Another Trial While Friendships Blossom
Mid to Late June, 1998
“It feels weird to be back here without Neville or Ginny,” Harry said as they walked into the ministry. “But it’s nice to be back in London again."
"Unfortunate circumstances though, aye.” Dean replied, “Sorry, I’ll hold back on the dark humor.”
Since Pansy’s trial had been done so quickly, Draco Malfoy's trial moved up three days.
“Have things changed? From the other trials?” Harry asked.
“We say what we can, he will have it harsher than the others…"
“And rightfully so!”
“Ron!” she chided, “We can’t let our personal grudges get in the way. Just the war crimes. Besides, you’re not even testifying.”
“You think there'll be more things coming, surprises I mean?” Luna asked.
They had filled in Seamus and Dean the previous evening.
“Well, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“There are a few things I’d rather not mention just yet. But if I have too.” Hermione finished walking into the courtroom.
‘Trial of Draco Lucius Malfoy:
Status: Private
Notable Witness and Accounts: Headmistress and Transfiguration Professor of Hogwarts: Minerva McGonagall; War Heroes and Peers for 6 years: Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, and Ronald Weasley; Other Notable Heroes and Witness of his (Malfoy Jr.) time in Malfoy Manor: Imprisoned Individuals Luna Lovegood, Dean Thomas, Garrick Ollivander
Charges: Accused Death Eater; Illegal Uses of the Unforgivable Curses; Attempted Murder on Multiple Accounts; Attempted Murder of Harry James Potter; Attempted Murder of Hermione Jean Granger; Attempted Murder of Ronald Bilius Weasley; Attempted Murder of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore; Accessory to murders or presumed murders…’ the list went on for hours.
“They’re charging him with every crime imaginable. Even those he didn’t commit.” Harry said, “I think it’s a little much.”
The other nodded. Ron stayed silent.
Minister Shacklebolt started the trial.
Again, the Headmistress spoke first. “He is still a child. I standby such a defense. He is an excellent student, the second best in his year, probably the entire school. Albus was aware of Mr. Malfoy’s doings during his sixth year, of his intentions that night in the Astronomy Tower. Unfortunately, all of this was information I was not privy of until that night, a letter from Albus that I received over the summer, and a few pensive memories from Severus Snape. I have lost many of my children into Voldemort's circle because their wish was to protect their family from harm. I saw the same thing with Regulus Black only two decades ago. And I am horrified that I hadn’t done more. I didn’t know Albus was capable of such things. But this boy is a child. He thought doing this would protect his family. I wish I had offered him another way. And I would like Draco Malfoy to return for an Eighth Year at Hogwarts. I feel it would be most beneficial to him.”
Ollivander said how Draco had, like his mother, slipped everyone extra food. Dean said how he would bring them books and wet cloths, and made sure they had conjured bandages and the like. Luna said how he would sneak down and talk to them, give them news of what he had heard about their friends and family, how he would sometimes spend the night in the dungeons to hide from Voldemort, Bellatrix, and even his own father.
Harry said how he didn’t have it in him to kill Dumbledore and how he refused to identify the trio when they were captured and how Draco threw Harry his wand, during the final battle.” Hermione reiterated that he was a good student, often studying, and other things that had been said.
The council went in for debate. While they were taking a lunch break, the Minister slipped over to the kids sitting at the cafeteria table.
“They want him in Azkaban for the summer, Hogwarts for the school year, after that house arrest for a year. In two years they’ll discuss it again. Then decide if they need an additional year before sentencing him to 5 years house arrest or 6 months of house arrest provided he gets an entry level job at the Ministry during the next six.”
“That’s horrific! And unacceptable.” Hermione snapped. This time, all the kids agreed.
“I agree. Do you have anything else you could use?”
Heads shook no. Hermione looked up. “I do have something. And what about letting Malfoy speak?”
“He didn’t want to. He says he shouldn’t be defended. Said half of the things are true anyway.” Shacklebolt said. “I need to get back. I’ll let them know, Ms. Granger, that you wish to speak again.”
“Very well.” Hermione finished turning back to her friends.
“You want to tell us first?” Harry asked hesitantly.
“Malfoy is why I didn’t die in second year, I’ll explain later, and while Bellatrix was using Legilimency to get into my mind, he used Occlumency to protect me.” Hermione rushed out, her friends staring at her with open jaws. “I don’t know why either and that is on my summer to-do list.”
Before they had a chance to recover and ask questions, the court reconvened.
Hermione was put up to stand. “So there is a little back story that you may or may not have been aware of. In our second year, the school year of 1992-1993, there was a Basilisk in the school attacking, but not killing various muggle born students, as well as cats and ghosts. A student was tricked into opening the Chamber of Secrets, by a notebook belonging to Tom Riddle also known as Voldemort, the book being one of his Horcruxes. In Flourish and Blotts before the start of the school year. We had a confrontation with Draco Malfoy and his father. While Lucious Malfoy and Arthur Weasley were talking, I saw Draco rip a page out of a book. I honestly scoffed at such a thing. Near the end of the year I found a random piece of paper in my bag, one talking about a Basilisk and it had the word pipes written on it. I later came to realize that it was the paper from the book at Flourish and Blotts. Harry and Ron finding that paper saved the school. And my life, I might add.
