One's True Nature

One’s True Nature


Chapter 11

Harry was spending all of his energy on getting ready for the Wizengamot. He hadn't realized how much was going on around him until his wife Ginny barked after her youngest boy. He smiled and wondered what it could be about. Scorpious had possibly made Albus do whatever it was, but Harry was too happy to allow them to indulge in childish impulses. He was of the thought that his children should actually be children, he had always felt an element of his own sadness at his lack of a real childhood. Draco must have felt the same way for Scorpious. Harry cursed bitterly as he sat at the kitchen table looking at different things, studying, not wizarding law, but the deep dark secrets of the men behind the walls. He intended to know them better than they knew themselves. Despite all his dedication, his mind had not strayed far from Draco Malfoy. He seemed to invade Harry's soul, it was irritating.

"Coffee Harry." Ginny said, more in telling him she'd placed a mug on the table and she expected he drink it.

"Thanks Ginny." He took a sip. She put her arms around his neck from behind and kissed him on the temple.

"What are you doing?" She asked him softly.

He had to tell her at some point before he left. The fact was, that this could blow up in his face for all he knew and Ginny and the children would be unprotected from the wrath of his enemies. He wasn't sure what was really driving him to take such a high risk, but it was too late now. He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, they were tired from the filed reports he had read and just genuinely tired, aside from the few hours he'd got sleep at the hospital he hadn't slept a full night in six days.

"Gin, I am going to the Wizengamot." Harry said exhaustion in his voice. "I need to speak on Draco's behalf."

"I knew this was about Draco." Ginny looked horrified when Harry looked at her, as if she hadn't meant to say that aloud. She was searching for words to counter the slip up, but she wound up just opening and closing her mouth several times before going over to the sink and facing the window.

"What in the hell is that all about, Ginny?!" Harry groaned as he turned and looked at her back.

"Just-" Ginny sighed. "Harry, listen, do what you have to do."

Harry decided he didn't have the energy to force the truth from her by a long Weasley-ish argument, so he dropped it. Instead he continued to tell Ginny just what he was going to be doing today. She seemed unfazed as he gave his reasons and explained the huge risks he was taking. He suspected that Ginny had learned to numb herself in that regard. Harry was in danger almost all the time as Head Auror. He thanked her silently in his head for being so understanding over the years, sometimes risks were necessary, not that he wasn't as careful as he could be.

Harry put on his glasses to see two boys running into the house full speed.

"Whoa there boys, where's the fire?" Harry asked, his face deep with a smile.

"Albus was..OW!" Scorpious yelped as Albus hit him in the arm. Harry smiled inwardly. "Don't Potter, I was just-"

"Don't tell me to don't." Albus barked furious. "Malfoy." And Harry laughed so hard his sides hurt and his head throbbed. He caught his breath in time to see confused looks on both of their faces. He sighed, a contented smile on his face. He folded his hands as if he were thinking, there was a twinkle in his eye as he spoke.

"Let's try again, Scorpious, you go first." Harry commanded gently. The blonde boy nodded.

"Well, I was trying to help Albus with his dueling spells, he was having trouble with some of the basics, so I was just trying to help him out." He breathed out and was going to speak again when Albus cut him off.

"You made me mess up by yell-" Harry held up his hand to silence his son.

"It isn't your turn yet Albus." Harry smiled in delightful humor when Albus crossed his arms and pouted.

"Anyway," Scorpious continued casting a glance at Albus. "I was just trying to teach him to work under pressure, so I used a loud voice and he got surprised by it." He looked at Harry dead in the face. "I didn't mean, well it was a jinx, and well, somewhere in the yard James is now a unicorn."

Harry didn't know what to say or do. He wanted to laugh, but the situation was mildly serious. He wanted to allow James to be taught a lesson for always picking on his youngest brother. He shook off the thoughts and looked at both boys.

"Take me to him." Harry's voice boomed, expressing his disappointment as he then followed them out of the door. He saw Scorpious whispering something of an apology to Albus and putting his arm around the boy's slumped shoulders. And there he was again, thinking of Draco and himself, could they have been friends like that? Harry didn't think so. They walked some short distance before all three of them stopped, a funny looking unicorn with orangish fur and a bent horn was before him. Harry without any hesitation freed his son James from the jinx.

Harry had little time to react to James fury as he charged his younger brother in anger. Albus looked terrified. Scorpious in one swift movement stepped in front of him, being nearly a head taller than Albus made him a great shield, then he drew his wand and pointed it at James.

"YOUR WANDS ON THE GROUND, ALL THREE OF YOU!" Harry yelled so loud that a bird flew from its nest. "Albus collect them please and give them to your mother, you are not to use them for the remainder of the holiday." Harry frowned in irritation. "No buts James, I am sick of this petty fighting. He didn't do anything on purpose to you James, though the way you pick on him, he should. Go inside all of you. James if you cause anymore trouble for your brother while I am gone, you won't like the consequences." Harry sighed, he was worked up, just what he didn't need for his trip to the ministry.

He turned to go find his broom when Scorpious spoke shakily.

