Chapter 16 - True or False?
Harry slammed his hands on the table and forced himself to stand. Anger surged through him and there wasn't any outlet except to pace rapidly around the kitchen.
"Here," Hermione pushed her wine glass towards him but he shook his head, knowing wine wasn't going to help him calm down. After everything that happened more than six years ago, how could Malfoy stoop this low? He had barely scraped out of killing Dumbledore and now it looked as if he was in on trying to assert some Dark power over the wizarding community.
`Quidditch school my arse,' Harry thought tersely pacing around the kitchen.
"He'll be in tomorrow so we can go and question him then. He's going to be given a physical when he arrives later tonight. I heard he's looking awful."
"Yeah, well he looked like shit when he was plotting to kill Dumbledore," Harry muttered now grabbing the back of his chair, feeling his hands grip the top with such force he thought he may pull it apart.
"Come on," Hermione suddenly commanded standing up. "Follow me. You need to blow of steam."
"I should go fly."
"It's still to light outside," Hermione beckoned him to follow her and lead him upstairs.
"I can't believe this, Hermione. I mean, what the hell?" he stomped up the stairs like a child. "Any Malfoy being THIS quiet I knew was bad news, but I really thought he may have learned his lesson."
"He has a kid now too."
"Shit."
"His parents are watching him; I only hope he turns out a bit better than Malfoy did…does."
"Who's the mother? I didn't even know he was married."
"No idea and me either."
Hermione opened the door to one of the three extra bedrooms, flicked her wand and suddenly the room was brightly lit with pads extending up three-quarters of the wall. The floor was hard but cushioned with light gray mats. She kicked the door shut while pulling her hair back into a pony tail then turned to face Harry who was looking at her like she had lost her mind.
"Come on. Spar."
"What? No," Harry took a step backward finally understanding what she wanted to do.
"What do you mean "no"? You're going to explode every piece of glass or mirror in this house in another few minutes. I can feel the anger and waves rippling off you; a simple "Accio" spell isn't going to cut it like it does with Janie." Hermione bent her knees and found her center of gravity.
"I don't need to spar you, Hermione." Harry shook his head and turned away from her.
"Chicken."
"What?" he spun around and gawked at her.
"You're afraid a girl is going to beat you," Hermione needled. "And you may be right, but you won't ever know til you try. You won't hurt me. Come on."
"Hermione…," Harry sighed, then felt her close in on him. Instinctively he turned but not fast enough; she had wrapped a strong arm around his chest and managed to knock him off balance, then followed it up with a well aimed kick to knock him over. Harry leapt back and knocked down her leg with his arm.
"Stop it!" Exasperation filled his voice. "Why do you want to do this?"
"Because your test next week is to fight me. Didn't anyone tell you?" Hermione's eyes stared into his intently. "Ah, well, maybe you didn't get the memo."
"Memo my arse." Harry now stood straight and tall but watched her wearily. She inched towards him and he made the mistake of backing into the wall.
"Number one rule, never back into anything immovable."
"Yeah, well, I'm kinda distracted."
"That's the point Harry! You need to channel that anger and be able to focus," Hermione lunged at him and with a spin he sent her flying into the wall. She recovered quickly and gave him a small smile as she side stepped away from it. They soon found themselves in the middle of the room.
"Focus," she whispered and a split second later she was down and had her leg out, sweeping his out from under him. Harry landed with a thud on his side, and before he even registered he was doing it, he reached out and grabbed her ankle. She stumbled and for his effort he received a sharp kick, releasing his grip before he jumped up.
"Why do you insist on doing this? You just recovered from all those bruises," Harry pushed her arm away realizing how deceptive she had been in her strength.
"To save us time repairing a slew of broken items and to get that anger out of you." Hermione answered, sending a blow to his left side and following it up with her right. Harry's arm shot out, grabbed her arm, twisted and sent her flying to the ground. Before he could even apologize she bounded back to her feet, taunting him by asking him where all his Gryffindor courage had gone.
He wasn't sure who he as mad at anymore: Hermione for forcing him to do this, or the thought that Malfoy almost did one over on him. Harry had let his guard down and Malfoy seemed to have slipped in under the radar…just like Hermione did when she swept his legs out from under him. Again.
