Harry Potter and the Hall of Justice

Chapter 23 The Draco Factor


Athena had turned over the responsibilities of the continuing surveillance at Malfoy’s Manor to Coeus team members. Two were assigned daily to travel to the manor by portkey and to stealthily monitor it for any activity.

Grace White and Preston Kelly were the first Coeus team members to notice three young wizards had taken up residence at the manor. They had just walked down the stairway from Lucius Malfoy’s secret inner office to the dungeon when the three boys entered from the residence above.

“This is where I’m going to bring Granger,” the blond-haired wizard said, pointing to two large metal rings attached to one of the dungeon’s tables. “I’m going to tie the little bitch to this table and torture the living shit out of her. And that’s just to get me warmed up. She’ll soon wish she was never born.”

Goyle and Crabbe laughed out, picturing the mudblood bitch squirming, screaming and pulling at the chains. “Let’s play with her a little before you mess her up, Draco!” Goyle shouted out.

“Me, first! I always wanted some of that!” Crabbe replied, pushing Goyle away from the table.

“You can have all you want, if you help me nab her,” Draco told them, smirking at the thought of his two large cronies dragging the screaming girl down to the dungeon.

His eyes watered in devilish delight. “My Dad was right. We should kill mudbloods on sight. Things wouldn’t be all screwed up today, if the Ministry had listened to him. Voldemort listened, and they were good friends, too. My Dad couldn’t wait till he came back,” the boy smiled an evil smile, befitting the Malfoy name. “But that fucking Granger mucked it all up. I’m going to fuck her up real good for killing my father. You just wait and see. I’m going to skin the little bitch alive.”

“When’re we going to get her?” Crabbe asked, anxious to get his own hands on the stuck-up little bitch.

“First, we need to find out how to get into the Hall of Justice. I think she’s living there now. But we’ll have to do some snooping around at Hogwarts, first. We might be able to get our hands on Ginny Weasley, too. She’s been real chummy with Granger these last few years. I bet she’ll know where Granger is and how to get at her,” Draco said, punching a fist into his open palm. “A fucking Weasley! I’ll turn her red hair white before I’m done with her!”

The two Coeus members had witnessed everything the three boys had said. It was more than enough. Clearly there was great danger here. Dressed in their invisibility garments, they were no more than ten feet from the blond wizard as he fanatically ranted on about other evil and devious plans he’d been considering.

White and Kelly reported the encounter to Remus Lupin, as soon as they returned to Falcon’s Lair. Remus immediately sought out Priest, Grime and Black and asked if they should mount a mission to deal with the boys.

Priest wouldn’t hear of it. Not until Professor Dumbledore was advised first. He had not given them approval to kill youngsters, she told them. Remus saw the truth in that but insisted something must be done and quickly.

Sirius went straightaway to the conference room and found Professor Dumbledore at his desk in his office.

“Professor, we’ve got a problem at Malfoy’s Manor. It seems like Draco, along with the sons of Crabbe and Goyle have taken up residence there. White and Kelly just heard them make threats against Hermione and Ginny Weasley. Pretty nasty stuff!” he exclaimed.

The old professor quickly came to his feet and asked him exactly what was overheard. It clearly shook the old wizard up to hear what the evil little bastards were planning.

“We should’ve contemplated that very thing would happen. Yes, all three boys have reason to strike out at us and especially Hermione. It’s understandable, but we can’t tolerate it. What do you suggest, Sirius?” Dumbledore asked.

“In my mind, Professor, they must be terminated. We have no other choice. If they’re allowed to go free, their hatred will only fester and might put even more of us in danger over time,” he replied.

The old wizard lowered his head, stroking his long beard, deep in thought. “I must speak with the Lord Chief Justice about this. You understand, of course?” he asked, raising his eyes to meet Black’s.

Sirius nodded his head. A very serious look fixed on his face. “Yes, sir. I do.”

“Please send White and Kelly to me immediately. I think it best if they relate exactly what they heard personally to the Chief Justice,” the old wizard ordered.

“Yes, sir. I’ll get them right now, if you are ready,” he replied.

“Yes. Let’s do it now. I wouldn’t want to wait on this,” Dumbledore said.

The old wizard walked into the conference room. He was suddenly feeling very old again. He couldn’t help but feel the weight of the whole world upon his shoulders. “What are we getting ourselves into?” he mumbled out. “How dreadful must things be to propose the death of youngsters? Are we to stop at nothing? Damn such evil!”

