Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Warning: Contains mentions of rape.

A/N: For the anonymous reviewer:
I don't believe i'm making light of rape. Because of my own personal reasons, it is a subject that I will never, I repeat, NEVER take lightly. If my writing about it offends you, then please stop reading. I'll let you know now, it won't be the last time I touch on this subject in this story. And that goes for everyone else as well. I'm sorry if this has offended any of you, it was really not my intention. If any others feel like i've offended you, please, please, please let me know in a PRIVATE MESSAGE asap and I'll see if I take it down. Thank you.

Chapter 9

Ron had apparently been sitting behind Harry, Ginny, and Hermione. He made his way to the witness' chair with a smirk on his face. He completely ignored Draco's presence next to him and just faced Kingsley.

"State your name and age."

"Ronald Bilius Weasley, 18 years old."

"Go ahead, Mr. Weasley."

"Malfoy is a disgusting creature. He doesn't deserve to go free. He should be locked away for the rest of his life. He almost killed me last year! He fought with the dark side and got Dumbledore killed. Who knows what else he's done!" Ron was nearly shouting.

"Do you have anything new to add?"

The smirk was back on his face and he nodded. "Draco Malfoy is a murderer." There were gasps all around the room. Draco looked horrified. How did he know? he asked himself. No one knew but my mother... and.. and...

"There is no evidence to that Mr. Weasley."

"Ask him then! Ask him how he murdered a man in cold blood!"

"Mr. Malfoy? Is there any truth to this?"

"Yes, but-"

"You held information from the Wizengamot-"

"But, sir-"

"I think we have heard enough to make a decision."

Back in his seat, Harry was furious. He remembered trying to defend himself in front of the Wizengamot, it was not an easy task. He felt pity for the blond boy that was pleading for an opportunity to explain himself.

"Sir, please-"

"Kingsley!" Harry was out of his seat, making his way towards them. Hermione and Ginny were running behind him.

"Mr. Potter, please return to your seat."

"I will not. Will you just listen to Malfoy? You haven't given him a chance to explain!"

"He admitted to murder, Potter!"

Harry walked up to Kingsley and said in a low voice, "You will let him talk, Shacklebolt. I know you only called upon the whole Wizengamot because you want the public to think you've caught all the Death Eaters responsible for the War. This is all for publicity. We both know that this is an unnecessary trial. You will listen to him. "

"Don't forget who the Minister is, Potter," he replied in a calm but serious voice. The room was silent. Draco couldn't believe what was going on. What the fuck is going on? Have I entered a different universe?

"Go ahead, Mr. Malfoy," said Kingsley without taking his eyes from Harry, who was walking back towards his seat with Ginny and Hermione.

"The- the night I murdered him- I didn't want to say anything- I didn't want to embarrass her, my mother." Draco looked down to the floor. "You see the man I killed was forcing himself on her." Even the Minister looked startled at the confession. From the audience, Narcissa, who was sobbing, stood up and ran out of the courtroom.

"He's lying, Minister!" yelled Ron. He stood up angrily and turned to Malfoy. "Stop fuckin' lying, ferret!"

Draco did nothing but look Ron with a blank expression.

"You're disgusting! You're a creep, a criminal! How can you be so vile? How can you fuckin' live with yourself?! Answer me, damn it!"

"Don't you think I know what I've done?!" He snapped. "I ask myself those questions everyday. Don't believe for one second, Weasel, that you're the only one who holds hatred towards me. I feel nothing but hatred for myself."

"Mr. Weasley, you may leave." He wasted no time in leaving, shoving his way through the crowds of people and out the door. "Go on Mr. Malfoy."

"The man was Thomas Nott. He was a good friend of my fathers. I overheard my father telling Nott that my mother was free for him. Apparently there was an agreement between them," he said with disgust clear in his voice. "I confronted my father after Nott left. We argued but he- he ended up just laughing about the whole matter. He told me that I was wasting my energy, that my mother wasn't worth all the trouble I was going through. He laughed when he saw the panic on my face. The bastard laughed. I ran to find her." His voice broke. "When I found them, he was already-" He paused. "We dueled and I killed him."

The room was silent. Hermione and Ginny were in tears. Kingsley sighed and looked around at the Wizengamot. "Under these circumstances, I think everyone in the Wizengamot will agree that there should be some form of punishment for your actions. However, given the situation that you were in, I think many of us would have considered doing the same thing." He looked down at the young man in front of him. "All in favor of sentencing Draco Lucius Malfoy to 90 days in Azkaban for keeping information from the Wizengamot..." There was a fair amount of agreeing wizards.

"What? That's it?" Draco asked incredulously.

"Would you like me to rethink the sentence, Mr. Malfoy?"

"No, sir," he said quickly.

"Very well. You'll return to Azkaban now, and will be released after a period of 90 days. Goodbye, Mr. Malfoy." A guard that was standing nearby walked up to Draco and grabbed his left shoulder. Immediately, they were gone.

Hermione, Ginny, and Harry quickly exited the courtroom searching for Ron. They found him within minutes, waiting for them in the Atrium. He was in the middle of a group of reporters.

"Harry, we don't have to say anything to him. Especially here, there are too many reporters," said Ginny. "Let's go home."

"Do you guys mind if I join you? I don't really fancy speaking with Ronald right now."

"Hermione, you're always welcome at our house. And besides, we can go shopping later. I need some new clothes for school." They began walking towards an apparation point.

"Somehow, facing Ron doesn't seem so bad now," Hermione said low enough for only Harry to hear. He laughed loud enough to cause Ginny, who was walking in front of them, to turn around in confusion.

"What's so funny?" she asked.

"Nothing!" they said quickly.

"One day, Hermione... One day you'll enjoy shopping with me."

"Not bloody likely," said Harry. They all laughed as they apparated back to the Potter residence.

A/N:
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