Chapter 02

Lucius Malfoy had always been proud of his connections and the amount of information and cooperation he was able to gather in a short amount of time. This time, it was no different. He set a meeting with Fudge to discuss some matter or another--it really didn't make a difference, the important thing was the timing--and that was why Lucius managed to find himself with Amelia Bones, chief of the Wizarding Court, in one of the ministry elevators.

"Madame Bones," he offered, "how delightful to meet you." Lucius extended his hand to her.

"Lord Malfoy," The witch returned with a frown; she didn't like the fact that the Malfoys were able to get away with almost anything due to their influence and money.

Unfortunately, she couldn't simply ignore his hand, so she took it and held her head high as he raised her hand and kissed her fingers. She was surprised to feel a paper being pressed into her hand and held on to it. Whatever it was, it was important and Lucius Malfoy was going to a lot of trouble to make sure she got it without anybody else noticing.

They got off on the same floor and went different ways without a second glance at each other.

Amelia Bones waited until she was safely locked in her office before looking at whatever Lucius Malfoy had placed in her hands. It was the note that would change the course of history and her view on the most influential wizard family. If what was written in that note was true, Harry Potter was innocent.

"Dear Madame,

It has come to my attention that a grave error has been committed and it would be in the interest of the whole Wizarding World to see that it is repaired.

As you well remember last month Harry James Potter was convicted of the murder of one Ginevra Weasley behind an apothecary in Hogsmeade. I happen to know that the store in question has wards to alert of the presence of any unborn child as the fumes and residues may cause harm to either the baby or the mother. Imagine my surprise when I learned that no ward went off on the day of the murder, which I find very strange because Harry Potter is pregnant with my grandchild.

Please note that this information is a secret that may cost the lives of all of us. The general public must not know of it in hopes that certain individuals do not learn about it as well.

I do hope that a discreet investigation and an even more discreet trial may correct this injustice until the present danger is dealt with and a public pardon to Mr. Potter is issued.

Sincerely,
Your friend"

Amelia Bones let out the breath she had been holding. She could see how dangerous the situation was: someone had framed Harry Potter (if what the note said was true – she had a feeling it was) and accusations had come even from his best friends… there was no way to know who was the culprit of that set-up. Fudge was still denying the return of the Dark Lord and, because of the matter of politics and avoiding panic, she was forced to play along. Malfoy was right: discretion was the best course of action.

A knock on the door caught her attention. It was her secretary saying that Fudge was requesting her presence in his office. Amelia smiled. Malfoy was already pushing the man's buttons to see his will done. Well, as long as it was for the best, she would play along.

-----------

In the end, it took less than five days to have the investigation and the hearing completed.

Fudge was all for discretion. If the Wizarding World knew that he was responsible for the wrongful imprisonment of the Boy-Who-Lived he could kiss his job good bye. Fortunately, none of the others wanted to make a big deal out of it, and he was just too happy to wonder why. The best part, of course, was that Dumbledore would never know his boy-hero was free and out of his reach. Fudge smirked, he could turn this whole thing around in his favor yet.

Amelia Bones wasn't very happy; sure an innocent child was out of Azkaban--Merlin only knew how many nights that fact had kept her awake, a 15 year old boy sent to that hell without even a trial--but she couldn't help consider the price they might be paying. Harry Potter was being released to the hands of Lucius Malfoy; weren't they releasing the boy from one hell just to throw him into another?

The double doors from the room opened to let Lucius and Draco Malfoy enter in the company of Severus Snape, potion master and teacher at Hogwarts. Now everybody that was supposed to be there had arrived: Fudge, Bones, the Malfoys and Severus Snape, although he was a surprise.

"Gentlemen, if we may begin," called Amelia Bones, indicating the men to sit at the large oval table. "We are here to discuss the matter of the imprisonment of Mr. Harry Potter. Since no official complaint has been issued against Mr. Potter, this is just a hearing for the conclusion of the investigation. Pending on the findings of this hearing, we shall set a date for a trial, or release Mr. Potter with our sincere apologies."

Those were the conditions agreed upon: Amelia would not press for a public hearing because Fudge had agreed to a proper trial in case of any doubts about Potter's innocence; Fudge had agreed to this hearing because of the pressure the Malfoys were applying and because in case of Potter's innocence being proved he wouldn't look like an incompetent monster before the public; and the Malfoys had agreed with a formal hearing to appease Amelia Bones; and she had given her word that she would not divulge the news about Harry's pregnancy to anybody, not even Fudge. All she would tell the idiot was that the wards at the alley had proven that Potter was nowhere near there when the crime was committed.

