Ron and Hermione were making their way back for the Eighth and final time to Hogwarts on the Hogwarts express. There was only one thing that was odd this particular train ride other than the fact that nobody had made an eighth trip to Hogwarts as a student. Harry who had made this journey with them so many times was absent and it was having a particularly obvious effect on the pair left to travel alone.
"I miss Harry" Hermione said impatiently after sitting in silence for half an hour watching Ron stuff his face with all kinds of sweet treats from the Trolley.
"Yeah me too, but he'll be here tonight. He said he would be back in time for the feast" Ron stated.
"I hope he's doing OK, I wish we could have gone with them." Hermione mused.
"He is with Dumbledore and Snape, there is nothing bad that can happen. Besides Voldemort is gone and after today all of the Death eaters will have been tried and sentenced. Can't get much better than that." Ron smiled and shrugged whilst battling to open a box of Bertie Botts.
"Yes" said Hermione "but why did he have to be there for the Malfoy trial?"
Dumbledore had insisted Harry was present for this trial but had prevented him from going to any of the others which seemed curious to her.
"Because, who would want to miss out on that ?! I am genuinely gutted I didn't get to go, I would love to watch the whole lot of them get the kiss." Ron said excitedly
Hermione bristled at this, "You simply can't mean that, I would hate to see that even if it was the Malfoys."
"But they tried to kill us! At least a dozen times. I definitely mean it, I would like to do it myself if I could!"
Hermione sat up straight at this, her eyes wide and a devious smile on her lips, "You want to kiss the Malfoys?"
"You know what I mean, I would set the dementors on that lot myself if I could, moreover I would laugh all the way through" Ron practically shouted "oh bollocks" he groused as the Bertie Botts finally won the battle and scattered in all directions causing Hermione to laugh loudly.
"I guess," she continued, "we will find out this evening when Harry gets back."
They returned to the companionable silence and Hermione turned back to the window to watch the world go by as they neared their destination. Ron was frowning and trying his best to salvage as many beans as he could before stuffing them in his face unceremoniously.
Hermione started to think more on the subject, turning more and more serious. Did she really want the Malfoys to suffer? Yes, that was definite. They were cruel, vile and evil and they needed to be punished. Would it be right for them to be essentially erased from existence using the Dementors' kiss? She pondered this for a while, and came to the conclusion that she did not. Maybe Lucius, he had little to no redeeming features, well other than his actual features. It seemed a cruel irony that somebody that beautiful, almost angelic could be so dark and disturbed.
Draco though, he was a coward through and through. Her mind was drawn back to that wondrous moment in third year when she had her wand to his throat. He was quaking, Lucius wouldn't have shown such fear at the hands of a Mudblood witch. Was he just scared all along, so scared that he had no choice in the matter.
What did that assessment mean? Was he worth trying to save, trying to lead him out of the darkness that had been imposed on him?
Probably not, but maybe... just maybe.
"Dumbledore?!" Ron exclaimed, interrupting Hermione's train of thought.
"What?" Hermoine sighed.
"I got bloody Dumbledore again, I must have about ten of them now." He showed Hermione the wizard card he had retrieved from his Chocolate frog box.
"You know what?" Hermione asked rolling her eyes, whilst resting back on the coarse seats of the railway carriage.
"Wha-mph" Replied Ron stuffing the third chocolate frog of the last twenty minutes into his face.
Hermione wrinkled her nose, raising an eyebrow before continuing.
"Once Harry gets here, I think this year is going to be the best year at Hogwarts we have ever had, if not the most interesting." she smiled and glanced out of the window.
"We can only hope Hermione, we can only bloody hope" Ron stated.
Harry was uncomfortable, he would rather have been anywhere but here in front of the Wizengamot. Why did this room always seem so sinister. Why couldn't they have made it beautiful, bright and airy instead of dark and eerie. Justice in itself was beautiful and yet this room where all the wizarding trails took place seemed to have drawn all of its inspiration straight from a horror story.
Everybody sat around him was murmuring amongst themselves excitedly like they were about to watch a play or were sitting through an awards ceremony. The reality was somewhat more daunting.
Harry had Dumbledore sat to his left and Snape sat to his right, both of which were deathly silent. Dumbledore was looking pensive whereas Snape was looking thoroughly apprehensive.
Harry was painfully aware that Snape was very close to Lucius at least in the past, this must have been a difficult event for him to witness especially because Draco was his godson. He was charged with protecting him and he was quite possibly about to watch him receive his death sentence.
There was a sudden silence as the minister for magic entered and took his seat at the head of Wizengamot.
"Bring them in" was all he said once he had made himself comfortable.
The Malfoys were led in by chains attached to some rather brutal looking manacles around their wrists. Dumbledore had explained earlier that they were imbibed with magical dampening charms to ensure that any attempt at escape was foiled before it even began.
Dumbledore cleared his throat and threw a hesitant glance to Professor Snape to gauge his emotional response to the sight before him. Snape just stared straight ahead unmoving.
Harry was completely unaware of anything occurring next to him, or indeed anywhere else in the room. He just could not take his eyes away from the Malfoys. They were dressed in what can only be described as sacks that barely covered their modesty. They were unwashed, unshaven and completely dishevelled. Lucius was attempting to retain the air of complete control, as if he was unfazed by any of this though it was clearly a façade.
