Disclaimer: all characters and the wider wizarding world belong to J. K. Rowling.

Draco woke in a cold sweat. The nightmares that had plagued him nightly in the aftermath of the battle were now a lot less frequent but time had not dulled them. Visions of giant snakes on the dining table; Fenrir Greyback returning from a successful mission drenched in blood; his aunt cackling, holding her cursed blade in her hand.

A bushy haired know-it-all Gryffindor, writhing and screaming on the drawing room floor.

He got out of bed, cleaned his face and dressed quickly. He knew his mother would be up and at breakfast so he headed down to meet her.

After the battle, the Malfoys sat in The Great Hall with everyone else and drank cups of tea with the victors. They'd offered no resistance when they'd been requested to remain under house arrest until their trial. McGonagall had looked at him with sad eyes as she'd escorted them home and warded their property against them. They'd been powerless to stop her, wandless as they were.

His father had alternated between paralysing fear and uncontrollable rage in the weeks that followed. His mother had taken up residence in the room across the hall from Draco's bedroom and they had kept to themselves in his wing of the mansion. They ate together and in his more lucid, calm moments Lucius joined them. They had been permitted to keep their elves so they didn't starve. He supposed he should be grateful for that, even if his father was not.

As he reached the breakfast room he heard raised voices and slowed to listen to the conversation.

"All I'm saying, Cissy, is that we should plead the Imperius curse again. It worked once, it will work again. You can tell them how I became a different person, Draco can attest to how out of character my actions were and they will acquit us all and once we have our freedom we can go back to the way things-"

"Are you insane, Lucius?" Narcissa interrupted. "Do you still think we have the ear of the Wizengamot? Do you think things will just be like this never happened? You can't lie your way out this time and I will not have you drag us both down with you. Our son is on trial for attempted murder. Our son! You did this to him. You did this to us. You did it of your own free will and I am done with it. I will be pleading today for Draco's life and Draco's life alone. If you were even half as good a father as he thinks you are you would do the same."

Draco heard a door slam and then the quiet sobs of his mother through the door. He entered silently and knelt on the floor at his mother's side.

"Mother," he whispered. "Enough tears. Malfoys don't cry, remember?"

She looked up through tear-stained lashes and smiled weakly at him.

"My dragon, I'm no Malfoy. You know we discussed this. Regardless of what happens today, that man is no longer my husband."

"I know, mother, I understand," he muttered into her hair as he held her. She pushed him away and brushed the tears from her face.

"Nevertheless, your point still stands, and Blacks do not cry either. I will need the elves to cast glamour charms on my eyes at this rate and that simply won't do. I want to look refined but remorseful, and red-rimmed eyes just won't go with that look."

He smiled as his mother regained some of her poise.

"I don't know, mother. Those bleeding heart Gryffindors cry all the time and it seems to work for them." He smirked as he took his seat at the table and helped himself to some toast. He didn't have much of an appetite, but he couldn't risk passing out half-way through the trial. Everyone would be watching for one of them to step out of line, he couldn't give them the satisfaction.

"Remember what I said, Draco. We are in a new world now. The Dark Lord is gone, pureblood society is half decimated and we are on trial. If we get out of this mess we will have a job to drag ourselves back into the light. We were powerful once, we will be so again, but we have to be humble in defeat and we have to learn to live in this new world. Your father lives in a fantasy land where everything will be as it was, but we both know better. Blood isn't what it was anymore, and neither is money." Narcissa paused to check her son was listening carefully, it was crucial he understood. "Honour is the new currency and we are in debt."

It was the same lecture he had heard almost every day of the summer. He had been surprised at first when his mother had explained what had transpired in the forest, but the more he thought about it he realised his mother had been surprisingly quiet on the matter of blood purity since the return of the Dark Lord. He had struggled with the idea of changing everything he knew but once his mother had let slip that the Dark Lord himself was a half-blood with a muggle father he had found it much easier to break down the walls he'd built his entire life. If the most powerful dark wizard of all time was a half-blood and he and his army of purebloods had been defeated by three teenagers; one blood-traitor, one half-blood and one muggleborn, what argument was left? Draco had always prided himself on his logic.

