Chapter 12

Ginny POV

When Ginny came home from her visit to Harry she found Draco in the parlour. He was looking out of the window, his face sad and angry. Ginny had no idea why he was angry. He had insulted her, not the other way around. Swiftly, Ginny entered the room. Draco must have heard her, but he simply kept staring out of the window.

"I just came to tell you that Harry is willing to speak in favour of your mother. And no, I didn't sleep with him, asshole."

Before Draco could answer she left the room and went to her bedroom. Her husband didn't follow her and Ginny wasn't sure if she was glad or disappointed by that. When she left her room a few hours later to get something to eat she found a note from Draco on the kitchen table.

Ginny,

I went to visit my mother to tell her the good news. She can use all hope I can give her. And Ginny…. thank you

Draco

Ginny wasn't sure what she should think or feel about this note. Draco thanked her, what must have been a big step for him. But there was no word of apology for his behaviour earlier and that made her mad again. To these conflicted feelings came worry. Draco had always been in a terrible state when he had come from Azkaban.

Ginny decided to wait for Draco in the kitchen from where she could hear the front door opening. After about an hour she heard her husband come in and went to greet him. Reliefed, Ginny noticed that he didn't look nearly as bad as he had after his previous visits to Azkaban.

"Hi. Are you okay?" she asked.

Draco looked surprised. "You are asking me if I am okay? I thought you were mad at me."

"I am mad at you! Furious. But I still want to know if you're okay."

Draco's expression went soft. "I am. Thanks to you."

Ginny frowned. "I don't understand."

Draco came closer to Ginny. "Azkaban has always been pure hell for me, because I could never produce a proper Patronus. Not until today."

Draco pulled out his wand and said "Expecto Patronum" and Ginny saw an animal floating from his wand. It was a weasel.

"I thought of you. Of how you held me in your arms this morning and told me that I'm not like my father."

Tears came to Ginny's eyes. How could she stay mad at Draco after he had told her that? She closed the gap between them and pulled Draco in a firm hug. He slung his arms tightly around Ginny and tenderly kissed her head. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

Apparently he truly was, because during the next days Draco was exceptionally nice to Ginny. They spent much time together playing Quidditch or chess or simply talking. But Draco didn't kiss her or try to sleep with her again and Ginny was thankful for that. She had immensely enjoyed their night together but she still felt obligated to be on Harry's and Hermione's side and do what she could to help Harry get the title. On the other hand - Harry only wanted the title because he was sure Malfoy would use the title to do as he pleased with his tenants instead of making their lives easier. But Harry didn't know the Draco she knew. Maybe Draco would be as good and kind as an Earl as Harry would. And maybe, if this stupid contest wasn't between them, she could have a chance at a real relationship with Draco. Assumed that he even wanted that. She had had the feeling that their night together meant something to Draco. But maybe he had just needed the comfort and the distraction.

Ginny was so occupied with her thoughts that she was truly surprised when she was woken up by a bunch of owls knocking on her window with their beaks. It wasn't before she opened the first letter – from her mother – that Ginny realized which date it was. August 11th – her seventeenth birthday. Along with the letter her mother had send her favourite pie. Fred and George had sent her a new dressrobe, Ron a bag of her favourite sweets, from Percy she got a fancy new quill, Charlie gave her a beautiful leather bound journal and Bill sent an enchanted purse that only opened for their rightful owner. She also received a letter and a beautiful but strange smelling amulett filled with herbs she couldn't identify by Luna which was supposed to bring good fortune. Hermione sent her a muggle noval she absolutely had to read according to her letter. To Ginny's joy Hermione's letter sounded warm and friendly and Harry had added a few nice sentences congratulating her and wishing her all the best. Ginny was happy that her friends and family still liked her, even now that she was married to Draco Malfoy. She just didn't know what they would say if they knew she was slowly falling for Draco.

When Ginny came down for breakfast she was very surprised to see that the table was festively decorated and filled with all her favourite breakfast foods. Ginny knew that the house elves had made breakfast, but Draco must have told them that it was her birthday and what she liked. And he was already waiting for her with a cup of tea in his hands.

"Happy Birthday, Ginny," he said and smiled at her – a real smile, not one of his trademark smirks.

"Thanks, but how did you know it's my birthday?" she asked, totally surprised.

