"WIZARDING POPULATION AT A DECLINE
It has been recently found in a study conducted by the unspeakables that the recently concluded war has already brought down our population to a new low. It is estimated that we lost about 2,000 wizards and witches in addition to countless muggles. It is a commonly known factor that our population has been staggering for long time now when compared to our magical neighbours who have made efforts to include muggleborns in their populations and as a whole are progressing.
It is also noteworthy to mention that the said report also gave concluding evidence about muggle born witches and wizards descending from old families though many of them are so many times removed from the families they descended from that they can't claim that family as their own.
With there being so many places vacant on the wizengamot, it should be made our priority to conduct inheritance tests for those who are of muggle born descent to find if we can restart some of the lost families.
It has also come to the knowledge of this reporter that the minister has been intimated regarding the situation and he has assured us of taking concrete action in this regard. Let's hope Kingsley Shacklebolt does not go the Cornelius Fudge way and is actually useful than being a hindrance."
Auror Floor
"You all have been improving but I am not satisfied", growled Proudfoot, "You all still have no situational awareness."
The recruits who were being grilled by him stifled a yawn as they were still not in the habit of getting up before dawn broke and listened to the tongue lashing that they were getting. This was becoming a common occurrence and if someday Proudfoot did not lash out at them, he considered it a day wasted.
"Proudfoot, are you done tearing this hides", barked Robards as he came down to the practice area, "Potter, Longbottom, Weasley, Macmillan come with me."
They followed him to a conference room where he started speaking without any preamble, "One of the death eaters, Jugson, an Azkaban escapee who has been evading arrest has been spotted in Canterbury with 5 others. This is your job to bring him in. If he resists arrest, you are free to use lethal force against him."
Capturing a death eater
The portkey brought them to a deserted road in Canterbury. They could see a building a space from where they had arrived.
"What do you reckon we are to do?", Ron asked.
"I'd say we should check that house out", said Ernie.
"Alright, let's do it. First let me find if there are some people in the general vicinity of the area."
Robards in his free time had taught him some curses and hexes and detection spells which were exclusive to the Aurors and Harry liberally employed those. About 5 minutes later, he turned to the others, "There are about 5 persons in that house. I'd guess that is our target. We can't go rushing in because we don't know what is waiting for us inside that house. Let's draw them out."
"How?", asked Neville.
"There must be wards around that place, right? So let's trip those wards. We don't need to go in at once but we can create commotion that would force them to come out. Since we can't appparate in that house, it is clear that there are apparition wards around that place. They will have to come out. Keep taking them out as they do. Got it?"
With a nod, they all dispersed to find covers and then started firing random curses and spells at the house. About 10 minutes later, one of them came and Ron was about to take him down when Harry shook his head and stopped him.
As Harry had thought, a second wizard followed the first closely as Harry passed some signals to his friends and they started spreading in circles so the death eaters would be caught in the middle.
The third came soon and it was some worst sort of luck that Ernie Macmillan's leg caught on a twig at that exact moment which sounded like an explosion in the otherwise tranquil environment. One of the death eaters turned in the connection of the sound when Harry sent a silent stunner and nailed the death eater with a perfect shot.
Before the other death eaters could be aware of the fact, the 4th and 5th death eater were out too. Harry nailed one in the back with a perfectly placed stunner and Ron nailed his with a stunner as his target almost ran into him. Neville had tripped his opponent who fell face first and then Neville bound him in ropes before stunning him. Ernie had wasted no time in hitting his opponent with a bludgeoning hex and then flipping him however his opponent got clever at that moment and avoided the next spell which went past him. He banished Ernie into a tree trunk where the wind was knocked out of his lungs and before Ernie could gather his wits, the death eater was over him ready to cast the killing curse.
Harry had watched his friends' progress until his eyes fell on Ernie and saw his friend being knocked off his feet and he knew what was coming before the death eater could think to cast it himself.
Harry raised his wand and shouted, "fractura" and a bright yellow curse left his wand and shot towards the death eater who was mid incantation.
The bone breaker hit the death eater in the middle of his neck and he fell forwards with a surprised look on his face. Harry watched in morbid fascination as the death eater died.