Within a few minutes, the two Coeus members appeared in the conference room. Dumbledore took them straightaway to the Hall of Justice and found the Chief Justice sitting at his desk in his chambers going over some parchments with Hermione.

“Your Lordship,” the old headmaster quietly and seriously uttered, after he entered the chambers. “Hermione.” He said nodding his head at the witch.

“Albus, good day to ya!” Webster replied, standing up and walking to his three visitors to shake their hands. The man immediately sensed something was troubling the old wizard. He’d never seen him so glum.

“Your Lordship, I would like to introduce you to two of our Coeus team members, Grace White and Preston Kelly. They’ve come with some very troubling news,” he said.

“Let’s go to the library in the residence. Maybe we’ll find a bit of tea,” he said.

“Yes, please. Hermione, you should come with us. This concerns you specifically,” he told the girl.

Hermione arched her eyebrows at his statement. “What has happened, Professor?”

“Please, let’s go into the library. You must hear what Grace and Preston have to say,” he said.

Glasses of ice and pitchers of tea sat on large serving trays at a table against the wall when they entered the first floor library of the residence. Webster asked the two young guests to sit down at the room’s largest table, whereupon he served them some of the tea.

“Your Lordship,” Dumbledore began, “Grace and Preston have just arrived from their surveillance at Malfoy’s Manor. Please tell the Chief Justice what you overheard.”

Grace and Preston graphically described all they had seen and heard within the dungeon. They also conveyed the hatred and malice the three boys had articulated and shown. Both agreed the young wizards’ threats seemed to be very serious.

“Do you know the young men, Hermione?” Webster asked, turning to look at her.

Hermione nodded her head. “Yes, Your Lordship. They attended Hogwarts these last six years with Harry, Ron and me. Draco is ever bit a carbon copy of his father,” she said, tears of anger gathering at the corners of her eyes.

The old headmaster watched the young witch’s reply closely. He couldn’t help but notice the anger well up inside the girl. Her jaws tensed up and her eyes plainly showed her rage.

The old wizard turned back to the Chief Justice. “I also feel the threat is real and very serious, Your Lordship. All three boys are destined to follow in their fathers’ footsteps,” Dumbledore added. “It is a very dreadful thing. One I certainly would never have wished for.”

Webster’s eyes looked again at the young witch he’d become so close to. Her enraged state was evident. He’d never seen her like this before. His eyes again focused on the old headmaster’s face. “And what do you suggest, Professor?” Webster asked.

Dumbledore hesitated. He dropped his hands to fall limply at his side, closing his eyes a few moments before replying. “It was never our intention to harm youngsters, Your Lordship. Nevertheless, this threat will not go away, ever!” the old wizard stressed. “Clearly, this is something I would never have wanted to hear myself say, but I believe it’s in the best interest of not only Hermione and young Ginny but our entire crusade to eliminate the three boys.”

The Chief Justice was shocked. “That seems reprehensible, Albus!” Webster exclaimed, quickly setting his glass back on the table. The big man instantly stood up and began pacing back and forth. After some time, he stopped at the library door and turned around. “There’s no other way. I’ll not allow anyone to threaten Hermione or the Weasley girl. It’s totally unacceptable.” With that said, the man left the room. Seconds later, they heard the door close leading into his chamber.

The old headmaster let out an audible sigh and turned around to face the far wall. Hermione looked up and saw the old man standing there, totally beat, older and more frail then she had ever known him to be.

“You are Ron and Harry’s friend?” Grace asked Hermione.

Hermione turned back to face the girl. “Yes. We’ve been together since the first day we started Hogwarts, over six years ago,” she said.

Grace couldn’t help but notice the girl’s anger. This made her so uncomfortable she had to talk with someone, anyone, about anything. Even though the tension in the room was palpable, she couldn’t help but force the conversation to continue. “They’re really great guys,” she said, smiling at Hermione. “I’ve gotten to know Ron pretty well. He wants to take me to meet his parents in a few days, if we can get away.”

Hermione was almost totally floored but pleasingly so. “Really!” she exclaimed, eyeing the raven-haired beauty in front of her, almost jealous of the sensual lines of her body and the natural, seductive way she carried herself. “My! You must really be special for Ron to do that! His parents are the greatest. Best people you’ll ever meet.” Hermione now realized fully what the girl’s large smile had implied when they first met. “Ron, you devil! You’ve got yourself a real catch here,” she thought to herself. Hermione honestly believed she might possibly be the most stunning young woman she had ever seen in her life.