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "It's written on our marriage certificate."

"Oh." Now she felt truly stupid. "Sure."

"So, food first or present first?" Draco asked.

"You got me a present?"

His face darkened for a moment – was he angry that she hadn't thought he would bother with a present? But the expression was gone as fast as it had appeared.

"It's in the parlour. I couldn't wrap it and place it on the table."

Now Ginny was really curious. Was the gift so big it wouldn't fit on the table?

Draco smirked when he saw her confusion and let her to the parlour. Ginny opened the door and spotted the room for the giant gift – and eventually found it on the couch. Only that it wasn't giant. It was tiny. A tiny, beautiful, absolutely adorable kitten. It was orange with cute brown dots that looked like freckles and Ginny wondered if Draco had choosen it because it looked like a Weasley.

"I wanted to get you an owl first – they are really useful and less moody than cats – but then I remembered that you love cats. And you can always sent Pegasus if you need to write a letter.

Ginny beamed. "It's perfect! But how did you know that I love cats?"

"In your first year at school you cried when Filch's cat got petrified."

"You still know that? I wasn't aware that you even noticed."

Draco's face became solemn. "I noticed a lot that year, because I tried to find out who Slytherin's heir might be." He hesitated. "I wanted to help him. You know how I was raised. I have always been proud of being a Pureblood and wasn't happy to attend Hogwarts together with Muggleborns. I even thought that I wouldn't mind if they were killed. Years later I realized that thinking about it in theory and actually watching Muggles and Muggleborn being killed are two completely different things."

Ginny nodded in understanding. "You never questioned what you were taught until you saw the results of these believes firsthand. I understand that. It's not easy to overcome what you've been taught your whole life. Many people never question what their parents taught them. It shows strengh of character that you did."

Draco frowned. "My grate-grandfather wrote something very similar in his letter to Potter and me."

"Really? Sound like he was a clever and good man."

"Yes, it seems like that."

"I think he would have been proud of you."

Draco looked truly surprised. "I doubt that."

Ginny placed a hand on Draco's shoulder. "I don't. I am proud of you." Then she gently kissed him on the lips. "Thanks for the cat."

Ginny went over to the adorable kitten, knelt down in front of it and let the tiny creature sniff her hand. When the little one started purring and rubbing her hand with the tiny head, Ginny laughed at the cuteness of the animal.

"It's so sweet! Is it a boy or a girl? Does it have a name yet?"

"It's male and no, I thought you'd want to choose his name."

Ginny caressed the tiny cat and looked at him, considering what name would fit.

"I think I'll call him Lynx. He looks a bit like a lynx, don't you think?"

"Well, a very tiny one. But maybe the name will boost his ego," Draco commented.

Ginny grinned. "Did your parents choose your name for that reason? If yes it surely worked well."

Before Draco could come up with a smart comeback an owl knocked on the window.

Ginny opened the window, caressed the owl and took the letter from her.

"Birthday wishes?" Draco asked.

"No, it's adressed to you," Ginny said and gave Draco the letter.

Frowning, he took and unfolded the letter. "It's from the ministry. My parents' new trial is on Thursday, August 19th, that's tomorrow in a week."

Ginny went over to Draco and placed her hands on his shoulders. "I'm sure Harry's statement will help your mother a lot."

"I hope so." After a short pause, Draco added. "But no one will help my father."

"Do you really want him to get out?" Ginny asked.

"I don't know," he admitted. "I mean, he is my father, Ginny. I should want him to come home. And a part of me does. I used to admire him, you know. But after I learned that he was after the opening of the Chamber of Secrets and that he used you – an innocent child – and accepted that this would probably result in your death, I started to become afraid of him and what he is capable of. And I still am."

Hermione POV

Today was the day of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy's trial. Because Harry would testify as a witness he wasn't allowed to watch the trial until he had been questioned. Hermione however wasn't on the witness list and therefore was allowed to listen to the whole trial. She was sitting next to Ron.

"I still can't believe Harry is going to speak up for Narcissa Malfoy," Ron whispered to her, while they waited for the trial to begin.

"He will only tell the truth, Ron. Narcissa was nowhere nearly as much involved in You-Know-Whos doings as her husband. It isn't just that she serves the same sentence as Lucius," Hermione argued.

"She is a Malfoy! They're all the same."

