A/N - Thanks to everyone who has been reading and reviewing! I love hearing your thoughts about the story. Enjoy!

Chapter 14

Trials

10 May 1998

"You sure about this?" Ron asked George as they all left the Leaky Cauldron and walked into Diagon Alley. George had announced at dinner the night before that he wanted to go to the shop the next day. Not wanting him to go alone, Mrs. Weasley had taken her other children aside to make sure that at least some of them would accompany George. Charlie had immediately volunteered and Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny, deciding they'd like a short break from Hogwarts, elected to go as well.

"Yeah," George said quietly, his hands in his pockets as he walked towards Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes between his two brothers.

The small group stopped in front of the shop and Hermione was glad to see that there didn't seem to be any real damage. Someone had obviously tried to get past the wards, Death Eaters most likely when the Weasleys had all gone into hiding, but besides a few scorch marks and a cracked window, they hadn't been successful. They had either not tried all that hard or had been lower level Death Eaters, incapable of breaking them. Hermione suspected the latter.

After a few minutes of staring at the building, George finally pulled his wand from his pocket and began to mutter under his breath, dropping the wards he and Fred had set when they fled. When he was finished, he took a breath and opened the front door.

They all followed him inside, George waving his wand to light the lamps. There was a layer of dust over everything, but other than that all was in its proper place. If not for the dust, they could have just left the shop the day before.

George walked slowly around the room, touching a box here and there. The rest of them watched him for a few moments, before Hermione raised her wand and began to siphon the dust away from everything. Charlie, Ron and Harry followed suit, while Ginny continued to watch George closely.

"Thanks," George said to everyone once the dust had disappeared. "I'm going to check the back room." He walked towards a curtain in the back and Ginny made to follow before Charlie grabbed her arm to hold her back.

"Just let him go, Gin."

"But-" Ginny protested.

"He needs some time alone," Charlie said, his tone brokering no argument.

"All right," she finally agreed. They all fanned out across the shop, checking the inventory. Things were still a bit tense between Harry and Ron and despite their work together the previous day, Hermione knew that Ron hadn't completely forgiven her either. Ginny hadn't said much about the trials, even though Hermione knew that Harry had told her his plans. When the two witches ended up next to each other near the Wonder Witch products, Hermione couldn't help but bring it up.

"Harry has to do what he thinks is right," Ginny said.

"Yes, but what do you think?" Hermione pressed.

"I think Malfoy's a right bastard," Ginny replied with a shrug.

"You don't seem too upset about the fact that Harry's testifying," Hermione said. Ginny sighed.

"Look Hermione, we all know about Harry's 'saving people' thing."

"I don't think he's trying to save Malfoy," Hermione interjected.

"No," Ginny agreed. "But he will do whatever he can to make sure that everything is as fair as possible." She shrugged again. "That's just Harry. How can I be upset about that?"

"Ron still is," Hermione said. Ginny snorted.

"Ron has Mum's temper." Hermione smiled slightly and Ginny sighed. "I know you and Harry aren't going to change your minds. Ron isn't either. The question is, can you live with that?"

"I don't expect Ron to change his mind," Hermione said. "So, the real question is, can he live with it?" Ginny cocked her head and gave Hermione a skeptical look.

"Are you sure you don't want him to change his mind?"

"No, of course not," Hermione began, then paused, worrying her lip between her teeth. "I mean, would it be nice if we agreed about this? Yes. But I understand why he's angry." Ginny studied her for a moment before finally nodding.

"I doubt he's going to get any less angry about it," Ginny said. "Especially after what happened to you."

"I know," Hermione said with a sigh. There was a small explosion and then a loud clang from the back of the shop. Ginny and Hermione looked up quickly and there was another, followed by the clatter of something falling. The two of them took off for the back room, following Charlie who had already reached the curtain.

"George!" he shouted as he stepped through. When Hermione and Ginny reached the doorway, they saw George standing amongst a group of overturned cauldrons and boxes. There was some kind of liquid on the floor that was smoking. Charlie was already grabbing George and moving him away from the mess as Hermione drew her wand and cast a quick 'Evanesco' on the potion.

"What happened?" Ron asked as he and Harry reached Hermione and Ginny. Hermione shook her head and shrugged as Charlie spoke lowly to George.

"We must have forgotten about it," George was saying.