"You have to watch out for those legs. Keep them spread apart," Hermione told him and Harry laughed sharply as he pushed himself back up.
"Isn't that your job?" he quipped and taking advantage of the surprised look that crossed her face he brought his legs around in a well aimed arc and swept her legs out from under her. Soon their hands were flying and blocking each other's punches. She was fast and lighter on her feet, able to bounce back up if he sent her flying but he was heavier and stronger. He took her advice and kept his stance wider, and managed to spin around as she kicked at the side of his knee. As he spun he threw out his arm and caught her across the shoulders, body slamming her to the ground. For a moment she didn't move.
"Hermione?" Harry dropped to his knees, panic filling his chest. "Jesus," Harry crawled over to where she lay staring at the ceiling.
"I'm fine," she rasped as she flicked her eyes to his giving him a small smile.
"Yeah, but you aren't getting up." He heard her gasping for breath as she tried to suck in some of the air that had been pushed out of her. Reaching out he smoothed out some strands of her hair that escaped her pony tail. "Let's stop. I don't like doing this with you; though you are much stronger than I ever thought."
"Same to you," Hermione pushed herself up to her elbows and lunged at him, knocking him flat on his back. He had no choice but to catch her as he fell back, taking her full weight against his chest and stomach. He grunted as most of the air poured out of his lungs. Finally able to expand his lungs, he gulped in a breath of warm, sweat smelling air.
"That's what that felt like. Man, that was fun," Hermione looked down at Harry as he struggled to focus. Not only was he still lacking oxygen at the moment but her pressing down on him was seriously sidetracking him.
"Actually," Harry gasped, his hands finding her back and resting lightly there. "This is much more fun." Not too gently he pulled her lips down to his and then he was able to release his pent up anger in a much more pleasurable way.
---
"We have to go into work for a special meeting, Ben. I promise I'll take you to the park tomorrow. I'll even push you on the swing for a long time," Hermione gently held Ben who was crying that she had to leave.
"You know what Benny? Grandpa and I need to degnome the garden…would you like to help?" Molly asked peeking around Hermione's shoulder to catch Ben's eye. Hermione felt him nod and the tears slowly stop.
"Count how many you throw and tell me when I come back, okay?" Hermione planted a kiss on his cheek and he nodded, sullenly following his grandmother out the back door.
"I hate this. I don't see him enough during the week and now we have to go in on a Saturday."
"I know. Hopefully, we can get in, talk to Malfoy and be back by lunch," Harry kissed Janie who ran after her cousin and grandmother, intent on helping on what her mother and Uncle Ron had hated doing all their lives.
"Let's figure out how we are going to approach him about all this." Hermione tucked her arm into Harry's and a moment later they apparated into the entryway of the ministry.
"I think if you let him see your anger he's just going to clam up. You know how he liked to goad you."
"Yeah. I think I can play it nice and sweet for a bit."
"You?" Hermione laughed as they waited for the lift to take them to their floor. "Be nice to Malfoy?"
"You said he has a kid right? Well, who doesn't like to talk about their kid? Maybe we should do the good cop/bad cop thing those television shows do all the time."
"And you want to be the good cop?" Hermione was still smiling as they moved into the lift and felt it begin to move towards their prisoner.
"You don't think I can be gracious to our wonderful prisoner, do you?" Harry glanced down at her as she squeezed his hand lightly then let it drop to her side. "Just wait and see. I may surprise you."
"Like last night?" Hermione whispered giggling as Harry blushed, vividly remembering how turned on they both were after fighting each other that what they had done afterwards resulted in some very loud happy yells…and even a bite mark on his shoulder.
Hermione continued talking seeing Harry's embarrassment. "We still need to talk about me going to the healer you know."
"Yes, I know. Though please don't think you have to go by what I say."
"What do you say?" she asked quietly as they stepped out of the lift and began the confusing walk down to their office.
"We can talk about that tonight," he whispered seeing their hallway off to the side. Ron and Ginny weren't in their portraits and as Hermione opened their office, Harry noticed how quiet it was on a weekend. A few aurors were working in the office, typing up their reports but other than that, it was calm.
