The Future Starts Right Now
The Last Week of June
While having to wait even more days for verdict of the trial of Draco Malfoy, the trials of both Narcissa Black-Malfoy and Xenophilius Lovegood came and went. Considering the charges against Narcissa, her blatant disrespect and hatred of the monster that had been inhabiting her home and braking her family apart was remarkable. And the fact that Harry Potter himself, thought she was innocent, as well as the Hermione Granger. Let’s just say Wizengamot quickly dismissed the charges against her.
Then came Mr. Lovegood.
“He has done nothing wrong.” Harry declared.
Hermione, on the other hand, wasn’t as kind to the court. “I obliviated my parents to protect them. All he did was call in someone helping hold his child hostage. It wasn’t like…” Ron and Harry pulled her back before she could finish with, ‘you were doing anything!’
With a formal and remorseful apology, Xenophilius was released into his daughters arms. He, like many others who had lost their homes to Death Eaters, got a tent at the school until the end of the week.
When Malfoy’s trial was over, the students would be splitting up and headed to all corners of the world until the fall. They all had missions to accomplish.
Instead of just the weekend for deliberation, Wizengamot took nearly a dozen days. Finally, with only one day left in the month, they made their decision. Draco Malfoy was sentenced to daily check-ins with an Auror, either Hogwarts or Malfoy Manor house arrest until the start of term, a mandatory Eighth Year, and 30 days of helping repair Hogwarts Castle.
Unfortunately, while the testimonies were private, the verdicts were not. And as Ron predicted, Rita Skeeter had a field day. Until that day, the Trio nor the rest of the students at Hogwarts, were aware that the Daily Prophet was up and running again. Or that Skeeter still had a job there.
Once at Hogwarts, the Eighth Years and the 3 Seventh, along with a handful of other students, current and long since graduated, came together to hear …. Hermione’s chaos talk. She was walking around and back and forth to a half a dozen tables. Once she realized, everyone was looking at her, and a quick ‘huh?’ stare to Harry, she addressed the crowd. “We have 24 hours until July 1st. Hogwarts will start major repairs at that time, considering it has to be open in 60 short days. I already had to put my education on hold for a war, I don’t want to have to do it again. I want this project organized and decided on by tomorrow. If you are staying to rebuild, sign up at that table.” She said pointing to the one before the Headmistress. “I you have a project suggestion, whether it is personal or for you family or just a general concern, we will take it.”
Everyone was frozen to their spots, no one wanted to be the first. And as they started looking to their friends, it didn’t take long for the stragglers in the back to be noticed. Out of his tent for the first public appearance since his trial, was Gregory Goyle, who was being pulled forward by Millicent and pushed by Blaise. Behind them was Draco, pulled by Pansy and Daphne, and pushed by the remaining Slytherins. Goyle was losing his battle, and Draco was winning his. Until they all noticed less than kind eyes on those in green. Malfoy has stopped so fast that the girls had accidentally pulled him flat on the ground. Hermione and a few other of the Snakes’ new friends were hiding laughter, until Harry noticed that a lot of people were angry. He quickly stole the conjured bullhorn from Hermione and yelled, “Those who weren’t charged did nothing wrong!” He paused. “And those who were charged were deemed innocent or pardoned.”
Some people’s resolves fell. It was Mr. Weasley who broke the first wall, “Tracey, Hermione tells me that you might happen to know the function of a Rubber Duck.” Tracey, although technically pureblood, had been raised by her muggle grandparents, and when horrified she could no longer learn maths at Hogwarts, had begged the Muggle Studies teacher to help her continue in that course. Tracey laughed.
Others still weren’t sure. “Look,” Ron yelled, “if Hermione can brake into Gringotts polyjuiced as Bellatrix Lestrange, and have herself, Harry, and I to ride out on a bloody fucking dragon…then I’m pretty sure you can at least look at children who did the same things as yours did, whatever it takes to protect their goddamn families, without disgust.”
George who had been almost silent since the battle, started the clapping.
Narcissa Black embraced Molly Weasley, “Thank you for getting rid of my wretched sister.”
“But she’s your sister.”
“She stopped being my friend the minute she joined Voldewart’s ranks. She stopped being my sister the first time she tortured my son. She stopped being human the day she nearly murdered Miss Granger. If I didn’t have that childhood history with her, I’d done away with her myself. Thank you for relieving me of that burdened. My only sister, Andromeda, has invited be to tea, to start to amend our relationship. I would love to make a new friend as well.”
Molly started crying along with Narcissa. “I would love to.”
Slytherins were slowly brought into the crowd, although there were a handful of awkward hugs. By the third to twentieth though, the snakes relented. Only Draco was left standing alone, slowly trying to sneak away. “My daughter told me what you did for her there. Thank you, I know you did all that you could.” Mr. Lovegood said. Everyone was watching the exchange.
“I wish I had done more.” Draco replied as Harry walked up.
“The war’s over now… Hi, my name’s Harry, Harry Potter.” Harry said holding out his hand.
“I think you were right about the wrong sort.” Malfoy answered.
Harry laughed, “Friends?”
“Acquaintances.” ignoring Harry’s hand. “I, unlike my friends, don’t want to be associated with a certain type of people.”
There were a handful of suspicious stares.
He looked to Pansy, “Nope,” she said, “We’re all friends with the reds now, whether you like it or not.”
“How many do I have to tolerate?”
“All of them. Or I will make you life more of a Hell than I already do.” Pansy stated
“Mate, don’t do this to us, again, please.” Theo begged.
“We really don’t want a repeat of 2nd year.” Blaise reasoned.
A stare down began…Draco blinked, then yelled, “Subtle wandless and silent magic is cheating!”
“You still lost.
“Fine, friends with the bloody Gryffindors.” He shook Harry’s still outstretched arms.
“Granger,” Pansy shouted. “I believe you have a question for my friend.”
“We already established that Quidditch destruction was fair, as was friendly poking fun. Apparently, only you can decide if I’m allowed to destroy the Slytherins academically.”
“Granger, I’d love to see you try.”
“You’re on, Snake.”
Everyone burst out laughing. A giant cookout started, everyone signed up for various projects for the following months, McGonagall announced the sleepover plans for the start of school, and various members of the Order told tales of all the batshit crazy things that everyone had done. Apparently, Ron hadn’t been kidding about that dragon.