Chapter 18

Draco spent the next couple days talking to officers, councilors and investigators on why he ran from his father's house. The continuing stream of questions gave Draco a headache till he and Tonks threw the investigators out after asking his personal relation with Harry. Kinglsey had let Harry go a few hours after the investigation as there was no evidence to prove he had kidnapped Draco.

School and Harry was his only solace. All the members of his old group refused to speak to him. Everyone except Blaise. He was the only one of his childhood friends who still talked to him, through Draco thought it was also because of Blaise's association with Ginny Weasley then just Draco's friendship that kept Blaise visiting him.

Pansy tried more than once to talk to Draco but a look from Blaise or Harry kept her away and Draco didn't want to talk to her. Pansy obsession with Draco nearly severed his relationship with Harry and put Draco at risk when Lucius discovered the truth. It had started with her.

"I know you're mad at her but couldn't you talk to her?" asked Blaise during a study session "We have been friends since we were kids. You could give her the benefit of the doubt?"

"No," said Draco turning a page in his history book.

"Come on, Draco…."

"No, Blaise." Draco looked up at his friend with a serious face. "That girl threw me to the sharks. I don't know about you, but that's the biggest sign of betrayal I know of. "

"I'm not saying you should forgive her. Just talk to her. Find out why she did it."

"I know why she did it!" said Draco with a glare. A few students turned their heads to look at them and Draco gave them the same glare. Since Draco's return very few people talked to him. Unsurprising Snape was one of the few faculty members that still talked to him. Only Harry's circle of friends would ever come near him, through with some reluctance.

"All right, go back to your books, you lot," said Blaise and the students went back to reading their books. Blaise turned back to Draco. "I haven't forgotten. And I haven't forgiven her either, but I still say you should talk to her. "

"I'll think about it," said Draco giving up on his book and walked out. The stares of the students that followed him out felt like a laser sight on a gun. He really had no plan to talk to Pansy. It was her fault his plans had gone downhill and he could no longer spy on Riddle for the government.

He gasped when a hand clamped on his mouth and he was pulled into a room. The door shut and the room was dark.

"What the…."

"Hush, it's me!" Draco turned on the light and turned to see Harry's smiling face. He wore the glasses Draco thought he looked cute in. "Hey, Drake."

"Dra-co, Harry," said Draco wrapping his arm around his boyfriend's waist. "But you can get away with "Drake" in private."

"Then it's a good thing we're alone," said Harry wrapping his arm around Draco and gave him a small kiss. "Hope I didn't scare you."

"You did scare me!" Harry began laughing and Draco hit his arm. "It not funny!"

"I'd say it is," said Harry and kissed Draco. Draco stopped hitting Harry and kissed him back.

Running his tongue on Draco's bottom lip Draco opened his mouth for Harry, gently exploring each other's mouths as they kissed. Soon they were tugging at each other's clothes.

"Harry we're in a janitor's closet," said Draco as Harry kissed down his neck.

"Ron and Hermione do it all the time," said Harry. Draco groaned.

"Now that's a major turn off," he said. "I haven't seen you all week and you choose now to visit me?"

"Sirius said that wasn't a good idea for me to see you for a while after school. So I'm not breaking the rules."

"Punk," said Draco with a smile. Harry smiled back. He leaned down and kissed Draco again. Draco groaned as Harry's hand down slid down Draco's back and stopped on his butt cheek.

"Harry," moaned Draco as Harry kissed down his neck.

"Surely you won't say no to a quickie?" asked Harry. Draco moaned at the thought but more to Harry unzipping his pants. "I know you have some built up energy to release."

Harry pressed a hand on Draco's still covered erection and Draco moaned.

"So embarrassing, having to have a quickie in a closet," said Draco. He gasped when his pants dropped and Harry took his cock in his hand.

"Then I'll be quick," said Harry with a grin and Draco gasped when Harry's mouth engulfed him.

"God, Harry!"

Harry hummed and Draco gasped, trying to stay as quiet as possible. Harry had learned a lot from the short time they had together. It wasn't long till Draco came and he clutched onto the shelf behind him to keep himself steady.

"That should hold you off for a while," said Harry holding Draco in his arms. Draco reached up and pulled Harry down to give him a hard kiss, groaning when he tasted himself in Harry's mouth. Harry gave a different kind of groan when the bell rang.