Webster walked back into the room and handed a rolled parchment to Professor Dumbledore. One could plainly see the pain on his face. “Will this do, Albus?” he asked.

The old professor unrolled the parchment and sadly read the decree it contained. He barely whispered out his reply. “Yes, Your Lordship. This will absolutely do,” he said, rolling it back up and placing the charging document within his robe.

Hermione looked first from one man to the other. Their gloomy demeanor troubled her greatly. “Your Lordship? What are we to do?”

Webster looked her way but his eyes were downcast. “I’ve just given Professor Dumbledore the authority to execute the three boys. It must be done, Hermione,” he said, only then looking back up into her eyes.

The young witch’s back stiffened. Her face and eyes took on a resolute, unyielding look. “Then I will do it!” she exclaimed.

“Do what?” Webster screamed out, startled by what she’d just said.

Grace and Preston were shocked, too. Both involuntarily jumped with a start. But the old wizard grinned and nodded his head knowingly. He would not have expected anything less from this young witch who so reminded him of his own mother. She would have reacted the very same way, he thought.

Hermione’s face now showed her anger and resolve. “It’s me he’s after! It’s me he’ll get! I’ll not have anyone else fight by fight!” she shouted out, determined to do what she thought was right.

Webster quickly moved toward her. “No, Hermione! Athena’s better trained. I’ll not have you go up against the Malfoy boy alone!” he commanded.

She looked the large man right in the eye. Her voice softened but held a surety no one could misunderstand. “I’ll not be alone. Harry and Ron will go with me. It’s their fight, too,” she replied, not wavering the least from her position.

Webster had known Hermione long enough to know her strength of mind. If he stopped her now, he would lose her forever. He admired her grit but feared for her life.

The Chief Justice turned toward the old headmaster. “Professor? Can you convince her not to do this?” Webster begged.

Dumbledore looked from Webster to Hermione. “Your Lordship, I believe her mind is set. Nothing I say will change her resolve. I know her too well, I do. She is much like my own mother was, bullheaded but most always right. Yes, Your Lordship, I believe she must do this herself,” the old wizard replied, smiling warmly at the strong-willed girl.

Webster went back to the table and sat down heavily in a chair. He rubbed his face with his hands.

“I will be fine, Your Lordship. I must go,” she said, turning to leave the room.

“Wait, Hermione!” Webster exclaimed, jumping out of his chair and pulling the girl down to the first bedroom. After they entered, he turned to face her. “I understand, I really do. But please don’t do it. I couldn’t stand to lose you.”

Webster wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek. She looked up at him, nodded her head and smiled. “I love you, Daniel Webster,” she said, looking into his eyes. He dropped his arms, knowing her mind was set, and allowed her to walk away. Within minutes, she appeared at Falcon’s Lair.

All around the tables, Athena and Coeus team members were lounging, taking a break from the days activities. Ron and Harry jumped up from their table and made their way to Hermione when they saw her appear in a flash of emerald green light.

Harry was the first to notice something wasn’t quite right with his old friend. He’d known her for years and knew the very instant she got tizzy or pissed off. “What’s going on, Hermione?” Harry asked.

Ron stopped short. “Yeah, what’s with the sour look?” he quickly added.

She crossed her arms before she spoke, looking from Harry to Ron and then back to Harry. “I’m off to Malfoy’s!” she exclaimed. “I’m going to pay a little visit on Draco and his two bastard friends. I understand he’s wanting to kill Ginny and me.”

“We just heard!” Ron yelled out.

“You’re not going without us. That’s a plain fact,” Harry said with a smile.

Hermione grinned largely but her watering eyes showed anger. “Yeah, I was hoping you two might want to tag along. Are we ready then?” she asked.

“Let’s do it!” Ron exclaimed.

They walked directly back to the portkey and found Professor Dumbledore waiting in the conference room, along with Grace White and Preston Kelly, when they appeared.

“Wait a minute!” Dumbledore ordered, holding up a hand. “I will not have you three walking into a trap! Grace and Preston will go through first with their invisibility garments and make sure only the three of them are in the residence. To do otherwise would be very foolish.”

He pointed a long finger at the chairs at the conference table and had them sit down. Grace and Preston removed the garments from pockets inside their cloaks and began dressing themselves.

