A whoosh of noise from the direction of the Floo announced Snape's arrival.
The Potions Master strode forward. "Harry. It might be best were you not here this evening."
Well, that certainly wasn't what Harry had been expecting to hear. "Huh?"
"Oh, for Merlin's sake," Draco erupted. "He thinks I don't want you to see me in a state, and after they expel me I suppose I might truly be in one. But he's wrong. I'd rather you were here when we come back so I can say good-bye."
"Would you stop with all the negative predictions?"
"Draco," Snape said in a level tone. "You do not look as presentable as you should."
"Well it hardly matters, considering!"
"Harry is right; your pessimism is not going to help matters," Snape lectured, his voice going intense. "We may have received disappointing news today but all is not darkness and despair."
"What news?"
Draco started to snarl some sort of answer, but Snape cut him off. "The powers that be are being phenomenally dim-witted, but this comes as no great shock to me. When I have news worth sharing, Harry, you may rest assured that I will do so." Harry didn't really follow that, but Snape was looking at him in a way that said to leave the matter behind, even as he instructed, "Draco, stand up now so we can get the wrinkles out of those robes."
Wanting to do something, Harry offered, "Let me--"
"I've seen your pitiful attempts at clothing charms, Potter." Draco spelled himself then, still looking a bit as though he wasn't completely at ease with his new wand. Harry supposed that Dumbledore must still have the old one. Draco put a bit of polish on the snake in his crest, and shined his shoes, and spelled his robes once more though by then they were looking perfectly smooth. When he was finally finished, he held out the maple wand to Severus. "Better not let them see I've got another, or they'll want to confiscate both."
"Draco, they might exonerate you!" Harry said, exasperated.
"What sort of a fairyland do you live in, Potter?" As though realising he was waving his hands rather wildly, Draco suddenly shoved them deep into his pockets. "Just you watch. Lucius will sit back, smarmy as can be, acting soooo sorry that it's come to this, while all around, his nasty cronies will be lecturing the neutral element of the Board all about how very dangerous I am even despite the Aurors' conclusions about the murder. There's not one bloody chance they'll exonerate the likes of me, you shite-faced Gryffindor optimist!"
"You truly do need to improve your outlook before we go," Snape announced in a heavy tone. "Perhaps a calming draught."
"Oh sure, force-feed me another one. Why don't you just go fuck yourself, Severus?"
Harry drew in a sharp breath, wondering what Snape would have to say to that.
The Potions Master must have concluded that Draco was under enough stress that a rebuke would serve no purpose. His eyes glittering, he merely drew a single-dose vial out of his robes and extended it. When the Slytherin boy ignored the clear command, Snape did speak. One word.
But the way he said that word made Harry shudder.
"Now."
Draco gave the man a nasty look, but then he snatched the vial and quaffed the contents in one go. "Vile as usual."
"You're being vile," Harry couldn't help but say.
By then, though, the draught already taking effect. Draco began breathing deeply, his features settling into peaceful lines. He looked almost angelic, which would have been amusing in any other circumstance.
"You will wait here for us then, Harry?" Snape inquired. "As Draco has no objection to your seeing his rather erratic behaviour."
"You shouldn't have had an objection either," Harry pointed out. "We're family."
"Yes," Snape nodded his agreement, but the word sounded off, somehow. Not diffident, and not exactly regretful... but somehow reserved. Maybe, Harry thought, his father just had a lot on his mind.
"Draco, I do believe it is time." The Potions Master reached out to place a hand on his son's shoulder. "Now, listen. The hearing may not be pleasant, but you must have faith in yourself. Project purity, and above all, confidence. You did not kill the young lady, no matter what slanders may attach to your name."
"My name's hardly got room for more slanders," Draco said, his tones calm now even if his words still thrummed with anxiety. "My own cousin thought I'd done it. My cousin who knows I returned Harry's wand, who ought to be smart enough to know I want to get away from being associated in everyone's mind with my horrible... with Lucius."
"Confidence is quite distinct from self-pity, Draco." Snape shook his head as he squeezed Draco's shoulder. Lifting his hand, Snape performed a wandless charm. It looked to Harry as though an invisible comb was neatening Draco's hair. Draco didn't appear to notice the small gesture of caring. He just gave Harry one last sad glance, and then followed his father out into the hall.
Harry closed the door after them and leaned up against it, wishing he could go with them, wishing he could stand with Draco against adversity, even if it meant coming face to face with the man who had gouged his eyes out on Samhain.
The hearing was closed, though.
Nobody was allowed in except the Board, the headmaster, the student in question, and his Head of House. Well, nobody except whatever witnesses the Board or Draco wished to summon.
There was nothing for Harry to do now but wait.
Snippets of conversations began to replay inside his mind. Draco, frantic in his worry, so much so that he'd actually told Snape to go fuck himself. Snape, insisting on the calming draught. Probably for the best, all things considered. Draco, saying, just you watch, there's not one bloody chance they'll exonerate the likes of me...
Just you watch....
And that, Harry abruptly decided, was exactly what he was going to do. He wasn't going to stand around wondering; he was going to stand with Draco, after all. Even if Draco didn't know he was there.
Pushing off from the door, Harry headed towards his bedroom. Towards Draco's enchanted picture frame.
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Coming Soon in A Year Like None Other
Chapter Seventy-Seven: The Expulsion Hearing
Chapter 77: The Expulsion Hearing
http://archive.skyehawke.com/story.php?no=5036&chapter=77
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A Year Like None Other
by Aspen in the Sunlight
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Chapter Seventy-Seven: The Expulsion Hearing
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"Show me Draco," Harry hissed in Parseltongue, his wand thrust out in demand, his whole body thrumming with tension. "Show me Draco, now!"
He could feel the magic flowing through him, could feel the zing of something vaguely akin to electricity pulsating in his wand hand, could feel his dark powers flowing through him and out.
But they went precisely nowhere, at least as far as Harry could tell. Draco's picture frame was still showing a view of the Whomping Willow in the pale dying twilight, just the same as when Harry had entered the room.