Draco refused to risk drinking any more of Potter's Not So Dreamless Sleep Potion, so that night, not surprisingly, he dreamed of his trial. At least, it was supposed to be his trial, but the details of the proceedings never materialized. Instead, he was busy studying Luna, who was sitting in the gallery. She wore muggle clothing and radish earrings but was barefoot. The part that drew his attention, but apparently no one else's, was the fact she had brought a pet. She carried a baby ferret in a basket. What did you call a baby ferret, anyway? A pup? A cub? Whatever. She finally looked at him, and gave him the same I've Got A Secret smile as she had that day in the cabin. He felt there was something important he was missing, but he just didn't know what it was.

"Malfoy!" the warden's assistant rattled his cell door. "Your escort will be here in 15 minutes."

Apparently Jorkins was still trying to suck up to Potter and company. By the time the door opened, Draco had dressed and washed his face. Not much else he could do, and he hoped the scraggly beard covered his sunken cheeks enough not to frighten his mother. The assistant warden and two Dementors escorted him to the warden's office, where not only Potter and Neville awaited him, but also Shacklebolt, Ron Weasley, and one of the older Weasley brothers, the one with the scars on his face.

"All this attention for little old me?" Draco drawled, trying to sound bored.

"Yes, well, your trial has attracted a good bit of attention, and the Ministry wanted to make sure you didn't take advantage of the crowd and such to escape." Shacklebolt explained. "We're going through the floo directly into my office in the Ministry. Arthur Weasley and George Babkins are waiting in my office with wands drawn, so don't get any ideas, Mr. Malfoy. Ron and Bill, you go through first. Then Potter, you take Malfoy through, and Longbottom and I will go through last."

"Sir, I'll take Malfoy," Neville offered. Everyone turned to look at him and he flushed. "I mean, well, I'm bigger than Harry, and Malfoy would have less chance to overpower me."

Shacklebolt looked unconvinced.

"Neville has very strong magical talents, sir" Harry offered. "He's probably the best in our Auror class."

The Minister stared at Draco for a long moment before nodding. "All right. But be warned, Mr. Malfoy, that all of the guards here and at the Ministry have been instructed that should you try to escape, they are to bring you down by any means necessary."

Malfoy gave him his best glare and said "I would expect nothing less."

Once the group re-assembled in the Minister's office, Mr. Weasley informed them that the press was assembled in the hallways, ready to ambush anyone they could on the way to the courtroom. Therefore, the decision was made to have the others proceed to the courtroom first and deflecting as much attention as possible, and leaving Neville, Mr. Weasley, and Bill to escort Draco, who would be under the invisibilty cloak, just before the start of the trial. Babkins led the Minister, Harry, and Ron out into the hall, and the shouts started almost immediately.

"Minister, why was the date of Draco Malfoy's trial changed?"

"Are you seeking The Kiss for Malfoy?"

"Mr. Potter, why are you helping your lifelong enemy?"

Draco's bravado began to crumble. He looked at the person he had begun to consider his best friend. "Neville, you promised..."

Neville tried to smile. "Hey, it's not going to come to that. You'll be back at Malfoy Manor tonight."

Mr. Weasley looked at Draco as if he felt sorry for him and patted his shoulder. The scarred Weasley just stared at him, emotionless, barely even blinking. That guy was one scary son of a bitch.

Draco leaned back against the wall, closed his eyes, and concentrated on breathing slowly and evenly.

A few minutes later, he heard a chair scraping against the floor. He opened his eyes to find Mr. Weasley was giving him the same sympathetic look. "Are you ready, son?"

He put on the arrogant, smirking persona like a cloak. "Well, then, let's get this show started."

The Weasley son walked in front, because seriously, who would mess with him. Draco, under the cloak, walked behind him, and Neville and Mr. Weasley walked side by side at the rear.

Rita Skeeter was interviewing an old man in purple robes in the corridor. "Tell me, Darling Dodgy, what is it like to be the Cheif Warlock of the Wizengamot for the most anticipated trial of the year?"

"Well, Rita, of course I shall uphold my office and rule with fairness and justice. I only wish the position had not come due to the death of my lifelong friend Albus Dumbledore."

Oh, this is not good