Chapter twenty five

As Harry, Severus, James and Sirius stepped out of the fireplace in the ministry, aurors surrounded them.

'Word is out you were going to be here Mr. Potter, so stay between us and you will be safe.'

'It's not just his safety we were concerned about, it's his injuries which are still healing,' Severus said.

'Yes, we know Professor Snape, the minister explained. So if you will follow me we will take you through.'

As they started walking through the atrium James and Sirius kept looking around at all the people calling out to Harry, some were applauding him and Snape, but the word saviour was shouted by hundreds of people. They both realised that Harry Potter was admired, as much as Dumbledore and Merlin had been admired.

They got to the courtroom where Harry was again stared at by the people in the gallery along with the Wizengamot. They took their seats then waited until the first lot of prisoners were brought in. Hermione, Ron, Luna and Neville sat down in front of Harry just as two aurors brought in Draco Malfoy.

Everyone listened to the charges before the first lot of witnesses gave their evidence. Harry and Severus exchanged glances, they knew some were lying so they hoped the Wizengamot would realise it as well.

'Welcome Mr. Potter, can you take witness seat please?'

With Severus' help and the help of his walking stick Harry pushed up until he was standing then slowly limped down to the seat. He stood for a minute so he could be sworn in before sitting.

'We have been told you are testifying on Mr. Malfoy's behalf, is that correct?'

'Yes sir.'

'Then tell your story before we decide if any questions are needed?'

'During my sixth year I knew…Draco had been given a job by Voldemort so I decided to use my invisibility cloak to follow him. One day I saw him going into one of the bathrooms, I was hoping to talk to him because everyone could tell he looked ill,' Harry glanced at Draco who was staring at him but he did look a little surprised.

'I'm sorry to reveal this but the truth must be told,' Harry waited until Draco gave a curt nod before he turned back to face the Wizengamot, 'When I entered the bathroom I saw Draco, crying, shaking, his whole body was shaking. I had seen the stress he was under, Albus Dumbledore also knew Draco was under a lot of pressure. But I found out that Draco was threatened by Voldemort, do what you're told or die, and your parents will be killed. Now we might all know that Draco's parents were death eaters but they were still his parents. If my parents were alive and threatened I'd probably do what I was told as well. So apart from the fact he was facing a death sentence if he did not kill Albus Dumbledore, his parents would have been tortured in front of him then killed,' Harry again glanced at Draco but this time his head was lowered.

'That night on the astronomy tower, Albus Dumbledore offered all the Malfoy's sanctuary, including protection from the order of the phoenix. Draco told Dumbledore his father would never accept, but he wanted to protect his mother who was as much a victim as Draco was. I watched from under my invisibility cloak where Dumbledore had placed me under a full body bind curse, he did that to protect me. They spoke for a few minutes, again Draco was pale, shaking and had tears in his eyes, then he lowered his wand. He was ready to accept Dumbledore's offer when Bellatrix Lestrange and the rest of the death eaters entered the tower,' Harry looked at Severus who nodded which told Harry to finish his story, the whole story.

'Bellatrix and the Carrow's kept telling Draco to do it, to kill Albus Dumbledore, but he didn't, he couldn't because Draco Malfoy is not a killer. His father was a fierce supporter of Voldemort which meant Draco had no choice who he would support or how to live, he is a victim like many others. By the time Severus Snape arrived Draco looked like he was going to pass out. Albus' soft voice called out to Severus, Severus please. Just two words were spoken, but that's all that was needed for Severus to fulfil his promise to Albus Dumbledore. I wish you to kill me Severus, your soul will remain safe, and Draco's soul will remain safe. Even then, right as he was about to die, Albus thought of a young boy's soul and his friends soul.

'He glanced at me, knowing what I was about to see, knowing how hard it would be for me to see my mentor killed and I had no idea it was all planned. Yes I hated Severus for a long time, believing he murdered Albus, but he didn't, he gave his friend a quick and dignified death and saved Draco's soul at the same time. There is more though,' again Harry glanced at Draco then at Hermione and Ron who nodded.

'We were captured by Greyback and his snatchers. Hermione being Hermione and her quick thinking hex me so they would not recognise me, my face was all swollen, puffy and red. They noticed my scar but as it was distorted they were not sure it was me, even if they found glasses in the tent. So instead of taking us to the ministry to collect the bounty they decided to take us to Malfoy manor which you all know was Voldemort's headquarters.

'Bellatrix Lestrange and Lucius Malfoy were not sure if it was me so they made Draco look. We spent six years together at Hogwarts, fighting, arguing, sneering, sniping at each other and knew each other very well. I saw instantly he recognised me but when he faced his father, a known death eater and his aunt, Bellatrix who was just as evil and sadistic as Voldemort, Draco lied. He told them he was not sure, that he did not believe it was Harry Potter, then he walked away, back to his mother.

'Even though he was scared, he never showed it, his back was straight and he looked as dignified as always. It was thanks to Draco that gave me and Ron a chance to save the other prisoners then rescue Hermione. If Draco had told the truth, my friends,' Harry looked at his two best friends, who smiled at him, 'They would have been killed the moment Voldemort arrived, but to make me weak he would have made me watch while he tortured them. So you see, Draco is as much a hero as others that fought. He might not have actively fought that night, but he did not fight against us and his help let me escape so I could take on Voldemort at the right time,' Harry looked at Draco again but this time the blond was staring at him, so Harry gave him a small smile.

'He was a boy being manipulated by his father, he was a boy and he made a mistake. Everyone, whether they are light or dark will make mistakes, I've made my fare share. Yet I have only been an adult for almost a year, Draco is the same. People like Lucius, Bellatrix and the rest of them were adults, they chose their path, Draco didn't. Like Dumbledore said many times, some people do deserve a second chance, in some extent I do believe that, for people like Draco and the other children of death eaters, but not for people like Voldemort and his inner circle. All I ask is that you take into account that people like Draco were raised to believe his parents were right. Now he is an adult who can finally make up his own mind. Don't just judge him because his Lucius Malfoy's son, judge him for who he is and what he was made to do, under the threat of death,' Harry nodded to the Wizengamot.

'I believe we can do that Mr. Potter, so we will not punish him just for the fact his parents were known death eaters. We will take in all relevant information, but for what you said it more than enough as everyone knew of your hostility with Draco Malfoy. You would not stand up for him if you did not believe he should be given a second chance. You may return to your seat and we thank you for joining us today considering you are still healing from the injuries inflicted by you-know-who.'

Harry nodded again, gave Draco another small smile before pushing himself to his feet with his walking stick then sat back beside Severus while the Wizengamot discussed the evidence.

'You did well Harry,' Severus said.

'You did good mate,' Ron smiled.

'Yes, you were excellent Harry,' Hermione hugged him.

'It was the truth and it's time the truth was finally heard,' Harry glanced at his father and godfather who both looked like many other people when they stared at him, with awe. All Harry could do was give them a small smile before turning back to wait for the verdict.