Molly came in Jade's room in the morning and fussed about the court hearing.
"But Mum, it's…blimey 10." Jade said blinking when she saw the clock.
"Yes dear, and dressing the kids and eating would take an hour and we have to be present there early." Molly said and Jade got up.
"How did I get here?" Jade asked remembering she fell asleep in Draco's bed.
"What do you mean dear?" Molly asked.
"Er…nothing." Jade said shaking her head.
"Zaara baby get up." Jade said and Zaara moaned turning.
"Go freshen up honey and get Zaara later. Hermione's making breakfast downstairs so go help her." Molly said and Jade nodded. Jade quickly brushed her teeth and washed her face. She snapped her fingers and her clothes flew out the closet.
"Zaara! Up! Up! UP!" Jade said and Zaara got up. "We have to go love." Jade said hopping and wearing her pants.
"Where?" Zaara asked.
"Get up, go use the bathroom, brush your teeth, comb your hair, clean your ears and let's go." Jade said running Zaara inside the bathroom. Jade gave Zaara a quick bath and combed and braided her long hair as Zaara brushed her teeth. After that was done, Jade gave Zaara clothes to wear and told her Mum that Zaara only needed to wear her clothes. Jade gave her Mum a huge kiss and ran down the stairs bumping into Ron.
"Why so jumpy today?" he asked. Jade shook her head, ignoring him and ran into the kitchen.
"I'm here! Let me help you." Jade said pushing them away. She took over and flew the food to the tables and set it with a flick of her wand. Everyone rushed downstairs and sat to eat. Draco came downstairs and met Jade with a quick kiss.
"Thanks for putting me back last night." Jade said.
"It was my displeasure." he said.
After everyone ate, they all checked for their things and they all apparated off to the Ministry.
"Listen to me, don't be scared or threatened by anything or anyone. Say the truth…and know that I'm here for you." he said and Jade nodded.
"I know." Jade said and they both shared a moment together.
"I have to go ok? Ron is going to show you and the family the way." he said and Jade nodded kissing him. "You'll be all right." he promised kissing her hands.
"Bye Draco." Jade said as he backed away.
"Bye love." he said and Jade felt her heart soaring inside her.
"Done?" Ron asked as Jade turned around. Jade gave him a nervous smile and Ron knew it was from the anxiety from the case. She was going to testify against her husband of six years to everything she had been through.
"Don't worry love…" Ron said kissing Jade's head. He accompanied them to a small dungeon where there was a judge in the middle of the room and surrounding him were much older looking people in plum colored robes and a silver 'W' on them. Jade and the family settled themselves in their bench and Jade wondered who was going to defend her. Dumbledore walked in and sat down on the far left of the room and turned to Jade. He gave her a small smile and Jade smiled back. The walls were of stone and there were torches burning illuminating light. Jade saw Harry walk in and being placed in the middle of the room in a chair where the arms were covered in chains. He sat down and waited.
"Case number 72389, the accused is present may we begin Minister?" the judge asked and Dumbledore nodded.
"Spousal Abuse and Attempted Murder and Assault hearing of the 31st of August into offense committed under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Spousal Abuse and the custody of Miss Zaara Molly Weasley. The accused is Mr. Harry James Potter of number 8, Harlington Road, Hogsmeade and his wife Jade Molly Potter is pressing charges against him for spousal abuse such as physical, mental, verbal and financial abuse and also attempted murder." Dumbledore said.
"Interrogators: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Minister of Magic, Michelle Ordonez, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Christine Ramlackhan, our Department of Magical Law of Spousal Abuse and." Dumbledore said.
"And who would the Witness for the defense be?" the judge asked and a man stepped up.
"That would be me, Derek Ulguier." a tall long haired man said. Jade recognized him and remembered that he used to visit their house to work with Harry and he was the one who was walking with Harry when Jade was talking to Draco for the first time in five years. Dumbledore nodded to welcome him and Ulguier nodded back in acknowledgement.
