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Just Let Me Die	By : TalisRuadair Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 25079 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: The Harry Potter Series (1997-2007) and any characters and original locations within the books belong to JK Rowling. I am not making any profit from this, as this is only written for practice.

Chapter List
- 10
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Chapter Eleven – Family Therapy and Interrogations

Hermione observed the interaction between the Malfoys during dinner. They were all silent as they ate their food. No one spoke; no one smiled, or even joked. The whole thing seemed too formal and cold for a family dinner. She was used to the large and loud Weasley Family Dinners. When it was just the three of them eating, they’d have some quiet discourse. The return of Lucius at the head of the table had some sort of psychological effect on both Draco and Narcissa. Hermione wondered if this was a normal occurrence. She looked around the table reading each person’s eyes. She saw fear and discomfort in Draco’s, which she attributed to the new situation and his memories. Narcissa’s were filled with sadness, as if she knew that their dinners were cold. Lucius’ shone with regret, longing, and hesitation. She made mental note understanding what she observed needed to be addressed.

The moment their deserts were finished, she cleared her throat. “I think we should all move to the front parlor, as it might be a more comfortable area.”

Draco stared at her for a moment and groaned. “Why do I get a feeling that I’m going to be speaking to Healer Granger tonight?”

She took his hand and squeezed it gently, “Because there are some underlying issues that need to be addressed before we bring Elty into this family dynamic.”

Draco rolled his gray eyes, “I don’t see the problem. Mum is excellent with children, and Father will do what he does best by avoiding contact.”

“How has your father’s emotional absence made you feel?”

Draco shook his head, “Nun-uh Granger, we’re not going there. That’s off limits and anything that touches on the relationship with my father always will be.”

“Okay then, perhaps we should go watch something in the Parlor,” Hermione smiled pulling him into the room where the elves had set up her television and VCR after magically adding an electrical outlet and warding the electronics against magical interference. The room itself was decorated with warm chocolate walls, cushy cream carpet, oversized, black leather, couch and chairs.

Draco’s eyes widened as he sat down and stared at the black screen. He gasped, “Is that a muggle telewatsit?”

Hermione smiled, as she watched Narcissa sit next to him and Lucius sat on her other side on the masculine leather couch. “It’s called a television, Draco. We’re going to watch something quite special for you. Something that I think you’ll enjoy greatly, as this is similar to wizard pictures.”

Draco stared wide eyed as Hermione pushed the correct buttons and the video her parents sent, started playing. It was taken of Elty interacting with his Muggle grandparents. He was speaking English and French, while his grandmother Francesca spoke in English and Spanish. Hermione noticed the tears slip from Draco’s eyes when Elty turned to the camera and spoke in clear English, “I love you, daddy.” He waved bye and the tape ended.

Hermione turned the television off and chuckled, “Apparently my parents have been teaching him more than they’ve told me.” She sat in the chair across from the sofa looking directly at Draco, “How did that make you feel to hear your son say that?”

Draco shook his head no as he wiped away his tears, “I’m not doing that in front of him.” He pointed in the direction of Lucius.

Hermione nodded and turned to Lucius. “As Elty’s grandfather, how did it make you feel to see images of him for the first time?”

His gray eyes made contact with her brown, “Regret. I regretted not having the opportunity to see him as a baby because my choices lead to the disappearance of my son.” He paused for a moment as he turned to look at Draco, “He’s a beautiful little child, and he reminds me so much of you. I also felt an overwhelming love mixed with the regret, knowing that I messed things up when it came to you. I never told you how much I cared about you, and because of that you thought you needed to make me proud to receive the love you freely deserved. I’m sorry for that Draco, and I hope we can have the relationship we should’ve had when you were younger.”

Draco shook his head, “It’s too late father. You’ve make your bed now lay in it. You expect me to believe that you love me after everything you put me through? After everything you put my mother through?”

Hermione cut in, “Perhaps the issue is that you don’t understand your father. Perhaps you should just listen during this first session. I have a feeling that certain things need to be addressed before you can consider forgiving your father for his past deeds.” Hermione turned her attention back to Lucius. “I was wondering if you could start by telling us about your childhood.”

