A Life Worth Choosing

Chapter 14: Interview

Draco paced around the room nervously going through his head the possible questions that were going to be asked. He could only imagine the possibilities and hoped that the four chosen wouldn't include Rita Skeeter.

“Relax, Draco,” Hermione called out from her seat behind Harry's desk. “Everything will be fine.”

“Easy for you to say, Granger,” Draco snapped. “Sorry,” he said quickly noticing the hurt in her eyes.

“Don't worry about it,” she smiled weakly. “At least you won't be alone.”

Draco turned to peer out through the door where Junior and Kaeda sat patiently awaiting for the interview to began. They were dressed in their best set of dress robes, hand picked by Narcissa herself. Junior was deep in conversation with Avery and James while Kaeda sat quietly with a sleeping Lily in her arms, her eyes focused on Avery who was secretly watching her as well out of the corner of his eye.

“Will Addison and Nate be joining you?” she asked trying to make conversation.

“No. She left me,” Draco said turning towards her with a smile.

“Well you seem pretty upset about that,” Hermione retorted sarcastically.

“No harm done. Like you said, at least I'm not alone.”

“So, how does it feel?” Hermione ask, coming up from behind him.

“How does what feel?”

“Being a father? Coming home to a whole new family?”

Draco took a moment to watch as Remus walked into the headquarters, followed by a clumsy Teddy. Junior smirked slightly before offer a hand to help his friend up off the ground while Kaeda covered her mouth to hide her giggles.

“Great,” Draco smiled. “It feels great.”

“Are you ready?” Remus asked poking his head into Harry's office.

Draco nodded his head.

_________________________________________________________________________

Ginny awoke to bright lights so white she had to close her eyes to conceal the pain that rushed to her head the moment she opened them.

“What happened?” she whispered trying to sit up, but someone pushed her back down.

“Lay down, dear. Everything is going to be alright,” came a familiar voice.

Ginny's eyes fluttered open softly. As her eyes adjusted to the light, they began to focus on the surrounded redheads that stood around her.

“Mum?” Ginny asked seeing the person who spoke.

“I'm right here, Ginny,” Molly said brushing her daughter's hair back.

“What happened?” Ginny asked as she noticed herself lying in a hospital bed with her work robes still on.

“You fainted,” Fred answered.

“I-I did?” Ginny stuttered.

She looked over to her two curly redheaded nephews.

“Where's the children?” she asked.

“They're at the Ministry with Harry and Draco. The interview will begin shortly.”

“Oh, no the interview,” Ginny said trying to sit up once again. “I have to go. I promised I was going to be there.”

“Whoa, sis, you're not going anywhere,” Fred said forcing her back onto the pillow.

“But I have to-”

“Healer Cho said you need to stay here and get some rest before you go anywhere,” Molly said fussing with her pillows and pulling the blanket up over her daughter.

“But I'm fine. I feel fine!” Ginny insisted.

“You're not going anywhere until the healer says it is ok for you to leave,” said Molly.

“But the interview- I have to-”

“Auntie Ginny,” Perry interrupted. “You always say that we should listen to the healers if we want to get better.”

Ginny looked over to her nephew who stared at her with his bright blue eyes. Two years ago, Perry had fallen off the back of his brother's broom and broke his arm. It was his first trip to St. Mangos and he was terrified of the healers. It was Ginny who had calmed him down long enough to explain that healers were good and were here to help him get better and he should always listen to what healers say and to do as he was told to make the pain go away. How could she, herself, not listen to her own advice as he stared back at her though bright, wide blue eyes, and repeated the same words she had said to him.

“You're right Perry,” she smiled, running her fingers through his hair as she sighed.

Perry smiled as he leaned down to hug her.

“Holden listened to Healer Cho, too, and did everything she told him to do and now he can blink again.”

Ginny laughed as she looked up at her older nephew who stood with red puffy eyes blinking non-stop.

A soft knock sounded at the door as George peered his head in through the door.

“Hello everyone,” he smiled walking in. “You alright, Gin?” he asked his sister as he sat down at the end of her bed.

“I'm fine,” she smiled. “Shouldn't you be home with your wife?”

