I realize that I should have added more detail with Harry and Ron, but I forgot, and I will not fix it, as I am a very lazy person. Characters go to J.K. Rowling.

HP

Chapter 1 – The Witnesses

Hermione Granger, the number one person to be expected in the courtroom; and yes, she was there. For which, she has been to many Ministry court hearings this past month. Ever since the war has ended; Hermione has found herself in a very busy mode, expecting herself to be relaxed, she was no where close. She was returning to Hogwarts in a few days, to re-do her final year. Since she was stuck finding Horcruxes and making sure Harry stayed alive. It was wonderful.

But now with the war over, the first thing Hermione had done was counter curse her parents, and have a reunion. They had moved back into their old house; as if she was ten years old and there had been no war. But the memories were still stained to her past forever; having the so done 'scar' on her forearm. No matter the spell, it was there; as if it was carved out of dark magic, withered into her skin. She shivered at the thought, the dark night her body encountered. She has now been to over six court hearings the past month; wishing for them to stop. Thankfully, this was the last: Lucius Malfoy.

Hermione, her puffy tree bark colored hair, green eyes, and a very high confidence. She had lost weight, but is starting to gain it back. Hermione felt as if she was a new person, although, this new found confidence seemed to be different.

Ron came over wrapping his arms around her waist trying to comfort her; but Ron annoyed her more then he could comfort. So she just pushed his arms off her and said, "Not now Ronald." She hadn't even looked him in the face. She felt him pause and walk ahead of her, into the ministry building. Ronald Weasley. During the war, he had been protective and a good friend; but now it seems he was his usual self back in Hogwarts. I always had the urge to not yell at him since we were with each other. I frowned slightly, not having the mood to move my legs forward. Until Harry came up behind me putting his hand on my shoulder. I smiled.

Harry has always been a good friend, before the war, during the war, and after the war. I only remember getting in a fight with him probably once; but I hardly remember. I sighed and started heading forward, Harry trailing behind me. The ministry has been quite empty lately, maybe because of the families trying to spend time with each other, making sure everyone in the family is safe. I wouldn't doubt that. The three of us, the Golden Trio, all stopped at the wand checking station. "Wands please." Ron had just gotten his checked and was heading to the elevator. So Harry and I set ours on the desk as the young man checked them. "Clear to go," we grabbed our wands and headed off.

When we got to the elevator, Ron again had gone ahead of us. I sighed, "Harry, I don't know if our relationship will work out anymore. Ron has been a rude git since the battle." Harry frowned as we stepped into the elevator, a man no longer pressing the buttons for you, but you having to do it yourself. "I don't know maybe you just have to give him some time; he is probably still trying to deal with the loss of Fred. His funeral is tomorrow you know, remember?" I nodded. "I remember." But before we could close the elevator doors, a man with snow blonde hair, bright silver eyes and a pale face rushed forward breathing hard as if he was late. "Sorry," he muttered as he squeezed through the closing doors. He slammed next to me, and leaned against his knees before looking up.

He had seemed to finally notice me and Harry, "Oh…" His eyebrows were forced into each other. "Um, hey, what's up guys?" I had expected Harry to reply very angrily, but he just raised an eyebrow and replied. "Going to a court hearing, guessing your going to the same one?"

Draco Malfoy looked at the floor nervously, a glint of pity flashing in his eyes. "Yeah… yeah, I guess so." A long moment of awkward silence followed along after that. "Hey, um, guys?" Malfoy broke the silence. "I'm so sorry for being a prick during the years that I first met you. I was rude and I always thought myself better then everyone else, thinking that blood line was all that matters. But it doesn't, I apologize to you Harry, for making fun of your parents and insulting you. Because seriously, none of my parents were any better then the way I insulted yours." He paused. "Well, actually except my mom."

Harry again surprised me by gaining the strength to reply in very non-harsh way.

"Although it will be hard to forgive you as easily, like I am doing now; I just want you to know that since the war is over, and your hearing was proved as clear because you were being forced. I guess I can say I will no long dwell on the past and look into the future." Harry paused to see what kind of response Malfoy had, but he just stared non-evilly, which what unlike him. "So, I guess that means I accept your apology."

Malfoy let out a breath of relief, and put out his hand as the two shook in a very cautious way. I thought he had forgotten about me, but then he turned my way. "What about you?"

I had to register his words before I could speak my mind, I had a feeling I should go the way Harry had; but I had a few questions first. "What made you change so quickly?" He narrowed his eyes and ran his fingers through his mess of a hair. "I guess when I sat there in front of the dark lord, watching all those people being tortured and killed; knowing that even my own life was on the line at any second made me think of how good you had it. How although you were on the run, made me jealous; I don't know how this affects me now but realizing during the battle at Hogwarts, you seemed so powerful. I guess, I finally had to agree that blood didn't matter, it's the person inside and I was just being a prat. I guess that works… Although I feel as if I made no sense…"

