Chapter 7
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Harry's recovery continued much the same for the next five weeks. Specially-brewed potions and healing charms, healing sleep, therapy, and thrice-daily examinations; all inter-dispersed with visits from family and close friends. Madam Pomphrey, Healers Weasley and Longbottom, and Head Healer Blunt took rotating shifts to cover Harry's care.
It was during this time that the Aurors found and arrested Draco. He'd obviously had some inkling that he could be in trouble after Harry was discovered, because he kept his movements discreet. Not really hiding but not making it easy for the Aurors to locate him. When he was finally apprehended, at the Zabini estates, he feigned innocence and indignation that anyone would accuse him of 'laying a hand on his husband.' The comment was made with a sneer, his lip curling, as if the thought of touching his own bonded was abhorrent, causing Blaise to snort at the bald humor. When they bound him and escorted him out, he squared his shoulders, stuck his nose in the air, and demanded that they not soil his expensive robes.
Lucius had requested to be present when his son was brought in and questioned. The Aurors secured Draco in the interrogation room, and had completed all the basic questioning before Lucius entered the room. He had been watching through a charmed wall from the next room. Draco had shown no remorse for his actions and had responded that it was his right to treat his bonded as he saw fit, to keep him in his place. Lucius face reflected displeasure when he entered, something Draco thought was due to his arrest and the Aurors' treatment of him.
"Well, boys... it's time for me to go now. Release these bonds so my Father can take me home. I told you incompetent fools I wouldn't be here long." He sneered at Kingsley Shacklebolt, and the other two male Aurors, totally ignoring the presence of 'Loony Luna', who'd escorted the senior Malfoy into the room.
Lucius nodded politely to each Auror in the room, including Miss Lovegood. "Lady. Gentlemen. Please accept my sincerest apologies for my son's abhorrent behavior."
"Father don't bother. You don't need to make excuses for me. Tell them you are here to take me home." Draco demanded, his impatience beginning to show.
Lucius turned an icy gaze on the only child of his loins and his greatest disappointment. "You are mistaken, Draco. I am not here for you. I am here to ensure justice is done, on behalf of my son-in-law, Harry Potter-Malfoy."
"I'm YOUR SON!!" Draco roared.
"And you have dishonored our name by doing what you have to Harry. Your bonded is meant to be cherished and loved. NOT beaten and used, like a worthless possession. Do you think I treat your beloved mother in that manner?"
Draco's face became ugly as he sneered, "Of course you would fall for the 'perfect Golden Boy', Harry Potter!"
Lucius felt a rage unlike any other. He raised his hand and slapped his son, hard. A trickle of blood slid down the side of Draco's chin, as he stared up at his father in shock.
"Harry Potter is an honorable and deeply caring man. He did what no other could do. He destroyed the darkest wizard of our time. He risked his life for others when no one else was brave enough to stand up and do it themselves. He gave up his future happiness to YOU to save his godfathers. You degraded him and used him for your own selfish gains!"
Draco snarled at his father, blinking the tears of pain from his eyes. "I. Am. YOUR. SON! You must help me!"
"Harry has been more of a son to your Mother and me in the last five years than you have in thrice that time." Lucius replied calmly, his tone frigid.
"Replacing me, Father?"
"Your Mother and I have adopted a set of twins--the boy and girl Harry wanted you and he to adopt." He could see the madness lingering in his son's eyes. Sirius and Severus were right. "It seems you are not fit to take on the mantle of the Malfoy Family, and may never be. And since your birth caused complications preventing your poor Mother from bearing any more children, well..."
"YOU DID WHAT!!" Draco tried to stand but the magical bonds held fast. His face that had always seemed so angelic, quickly turned ugly and crude, eerily reminiscent of his Aunt Bellatrix. "You took in two unwanted strays-- worthless strays--just like my husband."
"Harry is longer your husband, Draco. You broke the bonding contract, first by casting the charm, and then by repeatedly beating him over the last five years, and lastly, by almost beating him to death last month, leaving him for dead. If your Mother hadn't decided to check on him when she did, he would have died."
"A pity then, he lives. The world would have seen me as the grieving husband and I would have told them some tale of how unstable the great Harry Potter had become over the years. Told them how I fought him off to save my own life."
"Sadly, Draco, you are the one who has become unstable over the years. As mad as your Aunt Bella and her parents. Pureblood sadly, does not mean perfect." Turning to face Kingsley, Lucius continued. "I have assigned one of my solicitors to represent Draco in this matter. He has been instructed to abide by the laws and there will be no special treatment. Draco must answer for his crimes...and his lack of humanity."
When he finished speaking, he nodded again to each of the Aurors, gave Luna a small smile, before sweeping from the room, ignoring his son's vehement cries to gain his attention.
The paperwork was processed amazingly fast in Draco's case and he was brought to trial in front of ten members of the Wizengamot, in a closed court. Draco plead 'not guilty' against the advise of his solicitor, and sneered at the members of the Wizengamot that had been appointed to hear this case, and at the few spectators that had been allowed to be present.
The Weasleys, Albus Dumbledore, Harry's healers, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Lord and Lady Malfoy, sat silent, watching the proceedings. Draco continued to snarl epithets at them despite warnings from the judges. When all testimony had been given, the solicitor for the court had Harry's pensive brought in. When Draco recognized it, he began to struggle against his bonds, screaming about Harry's crazy mind fabricating memories. What he didn't know was, as part of Harry's treatment, he had been evaluated by a Psych-Healer and was being counseled. She had pronounced him sane but emotionally injured.
The court solicitor cast the spell to display the pensive memories for all to view, and as they watched Harry's memories of the beatings over the last five years, up to and including, the one that almost killed him, there were many gasps and angry mutters, intermingled with sniffling and quiet weeping.
Draco Lucien Malfoy was found guilty on all counts against him. He was sentenced to two years in the Azkaban psychiatric block, which included a psych evaluation and appropriate intense treatment during his incarceration. If he made an acceptable recovery, he would be released, and if not, his time would be extended in six month increments as necessary until he'd made the requirements. Upon release, he would be moved to a Wizarding halfway house for those reentering society after incarceration. He would be required to participate in an outpatient psychiatric program, and report weekly to his Probation Auror. He was stripped of the heir-ship of the Malfoy Line. Lucius had arranged a substantial Maintenance Trust, so he could live comfortably, if not lavishly. A condition of that trust, however, was a requirement that he secure and maintain regular, continual, legal employment.
Upon conviction, Draco was released from his chair and flanked by two Aurors, as his wand was snapped, and his bonding bands removed, then his magic was bound for a duration to be determined by later evaluation--with no guarantee it would ever be returned fully. He would always be barred from casting spells with the intention to harm. A charm was also placed on him that would prevent him from ever entering any of the Malfoy properties again, and keep him from approaching any member of the Malfoy Family or their staff. Harry was still included as family, so he was thus protected also.
Harry's family and friends stood, as they witnessed the beginning of Draco's sentence being carried out. Lucius stepping down to quietly accept Draco's bonding ring, before rejoining his wife and the others. They all turned as one and exited the court, before Draco was led from the room. When Draco looked over his shoulder and saw the room was empty, some semblance of realization finally passed over his face, as he was led out for the trip to Azkaban Island.
Tbc…