I'm back everyone! Hurray for me! Okay, next chapter on the way. Thanks to all reviewers because you were such awesome reviewers and people! Much love to you! His is my third update tonight so please read Harry Potter and the Last Crusade and Just Joking. They were both updated.
Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter or the original Arabian Nights.
Chapter 5 The Trial
Draco was held and led into the room next to the throne room. It was quite small and dingy. In the front was another chair though not as fancy as the other. Next to it was another very small chair that had chains wrapped around it. On the sides were chairs for the other clan members. Crabbe and Goyle led Draco to the chained chair and wrapped him so he could not escape. Draco looked up at his precious Hermione, but saw very little mercy in her eyes. She sat up on the high chair as the others took their seats.
"Okay people, we have an intruder. This here is Prince Draco Malfoy, the soon-to-be ruler of Sirena and will probably take after his parents and not care about his people. We're here to decided what his fate will be." She said to her clan. Draco winced at her words. She was going to be hard to tame. "Will you please say the charges, Justin?"
Justin stood up and walked to the middle. "First off, he's the prince. What more can I say?" Several people sniggered. "Next, he has found our secret hideout. No one has done that so far. Last, he has possible led others to our hideout." Stated Justin. "Now we must decide what to do with him. This topic is now open for suggestion."
"Any takers?" asked Hermione looking around. Harry, Ernie, and Dean raised their hands. "We'll start with Harry." Said Hermione as Harry stepped forward.
"I believe that we should keep him. Not as our prisoner, but as a member. He's pretty strong, and I believe that we could train him to be a thief." Said Harry to the rest of the members. Draco already liked this guy. "The only thing we would have to worry about is his loyalties…" The people murmured to each others.
"Very true. He seems smart and did very well in fighting Princess Hermione." Said Blaize with a small smile.
"Don't push it, Blaize." Warned Hermione with a threatening look in her eye. Blaize stopped. "Anyway, we can't trust just anyone, you know. Well, that's one idea. Now for Ernie." Said Hermione as Harry sat down and Ernie went to the middle of the room.
"I think we should set him free, but not return him to Sirena. He's the heir to the throne, which happens to belong to a bunch of greedy people. If they lost their only heir, then they'd have to step down and let someone with more justice serve." Explained Ernie. The crowd thought it over. Draco didn't like this guy at all.
"That's true, but we're not cruel people as most people think we are. Remember Rule Number Three? Never hurt the innocent." Stated Ron standing up as well. Some nodded. "That would be mean to just send him out. Technically, he hasn't done any serious damage yet."
"Besides, there's no way he could make it back to Sirena. It's too far and you never know which way is the right way unless you're used to the desert." Pointed out Seamus.
"Okay, okay, so we've got some more issues. Well last is Dean, so hurry up. I want to finish this so I can go to sleep. I dunno about you guys, but I'm tired. So the floor is yours, Dean." Said Hermione. She really was tired. After stealing and being out so much, Hermione felt as though she could collapse.
"I'm thinking that we should just kill him. Look at all the things that his family has done to Sirena. There are a lot more poor people. Food is harder to find, and the city is very dirty. The Scorpions are moving back to this area, and we know that it can't be good." Said Dean in a strong voice. Draco's blood ran cold. He didn't want to die. He was too young. Who were the Scorpions anyway? They didn't sound very good. He wanted Hermione, which was the reason he was here. In some ways, he almost regretted leaving the palace.
"That's too mean!" yelled Blaize. "It's not his fault that is parents are a little crazy. He doesn't have any say until he's king. Punishing him would be too harsh."
"But it will end their tyranny." Countered Dean. The two men stood glaring at each other.
"That's like killing a rattle snake because it could bite you, but hasn't shown any interest in you at all. It's pointless and mean." Said Neville finally saying something. "A rattle snake can't help being born with a poisonous bite. They do eat rats and mice that inhabit our hideout and drive us crazy. Prince Draco here is kind of like that. He can't help being born royal. Think of the good he could do if he became king."
There was complete silence. Everyone sat thinking about Neville's smart choice of words. Draco was going mad with suspense. He didn't want to leave though he wasn't sure he wanted to stay. All he wanted was Hermione, not a whole clan of other men who might steal her away. Finally, Hemione spoke.
"All right then, it's time to make a choice. Personally, I'm for keeping him, but the choice is up to you. All in favor of killing his royal highness, raise your hand now." Dean's hand shot up. Crabbe stupidly raised his hand, not really knowing what he was doing. "Very well, that's two for killing. Now for setting him free some where in the desert." Three people raised their hands timidly. "And last, for keeping him." Said Hermione. Five hands were raised into the air. Then Hermione smiled and raised her own hand.
"I guess that makes it unanimous. Prince Draco is now one of us." She said still smiling at him and the clan. Several cheered. Crabbe and Goyle released Draco from his chains. He received many slaps on the back of congrats. Draco couldn't help but smile even just a little. He now belonged to a clan. These people would be there for him, unlike his parents had. Best of all, he was one step closer to Hermione. He looked into her eyes to see her smiling still in a mischievous way.
"So what do we do now?" asked Harry.
"Yeah, he's got to have some type of initiation." Said Blaize.
"Sounds like a good idea to me. We'll throw a party. Clans of thieves are gathering for the Festival of Fire so we can invite them." Said Hermione as she began to think hard. "Seamus, you will be in charge of contacting them all and getting them here tomorrow night for our party." He nodded and left.
"Why don't I get that job?" asked Neville, sad at not getting his regular job. They groaned.
"You brought us back a prince. Maybe next time you'll bring us back a king!" said Ron. They laughed as Ernie led Draco to his room.
Alone in his room, Draco couldn't believe his luck. In one day, he had gone from royalty to a thief. Surprisingly, he didn't care. For once, he felt appreciated and wanted. As soon as he pulled his charm over Hermione, he would be wanted and loved. Draco fell asleep thinking of how wonderful his life was…
A/N: Yeah! Hope that wasn't too short for you! I tried, and I liked this chapter. Well, thanks for reading and please review!
Me,
Ronfan