"I've made my choice, Mr Malfoy." Harry said, once he had the wizard's attention.
"And which sentence have you decided upon, Mr Potter?" The blonde wizard asked.
"I choose the veil."
"Miss Granger? Are you satisfied with the items that you have purchased on Mr Potter's behalf?" Lucius Malfoy asked.
"I am, sir." Hermione nodded.
"Very well. Please present each item to the court and provide the details for it." Malfoy directed.
"First item. A heavy-duty canvas rucksack, no wizarding magic applied to it." She held up the rucksack and passed it over to Percy Weasley, who flicked his wand over it and nodded to the court.
"No wizarding magic detected." He placed the rucksack on a second table and turned back to Hermione.
"Three pairs of trousers, the list I was given stated cotton canvas, however I was unable to find a muggle store that sold canvas clothing, so I substituted canvas trousers for denim jeans. Denim is a 100% cotton product and more readily available in clothing." The jeans were placed on the second table and Percy's wand waved over them. He nodded to the court but said nothing. "Three cotton button-down shirts." The shirts were placed on top of the jeans and scanned, Percy nodding again. "Three cotton undershirts." They joined the pile. "Six pairs cotton underpants." As she spoke Hermione simply handed the items to Percy and kept going. "Six pairs of woollen socks. One pair of cotton pyjamas. One knitted woollen jumper. One pair of leather hiking boots. No wizarding magic applied to any item."
Once Percy had agreed with her, Hermione quickly and efficiently began to pack the items up. First, she laid aside one change, underwear, jeans shirts, jumper, socks and boots, they were placed to one end of the second table. Then, in the middle of the table, she laid out a button-down shirt and on top of that an undershirt, followed by a pair of jeans folded at the waist, then two pairs of underpants and one pair of socks. Next she folded the shirt sleeves over the rest and laid the second pair of socks, toes touching at the neckline of the shirt. Once that was done, she began to roll the clothes into a tight log, she then folded the open cuff of the sock over this log. This was done to the pyjamas using the last pairs of underwear and socks.
"One change of clothes per roll." She held them up for the court to see.
Percy again flicked his wand at the items and nodded to the court. Hermione then placed each of them inside the rucksack.
"This is the limit that the court is required by law to provide." She stated.
"Agreed." Malfoy nodded. "However, we are permitting other items to be provided. Auror Robards, please return Mr Potter's mokeskin pouch to him. This item is bonded to Mr Potter's magical signature and he has provided a list of contents, none of which, this court is concerned with."
A middle-aged man with grey hair held up his hand, in a small dull brown pouch with a buttoned over flap. It sat in the palm of his hand with space to spare. Hermione picked the pouch from his hand and placed it alongside the unpacked change of clothes.
"Miss Granger, this court gave permission for you to provide five items to Mr Potter, on the condition that none of them neither contained, nor had wizarding magic applied to them. Have you procured those items? And will you present them to the court?" Malfoy said once Hermione had stepped back and Auror Robards had retaken his seat.
"I have and will." Hermione answered. "First a muggle toiletry bag. All items still sealed." She placed it on the table and Percy scanned it, before nodding. "A towel, large enough to be used as a blanket if need be." It was placed and scanned, earning another nod. "One leather trench coat, muggle made." She held it out and Percy scanned it and nodded. She then carefully folded it and added it to the rucksack. "One box muggle playing cards, two decks, one hundred and six individual cards." She laid the box on the table and Percy scanned it. Another nod. "One bag of marbles, forty at ½ inch and one at one inch, held in a net bag." The bag was laid on the table a scanned, before it and the cards were packed into the rucksack.
"Thank you, Miss Granger." Malfoy turned to Harry. "Mr Potter, please take the clothes provided by Miss Granger and get changed. You may use the bathroom attached to this chamber. Please return to your seat once you've done so." As Harry stood, Malfoy turned to Percy. "Mr Weasley, we thank you for your impartial presence and request that you complete the provided paperwork, in relation to today's session."
