trouble

It's not like Harry hadn't known for a while what would be expected of him. But he was still unsettled when the whole room turned to him, and dozens of eyes followed him on his way to the seat from which he was supposed to speak. 

"We have summoned as witness none other than Mr Harry Potter, from whom, I am sure you will all agree, a testimony is of the greatest importance and purity, and requires the highest consideration." 

Harry could almost feel Draco's eyes rolling into their orbits. But when he looked at him, he saw that they weren't moving. They were still fixated right on him. He saw, in them, Draco's nervosity, his plaid for his help. Fear. And something else, maybe. Regrets ? Sadness ? 

"Mr Potter, as we all know you were present at the Battle of Hogwart and played a crucial role in the defeat of Lord Voldemort."

"Well… yes."

"Have you encountered my client's path during these dramatic and dreadful hours ?" 

Harry thought he was being dramatic and dreadful. 

"I did, yes." 

"And would you say that you think my client acted as a partisan of Lord Voldemort ?" 

Harry had thought about it since the trial had begun. The question wasn't asked well in his opinion. Draco had attacked him. But then, Draco had saved his life. He saved his life twice. And Narcissa saved his life too. For Draco's sake. He owed too many people for still being alive, had too many debts to afford not honoring one when he had the occasion.

"No, I wouldn't. Draco Malfoy…" 

These were odd words to pronounce.

"Draco Malfoy has been of precious... even crucial help in the defeat of Voldemort. He has helped me on several occasions, and without him not only would I not be alive today, but Tom Riddle would not be dead."

A murmur ran into the audience. The president of the court raised an eyebrow. 

"Can you describe the course of events, Mr Potter ?"

"Well, a few weeks before the Battle, I was captured and brought to the Malfoy Mansion, with my friends Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. The Malfoys wanted to hand us over to Voldemort, they asked Draco to testify that it was in fact me."

"Why would they do that ?" the president asked. 

"My friend Hermione threw a spell to have me disfigured. Draco and I went to Hogwarts together, we have known each other since we were eleven."

"Continue." 

"Well he didn't tell on me. They ended up calling Voldemort anyway but Draco kept telling them he didn't think it was me." 

"How can you know that he wasn't just saying he wasn't sure because he wasn't sure." 

"Oh he had recognized me. And he had recognized my friends as well, he knows them too. I talked to him about it afterwards, he told me he hadn't wanted to turn me over. When I asked him why, he told me that if he had, and they had called Voldemort and he had killed me, then he would have had no hope that Voldemort would ever be defeated." 

Another rumor went around the room. Harry looked at Draco, who had straightened up a little. Harry didn't know whether he should try to hold his gaze or avoid it, so while Draco's barrister pointed out how "What Mr Potter is telling us here is proof that my client was forced into Voldemort's ranks but never…" he just threw some quick glances then stared at the floor until the next question. 

"More than that, though being forced into those ranks, my client seize every opportunity to contribute to Lord Voldemort's defeat. On what other occasion did my client help you in the war ?" 

"During the Battle. I mean, people were there…"

"Please tell us your own version of the event."

"Okay… Well, at some point I was supposed to be dead, so… I acted dead, so that Voldemort would think I was. I… The Death Eaters had taken my wand. When I decided to act and run, Draco didn't hesitate, he took my wand from the hands of a Death Eater and brought it to me, just in time for me to counter Voldemort's attack. I would've died without my wand." 

He felt ridiculous, telling things this way. He didn't know how to make them understand if they weren't there. 

"Mr Potter, what would you say the nature of your relationship with Draco Malfoy is ?" 

Surprised, he answered McLaggen's superior

"Wha.. Hum… We… We have known each other since we both arrived at Hogwarts. We've had some… differences of opinions." He laughed internally at his own choice of words. "But in times of war you should try to forget that and… Draco saved my life and he helped me defeat Voldemort. That I like him or not doesn't change that." Then after a moment of silence "He doesn't belong in Azkaban."

"Thank you Mr Potter."

He went back to his seat in the bleachers. How come there wasn't anyone else he knew in this court, other than McLaggen. Loads of people had seen Draco run to him. And he had parents, friends who, he thought, should have been here to help him. Maybe they were here before. Or maybe they were already in prison. Or dead. Or they didn't want to be there.

The Trial lasted another fifteen, twenty minutes of both parties arguing against each other. Eventually, the president of the court proceeded to the voting. By a close majority of the votes, Draco Malfoy was declared not guilty of the charges, and wouldn't be sentenced for them but was to stay under close surveillance and strict conditions of the Ministry. Harry saw Malfoy's shoulders drop, his face obviously expressed relief, but it was so quiet, submissive, he didn't recognise him. But that didn't matter, at least he was not going to Azkaban. As they took Draco outside of the court, Harry rose up and tried to get to Cormac. 

"Can I go talk to him ?"

"Well he's free" Cormac answered. "They'll just give him back the things he had on him when he was arrested then let him go."