They all sat around the table, leaving the chairs at the end of the table closest to the door empty. After they sat three Aurors, whom Fudge knew for a fact were not reporting back to Dumbledore or the Dark Lord (how he managed to be sure of that Amelia could never figure out), brought Harry Potter in.

Lucius and Severus had to physically restrain Draco from going to him. Harry looked like hell: he had obviously lost weight, his clothes were dirty and torn, he was pale and could barely stand.

"Please be seated Mr. Potter," Madame Bones asked and the Aurors helped Harry to a chair isolated from the rest.

Harry was barely aware of what was going on. The last few days hadn't been so hard: the dementors seemed to be keeping a distance from him, and he was very grateful for it. A house-elf had even shown up with half-decent food and now, for what he could understand, he was going to be heard! They had taken him out of Azkaban to be heard.

"Dumbledore must have found a way to set me free. They didn't abandon me." But he couldn't make out the shape of anybody without his glasses. He narrowed his eyes trying to focus. "Wait, I know that hair, nobody has blond hair like that except… oh, Merlin, there are two of them. Lucius! Oh, no, Lucius found out. He has Draco… Is he throwing Draco in Azkaban with me? What for? Draco didn't do anything."

Harry started to panic; he had to save Draco. What could he do? He tried to discover who else was in the room and what was going on; maybe he could come up with something to save Draco at least. He started to pay attention to what the woman was saying.

"…therefore it is the finding of the investigation that the wards protecting the apothecary did not accuse anybody with Mr. Potter's particular magic signature coming anywhere near that alley on the day of the murder in question, nor on the two days prior to that, or the two days after the fact. The conclusion of the investigation, officially signed by two Aurors and one curse breaker sworn by this ministry, is that Mr. Potter is in no way involved with the unfortunate and untimely demise of Miss Weasley."

"Did she just say that I'm innocent? Is it possible? Is this nightmare over?" Harry could not believe what he had just heard, but the woman went on and he forced himself to listen just in case they decided it was all a joke, or found another reason to send him back to prison.

"It is my duty to remind all present in this room that this is an open case of murder and the investigation is still going, so I must ask all of you not to comment on any information received in this room with a third party. I'll have your wizard word on this before you leave, gentlemen. This hearing is closed."

Harry was in shock. Did this mean he was free? Where was everybody? Why was Lucius here? He felt himself being raised to his feet and a familiar pair of arms came pulled him into a tight hug.

"You are free, love, you are free," Draco was saying in his ear. Harry's arms came around Draco of their own free will as Harry was too dazed to realized what he was doing. A flash of blond hair on the other side of the room caught his attention.

"Draco, your father is here!"

"Yes, I know, love. He was the one that put all this together to get you out of Azkaban." Draco's arm was on Harry's shoulder and he led him closer to Lucius. "It's alright, love, he knows everything and he is happy for us. You are family now, he will protect you."

"Are you sure? Draco, he is Voldemort's right hand man! He will deliver me…"

"No, he won't." Draco stopped and spun Harry around, taking Harry's face in his hands to make eye contact. "He knows about the bond. You're a Malfoy now, Harry. We don't betray family, we stick together. You'll see."

"But why? If I died in Azkaban, you would be free to marry a pureblood like he always wanted. Why did he go through all this trouble to set me free?"

"Harry, listen to me. There is a reason but I can't tell you here. I promise you that you are safe and I'll not let anything happen to you. Do you trust me?"

Harry took a deep breath; there was no way around this one. "Yes, I trust you with my life."

"Then come with me; we have to go home. There is a lot to talk about."

"Where is Dumbledore? Why isn't he here?"

"He still thinks you did it, Harry. I'm sorry. I came across a piece of information that would prove that you were innocent, but I never took it to Dumbledore. I took it to the only other person I knew always believed you to be innocent, and he was the one to convince me that I could trust my father."

"Who?"

"Snape."

"…"

"Trust me, Harry, there is a lot you don't know, but right now we have to go home and make sure you are all right."

"Ok," agreed Harry. He knew there was nothing more he could do now and he DID trust Draco. "You wouldn't happen to have a pair of glasses on you, would you?"

"Sorry, love. We will take care of it as soon as possible. Don't worry." Draco smiled while guiding Harry towards Lucius and Severus.

"Ah! Harry. Welcome back," offered Lucius. "Ready to go home?"

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy," said Harry, still nervous about this whole thing.

"Please, call me Lucius. You are family now." Lucius took Harry's arm and handed him a glove.

Harry felt the familiar pull of a portkey and one second later he landed on a much brighter room with Draco by his side. Lucius and a dark shape that could only be Snape arrived soon after them.

"Oh, you are back already. Did everything go all right? Oh. I see it did," Harry heard an educated female voice say. "Harry, darling, welcome to Malfoy Manor."