A/N: Just a warning, this chapter will have hints of SLASH. I'm not telling which pairing, but if you don't like that kinda stuff, don't read.
Chapter 8: Confessions
Hedwig flew through the window and flew over to Harry, who had fallen asleep at his desk. He groaned as he felt the letter drop on to him. He moaned and got up. Hedwig fluffed up her feathers and sat on her usual perch. Harry looked at the letter and noticed the seal placed on it. He shivered as he knew where it had come from, Azkaban. He opened it curiously and read the writing.
-Mr H. Potter
As of recent events, which you may know of, Mr Draco Malfoy has been an inhabitant here. He has been acting out of character and quite restless. In order to prevent this in the future, he has asked to have an audience with you and Miss Varee Granger. We ask of you to come at noon on the 20th of February. Thank you.
Mr L. Harper
Head Guard of Azkaban
–Harry stared at the letter wide eyed. Why would Malfoy want to see him and Varee? He wasn't too surprised that Malfoy was restless, everyone slowly grew crazy in Azkaban, remembering the worst times of their life. But if he was causing trouble for them, he would go, but he wasn't too sure if Hermione would let him take Varee there. Harry sighed at looked at his watch. It was 4.00am and he'd have to go to work today. He picked himself off his desk and headed to that bathroom.
"You want to do what?" Hermione nearly shouted at Harry.
"I'm going to visit Azkaban and I need to take Varee with me." Harry said as Hermione held her daughter closer to her.
"Harry…those Dementors, I don't want those…things…anywhere near Varee." Hermione said.
"Well, the letter did say we'd be meeting Malfoy only. Not any Dementors." Harry said with a sly grin on his face. Hermione glared at him.
"She'll have me there to protect her from them! I promise, I'll take extra special care of Varee." Harry smiled reassuringly.
"You know I trust you more than anyone. You better come back soon and I better see Varee smiling when she comes back!" Hermione pointed her finger at Harry, she reminded him of Mrs Weasley all of a sudden. Harry smiled and kissed her.
"When have I ever let you down?" Harry asked smiling.
"Well, there was that time when you…" Hermione grinned.
"It was a rhetorical question Herms." Harry suddenly interrupted. Hermione just laughed.
Within a few minutes, Harry was on his broom, holding Varee tightly and casting a spell so that she wouldn't fall off the broom. He flew speedily towards Azkaban. He instantly felt that cold feeling when Dementors were nearby. He could make out the island in which the wizarding prison was set up. The cold feeling was stronger here and Harry hated the eerie sense around it. He landed on the rocky edge of the island and shrank his broomstick so that it would fit in his pocket. He held Varee closer to him, who was looking curiously at the high walls and double doors. He shivered as he saw the crosses that represented the graves of the souls who had died in Azkaban. Harry knocked on the door with the brass knocker. It had been grotesquely shaped into the head of a gargoyle, to suit the solitude of this prison. A short, tubby mad opened the door, and saw Harry standing there. He opened the door wider.
"Meester Harper is expecting you." Said the tubby man in an accent.
Harry nodded and stepped inside. He nearly had a heart attack at the many Dementors there. He wanted to use his Patronus, but refrained from using it. He ran across the hall to the door on the other side. Once inside, he met the face of a red faced muscular man.
"Ah, Mr Potter. You have arrived. I suppose you want to get this over with, so let's just visit Mr Malfoy." The man said huskily and led them into another hall.
"Mr Malfoy has been causing a lot of problems for us, screaming out at all hours of the night, not eating properly and breaking everything in sight. We've even put charms on the mirrors so he doesn't break them and try to slit his wrists." The guard, who Harry suspected was Mr Harper, informed him.
They walked on silently until they came to many cells. Harry gaped at all of them. There were millions, stacked up like crates. Some with bars some with metal padlocks and others that were totally covered up. Harry finally spotted Malfoy. He was on the ground floor, in a padlocked cell with bars.
"I'll leave you alone for now. Kris will lead you out in a few minutes." Mr Harper said and pointed at the tiny guard at the end of the hall and marched away.
Harry sat down on the seat provided for him and held Varee closer to him. She whimpered a little and crawled deeper into his arms. Harry peered inside and saw a dark figure leaning against the stone wall of the cell. The shadow covered his figure, but Harry could make out strands of dirty blonde hair hanging over his face and covering his eyes. Harry saw how he shook and saw tears crawling down his face. Draco looked up and Harry was shocked at the desperateness in his face. The sad look in his eyes and at how skinny he looked.
"Harry," he whispered, "I'm glad you came. I didn't think you would."
"I'm surprised I came myself." Harry replied, not nastily, but not kindly either. Draco walked up to the bars and peered at the quivering child in his arms.
"She's grown since I last saw her." Draco commented. Harry remained silent as Draco peered down at Varee.
"I'm glad she doesn't look like me."
"Why, because she has a mother who is muggle born?"
"No. She won't have to live with the fact that she looks like someone who is shamed and hated." Draco said as more tears poured down his face.
"She's a beautiful child. You're her father now. Please take care of her." Draco said and peered at Harry. Harry looked at him. Being in Azkaban had changed him a lot. Draco then kneeled down to Harry's level as he sat.
"Harry, I have to tell you something, something very important, before I go completely insane." Draco said seriously and looked into Harry's green eyes.
"Tell me, you received a letter a few days before the court case, didn't you?" Draco stated more than asked.
"Yes I did." Harry replied.
"Could you tell me what is said?" Draco asked.