"Forgotten about what?" Ginny asked.

"The potion we were working on. I thought we'd cleaned everything up, but this one was in stasis and, and," George stopped and cleared his throat. "F-Fred must have forgotten about it." They all fell silent and Hermione saw Ginny swipe hastily at her eyes.

"What was it?" Charlie demanded. "Did any of it spill on you?" He was searching his brother for injuries even as he spoke.

"No, no, it was harmless," George said waving Charlie off. "Just destabilized after being under stasis so long." He sat down heavily on a nearby stool, staring at the cauldron still lying on the floor on its side. Ginny glanced at Ron who was watching George warily.

"Okay, mate?" Ron finally asked. George nodded, looking at the ground.

"Why don't we help you clean all this up," Hermione said stepping into the back room and beginning to levitate the boxes that had fallen. The rest of them followed suit as George continued to sit on the stool and stare at the floor. When Ginny bent to pick up the cauldron that the potion had been in, George grabbed her arm.

"Don't," he said. She looked at him in confusion. "Just, I'll…I'll do it." Ginny nodded and took a step back. George pulled in a breath as he stood, letting it out as he bent to pick up the cauldron. He settled it into place on the table in front of them, knuckles white with how hard he was gripping it. They all stood in silence and watched as he wrestled with his emotions, running a hand along the cauldron's edge.

"I'm fine," he said a few seconds later. "Really." Ginny and Ron didn't look convinced, but Hermione grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him from the room.

"All right, then," Hermione heard Charlie say along with the unmistakable sound of him clapping George on the back. "Come on Gin, Ron." Charlie pulled a reluctant Ron and Ginny from the back room.

"Are you sure this is such a good idea, Charlie?" Ron asked.

"He wanted to come," Charlie reminded his brother.

"Yeah, but, maybe it's too soon." Ron glanced over his shoulder where George could still be seen standing and staring at the cauldron in front of him.

"Don't coddle him, Ron. He gets enough of that from Mum and he hates it," Charlie said.

"I'm just worried," Ron retorted.

"I know you are, but," Charlie sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Look, it's never going to be the same for George again, for any of us for that matter, but especially for him. He's got to figure out how he fits back into his life now. And us hovering isn't going to help." Ron stared at Charlie for a minute before his shoulders slumped.

"Yeah, all right." They wandered around the shop a bit more until George finally emerged from the back room.

"I'm going up to the flat," he said. Hermione saw Ron open his mouth to say something, but Charlie spoke first.

"How about you show me around?" Charlie asked. "I only saw it the once and that was just the kitchen." George stared at Charlie, blinking a few times before he answered.

"Sure," he finally said and Charlie followed him upstairs to the flat.

"Impressive," Hermione said once the two men were gone.

"What?" Ron asked in confusion.

"Charlie getting George to let him go with him up to the flat without making George feel like he was being babied." Ron looked at her blankly.

"You got all that from 'How about you show me around'?"

"Of course, Ron, what do you think Charlie was doing?" Ginny said.

"I thought he was asking to be shown the flat," Ron retorted. Ginny snorted and rolled her eyes.

"Boys," she said.

"Hey," Harry protested.

"Did you know what Charlie was doing?" Ginny asked pointedly.

"Erm, of course I did," Harry said lamely.

"Right," Ginny laughed. At Harry's pout, she walked over to him and kissed him lightly. Harry's look of surprise confirmed Hermione's guess that the two of them weren't officially back together yet. Although not for lack of trying on Ginny's part, Hermione knew.

"Must you?" Ron said, wrinkling his nose in disgust. Ginny rolled her eyes again. Hermione, feeling some of the tension leave the room, moved closer to Ron and took hold of his hand. He looked down at her for a moment before he finally smiled. She smiled back and leaned her head against his shoulder as they waited for Charlie and George to return.

"I do not understand," Andromeda said with a frown on her face. "You have been transforming here for nearly a year and we have never had any problems."

"I was also usually taking Wolfsbane," Remus said.

"I am so sorry about that," Andromeda replied, looking guilty. Andromeda had taken over brewing the Wolfsbane for Remus once he had returned to Dora. With the Battle and the funeral, however, it had been the last thing on either of their minds and it was too late to begin brewing it now.

"Please don't apologize," Remus said. "I don't blame you."

