Draco Malfoy's eyes met Albus Dumbledore's.

Albus smiled, Draco did not.

Albus Dumbledore: The genial demon. His mouth creased in a well-worn smile, he looked at Draco Malfoy like he was just a boy, not the heir to his greatest opponent in the Ministry and Britain as a whole. That made Albus Dumbledore into Draco's ally, in this queer bit of charade. All Draco had to do was act like a young, scared boy, and he'd be home free.

It was a seductive lure. But a false one. He would sit as he stood, firmly. And no words could convict him, if he did not speak.

Harry Potter sat in front of Dumbledore's desk, fuming with anger. A bear is no one's friend, but is easily used as a distract. Potter's anger would never force Draco's secrets free, not even if the fool tried to choke them out.

Minerva McGonagall took her seat beside Potter, her abrupt manner clipped. Worried we're wasting your time? Already got me tried and convicted? It was difficult to say, either way. But Minerva was a law-abiding witch, in a manner that Potter was not. She'd see him wasting away in Azkaban, like so many other wizards and witches. She wouldn't lay him out at Hogwarts. Too well-bred for that. A pity she couldn't have imparted that breeding on any of her charges.

Draco Malfoy sat as well, without words. Words would not save him here. He kept his manner relaxed and amiable, looking at Albus Dumbledore with an open and interested expression, without a trace of a smile.

The true danger stood at Draco's back. Severus Snape. His purported ally, in this farce of a show trial. Snape always did like to tower over people - and study at a distance. Worse, Snape had a way of smelling liars. Draco had never managed to unriddle it, but it was there, nevertheless.

"Potter. We hear you've been spreading unfounded rumors." Snape purred out, his voice as always a soothing balm to everyone's soul, no matter the venom-laced words.

"Rumors?!" Harry said, making to rise out of his chair and entirely ruin his credibility. Luckily a hard-edged stare from Dumbledore put the boy back to a seating position. "I haven't told anyone!?"

Snape looked at Potter, decidedly unimpressed, "No one at all? Not Weasley? Not Granger?"

Harry glared at Snape, "It's not rumors when I confide in friends!"

Draco had to hand it to Potter - he hadn't known the boy knew the word confide. He certainly didn't seem to understand what a confidence was.

"In the Great Hall? In the library?" Snape purred out, "In front of who knows how many innocent rumormongers?"

Potter's eyes got wide, and then his face fell.

Snape spat, "Your celebrity status lends your words an extremely undeserved level of credibility from credulous fools."

Draco could have sworn he heard Potter mutter, It's not my fault they're idiots.

Snape asked, "As rumors have a way of blossoming, perhaps you would care to air your suspicions, now, Potter. So that we might lay them to rest."

For a moment, Draco could see the uncertain boy in Potter's face - the one who was undoubtedly asking, are you really going to accuse a yearmate of murder? Then, Draco saw Potter's face harden. "The muggleborn kidnappings, he was in on it."

Snape sneered, "Do you have some evidence for this unfounded accusation?"

Harry snarled, "Witnesses saw that white-blond hair! He was there!"

Snape responded, "Mister Malfoy's hair is hardly unique, Potter. In fact, it is my understanding that you have made the acquaintance of someone with similar hair."

"Luna?!" Harry Potter yelped, "You can't possibly-!"

Snape sneered, "It is the same amount of evidence that you used to accuse Mister Malfoy of a very grave offense."

Harry Potter deflated, visibily, and Draco braced himself. Now that they've finished quelling Potter, they'll come for me.

[a/n: Snape's not quite Malfoy's friend here, but he at least can play the role well. Reviews?]