"Well I hope that has appeased your fears Albus."
The elderly Wizard looked anything but comforted by the DMLE director's comment. "Amelia, I understand that you are reluctant to believe me but…"
" Reluctant ? No Albus, I am not reluctant I am outright saying you are wrong. The testimony of two traumatized boys who were attacked, put under Merlin knows what sort of spells, and then interviewed less than an hour after they had gone through such an ordeal is not indicative of someone being an evil tyrant, especially if that person is a teenager who was just shown destroying a Dark Lord!"
"He is not what he seems, surely you cannot deny that it is suspicious."
"The way you are denying the fact that you are just now believing the words of a certain Potion professor, one whom I want to point out has apologized and remained silent as to any further guilt of Mr. Potter? Or the fact that you are ignoring the testimony of two other individuals, both of whom were there during the battle as well?"
"And the destruction done to the graveyard?"
"From the Spell that Mr. Potter himself admits he wasn't one hundred percent certain about? We know that it was strong enough to damage the Viewing Sphere, perhaps it released all of the Dark Lord's Magic at once as a side effect?"
"Amelia…"
"Albus, I am not going to arrest a fourteen-year-old boy, days after he killed the most feared Dark Lord of our generation. If you can find actual evidence I will investigate further, but as of right now I am dealing with the corruption in the Ministry, the pardoning of dozens of Death Eaters, chasing down those who fled the graveyard, and helping the Wizengamot with the political pressures from all of our allies concerning the event and Mr. Potter as well."
Dumbledore nodded, allowing the woman to excuse herself as she used the Floo to return to her office.
Something had to be done. Maybe he was wrong, and Harry was still able to be redeemed, if so he would need to gather what allies he could and investigate the situation further. The boy had connections to quite a few of the former Order members, perhaps some of them could reach out to him.
...
Lucius Malfoy sat in the dark silence of his personal study, a bottle of alcohol half gone on the desk, within arm's reach. What the hell was he going to do now? Everything he had worked for, planned for now seemed to be dissolving before his very eyes.
Voldemort was gone, he was under investigation, the most powerful Wizard the world had probably ever seen was probably planning his torture and demise, and more than a dozen Death Eaters were currently sending him periodic letters asking for advice.
How the hell was he supposed to know what to do?
"Funny how things come full circle…" the blonde muttered, grabbing the bottle and taking a long drink. He had berated fudge a year prior about the man's weakness in leadership and now here he was, locked away in hiding.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Go away." he replied, his voice cracked and harsh. Apparently, the alcohol, combined with lack of sleep and stress, were beginning to finally wear on him.
The barrier opened regardless of his demand, and in walked his wife. "Lucius, what is going on? What happened ?"
The Malfoy Lord laughed humorlessly, " Potter happened… my own damn stupidity happened…"
"So, it is true then… what I saw?"
"Yes, Voldemort is gone, the Dark Mark is gone… our future is gone."
The woman hissed as she walked further towards him, lighting a few candles to try and illuminate the room, "And what did you do?"
"Freed dozens of the Dark Lord's servants, informed them, and their master, about Potter's friends and weaknesses, set the boy up to die… watched as a teenage utterly destroyed the most powerful Dark Wizard I have ever seen."
Narcissa swore quietly, before taking the bottle from him, and taking a sip herself. "I suppose my own actions towards him have not… aided in his acceptance of us…"
"He will demand my head… of that I have no doubt. Our son warned me about going after his followers and I did not take heed. Thrice now I have offended him, once when we first met, once when I betrayed his confidences, and once when I released his enemies. I will not survive the summer…"
"And myself? Draco?"
"I will take full responsibility and plead for both of you. Of that I swear."
"It will not be enough."
The blonde gave a very Muggle-like shrug, "There is nothing else I can do. I have nothing to offer that Draco himself will not have access to after my death, and he was the one who gave me the position of Minister."
"You could offer… me."
The man's eyes shot up from his desk to meet those of his wife, before chuckling darkly. "We both know that he is aware of his… rights . He can claim you regardless of what I offer, and that is not including the hundreds, if not thousands, who I have been told now seek his attentions. He is the most eligible bachelor the world over."
"Then we will accept our fate as Purebloods. Invite him over for the summer, do what you can to make amends and I will as well. If for nothing else than to pardon our son."
Lucius gave a curt nod, before preparing a letter.
....
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