Harry watched thirteen month old Teddy stack one block on another on top of the coffee table before he turned back, spotted Harry and slowly made his way over to his godfather. "Hi Teddy." He grinned as he pulled the giggling boy up into his arms. "You're visiting Grandma today buddy boy." The boy locked his eyes on hair as his hair turned a bright fuchsia. "And we won't forget your hat" Harry chuckled as he pulled a dark knit hat over the boys darkening hair. Harry pulled a diaper bag over his shoulder.
"I'll be back around dinner but Teddy and I'll just have some leftovers, so take a break for a while won't you Kreacher?"
Harry called into the house as he shut and locked the door. Shifting the child on his hip Harry walked down the street a ways and turned into an ally before turning on his heel and apparating.
"Teddy! Harry!"
"Andormeda!" Harry responded setting the wiggling boy in his grandmother's outstretched arms, kissing the woman on the cheek.
"I've gotta go I'm running late again, but you know how to reach me if you need anything right?" He questioned looking into the woman's eyes. She nodded cheerfully, happy but Harry could still see how the loss of her daughter and her husband's illness had aged her, but she insisted on helping him watch Teddy. He kissed his godson on the top of his soft head and walked into the house climbing into the fireplace "Ministry of Magic."
"There you are!" Hermione exclaimed as he sat down next to Ron just as the trial started. He turned around and shook hands with Mr. Weasley and kissed Mrs. Weasley on the cheek. He nodded at Kingsley who was todays Judge.
"Up next the hearing of Draco Malfoy." The Kingsley said banging his gavel. A boy much to thin and broken to be Draco Malfoy was brought up into the center of the room he shivered and seemed to melt back into the wooden chair he was seated on. Harry stared at his old classmate as the judge listed Draco's defenses which basically summed up to being a death eater as he had not killed anyone, at least to anyone's knowledge.
"The jury will now hear any witnesses on the crimes Malfoy is being tried for. Several witness spoke briefly of seeing Draco in the Malfoy mansion or during the fight at Hogwarts, but none had seen him cast a spell. Then Hermione stepped forward and took a seat on the witness stand. "Draco is much to young to be held accountable for his actions." Hermione said with confidence.
"I still don't understand why you too were so adamant to help him." Ron whispered to Harry.
"Draco was born into being a Death Eater, he did not have another choice, he was marked before he was even legally an adult and was unable to stop his fate with his father in custody and Voldemort having control over his mother. The Dark Lord had control of the only two people he cared about and as seen in Narcissa Malfoy's trial yesterday the Malfoy's protect their own. They will do anything to protect their own which was all Draco was doing. He tried to avoid identifying the three of us when we were brought into death eater custody and he could recognize us, I know he could. Draco was only a young boy trying to say himself your honor. He had two choices act the way he did, or actively participate in the work of his fellow Death Eaters." She waited a moment before standing and walking back to her seat next to Ron. Harry watched Draco raise his head just long enough to meet Hermione's gaze and mouth a silent "thank you." She nodded. "It's your turn Harry."
"If anyone else would like to speak before Malfoy has the chance you need to do so now."
"I would like to speak." Harry said calmly standing up and walking towards the podium. He was calm, these trails were fairly old hat, this being the third month he had spoken at them nearly daily.
"A long time ago Draco was the last person I would ever defend, but he, and his family have saved my life more than once, and it was always in ways which put Draco himself into more danger. Malfoy is not a bad person he was just born into a bad life and though he and I did not see eye to eye at school doesn't mean that he has not risked his life for mine, or my friends. Draco truly did not have another choice but to act as he did if he wanted his family to stay alive. Er Thank you." Harry stood and walked back to his seat.
"Unless anyone else wants to add more information the jury and I will meet over lunch and the fate of Draco Malfoy will be announced after an agreement has been reached. The judge stood and walked with the jury into their chambers.
"What do you think will happen to the git?" Ron asked.
"Ronald!"
"What just because I don't want him to rot in Azkaban for the rest of his life doesn't mean I have to like him. He can walk free and we can keep hating each other from a distance, that works just fine for me."
"He has a point." Harry agreed.
"But he just looks so young, and sick sitting there in that cage thing." Hermione added.
"He does." Harry agreed. "Let's go get lunch while we still have around here won't make the verdict come any faster." He said turning away from the broken Slytherine who somehow was even paler than he had been in school.