Harry was in shock and did not reply when Ron called him twice so Ron took command, "Ernie, call for a clean-up crew from the ministry, Neville secure the prisoners and I will take care of the evidence present here and send for more Aurors to seize the house where they were staying.
When Harry returned, Robards sent for him, "Potter, what happened?"
"I killed a man!", Harry croaked.
"Why do you think that, Potter?", Robards asked.
"I could have used any other spell or curse. I could have aimed lower. I could have moved Ernie out of way", Harry said, "But I don't know what happened. I saw Ernie in danger and I acted on impulse."
"Potter, let me tell you one thing", Robards said, his jaws clenched, "this was not anyway your fault. You are an Auror now. For all intents and purpose, you are one of us. Being an Auror means that you have to kill someone at some point of time. You can't always bring someone alive. Hell, even Mad-eye could not bring them alive at times. You should know how he paid the price when he went too soft on them. I don't want you to be reduced to that. If it is your life on the line and theirs then you should protect yourself. Now take the day off and go home. You need some rest. We will talk again tomorrow."
Harry stood up in daze and flooed out to the Black Townhouse where Daphne was already present.
She perked up when she saw him, "Harry, there you are. You didn't tell me that you have shifted to Potter Manor."
Harry didn't answer her but walked to one of his old bedroom where Sirius used to sleep before.
"What has he got into him?", Andromeda said, "Daphne, will you look after Teddy? I am going to talk to him."
"No Andy. Let me talk to him. I think I can get through to him", she said and walked upwards without waiting for an answer.
Daphne walked up to the room and found Harry was sprawled on the bed.
"Harry", she called softly and he seemed not to hear her.
"Harry", she said loudly and patted his shoulder and it was as if he were jolted awake.
"Daphne, what are you doing here?", he asked, "You had some work at the ministry?"
"Merlin, Potter. You are with me at the Black townhouse", she explained, "You just came out of the floo and walked up here. Did something happen?"
"I. I. Killed a man today", he said.
"I don't believe you would kill someone knowingly", she said, "Tell me what happened?"
Harry started telling her everything from the raid to what Robards had said and when he was done, she took her time to start speaking, "Harry, I know killing someone is not an easy work and it is not easy to live with the feeling. But please remember that you did what you had to do. From the sound of it, he was going to cast the killing curse at Macmillan and you saved your friend's life. In my book, that is alright."
"But I took a life", Harry said heatedly, "I killed someone."
"So have I, Harry", she replied tersely, "I also have killed."
"What? When? Who?", he asked.
"In the battle of Hogwarts. I was helping a fallen defender when a death eater tried to kill me. Without thinking, I sent a curse at him which threw him between the acromantulas who had come out of the forest. I don't even know who he was."
"How do you feel?", he asked.
"I feel nothing about it", she said cooly, "It was important for me to act at that time so I did. Don't think too much about it."
"I can't get over it", Harry said, "I feel tainted."
She hugged him suddenly, "Now listen to me well, Harry Potter. You have done nothing wrong and you should not feel like it and..."
Suddenly she stiffened as she realised that Harry had hugged her back. It was the first time that there was any sort of contact between the two of them. Daphne was trying to think what would it mean for their friendship when an owl hooted and the moment ended.
"I. I. Am sorry, Harry", Daphne said, "I should not have hugged you."
Before Harry could say anything or stop her, she walked out of the room and down the stairs to the floo.
Harry turned his attention to the miniscule owl which was zooming around in delight, "Come here, Pig."
The little flew to his outstretched hand and Harry untied the letter. It was written in the neat writing of one Hermione Granger.
"Harry,
I returned to England yesterday. I have been reading about your life and the changes that are happening to you. I am worried and I am thrilled. Worried because I am not there with you and thrilled because I am not there with you. I know it does not make sense what I am saying.
I tried to ask people where you are staying and I was told that you are staying at Sirius's old place but no one can tell me the address. I hope you will reply to this letter.
Love,
Hermione."
Smiling to himself, Harry got up from the seat and walked to the ground floor where Andromeda was sitting at the table, "Harry, what happened? Why did Daphne run like that?"