"The charges against the accused are as follows: Attempted murder of Mrs. Jade Potter on the 7th of August, five years of deliberate and continuous physical, verbal, mental and financial abuse towards Mrs. Jade Potter." Dumbledore said.
"On the 7th of August, was there an arrest made that night by an Auror?" the Judge asked.
"Auror Draco Malfoy was there to make an arrest." Dumbledore said.
"Mr. Potter, for the last five years, have you been abusing your wife Mrs. Jade Potter?" the Judge asked and Harry straightened up in his chair.
"I wouldn't call it abuse sir." Harry replied.
"Well have you been hitting her for the last five years?" Christine Ramlackhan asked raising her thin eyebrow at him.
"Yes." Harry answered.
"Have you yelled, screamed and called her such things as 'whore', 'slut', 'ugly cow' etc.?" she asked.
"Yes." Harry responded.
"Have you taken over her accounts and forbid her to work, leaving her dependent on your money?"
"Yes."
"Ok." she said writing her notes. "I would like to call on Auror Malfoy on the stands please." Christine asked and the Judge nodded. Draco stood up from the benches in the front and walked over to the stands.
"Auror Malfoy, please give us your story on the night Mrs. Potter was attacked on the 7th of August." Christine said and Draco nodded looking placid.
"We both met at a charity event on August 7th and she left seeing her daughter being carried away by Mr. Potter over there and I followed her where I saw him grabbing her hair and telling her that he would deal with her once they went home. I stunned him because he was being a threat to both mother and daughter but a few seconds later, his body vanished completely." Draco said and Christine stopped him.
"What do you mean by vanish?" she asked.
"That's what I would like to know. I stunned him, he somehow escaped, possibly with someone else's help." Draco said. Christine nodded.
"Go on."
"I offered them a ride back home because I believed that he would attack her later. I escorted Mrs. Potter back to her apartment and left. When I got to my car, I noticed that I forgot my cloak and when I went to retrieve it, Zaara Potter was standing there and she ran towards me begging for help." Draco said.
"Then?" Christine asked.
"I saw Mr. Potter carrying a knife in his hands, trying to attack her again. I stopped it and I told him he was under arrest and will be sent to Azkaban. He didn't think so, so he attacked me by diffusing my wand." Draco said.
"He attacked an Auror." Christine said making a point.
"Yes. I have my co-worker there, Auror Serania, to escort him to Azkaban." Draco said glaring at Harry.
"Ah, Auror Serania was there to escort him back. Good." Christine said.
"Auror Malfoy, how long have you known Mrs. Potter?" Ulguier asked from his seat.
"Seven years vaguely." Draco said.
"You say you escorted Mrs. Potter back to her own apartment and stood there for a while I believe?" Ulguier asked and Draco answered yes.
"So obviously you both went to catch up on each other? You knew Mrs. Potter was married so why go into a married woman's apartment?" Ulguier asked.
"What are you implying Mr. Ulguier? Nothing happened that night between Mrs. Potter and I. I did my job as an Auror. I accompanied her to her apartment to make sure she was safe with her five year old daughter and left after a chat and a drink." Draco said wanting to kill him.
"A drink? So you were drunk?" Ulguier asked.
"Not drunk. It was a small glass of wine. I was in my full attention and senses when I saw Mr. Potter trying to slice her in half." Draco shot back.
"So why would you have an affair with a married woman now?" Ulguier asked. "Mr. Ulguier, Auror Malfoy's personal life doesn't concern you at this moment." Dumbledore cut in before Draco growled a promise of death towards him.
"Make your point with this Mr. Ulguier." the Judge said.
"My point sir is that Mrs. Potter had schemed this escapade up with her help of her lover, Auror Malfoy." Ulguier said and Harry smirked.
"Is this true Auror Malfoy?" the judge asked.
"My job as an Auror is to protect, not to deceive and trap people like Mr. Potter. So no sir this is absolutely not true." Draco said.
"All right, thank you Auror Malfoy, may we have Miss Zaara Weasley on the stands?" Michelle Ordonez asked.
"Honey, go to Mr. Dumbledore." Jade said and Zaara got up.
