Imprudence: Chapter 11

Using fan fiction to escape the stress of applying to medical school...yeah...that sounds productive...:/

**Please keep in mind, I really don't know much about law. All I know comes from the multiple cop shows I watch here in the US. I am probably missing a lot of proper procedure and such. Please be kind and enjoy!

*Warnings: Much angst and cruel Dursleys ahead! Some cruel and homophobic things ahead!

Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter and don't make any money off of it. I wouldn't need so many scholarships if I did.

Harry Potter Testimony Part 1

No one had been expecting the Prosecutor to call Draco to the stand, but the man must have changed his plan when Harry didn't take his "advice" to leave behind his 'Beau'. Harry kissed the back of Draco's hand, like the blond had been doing to him for weeks now, before his Intended approached the stand with his head held high.

Draco took his seat with the grace of a Malfoy and refused to show any fear or feelings of intimidation. The Prosecutor started in immediately.

"Mr. Malfoy, what can you tell us of your relationship with Mr. Potter-Snape?" Draco couldn't help the small smile on his face.

"Harry and I are formally Courting, with myself as the instigator. He is my Intended and I am his." The Prosecutor nodded.

"And would you say that your relationship is happy? You two are content with each other?" Draco nodded easily.

"Absolutely. We are very happy with each other and more than content." Draco was starting to wonder where the man was going with this, but the Prosecutor answered his thoughts in the next moment.

"During your time with Mr. Potter-Snape, did he ever confide in you what his life with the Dursleys was like?" Draco's lips pursed and he felt uncomfortable discussing Harry's personal life in front of so many strangers, though he knew he was obligated to answer.

"Harry never really brought it up, and I didn't press him for details. I knew he lived with Muggles for most of his life, but that was all I was aware of. I was in the Hospital Wing the day everything was…revealed, I guess you could say. We met later to discuss everything and he fully explained to me all that had happened to him the previous summer. He hadn't told me before, because…" Draco glanced at Harry and his Intended, though looking more pale than usual, nodded telling him it was okay to continue. "Because he did not know that it was acceptable for men to be in a relationship. His Muggle relatives had been very verbal and even physical in their demonstration of hate for same-sex couples and Harry feared that the Wizarding World was of the same mentality. Then when he found out that it was perfectly acceptable here, Harry was afraid that if I knew then I wouldn't want to continue our Courtship."

"But clearly you have continued your relationship." It wasn't a question from Prosecutor Thornsworth, but Draco responded anyway.

"Yes, we did continue our relationship." Draco couldn't help but feel this trial was rather tedious and repetitive but he knew it would be worth it if Harry's dreadful relatives would get what they deserved.

"During your time with your Intended," everyone heard the dulled, 'unhappy' tone with which the Prosecutor said 'Intended' and it rankled Harry's family and friends, as well as the couple. "what did you observe of his relationship with his guardian? Was it a healthy relationship or did you suspect some form of abuse between the two?" Draco was quick to deny any abuse between Harry and Severus.

"It was a bit slow and awkward at first, but I know more than most the kind of role Severus had to play during the War. They eventually moved past the past, so to speak, and what I saw was a very caring, father-son relationship. I can say with absolute certainty that Severus has never and will never abuse Harry." The Prosecutor seemed satisfied with the answer and let Draco know he only had one more question for him.

"Why did you seek to start a Courtship with Mr. Potter-Snape? Surely that seems to be a very serious commitment for two men who haven't even reached adulthood?" Draco knew that a lot of people thought that he had initiated the Courtship with Harry to gain favor and raise the status of the Malfoy family name by dating the Saviour of the Wizarding World. A few of the judges visibly leaned forward as if it would help them analyze his response better.

"To be honest, I've had a crush on Harry since our First Year at Hogwarts, but I couldn't act on it. The crush didn't dissipate and only grew stronger over the years and when I was finally free to be myself, I took the chance. There was no nefarious plot behind my actions. I know Courtship is a very serious matter, but so are my feelings for Harry." Draco had to bite back a pleased smirk when he saw that his answer had caused Harry's cheeks to pink and clash with his Gryffindor colored shirt.

Finally, the Prosecutor relented and the Defense stood to take his turn.

