Chapter 1: Human Protego
The bang of the gavel echoed within the walls of the courtroom. Whispers and murmurs buzzed among the Wizengamot as Draco Malfoy was led out through the large wooden doors, flanked by two Aurors on each side. An uncomfortable lump formed in Harry's throat as he tailed them, a somber procession through halls of the Ministry, eyes following them.
"I don't understand," he whispered to Kingsley Shacklebolt beside him. "The trial isn't over? It's been two years. He's already testified. I've testified."
"The people are still scared, Harry," Shacklebolt murmured back, "They are desperate for answers. We found that this method worked well with Macnair."
They finally stopped and entered a large, dark, empty room with a single tall wooden chair in the middle. A chill traveled down Harry's spine like a bad omen.
"You don't have to stay, Harry." Shacklebolt held the door open. Harry shook his head, entered the room, and heard the lock click behind him.
"Well then, Mr. Malfoy, take a seat, and we shall begin." With a flourish of his wand, one of the Aurors – Wright, Harry thought his name was, a skinny freckled man with sharp features- conjured straps onto Malfoy's arms and legs, effectively tying him down onto the armrests and legs of the chair.
"Is this really necessary?" Harry protested weakly, but the other men took no notice. Malfoy looked haunted- resigned, almost, with gaunt, hollow cheeks and dark circles under his eyes.
"If you don't want to willingly share those thoughts of yours in court, there are other ways to get to them," Auror Wright continued. "Legilimens."
Malfoy jolted, his head met the back of the chair with a crack, his face grimaced in pain. Harry swore he felt his heart sink to his stomach.
"Gently, Wright." Shacklebolt warned. Wright slowly turned his wand, as if driving in a screw into Malfoy's head.
"Please, don't…" His voice came in a soft, high pitched whisper. Stop, Harry tried to say, but no sound escaped his dry lips.
He could feel the ghost of Voldemort pressing a finger into his scar, white hot pain,cracking his skull open like a book and ruffling rapidly through its pages. There was no love lost between him and Malfoy but he couldn't help but think that even a git like him didn't deserve this. He watched in horror as Malfoy's knuckles turned white as he gripped the armrests, his teeth gnashing.
"There's definitely some hidden thoughts in this vault,"Auror Wright nodded at his tall mustached companion, Auror Robinson, who raised his wand and promptly cast his own legilimens.
That was when the screaming started.
"STOP IT." Harry said, loudly this time, as Malfoy shrieked and rocked violently against the chair. "STOP THAT STOP IT THIS ISN'T RIGHT -" Before he knew it, Harry had bounded across the room, forcing his way between Malfoy and the two aurors, arms outstretched, a strange, unfamiliar magic emanating from his fingertips.
"Protego!" Kingsley's voice boomed.
A bright, silvery white light filled the room. Right, Harry, you dumb fuck. He chastised himself as he felt his hands, feet and face going numb. Should've remembered that magical shields exist and they work much better than a scrawny human shield. The room faded into white as Harry's consciousness slipped away.