Chapter 2 - Getting Reacquainted

                                        

                                              
Chapter 2
Published: 3/30/2025
The Department of Probation and Parole was tucked away under the main Atrium down several winding paths from Wizengamot courthouses. It wasn't even on the directory. The reason was for the confidentiality of those wizards and witches on probation or parole. Draco had always agreed with that goal. Successful completion of the program was hard enough without public scrutiny.
Reporters were forbidden by law to enter their department, and Aurors and officers had a private lift straight from Level 3, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. They were not supposed to "perp walk" people through the main foyer, though Aurors tended to be pricks and did it out of spite. It only made his life more difficult, trying to soothe a malcontent and angry witch or wizard. Lucky for Potter, Kingsley had ordered all reports of his attics crushed.
Finally, he heard rustling in the hallway and then came the knock. Draco picked up the next incident report in Potter's case file, so he had something to distract his anxiety.
"Come in," he said, and two Aurors led a crazed-looking Potter in. He had a split lip that was slightly bleeding. But he immediately froze and locked eyes with him.
"Where you want 'im?" one of the burly Aurors asked.
"In the chair, please."
Potter wanted nothing to do with the chair and thrashed in their arms. It took a hot second for Draco to realize that Potter was Silenced. It wasn't exactly against transfer protocol, as long as the prisoner was under direct supervision. The Aurors had no problem manhandling him and magicking him into the chair. He wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.
"Bastard," the Auror said and raised his fist. Potter didn't even flinch.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Might raise some questions as to why, as of 0200 this morning, Potter was cleared by the healers... and, at 1000, he has a broken nose to heal," Draco muttered, not meeting Potter's glaring eyes and looking at the brutes over the report in his hand. It wasn't smart to physically interfere or verbally threaten the Aurors, at least directly.
The Auror, Dawlish, if he remembered correctly, snorted and lowered his fist. "Lucky the Death Eater saved you, Potter. See you tomorrow morning, bitch."
Draco sighed, but Potter spat at Dawlish's feet. Bloody heathen, Draco thought. The Aurors just laughed and walked out. Draco shut the door with a wave of his wand.
"Don't spit on my floor, again," he ordered, his eyes on his report.
Potter glared at him as though he was about to do it.
"Don't or you will not like it. Act like you're an adult, Potter."
The Chosen One glared but didn't do it, again. Draco returned to his reading. He didn't know why he had decided to try the "ignore him" strategy, but Potter did not like it at all. He clearly wanted so desperately to hurl insults and accusations at him, that Draco had no desire to give him his voice back. Instead, he plowed his way through the file, one drunk and disorderly report at a time. This was going to take forever.
Potter, scruffy, unshaven bread and all, stomped his foot loudly. Draco looked up from the report. Potter held his bound wrists from behind his back and gave him a look.
"You really think I'm going to release you after you punched out... how many of your probation officers?"
Potter sighed and then mouthed something like, "Give me my voice back."
"Why should I? You think that I want to hear you call me "Death Eater scum" like your Auror friends do?" he grunted, shaking his head.
Harry jerked his head up to glare at him.