He nodded and thankfully his mother dropped the topic. He didn't have the energy to have this conversation again, especially not today. He needed to conserve his energy for later. Giving testimony under Veritaserum could be very draining, his lawyers had told him.

The aurors arrived at nine o'clock on the dot and accompanied them to the Ministry. They were placed in a single holding cell and waited for the trial to begin. Lucius began pacing and muttering about mudbloods and blood traitors and how they would be sorry once he had his wand back but Draco and his mother sat on the opposite side of the room and ignored him as best they could.

The corridor that led to the courtroom was near black, which made the bright lights as they emerged into the new, family-friendly dock, blinding. Draco suspected this was a clever technique to put the accused on the back-foot; near-blind and causing them to scrunch up their faces, like they were afraid to look you in the eye. He was determined to make a good impression so he shook it off as quickly as possible.

The full Wizengamot was in attendance. There were many faces he didn't recognise, he guessed that the new Minister had filled the old pureblood seats who were now in disgrace with those faithful to the new order. Lucius was living in a fantasy, this room was stacked against them.

They were to be tried together, a family trial, as well as their individual crimes. Their lawyers had made it clear they were to appear humble, repentant, to plead for leniency and claim they had no choice. Lucius had stormed out of the meeting disgusted, ranting about the proper order of things and the respect owed to him and his kin. He sat with his head high, the picture of pureblooded supremacy. Narcissa and Draco sat apart from him, looking straight ahead, trying to school their features into passive looks.

Kingsley Shacklebolt entered the chamber, his purple robes fluttering behind him and took his seat. The new Minister for Magic was a force to be reckoned with, so far most Death Eaters had been tried and found guilty, either sentenced to Azkaban or lengthy house arrest with wand privileges revoked. This was the last of the trials for those taken at the final battle, and the most high profile. He had allowed the press limited access and he knew this had to be perfect.

"I call this court to order. This is docket number 109562, the Wizengamot of Wizarding Britain versus Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, Narcissa Malfoy nee Black, and Draco Lucius Malfoy. The crimes are as follows; Lucius Abraxas Malfoy is accused of being a Death Eater, crimes under the command of Tom Riddle including the use of at least 2 unforgivable curses, the unlawful imprisonment of Garrick Ollivander, Luna Lovegood, the goblin Griphook, Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter, and assisting in the torture of Hermione Granger.

"Narcissa Malfoy nee Black is accused of assisting her husband, entering an unbreakable vow with Severus Snape to assist her son in the assassination of Albus Dumbledore, the unlawful imprisonment of those witches and wizards already detailed in her husband's case, and assisting in the torture of Hermione Granger.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy is accused of being a Death Eater, crimes under the command of Tom Riddle including the use of the Imperius curse, the attempted murder of Albus Dumbledore, resulting in the accidental cursing of Katie Bell and the accidental poisoning of Ronald Weasley, aiding Death Eaters to enter Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry resulting in the death of Albus Dumbledore, the unlawful imprisonment of those witches and wizards already detailed in his father's case, and assisting in the torture of Hermione Granger."

There was murmuring in the court once the charges had been read. Draco hung his head in shame. It sounded so much worse when it was all read out like that. At least his mother's list of charges was so much shorter. There was hope she would get away without going to Azkaban.

The legal proceedings droned on, they heard from prosecution witnesses, people they'd wronged. Draco thought it interesting that they couldn't secure testimony from any of the witches or wizards listed as their prisoners. They were painted in a terrible light, every back hander his father had ever orchestrated in Knockturn alley, every dark witch or wizard they'd ever been associated with, every insult Draco had hurled at students in the corridors at Hogwarts had been dredged up. Pages and pages of testimony, backed up with memory evidence that had already been reviewed before they were summoned.

