thattimeofthemonth | Open RP Post

Draco would see a rare sort of side of his former teacher when he arrived home because while Tonks was there, Teddy tucked up in a cradle nearby that was slowly swinging on its own, Remus was sitting on the front room sofa in what proved to be actually perhaps a touch on the shocking side, for he was in a decent suit. He stood up when Draco returned through the front door and smiled as he adjusted the edge of it.

"Good to see you back, and just in time." He didn't seem shocked or anything, and Tonks had a bit of a smile on her lips as she turned to check on her son. "We'll still need to hurry to make sure we're there on time, however."

"Sorry about that...I tried to get back sooner."

Draco replied. He couldn't help but have an amused look. It was indeed rare to see Remus in a suit.

He quickly ran upstairs to grab a suit jacket and tossed his sweater off and place the jacket on. He quickly brushed his hair and made sure he was presentable and then headed back down.

He was still nervous about this meeting and being back in the wizarding community. Let alone what Tonks had seen and thought.

Remus usually had on a series of simple outfits, almost Muggle like, instead of wearing the usual robes that the wizarding community at large preferred. However, the suit he wore today was definitely of a more wizarding taste, though strangely new for him. Tonks probably put him up to it.

When Draco came back down, Remus gave him one of those perpetually slightly-off smiles of his. "Let's get going." He and Tonks shared a brief kiss and Tonks gave him a look that meant more than her words before she grinned. Remus briefly brushed his fingertips over Teddy's head before he nodded to Draco.

"We're in luck - right down the street we've a connected Floo right to the Ministry, so we don't have to work too much on getting around." He locked the front door behind him, but gave a greeting to a neighbor who was outside before they headed back towards the shops.

In fact, he turned into the soap shop and gave a quick greeting to the woman behind the counter. "Afternoon, Mabel. Mind if we borrow the floo?" he asked, leaning in so they wouldn't be over heard.

"Go right back, Remus. Good luck today."

He gave a weak smile and followed Remus. Of course the soap shop would be connected. He was glad that he hadn't stopped in. Still it didn't stop them from seeing or possibly hearing anything.

Draco kept his head low and didn't make eye contact with anyone. He wasn't sure what to expect and mainly tried to steady his own nerves.

Remus, however, caught that behavior and hesitated when they appeared, leaning into murmur, "you don't want to seem ashamed, but you don't want to look as haughty as everyone believes your family. Keep your gaze level and act as if you're here for a reason, because you are. Now follow me."

With that attempted pep talk, Remus started to lead the way through the Ministry. The place they were going seemed to have quite the security around it, and several Aurors eyed Draco uncertainly. Remus spoke to someone about their appointment, and she nodded and gestured for him to go in.

Draco might very well recognize the tall, stately figure of the current Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shaklebolt. Remus walked up to him and the two shook hands, then Kinsley focused his gaze on Draco.

"Draco Malfoy."

"I'm sorry, Draco replied in a soft voice. "I'm just really nervous..." Even after the pep talk, Draco's face paled even more when they approached the Aurors. He tried to do what Remus suggested, but he was struggling to not take off. He kept trying to tell himself that this wasn't some sort of trap that he had the right to be here. They had been pardoned.

The looks of the Aurors' faces didn't help and other employees that were around. The fact that this area needed so much security only told Draco so much...and now he knew why Remus wouldn't tell him who it was they would be seeing.

Draco froze in his spot when his eyes fell upon Kinsley. This was just as bad as having Lord Voldermort greet and hug him as he took him back to his side of things. He tried to hold his trembling hands together, but he forced himself to match Kinsley's gaze. He tried to respond back, but found that he couldn't speak. The words simply froze where they were.

"Lupin tells me of the story you wove to him, about what you were forced to do and what you chose to do in the face of your parents actions and He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named." Kingsley stepped closer, eyes not leaving Draco. It was only the three of them in the room, now, but there was no doubt that there would be protection on the Minister.

"And more so, he speaks that he believes your story. I find it strange that a man of his nature would speak for a Malfoy. Tell me, why has he done such a thing?"

It was a challenge, and Remus said nothing at all to it, not quite expressionless but it was very difficult to read. Nervous, perhaps, or maybe ashamed? He would always be different, even among those he considered friends and allies.

"He-- He showed us compassion even though none of us deserved it. Especially when we had given him and others a hard time in the past. We had hid in shame due to our failures and mistakes.