"Okay, I have John and Isabel's report here. Let's read over it, check out his medical background and see what we have to work with," Hermione quickly waved her wand over the folders, resulting in two identical sets and handed one to him. They settled down in their chairs and began to read.
Ten minutes later Harry was the first one to speak.
"So, to sum up...he was caught skulking around the building the Shadows were meeting in. Wouldn't explain what he was doing there, clamed up and when John threatened to take him into custody he just shrugged and held out his hand to be bound together? When did we ever know Malfoy to give up that easily?"
"We haven't ever seen that which makes me wonder why he was almost eager to be taken." Hermione flipped back and forth through the folder.
"So, he's healthy, a bit underweight. Married to someone from the Durmstrang area, has a son names Scorpius?" Harry snorted and shook his head.
"Yeah, said he got married two years ago, so his kid probably isn't that old." Hermione was distracted as she ran her finger down his chart, making notes on another sheet of parchment.
"His parents are traveling around the world and he inherited his parent's home. Still sticks with the story that he runs a Quidditch Training School and his wife, Priscilla, owns a high end clothing shop for kids. Doesn't it strike you as odd that John and Isabel couldn't find anyone who thought that the new Malfoy family was doing something sneaky or acting strangely?"
"A bit." Hermione looked up and caught his gaze. "Well, maybe more than "a bit". Ron and Ginny would see him with his son as they came into the joke shop occasionally, but that was only around a holiday. He doesn't seem to have many friends."
"Never really did back in school either."
"Well, one died."
"Yeah, well…were they really friends?" Harry stood up and tucked the folder under his arm. "I get the impression that Slytherins are just in any situation, they think is beneficial, for themselves and as long as they get what they want, they'll stay there. I don't think Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were like Ron and I were."
Hermione agreed with him and together they walked down the hall to the safe room where Draco was currently being held, awaiting his interrogation.
---
Harry was the first one to speak when they entered the room.
"Malfoy, sorry we had to drag you in here on a weekend, but since you wouldn't answer the aurors questions when they found you….well, you know the drill probably." Harry sat down at the table across from Draco who just looked at him neutrally. Hermione slid into the empty chair next to Harry and clasped her hands primly on top of the folder.
"So, why don't you just tell us what you were doing there and we'll see if we can't get you out of here so your weekend isn't shot. Don't you want to go play ball with your kid rather than sit here?" Harry asked evenly enjoying the slight reaction he got out of Draco. Fatherhood made you even more aware of your own mortality and no one knew that better than Harry, and possibly Draco.
"I already explained what I was doing there. Can't you read yet, Potter?"
"Certainly." Harry tapped the folder in front of him. "I read it. As did Hermione. I believe we need more detailed information."
"You don't expect me to tell you, do you?" Draco spat out leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms, obviously not willing to talk freely.
"Actually, we do," Hermione started quietly, her voice like ice. "Or you can stay here for quite awhile and when your name hits the papers it won't be good. Your daddy won't be pleased and whatever careers you have established for yourself will most likely disapparate in front of your eyes."
"I don't need a mud-," Draco started before Harry interrupted with a simple "Ah!" He sounded like he was about to reprimand his daughter for doing something she shouldn't.
"No name calling here. We are trying to help you, believe it or not. For years you've been a good little Slytherin and now all of a sudden you turn up at the very building where a group is meeting that his very high on our radar. And, when questioned you clam up, then practically lead the way back here to your little holding cell. I'm wondering why you would do that, unless you felt afraid?"
"Afraid? Of what? You and…her?" Draco's eyes cut to Hermione who was flipping through her report.
"You should be afraid of her, not me," Harry retorted, noticing Draco wisely stayed silent. A strained silence fell upon the room as Harry stared at Draco noticing that he had aged a bit in the last few years. Already his hairline was receding and he was definitely thinner than when they left school. His mouth seemed to be turned down in a perpetual frown and the gray circles under his eyes matched in color. Harry knew it wouldn't do any good to try and use Legilimens as Draco was probably better at it than he was.
