Conflict of Interest

"So we have the picture which we claim shows willingness, the witnesses are family so we have a way to discredit them thanks to the rivalry between them and the defendant. We have the alleged victim herself to examines so I think we're going to be just fine," Lauren smiled sipping a cup of tea, they were sat in a cafe opposite the phone box which would take them to the ministry in about an hour for the trial, they weren't allowed to see Draco beforehand so there it would be a surprise for him, a big one most likely as the person he used to hate was now defending him but life was life.

"If it wasn't for the fact both the Judge and Jury are bias morons we'd have a rock solid case," Harry smiled, Narcissa had informed them both the trial was going to take place in front of the entire Wizengamot and the Judge would be Umbridge herself.

"Oh it'll be fine," Lauren assured him though deep down she was nervous, she had grown up in a world were magic was a fantasy and now she was going to walk into a place full of it. She had no idea how she would react to the world but for Harry she was willing to give it a try, Harry was not doing much better. He had left that world a long time ago and now he was being thrown back into it headfirst, defending a defining person from his past and he already knew he would see the others. Ron and Hermione were both being called as witnesses as was Molly and most of the family who had come home to see Draco deep in Ginny, the girl had reacted the only way she thought she could, or that was the defence Harry and Lauren were going to use. Harry had missed the Weasley's and all his old friends and once he left the wizarding world he had thought of them often, but he knew they were bigoted and had very defined views.

"Well Dumbledore has decided to become the prosecution, seems Umbridge allied with him a long time ago, he's a figurehead and I know she hates him but she's going to favour him in the trial," Harry told her looking through one of the forms Narcissa had given the pair

"Dumbledore your old teacher?" Lauren asked and Harry nodded, he had not told anyone about how he truly felt when it came to Dumbledore because he did not know himself. On one hand he was a good man who had helped Harry but on the other he was manipulative and had kept Harry at the Dursley's while using him as a puppet.

"Yes, he's a hero to them so don't expect many of our objections to work," Harry grumbled and Lauren seemed taken aback by this, she was used to a democracy with freedom not what Harry and Narcissa had described about the wizarding world

"So how do we address the Judge, your honour or minister?" Lauren asked suddenly, the change of subject was alarming but also reliving for Harry who thought for a moment and tried to remember his trial for underage magic. Dumbledore called him by name but he was a hero to people even then, Fudge himself had been the prosecution so he did not know how to address Umbridge. He already knew Madam toad would not go down well.

"I assume we just call her minister, I have no idea," Harry confessed and for some unknown reason Lauren giggled

"We're walking into the heart of fantasy and neither of us have any idea on what we're doing," she smiled, Harry joined in her with laughter for a few moments. She had a point and yet she seemed to be making more of the decisions than he was, she was the one who insisted they bring their barrister wigs to show their position and she had negotiated fee's with Narcissa. She was paying them eighty Galleons an hour which in British money was more than substantial, the family was still rich but it had been beaten down.

"Well fantasies are normally nicer than this, trust me the moment you go in there you'll be waiting for the moment we leave," Harry told her and she smiled affectionately, then she looked at her watch

"We better go," she urged and Harry looked at his watch and agreed, they didn't want to be late for this trial, neither wanted to get on the wrong side of Umbridge, Harry especially seeing as he knew she had a hatred of him.

Later

Draco was led up from the cells, he had spent all the time since he was arrested in the cells under the ministry. He had not been treated well and bruises were faintly visible on his arms and legs, the aurors had not been kind and fair. Far from it and the physical beatings were almost as bad as the verbal ones, Tonks especially had trouble keeping her cool, she beloved he had raped Ginny so in some ways she had good reason. However Draco knew he didn't and being cooped up here was horrendous, how could she do this to him? Then Draco was led into the courtroom, the entire Wizengamot was assembled and all looked down on him, however he noticed two people out of the ordinary. One man and one woman who were watching with something akin to pity, or sympathy and Draco thought he reconsider the man but they were both wearing strange white wigs and they made it difficult for him to palace them. Though he was not the only one it seemed, most of the Wizengamot were frowning at them while others were muttering wondering who this person was.

"Into the chair," Tonks ordered roughly forcing him into the chair, the moment he sat down the chair's chains wrapped around him and locked into place.

