~Drarry~

~The Trial~

I woke up to the sun glaring in my face. I looked over to the other side of the room and to my surprise Draco was already out of bed. I put on my glasses and looked at my watch, hunting for the date. I sighed when I realized today was the day of my hearing. Before I could stand up off the edge of my bed a knock came from the door.
"Come in!" I yell at the visitor. Mr Weasley opened the door and smiled.
"Good morning Harry. Well we best be off soon, Molly has breakfast done downstairs. Put on your best suit and meet me downstairs when you're ready." He seemed a bit worried.
"Ok sir." I say stretching the nights rest off my shoulders. He quickly exited with a consoling smile shutting the door behind him. I hurried to my trunk and picked out my grey fleece suite jacket and a grey blue shirt.
I go downstairs and join everyone for breakfast. The seating was identical to the night before, I sat down carefully Infront of Una.
"Good morning Harry." She said with a big smiled. She was eating a piece of bread with what looked like had butter, with cinnamon and sugar. She seemed to enjoy it. I look around to try and find Sirius but he was nowhere to be found. As I was searching I caught a glimpse of Draco who winked and nudged his head in the direction of Una. I turned red forgetting about the incident last night and forced a small smile. All of a sudden Sirius walked in and I stood up immediately.
"Harry, you're looking sharp." He said bringing me in for a hug. "Your dad could clean up nicely too." He said, admiration always resounded through his words when he spoke of my father.
I smiled and said "My trial is today Sirius. I really hope I don't get expelled." I sighed and looked him in the eye, "What would I do?"
"Well I'm always here for you, Harry. Like I said in your third year when you saved me from the dementors, you can come live here with me. You're a brave boy, you can preserver through anything that is thrown at you, trust me." He gave me a reassuring smile and pulled me in for another hug.
"Ok Harry, we best be going now." Mr Weasley said cautiously, trying not to break up a nice moment.
"Thank you." I said looking at Sirius, then proceeded to turn around. "I love you."
"I love you too." He said with a big smile. I smiled back then headed out the door. "Oh and Harry," he yelled. I quickly looked at him.
"Yes?"
"Good luck!" Then nodded for me to hurry along.

                               ~

We finally reached the court room in the ministry of magic, earlier than expected. My trial had been changed and my nerves got worse. The fate of my wizarding education rested behind that big black door.
"Unfortunately I can't come in, but good luck Harry." Mr Weasley said squeezing my shoulder. He then held out his arm gesturing me to go in now. I cautiously entered and saw a circular room with one half of the perimeter covered in bleachers for people who attend the trial, and the other half of the perimeter cover in bleachers occupied by a council of witches and wizards. Each wearing either a red robe and hat or a black robe and hat. Perfectly centered between them was the minister's seat. Then in the middle of the room was a big chair, I sit down in it assuming it was for those who were being questioned as it was aligned with the minister.
"Disciplinary hearing on the 12th of August, for offences committed by Harry James Potter, resident of number four Private Drive. Interrogators, Cornelius Oswald Fudge-"
"Witness for the defence, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore." Professor Dumbledore strode in with elegance.
"You got our message that the time and place of the hearing was changed did you?"
"I must have missed it, but by a happy mistake, I arrived at the ministry three hours early." A small mumble broke out around the whole jury. "Charges?"
"The charges against the accused are as follows, the he did knowingly and in full awareness of the legality of his actions, produced a patronus charm in the presence of a muggle. Do you deny said patronus?" The minister asked.
"No but-" I said before I was interrupted.
"And you were aware that you were forbidden from using magic outside school while under the age of seventeen?"
"Yes but-" I was cut off again.
" Witches and wizards of the-"
"I was only doing it because of the dementors!" I quickly and frustratedly shouted.
"Dementors? In Little Whinging?" A women from the jury, one in red, said. I soon learned that her name was Ms. Amelia Bones.
"Yes. Thats quite clever." The minister said while looking at the woman. "Muggles can't see dementors can they boy? Highly convenient."
"I'm not lying, there were two of them!" I shouted again, this time pleading for them to believe me, but it seemed it was useless. The trial seemed to continue on forever until professor Dumbledore told Fudge that there was a witness to the incident. The witness was Ms Figg. When she arrived at the court I moved to the stands and she sat in the big chair I was originally in. When the minister questioned her she described everything she saw, I was wondering how she saw the incident, I would have figured i would notice her before she came in the tunnel after the attack and walked us home, but her statement was accurate. After she finished her statements and questioning, Dumbledore started a closing argument.
" In the matter of Harry Potter, the law clearly states that magic may be used before muggles in life threatening situations."
"Laws can be changed if necessary, Dumbledore." The minister added.
"Clearly it's become practice to hold a full criminal trial to deal with a simple matter of Underaged magic." Dumbledore's strong voice filled the court room, then held his arms out to the jury and shrugged, showing that he was ready to know the verdict.
Ms. Bones cleared her throat and with a swift tone asked. "Those in favor of conviction?" At least eight people raised their hands, this included, Cornelius Fudge, and Dolores Umbridge, who giggled and plastered a nasty smirk on her face.
"Those in favor of clearing the accused of all charges?" This time when Ms. Bones spoke the whole court room fell silent and nearly every hand went up in agreement. Even Mrs. Figg's hand rose up then cautiously put it back down in humiliation.
"Clear the four charges." The minister said in a disappointing tone as he slammed his gavel down on his stand. I couldn't help but smile, my heart was racing a thousand times per minute, but at least this time it was out of excitement. I called out to professor Dumbledore to thank him but he quickly hurried out of the courtroom door and ignored my calling. Was he still mad at the fact I produced the charm, even after he just defended me? My heart felt heavy again as I walked out of the courtroom and met with Mr Weasley once more.