Lucius’ eyes widened and he let out a loud gulp, “Well, my mother died giving birth to me. I think my father always blamed me for her death. He was a typically reserved man and I was raised by a nanny until my first year at Hogwarts. The summer between my first year and my second, was the first time I was home without the nanny. My father was rarely there and I relied on the house elves during the day. We’d have dinner at night where he’d reprimand me for even speaking to him. So, we sat at the table in complete silence while we ate. I did everything to get a reaction from the man, a smile, anything that could prove to me that he cared about me or even loved me. But no matter what I did, it was never good enough for him. He’d never recognize my achievements, and he always underlined my faults. I fear that my desire to make him proud and to prove to him that I was worth something, even after he died, blinded me. I neglected you in a similar manner, and I made you feel the same way.”

Draco jumped up, “Do you think I care how horrible your childhood was? It didn’t give you a right to screw up mine so royally. I’m done here.” He quickly left the parlor. Those who remained were shocked at his outburst as he fled.

The next morning Hermione was busy in the sitting room of her and Draco’s suite writing a letter to Healer Bagshot with her concerns. She looked over her scroll before asking Rosy to deliver it to the healer. As soon as the little elf left with her letter, she pulled out her mobile to give her parents a call. She was wrapping up her conversation with her mother, when Harry knocked on the door. Hermione opened it and motioned for him to take a seat before she went to check on Draco. She walked into the bedroom and noticed that he was still sleeping. The blankets were awkwardly wrapped around him like he was a cocooned caterpillar. She sighed and quietly shut the door. Turning to Harry, she grimaced. “Let’s get this over with. I really don’t want to see that man, but I fear that Draco will never come to terms with what he’s gone through, if he doesn’t have all of the facts.”

Harry shook his head as they walked down the hallway toward the drawing room where the two of them could apperate, “He really does sound like a male version of you, Hermione. I mean, he seems to analyze things beyond necessary. I guess the only thing he lacks is the Gryffindor Bravery.”

Hermione tilted her head, “I don’t believe that’s true. If he was the coward we always believed him to be, then he would’ve never found a way to protect Sofia until their son was born. The only reason why she died when she did was because Rosy had taken the invisibility cloak to take Elty to the orphanage.”

They reached the drawing room and Harry took her hand, “I’ll apparate us to the ministry where we’re meeting Nott. Then the three of us will use the specified apparition point to the lobby of Azkaban.”

Hermione nodded and soon felt her body twist and turn as they landed in the atrium of the Ministry of Magic. They quickly located Theo Nott standing by the new statue where all of the magical creatures stood next to the witch and wizard looking out at the crowd. It was different to the golden statue that was there before the Death Eaters’ takeover during the height of the war. The golden statue had a centaur, a house elf, and a goblin looking up at the witch and wizard in awe instead of showing the equality of all magical races unlike the new one. Hermione refused to think about the ghastly statue that took its place during the war with the wizards standing on the backs of muggles. Harry walked over and quickly shook hands with Theo before they started walking toward the Azkaban apparition point.

Hermione cleared her throat, “So Mr. Nott, I here you’re a strong Legilimens.”

He nodded his head, his dark hair was pulled back at the nape of his neck, and his bright blue eyes met her honey brown, “I here that you’ve become quite strong with mind magic yourself.”

Hermione blushed, “Well, Ernie refused to do anything to help Draco, and we needed to see what was going on, so he had me used Legilimency to determine what happened to him. I later discovered his unwillingness to treat Draco as a human and I quickly had him transferred to Greg’s ward. However, while helping treat Draco, I’ve become quite proficient.”

“How aggressive are you willing to get to get answers from Crabbe?” His blue eyes were emotionless as the words graced his lips. His strong jaw set and his teeth clenched waiting for her response, as if he believed “bleeding heart” Granger was unable to harm another human being.

“I’ve already seen some of the atrocities that man commented from Draco’s memories. I’m willing to get as aggressive as needed to obtain answers and help Draco. If his mind becomes a little more unhinged in the process, is no concern of mine. In my opinion the man doesn’t deserve to live, and I hope that Blaise can obtain a death penalty conviction. I really think that he belongs on Despair Island with his soul sucked out by a Dementor’s kiss.”

A smile spread across Theo’s face and his blue eyes lit up, “That would be one less demented pervert, I’d have to protect my daughter from.”

Hermione’s lips puckered into a perfect oh, “I didn’t realize that she arrived but it has been long enough. Congratulations to you and Astoria, Theo!”