"It was my letter, why should I repeat a private note to you?" Harry asked a little angry.
"Because…in that private note, I wrote about how sorry I was for what happened, and I wrote about how much I hated you and I wrote about how I admired and loved you." Draco said, averting his gaze from Harry's raging eyes. The rage in Harry's eyes slowly turned from rage into confusion and realisation.
"You…you wrote that letter?" Harry asked stuttering a little. Draco nodded.
"Yes Harry. You're long time rival."
There was a silence filled with tension. They both kept silence, Draco, not wanting to see Harry and Harry staring at Draco in shock. Draco broke the pause.
"Tell Hermione, that I'm sorry. I'm sorry for raping her. I hated that she was so close to you in school and when Cho came to me in tears because she had seen you two kiss, my rage reached to jealousy and revenge. I wanted to make her pay for taking you away from me." Draco said, his throat cracking on a few words.
Harry stared at him in utter shock. This was the whole truth pouring out of him. These mind-boggling things had just confused them even more. He watched as Draco started to shake and laugh maniacally. He was fighting to stay sane for a few minutes longer. Having told Harry all those thoughts seemed to be too much for him.
"Harry…take good…care of Hermione and…Varee. They…they're so lucky to have you." Draco let out a choked scream and fell to the floor and shook vigorously. Trying to keep sane for a minute longer was difficult. Harry stood up shocked.
"Draco! Draco! Are you alright!" Harry yelled through his screaming. Harry saw the small reassuring smile on his face. The first true smile he had seen on Draco Malfoy.
"Alwa…always…re.. remember…I…I love…you." Draco suddenly froze stiff. His lost his fight to stay sane. Harry stared wide-eyed at the stiff figure of Draco Malfoy. There was a long silence before Draco Malfoy stood up and started acting like the other inhabitants in Azkaban. Reliving bad moments in their past and muttering under his breath. Kris walked up behind him and tapped Harry.
"Excuse me Mr Potter, but your session is now over." Said the little wizard.
Harry stood still and watched the form of Draco Malfoy. It took him some time to tear his eyes away from that scene and walk away.
Harry flew back home, deeply disturbed. Ron and Hermione looked at him solemnly as he entered. Mr Harper had told them of what Harry had witnessed. When Harry entered, Ron offered to take Varee. Hermione walked up to Harry, who looked in shock.
"He…he…just…" Harry stuttered.
"Shhhh…come here." Hermione whispered and hugged him.
Harry hugged Hermione tightly. His face buried in Hermione's neck and hair, which she had let hang loose. She felt how he shook slightly and held him tighter. 'It must've been hard.' Hermione thought. It would never be easy to see someone lose his or her sanity in front of your eyes. Whether they be your closest friend or you're worst rival.
"I never want to see that happen again. Especially you." Harry whispered as a single tear made its way down his face.
Hermione held him the whole night.
***
"You may kiss the bride." The priest said.
Harry grinned and kneeled to Hermione's level. They kissed and roars and cheers could be heard from the onlookers. They included all of the Weasleys, Hagrid, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Albus Dumbledore, Minerva MacGonagall and old friends from their time in Hogwarts. Ron cheered and clapped the loudest. He had been glad to be Best Man and Ginny looked very pretty as Maid of Honour. They both had blushed looks on their face as they parted.
"Way to go Harry!" Hagrid congratulated and patted Harry on the shoulder. Harry stumbled a little but remained standing.
"Congratulations Hermione! I'm so happy for you two! And you're dress is absolutely beautiful!" Mrs Weasley complimented. Harry heard the conversation and agreed with the beautiful part. Hermione had been clad in a lovely gown that didn't puff out too much. Her hair had been put up in an elegant knot and a tiara was placed on her hair. Hermione blushed a lot. Harry and Ron walked up to her holding Varee.
"This has got to be the best. The firework display should be good. Fred and George organised that." Ron said at the newly wed couple.
"Mama…Papa!" Varee started to say as Ron held her.
"She's a fast learner for being a year old!" Ron commented.
"Hey Ron. We both have a big favour to ask you." Harry started. This got Ron's attention.
"We would be honoured, if you would like to be Varee's Godfather." Hermione said. Ron's eye's widened. It looked as he was about to cry.
"I'd love to! Just give me a moment…I need a tissue." Ron joked.
"HEY MUM! GUESS WHAT?!" Ron shouted over to his mother.
***
Harry kissed Hermione on the forehead and she smiled in her sleep. He stroked away the few stray strands and rested his hand on her cheek. The moonlight shone through the curtains and illuminated the couple lying on the bed. Harry gazed lovingly at his wife. After many years, they were finally and officially together. And she was as beautiful and charming as when he had met her. Harry gently pulled Hermione closer to him. She crawled deeper into his arms. He knew she had been through a lot in those past few years, but she pulled through, as a mature loving person, unlike the heartless and fearing person she would've turned out to be. Running his finger tips through her silky hair he sighed. This was the life he had wanted, and he was living a dream, together with his Hermione his wife, and Varee, his daughter.
"I love you, Hermione."
The End.
Author's Notes:
Alright! I'm finished! I had a lot of fun writing this and I hope you all had fun reading this! I want to thank all my reviewers, especially Gary Skinner and Phoebe Angela. Gary Skinner reviewed every chapter and his reviews kept me going and Phoebe Angela motivated me through reviews and e-mails. I love all you reviewers and I thank you for your patience in me. Please continue to read my future stories!
Lots of Love
Mithua ^-^
27/11/01