Understanding

Part 9

"Draco Lucius Malfoy, born June 5, 1980." The Minister begins. Draco nods.

"You are being charged with being a Death Eater in Voldemort's army and aiding in the attack on Dumbledore and Hogwarts. Do you deny these charges?" The Minister looks over his glasses at Draco. A spotlight is over Draco's head. The rest of us are illuminated by only dim lighting high in the ceiling. Still, I can make out the thin face of Professor McGonagall. 

"No, sir." He looks down shamefully at his shoes.

"Show us the mark." The Minister demands. Draco removes his blazer and unbuttons the sleeve of his white dress shirt. He carefully rolls the sleeve up to minimize wrinkles. The vicious snake is curled up his forearm with the signature skull at the tail. It looks worse in the lighting. Many people gasp as if they haven't been here for every single trial. Damn nosy people.

"I see. Did you take the mark willingly?" 

"I... did. I didn't want it but I did." Draco's head hangs low, the mark still bared.

"What do you mean you didn't want it?" The minister asks. He proceeds to write on a scroll. The stenographer below the podium can be heard typing rapidly.

"I had to. My father made me. They threatened my mother's life as well as my own." 

"Narcissa Malfoy, the same woman who also wears the mark and is in Azkaban for life?"He seems so smug for his words as if it pleases him to hear himself talk.

"Yes, sir," Draco whispers.

"I see." The courtroom remains silent for several moments. The stenographer has had time to stop and crack her fingers. The Minister looks over his scroll as well as several others. Probably from Draco's parents' trials. I have to stop myself from tapping my foot impatiently.

"List your evils, Mr. Malfoy. Tell us everything. Keep in mind, we already know." The Minister says. Draco looks around nervously. A tear threatens to fall from his eye. "We don't have all day, Mr. Malfoy."

"I'm sorry." He begins. "I was tasked with killing Dumbledore, firstly. Professor Snape was going to help me. I started by casting Imperius on that girl and giving her the cursed necklace. I wasn't that good so it went wrong. It was getting too late. I had to kill him for the D- Voldemort so the night Dumbledore died, I was there as well as Snape, Bellatrix LeStrange, and a few other Death Eaters. I couldn't do it. I couldn't kill someone. Especially not when he was pleading with me, telling me he would protect me from him. That's all I wanted was safety. Snape... he shot the killing curse for me and I watched him die. Then, I just left with them. I dined with Voldemort and watched him and the others take shots at that Muggle Studies teacher, Charity Burbage. I recruited other Slytherins to become Death Eaters. I was there when... Marlene McKinnon, a member of the original Order was killed. I also heard plans of Death Eaters taking out Benjy Finwick, Edgar Bones and his family, and Sirius Black." Draco stated. McGonagall has her hand over her mouth in distress.

"And?" The Minister asks. Draco looks around in panic.

"Please, sir."

"Tell us." The Minister demands.

"I..."

"Now, Draco."

"I had to torture Caradoc Dearborn, the only member of the order that they never found the body too. I didn't kill him! I swear! I just had to torture him." My mouth falls open at his confession. He tortured someone. I had to know he would, but I didn't want to accept it.

"Is he dead?" The Minister asks.

"I don't know," Draco answers honestly. He is now fully crying, guilt showing all over his face.