AN: This originated as a response to slythindor100 challenge #161, which consisted of a list of 20 words. I used all of them in reverse order. The story has five parts which I will post in the coming days.
Warnings: sundry plot twists, a different version of wandlore, Wizengamot politics, NC-17 in upcoming chapters, and bottom!Draco.

Don't like? Don't read.

"The Wizengamot, in solemn session, has reached a verdict about Draco Malfoy's sanction!" said Mrs. Thistlewaite, the spokesperson for the august body.

Harry's fingers gripped the edge of his seat, his eyes narrowing in concern at the defenseless figure of Draco, who sat in the first row, his blond hair contrasting sharply against the plum-colored hats of the wizards and witches around him. His gaze fixed on Malfoy, Harry mumbled low under his breath, "Mine, mine!"

Mrs. Thistlewaite brandished her wand with a lazy motion and a parchment rose up in the air, unfurling in front of her lined face. She peered at it and said slowly, "The sentence reads as follows…" She stopped to raise her fist to her mouth, coughing discreetly.

Meanwhile, Draco's pupils widened with dread.

"House arrest for one year, during which he will be deprived of the use of his wand."

"Excuse me, Mrs. Thistlewaite?" Luna said, raising her hand.

The members of the Wizengamot muttered among themselves, some of them glancing at the snowy-haired witch with disdain stamped on their features.

Finally, Mrs. Thistlewaite nodded slowly at Luna. "What is it you want, Lovegood?"

"If Draco can't use his wand, can I lend him mine?" Luna raised her slim hand and twirled her wand between her fingers. "It's widely known that Muggles pool their resources, and I'd like to do the same."

"Nonsense," growled Mr. Compton, a wizened old man. "What Muggles do is of no concern to this body!"

Mrs. Thistlewaite shook her head sadly and shot Luna a sympathetic glance. "I'm afraid that won't be possible, Lovegood. Draco Malfoy will only be able to use magic after the date which is magically stamped on his sentence." She pointed at the parchment in front of her.

Harry edged forward on his chair, his keen gaze drawn to Draco's tired face. His fingers itched with the need to brush that frown off his boyfriend's handsome features. He was so lost in thought about how he could circumvent the Malfoy wards and visit Draco at the Manor, that Mrs. Thistlewaite's final words caught him by surprise.

"I'm afraid the bill for the improvement of the rights of house-elves has been temporarily tabled."

Hearing those words, Hermione shot a furious glare at the wizards and witches in front of her and fished out her wand from her fashionable jacket, swishing it angrily at the sheaf of parchments on the table to jam them into her briefcase.

She raised her chin and noticed the way Mr. Compton sneered at her. Recalling all the hard work she and her friends had put into pressuring Shacklebolt to introduce the bill, she lost her composure enough to pound her hands upon the table, her voice rising almost to a shout. "This is not fair! I thought the end of Voldemort meant this bigoted attitude towards the house-elves would change at last!"

Hermione sighed when she felt Ron's fingers gripping her elbow. Her boyfriend leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Stable does it, Mione! Don't give these gits the satisfaction of watching your anger!"

Hermione took deep breaths, her annoyance assuaged by Ron's calm words. She shook her head angrily and mumbled, "I'd just love to squash Mr. Compton' sneer off his ugly face!"

"You've got to refrain from doing so," Ron said reasonably. "Think of Harry."

"Harry? What does Harry have to do with it?" Hermione narrowed her eyes at Ron. "He's been quite helpful with SPEW, but I fail to see why venting my anger at these bigoted idiots could hurt Harry."

"Spare him a glance, will you?" Ron cocked his chin towards his tousled-haired friend.

Hermione turned her head to the right, immediately noticing Harry's frown and the way his shoulders were hunched. She followed Harry's glance and saw Malfoy shooting his boyfriend a weary grin.

Hermione sighed wistfully, realizing that her best friend was deeply hurt by the Wizengamot sentence. Despite all their pleading on Draco's behalf, the wizards and witches had dealt harshly with Malfoy without taking into account his youth, or the fact that he had protected Harry's identity when the Snatchers brought them to Malfoy Manor.

"You're right, Ron," she said at last. She reached her arm to undo the clasp of her briefcase and rummaged inside, taking out her favorite marker and some parchments.

"You'll find a way to reverse the sentence," Ron said confidently. "If anyone can, it's you."

"Why are you so intent on it, though?" Hermione bent down to write on the parchment, her long locks a curtain that hid her face from the Wizengamot while she started plotting how to undo their latest idiocy. "You can't stand Draco."

"That's not entirely true," Ron said wearily. "I'll admit I didn't like it that he and Harry had corresponded secretly during the Horcrux hunt and opened up about their feelings."

Hermione nodded. "In hindsight, it explains perfectly well why Draco protected us from Goyle, and Harry rescued him from the Fiendfyre."

"But if Malfoy makes Harry happy, why should I stand between them?" Ron said reasonably.

Hermione shot her boyfriend a proud look and then fixed her gaze on the diagram she had traced on the parchment, mumbling to herself, "I have strong reservations about the current stand of the law. The precedent established when the Ministry pardoned Lucius years ago should help us argue Draco's case." She pressed her marker firmly, tracing a blue line that connected the bottom of the parchment to the top.

Meanwhile, Harry ambled towards his best friends, his chin lowered so his fringe covered his glasses and thus hid the thin sheen of tears that covered his eyes at the thought of being unable to be with Draco, whom he knew so well through their correspondence – and their fights too, if he was honest with himself.

"What are you doing, Hermione?" Harry said in a low voice.

"Nothing much," Hermione said, rolling her eyes. Then she brushed a lock of hair off her forehead and glanced up at Harry. "I may have just found the means to cobble together enough votes so the Wizengamot reverses its silly decision."

"Wot?" Harry blinked owlishly.

"It's all based on precedent, and Fudge's kowtowing to Lucius will come in handy," Hermione said, glaring behind her locks at Mr. Compton, who was nudging his hat. "Draco will be free!"

"You sure?" Harry said wonderingly.

"Mate, when Mione looks this determined, it means she's found the key!" Ron said.

Harry beamed at her and then took out his wand and rummaged inside the pocket of his robes, fishing out a napkin. He brandished his wand at it, smiling at the way the white corners folded in on themselves.

Hermione paused in her writing and tilted up her chin to glance at Harry. "What are you doing?"

"Just making a paper crane." Harry shrugged. "Draco told me how to do it in one of his letters. It is fitting I use it to let him know you're very near to set him free."

Harry raised the crane to his mouth and blew it towards his boyfriend in a heartfelt kiss. Draco raised his eyebrows at Harry's strange actions, a smile creeping up his face when he saw Harry giving him a thumbs up as the crane flew towards him.

Draco nodded slowly, sure that with Harry by his side, strong help was forthcoming.

tbc