Then he refused to identify Ron, Harry, or me on that night in Malfoy Manor. When we brought in, Mrs. Malfoy had to hold him back. While I was being tortured for information Bellatrix Lestrange tried using her Legilimency skills on me. I wasn’t very good at Occlumency at then, still not that good. But he was in my head, apologized for being there, and protected me. I have absolutely no idea why, but he did.”
Wizengamot had more panicked looks and dropped jaws then her friends all of whom had faces that were just a lot more than they had been before.
Kingsley stood up and said, “Now that changes things doesn’t it. We’ll go discuss these developments."
Eventually they said they had to come back Monday, four days away, so they could decide on what to do.
Back at Hogwarts, the news of what Hermione said spread quickly. Pansy actually burst out laughing after Luna, Harry, and Dean finished regaling the tent with the tale. Blaise and Theo quickly joined in. Daphne started to try and interrogate Pansy while Astoria and Tracey whispered between themselves about the current situations. Ron had a long face, in fact it had been there for six hours.
“Ron, you okay?” Harry asked.
“Just processing. This has certainly been a long day.”
“What do you all think about an Eighth Year at Hogwarts?” Hermione asked.
“Kingsley offered Ron, you, and I any ministry jobs we wanted. I know you already declined, but I was thinking about it. I mentioned to Kingsley about becoming an Auror. He said he would happily put me right into the course, but said not only would my career benefit from another year of schooling, my head could probably use some time before anymore fighting. I think I’m gonna come back.”
“I don’t know yet.” Ron said and let the conversation continue.
“Ginny, Astoria, and I have to take our actual Seventh Year, but it would be nice for you to all come back too.” Luna said continuing to look around the tent for Nargles.
“I want come back.” Neville said.
“I would come back, even if I wasn’t forced to.”
“I know I actually had a true Seventh Year, but I’m not ready to leave.” Tracey added. “And Millie said she’s staying too. Doesn’t want to go home to her family.”
“Most of us don’t” Daphne said. “I’m staying as far from home as I can. I can’t cut them out completely until Astoria is truly free. I don’t want her to be forced to marry because the elder sister ditched the ‘pureblood’ life.”
That seemed to be the consensus of everyone else. Susan and Hannah, Padma and Parvati, Terry and Michael, Justin and Ernest.
“I’d like to have a stress free year.” Seamus nodded to Dean’s statement.
“It would be nice,” Ron added, “No one trying to kill any of us.”
Blaise laughed, “That’s our problem this year. And Granger, thanks. We all appreciate what you did for Draco. Actually, what you all did for him, and Pansy, and Gregs.”
“Think its time lions and snakes can be friends?” Theo asked holding out a hand. The Gryffindors looked at each other. Harry was about to get up when Ron, of all people, reached out and shook it.
“War’s over I suppose, as long as we can destroy you at quidditch and make fun at you in the friendly way?”
“Academically, too?” Granger asked as Pansy pulled her into a hug.
“That’s up to Draco. He’s the smarted of us. Owwww Ouch!!’ Blaise said before he started getting attacked with pillows by his friends. “I didn’t say that you weren’t smart!”
“Pillow fight…!” Hermione suggested only moments before she was hit by Harry’s pillow.
Their muffled shouts, both by the pillows and the silencing charms around the tent happen to attract the attention of their visitor.
Padma hit the floor by an booming attack by Seamus, for once with no actual fire or smoke involved. She looked up and shouted over the din. “Headmistress, how are you?”
Minerva could now hear the crickets chirp outside. She stared at them in utter shocked before she was nearly knocked on her bottom by a pillow. The Professor started laughing.
Ginny cackled as soon as she realized who was missing their pillow. “Hermione!” It didn’t take long for everyone else to join in. It was Harry who stopped it by asking, “Professor McGonagall. When school starts, can we have a campout in the Great Hall?”
Hermione quickly chimed in, “Pillow fights can be beneficial to the mind, a sort of dueling if you will.”
“Well, what do the rest of you think?” the Professor replied to the rest of her soon-to-be once again students. Cheers erupted. “I think you two have your answers. Though I will be expecting all of you to help out. It will be Hogwarts wide. And please do try to get some sleep.” she finished as she left the tent.
Luna quickly offered Astoria a space in her tent with Ginny, them being the only seventh years in the group. Astoria happily accepted, and the 3 girls walked away talking. Parvati and Padma were offered a spot with Daphne and Tracey, now that Astoria left and Millecent had moved in with Goyle to keep him company. The sister quickly moved in with the Slytherins. All four inviting Susan and Hannah too.
Dean and Seamus, after giving an open invite to everyone else, walked back to the tent that was for the Gryffindor boys, with Ernie, Justin, Michael, and Terry. Leaving Neville, Ron, Harry, Blaise, Theo, Hermione, and Pansy.
“I trust that none of you will kill each other,” Pansy said staring each boy in the eyes until they nodded. “Good. Granger, you’re with me. We need some girl bonding time to start off our friendship. Besides, I have your questions about Draco to answer.” Hermione followed her out of the tent wiping the quick look of fear off her face as she went.
“Should we have confirmed that they’ll both be alive tomorrow?” Theo asked.
“I think they can handle each other.” Ron said.
“They are both kind of terrifying.” Harry agreed.
“Oh you don’t know the half of it. Especially the things Pansy needs to say about Draco. Which are of course his secrets to spill, not ours.” Blaise finished with one of Draco’s classic smirks.