It came to his mind suddenly that Daphne had left the townhouse in tears, "Something happened and she got upset."
"Harry, what happened?", she asked.
"Can I tell you later?", Harry asked her, "I need to go to the Weasleys for now."
"Okay. Can I expect you at dinner?", she asked, "Kreacher is preparing your favourite onion soup in dinner."
"Tempting, Andy", said Harry smiling, "But right now, me and my elves are in the process of adjusting to a new life at Potter Manor and I kind of try to spend every evening there. The house may have been in stasis but it needs a lot of work."
"I am sure you have got it covered", she said smiling, "I hope I will see you tomorrow then."
The Burrow
Harry Potter had just stepped out of the fireplace when he was tackled by a bushy auburn haired missile, "Oh Harry, I missed you so much on this trip. I have learnt that you have done a lot here in my absence. I wish I was here."
Harry chuckled, "Breathe Hermione. I have been enjoying this new life and the sense of freedom that it brings and I enjoy that so far no one is trying to kill me. The Wizengamot is full of politicians but they at least don't try to curse you."
"And how are you feeling?", she asked, "I mean Ron told me that you had to kill a death eater today."
"I was shocked, to be honest. I mean during the battle we did fire lethal spells in the battle but we didn't know if our spells actually killed anyone. Today, I actually saw him dying with my bone breaker."
"Oh Harry", she sighed, "Do you want to talk about it?"
"I talked to Robards about it. He said that I should not carry any regret with me because it was either the death eater's life or Ernie's. Later, Daphne said the same thing."
"Daphne? You mean Daphne Greengrass?", she asked in surprise, "You know her?"
"Yes, she is in the Wizengamot with us. Her family has held a seat on the body for ages", he said.
"But wasn't her family dark?", She asked, "I have heard that it is an old pureblood family steeped in their traditions and that every member of that family has been in Slytherin."
"Wrong, Hermione. The house of Greengrass is an old pureblood house, one of the major families of the Sacred 28 but they have always sat in the neutral faction of the Wizengamot. Lord Greengrass was never accused of being a death eater either during the first war or the last war", said Neville Longbottom who had just entered the Burrow.
"What are you doing here?", Harry asked him.
"Ron dragged me here", Neville said, "Gran had asked me to invite Lord Weasley for a meeting."
"Who is Lord Weasley?", Hermione asked.
"When the wizengamot was reconvening, debates were held on to who shall hold seats on the body and by majority vote it was agreed that House Weasley should be restored to its position on the body. Since the Weasleys are Ancient and Noble Family, Mr. Weasley became Lord Weasley though that is for formal occasions, I reckon", said Harry.
"Are you also a member, Harry?", she asked.
"Yes, I am a member", Harry said, "I actually have two seats and since I could not hold them both at the same time, I appointed a regent in the form of Andromeda Tonks nee Black. She is also living at Sirius's old place and I had the fidelius renewed."
"Where are you living then?", she asked.
"I am living in Potter Manor", Harry said simply, "I moved about 3 days ago and since then I have been cleaning, sorting the house and other things. In a week or so my elves believe, I will be able to host a dinner for my friends."
"Elves?", Hermione asked, "You mean you have more than one house elf?"
"Yes Hermione. I have three elves", Harry said simply, "Mipsy, Garett and Sweetie are very considerate elves."
"HARRY POTTER! That is slave labour. How could you do that? Don't you have any feelings for them?"
"Hermione, listen..."
"No, I can't believe you would do that. After all Dobby did for you, rescuing you from the manor and whatnot, you are enslaving his kind and..."
"HERMIONE", Harry said loud enough that caused her to shut up, "Listen to me and listen well. I offered to all my elves to set them free by giving them clothes but they started to cry telling that I was going to kill them by doing it. I asked them what they meant and they told me that they need magic to survive. And that magic comes from the master. By setting them free, I was going to kill them."
"But Dobby became free", she protested.
"Dobby was an oddity and even he came to Hogwarts to find work there. The ambient magic of Hogwarts was enough for him to stay healthy and to survive", Harry explained, "However to put you at ease, I have offered two Galleons and a day off a week to my elves and I house them in elf quarters that my family had made."