"Well, you did not have Wolfsbane the first month you were here," Andromeda reminded him. "You moved in only three days before the moon. And all was well."

"I'm afraid that it will be different this time," Remus admitted.

"Different how?"

"With Dora," Remus stopped and swallowed down the lump in his throat. "With Dora gone, I'm not sure how the wolf will react. Especially if he can still smell her."

"And you think that might make you, the wolf, violent?" Andromeda asked.

"Honestly, I have no idea. But I would rather err on the side of caution than have anything happen to you or Teddy."

"If you think it is best."

"I do," Remus said.

"I will come with you to set the wards," she said.

"Harry will be there," Remus replied. "I'm sure he can set them."

"With all due respect to Harry, I think it would be best if someone experienced set them. Especially if you react the way you suspect you will," Andromeda said, crossing her arms in front of her.

"Perhaps you're right."

"Of course, I am," she said with a smile. Remus chuckled. There was a cry from upstairs. "You check on our boy and I will get some lunch together."

"Thank you, Andromeda." She gave him a smile as Remus left the room.

"So, what'd he say?" Ron asked his sister. George had gone outside to sit by the pond after dinner and Ginny had joined him. They were all curious as to whether he was planning on reopening the shop and if so, when.

"He said it was hard, going back there, but not as hard as he thought it would be. The flat was the worst," Ginny replied. Ron nodded. Charlie had hinted as much when they had left the shop to walk back to the Leaky Cauldron.

"He's not planning on moving back in there yet, but he is going to reopen the shop."

"When?" Hermione asked.

"In a few weeks," Ginny continued. "He has to talk to Verity and then see if he can find someone else to help out."

"We can help," Ron said.

"I thought you were going into Auror training?" Ginny reminded him.

"Well, yeah, but not until June and we don't know when in June yet."

"Well, it will likely take almost that long anyway. George wants to do a full inventory and have enough stock before he opens, since it will be just," Ginny's breath caught for a moment. "Just him making the products now." Harry rubbed his hand gently across Ginny's back. "He said he doesn't want to be stuck in the back room brewing all the time."

"How did they handle it before?" Hermione asked, more to fill the silence than anything else.

"They switched off," Ron said. "Then when it was slow, they worked on developing new products."

"I expect he'll be pretty busy when he first reopens," Harry said, his hand still on Ginny's back. "Especially if other stores in the Alley join him." Diagon Alley hadn't been as deserted as it had been when the three of them had broken into Gringotts, but there were still plenty of shuttered store fronts when they'd been there earlier.

"Does anyone know how Mr. Ollivander is doing?" Hermione asked.

"Mum talked to Aunt Muriel yesterday," Ginny said. "He's doing better, but he's still rather weak. Dad says St. Mungo's has settled down a bit since the Battle, so Mum's going to take Mr. Ollivander there tomorrow."

"Dad's going to the trials too, I assume," Ron said. He had a slight scowl on his face, but he didn't look nearly as upset about it as he had the day before.

"Has to, doesn't he?" Ginny said. "Since Kingsley appointed him acting head of the DMLE."

"Do you think he'll stay there?" Harry asked. Mr. Weasley had just received the promotion three days prior. "He'd be our boss then you know." Ron's eyes widened comically. Ginny and Hermione laughed.

"No, Dad doesn't really like it. Kingsley promised he could go to whatever Department he wanted to once the Ministry is cleaned out and the trials over."

"Knowing Dad, he'll probably go back to the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts office," Ron scoffed.

"If he enjoys it, isn't that the most important thing?" Hermione asked. Ron looked at her for a few moments before he replied.

"Suppose so." He gave her a small smile.

"Well, I'm heading to bed," Ginny said. "You coming, Hermione?"

"Yes, I'll be there in just a minute." Ginny leaned over to Harry and kissed him quickly, just as she had in George's shop. Harry responded with the same surprise and Hermione could hear Ginny chuckling under her breath as she left the room.

"Harry, what time are we leaving in the morning?" she asked, glancing at Ron from the corner of her eye. The redhead immediately stood and mumbling something about the loo, left the room. Hermione sighed once he was gone.

"At least he's not yelling anymore," Harry said conversationally.

"There is that," Hermione agreed.

"A little after eight, I think," Harry said, answering her earlier question. "Trials start at nine and I'm not sure who is up first. Plus, Mr. Weasley said it will likely take longer to get past the security wizard." Hermione nodded.

