Draco fidgeted in his chair. Harry was late! Or maybe, it had all been a game to him. Maybe he had asked the most ridiculous thing he could think of so that Draco would say yes and he would be able to taunt him, as well as get him thrown in prison. The door creaked open and two people entered the room. He knew the first, Augustus Marks, the Auror assigned to Draco's parole. The second he didn't recognize, but the robes were a dead giveaway for a lawyer. "No one to speak for you then," Augustus asked as he took a seat?

Draco opened his mouth, clearly ready to tell the man to fuck off, when the door flung open. "Sorry," Harry said as he stumbled into the room. His Auror robes were askew, his hair sticking up in every direction, and there was a gash over his left eyebrow. "I apologize for my tardiness. I had a bit of a problem with my prisoner this morning."

Draco rolled his eyes before he stood to greet Harry, the man certainly knew how to make the most of an entrance. He held his hand out, which Harry shook. "Want me to heal that?"

Harry looked confused for a moment, so Draco reached up and pressed a finger into the cut. The finger came back stained with blood and both of them stared at the dark red liquid. "Yes, thank you." Harry held out his wand, "I'm sure they took yours when you got here."

Draco nodded and took the wand, careful to make sure the other two in the room couldn't see his hand shake. It was a great trust that another wizard would hand over his wand so casually and he wondered if Harry did that for show or if he simply didn't understand the magnitude of the gesture. Another voice, one in the back of his head, debated that maybe he did understand and he simply trusted Draco, but Draco forced that one down. Harry noticed Draco's shaking hand and he gave Draco the smallest smile to reassure him. Draco waved the wand, muttering the healing spell, and watched as the gash knitted together. He handed back the wand and turned, taking his seat. "Mr. Potter has offered to speak for me."

Augustus and the lawyer both looked over at Harry, who was conjuring a chair and settled beside Draco. "Mr. Potter…has Mr. Malfoy in some way threatened you into coming today?"

"Of course not," Harry answered the lawyer. "I offered to speak for him on my own free will."

Augustus looked shocked and his eyes bounced from Harry to Draco and back again. "You can't…what I mean…as an Auror…"

"You'll find that I can," Harry responded. "I've made sure Kingsley…I mean Minister Shacklebolt, was told about my statement here. Now, should we get started?"

Draco kept his face blank but inside he was downright giddy. The less than subtle name drop was a brilliant way to remind the two men just who they sat in front of, if it was even possible for them for forget. He kept his eyes on Augustus and resisted the impulse to stick his tongue out at him. "Mr. Malfoy, have you been to see your father since his incarceration?"

The question caught him off guard but years of pureblood training helped keep his face blank. "No."

"Excuse me," Harry interrupted, "but on what precedent does that question apply to the reason we are here?" Both the lawyer and Augustus turned their heads sharply at the question. "What I mean is, there is nothing that says you are allowed to question Mr. Malfoy about anything except for that which pertains to his parole. And it is neither against the law or his parole for him to visit his father, or receive or send letters which I'm assuming would have been your next question."

"We are attempting to determine if Mr. Malfoy is still involved with dark witches or wizards, which is a violation of his parole," Augustus answered.

Harry nodded, "But that was not the question you posed to Mr. Malfoy, was it? Despite Lucius' reputation, his is still Mr. Malfoy's father and therefore exempt from direct questioning about their correspondence, if they exist."

"He is right," the lawyer sighed. "You'll have to choose a different question Augustus."

Augustus glared at Harry but thought better of directly saying anything to him. "Have you had any contact with a dark witch or wizard?"

"I suppose that depends on your definition of a dark witch or wizard," Draco responded.

"Have you had any correspondence with a witch or wizard in which you speak of acts of dark magic," August asked through his teeth?

"Nope," Draco responded. Normally he would have been a bit more respectful but Harry beside him gave him the courage to stand up a bit for himself against someone who obviously held hatred for him.

Augustus went red in the face at his response, "Have you gained employment?"

"I've been studying," Draco responded.

"With whom and what branch of magic?"

"Potions and with myself." Draco wouldn't admit to this man that no Potions Master would let him study under him. "Theoretically of course, as I'm not permitted to brew anything yet."

Harry's eyebrows shot up at that response but he didn't stay anything. "Mr. Potter," Augustus turned his attention to Harry, "Would you please state for the record your name and your character witness statement?"

"Of course. My name is Harry James Potter and I hereby give my statement to the character of one Draco Malfoy by my own free will and under no curses or potions." A bright blue light surrounded Harry but he ignored it and continued, "I spoke for Draco Malfoy during his trial five years ago. Although I do not deny that Draco committed crimes under the orders of Lord Voldemort," Draco noticed the both the lawyer and Augustus flinched at the name, "I testified on his behalf during the trial that he had been in fear of his life and the life of his mother's when he was given the task of helping the Death Eaters into Hogwarts and eliminating Professor Dumbledore." Harry took a minute to take a breath and Draco watched the two across from them. It was obvious that the lawyer had never been in the presence of Harry by the wide eyes and the slightly adoring expression he had while he listened. But Augustus, who probably did see Harry on the rare occasion they crossed paths in the Auror's office, did not look adoring. He looked furious and Draco could see the clenching of his fist below the table. "I do not believe that Draco Malfoy took the Dark Mark willingly, nor did he ever intend to or had the desire to kill Professor Dumbledore. In the years after the war, Draco Malfoy has kept mostly to himself. He has been studying theoretical potions and taking care of his mother. He has offered freedom to all his house elves, however they chose to remain with him. When we talk about the war, I have gathered more and more about the situation under which Draco was placed and have come to conclusion that he is a victim of the war. Forced to take the Dark Mark and follow orders for fear of his mother's and his own life, held prisoner in a house filled with Death Eaters and Voldemort, with only the smallest of hopes that somewhere along the way he might be able to leave it all behind him. Of course, I don't think that Draco will ever fully be able to leave behind the horrors he was forced to watch or the terror that must have seeped into every aspect of his being while living under the same roof as Voldemort, but he deserves the chance to atone for his mistakes and start a new chapter of his life." As Harry finished, the blue light pulsed around him and then disappeared.

