Notes: Lauren’s birthday nears…I must hurry and write!

For Earth is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky

by Pata
 
 

Chapter 1
The Lake Incident
 

"Honored members of the Justice Court, I stand before you today to present my case and defend
myself against charges of murder and manslaughter."
 

As I spoke I managed to keep my voice even, by my gray-blue eyes flitted to each of the seven
judges sitting in front of me. But their eyes were not on me; the head justice looked at the assembled
friends and family members. Harry Potter in the front row, little prude that he is, scowling at me; the
Weasleys (I caught the look of hatred on my fathers face); my disapproving parents, Narcissa and
Lucius Malfoy; Hermione… Mudbl…damn it. I can’t even fake it anymore.

The head justice said, "Draco Malfoy, did you or did you not intentionally murder Ronald Weasley?"

I didn’t hang my head in shame, nor did I look the judge in the eye. I simply said, "Yes. I killed him."

A gasp rose from the assembled crowd. Molly Weasley nearly fainted. "Kill him right now!" Arthur
Weasley screamed, tears running down his cheeks. "The little wrench admitted to the deed; use the
death charm on him right now!"

The main judge held up a hand to silence him. "Mr. Weasley, do not be irrational." He turned to me.
His eyes were a calm, understanding brown. "Mr. Malfoy, please tell us your version of events."

I nodded. I knew the eyes of all of them were on me. Most of them, I was sure, hoping I would be
killed for murdering Ron. None of them understood the circumstances, of course. None of them knew.

Except one. She knew everything. And I could only hope she wouldn’t betray me.

I took a deep breath. "Surely, Justice, you know of the rock that overhangs the great lake at Hogwarts
School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? Well, it’s one of my favorite places to go and relax…"

*

I guess I thought I was the only person who knew that the rock existed, for I had never been bother
there before. I am troubled man, Justice, and sometimes I think that periods of relaxation and
introspection on that rock are the only things that kept me from going insane.

From peering over the edge of the rock, I could clearly see my reflection in the lake. Pale face with
defined features, small pointed nose with a small smattering of nearly invisible freckles, slitted bluish-gray
eyes that had a piercing, cold effect. I knew there was no one person in all of Hogwarts that could hold
my gaze; for, as they say, eyes are the windows to the soul.

It was spring day, early afternoon, a weekend. I had gone to my rock in order to calm myself down,
for I had been having an exceptionally bad day. As I looked down in the water, my reflection stared
calmly and composedly back at me, gray eyes glinting in the sunlight. As I stared, another figure
appeared in the water next to me, one with long, curled brown hair and warm amber eyes. I didn’t
recognize her at first, but…

"Granger?"

She squeaked, shocked at my seemingly sudden appearance on the rock. "Malfoy!"

"What the hell are you doing on my rock?" I cried angrily. The nerve!

"Excuse you! This is not your rock, I don’t see your name on it anywhere," she snapped, folding her
arms across her chest.

I glared at her. "This is my rock, you filthy hybrid, so back off! Damn idiot!"

I was surprised, for she wasn’t bothered at all by my insults. "Surprising to see you here; I thought
you were getting thrown out of Hogwarts when we were third years. I suppose only your father kept
you alive here, surely it wasn’t your brainpower."

"Little Mudblood asshole!" I screeched at her, and I dove for her, catching her around the middle and
pinning her to the ground. She screamed, angry now, and punched me hard in the nose.

I didn’t flinch, not even as the blood dripped from my broken nose onto her forehead. I grabbed both
her wrists and pegged them to the ground, sitting on her stomach and keeping her legs motionless with
my own.

"You’re going to pay for that," I spat at her, my eyes narrowing in anticipation. She looked at me, and
those golden orbs widened in shock.

"You wouldn’t!"

I hauled her to her feet, hoisted her up, and tossed her out off the rock. There was a splash as she
connected with the cold water, and a small scream of anger. "Malfoy!" she yelled. I looked down
over the rock at her.

She was laughing. She was taking it so well. I found myself smiling slightly as well, but I masked it
with my usual sneer. "I hope you’re happy," she said. She was completely submerged in the dirty lake
water, only her head staying above the surface.

She was angry, but playfully; she hated me, I knew – or I thought I knew, I suppose. Hermione
Granger hated me, but I didn’t care. She was laughing right now, as though it was all a big game.

Her laugh was high-pitched and clear, and I thought, at that moment, that I had never seen someone
so beau…

*

"It doesn’t matter what I thought, Justice." I caught myself just in time. The judges looked at me, unsure
what to make of what I had nearly said.

I glanced over at Harry. His cold scowl had softened slightly, and I wasn’t sure why…did the little
brat have sympathy for me? Surely he wasn’t as cold-hearted as I would have been had our positions
been switched.

Next to him was Hermione. Our gaze met for one second and I knew exactly what went through her
head. There were tears on her cheeks, barely visible, but I saw them. She knew as well as I did that I
was dead if I told the truth.

For she knew the truth.

"Mr. Malfoy," said the head justice, "please continue with your narrative."

My mind raced. I nodded slightly, uncertain. "I will."

And I did continue, but I omitted the next three weeks of my life, for they would surely end it if my father
knew what happened in that time span.
 
 
 

Back to Prologue
Chapter 2