"Mr. Potter sir, I didn't mean to get Albus in trouble, I'm sorry." Harry smiled and turned around.

"I will think about what you said." Harry nodded to the boy. "But for now, I must be off for work." The boy nodded courteously and Harry turned to go find his broom.

When he arrived at the Ministry, it was the normal crowded and busy place it had been every other time he'd been here. He shuddered when he remembered the war and how easy it had been to topple this place and all the horrid things he'd seen then. He wanted to see the Wizengamot more than ever. Percy greeted him and looked deep with worry. Harry at least trusted Percy, he'd been so remorseful the night of the battle of Hogwarts, he'd agreed to go back to a life of politics when Harry had said that he needed someone on the inside.

"You got all the information I sent?" Percy inquired.

"Yes." Harry's reply was grateful.

"Just remember what I told you about this, you need leverage over them." Percy folded his arms as they walked. "If you plan to get what you want, you have to be very persuasive and force your point of view."

"I think I can handle this." Harry said in commanding tone.

"I certainly hope so." Percy placed his arm on Harry's shoulder. "I'll start work on protecting Malfoy's foreign assets from being frozen, it'll be a load of work, but it will keep me busy."

"Thanks Percy, I know this wasn't an easy favor to ask." Harry gave the man's back an affectionate pat.

"No problem really." They arrived at two long black double doors. "Right through there. I don't envy you Harry." And with that, Percy Weasley left Harry to walk into a large and dark room where perhaps one hundred older witches and wizards sat around the room in circular like seats. Harry shivered a little inside. Somewhere in here where people who were his enemies. He was glad he had people on the inside.

"Mr. Potter." One of the men spoke with a soft but commanding tone. "Why have you called us all here?" The man sounded irritated and Harry wanted to hit him.

"I have several reasons, none of the least of which is the powers of my office being usurped in my absence and used against Draco Malfoy along with three other people of moderate distinction." Harry's eyes flashed fury. "I didn't realize the ministry could influence my office in this manner and have it be binding. You went over my head, why?" Harry knew why, it was time to play their game now for a few minutes.

"Do you deny that you engaged in an unsanctioned police action that resulted in the deaths of Vincent Crabbe, and Pansy Parkinson and put a great many others at risk?" The gentlemen who Harry had identified now as Muader asked.

"I do not deny it." Harry said with irritation in his words. "I couldn't trust the ministry or anyone to handle this case but myself and a few select others." Harry's eyes were fiery and unwavering.

"And why is that Mr. Potter." Muader said whilst steepling his hands.

"Because I have enemies here," He started to look at all the eyes in the room. "And so does Mr. Malfoy."

Someone else spoke. "That's impossible Potter, why the hell would anyone be your enemy."

"Language please." Muader admonished.

Harry sneered. "There are a lot of reasons I am sure, but I don't care about that just now. I will discover who you are in time and when I do, you'll wish you'd gotten kissed."

"Please, there is no need for threats." A rather round faced woman spoke.

"Mrs. I don't make threats, I make promises." He turned to face someone else in the seats, a man in red robes.

"Someone here used the powers of my office to freeze Draco Malfoy's assets and moved against several others with the single similarity that they had all once been attached to Voldemort." Harry smirked at the gasps he got. "I want this to be fixed immediately."

"Potter?" A man behind him spoke coolly and Harry turned to face him.

"Yes Mr. Thompkins?" Harry said with sickening politeness.

"Draco Malfoy is under investigation for two murders and his wife is dead. This is standard proc-" Thompkins was cut off by Harry's glaring eyes.

"No, it's bullshit, I am Head Auror, you can't just cut me out of something simply because you wish to." Harry was searching the room for any happy faces. Most of the expressions were indifferent.

"Perhaps you are too close to-" Thompkins began.

"I am too close to anything related to the death eaters, I fought them, you didn't." Harry was trying to swallow his anger, it wasn't working. "Now you will do as I ask, or you will find out just how far I can drag your names through the mud in the press." Harry's eyes became small slits.

"Draco Malfoy is a known Death Eater who still bares the mark, it is this man's opinion that-" And Harry spun around and glared the man into silence.

"Ah, Mr. Shimley." Harry strode toward the man, who had a deep and furious gaze on his face. "I should have guessed it might be you." Harry smiled angrily. "How many times did you vote for death on people connected to Voldemort?"

"Every time." Came Shimely's cold reply.

"That's a tad convenient for you isn't it?" Harry's smile made people flinch, "Considered a great many of you all, including you Mr. Shimley, were content to serve in the ministry when he controlled it." Harry's words were met by Shimley's wide eyes and several gasps moved throughout the room.

"I AM NOT ON TRIAL-" The man yelled in defense of himself.

"No, I beg to differ on that Mr. Shimley, really, I do." Harry liked it when they squirmed. "You seem to think that walking the boundless line of neutrality during the war makes you immune to judgement. Well, you're wrong. Some of you have seen battles, but not many. Most of you wouldn't even know death. Yet you sit in deep judgement of those who have. I simply find that brutal and unfair."

