Chapter Text
There was an investigation into Mr and Mrs Malfoy; and all who had interacted with the family especially their child, were held in interviews by the local police. Later with professionals after initial interrogations, with the allegations against the Malfoy's submitted by an employee of their own.
Many tabloids and broadsheet news providers exclaimed their disbelief at these accusations, in the beginning proclaiming the employee of being a jealous leech who wanted their 15 minutes of fame rather than a concerned adult. It later became very clear to the public that these accusations had been dismissed too readily; though they were heavily criticised for their insensitive portrayal of the situation they inverted their stories within the media chaos of the matter. Between PR statements and insincere denials of all allegations it was widely accepted that there was at least some level of abuse experienced by the Malfoy heir, however some people misconstrued the situation.
The trials set for the Malfoy’s would be difficult, excruciating for Draco in particular. He really didn’t want to be there. It hadn’t made sense to him why this had to have happened now, why bother when he was already 17 and mostly responsible for himself. No matter that he was still a victim of recurring assault at the hands or cane of his father, and the lack of access he had to anyone from beyond his family.
Draco wanted to finally be done and never have to see or talk to the police or the Child Safeguarding team in his sixth form. He had frankly enough of the condescending attitude of the adults around him, acting as if he was an idiot just for not wanting to speak about the scandal.
In the days leading to the end of the trials, Draco had become much more anxious, fearing school as well as the pity in his teachers' faces. So as the trials wore on and on he closed in on himself, losing his ability to will the energy into his everyday duties. The trials were rather more unforgiving on Draco rather than his parents.
It’s a very convoluted system, it seemed much easier to forgive and forget parents who put their children through torment everyday, Draco had thought aimlessly.
Draco had thought he wouldn’t lose any more than he already had, his dignity however was stripped away from him in the form of ‘evidence’. Not only did they showcase years of neglect on footage but also the rampant and distressing footage of a Draco, aged 8, being vigorously berated by his father while his mother feigned interest on her way out to the car, once again to leave a vulnerable Draco for a multitude of weeks alone. They brought up his physical examinations from Dr Snape, who noted every injury and mark on his body within his folder, his notes waxed in depth on the broken bones and fractures received as well as dislocations in his arms.
He wanted all of this to stop, but the prosecuting team told him it was critical for the case. His only saving grace was daydreams he’d had since a child of his saviour, he knew it was purely fictional, no adult would come save another and he had no one to save him anyway. Draco’s isolation from anyone other than his immediate family and the rare visit to extended family meant he didn’t know anyone or anything. Most of his family on his mother’s side was dead, insane or disowned; and his fathers was full of elitist aristocrats ready to tear into every weakness he had.
He had no one at all, though the therapist and safeguarding assistants were working to put him into a good home until he turned 18, they hadn’t had luck finding someone in the family who would want to. They were now looking into those disowned, though Draco had heard all the stories of Sirius Black and his hooligans from his mother, she always seemed slightly envious of his escape but she would quickly drown it out with wine.
Draco sometimes wishes his godfather was still around, with his easy smile and soft comfort, he only has the memories of him now but they were enough for him to survive on when starving for affection. The VHS tapes he’d found in the attic once sort of haunt him in a way, the uncanny similarities between them were glarin; maybe that’s why his mother couldn’t look him in the eye, the smoky grey too familiar to that of a raven head boy once her favourite of the other Black children. He had those tapes under his bed, ever since Lucius saw Draco playing them, destroying the telly as a consequence. He hopes he will get them and have the chance to listen to uncle Regulus’ voice narrating his infancy, he hopes to hear his laughter too.
…
The phone rang early in the morning on Sunday. A very odd time. Sirius and Remus tried to ignore its ring, though they lost at the third call once Remus nudged the old dog out of bed. Sirius padded down the stairs and into their airy kitchen, its walls a soft milky blue with worn, warm mahogany cabinets, the fridge littered to the brink with random magnets and notes in capitalised handwriting exclaiming ‘BUY MILK’ and ‘CALL MINNIE’. He’d reached their telephone and picked it up.
“Hello, is this Mr. Sirius Orion Black? I’m a safeguarding assistant calling about a child in a case we have currently,” Enquired a chirpy voice.
Sirius attempts to answer in his sleep warmed voice, “Erm- It’s Mr. Sirius Lupin now, sorry what’s this about?”
“I was hoping to speak to you about Mr. Draco Regulus Malfoy, we are looking for family of his to hopefully foster him and you are one of his closest living relatives available.”
Sirius was surprised at this, he hadn’t been in contact with Narcissa since Reggies funeral, “Oh! Are you sure there isn’t anyone else more suited, like his au-”
The safeguarding assistant quickly interrupted his protests. “I assure you that you’re our last hope, I’m sorry if this comes too abrupt or you are in no position to take him on, we will try-” Sirius panics, he wasn’t about to turn down a kid especially not the kid he remembers Reggie gushing on about.
“No! No, we’ll take him, yeah, we’ll take him in, is there anything we have to do for this or?”
“Yes there is some paperwork we need to go through, is there a date and time you can come and fill them out at our office?”