                               ~

       The whole way back to the Order of the Phoenix Mr Weasley was congratulating me on my verdict. I could only smile and tell him thank you in return to his many excited comments. I was happy, happier than every actually, but one thing kept weighing me down. Dumbledore didn't even look at me or acknowledge me after the hearing. In situations like this I shouldn't question weather or not he has my back because I know Dumbledore always will, but he usually reassures me by giving me a wink of his right eye behind his half moon glasses or a smirk of deviation. I was confused and no amount of magic could unwind these thoughts from my brain. As soon as we got back to the giant house I marched straight upstairs to my room hoping for some alone time.
Draco was sitting on his bed reading a potions book when I walked in, he never took his eyes off the book but still asked, "How did your hearing go?"
"I'm not expelled." I said trying to be a little cheerful.
"And you're not happy about that?" Draco asked now putting his bookmark in his spot and closing the book. I could tell he was confused and he sat up and looked at me.
"No I'm very happy but I just can't seem to lift this weight off my chest." The urge to cry was unbearable but I could let Draco see me weak.
He stood up and knelt right before me grabbed my hands that were clenched together and looked me in the eyes. "Don't forget who you are Potter." He said with a small smile. I realized just then that his shirt was off. I couldn't help but blush at the sight of his pale chiseled features trying to comfort me. At that moment I let out all my emotion, the tears started flowing and I couldn't stop them. He pulled off my glasses and sat next to me on the bed. I rested my head on his naked shoulder and continued to sob. My cries of pain got louder the more I thought about why I was crying, because of Cedric not being able to be here to finish our promised lives together. Because of a companion I cherished greatly not acknowledging my existence. I have never felt more pitiful in my life. To top it all off my hot wet face pressed up against the body of the boy I never thought I would come withing two inches of unless I was beating his body into the ground. I was confused and scared to look at my present and see the reality of what was going on.
"Why are you sobbing?" Draco asked, his concern came from deep within.
"I-I, I don't.... everything!" I managed to say between wails. He just pulled me in closer and laid me back on the bed with him. He was holding me from behind as I continuously let tears fall from my eyes.
"It'll be ok Harry," he comforted. "I'm here for you." Then with a shy creep forward Draco kissed my cheek with great care, then laid back behind me. His warm body was all I could think about now. And with a whisper of consolation from Draco I fell deep into a sleep that was much needed.