A/N: Well here it is, the 1st chapter of my new story. I really hope you guys like this. I haven't had alot of time to work in it because I'm still working on my other story, but that one is almost finished so I should be able to focuse in this one more.

I don't know when the next chapter will be out, it all depends on how long it take me to wright it and how long it takes my beta to edit it.

I want to give a special thanks to mrs.haloona who is my beta for this story. She has been really helpful so far and I'm happy to be working with her.

June 17th, 1998

Draco sighed as he walked down the corridor at the Ministry of Magic, into his trial. It had been just over 6 weeks since the battle and his parents had had their trials the previous day. Narcissa had been given 1 year of house arrest, as it had been dramatically revealed that for the majority of Draco's time at Hogwarts she had actually been under the influence of the Imperious Curse, courtesy of her husband.

Lucius's wand was snapped and he'd been sentenced to a lifetime in Azkaban. Draco hadn't really been surprised when the Auror guarding his waiting cell had told him the news of his father's sentencing. He'd never really been his father's biggest fan, despite how much when he would claim when he was younger that his father would hear about some stupid shit that happened while he was at Hogwarts.

Once he was fully inside the room Draco looked around, there were six people other than himself, three Aurors, the Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt, and two others sitting close together in the front row. Draco's eyes widened when he realized that his defenders where none other than Hermione Granger and Harry Potter. One of the Aurors must have wordlessly and wandlessly placed invisible binds on him after he sat down because Draco found that he couldn't move his arms, hands, legs, or feet. He fought the urge to roll his eyes. He didn't even have his wand so how much damage did they really think he could do?

"Draco Lucius Malfoy" the Minister started, "today we will decide your sentencing. Each Auror has their own specific case that they would like to present regarding your behavior during the war and the events leading up to it. Miss Ganger and Mr. Potter were either present during the events or in one case a memory of the event was projected to them. Do you understand?" Draco gave a him a stiff nod, which was returned with a sympathetic smile from the Minister. "Good, now let's begin. Auror Michaels if you'd please start," Kingsley said.

Draco watched the smallest of the three Aurors stand. "Draco Malfoy, the summer before your 5th year at Hogwarts you received the Dark Mark, therefore branding you as a Death Eater and a Voldemort sympathizer to the rest of the Wizarding World. Just before his death, your godfather Severus Snape, projected his memory of this incident into Harry's mind. Mr. Potter will recall this memory for us and will describe it in great detail. If anything he says contradicts to what you remember please tell us. Harry please feel free to begin," Michaels said. Draco was surprised with the Auror's capability to say Voldemort without hesitating. Even though he was gone, most people still said You-Know-Who or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Harry stood up, "Right, well Snape is seated at a large table, in the center of a dinning room, presumably in Malfoy Manor. There are twenty Death Eaters seated there counting himself. All of them are wearing their masks'. Voldemort is seated at the head of the table. The chairs to his left and right are empty. The room stays this way for many minutes before Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy can be seen ushering Draco into the room. Draco can be heard shouting that he refuses to become Death Eater scum. This makes Lucius visibly angry. He removes his wand, points it at Draco and shouts Imperious. He puts his wand away and orders Draco to go and kneel before his Lord. He obeys and Lucius and Narcissa go to sit in the empty chairs at Voldemort's sides," Harry took a deep breath before continuing.

"Once seated, Lucius tells Draco to pull up his sleeve and present his arm to the Dark Lord. Draco again obeys. Voldemort places his wand to Draco's forearm. I can see the Dark Mark slowly start to appear. Draco begins to scream in pain. After that it goes black, that's all Snape gave me," Harry finished, taking another deep breath to calm himself.

Draco had kept his eyes closed throughout everything Harry had said, he couldn't bear to see the Auror's, the Minister's, or even Hermione's reaction, but his eyes were now wide open and he was staring directly at Minister Shacklebolt.

"So, according to Harry's testimony you were forced into taking the Dark Mark, is that correct?" Shacklebolt asked.

Draco nodded his agreement before answering verbally. "Yes Minister. Everything he said is exactly how I remember it" he told Kingsley, breaking eye contact to look over at Harry. The Minister nodded and looked over at Harry as well. "Mr. Potter thank you. Auror Michaels, please be seated and Auror Smith, please begin." Draco watched the very tall Auror stand.

