Chapter 13
The crowd stands still as Draco walks in first, he can't hide behind Harry, he needs to be confident - stand straight his father would always advice and he'd think admiring himself in the mirror as to who wouldn't, for it was the most basic of things yet here he walks going deeper and deeper into his shell as the dark shadows of everyone tower above him.
"Hello Malfoy!" Hermione greets him unsure whether or not to place a assuring hand on his shoulder - she decides not to. Draco nods in acknowledgement clutching his potion tightly as Harry walks idly behind.
He walks to the very front and places the vial in front of Kingsley. "Hello, Kingsley." Kingsley nods urging him to begin. "So ... this is a ... potion" He stammers softly and Kingsley coughs.
"Mr. Malfoy, kindly face the crowd." He tells and Draco nods turning as everyone steps closer, he wished the room would be as ginormous as the one during his trial where everyone was too far to notice his tears or his trembling hands. This reminded him of the events he'd have as a child in Malfoy manor where all would sit together and the children would showcase their talents, it could be singing, dancing, playing the piano or winning against everyone in a game of chess except he'd be confident and unbothered by anyone else's opinion.
"You got this Malfoy." Harry whispers and Draco nods, his eyes drifting to Ron's who mouths a good luck while Hermione beside him stands stressed. Why is she stressed?
"Hello everyone."
"I can't hear him!" A man shouts from the crowd.
"Tell the boy to be loud eh. We don't want him mouthing spells!" Another screams and more shouts erupt from the crowd with some glaring at him and others sneering or cursing. Draco just wants to go home.
"You still sure you can't do this alone Potter?" Draco asks hopefully.
"He didn't even start!" Harry screams shutting all. "We know better than to just accuse someone without even hearing them out. I don't know why you all joined the ministry but i joined to save people and end the corruption and violence that roams on our streets which includes even bashing a redeemed death eater!" Redeemed? He thinks that?
Everyone whispers amongst themselves till Kingsley gets up. "Now, I want everyone to be silent and focused on whatever it is that Mr. Malfoy has, give the boy a chance, some of you are much worse."
"Kingsley! That's absurd! We are not his equal, how dare you compare us?" A man frowns.
"Oh, I dare very easily Kevin. Let's not forget how one fine monday, you raided a former death eaters house scaring his wife to the hospital." Draco gapes scared, afraid he might be next as Kevin scoffs averting his gaze. "Mr. Malfoy, you shall begin."
"Yes." Draco gulps. Just say it and leave - don't have to convince anyone, the work can show for it self. "So, hello ... good morning ... rather afternoon" He stammers again.
"You are doing great." Harry whispers and Draco hates it, he never thought there would be a day when he'd be nervous to deliver a speech. He wouldn't even be nervous when the work wasn't his and rather stolen from someone else.
He inhales deeply. "Hello, good afternoon, i have brought with me a potion that I myself brewed." He raises the vial as everyone retreats back afraid. "This potion is solely for distinguishing evil stones from good ones, recently with the numerous reports of stones being used against us must have terrified everyone, so this is a small token of help from me to ... you."
Ron starts clapping almost making Draco chuckle as Hermione nudges him. "That's wonderful Malfoy, perhaps you could show it to us as well." She suggests and Draco nods.
"Hermione, Malfoy was the best at potions. Of course, he knows what he's doing." Harry tells as if shocked Hermione from all would ask that.
"Of course! My apologies if I sounded harsh but it's so fascinating! You see, I have been trying to brew something similar as well." She expresses.
"It's alright ... Granger." Draco doesn't have a stone or anything evil, how's he supposed to show anything? If only Harry could have informed him earlier then he would have come prepared. But of course, saint Potter rather be anything but organized. "I would need something evil to test it on though."
"Try it on yourself." A man - Thomas says and everyone starts to laugh nodding. Draco holds his vial tightly refusing to let it affect him.
"Try it on these." Kingsley says offering two small stones to Draco. they appear strange, one is a pointy marble green while the other is a flat pastel pink. "One of them is evil and one isn't, it's hard to separate the two considering it's a pair."
Draco nods accepting the small stone which are heavy as bricks in his hands, he uses both hands to place them on a table and everyone peers closer. "Would you need to know anything else Malfoy? Perhaps where it is from?" Harry whispers but Draco denies focusing his entire focus on the two rocks - this needed to go well. He opened the vial as purple steam blows out.
"Don't worry." Draco says seeing everyone's skeptical look. "The steam acts as a protection barrier so the liquid doesn't go bad even after many weeks of not being used."
"Ah, it's galleon friendly." Kingsley smiles. Draco pours two drops of the liquid on the table and it stays there for a few seconds unmoving. Draco knew this would happen but he wished the effect would come sooner today. "It's alright Mr. Malfoy, like I mentioned earlier, these stones are powerful and hard to distinguish. We should have started with smaller ones." Kingsley says rubbing his head.