Harry tuned the chatter out as he headed for the bathroom. He had no idea was to come and there was a part of him that was terrified, but the greater part was just tired. He was exhausted and having to deal with the Weasley's the evening before and again this morning, just made him feel worse. Oh, physically, he wasn't injured, but after living for eight months as, what basically amounted to being homeless, meant that his physical and magical reserves were badly drained. Then duelling Voldy and being killed? No, he was tired. Too tired to deal with frantic people. Too tired to deal with an ungrateful public. Too tired to fight any longer.
He only prayed that Lady Magic would send him somewhere that he could rest.
Standing in front of the veil, in the so-called 'death chamber', Harry listened half-heartedly as Percy read out his conviction and sentence.
"… sentence is to be finalised at midday, today Sunday the third of May 1998." Percy finished speaking, no longer pompous or arrogant.
"Thank you, Mr Weasley. You may step back." Malfoy gestured for Percy to join the few people gathered. "Each person standing here has been scanned for wands, potions and portkeys and been found free of those items. We grant Mr Potter a few minutes to say his farewells but do request that each person approach him separately."
Ginny came forward first and hugged Harry, tears running down her face, but she said nothing, it had all been said the night before… or rather... she'd screamed at him for nearly an hour before Malfoy had taken pity on him and enforced the Mordred's Law visiting time limit. Releasing him, she collapsed into her mother's arms and sobbed.
Ron was next, he gave Harry a reluctant hug and after looking him in the eye, nodded and retreated to stand by his mother and sister.
George looked at him with such a lost and sad look. A hug and a quiet 'be happy, Harry', all that was said.
Neville handed Harry a picture of the DA. "You should have that mate. To remember us by. We'll never forget you."
Luna kissed him on the cheek and gave him a familiar red and gold feather. "From Fawkes. It's already been scanned and approved." She said.
"Thanks, Luna." He carefully tucked it and the photo into his mokeskin pouch.
Hermione stepped forward, her arms surrounded him and, as usual, he got a face full of hair.
"I love you, Harry." She whispered. "Check the cards." The second sentence was whispered, almost silently. As she drew back, she had one brow raised slightly in question and he nodded that he'd understood her message.
"Potter." Draco Malfoy stepped away from his father's side.
"Malfoy." Harry nodded.
"My father said the Ministry aren't able to give you any gold. He told me that no one here, today, is permitted to give you more than a single coin."
"That's what I was told, too." Harry agreed.
"Mr Malfoy, does the restriction on money cover muggle money, as well?" Hermione asked. "I have a few notes in my purse."
"You may give either a coin or a note, but it may be one item only." It was Augusta Longbottom that answered.
"Thank you, Lady Longbottom." Hermione said. She dug into her purse and pulled out a few notes.
"Father? Will you check them for any additional magic?" Draco pulled out a coin purse.
"Certainly, Draco." Lucius waved his wand over the purse Draco held out and nodded. He turned to Hermione who held out a few notes and did the same over them.
"Everyone take a coin from me or a note from Granger and give it to Potter." He held it open in front of each of him and each person took a coin from him or a note from Hermione as they moved to his other side. He then turned to Harry. "It's the least I can do, as thanks for saving my life." He shuddered. "I really thought I was going to die, then there you were, reaching out to save someone that tried to kill you. You're a better man than I, Harry Potter." He held out his hand and Harry nodded and clasped the other's hand.
"I did what was right, not what was easy." Harry said.
"I shall remember that." Draco replied and handed Harry a single ʛalleon, before turning and leaving the chamber.
As the door closed behind Draco, the others came forward and each passed Harry another ʛalleon or a note. One by one he dropped the coins and notes into a small pocket on the front of his rucksack.
"Thank you." Harry whispered.
"It is time, Mr Potter." Lucius Malfoy said quietly.
"Yeah." Harry turned his back on those gathered and faced the veil. He took a deep breath and entered the archway.
The last thing he heard was Lucius Malfoy's comment. "I'm sorry, Potter."