Hermione couldn't help but smile at his own uncomfortable state. "Nice to see you as the good guy for once, yeah I forgive you." Malfoy gave her a smile when the elevator dinged. The ladies voice spoke loudly on the speaker, "Department of Magical Law Enforcement," and the doors slid open. I went first as Harry and Malfoy gestured, and I stepped out into a very familiar hallway I have seen many times before. I stopped feeling a little awkward as the two men trailed behind me and let Malfoy in front; I mean it is his own father. He paused looking at me and then shrugged and headed to a certain courtroom I haven't been to before, because I was used to the same one over and over again. After twisting and turning through many hallways like a maze, we finally made it to a pair of double doors that were stained black made up of golden handles. Malfoy opened the door holding it open so I could pass, as I awkwardly mumbled a 'thank you' and made it into the courtroom. The place was filled with many ministry workers and a lot of witnesses; I saw Ron sitting down a little angrily for me rejecting him earlier, I just sighed a little annoyed and headed towards him. "Hey Ron, sorry about earlier I am just not in the mood; I promise once we are out of here we can do whatever you want." That seemed to calm him down a bit and he relaxed. I looked down the steps to still see Harry and Malfoy talking to each other.

Harry seemed to ask a question and Malfoy paused, but then answered quietly. They both trudged up the steps as Malfoy sat next to me, question and answer solved. I just smiled lightly at him and turned to Ron, who was angry as Hell. I knew he was going to say something, but just gave him the 'look' which means 'later and don't start any crap' he took a deep breath as if even he sensed that this isn't the right place or time. And I was right, because everyone got quite as the floor of the cage in the middle of the circular room started to rise, showing Lucius Malfoy, sitting strapped in a metal chair.

The Minister of Magic cleared his voice sitting in the middle, in front of a wooden desk, "The court hearing is due to Lucius Malfoy for using Unforgivable curses, known as a Death Eater and under V-" He took a deep breath, "Voldermort's orders. What are the punishments?" Some person in the corner yelled out, "Azkaban twenty-years, under Ministries protection program for life for he could never move from the house he lives in now; or Life to Azkaban."

The Minister took an annoyed breath, "Any rejections to the punishments that could be carried?" Total silence. "Great, that's the first in awhile. Anyways, what would you have to say for yourself Lucius Malfoy?"

His eyes looked wild, he was wearing ragged clothing, his hair was in a tangled mess and he looked as if his mind was out of order. "I- I did nothing! I was under the Imperius Curse, I am innocent!"

The Minister just smiled, "Alright Mr. Malfoy; could someone please bring up the first witness?" Everyone looked around in curiosity, as looking for someone; but finally Malfoys arm snapped into the air. The Minister looked very un-happy with this.

"Yes, err, Mr. Malfoy, the son of the accused…" He made a gesture for him to rise and come forward. Malfoy stiffly and awkwardly rose out of his chair, through the crowd of seats and down the steps. Malfoy had his pale arms dug right to the bottom of his jean pockets, and strolled to the witness seat. "Alright Mr. Malfoy, how would you like to defend-?"

"I'm not here to defend my father but I am simply here to make sure he will never walk freely again." He cut in a very demanding and angry voice. Everyone was shocked with the outcome of what he had just said, although I haven't really thought of it; I was guessing he was here to make sure his father was free, family right?

"Alright," the Minister said, "Please continue uh… Draco; why do you want your father in Azkaban?" Malfoy or Draco; straightened out in his seat and got ready for which seemed that was going to be a rather long rehearsed speech.

"Well, it all started out for my best memory when I was three years old. My father told me stories about great wizards with marks on their arms that made them more powerful then all the other wizards. Of course at that age, I believe it all. But as I started getting older, I started doing things in his term 'Muggle like' on which I didn't even know better at the time. For a punishment he took his wand and put a curse on it for it acted as a knife; I even have the scars to prove it." Half the woman in the room had their hands on their mouths; looking completely shocked that a man would do something like that to someone so young. Even I was shocked to hear his dad was like that to his son; other people I understand, but his own son? I always thought he was a spoiled brat.

"And could you show us that proof - Mr. Malfoy?" The Minister asked looking through his notes and then looking about. A relieved smile came to Malfoy's lips, "Certainly." He pushed pack his long sleeved shirt to reveille gigantic scars never properly healed, all up and down his arm. Malfoy's dad shook in his metal chair screaming, "I would never do anything close to even that- that was all from the dumb bird horse that the giant oaf hurt my son with!"

Draco Malfoy rose from his chair angrily, "Really? Because the last time I checked, his didn't slash me over ten times!" His voice echoed through the hall, ringing against everyone's ears; the place was quite. He threw back into the chair now very stressed and pushed down his sleeves. "Alright," The minister muttered dipping his quill in ink and scribbling down on the paper. "Child abuse using inappropriate magic…"

Lucius Malfoy shook the chair again, and the minister slammed down his quill. "I will NOT tolerate this Malfoy; I decided to show a little kindness to some part of you and give you a stress free jury. But with you rattling around, I might as well bring in the dementors! Do you want that right after you got out of Azkaban? ONE MORE TIME!" He repeated after Draco Malfoy and slammed back into his chair from standing; trying to calm himself down.

Percy Weasley, that was sitting next to the Minister cleared his voice and said "Do you have any other reports of your father using un-forgivable curses?"