"Mummy." she said and Jade nodded.
"It's all right Zaara; just answer the questions these people ask." Dumbledore said and Zaara nodded.
"Say the truth Zaara." Dumbledore said and Zaara nodded.
"Hello Zaara." Michelle asked sweetly and Zaara looked up seeing the small brown haired witch smile sweetly at her.
"Hi…" Zaara said looking at her father who smiled. "Hi daddy!" she said waving to him. Harry waved back and Jade prayed that she wouldn't say anything stupid for her father's defense.
"Zaara, did you see your Daddy hit your mother the night when Auror Draco dropped you both off from a party in your apartment?" she asked and Zaara frowned.
"I don't want to talk about it." she said quietly looking down. Jade and the others looked worried and off the edges of their seats.
"You need to sweetheart. Tell us what happened, don't worry, nothing will happen." Michelle said.
"Daddy said he was sorry for what he did." Zaara said.
"But what did he do?" Michelle asked and Jade was surprised at the patience in her. If that was Jade up there, she would have shaken the kid for some answers.
"I woke up hearing Mummy screaming and I saw Daddy on top of her trying to wrestle like he always did. So he took a flying knife and he hurt her with it and her hand started to bleed! I went to tell him to stop and said stop Daddy! Stop! But he pushed me and I was crying because it hurt. I thought he was going to kill my Mummy and I didn't want that…I went outside to look for someone so they can help me and I saw Draco walking to us. I said Draco! Daddy hit me and he's going to kill MUMMY! So he ran and he was a hero! He told my Daddy to leave my Mummy alone and he called Draco a ferret and then Daddy had blood on his shirt and his hands and then Draco tried to tell Daddy calm down but Daddy took the wand away from him and hit him! Why did you hit him Daddy? Draco was so nice! But Daddy cursed, you potty mouth. And another man came and took Daddy away." Zaara said shaking her head.
"Thank you Zaara, you said your Daddy always hit your Mummy before?" Dumbledore asked from his seat.
"Yeah…he used to hit her a lot." Zaara said.
"How many times? Everyday? Every week?" Dumbledore asked.
"EVERYDAY! He used to hit her like a million times. Sometimes he used to hit her…but he used to fight and throw her on the floor and grab her hair and curse." she said.
"What does your Mummy do to get him so mad?" Dumbledore asked.
"I don't know. I feel bad because she always cries but he say's he's sorry." Zaara said.
"Thank you Zaara. I need…"
An hour passed and one by one, each Weasley was questioned and talked about how Harry even stopped communication with Jade and them. Jade was called on the stands finally and Jade went up there looking pale.
"Mrs. Jade Potter, please tell us your version of the night of August 7th." Michelle said and Jade explained it and her story was very strongly similar to Draco's and Zaara's.
"Well Mrs. Potter, obviously you are currently cheating on your husband with another man am I right?" Ulguier asked smirking.
"Mr. Ulguier, may I ask you a question?" Jade asked.
"Yes you may." he said looking at her curiously.
"Why are you so keen on wanting to know if I had cheating on anyone with my husband?" Jade asked.
"For the obvious reasons of why he has emotional swings. You provide reasons for your husband's behavior so why come to court to file a case against him when you're the one behind all of this with your affair with Auror Malfoy?" he asked and Jade smirked.
"Mr. Ulguier, you know that I have separated from my husband and I lived months away from him. I have never had an illegitimate relationship in my 6 years of my marriage but after I separated from him, I was free to see whomever I please. If you're really into cheating spouses, you should ask my husband. He knows well about them because he had a mistress for the past five years and gave her all sorts of jewelry, dresses and gifts that he gave all to me before." Jade said seeing Ulguier look at Harry who gave him a look.
"What proof do you have of that?" he asked.
"I have letters sir." Jade asked waving the packet of letters in her hands. Ulguier got up and took the letters from Jade and read through them.
"Please pass those here." the Judge said.
"Who gave you permission to separate yourself from your husband? Where did you get the money?" he asked.