"Mr. Malfoy, you have been accused of murdering your headmaster - Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore on June 30th 1997. Mr. Potter was present during this incident. As it is his own memory that he is recalling and not that of another's, he will be given truth serum to ensure he tells us the truth and nothing but the truth" Auror Smith said as he walked over to Harry and placed a vial containing the clear and odorless serum on the table in front of him. "Please take 3 drops only". Harry nodded and opened the vial of Veritaserum, taking his drops quickly.

"Mr. Potter, on June 30th, 1997 did Draco Lucius Malfoy take part in the death of your headmaster- Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore?" the lanky Auror asked, searching Harry's face for a reaction of some sort.

"Draco had his wand raised at Professor Dumbledore, but he never fired a single curse or hex. When Draco failed to kill Dumbledore as planned, Professor Snape stepped in. So, to answer your question no, Draco Lucius Malfoy did not take part in the killing of Professor Dumbledore. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was killed by Severus Tobias Snape," Harry answered simply; as if anything he had just said could be classified as simple!

"Thank you Harry, you may sit down. Draco did not kill Albus Dumbledore, therefore no charges can be pressed against him for doing so. Auror Smith, please retrieve the second vial of Veritaserum for Miss Granger" Minister Shacklebolt stated before drinking from the glass of water next to him.

After Hermione took her Veritaserum, the third Auror stood and walked over to her.

"Good morning Miss Granger. In March of 1998, you, Harry James Potter and Ronald Bilius Weasley, were captured and taken to Malfoy Manor, is that correct?" the Auror asked.

"Yes," she replied simply.

The Auror nodded before continuing, "Harry and Ron were taken to the cellar and you were left in the drawing room, where you were tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange. Can you please tell me everyone who was present in the drawing room during that time."

Hermione took a deep breath, "Besides myself, there was Bellatrix Lestrange, Narcissa Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy and Draco Malfoy."

"Miss Granger, did any of the Malfoys try to do anything to stop Bellatrix from torturing you?" Auror Smith asked.

"Yes Sir, Draco did. He leapt forward to try and stop her, but Lucius put a sticking charm on his feet. I believe he was forced to watch as a punishment."

"Punishment for what Miss Granger?" the Auror asked, intrigued.

"Well, when we arrived at Malfoy Manor Draco was brought out to identify us. He lied about to his parents about who we were." Hermione clarified. Draco couldn't look at her anymore, he could still feel the fear and mortification of being restrained, the screams that Hermione had let loose had haunted his dreams ever since.

The Auror nodded once more before stating that he had no further questions. He then retook his seat and Kingsley took control. "Well Mr. Malfoy, it seems you are not the man the wizarding world believes you to be." Shacklebolt said, staring directly at the young Malfoy boy, who was still looking at the floor ashamed.

Shacklebolt banged his gravel on the desk. "Draco Lucius Malfoy, you will receive no time in Azkaban and your wand will not be snapped. However, you will be on behavioral probation for the next six months and you will return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to repeat your 7th year. Do you except these terms?"

Draco looked up at the Minister, a hopeful glint in his eyes. "Yes, Minister Shacklebolt, I accept your terms," he answered.

"Well than, Mr. Malfoy, you are free to go. Auror Smith please release Mr. Malfoy. Harry and Hermione, you may leave as well."

None of the three teenagers responded to the Minister, but they each stood from their chairs and worked their way out of the trial room. Harry quickened his pace so that he was walking next to Hermione. It surprised them both when they heard Malfoy's voice come from behind them.

"I, um, I wanted to thank you for coming to defend me. If it wasn't for you two I'd probably be rotting in a cell in Azkaban with my father right now."

Harry turned around to look at him and shrugged, "Don't mention it, Malfoy. You didn't do what they were accusing you of."

Hermione, who had also turned around was looking Draco directly in the eye, "You know what Malfoy? You really aren't who people think you are."

It was Draco's turn to shrug now as he walked away to the nearest apparition point. Once he was gone Harry turned back to Hermione.

"Are we telling Ron about this?" he asked her, referring to their testifying in Draco's defense.

"I don't think we should, he'll probably just flip out on us," she said "You know how he is about Malfoy".

Harry sighed and shrugged, "Your right 'Mione, as always. Come on let's go back to the Burrow and just try to relax."

Harry and Hermione linked arms and apparated together back to the Burrow.