My Godfather is an Innocent Convict (Rewrite)

Interlude 1

As it turned out, Draco did have better grades than Pansy.

"That happens when you obsess over other people's business instead of studying," he said, shrugging smugly.

"Well, excuse me for being a good friend!" Pansy huffed.

"Or a meddler."

"Oh, shut up! We have more important things to worry about.

"Yes, because you've been so focused on the Cheng's trial lately." Draco rolled his eyes. "How is Amina anyway? Hm? Did you notice how pale she looked at breakfast today?"

Amina Cheng had been exempt from classes for the week. The girls had all gotten the day of the trial off to accompany her to the ministry.

It was currently the night before. Harriet was helping Amina draft her statement elsewhere. Everyone was convinced she would be the most matter of fact about it.

Pansy and Draco had nothing to do. If they did, they wouldn't be arguing.

"What's going on?" Hermione asked them coming up and sitting down next to Pansy.

"Nothing!" They both hurriedly busied themselves with something random.

"Okaaay," Hermione wasn't convinced. "Well, I'm sure you're having a great time reading an essay upside down."

Pansy blushed and hurriedly turned it the right way up.

"The trials really concerning, isn't it?" Hermione said, petting her giant orange cat, Crookshanks.

Draco wrinkled his nose. "What's concerning is how much you love that cat."

"There's nothing wrong with my cat!" Hermione hissed at him. "Now, can you please focus on the problem at hand?"

"Taken care of. My father says that the Cheng's are going back to Azkahban. There's no way the ministry would let them go." He leaned back and away from the glare the furry monster in Hermione's arms was giving him.

Between her obvious affection for cats and Harriet's love of reptiles and Pansy's adoration of horses, he was obviously the only sane one. Pets caused a mess and we're loud and unruly. Of course, owls had a use but that was about it.

Draco jerked his feet off the table and away from Crookshanks paws.

"He won't bite!" Hermione protested.

"Yeah," Pansy nodded, "It just means he likes you. Why don't you hold him?"

"No thanks. I'll pass."

"Come on!"

"Would you say that if it was a dog?"

"It's not a dog!"

"My point stands." Draco got up to leave, "I'll see you later - without that thing!"

He scrambled off and sped through the corridors. He fled up a flight of stairs, turned a corner and-

Wham!

"Oof!" The air was knocked out of him.

"Sorry!" George Weasley held out his hand to help him up, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," he said, taking the offer. "Thanks."

His ribs hurt like hell but Draco supposed he could look past that.

"That looked like it hurt," Jiyu said, reaching out to tap his back.

Draco flinched. Of course she was here.

"Don't worry, I have a spell for that," Jiyu smiled and waved her wand. "Scilicet doloris."

The ache left.

"Thank you," Draco said.

Jiyu was a kind person. Really, really kind. She helped people with their homework and half the castle seemed to go to her with their problems. Harriet thought highly of her and spoke of their study sessions in a good manner. There was absolutely nothing wrong with Jiyu.

That was the problem. Draco wanted to dislike her for stealing his crush and he just couldn't.

"What's up?" Blaise asked, saving the day and quite possibly Draco's dignity.

"Oh, just had a little run in," George grinned.  "Nothing serious."

He winked. George Weasley winked. Draco did his best to keep his face from warming.

"You okay?" Blaise asked him.

"Yeah," Draco said, voice cracking slightly. He cleared his throat. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine."

"You are a bit red," Jiyu said, looking concerned.

"It's nothing!" He said all too fast. "You know, I just realized that I have somewhere to be. Blaise, let's go!"

With that Draco grabbed Blaise and fled the scene.

"What-" George began to ask.

"Oh, George," Jiyu sighed.

"What? What?!"

"Nevermind," she shook her head and brushed some of his hair back. "Let's go, we have a prank to pull. Fred is probably wondering where we are."

"Touché." George shrugged. "Hey, are you free this weekend? We should go to Hogsmeade."

"Dungbomb supply run out?" She teased.

He shook his head. "No, date?"

Jiyu smiled shyly."Yeah. We can do that, I suppose."

"She supposes," George teased.

"Oh, shut up."