you to be happy. Even if I am destined to be miserable until my dying breath. I... you... you can have a different life for yourself." Narcissa's eye bulged with tears, a few escaping to stain the gray jumpsuit she was forced to wear.
Lucius, still thrashing and getting angrier, finally released his mouth from Narcissa's hands to bellow. "YOU ARE NO SON OF MINE. YOU WILL NOT DO THIS!!! YOU WILL NOT--" his words were cut off by Aurors, coming into the room to escort them out and back into their cells.
Narcissa looked back once more at her son. "Goodbye Draco. I love you. And I'm sorry."
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YOU ARE READING
Everything Remains
FanfictionHarry and the rest of his friends return to Hogwarts for the seventh and final year. After everything he has been through, after all of the fighting, loss, and heartache, maybe, just maybe, he can have a "normal" year at school. That's all he wants...