"Harry dear", said Molly Weasley who had come out to notice him there, "How nice to see you. You should come more often. Do you want some food?"
"Mrs. Weasley", Harry said hugging her, "It is nice to see you. I am sorry but my elves are waiting for me at manor on dinner."
"At least join us for some refreshment", said she.
Inside the Burrow, things were unchanged from the last time that he had really seen it. Percy had moved out to his flat in London, Charlie had returned to Romania and George was still at the Burrow. He had heard that George had gone to open the shop one day but the old memories of the place had overwhelmed him and he had returned. Since then, George could not gather the courage to go and open the shop again.
"Hello George", said Harry, "You should know something."
"What is it Harry?", he asked.
"Gilderoy Lockhart had called. He wanted to be the poster boy for Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes with his shiny hair", said Harry.
Despite his grim demeanour, George chuckled, "Fred would have made some joke item about it."
"Then you gotta do it, mate", said Harry, "I can bet that it would be popular too."
"Yeah?", George asked in uncertainty, "I don't even want to go to the shop now."
"Listen George", Harry said sternly, "Fred wouldn't want you moping around when there is work to do. That shop is the culmination of your dreams. You both have worked too hard for it and he would be terribly upset if you do not continue it."
Ron who was listening, said, "George, l am betting you 10G that you can't open the shop in time before the students return to the school in September."
George raised an eye brow, "Do you want to lose so badly, Ronnikins?"
"May be, I am", said Ron, "I will even help you whatever way I can but I bet that you won't be able to open before September."
George stood up from his place, "Let's up the stakes, shall we? If I get the shop open and running will you leave the Aurors and join me in running the Hogsmead branch?"
Harry watched curiously to see where this interaction was going.
Ron took several minutes before replying, "You are on."
Harry watched things with interest and was somewhat satisfied that things were getting better when he met Ginny's eye who walked out of the Burrow and Harry stood to follow her.
She came out to sit below an apple tree in their orchard and after Harry made himself comfortable, he said, "Sorry Ginny I couldn't make enough time for you."
She waved his concerns off, "It's alright. I have heard you have been making waves in the world. Someone needed to take charge of things and I am glad it is you."
"I am not...", Harry tried to protest.
"You are only fooling yourself, if you refuse to believe it", she said, "Harry you are member of one of the biggest voting blocks on the wizengamot, you are bringing laws that would help our society and despite having too much wealth, you are working as an Auror as anyone will. You are setting an example for them."
"Auror work right now is terribly boring work, Ginny", Harry said, "I mean we just sit around all day and wait for some news to come in. There are still many missing and we are being sent after them."
"And you are doing great bringing them all in", said Ginny proudly, "Ron told me about today and I know you will avoid killing anyone but sometimes, it can't be helped. Harry, I remember how you had opposed Remus when he said that you should not show any mercy to any of the death eaters."
"It feels like it happened years ago", Harry said, "It feels like years that Remus was there telling me to not to let expelliarmus become my signature spell. I miss him."
"We all do", Ginny said, "He was one of the best persons that I have known."
"How you have been doing, Ginny?", Harry asked "I mean I should have asked you before but I just didn't get the time."
"Harry, I am alright and I am going back to Hogwarts in September", Ginny said, "Hermione is coming back too and she was excited with the prospect of a normal year without you and Ron there to spice things up."
Harry laughed, "Well, I am sure she will have little time on her hands with her being head girl and all."
"McGonagall had visited the other day and she told me that she wanted me to be the head girl if you lot had graduated last year but I told her that I won't have it any other way. Besides I am the quidditch captain this year and that is a task in itself."
"Ginny, I left Sirius's house a week ago and have shifted in Potter Manor", Harry said, "I would like it if you would visit sometime."
"I will", she said.
PLG Inc.
"Lord Potter, Lord Longbottom, Lady Greengrass", Mr. Cole was saying, "As I was instructed by you all, the partnership deed for a venture between you all was sent to you all by owl post. As you sign it, it shall be sent to the Ministry."
"We have studied the document", said Harry, "And we agree on the terms and conditions that have been laid down in the deed. Have you inquired about the properties available in Diagon and nearby alleys and Hogsmead?"
