Disclaimer: See Ch 12
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The trial began again a half hour later. No one had said much to each other during that time, although Harry and Ron traded glares with Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle.
"Now, we shall try this again. Who will speak first?" Fudge glanced to Hermione. "Miss Granger?"
'It's ok, take a deep breath; you can do this.' Hermione stood.
"Please explain what happened to you."
"I'd promised to meet Harry and Ron for breakfast, but I was late. So I was running. When I heard someone behind me, I didn't really think about it. But then I heard them call me a Mudblood. Malfoy's the only one in the school who calls me that. I tried to ignore him, but…" The words flowed at first, but grew harder, as she had to recall the pain that had ripped through her body. "Harry was there. I couldn't see him, but I could hear him. And I know that he made Malfoy angry. I think Malfoy originally just intended to hurt me, but having Harry there made him angry. So he…he told Goyle to kill me, since he wanted to keep using the Cruciatus Curse. And he said…he said to use Harry's wand."
"And after that?"
"I don't know. I passed out, and didn't wake up for a while."
"How long is a while? Do we have Madame Pomfrey here?"
The Hogwarts nurse stood from her seat in the observation area. Harry was surprised; he hadn't noticed her earlier. "Miss Granger was under my care for thirteen days, nine of which she spent in a coma. Miss Granger suffered from seizures the day she awoke and the next day. The following two were spent unlocking her memory so that this trial could take place."
"I see." Fudge turned back to Hermione. "Is there anything else you would like to add?"
Hermione nodded. "Madame Pomfrey didn't mention that I regained my memory after suffering from a nightmare. I still dream about the attack, and I haven't been sleeping well. The attack was also responsible for my parent's decision to remove me from Hogwarts, although they later revoked it."
"Objection? What does this have to do with anything?" Malfoy's defense witch called out.
"Objection overruled. Please continue, Miss Granger."
"I've suffered a lot of stress because of the nightmares, and my parents wanting to remove, which delays my recovery. I also know that I'm weaker than I had been because of the attack, and that I'll never regain full strength."
"Thank you. Mr. Malfoy? Draco, that is."
Draco stood, calmly. "The Mudblood deserved it," he said simply. "She's been acting for years as if she was on the same level as us pure-bloods. But she's not. I only gave her a taste of what she will get anyway, when the Dark Lord has fully returned."
"Draco!" hissed the defense witch. "You're incriminating yourself."
"I don't care. I'm tired of acting as if I regret what I did. I don't. I only wish Goyle had been able to kill her. And before you ask, I actually intended that all along. Potter just interrupted my fun, so I had to hurry."
Mouths were agape when Draco sat down again. He'd meant it? He'd done it on his own?
"Well, it seems that-"
"Objection!"
"Yes, Lucius?"
"Draco is clearly not himself. He would never have intended to kill Miss granger. Likely he never meant to harm her in the first place. I suspect he has been placed under the Imperious by an agent of the Dark Lord."
"Is there a response to that objection?" Harry and Ron were both thinking of responses, but refrained from saying them. They didn't want to be kicked out.
"I have a response."
"Snape?" Ron mouthed to Harry.
"Severus?"
"What is your response, Professor Snape?"
"Dumbledore questioned Mr. Malfoy using Veritaserum. As I am sure most, if not all, who are gathered here know, Veritaserum is not faulty unless it has been brewed incorrectly. I am the one who brewed it, and as Lucius may tell you, I have twice won awards for my potion abilities."
"Yes, well, while that's true, Severus," Lucius Malfoy said, sounding slightly panicked, "Even experts make mistakes." Snape did not reply; he merely resumed his seat
"Hmm. Perhaps we should hear from Mr. Potter next?" Harry stood. "Harry, what did you experience?"
"Ron and I were in the Great Hall, but Hermione wasn't there. We heard a noise that sounded like screaming, and I was fairly sure it was Hermione. So I left the table. And when I got to the Entrance Hall, Malfoy," he couldn't keep the distaste from his voice, "had Hermione under the Cruciatus. She was in too much pain, and too exhausted to protect herself or scream any more. I wanted to kill him. I still do."
"What your opinion is at this moment does not matter, Harry. I would ask you not to state it again."
Harry glared, but continued. Madame Pomfrey was called on again to validate his claims of injury, and he received another warning to keep his opinion quiet. Finally, he sat down.
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A/N: Crabbe and Goyle in Ch 17. And Ron, if possible.