Draco shrugged, "Oh trust me, everything about him is un-forgivable. So the part with the Dark Lord un-forgivable?" Percy just sighed. "Just tell us please…"

"Alright than," Malfoy said rubbing his hands together, having the old smirk on his face from school. "Well, it all started at school in my fourth year, after the Dark Lord had come back from the dead. Well, everyone didn't believe anything about him coming back, although Harry was telling the truth." He gestured towards Harry and he gave a semi-wave towards everyone.

"Right, so even I tried not believing him but when I came home from school that year, he was sitting right at the dining room table. So all through fifth year my dad forced me to be the spy for the Dark lord, the imperius curse, then the pain curse, and many more scars followed along before I agreed. In the end, I was the one telling the Dark Lord that Harry was going to the Ministry. At the beginning of my sixth year at Hogwarts, my dad put me under the Imperius curse that made me follow out getting this mark right here. And all because of my father, the Dark Lord told me that if I didn't kill Albus Dumbledore, then me and my mother would be tortured and killed; so it all ended up with my dad. He killed many muggles and muggle-born witches and wizards. So, he's evil alright. Please put him in Azkaban forever." Draco Malfoy got up, bowed and walked happily away. Percy was scribbling down as fast as he could, trying to get the whole evidence down.

"Next?" The Minister called. Ron nudged Hermione, so she got up and gave the three boys; (Yes even Malfoy) a sympathetic look, then went down the stairs. I felt eyes burning in my front, side, and back. I sat down into the seat Draco Malfoy had come from. "Alright, Hermione Granger, muggle-born, uh…" he said searching through his paper. "We have been notarized that you were tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange, in the company on the Malfoy house, did Lucius Malfoy take part in that torture…?"

Hermione stiffened at the memory and nodded, "Well, Lestrange did the pain curse, and so did Lucius I believe. Then she used a horrible dark cursed blade on my forearm, as you can see-" Hermione pulled down her sleeve and there was the scar with the simple words that could be seen by everyone: 'Mudblood' everyone seemed as shocked as the story of Draco Malfoy. "Lestrange carved Mud and Malfoy carved Blood…" The Minister stiffened. "Thank you Ms. Granger."

Hermione stood up and glided back to her friends, taking the same seat between Ron and Malfoy. "Alright then," The Minister said. "Any in favor for clearing all charges?" Not one arm shot in the air. "Ok… Any in favor for several years and then probation?" Only a few arms slowly rose from the back of the circular room. "All in favor for life in Azkaban?" My arm was the first in the air, and then Malfoy's, Harry's, Ron's and finally the whole room was covered in risen arms as if a huge title wave had washed over the room. The Minister smiled rather proudly, and banged his wooden hammer on his desk. "Life sentence to Azkaban, case dismissed." Everyone stretched as they rose from their seats, chatting rather happy now.

Harry and Ron walked away discussing how Fred's funeral will be handled, and I just frowned slightly. Malfoy was walking away from the hearing, alone… I had an idea. Hermione ran over to Percy Weasley who was getting ready to go home to help set up for the funeral. "Hey Percy," He turned around quickly in surprise but then relaxed. "Oh hey Hermione, what's up?" Hermione paused to think of ways to gather the words together. "Would- Do you- Uh, can Draco Malfoy come to the funeral?" Percy looked shock, "Why!?" I had to pause for a moment, "Well, because his mom is in a hysterical state, his dad is in Azkaban and although this isn't the best place; maybe he can apologize to everyone he feels sorry for. Well, because he apologized to me and Harry and hasn't made any snide remarks or anything. So… can he, I mean, if he agrees?" Percy looked completely lost for words. "Well…. If-if he, um, agrees I guess… I got to run, see you soon Hermione." He gave me a half hug and walked off; I just sighed and turned around to go catch up with Malfoy.

I finally found him right before he was about to get in the elevator, "Hey, Malfoy!" He saw me and let the people behind him go in the elevator, backing up towards me. "What?" He asked clearly wanting to go home. "Well," I said. "I was wondering, I don't know, but, would you like to go to Fred Weasley's funeral? I mean, it's a good place to meet new people and it couldn't hurt but to come right? I know I'm trying to rush you into coming; but, uh, could you?" I slightly panicked. Malfoy just pierced his lips waiting to see if I was finished yet, and then spoke. "Yeah, I don't mind."

My eyes widened in surprised at his quick acceptance. "Oh, really? Wow, um yeah. Cool." He just smiled. "I'm just sick of being driven into my house by other people, scared I'm going to kill them or something. It would be nice to get out of the house… even for that. "

I bit my lip nervously, "Well, just come in some black dress robes, around ten in the morning, at the burrow. Ok?" He just laughed. "Alright, I'll try to wear some clothes; don't want to come in my underwear or anything." My cheeks blushed scarlet.

"Well, see you." Malfoy said. I waved as he got in the next elevator. "Hermione, what are you doing?" Hermione turned around to see Harry and Ron coming up to her. "Come on, we're going to the burrow." Harry said. "Ok," muttered Hermione. She waited for Harry and Ron to leave, when she herself apperated with a satisfying 'CRACK!'

HP

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