"Your sister is now a Malfoy, too, Ron," Hermione pointed out.

Ron looked completely shocked at the comparison. "But only by marriage! And not per choice."

"Narcissa is only a Malfoy by marriage, too. And we don't know if she had any say in chosing her husband. The old Pureblood family's marriages have always been arranged."

"Well, Narcissa Malfoy seems to like her husband and that brat of her's quite well. Ginny despises Malfoy junior."

Hermione wasn't so sure about that, but she thought it would be wise not to say anything about that to her friend. She looked over to the place where Draco and Ginny were sitting. Malfoy looked tense and Ginny leaned over to him and whispered something in his ear, a hand on his arm. It looked like she was trying to comfort or reassure him. Hermione had no idea why, but Ginny seemed to care for Draco. He must be treating her well to have gained her affection. The question was if this was really tactic and he had fooled Ginny or if maybe Malfoy wasn't as evil as she and her friends had always thought at school.

Hermione's attention was caught by the judge who was declaring the trial opened and called Lucius Malfoy in the stand.

"Mr. Malfoy, you have been given a life sentence for serving You-Know-You and helping him regain power. Now you have given notice of appeal. On which grounds?" the judge asked.

Lucius Malfoy raised his head, looking as proud and arrogant as he had prior to the three and a half months in Azkaban.

"I have never killed a person nor was I directly involved in the Dark Lord's return."

"But you harboured You-Know-Who in your house for several months, is this correct?"

"Yes," Lucius had to admit reluctantly.

"And you participated in two battles by the side of You-Know-Who, the first time two years ago at the Ministry of Magic and the second time four months ago at the Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardy."

"Yes, but like I said, I didn't kill anyone during those battles."

"Is it true that you tried to help You-Know-Who regain his power five years ago, by aiding his younger self in opening the Chamber of Secrets?"

"No. The accusation that the diary of Tom Riddle belonged to me is entirely unfounded."

"I don't have any more questions for the witness. We will hear other witnesses to verify or falsify the truth of Mr. Malfoy's statement later on. Now I call the second culprit, Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy in the stand," the judge announced.

Hermione couldn't help but feel pity for the visibly tattered woman. She looked weak and as if she had lost all hope. Hermione looked over at Draco Malfoy for a moment. His face was a mask. Which feelings was he hiding behind it? It must be terrible to see your mother in such a state.

"Mrs. Malfoy, are you a Death Eater?"

The quiet murmurs among the spectators stopped. Everybody wanted to hear her answer.

"I don't have the Dark Mark, if that is what you mean."

Ron leaned over to Hermione and whispered in her ear "Why doesn't she say no, then? Why does she answer so evasively?"

"Maybe she thinks she would let her husband down by distancing herself from the Death Eaters," she whispered back.

They looked at the judge again, who was asking his next question.

"Did You-Know-Who ever give you an order?"

"No."

"But you and your husband harboured You-Know-Who in your home?"

"Yes."

"Whose idea was that?"

"The Dark Lord decided that Malfoy Manor was a good place for a Death Eater Headquarter."

"Did You-Know-Who ask if he could stay at your house?"

Narcissa Malfoy let out a humorless laugh. "The Dark Lord asked for nothing. He always took what he wanted."

"Was You-Know-Who welcome at your house?"

Mrs. Malfoy hesitated only for a moment. "Yes."

Hermione sighed. To her it was obvious that Voldemort hadn't been welcome to Narcissa, but the woman obviously was very loyal to her husband, even if that meant spending her life in Azkaban.

"Were you present at the Death Eater meetings in your house?"

"Most of the time, yes."

"What about the meetings that were held prior to You-Know-Who's stay at your house?"

"No, I wasn't present at those."

"Why?"

"Because only the wearer of a Dark Mark were invited."

"Were you present at any Battles?"

"At the Battle of Hogwarts."

"Did you fight along with your husband and the other Death Eaters?"

"Yes."

"Did you kill or seriously injure anyone during this battle?"

"No."

"Did you conspire with your sister Bellatrix Lestrange and Severus Snape with the goal to make Mr. Snape kill Albus Dumbledore in case your son wouldn't fulfil this task?"

"Yes."

"Did you demand an Unbreakable Vow to do just that by Severus Snape?"

"Yes."