"What?" Draco finally spat out, tired of Harry watching him. Harry shrugged, trying to make it look nonchalant, pushing down his anger but all the time keeping his eyes on the man across from him.
"You tell us. What were you doing there?"
"Or," Hermione chimed in, still flipping through papers, "We can go to Priscilla and ask her. Obviously, you trust someone enough to marry, give her your family name and have a child with so I'm sure she knows what you-."
"Leave my wife out of this!" Draco hissed leaning forward and pointing at her. An invisible rope pulled him back to his chair and he cursed.
"Then tell us what we want to know."
"You wouldn't believe me if I did," Draco folded his arms once again and tore his gaze away from Harry's, staring at a spot on the floor.
"Try me," Harry answered sarcastically wondering what lie Draco was about to weave now.
"You don't want your wife and son to be put in any danger do you? Because they will if you stay in Azkaban for refusing to cooperate with the Ministry." Hermione wasn't holding back any punches and they could see that Draco was beginning to weaken. He looked exhausted; lacking the energy to keep up the fight much longer.
"Leave my family out of this."
"Then for the sake of your family, and for the chance to be a father to Scorpius tell us," Harry coaxed, amazed at how calm he sounded. Draco sighed and finally looked up at him.
"I was trying to save your bloody arse, that's what."
Hermione's foot touched Harry's under the table but they both remained quiet, waiting for him to go on. At the
moment, Harry didn't believe what Draco was heading towards.
Draco looked around, as if trying to avoid the gazes of the people across from him.
"My family is still high up in the wizarding world and I hear things. Nothing that really needed to be dealt with until Christmas time when I hear from someone that there are people out there that hate you so badly, Potter, they want you dead."
"That's not news to me," Harry answered.
"Yeah, but this group has the means to do it. When I heard the rumor I figured it'd be interesting, to say the least, to figure out how they were going to pull this off."
"How do we know you wouldn't want to take part in this?" Hermione asked and Draco shrugged nonchalantly.
"You don't. But, I'm not the stupid seventh year anymore. And besides, don't I have a wizarding debt or two that I unhappily owe to the boy who lived?" Draco sat back on two legs, and then felt his chair fall forward with a slam. He reached out to steady himself and continued.
"So, I start asking around about who may be thinking this would be a good idea and one day I see Potter and his daughter walking down the street past Priscilla's store. January it was…so I figured I'd follow him. I know if I was going to try and kill him I'd need to know where he shopped, what he liked to do, know his weaknesses."
Harry couldn't help the shudder that ran up his spine at the thought of Draco following him. He tried to remember what he would've done in January with Janie but he went to Diagon Ally and Hogsmeade regularly so he wasn't sure what his purpose was for that visit.
"As you two go into Flourish and Blotts I notice this hooded person who suddenly veers away from the store and sits on a bench. But, then I also notice that person, John? the person who brought me in here is watching Harry and this hooded person. I figure that you all have it covered and head back to my wife."
Draco stopped looking for a reaction but they continued to watch him levelly. Hermione knew all this happened before she came on board the department. Truth was, Harry always had people watching out for him and even though he hated to acknowledge it, he knew they were there. Sighing Draco forged ahead, now rubbing his head as if to keep a headache at bay.
"So, everything was fine until you left for…wherever you went with your daughter. A message was slipped under my door telling me that I could become quite powerful and to meet a group of people at this warehouse in London. Instead, I went to work as always, then using polyjuice to look like one of my students I left and headed towards that meeting place. I knew what the meeting was about just from the information I had heard and wasn't about to go make myself known as the one who killed Potter, so I hid myself well and listened in to their conversation. It wasn't easy to hear them, so that's when I pulled out your brother in laws invention, those ears, and snuck it under the door. To make a long story short, people thought you weren't needed anymore. You didn't deserve the recognition, the holiday that was given to you, the fame, books--all that crap and that it would be easier to do away with you. No one had a fool proof plan so they set a meeting time for a few months in the future…bringing us to yesterday."
"So, people want me dead as usual. That's not new," Harry interrupted, repeating what he had said earlier.
