[HP] Three thousand days of innocence

Ginny was going to go straight back to the apartment after the Veritaserum administration, and Ron followed her.The Ministry of Magic was pretty much silent, save for a few Magician Maintenance staff sweeping the floors with enchanted mops and brooms, and wizards on guard double-checking the protective barriers over the weekend.Their footsteps echoed in the main hall, and Ginny's thoughts wandered to Draco as usual.

She was just about to walk into the nearest fireplace when Ron stopped her with his hand on her shoulder. "Come and have a cup of tea with me," he said. "I want to talk to you."

Ginny blinked at him in surprise. "Er—if you want to. Café Nero?"

"can."

Ginny smiled at him warily, walked into the fireplace, and was immediately flushed into the public toilet on the ground.Ron appeared in the cubicle next to hers, and they took off their magic robes and went out into the street.

London at night is very beautiful.There was still a glimmer of sunlight in the sky above them, and the clouds were tinted pink and orange.Cars with their headlights on pass in front of the theater with its dazzling sign.Ginny was looking longingly at the window of an Indian restaurant where the family was gathering for dinner, talking and laughing, but Ron led her past.

When they arrived at Café Nero, it was dark and smoky, with low jazz music playing.They all ordered hot tea and took cups to a table at the back of the shop, near a couple who were whispering and occasionally kissing.Ginny fought back her jealousy and kept her back to them.

Ron steeped the tea bag in the cup once or twice before speaking. "You have to be careful, Kim," he said softly. "Harry came to see me yesterday, wondering if I noticed anything 'odd' between you and Malfoy."

"I don't care what that idiot thinks," Ginny blurted out.

"You should care," Ron retorted. "He's your boss, Kim. He still has the power to get you out of the case."

Ginny sighed, closed her eyes, rested her chin on her hand, and took a sip of the aroma of mint tea. "Then what did he say?"

"What Malfoy said that day—the day Harry lost his hearing? I really don't want to repeat it, but Malfoy is implying that he knows more about you. You know what I mean."

"What do you want me to say, Ron?" Ginny asked, raising her eyebrows. "Is this true? I don't know what he's talking about?"

"I want you to tell me you'll be more careful not to reveal things like this to the worst people," snapped Ron. "Every time you're in the same room, Malfoy will stare at you. You have to be more careful in your words and deeds. If the media becomes suspicious, the consequences will be disastrous. An Auror and an enemy of the Ministry of Magic have - have an affair ?Forget soap operas, everyone will be paying attention to this soon."

"'Have an leg'?" Ginny said mockingly. "Are you still at Hogwarts?"

Ron rolled his eyes. "Okay. Do you love him?"

"Yes." She said softly, looking away.

He sighed and leaned forward, looking at her seriously with blue eyes. "I'm sorry, Kim."

"Yes, me too."

"You can't be alone with him in the holding cell anymore. It just looks so suspicious."

Her heart sank. "I know."

"But... oh my god, I can't believe I'm thinking about this." He chuckled slightly. "I'll try to get you to meet him tomorrow when we go to St. Mungo's."

"really?"

Ron flushed. "If he's demoralized, he'll try again to avoid a trial," he said to the table. "After Travers, we can't afford to make mistakes like this again."

Ginny narrowed her eyes. "But why are you doing it?"

He shrugged and took a sip of his tea. "I thought seeing Malfoy again would evoke the hatred at Hogwarts, but... I don't know. I guess I still kind of hate him, but—more pity." He frowned and shook his head . "I don't care how bastard he is if he has to watch a strange woman die and have someone tell him she's his mother... Merlin. It's—" Ron flinched and shook his head again .

Ginny took his hand across the table. "Thank you," she murmured. "I promise, I'll make him less obvious. No one will doubt it."

"Okay," said Ron immediately, sounding relieved. "Because if you were any more obvious, I'd have to tell Harry."

Ginny returned to her apartment that night with a spark of hope, however remote, but she knew that she would be able to see Draco privately again.A folded piece of parchment with her name written on it sits on her coffee table as she walks into the living room.Ginny knew that the letter must be from John and Simon, so she rushed to it.She opened the letter, and the neat signature at the bottom confirmed her guess:

Dear Ginny,

First of all, thank you very much for helping me to participate in the pre-trial on Tuesday.Kinzie believes his scheme is infallible, but I always like to have a backup plan.I believe you can understand.

The public reaction in court was a hindrance for us.If there's something we can do about Draco's case, we'll do it if you say so.I know my testimony is not admissible, but Kinzie seems to think that if you want him to testify, his ancestors would make him a passable witness.Kincaid is clearly a very distinguished pure-blood wizard.I don't know, I don't understand those arrogant fools who are pure blood.

Anyway - it looks like you gave Draco the suitcase I packed, because the suit he was wearing at the pre-trial was an old suit I lent him.I'm glad I could help.He looks a bit haggard, but I don't think prison life is too comfortable for anyone.I hope you keep your word, Ginny.It was easy for Draco to doubt himself, he could be moody if he wanted to, and I'm sure the poor guy couldn't be smiling in that situation.He's the happiest person I've ever met when he's with you, so please do your best.We know our doomed part is over, but you should see, Kinzie is walking around worriedly, about to stamp holes in our carpet.

Please keep the trial date informed.Tell Draco, his favorite old O, "everything will be fine."

As always - be strong.

lots of love,

John

——From Lao Su: Hold your head up, little dragon boy! ! !It's going to be a little trouble, Ginny, so be careful. ——K

Ginny finished reading the letter with a smile, comforted by John's friendly tone and Simon's scribbled postscript.However, Simon's last words made her shudder.He must have foreseen something, but even being warned in advance didn't make her feel any better.Even if it's just a "little problem".She really wanted to know what it would be.