Eventually the prosecution rested, and they were allowed a recess. On their return to the courtroom, Draco couldn't keep his head up any longer and looked at the floor, his hair hanging in his eyes.

"This court is now in order. I understand the defendants are willing to take the stand under Veritaserum, should the court deem that necessary, but first we have some supporting statements to hear."

There was some commotion and the gasps and murmurings of the crowd increased but Draco was already working out how he would survive Azkaban so he didn't look up.

"Please state your name, and proceed with your statement" Kingsley ordered.

"Harry James Potter. I'd like to make a statement in defence of Narcissa Malfoy nee Black and Draco Lucius Malfoy."

Draco's head snapped up. There, in the witness seat was Potter, in clean robes, his unruly hair as unkempt as ever, pushing his glasses up in a nervous manner. The boy who lived, the saviour of the wizarding world had come to speak at his trial. Could this day get any worse?

Kingsley indicated Harry to proceed.

"I would not be here if it weren't for Narcissa Malfoy. In the forbidden forest, during the final battle, when I confronted Voldemort and he cast the killing curse at me, destroying the horcrux he'd made all those years ago, it was Narcissa who told him I was dead. If she hadn't lied to his face, he would have cursed me again and I wouldn't have stood a chance. She never took the dark mark, despite her husband and sister both being avid supporters of Tom Riddle. As this court has already heard on several occasions, Severus Snape was a loyal member of the Order of the Phoenix and undertook the unbreakable vow with Narcissa under Dumbledore's specific instructions. As for the imprisonment, it was Bellatrix Lestrange, Lucius Malfoy and Peter Pettigrew who imprisoned us in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor earlier this year. Narcissa was present but not involved."

He paused for the weight of his words to hit home. The courtroom was completely silent.

"In the case of Draco Malfoy, it's true he was a Death Eater, but the time at which he was marked, his father was in Azkaban and had just failed the mission to retrieve the prophecy in the Department of Mysteries so I doubt he had much of a choice, being 16 years old and having Tom Riddle living in his house at the time. I have also provided memory evidence that both Katie Bell and Ronald Weasley do not wish to be included in this case at this time, so their charges should be ignored. The murder of Albus Dumbledore I have already covered. The plan went exactly as Dumbledore expected, with the exception of the Death Eaters in the castle, who did no significant lasting damage to either the property or its inhabitants. Dumbledore was killed by Severus Snape, at his own command. Malfoy – I mean – Draco didn't fire a single curse. And again, I've already mentioned those responsible for our imprisonment at Malfoy Manor earlier this year, Draco was not involved."

Kingsley thanked Harry for his statement and he moved to step down. He had to walk past the dock on his way to his seat and on the way past he nodded to both Draco and Narcissa before taking his seat.

Draco put his head in his hands. The boy who lived had probably saved his mother, but there was still too much against him. He could hear more murmurings in the crowd and his mother nudged him in the ribs. When he looked up his eyes met with brown ones in the witness seat. He groaned inwardly. He was wrong, apparently this day could get worse.

"Please state your name, and proceed with your statement."

"Hermione Jean Granger. I'm here to make a statement on behalf of Draco Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Malfoy nee Black.

"As Harry has already confirmed, neither Narcissa nor Draco were responsible for our imprisonment. I was not present at the Astronomy Tower the night Professor Dumbledore died, nor in the forbidden forest, but I was present at the killing of Nagini, Voldemort's final horcrux, so I can attest to the fact that Harry would have been unable to kill him if Narcissa's rouse had failed at that time. I…I'm here-"

She faltered, her hand went to her left arm. Even though she had glamoured it, the scar was still visible.

"I'm here to talk about my torture at Malfoy Manor earlier this year."

The murmurings of the crowd reached a new high and Kingsley called the court to order again. When the noise had subsided she continued.

