Chapter 24. The Trial Pt. 2

POV Draco

They made their way down a side corridor heading back to the Minister's office, hoping to avoid the mass of people out for lunch as well as the press. The hall seemed nearly abandoned already, which Draco was grateful for, when a body suddenly emerged from a door on the right and collided with them.

"Harry?"

"Potter?"

"Scarhead?"

It was a collective shout from the group, shocked to see the boy who lived standing before them. It took a moment to process the situation, but once they had, they all surrounded Hermione in sync; as if they were one unit. Once Potter had himself realized the situation, he dropped his head and attempted to back himself back into the room to wait for them to leave, but a small voice sounded from the middle of the group.

"Did you do it?"

Draco saw Potter freeze in his tracks. "What?"

"Did you do it?" she asked again, "Did you help Ronald try and destroy his memories?"

"I don't think that's what he was doing Hermione. He was just scared. He's facing life in Azkaban, it makes people do stupid things, which Ron already has For track record of."

"Careful Harry. When he's found guilty you are going to feel real foolish for sitting on the wrong side." One of the twins said from behind him.

Draco wasn't looking, but he was pretty sure it had been Fred who spoke.

"He's your brother. Why aren't you—"

"SHE'S YOUR SISTER!" Fred shouted, "AND YET YOU TURNED YOUR BACK ON HER! SO DON'T TELL ME AND GEORGE WHAT BETRAYAL IS!"

"Mister Weasley." The Minister called from down the hall, "Would your group please join me in my office?"

Draco's heart sank. For a moment he had felt elation in Fred's dig at Potter, but now fear riddled him down to his bones.

What if this ruins the trial? How could I ever look Hermione in the eyes again?

They followed the Minister through the corridors in silence, each one of them too afraid to speak, worried what could happen. Once inside the office, the door closed behind them and Shacklebolt silenced the room.

"Miss Granger, I want to first apologize to you, I should have had plans set in place for you to be escorted somewhere secluded for lunch. I should not have left you all to fend for yourselves. However, Mister Weasley, while I as a friend thank you for standing up for Miss Granger, as Minister I feel I must remind you that an outburst like that in the court room will not be allowed, is that understood?"

"Yes Minister, sorry."

"That goes for the rest of you as well. I do not want to have to remove any of you from that room, especially not with the evidence being presented this afternoon. I don't imagine anyone of you will want to see it, but Miss Granger will need all your support to get through that time. So please, maintain a modicum of professionalism." Collective yes's, and yes sir's echoed through the room, "Now, I will have food sent up; you are all welcome to stay here and eat in peace, Lorna will come get you when it's time to return."

"Thank you Kings—Minister." Hermione said, softly.

"Always, Hermione."

--

The all effectively ate in silence, all likely too afraid to voice their thoughts or feelings without possibly unleashing the tidal wave that was sure to come alongside it. They could all be strong as long as they stayed strong together, if one broke, they would all follow. Draco sat pin straight, Hermione pressed against his side. While those around her might claim that she was calm, he knew better; he could feel the slight never-ending tremble that wracked her body. He wanted to scoop her up and take her home, ward the property and never let another soul near her again, but in his heart, Draco knew how she would respond to that.

She'd kill me.

A knock at the door signaled Lorna's arrival, "Hello. They are ready for you."

Draco stood and took Hermione's hand, and followed Lorna out. As they came upon the door to the court room, Draco paused, pulling Hermione to stand in front of him, placed his hands on either side of her face and planted a kiss on her mouth.

"I'm here for you. If you need me, I don't care what they say, I will come down there to you."

"I will be all right Draco."

"Alright…" he kissed her again before walking away towards his seat.

I love you.

He took his seat between Theo and Pansy, with the twins resuming their position behind them. Unlike before, Minister Shacklebolt simply called the court back to order, immediately calling their next witness.

"Headmistress McGonagall, you have over the years been a staunch supporter of, who the public calls, the boy who lived, would that be a fair statement?"

"Yes, Minister, I have."

"So, pray tell, why do you stand here before us all today against his word?"

"Minister, I believe Harry to be a good man. I believe him to be a beacon for truth and a symbol of hope to many who suffered through the war. However, that does not prevent him from falling prey to his own emotions and doubts. He is human, as we all are."

"So you believe him to be misguided?"

"I would be more apt to say blinded by love."

"Could you elaborate?"

"Of course. Harry wants So badly to believe the best in everyone, but it is especially true in those he loves. His mind cannot allow him to see the truth of what Mister Weasley has done to Miss Granger, because his heart can't process someone he loves being so cruel."

"Why would it be any different for him to believe had done something wrong? Cause that is what he claims, that she's not telling the truth."

"It is different, because he places that blame not on Hermione, he doesn't actually believe she's lying, he thinks she's been manipulated or cursed by Mister Malfoy and mister Nott. So, he pushes that blame to someone he has already blamed before, essentially fabricating a new villain. That is what made it easier for him."

