The Bodyguard

Chapter 5: The Dungeon Door

The next morning. Harry waited impatiently in the Ministry of Magic outside the dungeon courtroom. The grimy dark door with its immense iron lock was closed. It brought back bad memories of the last time he had attended a Wizengamot. Then, he had been defending himself against a charge of underage magic. Now he was witness for the defence of Draco Malfoy.

"I have no idea why you're going through with this, Harry," said Remus Lupin. He was so shabbily dressed that Harry could see his shoulders through tears in his robes.

"Remus has a point, Harry. You're hardly the best of friends with Draco Malfoy. Why are you sticking your neck out for him?" growled Mad-Eye Moody. His blue, magical eye swivelled in its socket, taking in Harry and the closed door.

Even Harry wasn't quite sure why he was so drawn to protect Draco, though he was loath to admit it. Though his memories of Draco's casual nastiness were clear in his head, somehow, the thought of his schoolboy rival suffering in Azkaban caused a strange ache deep in his chest. But all Harry said aloud was, "Draco's just a stupid kid. He doesn't deserve Azkaban."

"Some would say just being a Death Eater is enough," said Lupin.

"It shouldn't be enough," said Harry angrily. "The Ministry put Sirius Black away for years and he was innocent. They did the same for Stan Shunpike. Now the Ministry is doing it again! Draco hasn't killed anyone. He hasn't done anything to deserve death, but if he ends up in Azkaban he'll be dead within a year just like poor Stan. Where's the justice?"

"Sadly lacking at the Wizengamot, Harry," said Lupin. "You're a good kid, Harry, but you'll need all your powers of persuasion if you want to save Draco from Azkaban."

Harry sighed and looked at the floor. At that moment, he felt he HAD no powers of persuasion. "I wish Dumbledore were here," he said. He frowned, remembered Draco's role, however slight, in Dumbledore's death. But then he remembered the forgiveness on Dumbledore's face towards Draco, that night on the Astronomy Tower. Whatever Draco had done, or tried to do, Dumbledore would never have left him to die in Azkaban.

"We all wish Albus was still around, Harry," said Mad-Eye gruffly.

"Where can Hermione be?"

"She probably hasn't gotten your owl yet. She and Ron were searching underground last I heard," said Lupin gently.

Mad-Eye's magic eye spun. "Here comes the prisoner," he growled.

Harry turned. At the far end of the rough stone, torch-lit corridor, he could see two huge, cloaked Aurors walking towards them and holding the arms of a chained prisoner with white-blond hair - Draco Malfoy. Harry broke into a run. He wanted to speak to Draco before he was dragged before the Wizengamot.

Up close, Draco looked even worse than he had in the Death Eater den. Harry had been able to go back to the Order's new headquarters to sleep, shower, eat and be healed. The Ministry had clearly not extended similar courtesy to their newest Death Eater prisoner. Draco looked tired and haggard; his face was stained with tears, and still covered in unhealed bruises. Streaks of fresh blood ran down the left side of his face from a cut on his forehead. His grey eyes were haunted. He looked nothing like the proud, spoiled, finicky-clean boy he had been at Hogwarts and Harry felt an ache in his chest that he decided was sympathy.

"Harry!" Draco gasped in amazement. The Aurors were still dragging him along at top speed, though he could barely walk.

Harry had to hurry to keep up with them. "Draco," he said.

Draco seemed lost for words for a moment, but he quickly gathered himself. "So glad … we could speak ... before Azkaban," he choked out. He was forced twist around to keep Harry in view as the Aurors pushed past, "I was thinking about you all last night. I woke up in a cell. Why'd you let them put me there?"

"The Aurors took you away. I tried to stop them," panted Harry, hurrying after them.

Draco stared at Harry frantically with red-rimmed, grey eyes, and his voice was a ragged shout, "Harry, I have to tell you ... it's my last chance ... sorry, Harry! I'm so sorry ... what I did to you at school-"

Harry was speechless. He stumbled to a halt, and stared at Draco.