"You're correct there. Those people that want power hate those that do have it. And you do, though I doubt you realize how you could easily influence the weak minded out there. But, this group of people are descendants of the Death Eaters, followers of Voldemort and a few older people who have always believed that evil ways get you want you want."
"And who are these people?" Hermione asked knowing he wouldn't answer. She was right, Draco let out a sharp laugh.
"Like I'm going to tell you and one day mysteriously end up dead in my bed? No way."
"So, tell us about yesterday. I'm anxious to hear how I'm going to die."
Draco twisted himself in his chair, a small smile playing at his lips.
"That's the genius of this plan. It's methodical and well thought out. They knew you two are living together and are already betting on you getting married and having a kid. A few months after that would happen, a party was to be held in your honor through some education fund they would set up at Hogwarts. Childcare was to be provided and they were going to make sure all your back up babysitters would be busy, invited to the event or out of the country. Everyone would bring their children, so yours wouldn't be the only one, and as you two are partying, they would take your daughter and whatever child you two would have. You'd not know until hours later when they weren't there to be picked up. The plant would be pretending to be upset, declaring they didn't know where the baby went; probably this person would be under the Imperious Curse. Then, as you head out most likely by yourself as you always did, they would just use the killing curse on you. Now, they have your daughter…a very powerful child of THE Harry Potter and THE Ginny Weasley and also the child of the Boy Who Lived and the Smartest Witch of her age…and they would be able to cultivate those children into thinking their way and teach those children their dark magic. Years later we would be watching something akin to what Voldemort did." Draco sat back and went quiet a satisfied smirk on his face.
Harry could feel the blood drain from his face and knew Hermione was feeling the same way. He didn't dare look at her, afraid that he'd be tempted to break down and tell her it was a lie. It had to be, except it was something he had never thought of and he wasn't too sure that Draco was one hundred percent lying.
"Speechless, Granger? A first," Draco drawled taking delight in stunning them.
"No, not really. I'm trying to figure out how long you had to think up that story," she began slowly. "Our Aurors would've heard about such a plot."
"Ah, see…there's the thing. You guys could never find them. They are somehow able to split the one invisibility cloak they have between them and are able to move about unseen and meet in places where your aurors aren't."
"For you to get a note as to where they are to meet, must mean one of them knows you; knew you from when your father was a supporter and thought you must want to be like him." Hermione reasoned and Harry nodded, thanking her mentally for bringing that up. "Like Goyle perhaps?"
"I thought he died?" Harry inquired sneaking a glance at Hermione.
"No, that was Crabbe."
"Oh, well they all looked alike," Harry sighed then looked back at Draco who was back to looking neutral again. He didn't answer when Hermione asked if it was Goyle so they dropped that subject for the moment. Quiet descended again, leaving Draco to break the silence.
"So, what now?" he finally asked Harry and Hermione.
"Well, based on what you've told us I have a list of questions for you to answer. Then you need to sign at the bottom swearing it's all true or you'll end up standing before the Wizengamot, accused of false statements, get the Vertiserum treatment and because of your past will probably end up in Azkaban," Hermione waved her wand over a blank sheet of paper and Harry saw a slew up questions appear. He also noticed Draco seemed to slouch a bit at the mention of the prison that was rebuilt to be used in a fairer manner, but just the same it still held the sense of foreboding as it had when the Dementors were in charge of it.
"I hear it's nice this time of year," Harry quipped, then pushed the papers towards Draco.
"Just answer them. All of them! Truthfully. We are going to go get lunch and when we come back I want to see them answered. We'll leave instructions with the guards to give you food. You look like you could use some." Harry stood up and for a moment saw Draco's gaze falter a bit. He was exhausted, pale, thin and looked as if he hadn't had a proper nights sleep in weeks. Harry nodded slightly to Draco and then motioned for the guards to come back into the room. Giving instructions for him to have free movement around the room, and a healthy lunch, he led Hermione out into the hall. As they walked quietly towards their office, each lost in their own thoughts, Harry wondered if Draco was indeed telling the truth. Would he go to such an effort to cast aside the Malfoy vanity of looks in order to make up an elaborate lie?
Only time would tell.
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