"Mr. Malfoy, what is your relationship with Professor Snape?" Draco had hoped the man wouldn't hone in on that, but it had been a fleeting hope anyway.

"Professor Snape is my godfather." The Defense nodded at the expected answer.

"So he's essentially family? You would be willing to lie for him or cover-up something he'd done?" Draco shook his head, knowing his godfather would completely understand.

"No, I would not, especially not if it would hurt someone I cared about." Attorney Madison lifted an eyebrow.

"I find that hard to believe, Mr. Malfoy, especially given your status as an ex-Death Eater. You said that there was no nefarious plot behind your decision to Court the Boy-Who-Lived and yet it does seem to play well into your favor, doesn't it?" Draco couldn't keep the scowl off of his face.

"Honestly, it doesn't, because most people are like you and think that myself and my godfather forced Harry into the relationship. None of that is true." The defense attorney slowly walked back and forth, his expression one of faux-deep thought.

"So you say, but come to think of it, that brings up a good question. What does Harry Potter-Snape's acceptance of the Courtship say about his character? Why would someone considered the symbol of the Light side of the war start a relationship with someone known to be firmly on the Dark side? Why would the Saviour of the Wizarding World date a young man who's aunt murdered his beloved godfather, a young man who has severely bullied and tormented him throughout his school years?" The man's words sparked some doubt and self-confidence issues in Draco. He had tried not to think such things throughout their relationship and Draco only allowed himself to feel grateful that Harry was so forgiving.

"Harry has a bigger heart and a larger capacity for forgiveness than most. He also knows what it's like to be blamed for something one didn't do or be treated harshly because of who their family is." Attorney Madison's face practically turned to stone and his tone froze his next words.

"But the images do seem to be juxtaposed, do they not? No one could be so absolutely forgiving. The way I see it, either you and your father and your godfather forced the Light's hero into a relationship with a follower of the man who murdered the boy's parents or Mr. Potter-Snape is not such the innocent, kind, respectful young man that you all keep making him out to be." Prosecutor Thornsworth stood from his seat.

"Objection! Your Honor is there a question Attorney Madison is trying to get at?" Judge Femdt agreed with Thornsworth and turned a stern gaze on the Dursley's lawyer.

"Ask a legitimate question Attorney Madison or move on." The attorney held up his hands in surrender, but it was clear his words had already caused a few judges on the panel to be more skeptical of Harry, not many, but enough to be worrisome.

"I'm sorry, Judge Femdt. Mr. Malfoy, did you and your family force Mr. Potter-Snape into this relationship or is he willingly dating a Death Eater?" Draco couldn't hold back his anger as he shouted,

"Neither!" Attorney Madison shook his head.

"May I remind you, Mr. Malfoy, that you are under oath. Now answer me honestly." Draco's eye twitched in his rage and he glared at the horrible man questioning him.

"I am answering you honestly! We didn't force Harry into the relationship and I am not a Death Eater!" With that last declaration, Draco ripped up his left sleeve to reveal a bare forearm. Those in the courtroom, aside from Draco's family and Intended, gasped in surprise and leaned forward as if to get a better look. "The Dark Mark was a symbol of loyalty to Voldemort, seared into the flesh with his dark magic. Many thought it was a permanent shackle, but it wasn't. Those who truly defied him or were forced into the mark and did not believe in his ideals lost the black scar the moment Harry finally killed him. Only those who were true to Voldemort kept the skull and snake, because it became a part of them." The Defense Attorney clearly had not been expecting this turn of events and so threw down the gauntlet.

"Well…if that is the case, then I must insist that Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape show proof of this 'change of heart' as well." Attorney Madison looked to Judge Femdt to make the decision and the witch nodded.

"Unfortunately, I must insist as well. Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape if you would. Bare your left forearms." Without hesitation, the two wizards in question stood and, in sync, lifted their sleeves to show equally unmarred flesh. You could hear a pin drop in the courtroom, and Harry couldn't stop smiling despite the circumstances.

The Head Judge cleared her throat and everyone could see her trying not to smile.