“Kayla's with her. Besides, I heard you needed this,” he said holding up a box of some sort. “They are televising the interview on the Witch Wireless.”

_________________________________________________________________________

Draco sat perfect upright in a chair. A nervous Junior sat to his right twiddling his thumbs while a poised Kaeda looked up and smiled before taking her father's hand into hers.

Harry sat quietly beside Kaeda, flipping through paperwork while Ron sat beside Junior with a bored expression on his face. All was quiet until the doors of the interview room burst open, bringing Draco, Ron, and Harry to their feet.

A group of three witches and two wizard walked in as flashes of light and questions poured in from the crowd of people awaiting outside. The five took their seats and began pulling out parchment, quills, and cameras preparing themselves for the interview of a life time.

Remus was last to walk in after addressing those outside before shutting the door behind him.

“Shall we begin?” he asked looking around the room. “Please, introduce yourselves.”

“Justin Finch-Fletchy: Hogwarts Hours,” a curly haired wizard inclined his head.

“Padma Patil-Corner: Witch Weekly,” a witch Draco recognized from school shook his hand.

“Luna Notts: The Quibbler,” the blonde witch said dreamily.

“Collin Creevy: Photographer,” a small blonde wizard introduced excitedly as he held up his camera that flashed brightly as he snapped his first photo.

“Millicent Bulstobe: Daily Prophet.”

Draco smirk slightly as he saw his old Slytherin house mate, but his smile quickly faded as he saw the hate in her eyes.

“Now, you all know the rules,” Harry said addressing the interviewers. “You have a half hour. You will ask one question at a time. Only the questions that have been submitted can be asked and remember, this is being televised,” he took his seat, the others following suit and the interview began.

“Mr. Malfoy,” Justin began, “Were you ever a Death Eater?”

Draco cleared his throat before beginning.

“My- um Father was a death eater. He failed a mission with the Dark Lord and therefor as a punishment, I was given a task which if I failed my mother was in danger. I had no choice.”

“Then it is true, you possess the Dark Mark?” Padma asked scribbling away on her parchment.

Without a word, Draco pushed back his sleeve of his right arm and held it high in the air for everyone to see as a flash singled another photograph taken.

“This task that you mentioned,” Luna began, “Was that of which you were to kill Albus Dumbledore. How did you come to fail?”

“I just couldn't bring myself to do it,” Draco answered. “I'm not a murderer.”

“No more questions please about the Battle of the Tower,” Harry interrupted, refusing to relive the tale once more. “I have already gave enough accounts of what happened that night.”

“Mr. Malfoy,” Bulstobe drawled slowly. “Is it true that you once believed that Pure Bloods were superior?”

Draco paused a moment before answering:

“Yes, but I was raised to believe it. It wasn't until I was sixteen that I figured it out on my own that my beliefs were in fact wrong.”

“How did you come to switch sides?” asked Justin.

“After I failed to kill the headmaster, the Dark Lord punished me, severely. He left the Death Eaters to take care of me. They cursed me till I was barely alive, then left me there to suffer, believing that an instant death would have been more welcome than the pain I induced.

“I was barely alive when Harry found me. I pleaded with him to help me and we made a deal. He took me to this Muggle hotel where he hid me. Ginny Weasley was the only other person who knew of my whereabouts. It was her who nursed me back to health.”

“What was this deal you made with Harry?” Padma asked.

“I was to return to the Dark Lord and prove my loyalty. I then became a spy, relaying information back to the Order about the Dark Lord's plans.”

“What was it that forced you into hiding?” Luna asked.

“I was seen in a battle, fighting for both sides. I had both the Ministry and the Death Eaters after me.”

“It would have been merely impossible for him to stay and survive with everyone looking for him,” Harry added.

“You therefore left behind a pregnant mistress to go save your own arse?” Bulstobe snapped.

“It wasn't his fault!” Kaeda snapped back at her. “Mum never told him about us. He asked her to go with him, but she stayed to help the Order!”

“Kaeda,” Ron placed his hand on his nieces shoulder to calm her down.

“How did you survive the Muggle world and what did you think of it?” Justin continued.

