Chapter 26: the malfoy trials: pt. 1

The days following Umbridge's trial, Harry was scheduled to attend and testify at the trials of almost all of the captured Death Eaters (as most of them personally attempted to kill him at least once). When he had gone home after Umbridge's trial and told Ginny about her being sentenced seventeen years in Azkaban, Ginny had been a bit disappointed. She couldn't see how someone who was as evil as she was could not get life. It wasn't until Harry explained to her how ill she had looked at the trial that she finally calmed down and he was able to convince her that it would do no good to hex the Wizenagmot for giving her a light sentence.

'Gin, she really didn't look good at all. I mean, she still thought she was working at the Ministry', said Harry. Ginny crossed her arms across her chest and flopped down on the sofa.

'I still think she should have gotten a life sentence', she said.

'I really think this will be a life sentence. I don't see her making it out of there.'

'She was really that bad?'

'You didn't see her Gin', said Harry as he sat down next to her. 'It was awful. Yet at the same time it was strangely satisfying to see her like that. Does that make me a horrible person?'

'No, Harry', said Ginny, shaking her head. 'She was horrible. Who's next?'

'Oh, uh . . . the Carrow's are tomorrow, that should be a breeze. And then the Malfoy's finish up the week', said Harry with a shrug.

'All three of the Malfoy's?', asked Ginny.

'Yeah.'

'Well, that should be easy', said Ginny.

'I'm not testifying against Narcissa or Draco', said Harry. Ginny gasped in surprise.

'What do you mean you're not testifying against them?', she said, her voice rising as she looked over at Harry in surprise.

'Narcissa saved my life.'

'I can see that one, but why aren't you testifying against Draco? You've hated him since first year!'

'Yes, but that's no reason to try to send him to Azkaban. He may have been branded with the dark mark and made a Death Eater, but his heart was never in it. I've already told Kingsley this', said Harry.

'Wow. I just always thought you hated him', said Ginny.

'Just because I'm not testifying against him doesn't change how I feel about him. I just can't let how I feel about him get in the way of the truth. If I did that, I would be sinking to his level', said Harry.

'I guess you're right', sighed Ginny. 'You're not going to let him get away with what he did though, are you?'

'No. I just don't think he deserves Azkaban.'

'What about his father?'

'He's not getting away with anything', said Harry. 'He deserves some time in Azkaban.'

'Good. I thought you were getting soft.'

Harry laughed. 'Not completely', he said.

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Harry walked down the now familiar corridor on level ten in the direction of the courtroom where today's trial was taking place. The last couple of trials he had attended had all been a breeze. Every single Death Eater accused had received life sentences in Azkaban for their allegiance with Voldemort. But today, he would be testifying at Narcissa Malfoy's trial. He had been dreading this day for weeks. He had no idea how he was going to prove to a courtroom full of witches and wizards that Draco and Narcissa do not belong in Azkaban and he was absolutely exhausted from the days of trials he had already attended. To make matters worse, he hadn't sleep well lately. It seemed like ever since the trials started, he would wake in the middle of the night from a vivid nightmare. A few times he had woken up convinced that Voldemort was still after him. Ginny hadn't said anything to him about these nightmares, but he knew that she knew about them. He had woken up from a particularly violent nightmare just last night and Ginny was there, sitting up in bed with a glass of water which she wordlessly handed to him. It was one of the reasons he loved her so much. She knew that when he was ready to talk about it, he would. In the meantime, she would be there to support him.

Harry stifled a yawn as he entered the crowded courtroom and quickly found his seat. No one aside from Kingsley and Ginny knew that he was planning of testifying on the behalf of Narcissa and Draco. He could only imagine what the front page of The Prophet would say in the morning. He had not even confided in Ron or Hermione. He knew what their reactions would be, and with the week he had so far, he was in no mood to explain himself to them. Neither one of them were in the forest when Voldemort hit him with the killing curse. They didn't see what Narcissa had done to save his life, even if it was for her own selfish reasons. And Draco. Draco may have been a selfish coward, but he didn't deserve Azkaban. Harry strongly believed Draco would never commit murder like most of his fellow Death Eaters. He had seen the way Draco had reacted when presented with the opportunity to kill Dumbledore, even after a year of planning. He may have never gotten along with Draco, but he knew he wasn't completely evil.

Harry turned his attention to the far side of the courtroom at the sound of a door being opened. Narcissa was being escorted by Valentine to the center of the courtroom. He watched as she sat down and was instantly chained to the chair. Harry shuddered. This treatment seemed fair when it was Umbridge or the Death Eaters being chained down, but this just seemed wrong. His thoughts wandered back to the events that occurred in that forest and soon he was lost in his own memories once again.

'Mr. Potter?'

Harry was brought back at the sound of his name. I really need to start paying attention at these things, he thought to himself as he stood to take his place on the stands. After asking Harry to state his name, the ministry official doing the questioning at all the trials paced in front of him, scanning a sheet of parchment he held in his hands. Harry watched as his eyes widened.

'Mr. Potter, it says here that you are here today to testify on the behalf of Mrs. Malfoy', he said as he looked up at Harry in confusion. Narcissa's head whipped up and she looked at Harry in shock.

