The Lost Potter-Draco Malfoy

Chapter 38 ✔️

Charlotte-

We woke up bright and early on the day of the trial.  Dad, Mum, Harry and I had walked to the Ministry before we had been alerted that the time changed and ran down to the courtroom. Panic set in as we ran down the halls towards the courtroom, our hurried footsteps echoing off the stone walls.

"Aren't-aren't you coming with- " Harry asked Mum and Dad, his voice tight with nerves. 

"No, No, we're not allowed!" Mum said quickly, her hands clenched at her sides. "Good luck!" 

Harry hesitated at the door, looking paler than I'd ever seen him. His hands trembled slightly as he stepped inside. The door closed behind him with a heavy thud, leaving the three of us in a tense silence outside. 

Dad started pacing almost immediately, running a hand through his hair every few seconds. Mum tapped her foot against the floor, staring at the clock as if she could will the time to move faster. I stood still, my eyes fixed on the hallway, waiting-praying-for Dumbledore to arrive.

Finally, two agonizing minutes later, he appeared.

"Harry's in there?" He asked.

"Yes," Mum confirmed. 

Dumbledore gave a curt nod. "Alright, remember to wait for my single Charlotte," 

I swallowed hard and nodded, without another word, he pushed open the heavy doors and stepped inside. 

The door swung open against sometimes later, and Percy Weasley appeared, peering at the three of us over his horn-rimmed glasses.

"Who is the witness?" He asked, his voice all business.

I forced myself to step forward. "I am." 

"Please come in then," Percy said.

My heart pounded as I wiped my clammy hands on my jeans and followed hm inside. The moment I stepped into the courtroom, the weight of more than a dozen eyes judging eyes fell on me. Dumbledore stood up, offering me his chair before conjuring another for himself with a flick of his wand. 

"Full Name?" Fudge asked, sounding irritated, as if this entire proceeding was an inconvenience to him. 

"Charlotte Lily Potter," I said, trying to sound confident, though my voice wavered slightly.

"And who exactly are you?"

"I'm James and Lily Potter's daughter, Harry Potter's sister. And I live with Harry Potter." 

Fudge scoffed. "His sister? Really Dumbledore, you brought his sister."  Dumbledore did not reply, his expression unreadable. 

"Very well." Fudge said with a dramatic sigh. "What's your story?"

I took a steadying breath. "I asked Harry if he wanted to play quidditch in the backyard. We stayed out there for I don't know how long, but a couple of hours. We finished our game, and we put our things away in the quidditch shed. Harry and I were walking back to our house when I started hearing a sound from the distance. When they got closer, I could see dementors gliding towards us-"

"What did they look like?" Madam Bones interrupted, her sharp eyes narrowing at me. 

"They were huge," I said, shuddering at the memory. "Much bigger in person, and they were wearing cloaks that covered their heads," 

"Big and wearing cloaks." Madam Bones said, exchanging glances with the others. Fudge let out a snort, but I ignored him.

"I see, anything else?" Madam Bones asked.

I swallowed hard. "Yes, well, I felt them. I felt all my happiness being drained away, and any happiness around me was gone. I felt very cold, which was strange because I had been sweating from the quidditch match. I started remembering horrible things from my childhood." 

I clenched my hands together to keep from shaking.

"What did the dementors do?" Madam Bones asked, leaning forward.

"They came at us. I didn't have my wand. I left it upstairs in my room. I didn't think I would need it, we're in our backyard, so I was defenseless. I heard Harry yell the Patronus spell, I think, once before one of the dementors grabbed me. It grabbed me by my neck- "

The memory hit me like a curse, and I had to take a deep breath continuing. 

"It slammed me against my house wall. I could see it's face. It was a terrifying view. Just an ugly mouth. I think I screamed I'm not sure, and I could hear Harry struggling with his dementor, and then my dementor opened its mouth and I felt everything slipping away from me. Finally, Harry or my dad had gotten the dementors away from me. I remember falling to the ground and feeling very weak. The dementors had disappeared by then. That is what happened."

The courtroom was silent. Madam Bones studied me for a long moment, while Fudge shuffled some papers, refusing to meet my eyes. 

"That's what happened to you" Fudge said rather aggressively. "That's what you claim to have seen?"

I squared my shoulders, forcing myself to hold his gaze. "That is what happened." 

"Very well." He huffed but didn't argue. I glanced at Dumbledore, who gave me a small nod. That was my cue. I stood up, glancing at Harry, and gave him one reassuring nod, that everything was going to be okay, before I 

---

The moment the doors closed behind me, Mum and Dad rushed forward.

"How did it go?" Mum asked, anxiously. 

Before I could answer, Harry emerged from the courtroom, his face breaking into a relieved grin.

"Cleared of all charges!" Harry said. Laughter and cheers erupted. Mum let out a breath of relief, pulling Harry into a tight hug. 

"We knew you had nothing to worry about! They would be stupid to put charges on you." Mum said, smoothing back his hair. 

"Let's go, celebrate- "Dad started, but the doors swung open again, and the court members filled out. 

"You were tried by the full court?" Dad asked, eyebrows raised.

"I think so." He said, quietly. 

Several of the wizards and witches nodded at the Potters and offered us some greeting but Fudge and Umbridge, who Charlotte hadn't noticed in the courtroom, ignored them. Their faces like stone.

"Well," Dad said, clapping a hand on Harry's back. "Let's go tell the others. They're waiting for us." 

---

"I knew it! You always get away with stuff!" Ron yelled, punching the air.

"They were bound to clear you, there was no case against you, none at all," Hermione said, but her hands gave her away. They were shaking as she rubbed her eyes.

"Everyone seems quite relieved, though, considering you all knew I'd get off," Harry teased.

"He got off, he got off, he got off..." Fred, George, and Ginny were shouting.