“It was difficult at first. I had to learn how to cook, shop, and make my own money the Muggle way. After I altered my appearance slightly and changed my name, I was able to rent from this sweet old lady. Her husband had just passed away and her only son lived across the country so she was lonely.

“I convinced her that I was a homeless orphan who's parents had recently passed away. She taught me how to cook, clean and was able to get me a job as an assistant to a real-estate broker. With a little help from my magic, I soon became one of the top real-estate brokers in the state and was able to buy my own house.”

“How did you handle living in the Muggle world,” Padma asked.

Draco took a deep breath. Here was a question he was afraid of.

“Not so good,” he breathed. “I had some difficulties with the social scene as well as some of the Muggle devices, but I got through.”

“And how, exactly did you help Harry while you were in hiding?” Luna asked.

“I helped him with the planning.”

“Draco knew how the Death Eaters were, being one himself, therefore he had a good idea of how they would attack. He also knew their strengths and weaknesses. He did in fact come up with all of the plans himself that were carried out for the final battle,” Harry explained. “Those times when I disappeared for weeks at a time, I was actually with Draco going over the latest plans and coming up with new targets and such.”

“Now that you've lived in the Muggle world, how do you feel about Muggles?” Bulstobe asked.

“I admire them actually,” Draco answered truthfully. “They are fully capable of living without magic and the devices they use are just unbelievable. I mean, how can you get those Muggles on those box things they call a television?”

Bulstrobe scowled at his remark.

“So what exactly are your future career plans now that you are back?” Justin continued without looking up from his parchment.

Draco shrugged his shoulders unsure of what to say.

“You are back are you not?” Padma added.

“Of course I'm back! I'm back for good! You'll have to have a whole other war if you want to get rid of me!” he smirked.

Kaeda and Junior both looked to their father, then looked up at each other. Kaeda with a huge smile on while Junior never resembled his father as much as he did at that moment.

“Actually,” Harry smiled. “We were hoping he would be willing to come join us here at the Auror Headquarters.”

Draco looked back towards Harry who was now standing behind him:

“Seriously?”

“Of course mate, what do you say?”

“What do you two think?” Draco asked looking at his children.

“He'll take it!” Kaeda said without hesitation.

“Don't you think you should ask your wife first?” Bultrobe smirked at the chance to bring up the subject.

“Wife? What wife?” Draco smirked back, ready to play her game.

“Your wife!” Bultrobe argued back. “I overheard Weaselett, the werewolf, and the freakshow talking about it yesterday in Diagon Alley.”

Draco turned to Remus who shrugged his shoulders.

“I don't recall anything of the sort,” he smiled.

“But I- I,” Bultrobe stuttered.

“Just got caught lying?” Ron asked. “I do believe that calls for an automatic termination.”

“But I heard them! He has a wife and she's a Muggle!” Bulstrobe continued to defend herself. “Don't just sit there you little brats! Tell them about your new step mummy!”

“Step Mummy?” Junior raised an eyebrow.

“We don't have no step mother,” Kaeda added with a look of pure innocence.

“I do believe you've had enough, Miss Bulstrobe,” Ron said getting to his feet. “May I escort you out?”

“But I-I” she continued as Ron grabbed her by an arm and holstered up from her chair, dragging her out the door as she cussed the whole way.

“Shall we continue?” Remus suggested as the door slammed shut behind them.

_________________________________________________________________________

Ginny laid quietly listening to the Witches Wireless, her mother, brothers, and nephews by her side.

“Go little bro!” George shouted out.

“About time they caught her in the act,” Fred added.

“Man if I was him I'd-”

“Eh-hem!” Molly cleared her throat.

George paused and looked over to his nephews who were watching him wide-eyed.

“I would tell her she was naughty and send her to her room!” he changed his tone.

“Would you two be quiet! They're starting again,” Ginny said angrily.

“Shall we continue, then?” the voice of Remus filled the room.

“Other than you're career?” Justin began. “What exactly are your plans for the moment?”

“Well I thought I would move back home to the Manor, and spend as much time with my children as I can, before they return to Hogwarts.”

“Speaking of the Manor, has the Malfoy assets been averted back to you?” Padma asked.

“No they haven't,” Draco shook his head. “Everything is still in the name of Junior and that's where it will remain.”