Theo blushed and muttered, “Thank you,” as they reached the apparition point. The three of them stood on the pad that linked the ministry to the Wizarding prison. It was the only way to and from the prison. When the light flashed and the bell sounded, they concentrated on the poster of the prison on the wall.

Hermione felt her guts twist a second time as she apparated. They all landed in the lobby of the newly renovated prison. It was no longer as depressing and inhuman, as it had been when Sirius Black spent his thirteen years there an innocent man. The prisoners were forced to wear a magical suppressant cuff that prevented them from performing accidental or wandless magic. It also prevented them from performing magic if they were to obtain a wand. Harry spoke with the guard behind the desk and they were soon escorted to a gray and lifeless interrogation room.

Crabbe was already waiting, magically restrained to a chair. His face twisted into a hateful sneer when he saw who entered. Hermione took the chair directly across from him with Harry on her right and Theo on her left. She cleared her throat, “Crabbe, we’re here today to discuss the abduction and torture of Draco Malfoy, the many muggle women you raped and murdered, and the heinous acts you performed against underaged wizards.”

The oversized oaf had defiance in his coal black eyes, and his voice came out in a low growl, “What do you just expect me to talk?”

Hermione smirked, “No, I never thought a vile man like you would just talk. So, we have other ways of interrogating you. There’s no point in truth serum as you’ve somehow managed to learn Occlumency, even with your lower than average intelligence, so we’ll just have to use other means to get the truth out of you.”

The man smirked, “What are you going to do? Attack my mind in an attempt to get past my barriers?”

Theo glared, “That is exactly what we’re going to do.”

Crabbe spat, “Nott, you really are a disgrace to your family. Your father was an original Death Eater and you sit here with the Mudblood and the Half-blood murderer of our lord? Why are you interrogating one of your own?”

Theo’s blue eyes narrowed and he hissed through clinched teeth, “I was never one of you!”

Hermione smiled a sweet smile that could rival Umbridge and brandished her wand, “Silencio.” Crabbe’s face turned red in anger that he could no longer spout his venom. “Now that we’ve stopped your poisonous and inane ramblings, I think it’s time we start getting answers.”

It didn’t take too long to break through the mental shields of Crabbe. However, sorting through the memories to find the ones pertaining to Draco took more time and Hermione was sickened by the scenes she witnessed as she picked through the man’s brain. She found answers to questions she never realized she had. She found out that Crabbe murdered his wife when Vincent was only three years old, and that the reason for Vincent’s stupidity was the result of the multiple applications of the memory charm at the hands of his father. Crabbe would abuse, beat, torture, and molest his son then he finish it up by healing all of the wounds, washed away the evidence, and performed a memory charm. It got to a point where Vincent had no short term memory and was genuinely thick.

After getting past the horrible childhood of the now deceased Vincent Crabbe, she found the memories they were looking for. She was unsure if Theo was witnessing the same things or if he was retrieving other memories because she wasn’t able to sense his presence in the Crabbe’s mind. She watched what Crabbe did to the eleven year old Draco before she had to leave. She felt sick to her stomach as she realized that Crabbe didn’t use Polyjuice Potion. He actually did what he did as himself, but used a memory charm forcing Draco to remember his father doing those things. Crabbe didn’t even say the same things that he forced Draco to remember. She pulled out of his mind and noticed that Theo was still fully focused on the man. A scowl was fixed on his face as Hermione ran out of the room. She quickly located a bathroom and threw up. She wasn’t sure if it was morning sickness or if it was from the memories she saw. She couldn’t help but feel sorry for both Vincent and Draco. As she made her way back to the interrogation room, she pulled the silver wisps of memories from her mind, and placed them into vials.

Upon entering, Harry looked over at her, “Are you okay?”

She nodded, “I think it’s just morning sickness.”

At that comment Nott broke eye contact with Crabbe and looked over at Hermione, “You’re expecting?”

Hermione blushed, “Yes, well it kind of happened.”

Theo’s brow knit together, “Draco’s the father, isn’t he?”

Hermione nodded, “Let’s not talk about this in front of him.” She pointed at Crabbe and they all understood. “Did you get everything you needed?”

Theo tapped his temple, “It’s all in here.”

“Good, let’s go.” Hermione did wait for a response when she quickly left the room with her Witch’s robes billowing behind her. She smiled as she realized it was almost a tribute to the bravest man Dumbledore ever knew who also happened to be Draco’s godfather.