"And Mr. Snape fulfilled the demand of the vow and killed Albus Dumbledore?"

"Yes."

"No more questions. I ask Harry James Potter in the stand."

Everybodie's attention was directed to Harry, who was even more of a celebrity since he defeated Voldemort. Harry tried to make a selfassure impression, but Hermione could tell that he was nervous and uncomfortable.

"Mr. Potter, you have been present during both battles in which Mr. Lucius Malfoy fought together with other Death Eaters and You-Know-Who. Mr. Malfoy claims that he hasn't killed anybody during those battles. Is this correct?"

"Yes, but not for lack of trying, I assure you. During the Battle at the Ministry he gave his fellows the order not to kill me until they'd have the prophecy, but he told them everybody else could be killed."

Hermione could hear the anger in Harry's voice and she knew he was reliving the battle in which his godfather had been killed and nearly all his friends had been wounded, some of them severely.

"You say he gave his fellows orders. Do you mean he was the leader of the group?"

"It seemed like that, yes."

"And did the other Death Eaters follow his order to use the killing curse on children?"

"Yes. They tried the killing curse on several of my friends. Only by luck and fast reactions did they survive. Sirius Black wasn't so lucky. He was killed by Bellatrix Lestrange."

Harry looked shaken at the memory and Hermione wished she could go over and hug him.

"But Lucius Malfoy didn't personally use the killing curse?"

"No," Harry admitted reluctantly.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy denies that he actively helped You-Know-Who regain his power. To your knowledgy, is that true?"

"In the end it was Peter Pettigrew who helped Voldemort, but Lucius Malfoy was there the minute Voldemort called. And five years ago he placed the Diary of Tom Riddle in the kettle of Ginevra Weasley to help Voldemort come back."

"Have you seen him place the Diary in the kettle?"

"No. But Mr. Malfoy's house elf Dobby warned me that the Chamber of Secrets should be opened that year. How could Dobby have known that if his Master wasn't involved?"

"Was Narcissa Malfoy to your knowledge involved in any plans to help You-Know-Who regain power?"

"Not as far as I know."

"Was she present when You-Know-Who came back three years ago?"

"No."

"And during the battles?"

"Not during the battle at the Ministry, but she was present at the battle of Hogwarts."

"Did she kill or injure anyone during this battle?"

"Not as far as I know. Whenever I saw her she was close to her son, her main goal seemed to be shielding him."

"Thanks, Mr. Potter."

After Harry they heard Kingsley Shacklebolt, Remus and Tonks and some Death Eaters who basically said the same about Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy's activities. When all witnesses had been heard the judge retreated to his office. Hermione looked over to Draco and Ginny again. Draco looked very tense. It hadn't gone well for his father, but he couldn't have seriously expected anything else. As for his mother Harry's statement had certainly made her look better then before, but her involvement in Dumbledore's death didn't speak for her.

The judge retreated to his office and half an hour later he came back to speak the verdict.

"After hearing the convict and witnesses in the case against Lucius Malfoy, I come to the conclusion that the former sentence is valid and properly founded. Therefore I confirm the statement and sentence Mr. Malfoy to a life sentence in Azkaban."

Lucius Malfoy looked angry, but no one else – including Draco – seemed surprised by the outcome.

"Concerning the case against Narcissa Malfoy, today's trial made me reassess Mrs. Malfoy's amount of guild. I came to the conclusion that she has been considerably less involved in the doings of You-Know-Who then her husband. However, she was jointly responsible for the death of Albus Dumbledore. Pindering the facts speaking for and against Narcissa Malfoy I reverse the former judgement against Mrs. Malfoy. I however sentence her to a three year sentence in Azkaban. Half of the sentence is suspended on probation. The three months already served in Azkaban will be substracted from the sentence. During the time of probation Mrs. Malfoy has to fulfill 20 hours weekly of community service. The case is closed."

Hermione looked at Draco. He looked shaken, as if he wasn't sure if he should be relieved that the life sentence against his mother had been reversed or if he should be disappointed that she still had to spend 15 months in Azkaban. Given the state she was in, Hermione could understand that Draco wasn't in the mood to celebrate. Who knew if Narcissa Malfoy ouldl survive these 15 months.

Author's Note: So, that was the trial. For the next chapter I promise the announcement of at least one pregnancy.