"Lucius Xavier Malfoy, charged with treason, crimes against the Ministry, bribery and supporting the rise of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. How do you plead, sir?"

"Guilty. On all counts," came the smooth reply.

"You do realize you just signed your life away?" the Ministry witch asked with a raised eyebrow, suddenly dropping her professional persona.

"Ever heard of 'released for good behavior,' Minister Bones?"

"Very well, Lucius. You are being sentenced to twenty years in Azkaban. May Merlin have pity on your poor soul." Minister Bones appeared to be wiping her eyes, as the Dementors re-entered the room.

"WAIT!"

The occupants of the room turned to see a harried looking witch, donning smartly-buttoned black robes with unruly curls flying down the walk. "Wait!" she called.

"And who, may I ask, are you, young lady?"

"Miss Hermione Jane Granger, representing the defense," the woman answered smugly. "Did you really think you'd sentence this man without a fair trial?"

"Miss Granger, with all due respect, Mr. Malfoy has already plead guilty, and issued a complete confession." Bones said smugly.

"And he is now issuing a retraction, Minister."

"Mr. Malfoy?"

"Oh, absolutely."

Lucius Malfoy sat back in his chair, putting his arms behind his head and surveying the form of the witch in front of him. He looked clearly amused.

"Miss Granger, proceed."

"Thank you, Minister. Mr. Malfoy, where were you on the evening of October thirty-first, nineteen ninety-seven?" Hermione asked, begginning to pace back and forth in front of the witness stand.

"At Hogwarts, madam." Lucius replied smoothly.

"And why were you at Hogwarts, Mr. Malfoy?"

"I was a guest. Invited to attend the Halloween Feast, you see."

"Ah, and after your recent release from Azkaban did you think it altogether wise to attend an affair that the Dark Lord had planned to attack?" Hermione asked, mockly scolding.

A shadowed look crossed Lucius' face. Bitterness laced his answer.

"I was not aware of the attack."

"You were not informed, by your Lord, Mr. Malfoy?" Hermione asked imploringly.

"No."

"Is there anyone who can attest to this, Mr. Malfoy?" Hermione sounded very smug.

A mumble in response. Hermione's mouth twitched. She stopped her abuse of the stone dungeon floor, pausing in front of her client.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Malfoy, can you speak up?"

"My son." He hissed.

Hermione resumed her pacing.

"I call to the stand Mr. Draco Xavier Malfoy, Minister," she said smugly.

"But, he's in Azkaban!"

"Yes, and you can just peddle those horrid monsters over there to fetch him." Hermione snapped back.

"Court is in recess, will reconvene at approximately three o'clock." Minister Bones said resignedly.

Click. The gavel had dropped.

------

"Miss Granger, what a…pleasant surprise."

"Mr. Malfoy." Hermione nodded.

"Exactly why have you come rushing to the defense of a Death Eater, Mudblood?" Lucius asked snarkily.

Hermione whipped around, slamming her hands down on the armrests of the stone chair her client was bound to. They were alone in the courtroom, as she had requested.

"Let's get one thing straight, Malfoy," she said viciously. "I don't have to help you. A respected friend has asked me to do this, and if I do, rest assured you will be walking out of this hell-hole a free man by the end of tomorrow. But one more comment like that, Mr. Malfoy, and I may just slip up on my notes, and let some scandalous information become common knowledge. We wouldn't want that, now would we?"

"What possible information could you have, Miss Granger, that could make my situation any worse?"

Hermione bent closer and whispered something in the cocky man's ear. He paled.

"You wouldn't."

"Or would I?"

----------------------------

"Court is in session!" Click. "Miss Granger, your witness."

"Thank you, Minister." Hermione nodded, turning to face the stand. "You are Draco Xavier Malfoy, correct?"

"Yes."

"And when was Veritaserum administered?" asked Hermione.

"Directly prior to my entering the courtroom." Draco answered.

"Mr. Malfoy, your father tells us he was not aware of plans to attack Hogwarts on the night of October thirty-first, nineteen ninety-seven. Is this true?"

"Yes." Draco replied flatly.

"Can you elaborate, Mr. Malfoy?" Hermione asked politely.

"Certainly. The Dark Lord had only informed his followers that were attending Hogwarts at the time of the attack. We were to administer the potion to the house elves, and contaminate the Feast with a botched sleeping potion."

"And, in effect, Mr. Malfoy, what would this potion have done?"

"The potion, when brewed correctly, works much like Dreamless Sleep, giving the patient completely restful sleep. With…added ingredients, it becomes a fatalpotion, and the patient never awakens."

"Thank You, Mr. Malfoy." Hermione said. "I call Lucius Xavier Malfoy, please."

Draco was removed from the stand and his father replaced him in the cold stone seat. Shackles immediately encased his wrists. The blonde man rolled his eyes haughtily at the guard.

"Mr. Malfoy, if you are innocent, why would you confess?" Hermione asked, unable to mask a slight hint of genuine curiosity.

"Miss Granger, do you really believe pleading innocent would have gained any different result?" Lucius asked simply.

"Point, Mr. Malfoy. And Check. Minister, I rest my case."

Hermione silently seated herself next to Lucius, her eyes never leaving the woman in front of her. Luciu scast a sidelong glance at her, but said nothing. He merely glared at the shackles that never touhed her pale wrist.

The minister raised her eyebrows, sighing loudly. "Cleared, Mr. Malfoy." Click.