She was only a few minutes late for St. Mungo's the next morning, a marked improvement on her previous punctuality record.Ron was waiting for her in the hall, both of them in bright red Auror robes, which attracted quite a bit of attention.A young therapist in a light green uniform stood with him.In their hideous uniforms, Ginny couldn't tell which of the two had the upper hand.

"The patient was brought in last night and admitted to our secure ward," the therapist said to Ron and Ginny, after introducing himself as Sebastian Banks. "We cleaned him up too - I personally don't think it's doing either party any good to not allow prisoners to bathe." He said this with a slightly contemptuous expression, as if they should have gone too long for Draco Seems responsible for getting the soap.

"Fine," said Ron, wrinkling his nose. "The last time we saw him, he was a little smelly."

"This way," Banks said, turning and leading them to the safe room.The security ward is near the back, separated from the rest of the hospital, with many barriers that keep patients—prisoners—in their beds, away from other people.Ginny's heart beat faster as they walked through the double doors that led into the ward; it was like stepping from sunlight into shadow.

"Can you explain what's going on?" Ron asked as they walked. "I've never experienced anything like this."

"Pretty easy," said Banksy's therapist briskly. "Patients will be strapped to a flat surface and administered our innovative potion. It restores lost memories.

"So even when people develop amnesia, their memories don't disappear?" Ginny said.

"Yes, they still exist," Banks confirmed. "The problem is teaching the brain how to access them again."

"But why was he tied up?" asked Ron.

Banks frowned as they entered the ward.Kingsley and five other senior members of the Wizengamot were seated in comfortable chairs at one side of the room.They all faced what the therapist described as a flat surface: a long table with ankle and wrist straps.It seemed that they were about to witness an ordeal rather than a medical procedure, and that didn't bother her at all.The feeling of the room, combined with the sight of the table, brought Ginny's apprehension to a head.

"The effect of the potion will not be natural." Banks answered Ron's question. "As we said, releasing the mind is not a very smooth process. Patients need to be restrained for their own safety and the safety of the observers."

"I feel as if I'm going to watch an exorcism ceremony." Kingsley said coldly, standing up to meet them. "This potion doesn't have any side effects, does it?"

"We haven't found it yet," Banks said. "We've given this potion to amnesiacs with a 98 per cent success rate - meaning their memories are fully restored. The other 2 per cent can only recall parts of the memory, but the important parts. "

"Great," Kingsley said, rubbing his hands together. "Then can we start..."

"Of course." Banks tapped his healer badge with his wand, and not long after, two other healers came in with Draco.Ginny's heart beat fast when she saw him: he had been shaved and his hair cut, and he looked a lot like the Ben Hamilton she'd known a few weeks earlier.He stared unwisely into her eyes, and did not take his eyes off her until his escort brought him before Kingsley.

"Mr. Malfoy," Kingsley said slowly and solemnly. "Do you know what's going to happen today?"

"Yes." Draco said hoarsely, not meeting his eyes. "I'll get my memory back."

"Very well. Dr. Banks, the scene is under your control."

Kingsley returned to his seat, Ron and Ginny sat next to him, and the two healers led Draco to the table and tied him to it.Banks walked over to a small metal cart against the wall, on which was a small steaming cauldron, boiling its contents.Ginny watched anxiously as Banks removed the cauldron from the fire, dipped the beaker in, and poured out a shot of the iron-blue potion.

"It doesn't taste very good," Banks warned Draco. "But isn't good medicine just a bitter taste?" Several members of the Wizengamot laughed.Ginny watched intently as Banks helped Draco sit up slightly and poured the potion into his open mouth.

"It should take a while to take effect," Banks said, and as soon as he finished, Draco closed his eyes tightly and let out a low hum.His breathing became labored and weak, and his chest heaved violently under the light blue hospital gown.

"And here it begins," said one witch to another.The Wizengamots leaned forward, and every groan from Draco eventually turned into a faint whimper.He tugged lightly at the straps around his wrists, as if reaching for his head.

"It might be a little uncomfortable, but he'll be fine," Banks told them, laughing.

At this moment, Draco seemed to have been pricked by a needle, or a sudden electric shock, he arched his back and let out a long thud.He writhed in the restraints, trying to free his wrists so hard that they almost snapped.His heels kept pounding against the table, and then, out of breath, he huddled as sideways as he could, kicking his legs wildly.

"Is this 'somewhat uncomfortable'?" Ginny said angrily, clenching her fists tightly. "When this is over, I hope he's still intact."

"You're going to kill me," Draco said with difficulty, his eyes suddenly widening. "What did you give me? I'm dying. Fuck, I—" He let out a shriek and arched his back so that nothing but his head and heels touched the tabletop.

"Is this normal?" Kingsley roared.

Banksy therapist looked confused, and Draco kept screaming. "I've never seen anything like it," he cried. "there has never been."

"Help him!" Ginny yelled, and she would have rushed if Ron hadn't grabbed her wrist so tightly.

"Stop!" Draco yelled, twisting violently on the table so hard that it shifted on the floor. "Please! Stop!"

"Hold him!" Banks called to the other two healers, pointing his wand at Draco's tense body, which they did. "He's all right," he assured, the tip of his wand glowing white. "It's just his brain fighting the potion—"

"He's in pain!" Ginny said, hearing the choke in her voice, and she realized that tears were running down her cheeks.Draco was still screaming.She had to watch him in agony, Draco's incessant screams piercing her heart.

"I'm sorry," Ron said loudly, pulling her to her feet hastily. "My sister is sensitive, I think we should—"

"Let go of me," she hissed. "I don't--"

Draco collapsed suddenly, limp and lifeless like a rag doll.His head was on one side.His arms stopped struggling and his hands dropped to the edge of the table.

For one terrible second, Ginny thought he might be dead.