"We were captured by snatchers and taken to Malfoy Manor in March of this year. Before we were caught I hit Harry with a stinging hex which caused his face to swell so he was hard to identify, but his scar remained. The snatchers handed us over to Lucius and Bellatrix because we were suspected of being the so-called golden trio. They asked Draco to identify us. I could tell he recognised us; both Ron and I had no disguise, but he refused to tell his father that he knew it was us. As a result, they were afraid to call Voldemort, in case they were wrong. Lucius and Peter Pettigrew took Harry and Ron to the dungeon while Bellatrix Lestrange kept me behind, because she had discovered the sword of Godric Gryffindor in my possession and she believed I had been into her vault. She-"

Hermione stopped and took a deep breath. Movement across the room caught her eye and she saw as Draco lifted his head to look straight at her. It was only a moment, but he shook his head almost imperceptibly before putting his head in his hands, his palms covering his eyes.

"She tortured me using the Cruciatus curse and she carved my arm using a cursed blade so the wound will never fully heal."

She lifted her arm and removed the glamour. The gallery gasped and Kingsley called them back to order, giving Hermione time to breathe.

"Narcissa and Draco were present in the room but they did not participate or assist Bellatrix. I caught brief glimpses of their faces during my time in the drawing room. They were certainly not willing participants. I don't think they wanted to be there any more than I did."

Her voice was little more than a whisper by the end and the only sound was the quiet scribbling of the quills in the press seating.

"Thank you, Hermione," Kingsley spoke softly, as if to a child. "That will be all."

Hermione stood, but her legs felt like jelly. She made her way back to her seat, passing the dock on the way. Narcissa smiled weakly at her as she passed and Lucius ignored her, but Draco still had his head in his hands, almost doubled over, like he was trying to make himself as small as possible.

"The Wizengamot will consider the statements while we have a small break."

The gavel knocked three times and the Malfoys were led back to their holding cell to wait.

They did not have to wait long. When they were called back, there was an excited chatter in the gallery of the court, it seemed the press had doubled in size during the break.

"In light of the statements made by Harry James Potter and Hermione Jean Granger, it is the decision of this court that Narcissa Malfoy nee Black and Draco Lucius Malfoy be acquitted of all charges."

There was a huge explosion of noise from those present. Angry shouts from the gallery echoed in Draco's ears but he barely heard them. He and his mother were acquitted. They were free. There would be no further punishment, no years rotting away in Azkaban. He turned to his mother and saw she was crying for the second time that day. She reached for him and they clung to one another as she sobbed.

Lucius turned to face them both muttering about the impropriety and how Malfoys did not do such things but Draco barely heard him. All he could think of was his mother, sobbing in his arms. They could go home. They were free. Kingsley was trying to wrangle the court back to order.

"There are no further supporting statements. We are now on to the testimony of the accused." Kingsley boomed as the court settled down once more.

"As two of the accused have been acquitted, we are left only with the testimony of Lucius Abraxas Malfoy. Does the accused wish to take the stand?"

Lucius looked at his wife and son and back at the assembled members of the Wizengamot with his customary sneer.

"I see no reason to explain myself to the likes of you."

Narcissa's sobs were drowned out by the courtroom chatter.

"Silence!" Kingsley ordered. "In that case, with no supporting statements and no testimony to consider, it is the decision of this court that Lucius Abraxas Malfoy is found guilty of all charges. The punishment is life imprisonment at Azkaban prison and the removal of all wand and head of house privileges with immediate effect."

The courtroom erupted into chaos. Cameras flashed, quills were scribbling, and the shouts from the gallery nearly drowned out Lucius' shouts about blood traitors, mudbloods and their lack of respect as he was dragged from the room.

Kingsley drew the proceedings to a close and dismissed the court. The chamber emptied slowly as Draco held his mother, until the quiet sobs were all that was left.