"So, when are you going to admit it?" she questioned.

"Admit what?" Harry asked in confusion.

"That you and Ginny are a couple again." Harry's cheeks colored.

"We're not," he insisted.

"Could have fooled me," Hermione said, trying to hold back a laugh. Harry glared at her. "And obviously, Ginny wants you to be."

"She hasn't said," Harry began, but Hermione interrupted him with her snort of laughter.

"She's kissed you twice today alone."

"That's just, that's," he fell silent, his face reddening further.

"What's holding you back?" Hermione asked taking pity on him.

"My life is a mess right now, Hermione."

"No more than the rest of us," she reasoned. "And at least you've decided on your career path."

"She's going back to Hogwarts in the fall."

"And?" Hermione asked, confused.

"She shouldn't be tied down by me her last year in school. Especially, since it's likely to be a sight better than any of the previous ones." Hermione broke into peals of laughter. "What?"

"You're such an idiot, Harry Potter," Hermione said fondly.

"Gee, thanks, Hermione."

"I just meant that Ginny certainly isn't going to see it that way. I mean, honestly, you make it seem like it's a chore to date you."

"It sort of is," he said.

"Not anymore, Harry," Hermione said softly.

"No, no one's trying to kill me every other minute anymore, but that still doesn't mean I'm not going to be hounded all the time." Hermione sighed. The press would always want a piece of Harry. He had received no less that twenty requests for interviews in the last week alone, she and Ron had gotten ten. Bill had reported that he'd had to chase two photographers away from the Burrow the last time he'd Apparated in. Professor McGonagall kept the media away from Hogwarts except for the daily updates she gave them on the rebuilding efforts, which were done after the volunteers had gone home for the day. Charlie's notice-me-not charm had kept the reporters away from them in Diagon Alley earlier that day and Hermione had seen at least two. She knew once Harry started Auror training, it would be worse.

"I don't think Ginny cares about that," she said.

"I don't want to subject anyone to that," Harry replied, looking downcast.

"So, you're just going to spend your life alone?" Hermione scoffed.

"Maybe it would be better that way," Harry muttered. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Honestly, Harry have you even talked to Ginny about all of this?"

"No," he said a bit petulantly.

"Well, don't you think you ought to before you decide how she's going to live her life?"

"That's not what I was doing!" Harry protested.

"Isn't it?" Hermione challenged.

"I'm trying to protect her, Hermione."

"By not giving her a choice?" Harry opened his mouth to retort, then closed it again. Hermione looked at him smugly.

"Fine, I'll talk to her."

"Good idea," Hermione said as she got to her feet. "I'll see you in the morning."

11 May 1998

"No, Remus," Andromeda said as he asked her one last time if she was certain she didn't want to come with him to the Ministry. "Teddy and I are going to take a walk today, aren't we darling?" Teddy was lying on a blanket on the sitting room floor and waved his tiny fists in response.

"I'm not sure how long I will be," Remus said, smiling at his son.

"We will be fine, won't we, Teddy?" Andromeda's voice was just a touch too bright and if it hadn't been the day of the full moon, Remus might not even have noticed.

"I'll be sure to give you a full report when I return," Remus said.

"That is not necessary," Andromeda replied, smiling widely at Teddy and completely avoiding Remus' eye. Remus wasn't fooled for a moment.

"Still," he said then bent down and kissed Teddy's forehead, then turned to his mother-in-law. "I will see you later." Andromeda simply nodded once and Remus walked into the back garden to Apparate.

Harry and Hermione Flooed to the Ministry with the visitor's badges that Mr. Weasley had obtained for them the day before. The line to check their wands with the security wizard took longer than usual, according to Harry, so Hermione was glad they had arrived as early as they did. Once finished, they made their way to the lifts.

"Isn't that?" Harry began, even as Hermione called out to him.

"Remus!" Remus stopped and turned to face them.

"Harry, Hermione," Remus greeted. "Here for the Malfoy trials, I assume?"

"Yes," Harry acknowledged. "But why are you here?"

"The same," Remus replied. Harry and Hermione looked at him in confusion. "Although she will not admit it, Andromeda has an interest." Hermione understood, remembering the looks that had passed between Tonks' mother and Mrs. Malfoy at Hogwarts after the Battle. Harry simply nodded as the three of them walked into a waiting lift.