Everyone whispers amongst them but Draco keeps on staring at the small puddle of purple. "Look!" Harry points and everyone looks again anticipatedly to see the purple liquid move towards one stone, the pink one and coat it completely making it levitate and glow between the entire crowd. "That's wonderful! That is the evil stone!" Kingsley informs and now more whispers burst from the crowd. Draco feels happy and finally at peace, he might as well have the children eat outside today.
"Thank you." Draco says unsure what else to say as Kingsley and Hermione praise the potion repeatedly, analyzing every tiny detail.
"Malfoy! You must tell me the measurements for each ingredient!" Hermione asks and Draco nods.
"Good job, I am impressed." Harry shrugs and Draco rolls his eyes, Draco knows what he brews and he knew it would be a success, it was just the crowd he was in that made him anxious but he feels it disappearing as few people smile at him in acknowledgment which he graciously reciprocates.
"Mr. Malfoy." Kingsley begins. "Now, this is how we shall proceed. Before the aurors can carry the vial with them to any area considered dangerous, we should test it on a large field so how about you alongside an auror go and check it out?" Draco nods. "Now who shall it be?"
"I will go." Harry offers right away. "Well, I can go if no one else is interested."
"Perfect!" Kingsley beams, picking up the two stones.
"How'd you attain these two?" Harry asks Kingsley.
"They were sent to me right after the floo system broke down, the culprit must have used these." He reveals.
"Oh! Do you need any help?" Harry asks.
"No, Mrs. Granger is with me. We need smart people not strong." He smiles at Harry. "We could asked Mr. Malfoy to join if he already didn't have his hands full. Perhaps you could join me when Mrs. Granger has to leave for her magical law enforcement work?"
"I'd love that." Draco responds and Kingsley smiles walking away.
Draco and Harry are about to leave when something rather someone grabs Draco's hand and he shrieks as he feels the vial pulled from him and poured on his head. "Now, we will see if it truly works or not." Thomas laughs as some join and some stand unsure and uncomfortable.
"What is the meaning of this!" Harry snarls as Draco stands seeing the purple liquid drop down and stain the floor.
"It's fine Potter, we should leave." Draco wants to walk away, he tries to but Thomas holds him back.
"Can't fight anymore Malfoy? Tongue's all dry from being down Harry's throat?"
"What are you saying?" Draco asks confused and horrid at such vile accusations.
Thomas laughs as everyone looks on now clearly interested. "We all know that Harry would have never given you a chance, you both despised each other in school so it's not strange hearing that you seduced him."
"I WOULD NEVER! I am married and I have children!" Draco wants to punch him.
"Thomas if I were you, I'd hold that tongue of mine. Nothing from what you say is even in the least bit true." Harry asserts firmly.
"Harry, you do understand that if it isn't for you then none of us would have even allowed this death eater scum inside." Thomas retorts and Draco clenches his fists, it had been exactly three days since anyone called him that and he was so foolish to think it was finally over. "He obviously is just using you to sneak his way into the ministry."
"Thomas, I didn't bring him here rather I was against it as well but Kingsley wanted him here and that's it, Malfoy is good at potions and we need him." Harry tells sternly though it isn't enough. Draco wants Harry to punch him or obliviate him because he can without ruining his reputation but it's too much to ask and Harry would never.
"Harry, you are gullible."
"Thomas, if what you said was true then the vial would have reacted to Malfoy but I don't see it glowing." Ron comes crossing his arms seeming disappointed. He seems more frustrated than Harry.
"Maybe we should force it down his throat." Thomas is about to grab Draco and Draco is waiting for the pull for the pain but Hermione shouts.
"FLIPENDO!" Thomas goes backwards bumping into tables and chairs as others go to tend to him. "I will be sure to remind Kingsley of this behavior which is highly inappropriate and unacceptable! We fought a war Thomas! Not for this, not to become exactly who we fought against." She approaches Draco who is now trembling and shaking with cold. Is it the vial or the situation, he doesn't know. "Harry, if I were you, I'd do better than just glaring at people." She reprimands him and finally places a comforting hand on Draco's shoulder.
Draco doesn't know what to say. "I am sorry."
Hermione smiles. "No, Draco we are sorry. This isn't how anyone should be treated no matter the past. Don't you worry, I will make sure this doesn't happen again."
Draco looks up to Harry almost begging. "Potter I have children, I would never use you to sneak my way in."
"I know Malfoy." Harry says quickly and his fists clenched and now bleeding go unnoticed by Draco. Harry didn't do anything now but Thomas is far from done. "We should leave Malfoy. It's getting late, let's get done early, the kids might be waiting."
Draco nods and he's still unable to move, his feet as if fixed on the puddle. Harry extends his hand and Draco doesn't know if he should accept, what if Thomas sees and thinks otherwise. Not like he should care but still Draco is not a cunning man, not anymore to use boy savior for his freedom. Hermione then offers her hand and Draco accepts it using her as support as they walk out of the room away from Thomas's groaning to the car. "Draco, will you be alright?" She asks and he nods, his gaze down on his feet, his only proper shoes are dirty.
