"To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering." - Friedrich Nietzsche
Harrys POV
It's been a few months since the war. Most of the Death Eaters have been round up and received their sentencing. Todays trial will be no different to the countless ones that have taken place this week. Lucius Malfoy enters the courtroom, the man who caused so much pain and anguish to so many. His skin is ashy and dark shadows swallow his face. I fail to see how this is the same person who held so much power, in this moment he only looks pitiful feigning authority. His sentence is read and he is escorted to a waiting cell. By the look on his face I can tell he expected a different outcome.
The court room is abuzz after the Lucius is lead out and it takes Shacklebolt a while to get everyone settled again. I am starting to second guess my decision to come here. Do I believe Lucius Malfoy belongs in Azkaban? Yes, yes I do. Do I believe Narcissa and Draco should share his fate - I don't know, maybe. I do believe my testimony today will have an impact on the outcome. Hermione agreed with me immediately when I told her my plan, Ron on the other hand took some convincing. His not happy with my decision to do this but he does understand, which is honestly more than I expected. He understands this is what I need to do and I will never forgive myself if I do not.
Narcissa is escorted in next, and although she looks older and fragile she carries herself with grace and a steady composure. Shacklebolt reads the charges and one by one witnesses are called to the stand and finally "You can take the stand Harry" Shacklebolts voice pulls my attention back to the reason I'm here. I step up to the witness stand and wait for my chance to speak.
"Harry Potter, testifying in the trial of Narcissa Malfoy, for the plaintiff..." my head snaps to Shacklebolt. Did I hear him correctly? Did he say testifying for the plaintiff? "You my deliver your testimony Harry" He says. "Thank you Mr Shacklebolt, although I would like to take this moment to correct an error in your statement" He looks at me confused and the courtroom becomes ominously silent. "Oh, an error, I don't?" - "Yes, An error" I cut him off not interested in dragging this out longer then need be. "I will not be testifying against Narcissa Malfoy today. I am here to testify in her defense" The courtroom erupts in hushed chatter, of which I cannot make out anything being said. I'm not interested either. Shacklebolt gives me a displeased look that seems to suggest he assumes he heard me wrong. "Quite!" he raises his voice in an attempt get everyone under control, the courtroom falls silent yet again. "Did I hear you correctly Mr Potter? You are testifying in Mrs Malfoys defense" he says, as if giving me the chance to reconsider. "Yes, that's correct" The chatter start up again and I'm left in a staring contest with the newly appointed Minister of Magic. I will not back down from this and no one can change my mind.
He must see the determination in my eyes because with a resigned sigh he says "You may proceed with your statement Mr Potter" I take a deep steading breath - "I know that everyone in this courtroom has lost someone to this war, either in battle or because of their allegiance. The reason does not matter; the only thing that matters is we all share in that loss. This includes Mrs Malfoy. Yes, her husband invited Voldemort into their home; her husband is indeed a death eater who has done deplorable things. I however do not believe that she should be punished for the choices of her husband. If that is the case then I believe we should all be on trial as we all have an affiliation with someone who was caught on the wrong side of this war" I take a second to let my words settle before I continue. "Mrs Malfoy showed great courage by deceiving Voldemort in the dark forest. Her lie gave me the opportunity to catch him off guard and I was able to defeat him. If she did not come to my aid when she did I would have died there and then and this war might have ended with a very different, much bleaker outcome" I hate casting myself in the light of a hero, however if I am ever to use my status as the 'chosen one' then this is how I will use it. The courtroom is quiet, so I continue. "All Mrs Malfoy did she did to protect her son, and I do not fault her for loving her child and neither should you"
Dracos POV
Its dark and cold, and my whole bloody body hurts. It takes me a second to remember where I am. Oh right, how could I forget, I'm in the dungeon awaiting my trial. Running my hand over my swollen face to assess the damage done while simultaneously trying not to move to much, I am sure I have at least three broken ribs.
"Death Eater scum, think you can be so smug in your position?" I'm not even sure what I did this time. I feel his fist before I see it coming, then the sound of my head connecting with the stone wall. Pain explodes through my skull. I fall to the ground, wrapping my arms around my head, from my experience once someone starts attacking, they don't stop. I felt a few kicks strike my abdomen, walking the fine line between awake and unconscious I see him pull out his wand, a whisper of a curse, my eyes widen as my body writhes in pain. Minutes feel like hours and the only solace is the darkness that consumes my consciousness.
Fathers trial should be over now. I have no doubt as to the outcome. It should sadden me but I feel nothing. "Get up Malfoy, there has been a change in plans" My thoughts are stopped when the guard whose name I do not care to remember comes barging into my cell. "Your trial is happening now" What? That's too soon. What about my mother? Did they reach a verdict so quickly? Before I can voice my thought he has me bound and he gets to work 'healing' the mess he made, which hurts more than the actual beating did.
I'm lead through dark hallways toward the courtroom, the all too familiar feeling of fear and anxiety rising in my chest. The walk being not nearly long enough to prepare me for what's waiting behind those doors. The doors open upon our arrival, and he leads me to my seat. I keep my head down, moving slowly as the pain in my body is excruciating. It takes me a while to notice that my mother is seated on a bench near me. Wait what the hell is going on why is she still here? I turn around confused, "Mr. Potter, will your testimony be the same in the case of Mr Malfoy?" I hear Shacklebolt ask. Potters here, Bollocks, did he come to gloat? The little blood I had left drains from my body. I never imagined Saint Potter as the gloating type, guess I was wrong. "Yes" he states. "I will be testifying in the defense of Malfoy as well"
Did I hear that correctly, in my defense? As well, did he testify for my mother, is that why she is still here? I glance up for the first time since I entered the courtroom and I am immediately frozen in place by intense emerald eyes.
Harrys POV
I watch as they lead Malfoy to the stands. Shoulders slumped, head hanging, he looks worn out, lifeless. I feel a sense of unease, upon closer observation I notice that he has a black eye or at least a terribly healed one and the longer I look the more pain he seems to be in. "Mr. Potter, will your testimony be the same in the case of Mr Malfoy?" I hear Shacklebolt ask. If it wouldn't hurt my chances of helping Malfoy I would roll my eyes at this point "Yes, I will be testifying in the defense of Malfoy as well" With that Malfoy looks up for this first time since entering the courtroom and I can see the thunderstorm of confusion and anxiety behind his dejected dull colored eyes.
"You may start Mr Potter" I hear Shacklebolt say from the side. Tearing my eyes from Malfoy I start. "Malfoy is a child much like me, -comparing him to me might help his chances- born into a family with a fate thrown upon us which we did not ask for. He did not ask to me a Malfoy as I did not ask to be the boy who lived. We were both caught up in a war we did not start, a war we should not have had to fight. The grownups in our lives failed him immensely and he should not be punished for following a path set out for him by people he thought he could trust." I pause giving my words time to sink in. "Malfoy saved my life on more than one account, by not disclosing my identity to Bellatrix and the other Death Eaters, by tossing me his wand in the battle of Hogwarts, to name just a few. It is my believe that everything Malfoy did throughout this war was done under duress for his and his mothers life and from the perspective of a misguided child." The crowed erupts once again and this time I manage to catch some of what is being said. Raising my voice above them "Malfoy did not kill Dumbledore." I make a point of it to look back as Malfoy. "How do you know that Mr Potter." Shacklebolt asks. "I was there, He lowered his wand, he was going to surrender."
It doesn't take long for a verdict to be met. Narcissa and Malfoy are sentenced to 7 years house arrest. During the sentence their wands are to be confiscated and magic use will be limited. With that I leave the court without so much as a backwards glance.