'Yes, that is correct', said Harry. The ministry official glanced at Kingsley, who nodded.

'It states here that you claim Mrs. Malfoy saved your life, therefore giving you the opportunity to defeat Voldemort. Could you please explain?'

'Yes, sir. When I walked into the forest the night of the battle to meet Voldemort, he hit me with the killing curse', there was a collective intake of breath from the courtroom at this statement but Harry ignored this and continued. 'Of course it didn't kill me, but it did kind of knock me out for a bit. When I came to, I was lying on the ground and I could hear Voldemort getting to his feet as well. Instinctively, I continued to lie there, trying not to move. Voldemort was wary of approaching me so he sent Mrs. Malfoy to check if I was alive. She knew I was as soon as she approached so as discretely as she could, she asked me if her son, Draco, was alive and I told her he was. She then lied to Voldemort and said that I was dead.'

'So she only lied so she could reach her son?'

'Yes. But she still did it, at great personal risk', said Harry. 'I'm not too sure that many of the parents in this courtroom wouldn't have done the same thing if they were in her position.'

'So this gave you the opportunity to defeat Voldemort?', asked the official.

'Yes. Once Voldemort thought he killed me, he lead his army of Death Eaters back to the castle, and well . . . you all know what happened next', said Harry. He glanced over at Narcissa who had once again bowed her head.

'Thank you Mr. Potter. You may step down.'

'Thank you', said Harry and he stood and made his way back to his seat. He could feel the eyes of everyone in the courtroom following him. Once seated, he turned his attention back to the proceedings.

'The Wizenagmot will review the evidence on this case and will reconvene in one hour.'

Harry watched as Narcissa was escorted out of the courtroom and waited until most everyone left before standing and leaving the courtroom himself. He made his way to the lifts and punched the button that would take him to Hermione's department. Upon reaching her office, he knocked softly on the door. Hermione was sitting at her desk, several piles of parchment stacked in front of her.

'Come in', she called without looking up. Harry moved into the room and wordlessly sat in the chair across from her desk. Hermione glanced up from the documents she had been reviewing.

'Oh, Harry. Is the trial over already?', she asked, setting the parchment back down on her desk.

'Their deliberating now', said Harry.

'How did it go? Do you think she'll get time in Azkaban?', she asked. Harry sighed. He knew he had to tell her the truth. One way or another she would find out anyway and he figured it was better coming from him.

'I hope not', he said.

'WHAT?! Why?', exclaimed Hermione. She stood and walked around her desk to close her office door.

'I testified on her behalf, Hermione', said Harry.

'Why on earth would you do that?'

'Because she saved my life. You know that.'

'Yes, but still . . .'

'She doesn't deserve Azkaban. Some kind of probation maybe, but not prison', said Harry looking Hermione in the eye.

'Hmmm . . . I guess I just always thought you would want to see her put away with the rest of her family', said Hermione. 'Does Ron know about this?'

'No, but I was planning on telling him tonight. And I'm not testifying against Draco either', said Harry.

'Ok, now that one I don't understand. You've always hated Draco.'

'Yes, but he's not a murderer. And I don't think he deserves Azkaban either. Sure he's a git, but he's also a coward. He could have never done the things the other Death Eaters did. The only reason he was made a Death Eater was to punish his father. Voldemort knew he wouldn't succeed in killing Dumbledore', said Harry.

'What about Lucius Malfoy? You can't tell me your going to testify for him too?', asked Hermione.

'I'm testifying against him. You don't need to worry about that. He deserves some time in Azkaban. Especially after what he did to Ginny.'

'Oh, yeah. The Chamber', said Hermione. 'I almost forgot.'

'Ginny hasn't. She still has nightmares about it sometimes. Although if you ask her about it, she'd deny it.'

'Is she testifying?'

'Yeah. His trial is tomorrow. Do you think Ron will be upset about what I'm doing?'

'I don't think so', said Hermione slowly. 'I would just suggest telling him before he reads about it or hears it from someone else. You know how he can be.'

'Yeah', said Harry, laughing. 'I guess you're right.'

'What time do you have to be back?', asked Hermione. Harry looked down at this watch.

'In about fifteen. I should probably head back down. Are you going to the Burrow tonight?'

'I'll be there after I visit with my mum and dad', said Hermione. 'I take it you and Ginny will be there?'

'Of course. Ginny had an early practice and she has off tomorrow for the trial', said Harry as he stood and moved over to the door. 'I'll see you tonight then.'

'See you, Harry', said Hermione, already engrossed in her paperwork once again. Harry made his way back to the lifts and to level ten. Once back in the courtroom he found his seat and waited for the proceedings to begin. He didn't have to wait long. The doors at the far end of the courtroom banged open and Valentine once again escorted Narcissa into the courtroom. Harry looked away as she was bound to the chair once again.

He turned his attention to the Minister as he called for everyone's attention and watched as the ministry official stood with a piece of parchment in his hands. Harry swallowed past the lump in his throat as the official began to read the verdict.

'Mrs. Malfoy, the Wizenagmot has reviewed the evidence brought to us today and have reached a decision . . . '

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A/N: Please Review!!! :)

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