Had Remus not shown up when he did...and warned us... none of us would have survived the attack. --And we would have deserve it. He had every right to turn away from us, but he stayed....Where we would have ran if placed in such a situation."

As he spoke, Draco held his gaze with Kingsley. He tried not to look over at Remus...uncertain of what he would see there. His voice wavered as he spoke, but there was no malice in there or the haughty nature that came with the Malfoys.

"His act of bravery not only in front of the dementors, but to stay and help us had triggered something inside me. Something I thought I had buried a long time ago in order to follow in my family's footsteps.

Because of that... I put aside my own needs to help him out knowing that it shouldn't be a task he should do alone...especially with that many running around."

Kingsley made a small noise, not of agreement or disagreement, but thoughtfulness. His eyes did not look away from Draco, focused on the young man. "And now? Do you still chose to follow in your family's footsteps? They had chosen to walk a dark path, and since have not given any sign that they wish to repay the damage that they have done. They were pardoned due to what others have said, but their actions have spoken loudly since, even without words."

Edited 2015-10-18 22:26 (UTC)

"I want to help. I don't want to be that spoiled rich kid who did all the wrong choices. I want to redeem myself for my past actions...I want to save my family's name."

Draco replied as he sucked in his breath a bit to steady his nerves.

"My father hasn't been in the right state of mind since his imprisonment and the punishments he's received since then. My mother and I have been trying to keep him grounded...but it's getting harder to do so and she's starting to break more under the strain."

He wasn't looking for pity for them or forgiveness. It was merely an explanation.

"How far would you be willing to go to prove your words, Draco Malfoy?" He stepped forward, his voice low and pointed. "Would you drink of truth potion? Let your thoughts be drained to a pensive? Is your future worth more than that of your parents?"

Nearby, Remus' gaze had gone to Kingsley, clearly trying to understand where the man was going with this. This wasnt' what he had been expecting at all from the other man. This was... harsher. Perhaps he had been naive in how Draco would be handled...

"I--What do you mean about my parents? What will you do to them?" Draco replied confused and alarmed by the way this was changing. He had been about to agree, but then he didn't understand where this put his parents.

He stepped back as if to shrink away from Kingsley...suddenly feeling like the kid he was trying not to be.

"This is a question you must decide for yourself. Are you more than your family, than your parents, or are you your own man? If your parents prove to remain of the darkness that they had walked before, would you take up their side again as you had in the past?" Kingsley stepped forward again, his tall dark form almost looming despite the fact his expression remained neutral, his tone level. "What will you chose to do now, and then?"

There was a long pause before Draco finally allowed himself to speak. He wanted to make sure he fully understood what was said. His concern for his family was still there as the thought of having to give them up...was unthinkable.

"I don't want to be like them...but I can't simply abandon them either. I don't understand some of their ways and simply had followed them because that's what I had been taught. They're always kept me away from interacting with people outside what they believed was right...

And now I can see how wrong it was... and why people despised my family. I honestly don't understand why it's important that we have to be pure blood... and why they believed it to be all above others. When we really aren't that different...even Muggles.

Because I was so bent on having to follow my parents ways believing that they were right..it forced me to cut off ties with a lot of people...that I had wanted to interact with but couldn't. I was afraid if I stepped away from their way they would leave me behind.

I want to be the person I was afraid to be...but even if I fear that they would have left me behind...I wouldn't do that to them. They're all I have and all I was doing was trying to protect them."

"So it is your parents you would chose, regardless of their choices?" Kingsley's tone still was neutral, completely level, but he made no other move. Simply watched Draco, while Remus looked like he was actually going to panic but was managing to keep it to himself.

Draco didn't understand. What more could he do? He looked at Kingsley trying to understand what was aiming for. He was trying so hard to be open, saying things he wouldn't have dared to say to anyone else. Yet he got the idea he was failing miserably. He couldn't help but feel that he was trapped.

"What more do you want from me?! All of you had pinned me as the boy who made all the wrong choices. Labeled me as Malfoy's boy. None of you bothered to help me or try to reach out to me.

Can't you see? That we were all trapped?! Once you become His servant you only escape through death. My family wanted to leave but they couldn't! Who could they turn to for help? They had already lied once...so who would believe them a second time especially when it went against their first story?! Back then they didn't have a family to worry about. Now they did and they couldn't leave.