The lift was quite crowded, otherwise Hermione would have immediately asked Remus how he was feeling. He seemed agitated, shifting slightly from foot to foot and tapping two fingers against his thigh repeatedly. It was reminiscent of how he had acted in their third year every month on the day of the full moon. It was another clue that had led Hermione to conclude that Remus was, indeed, a werewolf once she had done her research for her essay. Feeling for him, Hermione reached out and grasped his arm just above his wrist, squeezing gently before letting go. Remus smiled slightly at her and forced his fingers to still.

"Are you all right?" Hermione asked lowly once they had exited the lift and begun to make their way towards the courtrooms.

"Just restless," Remus replied. "It's always this way." She gave him a sympathetic look and continued following Harry.

"It's not as crowded as I thought it would be," Hermione said as they reached courtroom ten.

"That's because Kingsley is limiting who is allowed inside," Remus explained. "The Death Eater trials could easily become a spectacle and he doesn't want that. He's also keeping the press away until the trials are underway."

"I don't blame him," Hermione said. The three of them stopped outside the door where an Auror was standing. After showing him their badges, the Auror checked the piece of parchment he was holding and Harry was pulled aside.

"Mr. Potter, as you're testifying, you'll have to remain in the witness room until they call for you," the Auror said.

"He's not allowed in?" Hermione asked. The Auror shook his head.

"Once he finishes his testimony he can remain, but not until then. Policy, Miss."

"Do you want me to stay with you?" Hermione asked. Harry shook his head.

"I'll be fine, Hermione. You go on."

"You're sure?" Harry laughed.

"Yes, Hermione, I'm sure. Go in with Remus. I'll join you once I've finished."

"All right," she agreed. "Don't be nervous."

"I've nothing to be nervous about," Harry said with a smile. "I'm just going to tell them what happened." Hermione nodded and gave him a quick hug, then followed Remus into the courtroom.

They had just settled themselves onto a bench a few rows up from the dais when the Wizengamot started to file in. Percy and Mr. Weasley entered from a side door, followed by a few other employees from the DMLE and then the Minister himself. Remus shifted beside her as the Wizengamot members took their seats. A solicitor was already at the table next to the defendant's chair.

"Order," Kingsley called to quiet the murmuring of voices behind him. He looked at the Auror stationed near a door in the back of the room. "Bring him in."

Lucius Malfoy was led into the room, magical restraints around his wrists and ankles. As he was put into the chair in the front of the room and the chains moved up to bind him to the seat, Hermione couldn't help but notice how haggard he looked. He'd looked similarly when they had been brought to Malfoy Manor, but he had at least been clean-shaven then.

"Mr. Fawley, is your client prepared to proceed?" Kingsley asked the solicitor.

"Yes, Minister."

"And he understands fully the terms of the deal he has been offered?"

"Yes, Minister." Hermione glanced at Remus and he shrugged, looking just as surprised. What kind of deal had they given Lucius Malfoy? Remus shifted again in his seat, his knee bumping hers. He smiled apologetically.

"And the Department of Magical Law Enforcement is also in agreement with the terms of this deal?" Kingsley asked Mr. Weasley. Hermione saw the muscle in Mr. Weasley's jaw twitch and his eyes flash in anger, but he answered in an even tone.

"Yes, Minister."

"Mr. Weasley, please distribute the copy of the prisoner's plea agreement to the Wizengamot," Kingsley said. Percy stood and with a few flicks of his wand, pieces of parchment flew amongst the Wizengamot members. As they began to read, a low murmuring began. It quickly escalated into noises of outrage from some of the members. The Minister called for silence more than once until he finally had to cast a 'Sonorus' charm to quiet the buzzing in the courtroom.

"Mr. Malfoy," the Minister addressed Lucius. "You have agreed to provide testimony and information about your fellow Death Eaters as well as others associated with the Dark Lord Voldemort, including any knowledge you have of any fugitive's whereabouts. In exchange, you agree to pay reparations to the Ministry and your sentence will be limited to a two-year probationary period in which you are to be confined to your home, known as Malfoy Manor. You agree to hand over your wand and not perform magic for a period of one year which will be monitored by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Are you satisfied with these terms?" Both Hermione and Remus had frozen in their seats.

"Yes," Malfoy rasped, then cleared his throat and answered again in a much clearer tone. "Yes, Minister."