Augustus stood, wand raised at Harry. "How dare you?"

"Mr. Marks," the lawyer yelled in disgust.

Harry simply smiled and waved his hand. Ropes sprung out of the air and circled Augustus' feet, forcing him to the ground. His wand flew out of his hand and was instantly in Harry's. "You should know better than to raise your wand to me Augustus," Harry sneered and then turned to the lawyer. "Mr. Augustus Marks will be removed from this case for this incident, correct?" The lawyer simply nodded, staring at Harry as if he'd grown a second head. "Please escort him outside and bring in his replacement."

The lawyer nodded, flicking his wand so that additional ropes circled Augustus' wrist and lead him out the door. Draco turned to Harry, who was playing with the wand in his hand. "How did you know you'd need to replace him?"

"Augustus has a nasty temper and a prejudice against anyone he considers 'dark'. He once told Kingsley that I should be forced to do paperwork because my magic was too powerful and couldn't be contained. Listen, I had to pull a lot of favors to get your replacement so I need you to be less cheeky with this one."

"Sure thing Potter," Draco winked. Interestingly enough, Harry flushed and turned back to the now opening door. Draco filed that reaction away for later and he too focused on the door. To his utter surprise, the Minister of Magic appeared behind the lawyer. "Minister," Draco said as he stood quickly and bowed.

Harry to stood and bowed, both of them waiting until the Minister and the lawyer sat down before resuming their seats. "I apologize for attacking a fellow Auror."

"I was informed by Michelson that he drew his wand first and within violations of this hearing. Mr. Malfoy, due to your character witness being our lead Auror, we felt it was best that I take over your parole. As requested by Mr. Potter, I have brought the initial parole rules set down by the Wizengamot." He held out the file and passed it over to Harry. "Harry has requested to be your advisor, as well as your character witness, for the remainder of these proceedings. Do you consent to that request?"

"I do," Draco responded. He didn't know what an advisor was, he hadn't bothered to study Wizarding Law because he knew no one would care anyways if he was being mistreated. Seemed someone cared and he couldn't help but look over at Harry.

Harry was flipping through the file silently as all three of the men in the room watched him. "Right, I've already given my character statement. Is there anything else needed before we begin speaking about the perimeters of Mr. Malfoy's parole?"

Kingsley shook his head, "Please begin."

"First, Draco Malfoy was underage at the time of his only crimes that were witnessed. The additional crimes of torture and plotting against the Ministry had no valid proof during the trial or now. They should be be removed from his record."

"Agreed," Minister Shacklebolt said.

Harry nodded and resumed look at the file before speaking again. "Due to the extreme emotions following the war, some of the restrictions on Mr. Malfoy are more severe than should have been allowed, given his age and his crimes. His use of the Unforgivable on Madame Rosmerta and Katie Bell resulted in two people being wounded, but neither victim was killed. His crime of assisting in allowing Death Eaters to enter Hogwarts and the death of Professor Dumbledore was treated as a violent crime, although Mr. Malfoy did not throw a single curse other than the Expelliarmus that disarmed Professor Dumbledore."

"Which restrictions do you feel are unfair in Mr. Malfoy's parole?" This time Michelson asked the question as another file appeared in front of him.

"Item 15, subsection D which states that the parolee cannot attack another person, muggle or magical, in anyway. The wording of this implies that attacks in self-defense are prohibited which could force Mr. Malfoy to be unable to defend himself against unwanted attacks and lead to certain injury or death of the parolee."

Michelson nodded, "The verbiage is incorrect in this case. I have changed item 15, subsection D to now state that the parolee cannot attack another person, magical or muggle, unless the parolee fears for his life and wellbeing or the life and wellbeing of another."

Harry nodded, "Item 29, subsection B states that Mr. Malfoy is banned from brewing or purchasing potions ingredients. However, Mr. Malfoy has expressed an interest in furthering his study in potions. I ask that we amend this item so that if Mr. Malfoy can find a Potions Master willing to offer him training, he can access all needed potions and ingredients under that Master's teachings. By the time Mr. Malfoy finishes his mastery, it will be five years and his parole will have ended."

Michelson looked toward Kingsley, "In this instance, you must approve of this change Minister."

Kingsley's eyes roamed over Draco and then back to Harry, "I approve."

Harry smiled at them both and then at Draco, "That is all then." Draco stayed silent as Michelson had him sign his new parole agreement and as Harry ushered him out of the Ministry and into the London streets. "I'm…."

"Thank you," Draco said quickly and flushed to realize he'd interrupt Harry. "You didn't have to do all that."

"I was pretty sure you were going to be mad at me for overstepping. After all, I did send my elf to speak with yours."

Draco nodded, "I did wonder how you knew that much. I appreciate what you've done, but I'm never going to find a Potions Master to teach me."

"Never say never," Harry said cryptically. "See you tomorrow, be at mine by seven yeah?" Harry didn't wait for Draco's response, simply turning on the spot and Apparating away with a pop. Draco shook his head and wondered what exactly he'd gotten himself into.

-x-