Draco wanted to be offended by that, wanted to scream and yell, but he couldn't, not really. He understood, if he was being honest with himself. Nobody wants to think badly of those you are closest with, he had done it himself with his father. He followed him so far in the quest of purity because he couldn't imagine his father being wrong, but he was. The thought made him almost pity Potter for what he was pushing away to hold onto that ember of hope.

After McGonagall came Pomfrey who was only briefly on the stand; just long enough to give her detailed report on the injuries Hermione sustained. She did make sure to note her gratefulness for his and Theo's assistance and called Theo of paramount importance to her survival. Potter

"Remind me to send her a giant bouquet of pink roses." Theo whispered to him.

"You're going have to fill up the hospital wing to show enough gratitude to her."

"Good idea." Draco rolled his eyes. Theo would be the type of person to do something so extreme to show his gratitude.

The Minister called the room to order, asking for complete silence before drawing his wand. In an amazing feat he conjured a silent Patronus and Draco watched as the Lynx bound around him for a moment before coming to a halt.

"The Wizengamot calls Mister Harry James Potter to the stand. Mister Potter, the court asks that you swear full truths and understand that lying under oath to the court will be punishable by imprisonment, do you so swear?" the lynx scurried off in search of Potter.

A few moments later, Potter's stag appeared before the Minister, planting its ethereal hooves into the ground.

"I swear it." Potter's voice sounded from the stag.

"Now. Mister Potter, you have been adamantly on Mister Weasley's side since the beginning, why is that?"

"Minister I wouldn't say that I am taking sides here. I am merely speaking in defense of my friend who is facing life in Azkaban."

"Forgive me Mister Potter, but that does sound like taking sides. You are speaking in defense of Mister Weasley but haven't shown any support to Miss Granger, now had you decided to not speak at all or speak on behalf of both I would entertain that possibility, but you haven't. That sounds like picking a side to me."

It is.

"I very much support Hermione in her healing, what happened to her was horrible and I am happy she's alive. I just don't believe Ron did this."

Fucking scarhead.

Draco heard Hermione gasped, and he saw her quickly cover her mouth with her hand. Her appointed lawyer beside her scribbled something on a piece of paper and pushed it over to her. She made a quick reply, straightened her spine and returned her attention back to the Minister.

"Mister Potter, did you witness anything that night?"

"Only the first argument."

"Could you tell us about that?"

Draco's heart skipped. Weasley had directly lied about this argument to the court, and unless Potter lies himself, and Draco didn't see him doing that, the weasel would be caught in a lie.

"Of course. Ron and I were sitting at a table, when we saw Hermione and Viktor coming towards us. They said they were going to get drinks and asked if they could join us. I didn't mind, but Ron and Viktor had a history of jealousy between them, so Ron didn't want that."

"You say Miss Granger and Mister Krum approached you first, and simply asked to join you?"

"Yes."

"Well Mister Weasley stated to the court that he approached Miss Granger to warn her that Mister Krum was a gay man and she needed to not get her hopes up."

A long pause left the room in total silence. Draco grinned internally.

Potter must be losing his mind. First lie caught, check.

"Mister Potter? Could you continue please?"

"Er. Yes. Sure. Sorry Minister. Erm. So, Ron, he was upset, so he called her a traitor to her school. He was mad that she came dressed in silver and called her a wannabe pureblood."

"So even before the attack, he had a history of insulting her and getting angry?"

"No it wasn't like that. His feelings were just hurt. He's always been that way, sensitive to the actions of others. It's always personal to him."

"Mister Potter, many wizards have committed heinous crimes on the guise that they were hurt in a personal way."

"Ron wouldn't. He wasn't even the one to draw a wand, she was."

Wow. Throw her under a hippogriff why don't you Potter?

"Are you claiming Miss Granger attacked Mister Weasley?"

"No. No. I just mean that Ron kept his cool during the argument."

Yeah. Cover your tracks.

"And what happened after? Where did you go?"

"We left. Ron was upset so we went outside and walked down to Hogsmead. We were going to get something to eat before heading home. After we ate, Ron went to use the loo before we left, but he never came back."

"You didn't look for him?"

"I was a bit distracted."

"In what way?"

"I ran into Ramilda Vane and we got talking and I eventually took her home. By the time I thought about Ron, I had received the owl about what happened."

So a warm cunt is enough to pull you away from your friends? Noted.

"Alright. Thank you Mister Potter, you are free to go home."

"Thank you, Minister."

The stag disappeared and Draco sucked in a breath, it was time for evidence to be presented. He shot a glance at Hermione and he felt the tether squeezing in his chest. She was afraid, and there was nothing Draco could do to make it better.

"Pull it together Drake."

"I've got it Theo."

"No. You don't. Which is fine, but don't lie, we know better."

He shook his head, he couldn't focus on himself right now. He had to be strong for her.

All for her.