A/N: This is probably AU. But I guess Death Eaters weren't treated very kindly in prison/Detention Centre.

It took Kingsley a week to get the permission for Harry to visit Azkaban. Since the new regulations had been put in place, it was almost impossible to visit the island.

Harry couldn't believe he was really doing this, visiting Draco Malfoy in prison.

Draco and his father had been arrested the day after the battle, and had been awaiting trial ever since. The charges against Draco were pretty severe – he was accused of willingly joining the Death Eaters and of the attempted murder of Albus Dumbledore.

Narcissa hadn't been allowed to visit her son or husband and had thus called in her life debt with Harry. That was the reason Harry was now using a special Floo connection to Azkaban. The guards looked at his permission with suspicion, but their eyes widened when they recognised the name on the paper.

"Why would you visit Death Eater scum?" one man remarked idly. "Come to get some revenge, eh?" He winked at him, opening an iron door. "This way to the Detention Centre."

Harry glanced at the guy's name tag. "Actually, Mr. Cooper, Malfoy's not a Death Eater. The charges are wrong."

The guy began to laugh. "Good one, Potter."

He signalled Harry to follow him through the door. They walked along a hallway with iron doors, around a few corners, to the last cell in the row.

"Don't think he'll talk much," Cooper muttered, unlocking the door. "But suit yourself."

The door swung open, revealing a pitch black cell. The guard flicked his wand and a window appeared on the wall across from them. Dim light fell on a sickly-pale figure lying on the floor, unconscious. More rags than clothes hung from his limp body, revealing livid, purple bruises on nearly every inch of it.

"Merlin," Harry cursed after Cooper had left. He'd been sent to make sure Draco was alright, but from the looks of it, he was as far from alright as possible. His left eye was swollen and a nasty cut on his cheek bore witness to his acquaintance with the iron bars.

"Who the hell did this to you?" Harry hissed, more to himself than to Draco. But, instantly, the Slytherin bolted upright, flinching away from him, his arms lifted up to protect his face. Harry froze, waiting for Draco to recognise him.

Haunted grey eyes searched Harry's gaze. "Potter?"

"Yes," he answered quickly, listening for Draco's panicked breathing to die down.

"What are you doing here?" Draco finally asked, standing up with shaking legs. He cast a glance at the window and raised one eyebrow. "Wow. You really played the hero card, didn't you?"

"Your mother sent me to make sure you're… okay," Harry finished lamely.

Draco paled. "Mother? Is she… is she…?"

"She's fine. She'll have a hearing but nothing more. No trial like you," he explained reassuringly.

Draco stopped rubbing his left arm, and now stared at Harry as if he couldn't believe he was here. Harry's gaze lingered on his arm for a moment, then wandered back to the black and blue face. The uncontrollable urge to hit someone overcame him. Draco was far from being his friend, but Harry couldn't look away if someone was treated unfairly and cruelly. He wouldn't let the guards get away with this.

Draco closed his eyes. "When will my trial be?"

"Three weeks."

Suddenly, Draco buried his face in his hands and his shoulders started to shake. Startled, Harry stepped back. He'd thought Draco would rather try to ride Buckbeak again than to let Harry see him vulnerable and crying.

"Um… Malfoy?" Harry asked gingerly, wishing suddenly he hadn't come.

"You don't get it, do you?" Draco said, his voice muffled. "The trial's a sham. I'll be found guilty. I'll spend the rest of my life here."

"But – but our testimony…" Harry sputtered.

"They'll find a way to exclude it, or maybe they'll bring in a rebuttal witness. Some Death Eater. They'll love to get their revenge."

"B-but –" Harry began, outraged by the mere idea of such a corrupt justice system.

Draco shrugged, wiping his tears away. "This isn't about justice, Potter, it's revenge. We hurt them and they hurt us back, makes them look good in the eyes of the public…" His voice trailed away and he closed his eyes again. "I am a Death Eater. I've deserved punishment."

A/N: My story "No More Broken Dreams" has been nominated for the Good Things Come to Those Who Hustle (Favorite Co-Worker Era) in the Beyond the Book Fanfiction Nook Summer Awards 2018!

Thank you so much to everyone who has read my stories, and who has nominated me and my first story. It is an amazing feeling.

Cheers to everyone else who has been nominated!

Please VOTE FOR ME here: *goo*.*gl/*forms/*rmftYXR*G9V5yuIff2* (remove stars)

*Written for THC, Year 3, Round 6*

House: Ravenclaw

Year: 1

Category: Drabble

Prompts: [Action] Visiting Azkaban

W/C: 726

Beta: 2D