"Then you will be released to the Auror department who will accompany you to your home to set the appropriate monitoring charms." Kingsley pointed his wand at the chains which unwound themselves from Lucius Malfoy's arms. He was pulled to his feet by two Aurors and taken out the same door he had entered through. As soon as he was gone, a few members of the Wizengamot began to protest. Kingsley nodded to one of the Aurors near the courtroom doors who raised his wand and cast some kind of charm which immediately cut off all sound from the Wizengamot, although Hermione could see that they were still talking, some yelling by the looks of it.

"What's going on?" she asked Remus.

"Cloaking spell," Remus said. "It allows the Wizengamot and the Minister to discuss or deliberate without the gallery being able to hear."

"What just happened?" she said and Remus sighed and shook his head.

"The same thing happened after the first war," he said. "The DMLE was so desperate for information they made all kinds of deals with known Death Eaters to get it. It's how Igor Karkaroff got released. I suppose we shouldn't be surprised it's happening this time."

"But Voldemort's dead," Hermione protested.

"They thought he was dead the last time," Remus reminded her. "But all of his followers aren't and some of them fled after the Battle before they could be captured. Not to mention all those that we don't even know about. If Severus had survived, we wouldn't need Lucius Malfoy, but as he didn't." Remus shrugged.

"You can't tell me you're okay with this," Hermione said in shock.

"Of course, I'm not," Remus snapped. At Hermione's look, he sighed. "I'm sorry, Hermione I don't mean to snap."

"No, it's all right," she replied. "I don't expect this is how any of us thought his trial would go."

"Definitely not," Remus agreed. He was once again shifting restlessly and Hermione wondered if he normally just paced the day of the full moon. He certainly looked like he would like to. Sound returned and Hermione looked up to see that the Wizengamot had settled down although a few of them were still glaring at the Minister.

"We will proceed with the next trial." The door in the back of the courtroom opened again and Narcissa Malfoy stepped through. She was bound, just as her husband had been, but not nearly as disheveled. The solicitor had remained, clearly representing the entire Malfoy family.

"Narcissa Malfoy, you have been accused of colluding with the Dark Lord Voldemort. How do you plead?"

"Not guilty," Narcissa replied. Kingsley nodded at the solicitor, who stepped forward.

"Minister, esteemed members of the Wizengamot, as has been proved by a physical examination, Narcissa Malfoy does not bear the Dark Mark. She has also never participated in any Death Eater activities."

"The Battle of Hogwarts doesn't qualify as Death Eater activity?" a Wizengamot member asked.

"Mrs. Malfoy did not have a wand for the entirety of the Battle. She cast no spells and participated in no duels."

"Then why was she there?"

"She was concerned for the welfare of her son, who was a student at the time," Mr. Fawley replied. "In addition, when Harry Potter confronted He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in the Forbidden Forest, Mrs. Malfoy lied to You-Know-Who and told him Mr. Potter was dead. This ultimately allowed Mr. Potter to later vanquish You-Know-Who and win the war."

"Do you have proof of this?" another Wizengamot member asked.

"I have the testimony of the Boy-Who-Lived himself." Hermione scowled at the appellation. She knew Harry hated it. Remus made a noise of irritation under his breath. A moment later, Harry was shown into the courtroom and directed to a chair on the other side of the dais.

"Mr. Potter, can you please describe what happened after you confronted You-Know-Who in the Forbidden Forest," Mr. Fawley said.

"Voldemort attacked me and I passed out for a few seconds. When I woke, Mrs. Malfoy was sent to check on me. She told Voldemort I was dead."

"Why would she do that?" someone from the Wizengamot called out.

"She was worried about her son and asked if I knew if he was still alive. When I said yes, she told Voldemort I was dead."

"At great personal risk to herself, I'm sure," Mr. Fawley said. Harry shrugged.

"Voldemort wouldn't have been very happy if he'd found out, no."

"So, Mrs. Malfoy essentially saved your life," Mr. Fawley questioned.

"I suppose so," Harry said.

"Thank you, Mr. Potter, you may go." Harry stood and was escorted from the room.

There were more questions from the Wizengamot and more discussion amongst the members, specifically about Voldemort living at Malfoy Manor and Bellatrix's activities, but ultimately Narcissa was freed. She was given three months' house arrest, but did not have to relinquish her wand, although it would be monitored for dark spells for a period of one year.