He nodded, "I have done so, Lord Potter. I have also earmarked several properties which are up for sale but there are no takers for their owners were death eaters and are currently sitting in prison."
Harry grinned, "Well, let's sign it then and buy whatever you can get. Negotiate the price as much as you can and if needed involve Kord from Gringotts. He is our manager and he will help you get good rates for the same. The properties shall be titled in the name of PLG Inc. and jointly owned by us. After you are done buying the properties, find us some magical builders and maintenance crew. We need to start as soon as possible. It is also your duty to find what it takes to open a business in magical world."
"Business?", Cole asked, "Do you have something in mind?"
"Well as you see Diagon Alley is ghost town and from what I have heard many of the old crowd won't return. So those shops will be taken by others. There are many who have the idea but they lack the resources to start a business. We will help them start with giving the required capital to them, getting the formalities done with the ministry and in return we will be charging a small fee from them."
"That is a brilliant idea, Lord Potter", Cole said smiling.
The Dancing Hippogriff
"Your guest is here, Lord Black", said the bar keep who was a young man about 25 years of age and ran one of the bars in Horizont Alley.
"Please send him in, Matthew", said Harry and sat up a bit straighter.
Moments later, a young man entered the room which Harry was occupying.
Harry stood and shook hands with the man as an equal as is the custom between the members of the Ancient Houses, "it is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Felix."
"The pleasure is mine, Harry", said the newcomer, "I must confess that I was pleasant surprised when I received a letter from you."
Harry smirked, "Modesty doesn't suit you, Felix. Your none too subtle gesture was duly recognized."
"So what you would have me do?"
"You know that the wizengamot is going through reformation. A lot of seats are still vacant and Kingsley has planned to fill them with ministry nominated candidates or Order of Merlin winners."
The other man said, "Most of the order of Merlin winners are either in jail or six feet under the ground. It would be years before he would be able to fill them that way."
"I don't want the Wizengamot to be filled with creatures of the ministry", Harry said, "Kingsley may have best intentions at heart but what if some unscrupulous individual takes his position?"
"I see your point", said the other man, "So what do you propose we do?"
Harry grinned, "Actually I have a very cunning plan."
Potter Manor
Ginny had visited Potter Manor three days after Harry had invited her.
When she stepped out of the floo and into the entrance hall, her eyes spread wide, "Wow, this is so beautiful."
The walls of the entrance hall were built of red sandstone and the floor was marble. The grate was big enough for a man to be able to stand in the there without crouching.
The way from there led inside the manor.
Harry led Ginny into one of the sitting rooms and had her sit on a table. After they had been served with refreshments, he started speaking, "Ginny, I have thought about you a lot since I moved out of the Burrow and I would like to resume what we had during Hogwarts."
"Harry, I still haven't been able to make my mind in regards to whether I want things to go back to the way they were or not. I mean I am still thinking about it."
"What of us then, Ginny?", Harry asked.
"Harry, you are the sweetest, bravest boy that I have known but it took me a long time to see you as Harry Potter the boy and not the legend. When we broke up and you went off doing who knows what, I was hurt but I knew why you were doing that. In fact I even knew that I wouldn't be as close to you as Ron and Hermione are but I hoped that we would get back together after the war. When I saw you after you had killed Voldemort I felt kind of disenchanted. I am still trying to come to terms with whatever has been going on in my mind."
"I understand", Harry said, "But we can still go out together, even if as friends, right?"
She smiled, "Yes we can."
"Great"; he smiled, "Will you do me the honour of accompanying me to the Ball being held by the Macmillans?"
"i am sorry, Harry", she said, "Neville asked me if I would like to go with him as a friend."
Harry sighed, "Damn! Outgunned twice by Longbottom."
Death Eater trials
Finally the day arrived that they had been waiting for. The old courtrooms in the bowels of the ministry were open for business. Kingsley had engaged the ICW and it had sent mugwumps to judge the trials. The benefit of having the mugwumps presiding over the trials was that none of them could be bought or influenced.