Draco struggled against the Aurors as they reached the dungeon door, "Stop!" he said, with a trace of pure-blood imperiousness. Then his tone became frantic. "I need to speak to Harry! I'll never see him again! He promised he'd-"

"Shut up, Death Eater," snarled one of them. The other one twisted his fingers into the white-blond hair at the back of Draco's head and slammed Draco's forehead into the door. Draco howled in pain.

Harry realised right away why Draco's face had been covered in blood. "Hey-" he began angrily. But neither of the Aurors even glanced at him as they pulled a dazed and stumbling Draco away from the door and grabbed his arms again. One of the Aurors turned the dungeon door handle.

Draco turned his head and body as much as the Aurors would allow. Blood was now trickling down the right side of his face as well as the left. He shouted back over his shoulder. "We should have been friends ... goodbye Harry, I'm so sorry!" Then he was out of shouting range, but Harry had already read the rest of Draco's words in his eyes - 'Please, save me!'

The courtroom dungeon door opened and Harry could see the horribly familiar dark stone walls, dimly lit by torches, and the row upon row of benches, where shadowy figures wearing plum coloured robes sat. The Aurors dragged Draco to the chair in the middle of the room and flung him into it. The chains on the chair glowed golden, snaked up and wrapped themselves around terrified teenage boy in a flash. Then the Aurors walked to the side of the room and waited.

The door was slowly sliding shut. Harry looked at Draco, trapped and struggling in the chair and felt a sense of hopelessness rise up. Draco's unexpected, undreamt of apology was still ringing in his ears. He remembered how intimidated, even without the chains, he had felt sitting in that chair himself: the cold rows of faces, the brusque pronouncements and how he had utterly failed to defend himself. If it hadn't been for Dumbledore ... if only Dumbledore were here now!

In that moment, the meaning of the words, 'Dumbledore will only truly be gone when no one is loyal to him' hit Harry for the first time. I need Dumbledore but I can't bring him back to life, Harry thought. But I can be loyal to him - in my actions. Harry remembered Dumbledore's cool poise, his impeccable manners on all occasions, even when facing death, his intelligence, kindness and persuasiveness. I can be like that, Harry thought. I WILL be like that. I must...

Inside the courtroom, Rufus Scrimgeour's voice rang out. "Criminal hearing, tenth of July. Draco Malfoy, you have been brought here before the Council of Magical Law for the heinous crime of being a member of the murderous, criminal gang: the Death Eaters."

Hisses and boos came from the cloaked figures on the benches.

Draco cringed back in his chains, utterly petrified.

"Interrogators: Rufus Scrimgeour, Minister for Magic; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Percy Ignatius Weasley, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister-"

There were gasps as Harry thrust the door fully open, and strode into the room. He could hear whispers of "The Chosen One!" running around the benches. Scrimgeour fell silent and stared at Harry opened mouthed.

"Witness for the defence: Harry James Potter," said Harry. His voice was low, but everyone in the room heard him.

oOoOoOo

Author's Notes: It's that time again - time to beg for comments. Pleeeeeease, comment! Feedback is so inspiring. ;-)

Replies to comments:

ItsaMiracle: I'm very flattered that you're hooked. Thank you very much! I hope I can keep you hooked. ;-) PhoenixxStarr: Thanks! Harry will be trying to persuade the Wizengamot not send Draco to Azkaban - in the next chapter. DestinyEntwinements. ;-) NinjaoftheDarkness: Barnes is up to more than he even appears to be at the moment. See the next chapter! Oooh, Draco plushie, thank you! Sirius' widow: Thank you! I hope to see you commenting again. ;-) SuperSquash: Thanks, I'm writing quickly at the moment. Draco wasn't very happy when he woke up and found Harry wasn't there, but he pulled himself together when he saw Harry outside the courtroom. Did you notice anything manipulative going on? ;-) Potter's Wifey: The Head Auror is FOUL. Wait until you see what he's got planned.