“So what do you think of your children?” Luna asked dreamily.

“What does he think of his children?” Fred asked with a confused look on his face.

“What kind of question is that?” George looked back at his twin.

“That girl is as looney as she was in Hogwarts,” Fred shook his head.

“Shhh!” Molly, Ginny, and the boys urged.

“What can I say,” Draco's voice sounded through the wireless. “They're perfect! I mean, Kaeda gets top marks and is the seeker for her house team, she is sweet and loves to laugh. And like you've seen earlier, she's not afraid to stick up for what she believes in. She's also very outgoing and is as beautiful as her mother.

“Junior gets excellent marks as well, he's been moved up to six year Ancient Runes and is a Teacher's Assistant. He's been working on his Animangus and is doing better than I've ever done with the Transfiguration. He's an extremely talented flyer as well and he definitely didn't inherit the Malfoy's attitude towards others. He's fully interested in learning about Muggles and well, his best friend is a werewolf!

“What else can I say other than I'm proud of the both of them and that I can't wait to get to know them better.”

“Sounds to me like he knows them pretty well,” Molly smiled.

“Do you plan on settling down and having more children in the future?” asked Justin.

“I can definitely see myself settling down, yes. With the right witch of course. More children- it's hard to say right now. I have fifteen years of bonding with these two I need to catch up on and that decision is not entirely up to me, of course.”

“Let me just say,” Padma began, “that after this interview, there will be plenty of witches out there willing to settle down with you. You truly are a completely different wizard than the one I knew back at Hogwarts.”

“Thank you,” said Draco.

“Are there any thoughts of you and Miss Weasley getting back together?” Padma asked her question.

Everything went silent as the world awaited his response.

“Well, that's not exactly up to me, now is it?” Draco answered.

“Yea, Gin!” Fred smirked.

“Are you going to marry Uncle Draco?” Holden asked rather loudly.

Ginny looked around the room at her family and even glanced out the door. The hallway, for once, seemed oddly quiet. Ginny had the sudden feeling that everyone had overheard her nephew's question and was awaiting an answer.

“I-I-” she stuttered.

“Not too late am I?” a voice interrupted as a blonde wizard came strolling in through the doorway with a bundle full of roses in his arms.

_____________________________________________________________________

“Ok, we have time for one more question,” Harry said looking down at his watch. “Luna?”

Luna looked up from her parchment and without hesitation:

“Did you kill anyone?”

Draco's heart jumped to his throat as his reoccurring dream flashed back to him:

Draco ran furiously through the heavily wooded area, frantically searching. His black robes were torn and his mask was lost several yards away. He had no time to turn back. He must keep searching. Green and red lights flashed just beyond the trees behind him in the clearing he had just fled where the battle was occurring.

Order members as well as Aurors were running passed him in the opposite direction, running to the aid of their fellow allies. Few glanced back at him, merely to make a correct identification that would be used later when recording those who were under the loyalty of the Dark Lord.

Draco no longer cared who saw him, his mind was only focused on one thing, and one thing only. So on he searched, deeper and deeper into the forest. He knew what he had seen and he had to get it back before he lost it forever.

`Draco! Draco!' a familiar voice echoed from not far in front of him.

He quickened his pace, but soon found himself at a divided path. He stopped in hope that the voice would call back to him and it did.

`Draco! Draco!'

On he continued through the heavy brush, towards the voice that called out to him. His legs, heavy from tiredness, his eyes blurry from lack of sleep. The salty mixture of blood and sweat lingered on his lips, but he continued on.

He was horribly out of shape. It had been five years since he last could remember running so long and so fast, but he had to keep running.

Then he saw it. Up ahead was his target. A clear shot.

With his wand raised high, he shut his eyes tight as the words rolled off his tongue:

“Avada Kedavra!”

He heard the unmistakable sound of a corpse fallen to the ground.

“Draco!”

His eyes opened and he caught a glimpse of the red hair and glasses. He had hit the wrong target.

“Draco did what he had to do. Just like the rest of us,” he heard Harry finish as his mind flashed back to the present. “That will be all the questions for right now. If you would all follow Mr. Weasley, he will show you out.”