"Court is in session," Umbridge announced suddenly rising to her feet. The Wizengamot silenced and she turned to look down at Draco

"Draco Malfoy you stand accused of the rape of Ginny Weasley, a heinous and terrible crime, how d you plead?" she asked in a silky voice , she wore a smile that lit up her toad like face.

"Not guilty," Draco answered eventually looking up at her with pure contempt, she nodded as if she was expecting the answer

"I see, Madam bones would you like to proceed?" Umbridge requested sitting down

"Could the prosecution and the defence please announce themselves," Amelia Bones boomed and Dumbledore rose from one o f the benches on either side of the room,

"Albus Percival Brian Ulfric Dumbledore for prosecution," he announced loudly but said nothing further,

"And the defence?" Madam Bones asked after a few long moments, the man and woman rose to their feet and the Wizengamot had eyes only for them

"Harry James Potter and Lauren Evergreen for defence," he spoke loudly, professionally but that did not stop the entire congregation cascading into muttering and gawps. Draco just turned his head to gasp, Harry Potter? why the hell was he defending him or was he going to do a bad job to get revenge for all those years in school. Then his eyes met his mother's who was sitting in the public gallery and she nodded, for some reason she had hired these two and Draco had no idea why.

"Order! Order!" Madam Bones silenced the lot of them but even she looked shaken, Harry however did not seem to care about the shockwave he caused but sat down. Dumbledore looked amazed and thunderstruck from across the room but then he stood and with a deep breath he gave his opening speech.

"During this trial the people are going to prove that Draco Malfoy intentionally and maliciously raped Ginny Weasley who would not respond to his many advances, we will prove to you that this man is responsible for the crime and we ask you to punish him accordingly. We have several witnesses that saw Mr Malfoy commit this crime along with the very tools he used to attack the victim. We ask for nothing less than life imprisonment in Azkaban for his c rimes," Dumbledore announced slowly and carefully allowing the Wizengamot to take in every word, then he sat down and Harry rose to his feet. He walked over and stood next to Draco, Umbridge's face stiffened.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Wizengamot the defence during this trial is going to prove beyond reasonable doubt the opposite of what the prosecution claims. We are going to prove that both Draco Malfoy and the alleged victim took part in consensual sexual activity of an extreme nature that led to the alleged victim making these claims. The Defence disputes all evidence offered by the prosecution as it is nothing more than a series of prejudice accounts by the family of the alleged victim and images that show nothing more than Mr Malfoy's taste in sexual activities, the defence wants you to see past prejudice in order to free my client and dismiss the charges as nothing more than a woman's fantasy," Harry announced and the Wizengamot almost looked shocked. Harry knew if he turned around he would see the furious face of Molly Weasley along with most of her family but he was not aiming to please her, however his words had the intended effect as all were now considering his words carefully. Dumbledore for his part looked dumbfounded as to how Harry managed to say any of that without feeling any guilt, he thought Harry would still think fondly of the Weasley family. Umbridge however scowled at Harry the entire time and he knew she was going to be the biggest obstacle for the defence. Madam Bones however looked impressed at his speech but then she turned to address Dumbledore once again.

"Prosecution please call your first witness," she requested and Harry turned, most people would call the victim first so the jury would feel empathy and know the details of a crime .

"The prosecution would like to call Draco Malfoy," Dumbledore announced, obviously thinking he could make the defendant out to be a liar before the defence could do the same to Ginny Weasley.

"Miss Bones, minister the defence objects," Lauren announced, Harry and her had decided she would do most of the objections as Umbridge would not listen to Harry at all.

"Why?" Dumbledore asked, obviously not many people objected in this world but Lauren was not deterred. Madam Bones obviously more familiar with the notion awaited to hear the end

"How can the defendant be examined without the jury having any knowledge on the details of the crime, surely the victim should be presented first to the evidence can be put to our client. If the defendant is examined first then surely he will have no opportunity to explain the accusations," she told Madam Bones who considered this.

"Agreed, Minister?" Madam Bones turned to Umbridge who obviously wanted to dismiss

the objection, but with the head of magical law enforcement against her she decided against.

"Agreed, Albus Dumbledore please call your next witness," she begrudgingly requested and Dumbledore looked taken aback and Harry hoped they had destabilised his case.

"The prosecution would like to call Ginny Weasley," the man announced and slowly the woman rose from the public gallery and was led to the front of the court. She looked at Harry with her eyes swimming with anger and shock but then she turned away.

"Prosecution may begin,"