Even Professor Dumbledore wouldn't help me. He left me to my own devices knowing all the time I had going to do it. HAD to do it. If I didn't I was going to die and so would my family. I only did it to save them and hoping to gain some pitiful attempt at some glory. Only when the moment finally came that's when he tried to offer help. Too late then. I lost my godfather who saved me twice from Him and can never repay that back."

At this point Draco was shouting and tears were sliding down his face.

"All I wanted was respect from my father, but he always found ways to shoot me down. I tried so hard to be like him. Nothing I ever did seem to gain his respect. But I loved him and thought he was the best. All I did was want to save them. I did what everyone expected me to do...make the wrong choices. Do you think I'm proud to have this forever etched on my arm?"

Draco said and pulled away his sleeve and bandage to reveal the Dark Mark that was now slowly turning into a scar.

"I'm not. I'm ashamed to even have it. Now I'm trying to make the right decision because someone...who didn't have to gave me that chance. Remus actually believes me in. He's the first person to have genuinely reached out to me when I thought I had no one. I wanted to prove he was right to believe in me. But I guess I'm failing that too."

He looked away from Kingsley and didn't dare look at Remus. He tried to recollect himself, unsure of what would be said and done.

Silence reigned in the office after Draco's impassioned words, their echo hanging in the air as Kingsley stood there, looking unmoved. Remus, though, could not hide the expression from his face as he stared at the mark that Draco had been branded with so young - possibly younger than any other dark wizard had been. It would sit scarred into his flesh for the rest of his existence, forever a sight of shame to be covered up or hated by viewer and owner alike. Maybe there was something naive in him that wanted to believe Draco, one of the last people perhaps who he should have any faith or belief in, but from what he had seen of the older Malfoys and experienced so far with Draco in both the Malfoy summer home and his own home, he was certain of his own thoughts.

Finally, when someone moved, it was only Kingsley. He moved to his office door (Remus caught the faint hand motion of non-verbal, wandless magic being done) and opened it, speaking to someone outside of it too quietly to be heard. Unconsciously, Remus moved closer to Draco, silently lending the younger man support in physical closeness.

It decidedly surprised the hell out of him when two people came into the room, carrying a chest between them. They left after a gesture from Kingsley and shut the door behind them. Remus' brows shot up sharply as the chest moved, making him throw a confused look towards the Minister.

"...Draco," Kingsley started, "in this chest is a boggart. Open it, face it, and return it to the chest."

...What? It took Remus several long moments to even begin to guess why Kingsley would be requesting something from Draco that was taught to third years, but when the possibility of Kingsley's actions came to him, his expression of confusion turned to one of displeasure. It wasn't a test of skill or knowledge or courage... Kingsley wanted to know what Draco feared the most.

He didn't like this one bit.

Draco couldn't help but feel stunned at this new test. His face paled at the thought of facing his own fear. He already felt so raw and vulnerable. His chest was still heaving and his body trembled for his release of the inner turmoil he was feeling. Even that wasn't enough. Couldn't Kingsley see that he was telling the truth? He wasn't acting or lying.

Right now he wanted to hide away in shame. How was this fair? He had already shown his weakness now he wanted to know what he feared? Hesitantly, he looked to Remus and noted that his old teacher had moved closer to him in an attempt to offer support? He couldn't tell. He did know he saw the horror on his face when he revealed the Dark Mark, which made him more ashamed.

He knew had it been when Remus taught Defense of the Dark Arts class...that fear would have been his father. He had been glad then to not have that fear revealed in front of his classmates...but that fear had changed since then and now for the Prime Minister to see it?

He didn't say anything...He knew that nothing at this point was going to get him out of it. And to deny it would go against everything he just said.

Trembling, he forced himself to walk over to the chest. He opened the chest and quickly stepped back as the boggart came out. A Death Eater stood before Draco and at first he thought it was his father. The outfit was similar and he carried a walking stick. Only when he took the mask off it revealed a much older version of himself. Not his father.

Fear held him where he was and he struggled to say the spell and summon up something ridiculous. He found himself failing at the attempt.

Remus stood there trembling, but his trembling wasn't fear but anger. Why was Kingsley doing this?! He had come to the Minister because of all people, he believed that Kingsley would be fair. This was almost a form of torture! If he had been thinking logically and less with his heart, he would have realized Kingsley had to do this. To test Draco and prove that the young man was telling the truth (as he saw it).