That night, Hermione brought the pensieve and vials of her and Theo’s memories from the interrogation. She prepared herself for another attempt to crack through everyone’s shell. She didn’t want to see the memories, but figured it would be best to send at least Lucius and Draco in the Pensieve together right after dinner. She feared that they wouldn’t be able to eat if they experienced the memories before. The meal started out silent, much like the night before.

Hermione sighed, “If all dinners are going to be this quiet, I think I might just go insane.”

Lucius’ head popped up and a smirk appeared on his sullen features, “We wouldn’t want that, now would we. What shall we discuss?”

Narcissa raised an eyebrow, “You went with Potter and Nott to interrogate Crabbe today, didn’t you?”

Hermione nodded but didn’t really want to discuss her findings at the dinner table. “However, I don’t want to share that right now. I’ve brought the pensieve down for after dinner. I’m not sure if you’d want to watch what I discovered, Narcissa, but I think that Draco and Lucius both need to.”

Draco shook his head, “I’m not going in there with him. I don’t trust him, and I’d rather him not see me that vulnerable.”

Hermione glared and crossed her arms, “Draco, you need your father there with you. There are things you need to understand, and I don’t want you to face it alone. I cannot watch it because I threw up over what I saw that happened to Vincent.”

Draco’s eyes widened, “What happened to Vincent?”

She shook her head, “I’m not talking about it. It’s in there. If you’re done eating, I want the two of you to get into that Pensieve.”

Draco stood up and grumbled, “Bossy.”

Lucius had is face schooled into an indifferent mask, as he cupped some of the liquid and disappeared. Draco followed his lead. Hermione and Narcissa were left sitting at the dinner table. Hermione rubbed her temples where a headache was starting to form, “Will he always give me a bloody headache?”

Narcissa laughed and her blue-gray eyes sparkled with mirth, “Well, he’s a Malfoy, so yes.”

When Draco came out of the Pensieve, he was as white as a ghost and Lucius’ usually masked features were filled with rage, sadness, and disgust. It was Lucius that spoke first. “Draco, I’m sorry. That’s my entire fault. If I hadn’t made the choice to follow Snake Face, then Crabbe would’ve never been in your life.” Tears formed in the corners of his eyes, as he pulled a ridged and uncomfortable Draco into a hug and continued to whisper something into Draco’s ear before kissing his temple. It took a bit before Draco relaxed and even more time before he returned the hug.

Hermione heard Draco mumble, “I still don’t trust you, old man.”

Lucius let out a warm guttural laugh, “You wouldn’t be a Malfoy if you did. I hope to one day earn your trust, but I have much to make up for before that happens. I only ask that you allow me to be in my grandchildren’s lives, while I work on redeeming myself.”

Draco nodded yes before disentangling himself from the hug and leaving the room.

Hermione smiled, “I think he’s starting to come around.”

Lucius nodded staring at the doorway Draco had left through. He turned his cool gray eyes toward her, “Those memories are going to Blaise for the prosecution, right?”

“Yes, he’s already been sent a copy along with all of the memories we’ve retrieved from Draco during his stay at the hospital. I’ve also added the memories of what happened to Sofia and everything I’ve seen. I really do think the prosecution will have an air tight case, especially with the added memories from Crabbe showing what he did to his own son.”

Lucius frowned, “If he could do that to his own son, I wonder why he abducted Draco after Vincent’s death.”

Hermione’s eyes narrowed and she spoke in an emotionless tone, “There’s something you need to understand about that man. He’s a complete liar and told Draco everything he did to hurt him more, to break him, and to make him into the perfect play thing. Crabbe gets off on causing other’s harm. He wasn’t angry about his son’s death because he loved Vincent, he was mad because he lost his longest victim. He no longer had Vincent to take his perversions out on and erase the memory of later. So, he took off with Draco with every intention of keeping him down there for the rest of his life or until he grew bored and killed him.”

Narcissa and Lucius both gasped at Hermione’s blunt words.

A/N: Okay so this chapter didn’t have much action and I really didn’t want to go into detail about the horrible things that Crabbe has done. I hope you guys like this chapter. I feel this story is starting to wind down. I think there might only be about three chapters left. As always, reviews are welcome.
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Just Let Me Die