"Don't worry." Harry tells Hermione and she nods leaving alongside Ron glancing back till the very end. "Let's go Malfoy?"
"My shoes are dirty."
"What?"
"They will ruin your car."
"No, it's alright." Draco doesn't move, just stares down as if the noises around him have silenced and the view blurred. His eyes are too dry to cry but his heart is aching inside. Why is it always so hard? He had heard and experienced so much, he thought the world couldn't come up with anything new but it did and it's the worst. His thoughts are interrupted as Harry opens the car door. "Sit inside Draco."
"No."
"Sit with your feet out."
Draco doesn't understand but he listens dropping his weight on the car feeling exhausted, if only he could sleep in here forever but his thoughts are interrupted as Harry takes out a tissue and starts wiping Draco's shoes. "What are you doing!" Draco tries to pull back but Harry's grip is strong. "Potter stop!"
"It's not your fault Malfoy so stop sulking, if you are only going to sit if your shoes are clean then let me clean them even though it doesn't matter to me. You know things like these never mattered and they never will."
"Potter stop it! You could have just used a spell, the last thing I want is for people to see YOU clean my shoes while I sit comfortably in YOUR car."
"Fine." Harry pulls out his wand creating an illusion around them. "Now no one can see."
"Why are you doing this."
"Scorpius didn't know you could do magic so that only means you never used your wand and had to clean your own shoes. For once let someone else do it. You have done a lot."
"I am not your responsibility."
"Thomas thinks differently." Harry chuckles and Draco glares at him. "Don't worry about him, I will deal with him."
"I'd rather have you do nothing Potter. You are so strange. Years back I would have never thought you'd wipe my shoes, now here we are and you do it without a care in the world." As much as Draco would have loved this back in the day, he hates it now. The auction in the museum, the hospital bills, the amusement park, the burgers and now this, he can't accept anymore of Harry's generosity. It's not right. "Stop it Potter please." Harry nods getting up admiring his work and for once Draco agrees.
The drive to a site which Draco didn't even bother asking is silent, they surprisingly never talked in the car and when they did, they fought. Draco thinks if Harry is God's favorite considering how his bad turned bad right after he fought with him. Harry plays some music and its harsh on the ears, it's too jolly and cheerful but Draco doesn't react, his gaze fixated on the boring view. Harry offers him snacks as well, some of which were his favorites back in Hogwarts but he continues looking out. "We are here!" Harry announces and Draco tilts his head to the other side to see a vast field of ... rocks. Rocks of different types, colors and sizes.
"What is this place?" Draco asks as they approach the site.
"This is where most of the stones are dumped."
"Scorpius would have loved this."
"I wouldn't advice it." Harry says quickly and seriously. "There's more bad than good here and no one comes here ever so I thought it would be the best site to try the potion on." Draco nods and opens the vial as the steam comes out but this time the liquid starts bubbling. "What's happening?"
"There is too much evil here, it's just reacting." Draco walks into the field. "Stay here."
"I am not going to let you go inside alone."
"Potter, if something happens, someone needs to be out here to pull me." Draco states as if it's the obvious.
"Those stones were dangerous and now even more considering they are all sharing their evil magic." Harry tells.
"Potter stay here. The last thing I want is for you to get hurt because of me."
"Malfoy, I am an auror so fully capable of saving myself and you." Harry grunts.
"Perfect! So, stay here and make sure of that." Draco continues to walk and Harry sighs, his eyes narrowing at every stone.
"Be careful." Draco nods and when he reaches a bit further, he stands on top of a large flat stone gaining balance and pours two drops of the potion in front. This time without wasting a second, the fluid goes within the rocks and soon a purple glow emits from around and beneath - there are numerous glows and the stones start to levitate.
"Draco, I think you should come back!" Harry screams as his stones all hover above Draco and he gulps standing fixated on his stop. "Wait! I am coming!" But it's too late as the stones all at once charge towards Draco and Harry draws out his wand screaming. "FLIPENDO!" some stones scatter while the heavy ones remain shaking in air and Draco runs towards Harry. Harry grabs Draco and screams. "Piertotum Locomotor!" The stones fall down on the ground as some dust flies towards the pair.
"Ahh! That worked right?" Draco grins and Harry turns towards him vexed.
"What was that Malfoy! I told you it's dangerous but would it be so bad just to listen to me once! Why do you have to be such a git!"
"Potter we are here to test the potion, how would we know if it works or not if I don't try it?"
"Look, your shoes are dirty again." Harry grunts and sits down wiping Draco's shoes again, it's not like Draco would ever admit his mistake.
"This is a good way to deflect the topic so you don't have to apologize." Draco smirks. "Now enough Potter. Let's leave."