“You will give them five minutes. Then you will wait for them in the safe room until they come back with the all clear. If there are any more than three present, you will abort your mission until a later time. Is that understood?” he commanded, talking down to them as if they were still his students at Hogwarts, which wasn’t far from the truth.

The old headmaster then looked around at the two dressing Coeus members. “Grace, Preston!” he exclaimed, looking at the heads bobbing in front of him. “You will not endanger yourselves. Walk quietly, with stealth, as you were taught. Do you understand?”

The two nodded their heads. They then put on their hoods, and there quickly followed a flash at the portkey link to the manor. Dumbledore walked over to the countertop, filled three glasses of iced tea, and carried them to his three young protégés.

“Drink this!” he ordered. “It will clear your mind and relax you.” Dumbledore then took a seat and said nothing more.

“So, how ya been, Hermione?” Ron asked.

“Never better,” she said, smiling at her two friends. “Taking Grace to see your folks, heh? Is there something happening there, Ronald Weasley?”

“She’s awfully nice. I get along with her pretty good, too. She’s a real looker, don’t ya think?” he asked, blushing a bit and arching his eyebrows in his own characteristic way.

“Yes, very stunning!” Hermione replied.

“I think he’s finally found someone to put up with his unsavory character,” said Harry, laughing out and slapping Ron on the shoulder.

“You will leave Draco to me!” Hermione said, deadly serious.

The smiles left the two young wizards’ faces, as they knew she had just laid down the law. There would be no changing her mind.

“Okay! That’s fair enough,” replied Harry. “I guess he has always given you the most misery. And you, Ron?”

“Goyle!” he replied flatly.

Harry nodded his head. “Okay then. Remus had just finished telling all of us what Draco has been planning, Hermione. He’s not a bit different from his old man. If we don’t deal with him now, we’ll have to constantly live with not knowing where or when he would strike out,” said Harry.

“I know that Harry! That’s why we are doing this today. I’m not one to put something off that needs doing. You know me better than that,” she told him, in a scolding way.

Their time was up. “Very well,” said Dumbledore. “Be off with you but be careful. Don’t trust the little bastards. And clean up your mess.” The old wizard didn’t get out of his chair but smiled at the three as they went off to do what had to be done.

They instantly found themselves inside the secret safe room at Malfoy’s residence. White and Kelly had shut the room’s door after they left, as required of those conducting surveillance at the manor. After some ten minutes, the door slowly opened and Harry could plainly see the invisible Grace White standing just outside the room.

“The way is clear,” she whispered. “The three are up in the residence in the living area. They’re alone. We haven’t seen anyone else around,” she informed the three.

“Now or never,” said Hermione, pushing the door open a bit more to exit it.

The three moved slowly and quietly down the steps into the dungeon. Harry told Ron and Hermione he could plainly see Grace. Hermione shocked both Harry and Ron when she informed them she could plainly see the invisible girl, too. Ron scratched his head; frustrated he wasn’t able to do likewise.

When Hermione withdrew her wand, Harry and Ron followed suit. Slowly Grace White climbed the rock stairway up into the residence with the three following closely behind.

At the top of the stairway, they exited and turned to their right. Far ahead of them, Harry could make out Preston Kelly standing against a large open archway leading into the living area. In the distance, all could hear Draco mouthing off about something or another.

As they neared the room, Harry reached out and grabbed the arms of Hermione and Ron. He looked in their eyes and nodded slowly, as if he were wishing them luck. The two nodded their heads at him. Harry noticed Hermione’s eyes again tearing slightly. Her rage was building. It was time to complete their task.

The three walked confidently into the living area. Draco was sitting in a chair facing them as they entered. Goyle and Crabbe were on a couch across from him, with their backs to the three.

Draco jumped lightening fast from the chair, reaching for his wand. “Granger!” he screamed. “I’m going to kill you, you fucking bitch!”

Hermione flicked her wand, and Draco’s wand flew into her left hand. Harry and Ron, however, did not copy her lead. Goyle and Crabbe had both jumped to their feet, wands in hand and turned to knock the witch from her feet. They were both hit with the tremendous force of Harry and Ron’s incantations. Both of them were knocked from their feet and were dead before hitting the floor.

“You fucking bastards! You’ll pay for that!” Draco screamed out.

“You’re quite mistaken about that, Malfoy,” Hermione said quietly and in a very matter-of-fact way.