Narcissa was looking pointedly at her feet, there were tear stains marring the dirt and was that blood? upon her face and she was standing behind Lucius as if he could protect her from the impending doom. It was clear that she was resigned to the fact that she was about to be sent for slaughter.
Draco was standing close to his mother, he repeatedly tried to catch his mother's eye it was unclear why and he was pulling at his cover as though it would lengthen it. He was shaking, whether that was from the chill he must be feeling or fear was unclear, Harry couldn't take his eyes off him. He had thought he would enjoy seeing the Malfoys brought to their knees. He couldn't have been more wrong, there was a sadness that permeated his thoughts and he had the overwhelming sense that even though these people were evil he wanted to help them, protect them almost. He quickly dismissed that idea, even if he could would he help them? He was undecided.
The Trial began and Harry turned to Snape, he was sitting bolt straight as if in solidarity with Lucius and the Malfoy pride. He was listening to everything being said with trepidation, every word was damning the Malfoys, there was no defence heard and eventually after at least 40 minutes of evidence against them it had finally ended up time to announce the verdict and sentence.
Narcissa was crying silently and now had her arm around her son, who had his eyes closed as if in silent prayer.
All Harry heard of the Verdict and sentence was "guilty" and "the kiss, to be given immediately to each of the Malfoys"
Narcissa burst into hysterics, "Please, not Draco. He is just a boy, just take us please."
Fudge silenced her "You are aware of the laws of our world Mrs Malfoy, there is no negotiation in this you will all receive the kiss immediately" though he did not seem to enjoy the words as they left his mouth.
Dumbledore, who had been silent throughout the entire event cleared his throat and started to speak.
"Minister, if you please. I would like to remind you that there is in fact one clause that allows the victim of the crimes committed to pass the sentence once the verdict has been reached. By happen stance I have that victim sat beside me."
Shit, thought Harry. Did that mean what he thought it meant.
Fudge sighed, "Yes Dumbledore, unfortunately you are quite right and I had feared that was the reason you had brought poor Harry to this rather dreadful affair."
Fudge raised his hand and wiped it down his face before continuing,
"The wizengamot recognises Harry Potter as the main, but not sole victim of these crimes and will relinquish the sentence to his sound judgement."
Double shit thought Harry.
"Stand up Harry, if you decide to agree with the sentence passed then please by all means send the Malfoys to the dementors and dispense with them for good. Though of course if you have a different sentence that you would feel would fit these crimes better then pass that sentence now" said Dumbledore quietly so only Harry could hear.
Snape didn't say a word, but when Harry's eyes locked with his for a brief moment there was the obvious evidence of determined hope which Harry didn't ever recall seeing in his eyes before now.
Could have given me a heads up Dumbledore Harry thought when he was finally standing, he nodded his head once and steeled himself before he tried to understand what he should say next.
"Their lives are literally in your hands" Snape whispered. "please." He choked on the last word as though it physically pained him to speak it to Harry.
Five long minutes passed by with Harry staring squarely at Draco, he didn't pay any mind to the elder Malfoys.
"Draco, look at me." He announced.
It took Draco by surprise and he flinched further into his mother.
Harry grimaced, it was unnerving seeing Malfoy in this state. No sneering, no sarcastic comments just fear.
He slowly looked up at him through his lashes, and Harry took in a small gasp. He hadn't realised just how desperate he looked until their eyes met. He was thoroughly broken, whatever treatment he had endured at Azkaban awaiting his trial and punishment had done enough to force him to beg Harry of all people with his eyes to save him. The Malfoy pride was gone and in its place was a boy of Harry's age who was possibly minutes from death and he was scared, terrified even.
This was not right, frowning and straightening his spine with anger he looked away from Draco and up to Snape. He simply nodded to his professor once and looked back to Draco.
"Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy" he spoke never breaking eye contact with his peer. "You are to be stripped of your wands and returned to your home under house arrest for the period of" Harry floundered public speaking was never his strong point "em … one year." Harry shrugged, then continued "at which point another trial will be held to determine your danger to others." The words came from him with an authority he had never before possessed.
"And Draco Malfoy" he continued. "I would have you released to professor Snape and professor Dumbledore as their charge. You will remain with me, at Hogwarts and continue your magical training as my ward." He then turned to fudge when he could no longer bare to see the pained eyes of the blonde boy in front of him. "Minister, I will take responsibility for Draco and his behaviour until the trial in one year to ensure he is no danger to others or himself."
Fudge appeared proud if anything and he simply said "Agreed" and "adjourned"
Dumbledore smiled at Harry and spoke but two words to him.
"Well done."
Snape rested his hand on Harry's shoulder gaining Harry's attention, he squeezed almost painfully and said "Thank you Potter, Thank you so much."
Harry finally looked back at Draco who had not looked away from him the entire time.
Harry couldn't place the emotion playing on Draco's face. Gratitude? Relief? It didn't matter though as the Malfoys were led back out of the room before Harry could ponder on it any longer.
All Harry could think was Ron at the very least was going to be pissed off at this little turn of events.
Harry looked upwards "God help me"