"Will Andromeda be relieved?" Hermione was asked as Mrs. Malfoy was led from the room.

"I'm honestly can't say for sure," Remus said. "But I think she will be." Hermione nodded as Draco was led in.

Hermione had seen Draco stressed in sixth year and again when she, Harry and Ron had been brought to Malfoy Manor, pale and wan with dark circles under his eyes. He looked much the same now, even a bit worse if that were possible. His eyes darted about the courtroom, not settling on any one person for more than a second and his typical sneer was completely absent. He visibly flinched as the chains moved up to encircle his arms and made no eye contact as the Minister spoke to him. He seemed, for lack of a better word, broken.

The questions began and Draco seemed to draw more into himself as time went on. His answers were little more than one or two word mutters and more than once Kingsley had to ask him to speak up. His solicitor argued that not only had he been underage when given the Mark, that he had been forced to do so under threat of harm to his mother. While the Wizengamot seemed inclined to believe the coercion, they had less sympathy for his activities sixth year.

Harry was again brought into the courtroom to discuss what had happened at Malfoy Manor. Hermione reflexively grasped her forearm when Harry began to describe their capture.

"Are you all right?" Remus asked and it was only then that she realized her fingers were trembling.

"I'm fine," she assured him, but Remus didn't look convinced. He put a hand on her arm and although he could have had no idea how it would soothe her, he effectively anchored Hermione to the present instead of letting her get lost in her own memories. She gave him a grateful smile and relaxed marginally.

"They asked him if I was Harry Potter," Harry was saying. "Hermione had cast a stinging jinx at me to disguise my appearance so my face was all swollen up, but you could still see my scar a bit."

"And what did Mr. Malfoy do?" Mr. Fawley asked.

"I was sure that he recognized me, but he told them that he couldn't be sure it was me."

"And is it your opinion that this saved you from being killed?" Mr. Fawley questioned.

"I think it delayed them enough from calling Voldemort that Bellatrix was distracted by…other things."

"Thank you, Mr. Potter," the solicitor said and Harry rose before anyone could question him about what the 'other things' were. Hermione doubted Kingsley would have allowed it anyway. They had decided to keep the knowledge of the Horcruxes away from the public. Harry joined Hermione and Remus. There were more questions from the Wizengamot for Draco and then the cloaking spell was cast again so they could discuss his fate.

"What happened with Malfoy's dad?" Harry asked. "His trial didn't last long."

"He got off," Hermione said with a twist of her lips.

"What!" Harry exclaimed. "How?"

"He agreed to provide testimony against his fellow Death Eaters in exchange for fines and two years' house arrest," Remus explained.

"And only one year without magic," Hermione added. Harry snorted in disgust.

"So, after everything he's done, he's gotten no punishment. Not after the first war or now."

"Well there was the year he spent in Azkaban after the Department of Mysteries, but otherwise, no," Hermione said. "Although I'm sure he'll be a social pariah for years to come, so there's that." Harry snorted again.

"The wheels of justice don't always run smoothly," Remus reminded them.

"What about Mrs. Malfoy?" Harry asked.

"Three months' house arrest and one year monitoring of her magic," Hermione said. "No Dark spells." Harry nodded, seeming to expect this.

The cloaking spell was dropped and the three of them directed their attention to the front of the room.

"Draco Malfoy, you have been found guilty of being a Death Eater and participating in Death Eater activity," the Minister said. Draco visibly flinched again. "Your sentence is as follows - house arrest and the surrender of your wand until September the first, nineteen ninety-eight. You will then return to Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry where you will repeat your seventh year. Your wand will be returned to you on the first day of class. Your magic will be monitored for the casting of Dark spells unrelated to schoolwork. Once you have completed your N.E.W.T. exams, your monitoring will end so long as there have been no infractions. Do you understand the terms of your sentence?" Draco nodded mutely, although looked less than pleased about his ordered return to school. "You will need to verbally address the court."

"Yes, Minister," Draco said. As soon as the chains released, he was pulled from the chair by an Auror and escorted from the courtroom.

"Guess you won't be the only eighth year student," Harry said grimly.

"Guess not," Hermione replied, still a little surprised by the ruling. She supposed they were going for rehabilitation and hoped, for all their sakes, that it worked.