Grace White and Preston Kelly both removed their hoods, and Draco jumped with a start.

“What is this, you bitch? Can’t face me alone, huh? You coward!” he exclaimed, fuming and looking about wildly for something to use as a weapon.

“I need no help dealing with you, Draco Malfoy. You have been, are and will die an ignorant twit,” she coldly said.

“Voldemort will deal with you bitch! All three of you will wish you were never born before he’s done with you!” he cried out in frustration.

“Voldemort has no power to equal ours,” Harry said with conviction.

“Yeah, right, Potter. He’ll peel the flesh off your bones. You will die in agony. I’d like to be there to see that. Your days are numbered,” Draco smirked. “Voldemort has his own army. They’ll eradicate all of you.”

“What army, Draco?” asked Ron. “Most of them have already died at our hands. More are dying every day. In a few short weeks none will be left.”

“You’re lying, Weasley!” he shouted.

“Crabbe and Goyle’s fathers died just nights ago at the Cetus Estate, Malfoy, along with McNair and about fifty others. It was quite a show. You should’ve been there,” Harry said, chuckling at Draco’s reaction to what he had just told him.

Malfoy suddenly realized why there had been so many mysterious disappearances. The word making the rounds through the dark world was saying Voldemort’s disciples had been called to his side. All were thinking the Supreme Lord would soon be making his appearance. Malfoy now realized it was a lie; they had been defeated. He saw the horrible truth of it. His shoulders slumped, and his head lowered in defeat.

“You’ve been misled, Malfoy, as was your father. His hatred and thirst for power totally consumed him, as it did Voldemort and even as it is now consuming you. Such evil cannot exist for long. It soon becomes so maniacal it preys even upon itself,” Hermione said, slowly and coldly.

“And what you’ve done is just as evil,” Draco said, his eyes again showing the rise of anger within him. “You killed my father in cold blood, Granger. You deserve to die as he did.” Draco was now weeping with rage, digging his fingernails into his palms. His whole body convulsed with uncontainable hatred.

“You shall die by your own hand,” Hermione said, throwing his wand back to him.

Draco caught the wand in the air and immediately yelled out the powerful and deadly Avada Kadavra incantation. Energy exploded from his wand to consume Hermione, however, the amulet at her neck absorbed it instantly and repealed it with such force Draco was blown into bloody bits of flesh and bone.

“Damn!” Ron yelled out. “Shit! You’ve made one hell of a mess, Hermione. You must learn to control yourself. Shit!”

Grace White and Preston Kelly looked at each other not believing what they had just witnessed. The young witch had not even raised her wand. It was incredible. Nothing they had ever been taught or read had prepared them for a display of such enormous power.

“Well done, Hermione! Well done!” exclaimed Harry, smiling at his old friend. Hermione turned to him and wrapped her arms around Harry, holding him tight. Ron walked over and threw his arms around both of them. Thus, they stood for some minutes. Grace and Preston looking at the trio, still too shocked to move.

After some time, Ron and Harry kissed Hermione on her cheek and broke their embrace. The three stood in silence looking at Draco Malfoy’s bloody remains scattered about the room.

“Quite a mess he made!” Ron exclaimed. “I think he looks much better this way.”

Ron’s quip brought smiles to their faces. Harry and Ron walked over and, using the powerful incantation Professor Priest had taught them, quickly turned the two dead wizards and horrible mess into dust. Harry pointed his wand at a large window and blew it outward with such force it sounded like a small bomb had been detonated. Ron flicked his wand and the dust blew out of the window in a large dark cloud, which was immediately caught by a gentle breeze and scattered to the four winds.

Grace and Preston stood rigidly stiff. They were both frightened out of their minds. Never had they seen such abilities or power. Preston rubbed at his face, thinking he might be dreaming. Grace slowly walked over to Preston and whispered, “No wonder they’ve been training in secret. They’ve just done stuff I never knew was even possible.”

Preston nodded his head, speechless. They both stood side by side waiting to see what the three would do next.

“I guess we’re done here,” Hermione said, turning to return to the portkey.

“Yeah, we better get. I’m ready for a little more of that tea,” said Ron.

“I could go for a big glass, myself,” added Harry, grinning largely at his old friend. As Ron walked up to Harry’s side, he reached out and patted him on the shoulder. They then both followed the Executive Assistant back to Hogwarts.