Thirty-Three
February 2nd 2018:
“It sounds too good to be true. There is no way that Garret is just going to hand over Lyra’s location.” Ron argued.
“If it gets him out of Azkaban, then he might.” Harry disputed him.
“Look, we’ve already made the decision to go along with this.” Hermione told both of them. “We send Garret back to Lucius with a tracker on him. Then once he has reached the previously mentioned location, we send a team there and they will go in and bring both Lucius and Garret in along with anyone else who has been working with them and they will bring Lyra home.”
“I volunteer my team and I to be the ones who bring them in.” Draco announced.
“You can’t, you’re a conflict of interest. Harry and I’s team will go in, along with us.”
“Look Weaselbee, if anyone is going to be taking my father down, it is going to be me.”
“I know your slimy ferret brain can’t process being told no, but just because you want to be the one to do it, doesn't mean you’re allowed too. There are rules.”
“He is right, Malfoy.” Harry interjected. “You are not only the son of our target but you are Lyra’s father. You can’t be the one going in.”
“I might technically be Lyra’s father but legally, there is no paperwork tying me to Lyra as her father. And as for Lucius, usually the minister can approve it but considering Hermione is a conflict of interest we can convene the wizengamot.”
“You really think the wizengamot will allow you to be on this case?” Ron questioned with a little too much spite in his tone for Hermione’s liking.
“It wouldn’t be the first time I helped the Ministry lock him away. Or did you forget it was me that helped the Ministry capture him. I was the one that told you where he was.” Draco scoffed at Ron’s accusations.
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Yes. One hundred percent sure, Granger.”
“I’ll call the Wizengamot.” Hermione said walking out of the office.
“What is your problem with me?” Draco turned to Ron. “Besides all the shit in the past. I know I was a bigot. I know I was a bully. I have never once made excuses for the way I acted towards any of you. I know an apology doesn’t erase any of that, but I have tried. And yes, I abandoned Hermione. But first, I am not going to apologize to you of all people about that and secondly, you know nothing about the truth of that situation. So whatever stick is shoved up your ass, get over it. We’re grown adults now.”
“You want to know what my problem is with you?” Ron scoffed. “My problem with you is that you are a pompous ass. You walk out of Hermione’s life, with no warning. You leaving her, affected her more than the war did. She was wrecked for months. It wasn’t until she found out she was pregnant that she actually started taking care of herself again. And then Lyra was born, and looked just like you, and Hermione fell so far down the hole of depression that it was Harry, Ginny, and I raising Lyra the first few months. And now, out of nowhere, the moment her daughter is missing, you show up and you walk in here like you own the place and she’s falling for you all over again. But for Hermione, loving you only ends in pain. My problem with you is that you are destined to hurt Hermione and I won’t stand by and let you hurt her or Lyra.”
“I never would have left Hermione if I knew she was pregnant. I never would have adbonded my own blood. I would never hurt Lyra. And I never want to hurt Hermione again. You do not understand shit, Weasley. You do not understand why I did what I did. You do not know the reasoning.”
“Then tell us. You wanted to know the problem I have with you, well I told you. If you want to solve it, tell the truth for once in your life.”
Draco glared at Ron with so much hate that if looks really could kill, the redhead would be six feet under.
“I don’t owe you an explanation.”
“Maybe you don’t. But until we get one, we’ll have the same feelings towards you.” Harry finally spoke up. “I agree with Ron. I think we need to know.” Draco turned around from the other two men.
“Just because you think you need to know, doesn't mean you have any right to know. I am not going to tell you anything. Especially information that I haven’t even told Hermione. You have no right to demand anything from me. I did ask what your problem with me is. I did initiate this conversation. However I am ending it. My life, and my past, is more complicated and fucked up than you could ever imagine. You do not understand anything. Your side won the war. You came out of it a hero and I came out of it a depressed pile of shite. I went from being a Malfoy, to being the boy who had no choice, the boy with no guts, a coward. I experienced every bit of prejudice that I spewed as a child. I tried to slit my own throat in the spot that Hermione was tortured in. If it wasn’t for my mother, I’d be dead right now. Because like all the newspapers said, I was a coward. I tried to take the easy way out. But then Hermione fucking Granger came into my life, as she forgave me. She fucking forgave me! And after seeing her again and hearing her say she did not resent me, Merlin, I knew I was done for. I am the man I am today because of Hermione. I wanted to be a better man for her. Even after I left. Every dark wizard I put away, I did so knowing she would be just a little safer in this world.”
Harry and Ron remained silent long after Draco stopped talking. A mutual agreement was made to not speak about what Draco confessed to them.
“You’re right. We could never know what you went through. But this, this is it Malfoy. If you hurt her again, if you leave her again, I will personally kill you.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less, Potter.”
Hermione walked in and immediately noticed the tension within the room.
“The Wizengamot is here and ready.”She stated as she looked between the three men.
“That was quick.”
“Well when the Minister calls, you run.”
Hermione, Draco, Harry, and Ron walked to the courtroom together. Inside sat all the members of the Wizengamot.
“Why have we been summoned?” The Chief Warlock, asked.
“My daughter was taken by Lucius Malfoy. We have a suspect in custody that has confessed to be working alongside Lucius and has agreed to a deal that will help us capture Lucius and bring my daughter home. In order to do this, I would like special permission to be granted to Draco Malfoy to lead alongside Head Auror Harry Potter and Auror Ronald Weasley on the mission to capture Lucius and to bring my daughter home safely.”
“You want to send in Draco Malfoy to capture his father as well as his daughter? We all see the newspapers. We know he is your daughter’s biological father. Why should we allow it?”
“May I?” Draco asked before stepping before the council. “Lucius Malfoy may be my biological father, but that is all he is. I was the one who helped the Aurors capture my father the first time. I would like to be the one who does it this time. I would like to make sure that this time, he stays locked away.”
“And as for Minister Granger and your daughter?”
“While Granger publicly confirmed that I am the father of her daughter, there is no record of it. Biologically, yes I am her father. However, if you check the paperwork, Lyra Granger and I have no connection.” The Wizengamot murmured to each other before looking down at the four adults.
“We will allow Draco Malfoy permission to join the mission for the capture of Lucius Malfoy.”
“Thank you.” Hermione, Draco, Harry, and Ron walked out of the courtroom.
“The teams are ready. We just need Garret.”
“Let’s go get the bastard.” Before the three men walked away, Hermione grabbed Draco’s hand.
“Go get our daughter, Draco.”
“I’ll bring her back to you.” He kissed her forehead before he ran off with Ron and Harry.