"I gave myself permission because my life was in danger as well as my child's. He held a knife against my daughter's neck threatening to kill her. I separated for the right reasons and I don't need anyone's permission to save my daughter's life and mine." Jade said.
"Please tell us the things Mr. Potter has done to you." Christine asked and Jade nodded. She explained everything that happened to her and also told them about her rape.
After 2 hours, the court went on a recess break so the jury would give their verdict.
"That was more intense than I thought it would be." Ron said hugging Jade.
"I'm so nervous right now." Jade said as they went back inside.
"We, the jury plead Mr. Harry James Potter guilty of attempted murder of his wife Mrs. Jade Molly Potter and also the abuse and rape of Mrs. Jade Molly Potter. Therefore, he will be sentenced to three years in Azkaban." the Judge read before them.
"Three years?" Ginny and Hermione whispered seeing Jade's fallen face. Everyone got up and started leaving and Jade stood there feeling nothing made a difference because Harry got three years in Azkaban.
"Why did I even go through this? Why?" Jade asked feeling Molly hug her.
"We'll be ready after three years." Molly said comforting Jade.
"Three years for what? Just because he's Harry fucking Potter the one who killed Voldemort that they don't want to be so harsh on him. Fucking jury." Ginny cursed.
"Calm down Gin, it's over, what can we do about it? I just want a divorce from him and go on with my life." Jade said turning to Ron. "Ron, where can I go to speak to a lawyer?" Jade asked and Ron nodded.
"I'll take you there." he said putting an arm around her shoulder.
"We'll see you all back at home. I'll contact Draco as I let Jade go to file her papers." Ron said. They said their goodbyes and left off.
"I'm sorry Jade, this is just so unfair." Ron said and Jade nodded.
"There's nothing to be done. Oh well, I'm stress-free for three years now." Jade said and Ron looked at her wondering how to cope with this.
"Here. I'll be back in a few minutes okay?" Ron asked and Jade nodded kissing his cheek.
"I'll see you later." Jade said entering the big office.
After an hour, Jade signed a few papers and filled them out. She told the consultant to send the papers to Harry who should sign them otherwise she would have to take action.
"Thank you." Jade said getting up.
"It's not a problem." the woman said. Jade walked out and saw Ron and Draco talking to each other on a plush waiting bench.
"Hey." Jade said twisting and playing with the papers in her hands. Draco and Ron looked up to Jade and both smiled lightly.
"Hey." they both said.
"Shall we leave?" Jade asked and Ron nodded.
"Umm, I need to check on a few things at the office so you both can leave without me." Ron said and Jade nodded. Ron sensed the sadness and disappointment in her.
"Hey…it's okay." Ron said hugging Jade warmly. Jade hugged back and released her tears and felt much better by getting such a hug from her brother. Ron held his shaking sister and he looked to Draco who looked as hurt as Ron.
"He was the biggest mistake in my life." Jade sobbed and Ron shook his head.
"You didn't make the mistake; you were unfortunate that you were so damn beautiful that he had to go crazy for you." Ron joked and Jade choked a laugh and hit him. He pulled her back and looked at her.
"Stay strong for us, and for your daughter. You know we're here to protect you forever and we love you. You don't need that bastard." Ron said and Jade smiled.
"This day is so overwhelming." Jade breathed pulling her hair back into a ponytail.
"Here." Ron said pulling out tissues. Jade thanked him and took the tissues and wiped her nose.
"Take care you fat tomato." Ron teased seeing her nose red.
"Leave you orange monkey." Jade said and Ron grinned.
"Jade's back. Draco, be careful, she might turn you into a ferret." Ron joked.
"Not before I turn you into a monkey. We'll be best mates. Monkey Ron and Ferret Draco." Draco said and Jade threw her head back and laughed.
"Ok, ok stop! You both have me laughing!" Jade said and Ron kissed her.
"Draco, take her home safely." Ron said and Draco nodded.
"Bye Ron." Draco said. Ron left and Jade turned to Draco. "Excellent in the court room, you set that Ulguier straight." Draco said as they started walking together.
"Thanks." Jade said having the urge to feel him.