"Duty calls," said Draco after the pulled apart. Harry could hear a note of annoyance in his voice.

"The hearing?" asked Harry and Draco nodded. "You scared? The great Draco Malfoy scared? Ow!"

"Of course I'm scared," said Draco crossing his arms. His hand still stung from hitting Harry. His muscles were tougher then they looked. "I'm scared that Lucius is going to take me back."

"Then I'll take you back," said Harry pulling Draco back into a hug. "Permanently."

"Lucius is very stubborn."

"Now I know where you got it." Harry hid a laugh as Draco hit him again. "And I'm stubborn too. You're staying with me."

Draco sighed and leaned against Harry's chest. "I love you."

"You too," said Harry. He saw the slight flicker of disappointment when Harry returned the statement. Harry gently placed a hand on Draco's shoulder and kissed his forehead.

"I'll see you in Chemistry and I'll drive you to the courthouse," said Harry.

"But if I get away from Lucius, who'll spy on Riddle?" asked Draco.

"Sirius reconnected with an old source, a member of Riddle's circle. He'll be giving us information now."

"How old is this friend?"

"Since before I was born." Harry smiled and gave Draco small kiss. "I'll see you later."

Draco pulled his down for another kiss and both walked out of the closet, discreetly mingling with the crowd of students. In Chemistry Harry and Draco sat together surrounded by their friends. After saying good-bye for the day to their friends Draco and Harry drove to the court house.

"If Lucius goes on about being a responsible parent, I'll tell the judge about his and Narcissa's three month trips to England when I was seven and my only caretaker was Dobby," said Draco with his arms crossed.

"You know you shouldn't be telling me about this," said Harry with a smile. "I could be questioned."

"Then don't answer," said Draco smiling back. "Tonks won't be there. She and Remus are going to the hospital."

"Why?"

"Tonks had been sick recently. She hardly eats and when she does she stuffs her face."

"Tonks has an excellent immune system. It's not like her to get sick."

"Which is why she's in the hospital," said Draco.

They pulled in the courts parking lot and walked in toward the courtroom. Standing in front of the judge's door was Sirius waiting for them to arrive. He smiled as he looked up and saw the two walk toward him.

"Good to see you again, Draco," he said giving the boy a pat on the back in greeting. "You wouldn't believe it but this rascal had been moaning since I said he couldn't see you after school."

Draco chuckle as he looked at the "rascal" "Oh, I'll believe it," he said. Harry smiled at him and Draco smiled back.

"The judge is fair but he takes his job seriously," said Sirius. "Just tell him what happened and he'll give you judgment. He respects truth more than anything."

Draco nodded taking the information in. he was still scared about the hearing but knowing that Harry and Sirius were here to back him up was comforting. Tonks and Remus wished him well when he was heading out for school that morning. Even Blaise Ginny and Hermione wished him luck after school. Ron just nodded his reluctantly but it gave him a bit of hope.

"Draco, can I speak with you," asked Sirius. Draco nodded and smiled at Harry.

"I'll be over there," said Harry nodding to a bench. He walked over and sat down. Sirius led Draco down the hall bit but still within sight of Harry.

"I just want to say it was a very brave thing you did. With you spying on your father, and through him Riddle. Even Harry's proud of you." Both grinned at the boy who was sitting on the bench, feet outstretched and hands under his head for support, eyes closed. He was nodding his head to music only he could hear. "He's just too tough to say so."

"I know," said Draco smiling.

"Draco, this wasn't the only reason I wanted to talk to you," said Sirius. "In the time Harry spent with you, he's changed. He was a cold shell before, after Cedric's death. But now I've never seen him happier since he was a baby. Not since James and Lily were killed."

"I didn't do anything," said Draco. "I was his enemy at first, and then we got to know each other. I didn't do anything special. I was just….there."

"Exactly. You were there. You were a person that didn't pity him because he was an orphan and those bastard relatives. You didn't try to cuddle him when Cedric died. You were there."

Draco didn't say anything, not really grazing what Sirius was talking about. Before Draco could ask what he meant the door's opened and a man walked out.

"Draco Malfoy?"