"Since this courtroom is warded against any form of Glamours and any Concealment Charms, I think it is safe to say that they truly no longer have the Dark Mark. Do you have any further questions for Mr. Malfoy, Attorney Madison?" The Defense Attorney's lips were pressed tightly together in displeasure, but he shook his head in the negative. "Very well. Mr. Malfoy, you are dismissed. You may rejoin your family and Intended." Draco inclined his head as he stood.

"Thank you, Judge." As soon as Draco was back with Harry, the Gryffindor took the Slytherin's hand and kissed the back of it. Draco smiled brightly at Harry. The moment was interrupted when Prosecutor Thornsworth called Harry to the stand. The young wizard closed his eyes and took a deep breath before standing. Sitting in the testifying chair was a bit nerve wracking, and Harry was having flashbacks to the summer before his fifth year. He quickly shook those thoughts away as his lawyer began with the questions.

"Mr. Potter-Snape, let me begin with my sincerest thanks for what you did for all of the Wizarding World and my sincerest apologies for our current circumstances." Here the man paused, clearly expecting Harry to respond.

"Umm, you're welcome…and thanks?" Harry winced at his awkward answer. He was growing more uncomfortable the longer he sat in the seat, and the new position put him right in the sights of his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon. His relatives were glaring at him so hard, the boy could swear his felt it. Thornsworth smiled in a smarmy way.

"Mr. Potter-Snape, we've heard a lot about your childhood from others throughout this trial. I would like to know what you thought of your childhood. Were you happy?" Harry's mind actually blanked for a moment, trying to compute the question. Happy? Was he happy? That was hard to answer…and he said so.

"That's a difficult question, Sir. I…I mean I've had plenty of happy moments, but I don't know if I was ever consistently happy until the war ended." The Prosecutor made a motion for him to continue. "Well, growing up, some of the first things I remember were being told how much of a burden I was on my relatives, and how much I wasn't wanted. From there it was always doing excessive chores, cooking all of the meals, getting yelled at and hit for not doing what I was supposed to, even though I could never figure out what that was-"

Harry took a deep breath as his hands began to shake. He was letting his emotions get the better of him. Embarrassment was running like fire through his veins, telling his most personal secrets to a room full of strangers and his loved ones (whom he hadn't told everything).

"But, then I met Hagrid and he took me to Hogwarts and…he was my first friend. He got me an owl for my birthday. She was the first gift I had ever gotten and became my second friend. I made more friends at Hogwarts and finally felt like I belonged, that I wasn't a freak. That feeling didn't always last throughout the war, what with everything Voldemort did and being called a liar by the press, amongst other things. But I still had my friends. I had the Weasleys who treated me like family whenever I got the rare opportunity to see them. I had my godfather for a short time." Harry had to pause a clear his throat.

His windpipe felt like it was closing, and Harry pulled at his collar as thought it had tightened while he was speaking.

"Then the war was finally over and I could breathe. I got sent back to the Dursleys though and…well, you heard what happened there. When I came back to Hogwarts for my last year there was a small part of me that thought I just wasn't meant to ever be happy or have a family that actually cared about me. My mum and dad were ripped from me by a madman, then my godfather was murdered by a lunatic witch. I lost friends and others I considered family and when I finally ended the man who had started all of this pain, I was then sent back to people who despised me the most just for existing." Finally, Harry looked over at Severus, Lucius, Arthur and Draco. All of their eyes were wet and threatening to spill over. Harry flashed them his own watery smile. "Then I slowly started to make my dream come true. I finally found a family that could be mine and that wouldn't be ripped away from me…though people have tried and the damned Prophet keeps trying." Harry sighed and wiped his eyes.

"So, long story short, Prosecutor Thornsworth, my childhood had some people that made me happy whenever they could, but no. I did not have a happy childhood. I was not happy." The Prosecutor let the emotion settle in the room, and for just a moment, the young Gryffindor thought the man himself had been moved by Harry's little speech. A glance at his relatives found Uncle Vernon still fuming, but Petunia…Petunia wasn't glaring. She was staring at Harry, but the burning hatred of before was gone from her eyes. Instead, Harry liked to believe he saw a little bit of remorse.

But maybe that was just wishful thinking.

Woke up one random morning and suddenly this chapter just slipped out. Wish I had more days like that.

Just made up the Death Eater mark thing...hope you like it.

Please review ;)