“Father, are you alright?” Junior asked after the press had left the room.

Draco breathed heavily as sweat poured down his face.

“Yes,” he panted. “Water. I just need some water.”

With a flick of his wand, Remus summoned a glass of water and handed it to Draco.

“Thank you,” Draco inclined his hand and guzzled the refreshment.

“Harry!” Hermione exclaimed rushing into the room.

Draco watched as she ran by him and whispered softly to Harry. Harry nodded as he listened intently before turning to Draco.

“Ginny's at the hospital,” he said quietly.

“Of course she is. She works there,” Kaeda said matter-of-factly.

“No, she's was admitted,” Harry corrected her.

“She fainted about two hours ago,” Hermione added. “They're keeping her there for a few days.”

_________________________________________________________________________

“I would have come earlier, but the bus got stuck in traffic,” Xavier explained as soon as he got the chance too, after the interview concluded.

“Xavier, you didn't have to come. I'm fine,” Ginny protested.

“Didn't have to come?” Xavier retaliated. “My fiancé is in the hospital. Of course I had to come to make sure you are alright. Can I get you anything?”

Ginny thought for a moment:

“Ice would be lovely,” she smiled.

“Ice it is, then. I'll be right back!”

Ginny waited until he walked out the door before turning to her family.

“Who called him?” she growled.

“Sorry?” Fred answered. “Was I not supposed to?”

“You! Why did you even think of calling him?”

“He's you're fiancé!” Fred fought back.

“Of course we had to read about it ourselves in the Daily Prophet, because someone didn't call us!” George added, attempting to sound a little hurt by being forgotten.

“Grrr...” Ginny growled back at her brothers.

“Now, now Gin,” Cho said walking into the room, going over some paperwork. “I'll have none of that. You're supposed to be resting.”

“How do you expect me to rest with these gits around,” Ginny shouted back.

“You're right. You're right. Sorry boys, I'm afraid you'll have to leave,” Cho said shooing them out of the room.

“She's right boys. We should all leave now, and let her rest,” Molly said getting up to follow them out of the room. “I'm going to go home and make some dinner for Draco and the children. They should be arriving soon and I'm sure they haven't had a chance to eat.”

“Thanks mum,” Ginny smiled weakly.

Cho waited for the family to leave before turning to her friend.

“What's wrong with me?” Ginny moaned annoyed.

“You're overwork!” Cho answered.

“Overworked?”

“You sound surprised?”

“I haven't worked since Friday! That's over three days ago. How can I be overworked?”

“I've been telling you for how long that you needed a vacation?”

“I took three days off!”

“Well, I'm sure there's more to it than that!”

“Like what?” Ginny questioned.

“Mummy!” Kaeda flew to her mother side and threw her arms around her, Junior trailing not far behind.

“Beats me?” Cho smirked.

“We were so worried about you,” Kaeda whispered.

“I'm fine, sweetie,”Ginny assured her. “Just a little overworked is all. How are you doing?”

“I'm great,” Kaeda stood up straight, whipping a single tear from her eye.

“What about you, June? I didn't worry you too much did I?” she asked concerned.

Junior threw his arms around his mother.

“I'm ok,” he whispered softly.

“When do you get to come home?” Kaeda asked.

“Not until morning,” Cho answered for her as she ran through Ginny's vitals. “I want to keep her over night. Merlin knows she won't get any rest any place else,” she finished taking Ginny's blood pressure before walking out of the room, reviewing the charts.

“I'll be home first thing in the morning,” Ginny smiled. “So how was the interview?”

“It went well,” Junior nodded as a soft knock sounded at the door. “Well, we have to go,” he signaled to his sister.

“Um- yea, we promised Grandmother that we would hurry home to eat,”she responded with difficulty. “Besides, Daddy wants to speak with you.”

With one last grin, Kaeda followed her brother out of the room before Ginny could protest.

“That was odd,” Ginny said quietly before shaking her head with a short laugh.

She peered around to the doorway where Draco stood quietly leaning against the frame.

“Well?” Ginny smiled.

“Well what?” Draco smirked.

“Are you going to come in or do you need a written invitation?”

-->