Drarry One Shots

He Wondered

Revised: 12/2022 (whoops, sorry for the gap!)
Tags/Warnings: Implied child abuse, fourth year, potions partners. 

Summary: Someone at the Daily Prophet made a story of the Boy-Who-Lived being roughhoused at home. Draco doesn't know what to make of it, so decides to do nothing. Harry has no idea what that nonsense is about. 

Notes: Hey y'all, before revision this was a story that reflected my own experience with Child Protective Services (An American system which intervenes when a child is or is suspected of being abused in some way). I am now an adult who has healed through time and therapy and I feel comfortable enough rewriting this to both have better quality and to tell (what I think is) a better story. Enjoy, and thanks to everyone who supported 12 year old me who was so sad and wanted someone to notice. <3

~~~

Something clattered loudly against the table. Draco jerked his head up and saw his father staring intently at The Daily Prophet. His fork lay on the table -now splattered with kippers- below his limp hand.

What did Skeeter write now? If it was another article about his father manipulating the minister when those rumors were discounted months ago now-

Draco's mother peered over his fathers shoulder and gasped, holding a well-manicured hand to her mouth. Draco's stomach dropped. Father was reactive to the libel that frequented The Prophet, but his mother was never less than composed. Draco patiently waited another 13 seconds -he counted- in silence before he spoke.

"What is it?"

Lucius passed the paper across the table, a small smile starting to appear. Narcissa was shaking head and tutting at him, but Draco only looked for a moment before the paper was in his hand.

THE BOY-WHO-LIVED ABUSED BY MUGGLES ON ORDER OF ALBUS DUMBLEDORE?

Draco choked. The picture below showed Harry Potter in front of the most unremarkable house Draco had ever seen. Harry kneeled in front of a pot of flowers, some kind of clippers in his hand. A large man walked out of the house, grabbed the neck of Harry's shirt and hauled him into the house, nearly tossing him head over heels. As his shirt was pulled, Harry's back was exposed and odd white splotches were visible for only a second.

The article was actually written by a woman named Anna Seren, and it detailed that while visiting the Figg's for an interview that hoped to support recent proposed legislation improving Squib rights, Miss Seren had walked down the street to see - this.

Miss Seren went on to talk about how after some digging she had found that Headmaster Dumbledore had been the one who charged these muggles -apparently relatives of Harry's mother- with custody of Harry. She speculated why Headmaster Dumbledore would have had the authority to make such a decision and what kind of life Harry lived indoors if this was what the muggles did outdoors. The article ended with her advocating to rally the populace against Albus Dumbledore to get 'justice for The-Boy-Who-Lived.'

"This is going to start a war sooner than the Dark Lord ever would have," Lucius murmured, holding a mug close.

"If anything was going to topple Dumbledore from his power, it would be Potter," Narcissa agreed, still peering at the moving photograph for a moment.

Draco wondered what this would mean for his future, for Hogwarts. He thought about Potter's baggy clothing, and for the first time wondered why Potter never had clothes that fit. He finished his plate, and an answer still hadn't come. He left the newspaper discarded on the table.

~~~

An investigation had been spurred into action by public outrage almost immediately. A week after Miss Seren's article, The Prophet had a woefully-written tale by Skeeter recounting the horrifying outcomes of The Ministry's investigation. It amounted to... nothing. And yet, Draco felt like everything had changed.