"Over here," said Sirius and smiled at Draco. "Go get'em, tiger."

Draco nodded and walked toward the door. Harry stood and went to him. He put his hands on Draco's shoulder and smiled at him.

"You'll be fine," he said. Draco smiled at him.

"With you around, I will be," said Draco. With a pat from Harry Draco walked into the room. The room was empty except for Lucius, Narcissa and a red haired woman on Draco's side that he could only guess was his representation.

"Amelia Bones," she said holding out her hand to Draco. "Harry told me a lot about you."

"All good, I hope," said Draco shaking her hand.

"He said you were the biggest git he ever met." Both laughed. It sounded like Harry would introduce Draco that way.

"I hope we'll win this case," said Draco.

"One thing I always tell my clients. Hope comes before the victory. We will win this case."

Draco smiled at her and turned to Lucius and Narcissa. Both looked at him disapprovingly but Draco ignored their look and turned back to Amelia.

"All rise for Judge Crouch," said the Bailiff. All rose and the judge walked in.

"Sit," he said after he sat down. "What have we got?"

"Your honor, Draco Malfoy wishes to emancipate himself from his parents, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy," said Amelia.

"Your reasons for this, young Mr. Malfoy," asked the judge looking at Draco. Draco stood.

"Your honor, my reasons are because my father is trying to control me. He placed me under house arrest. I ran to have my freedom. I wasn't kidnapped."

"Yes, I heard that in the interview with your attorney. Your reason for keeping your son under house arrest, Mr. Malfoy?" he looked at Lucius this time.

"I did not place him under house arrest," said Lucius. "I was merely punishing him for disobeying me."

"Excuse me, sir," said Amelia. "But according to Draco's side of the story Lucius Malfoy placed my client under house arrest because he discovered Draco's choices of association with a group of teenagers not as privileged as he was and tried to force control over him."

"Do you have proof of this," asked the judge.

"Your honor, excuse me, but Ms. Bones's assumption sounds more like a hate crime then a father trying to protect his son," said Fudge.

"It's still evidence," said Crouch. "Bring it forward."

Bones picked up a laptop and connected it to a large screen TV. They watched the scene of Draco and Harry dancing and kissing. Draco glassed at his parents. Narcissa was pale with shame and Lucius red with anger and disgust.

"Turn the damn thing off!" yelled Lucius.

"What does this have to do with Draco wish to emancipate himself from his loving parents," asked Fudge almost innocently. Bone gave him a tight smile.

"Didn't you know, Mr. Fudge? Your client is an open homophobe. And upon learning his son's orientation he lost it. He kept Draco away from the world and his boyfriend." Bone's turned to Crouch. "Lucius Malfoy kept his son from socializing with his friends and classmates because if his phobia."

"This is indecent," said Fudge. "This has nothing to do with Draco Malfoy's kidnapping."

"According to his statement Draco ran away," said Crouch. "How do you explain that?"

"Harry Potter is a thug. He has a record and ran away from his guardians," said Fudge.

"Excuse me, your honor, but Harry Potter has nothing to do with this hearing," said Bones.

"Agreed," said Crouch.

"Excuse me, your honor, can I speak," asked Draco standing. Crouch nodded. "Your honor, as much as I should I hold no hatred toward to my father for what he did to me." He glanced at Lucius who had a satisfied smirk till Draco turned back to Crouch. "Nor do I love him." Out of the corner of his eye Draco say Lucius's mouth drop. "What he did to me was inexcusable and an attempt to control my own life.

"Your honor, a father should love his son despite his faults, not disassemble him and reshape him into the son he wants. Lucius attempted to do that with me. If you say I'm old enough to take care of myself, I will live with my cousin Nymphadora Tonks, and her husband Remus Lupin. They're family and they'll take me in."

Narcissa sniffed at the mention of Tonks and Remus. Draco didn't even glance at them. Crouch looked between Lucius' smiling superior look to Draco's pleading gaze.

"This seems to me to look more like a family argument then an emancipation hearing or whether Draco was kidnapped or ran away, and since Draco is old enough to press charges and hasn't I conclude he indeed ran away. I also see he is old enough to take care of himself, provided he stays in a relative's home. Hearing adjourned.

Draco grinned triumphantly as Crouch pounded the gavel.

TBC