When he saw what Draco's fear was, it stunned him to the center of his being. He stared at the older Draco, sneer on his lips and anger in his eyes and utter disdain for his younger self, and refused that to be Draco's future.

He found himself stepping forward, drawing his wand. As he stepped in front of Draco, the bogggart shifted - but it was no longer the full moon that he had feared all of his life. He knew what it would become and the other two would only get a second of what it was now.

Even as Remus snapped off the spell to change the boggart into something silly, they would see a tiny lifeless body on the floor before it changed into a small black puppy.

When the boggart slammed back into the chest, Remus pocketed his wand and glared at Kingsley. "There was no need for that!" He stood between the Minister and Draco, letting the young man regain his composure.

It surprised him that Remus stepped in and sent the boggart on the chest. At the quick glimpse he saw...he wondered if that had been Teddy. To see that hurt him more.

Draco collapsed to his knees and buried his face in his hands. Silent tears were streaming down his face. He felt so ashamed of himself. He knew if his family had seen him in this state they would have been furious at him.

He couldn't do anything. First Professor Snape had come to his rescue and now Remus had. He had come to this meeting hoping to prove himself only to find himself being exploited. He found this to be much worse then the punishments he watched the Dark Lord inflict on his father.

Draco could hear Remus arguing with the Prime Minister. He wondered what would become of him at this point. If the Prime Minister didn't believe he was worth it... then he might as well just go back to his family at this point. Right now he tried his best to regain his composure despite how low he felt.

There was quiet arguing, but Kingsley have Remus a look eventually and he gestured for Remus to step aside. Slowly, Remus did, but he knelt down to put a hand on Draco's shoulder. Draco wasn't alone.

"You may be asking yourself why I have done this. Why I am being cruel, as Remus has suggested. You must understand, young Malfoy, that I must have the safety of the wizarding community as a whole in my perspective. Your parents chose to lie, then lie again, until we could do nothing more than assume they will lie again. This, unfortunately, carries down to you as well. You chose to follow their path in your love for them, and you will be scarred for it. I must be sure that your words are true, to protect us and others. I see now that what Remus has told me is true. As such, I will agree with him on clearing your name, though your family is not under this action unless they chose to work to do so. You will be given a freedom that would not be so granted to them."

Draco flinched more out of habit then because of it being the Prime Minister. Aside from his family he wasn't used to such gestures and even those were rare.

However, it did get him to look up at Kinsley. At that point he managed to get the tears to stop as he listened to what he had to say. While he was upset that his parents weren't cleared...he did understand. He was grateful for the explanation as well.

He gave a nod in understanding. "What can I do to help? I wanted to work...but I'm not sure where or who would take me." He said in a rough voice due to the shouting and crying from earlier..

"Your family must chose what their future is on their own. You, however, will have a choice. Remus spoke to me on this matter. I know of some who I believe will take you on to learn, if you wish." Kingsley stood as Remus rubbed his brow, knowing this had not gone quite as expected.

"Remus or Tonks would be able to show you life as an Auror- regardless of title, Lupin." Remus had been about to point out that he certainly wasn't an Official Auror but... "Perhaps a medical field might interest you more, but more work would have to be done to see if you have the skills for such a thing."

He doubted he would be able to handle he life as an Auror...due to his family. He would fail there. Doing tasks like capturing Dementors... was something he could handle, but when it came to people he wasn't sure on that. The medical field did hold his attention.

Warily, Draco stood back up taking the time to brush off any dirt and straighten his rumpled suite. He paused a bit almost afraid to speak what he wanted to say, but finally allowed himself to.

"Since Remus had first presented me the possibility...I had been thinking and that the medical field held my attention. After watching what my father has been going through... I had thought about wanting to learn how to help people that have suffered like him."

He had also wanted to help Remus and others like him...but he wasn't sure how to voice that with out offending Remus. He knew how sensitive the topic was and didn't want to single him out. But he did want to help.

Edited 2015-10-19 15:52 (UTC)

"Maybe you should speak to Melinda on the subject when she arrives," Remus suggested. "She would be willing to talk to you frankly about the field."

"Melinda?" Kingsley questioned, and Remus rubbed the back of his neck.

"She actually should be passing through the Ministry sometime later today. From America, actually."

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