"They should all pay for their crimes." Shimley spoke coldly.

"They already have Shimley." Harry said, his features turning dark. "Have you seen death?"

"I lost my daughter in-" Shimley spoke and Harry held up his hand.

"Ah yes, she picked a side." Harry's tone was indifferent. Shimley glared in anger.

"YOU-" The man started to shout at Harry.

"Have you ever seen someone die right in front of you? Felt the life leave them, or know that you caused it?" Harry's anger was out of control. "Do you know the hellish nightmares that go on night after night when you're barely 16 and the Dark Lord is killing people right before you?" DO YOU?" Harry was walking toward him.

"No," Shimley said as he watched Harry come over and stand directly over him. "But I-"

"NO." Harry shouted and the room was tense. "But let me show you." and Harry drew his wand and cast a spell at the side of his own eyes. Then, he opened them and entered Shimley's mind. There was no one near enough to see exactly what he was doing. Thanks to the work of some of his own men, he'd disabled almost the entire set of security spells. He was still in danger. If Shimley didn't break, he would be in deep shit.

He penetrated deep so he could leave the most painful scenes from Draco's memories there. He felt Shimley's mind try to pull away. He focused harder.

“NO, LOOK AT HIM SHIMLEY, LOOK AT HIM!" Harry shouted into the man's mind. "YOU WILL SEE HIS HELL-" Harry resisted the urge to throttle him in his seat. "AND MINE!" Harry showed him every death that he and Draco had ever seen during the war. He wanted the man to know how lucky he was to be here. He wanted him to suffer for thinking himself more worthy than anyone who bore the mark. He wanted him broken. The last memory he showed was of Draco torturing Neville, it was the breaker. Shimley wept and Harry let go, nearly falling over from the sudden disorientation of freedom.

"He's right," Shimley cried. "Potter, we will do as you ask."

And Harry couldn't wait to leave. He walked out of the room, found the nearest bathroom and vomited in disgust with himself. He didn't know what was happening to him, he didn't like what he was doing, he'd just forced his mind on someone for personal gain. He vomited again.

Draco was awake which the nurse had said was amazing. Naithen had talked with him a bit but his head was still swimming a bit with medicines and potions. Right now however, he wanted nothing better than to pass out to avoid this inevitable conversation. At the side of his bed sat Neville Longbottom. Draco's vision was a bit blurry, but he could still make out some of the scars on the man's face.

"Well, at least now we can talk." Neville said, a sigh of accomplishment escaped him. Draco closed his eyes.

"Draco I wanted to thank you-" Neville stopped when Draco looked at him shocked.

"Thank me?!" His voice was strained so it didn't capture all of his surprise as he said it.

"Just listen for now ok?" Neville asked gently, placing his hand on Draco's arm. Draco shuddered gently. "You probably saved my life, I mean, think about it, if they had asked anyone else, someone who didn't mind hurting someone, I might be dead right?" Neville's logic amazed Draco.

"I-" Draco sighed in pain. "The scars on your face, your eye that has bad vision?" guilt was crushing Draco, he started to breath hard.

"Draco it's alright, I forgive you, you didn't have a choice ok?" Neville gently comforted him. "Besides, my wife likes the facial scars, she says they make me look dangerous." Draco raised an eyebrow.

"Neville, I am sorry, you know?" The blurry face nodded.

"Draco, at some point you have to forgive yourself too." Longbottom got up to leave. "Goodbye for now, I will bring you some stuff for basilisk poison tomorrow." And then he left. Draco was all alone with his thoughts.

He didn't know how long he had lain there, drifting in an out of sleep. He was disturbed slightly by someone stumbling into his room, he could tell by the sound of their steps that they were possibly drinking or otherwise impaired, but he couldn't think of anyone dumb enough to see him when they were in that state. He was about to open his eyes to see who it was when they spoke.

"Oh Gods Draco." Harry slurred very drunkenly. "I am so awful."

And Draco was frozen. Then he felt Harry's stumble into the side of his bed. He heard him pull the chair close and then he felt Harry lay oh his chest. Despite the fact that it was already difficult to breathe, Draco didn't dare protest now. He tried to even his breathing the best he could. He could smell heavy waves of liquor.

"I don't know what's happened to me." Harry was crying. "I was just trying to plead your case to the ministry and," Harry took a violent breath. "I forced him to see things." Harry was very upset and that started to upset Draco too. "What's wrong with me, why am I being like this. I don't understand." Draco was squirming inside. "Please, just let me stay here awhile, I can't face my family right now, you were the only one-" Harry was whimpering softly. "Just don't leave me." Harry breathed out.

Draco was shocked. He knew Harry had thought him asleep, but the fact that he'd come all the way here to talk about his problems, that was new. When he was sure that Harry had fallen asleep, he placed his hand on Harry's head and stroked his hair gently.

"I won't leave you Harry, I promise." He said in a barely audible voice.

Just beyond the threshold of the doorway, A woman had an awkwardly placed smile on her face and tears in her eyes. She turned and walked away.