As Blaise was lead into the room, hand-cuffed, the people on the ranks began shouting and booing. Ashamed, the young wizard lowered his head and clenched his teeth. The noise continued until minister Shacklebolt thumped a hammer on his desk multiple times after Blaise had already taken a seat in the middle of the room, facing the Wizengamot.

"Silence in the courtroom, please!" an apparitor cried out. Shacklebolt rose and began to speak.

"Did the defendant take the required dose of Veritaserum?" One of the guards that brought Blaise in nodded at the question.

"Court Scribe, please begin the protocol. Date: 19th of June, 1998."

How ironic, Blaise thought, as the court proceeded to protocol names, number and rules, today would have been the last day of my seventh year in Hogwarts. And… now would be the End-of-Term Feast.

"Mr. Zabini, please state your name, age and occupation."
"Blaise Zabini, 18 years old, former student of the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry in the seventh year. I hope to return there next year to re-take the year and my N.E.W.T. exams."

"Very well, Mr. Zabini. We want to determine your level of guiltiness in the events of the Second Wizarding War today. For the purpose of that question, would you please generally tell us your opinion towards muggle-borns?"

Blaise sighed, tired of having to explain that subject again.

"I think that the old pure-blood families, which tend to have a lot of tradition to them, should not be washed out by muggle-blood." The crowd booed again at that statement.

"However…" Blaise continued, "I understand that this is necessary now for the wizarding kind to survive. I also believe muggle-borns are equal to pure-blood wizards and should not be treated differently."

"Just to make things clear here, Mr. Zabini: You say that it is okay for muggle-born wizards to marry into pure-blood families?"
"It is okay, sure. I am just saying that it is a pity that the traditional old blood gets lost over time." The minister nodded; a few of the witches and wizards around him took notes.

"How do you define a half-blood?"
"Half-bloods are wizards who have one or two muggle-grandparents."

"Mr. Zabini, when the fighting started in Hogwarts on the 2nd of May this year, you and your fellow Slytherins were asked to evacuate the school through the Room of Requirement, is that correct?"
"Yes, it is. I left with the others through the secret passage and we apparated once we were in Hogsmeade."

"Later in the battle, Prof. Slughorn brought back a group of Slytherins who were of legal age to fight on our side against the Death Eaters. Did you return to Hogwarts with that group?"
"No, I did not, Sir."

"And why didn't you?"
"Because he is a bloody coward!" someone from the audience screamed down. Blaise raised an eyebrow and ignored the comment.

"Sir, many of my fellow Slytherins, even a couple of my class mates, fought alongside the Death Eaters. I was afraid that, if I would return to the battle, I would eventually be forced to injure or kill one of those people."
"Are you saying that you sympathize with the Death Eaters?" a tall witch with glasses sitting behind Shacklebolt asked.

"No, I do not. I would have happily fought against the Death Eaters, Madam. Just not against my class mates. I have shared a Common Room and a dorm with those people – Slytherins stand together till the end, you have to know that – I couldn't just kill them."

"I am sure the court understands that. Thank you, Mr. Zabini. Now, have you ever shown any affiliation towards the Death Eaters at all?" Shacklebolt was back in charge.
"No, Sir. I always despised their opinions. As I said before, all wizards are the same in my eyes. And their way of banning muggle-borns from school is simply disgusting – everybody has a right to education." The audience cheered, now clearly being on Blaise' side.

"But the court has evidence that you had a friendship with Draco Lucius Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle and Pansy Parkinson. Is that true?" the tall witch asked again.
"Well, we were in the same year in Hogwarts… I wanted to avoid it, but you can't just completely ignore your classmates, can you?" A few approving murmurs could be heard in the audience. "So, yes. I befriended them; but I made no secret of disapproving with their manners. It was not a kind of best-buddies-friendship, either." He shrugged. "Just general getting along with each other."

Shacklebolt nodded.
"One final question on my part, Mr. Zabini: Have you ever raised your wand against a muggle-born or a half-human in violent motives?"
"Well, we had many muggle-born students in our year. And you sure know the pranks and fights that go on in Hogwarts. So, yes. Maybe somewhere along the line, I did put a little spell on somebody with muggle-heritage. But those were moments of childish trial of strength. Nothing serious and never with the motives of the war."

"Okay, Mr. Zabini. Does any member of the court have any further question for the defendant? No? Well, then. After Mr. Blaise Zabini has, under the influence of Veritaserum, stated that he did not take part in the Battle of Hogwarts or ever showed any support towards the Death Eaters, I declare him innocent of all charges. Is there any member of the court who disapproves with this verdict?" He looked around, but nobody raised their hand.

"Mr. Zabini, you are hereby a free man. Keep your opinions as they are and best of luck for your final year in Hogwarts."
"Thank you, Sir." Blaise smiled, the relief clearly audible in his voice. He stood up from the chair, received his wand back from the guards and walked out of the room, head held high.

He had a clean slate – his vest was white.

AN: Well, this is it. The final chapter in the life of Mr. Blaise Zabini. I am very happy you have read along, please tell me your opinion in a short review – I would very much appreciate that. :) This story was interesting to write, a real challenge because of the short time frame and the (at first) unwelcome character. I really like some parts of it, others I despise thoroughly. Well, I am sure nobody is interested in my rambling, so yeah… I hope you will return to read some of my other HP stories. Until then: Goodbye,

Jasu