"Do you want to see my office with your brother?" Draco asked.
"You would show me your office?" Jade asked and he nodded.
"Why not?" he asked placing a hand on her back and guiding her to his office. They went up an elevator and walked down a hallway towards a dark brown door.
"Here it is." Draco said opening it.
"Ooh." Jade said looking around the big room. There were two desks on both sides of room and Jade looked at the first one on the left. Draco turned the lights on and it brightened the room up.
"This is your desk?" Jade asked seeing everything neat and clean and papers in the middle stacked neatly with a crystal block for the weight. Jade sat down on his grand leather chair and crossed her legs.
"I am the Almighty Draco Malfoy, bow down to me or else I'll send Crabbe and Goyle after you!" Jade said in a deep voice.
"Bugger off you." Draco said sitting on front of her on his desk.
"Okay, I'll bugger off." Jade said getting up and looking around. "This place is awesome. I can even smell my brother." Jade said seeing the white floor sparkle underneath her.
"That's your brother's desk." Draco said and Jade smiled seeing pictures of Hermione and Dean on his desk. His looked like he went through a great effort trying to keep things neat. There were some papers spilling out and Jade shook her head at the mess.
"He's such a Weasley." Jade said going back to Draco.
"And what are you? You're incredibly clean so you can't be a Weasley." he said and Jade grinned putting her arms around his waist.
"That's because I'm the good twin." Jade said and he smirked pushing her back.
"You should be under arrest." he whispered and Jade laughed. She kissed up his neck making him moan and he pulled back and captured her lips.
They heard the door opened and turned to see Blaise standing there with Ron.
"Hey, sorry if we disturbed you, we can come back another time." Blaise said and Ron grinned.
"No, you didn't disturb us. Er, what did you want?" Draco asked seeing Blaise and Ron look at each other.
"I won, pay up later." Ron said.
"Fine." Blaise muttered.
"What bet Ron?" Jade asked putting her hands to her hips.
"Oh, a Quidditch bet…those damn Cannons snogged, I mean snagged the Cup…didn't they Blaise?" Ron asked nudging him with his elbow and Blaise looked at him weirdly.
"Yeah! That." Blaise said.
"Oh, so you went to the World Cup already?" Draco asked.
"So anyways…we came here because we knew you both were here." Ron said.
"Right, well Jade, this is you know from our school, my best mate Blaise and Blaise you know Jade from school also." Draco said and Jade shook his hand.
"Long time no see Weasley. I remember when Draco and our Slytherins talked about how annoying the Weasley's were, who knew that in a few years, Draco here would be gushing about you." Blaise said and Jade blushed.
"I also seem surprised about that also." Jade said winking at Ron. They talked for a bit and Jade checked the time. "It's getting a little late and Zaara must be waiting for me also. I have to go, bye guys. Nice meeting you Blaise." Jade said shaking his hand again.
"Bye." Jade said leaving. Jade was now free to walk around without having the thought of Harry going after her or to kill her. He was taken straight to Azkaban and Jade had nothing to do with him anymore. She apparated back to the Burrow as it was her last day there.
"Mum, why don't we all have a big dinner?" Jade asked.
"I don't see why not. It's a good day after all." Molly said and Jade nodded.
"Mummy can we invite Blaise Zambini tonight?" Jade asked and Molly brightened up.
"Oh! He's so funny! Yes, yes tell him to come." Molly said and Jade laughed. "Should we call all the Weasley's tonight?" Molly asked and Jade nodded.
"Definitely." Jade said. They owled everyone, inviting to come over for dinner and Jade, Hermione and Ginny helped Molly prepare dinner.
"Honey…we're home!" Ron joked.
"I'll go see how he is." Hermione said going with Ginny. Jade smiled gently, kneading the dough with her knuckles, wondering how different things would be now.
"You know…if you keep thinking to yourself like that, it'll become a habit and you wouldn't want to talk to your mother anymore." Molly said.
"Oh, nothing Mum, just wondering if I can ever have someone call me like that. I'm bloody home honey!" Jade joked as her mother burst into laughter.