"Okay everyone. Remember your duties today. Savage, you are to stay inside the Court Room and ensure that no one brings their wand in, at least those who are not supposed to have them. You will also oversee Susan and Ernie in the chamber along with an unspeakable being present to identify the people to ensure that no one is under a disguise. Longbottom and Weasley will bring the criminals to the chair where they will be tied to and face the justice for their crimes. Dean and Seamus will assist Longbottom and Weasley."
"What about me?", asked an old Auror.
"You will be on this floor, looking after it. In absence of Robards and Proudfoot, you are in charge here. Now I am going to the Chamber where the first trial is about to start."
"Close the doors", Boomed one of the judges, "We are here to decide the fate of wizards and witches who were acused of being death eaters and helping the wizard known as Voldemort in spreading terror through the entirety of Wizarding Britain and killing countless muggles and wizards."
The second said, "We will start with the first case on the docket which is titled 'Wizengamot Vs. Lucius Malfoy & anr. Prosecutor- Gawain Robards assisted by Arnold Proudfoot. Counsel for defense- Dmitri Vladinov. Aurors, bring the accused in."
The gates opened and Ron and Neville hauled in the three Malfoys who were unceremoniously deposited in the accused chairs where the chains immediately snapped up and tugged at them.
"Mr. Robards, please proceed."
"The three accused are members of the infamous Malfoy family who were the most ardent supporters of the dark wizard who called himself as Lord Voldemort. The investigations that we have conducted in their dealings with the Voldemort and during his reign of terror, there has been nothing that can be attributed to Narcissa Druella Malfoy. So, we are not going to press any charges on her and would request that she be discharged from this trial."
The mugwumps conferred among themselves before one banged his gavel, "So done. She is discharged."
As Narcissa was let go to sit in stands, Robards continued, "While the elder Malfoy is a sinister man and has a score of crimes to his credit yet it is the younger Malfoy whose crimes are so heinous that his father's crimes pale in comparison. Draco Malfoy hatched a plan which almost resulted in killing of a Hogwarts student in his sixth year of education at Hogwarts, later he also let in Death Eaters in Hogwarts which resulted in killing of Albus Dumbledore and he also partook in torture of wizards considered to be enemies of Voldemort."
The mugwump turned to the defense, "Mr. Validinov?"
Harry stood from his place, "I wish to speak in defense of Draco Malfoy."
There was murmuring in the crowd when he stood. People were openly talking that he was an idiot if he were to save Draco Malfoy. Some even thought that he was under imperious curse or confunded or it was someone else under the Polyjuice potion.
"What do you wish to speak, Mr. Potter?", asked the first Judge.
"Hon'ble Judges", Harry said, walking downwards where the accused sat trapped in their chairs, "I studied with the accused Draco Lucius Malfoy for 6 years at Hogwarts and we have had a sort of rivalry between us which was further fuelled by the fact that we belonged to Houses which have been at each other's throats since years. Draco Malfoy is a pompous, idiotic man who has redeemable virtues except that he loves his family. In 1996, his father was arrested in the Department of Mysteries and sent to Azkaban during which a plan of Voldemort was foiled by six teenagers. To punish Lucius for failing in his mission, Voldemort threatened Draco Malfoy with killing his entire family if he failed to assassinate Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. The odds of that happening were laughable but Draco Malfoy kept trying to do it because the consequences otherwise were unthinkable. His only redeeming quality is that he loves his family and it was that love which made him try to assassinate Dumbledore. After trying and failing for months, he was finally able to smuggle death eaters in the school and lured the headmaster to the tower. I was with Dumbledore on the tower that day when Dumbledore petrified me and hid me from others. I watched how Draco Malfoy failed to kill Albus Dumbledore. He did not have had it in him to kill the old headmaster. He was guilty of bringing the death eaters in school but he failed to hurt anyone. However, this year when I was captured briefly and taken to Malfoy Manor he refused to recognise me. If he had done that, it could have meant our end and we wouldn't have been able to do whatever we were doing to kill Voldemort. Also, he was a minor at that time when he opened the vanishing cabinet in the school and as such, he deserves mercy from this body. I know many of you would not like my coming to his defense but he didn't do anything of his own will but it was only on orders of the Voldemort for he feared that if he did not do his bidding then his family will die."
