"I could tell you my story, but what would be the point? I'm a liar. I always have been. You have no reasons to believe me. Am I projecting upon you? I do not deny that it may be the case. I rarely believe people when they offer autobiographies. After all, no one can tell a story without adding in some fiction to the tale, even one which is purported to be true. Do you believe this to be the case? No? Yes? The silence gives consent, I suppose, as the cliché goes.
"In this case, I wonder if you mind the fiction, perhaps the clear causes and effects necessary for this art is needed in your case. I suppose you'll want some full length explanation for the way my life has come to be in this dreary room, with one light bulb shining over my head, a metal table which clangs against my chains. The decorations are so contrasted with my life before this. That life was one of softness, of luxury, of loneliness so overpowering words in my native tongue can never express it.
"One which was ended by the love of the most beautiful thing my eyes could ever experience...
"Ah, what poetry comes from my mouth when I reminisce about the past? Are you prepared for prose? Can your feeble flatfooted nature understand my structure? No? Shall I simplify for you? I can tell you exactly what happened in two words:
"Hermione Granger."
A wand was pushed into his temple; he could feel the memories pouring into the wand, seven years of his life copied in one simple spell. From the moment he first laid eyes on the bushy haired girl, her punching him, her lying on the grass in the fall with his Aunt carving her, the confusion she showed when he killed a death eater to save her life. The heated kisses they had shared in the dead of winter, his betrayal of the dark lord, joining the Order, her joys, her sorrows, it all came out. He only thought of her.
A booming male voice suddenly came from a shadowed figure raised above him seated behind a desk like structure, "Your judgment will be made in three days' time, Mr. Malfoy. You will be returned to your cell, and anyone who wishes to speak on your behalf will be heard from in your absence."
A hammer fell.
The light was turned off above him.
His bindings rearranged themselves so he could walk again. The chains burned his skin as they moved. His voice hurt, it had been so long since he had used it. He cared not. His mind was filled with Her.
Back in his cell, he returned to the past in his mind. He needed her voice to lull him to sleep. He dreamt of her during the Yule Ball, on the arm of Viktor Krum.
"If someone had told me 3 years ago that I would have anything polite to say about Draco Malfoy, I may have punched them in the mouth for spreading such blatant lies about my character. You all know who I am, I will not waste time proving myself before you. I implore you all to heed my words, Draco Malfoy has been punished his entire life for being born to privilege, most of the time by me. He does not deserve any more punishment. He has been lonely his entire life, do not take away the opportunity for him to become the man he is on the way to becoming.
"At our age, we can only be given opportunity to flourish through having social acceptance. Now is the second time in his life that a choice must be made regarding his acceptance into the wizarding world without the shadow of his father's misdeeds hanging over him.
"The first time I was the one to offer him the choice. He turned his back on his father and on the Dark Wizard who took over his family's home. He turned his back so fully he even killed his own father to protect Hermione Granger. Remember that in your deliberations, you are not punishing Lucius, no matter how alike they look. You need to remember he is Draco, and he doesn't deserve any more judgment based on his father."
"Harry Potter, do you have anything else to offer to the court?" The booming voice above him asked.
"I will give my memory of Draco Malfoy under Veritasium while telling the Order of his intentions regarding his switching sides, gladly, will this suffice?"
There was a mumbling coming from the crowd of judges around the booming voiced man. "Yes." He boomed. A wand was placed onto Harry's temple and he could feel the memory doubling and the twin of the original slipping out of his mind.
"You may step down." The voice commanded.
"Hermione Granger, that's my name. I'll keep this short. You've doubtlessly heard of my role in the defeat of Voldemort. If not that, then through the proceedings of this trial I'm sure you have heard my name mentioned at least once. Draco Malfoy would have told you that he left the Death Eaters to be with me. We have had 2 years of war torn bliss found only in each other. The thought that he could be on trial for having a tattoo put on his arm under force and threat of his family's slaughter is preposterous."
"Ms. Granger, you will show this court respect and not speak so impetuously." The booming voice reprimanded her.
"Fine, with all due respect, this trial is ridiculous. I see I have your attention at least. I will show you respect by telling you the truth and not cursing each of you simultaneously so you may do nothing except listen to me. That is all of the respect I shall show to this court. You have taken the only person in my life who understands me on a fundamental level.
"Pardon, allow me to gain control of my emotions. Facts. Is that what you want? Fine.
"He has saved my life from the Killing Curse his father sent at me.
"He killed his father in a wizard's duel- an acceptable death according to the court in which I stand.
"I have personally seen him heal and care for children, half-bloods, muggleborns, and even a few hippogriffs, despite his loathing for the last.
"He willingly gave up his ties to Voldemort's cause, including his family's wealth and status." Here she hesitated for half a heartbeat before continuing in a determined manner.
"You have the memories of both Harry Potter and Draco himself, I will willingly give up my own experiences to prove to you that he is not in any way a Death Eater, and does not sympathize with them even indirectly."
The wand was pressed to her temple; her memories slithered out of her head.
"Draco Malfoy, you have been accused of formerly being a Death Eater, sympathizing with the Death Eater cause, of endangering the lives of muggles and wizards alike, and finally of casting an illegal hex on the date of May the second, 1998. This court has heard enough testimony to come to an appropriate decision. Draco Malfoy, this court has decided to drop all charges due to inaccuracy of court documents. It seems that due to the likeness in your features to your father, he was the perpetrator of these activities. You are free to go."
The chains melted off his chaffed skin and his wand was placed in front of him. "I'm free?" He asked the voice.
Instead of a reply, the light above him was switched off.
A/N: This is an already completed story which I am editing and uploading here. There are mature scenes in this story, all will be clearly marked. I will be uploading a new chapter every Tuesday for a total of 17 chapters. Find my socials on my profile, if you're interested in that sort of thing!
Reviews are always welcome and encouraged! (If there are grammar/editing mistakes, please PM me!)