"In that case, I'm bloody home honey." Draco said behind Jade startling her. "What are you making?" Draco asked.
"Steak and kidney pie, hungry?" Jade asked and he nodded.
"I hope your cooking is as good as your mother's." he said walking to Molly who hugged him.
"Thank you Draco, I'm sure you've eaten from Jade." she said and Draco nodded. He whispered something in her ear and she giggled.
"What did you say about me?" Jade threatened holding the knife.
"That it wasn't as good as your mothers." Draco said quickly and running when she chased after him.
Soon everyone apparated to the Burrow and dinner was a wonderful and fun affair. Everyone laughed and joked around and Jade thought it was amazing and so comforting having her family over while Draco was there with her. After everyone bid each other goodbye, Jade and the rest started to pack their things.
"Thank you so much Mum. I really appreciate the things you did for me…especially by helping me and Zaara live here." Jade said and Molly hugged her daughter.
"Wouldn't you do the same for your daughter? A mother would do anything for the well-being of her daughter. I can't even forgive myself after hearing the horrible things Harry has done to you and this wasn't even anything to mend the broken past." Molly said and Jade smiled shaking her head.
"Don't even worry about it Mum. It's nobody's fault of how I ended up with Harry. It was his." Jade said as Molly handed her Zaara's clothes to out in the suitcase.
"So, I'll see you in the morning ok sweetie?" Molly asked and Jade nodded. "Goodnight honey." Molly said.
"Night Mum." Jade said waving to her Mum. Jade sat on the edge of her bed and sighed playing with a broken zipper and heard the door open.
"Hey you, why didn't you go sleep?" Draco asked walking to her and sitting next to her.
"I had to pack. You?" Jade asked throwing the broken zipper in the garbage bag limply from her seat.
"I always see you before I sleep." he said summoning the zipper back and Jade nodded taking it.
"You saw me, go sleep." Jade said and he raised an eyebrow at her.
"What's wrong?" he asked and Jade shrugged throwing the zipper in the garbage can but missed again.
"I feel…weird…restless for some reason." Jade said seeing the zipper floating to his hand. He stuck his hand out with the broken zipper and Jade took it.
"Is it because of Potter?" he asked and Jade shook her head.
"Not him…." Jade said throwing the broken zipper again.
"Court?" he asked and she shook her head. "The divorce?" he asked and she gave him a crazed look.
"What are you daft?! That is the best decision of my life!" Jade said throwing the zipper again but missed.
"Tell me. I didn't mean what I said about your cooking. It's excellent." he said and Jade grinned.
"No, that didn't upset me, but thanks." Jade said smiling at him.
"Anytime Weasel. Tell me what's bothering you…have I done something?" he asked and Jade stopped her arm midair before throwing the zipper. There was a small pause and Jade shook her head starting to get a little nervous.
"No…why you?" Jade asked and Draco caught her hand before she threw the zipper in.
"It's me." he said and Jade shook her head thinking she was an idiot.
"Why would you think it's you? You've done nothing." Jade said and he gave her a look.
"I hate being lied to, you know that." he said getting up.
"Draco listen, it's nothing. It doesn't even matter anyways, whatever the reason may be. You never hurt me and that's all that matters." Jade said and he shook his head.
"You looked like a child that got her candy taken away. You looked hurt and it's because of me." he said.
"Stop this." Jade said firmly.
"Stop what? I'm asking you what I did to hurt you and you would lie sometimes and then not lie; now you're saying it's something I did but it doesn't matter. What is going on?" he asked. Jade sighed and threw the zipper behind her back.
"Leave it Draco, goodnight." She said.
"I'm getting this over with. I'm sorry if I ever made you feel stupid…or hurt whatever you say you felt. It wasn't intentional and it never will be. So go on and sleep without thinking or crying that I haven't said sorry." he said opening the door and leaving. Jade sat back down feeling a thousand times worse than she felt because she got Draco upset over nothing. She closed the lights and lied next to her daughter and looking towards the moon above shining from the window.