"Are you pleading that we should show leniency towards the accused named Draco Malfoy for reasons that you have given Mr. Potter?", one of the Judges asked.
"Yes, my Lord", Harry said bowing before them.
"Mr. Prosecutor, does the prosecution have any objections over the same?", the judge asked Gawain Robards.
"The prosecution has no objection, your honour", he said.
"Very well, we will deliberate over the matter and decide over the fate of the accused Draco Malfoy before this trial will proceed. The sessions is adjourned for an hour", they said and stood up.
As the judges were deliberating, Harry's allies in the wizengamot approached him led by Dowager Longbottom, "Mr. Potter, why did you speak in his favour? He was responsible for the death of Dumbledore. He was responsible for Bill Weasley being mauled by Greyback."
"Elder Longbottom, he was a child fighting on the other side of the war just like us. And he was fighting it reluctantly. If he had recognised me that day in his Manor, we never would have won the war. And later, his mother saved my life in the Forbidden forest by lying to him that I was dead. I had to repay what she had done for me", he explained to them, "I have no intentions to incur a life debt from a Malfoy."
"I sort of understand where you are coming from", said Chief warlock Macmillan, "But I hope you are not going to ask for clemency for other death eaters."
"No", Harry shook his head, "I am not going to do the same for anyone else."
When the tribunal resumed again, one of the judges held a piece of parchment in his hand, "Will the accused pleased stand up?"
Draco Malfoy stood up and the Judge started speaking, "Draco Malfoy, Lord Harry James Potter-Black has made an impassioned plea in your favour before this body and as such, this body has decided to show clemency to you considering all the circumstances in which you did those crimes and your age at the time of the crime. You are hereby sentenced to 6 months house arrest where you will not be able to leave the confines of the house known as Malfoy Manor and you will have to wear a magic restraining shackle for the duration. You are also forbidden to carry a wand for the next one year and won't be allowed to do magic for the said duration. To ensure compliance, you will have to wear a magic restraining shackle for the duration and any attempts to remove the shackle will result in your magic being bound for a period of 5 years. You are also fined for 10,000 Galleons payable to the ministry of magic within 30 days from this order on the failure of which, the ministry shall be at liberty to seize your assets and auction them to realize the said fine. Do you want to say anything?"
Draco stood up, bowed to the panel, "I wish to thank you for the mercy that has been shown upon me. I certainly have done nothing to deserve it considering the many crimes that I committed however I solemnly swear that I will not splurge this second chance and use it to become a good wizard. I am also thankful to Lord Potter-Black who found it in his heart to be able to forgive 6 years of insults towards him and his friends. I am ashamed of the man that I was and I will try to become better."
The chief judge banged his gavel, "Aurors, take the accused to the holding cells and from there release him to care of his mother on her recognizance and a security of 1,000 Galleons."
Draco Malfoy was led away from the chamber by Longbottom and Weasley, two of the very same people that he had tormented all his life. As they led him to the holding cells, Neville whispered, "I hope you were sincere back there ferret because you slip once more and you will know what I can do to you."
In the chamber, Robards was addressing the chamber, "My lords, the accused Lucius Abraxas Malfoy used to be a influential man in the wizarding world and he was once very close to the then minister Cornelius Fudge and even influenced many of the policies of the ministry during that time. He had the image of a philanthropist but in reality he is a ruthless dark wizard who had no qualms about disposing off his enemies. During the first wizarding war, he was the right hand man of the wizard known as Voldemort and his financial backer. He was also his henchman and performed such heinous acts that are crime in the name of humanity. I request this body to grant me permission to interrogate the accused under veritaserum."
"I objekt", said the defense lawyer, "my client has some rights which cannot be denied to him. According to the ancient laws, he is protected from it."
"Lucius Malfoy is not a member of an Ancient and Noble House", said Robards, "he never had a hereditary seat on the wizengamot either. He sat in this body on a seat on which he was nominated by the former Minister of Magic."
"Your objection is overruled", said the judges, "Aurors administer veritaserum to the accused."
A/N- Sorry for being away for so long, guys! Hope I will be more regular going forward.