CHAPTER 14

The year 2000 so far was cold and dismal. The snow drifts that had piled up on the streets were becoming brown slush. The citizens of London were rarely seen outdoors and when they were, they were bundled up in coats and wearing wellies to keep their feet warm and dry and away from the snowy sludge overtaking the roads. The Estate House just outside Godric's Hollow was covered in white and looked as though it blended in with its surrounding landscape. It was difficult to see from the street as it was, but in the white winter, it was invisible. It wasn't until the snow finally began to melt away that the house emerged from its camouflage and again was a dominating presence on the large patch of land.

Work for Harry and Ron had slowed down a lot after the holidays. Robards requested that all aurors take a step back from their pursuit of the Confraria and reevaluate before going back in unprepared. He wasn't willing to risk his aurors' lives again. Due to this mandate, Harry was stuck doing paperwork more frequently as the backlog was beginning to be too much for them to handle. He knew that Ginny was happy with this new arrangement, for she was always terrified when he went off on a mission. She never said anything, but Harry could just tell. However, Harry was having difficulty sitting in his office all day. He considered himself a fairly active person and staring at the wall or paperwork all day was making him go stir crazy. Ginny had quidditch for activity, but all Harry had was work, and he felt like he needed it to be back to normal in order to function properly.

Well into February, a brief distraction came in the form of some criminal trials. Most of them concerned death eaters or potential death eaters that they aurors had captured over the past few months. However, what broke Harry from his reverie wasn't another trial putting an accused death eater away, it was for Draco Malfoy. Harry had overheard Tiffany and her boss, George Jones, talking about it one morning just outside of his office.

"Did you know that Malfoy had appealed?" Tiffany asked George.

"I heard about it a couple weeks ago, but I don't think anything will come of it. The Wizengamot voted him guilty unanimously at his trial over a year ago. I highly doubt anything will have changed."

At that point in the conversation, Harry interrupted. "Excuse me, are you talking about Draco Malfoy? When did he get sent to Azkaban?"

George, looking a little nervous, replied, "Yeah. His trial was held the September you were in training. He was sentenced to life."

Lost for words, Harry just shook his head. Draco, while not a kid anymore, was forced into that life by his parents. Harry wholeheartedly believed that. Eighteen months in Azkaban was long enough, he shouldn't have to serve any more. Even if they did get rid of the dementors as guards, the place was still cold, desolate and miserable. Harry turned away from them, went to grab Ron, and headed out of the office towards the court rooms.

"Harry, where are we going?"

"Draco's trial. He was sentenced to life in Azkaban, and his appeal is today. We need to help him."

"Excuse me? Help him? The guy who tried to kill us on more than one occasion?" Ron looked incredulously at Harry.

"Yes, Ron. He was forced into that life. Plus, he knew who we were when we were captured. He knew, and he told them that he wasn't sure. You saw his face. He was scared; he didn't want to be there. He may not deserve to be forgiven or trusted, but he doesn't deserve to be locked up in Azkaban for the rest of his life."

"Ugh! I so wish you weren't right, Harry. I'd love to see that smarmy little bastard be put away, just because he was such an asshole, forget everything that his family did. We should go get Hermione; she should be there too. If we are going to testify on his behalf, we need her eloquence."

They both hit the elevator button to go to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. The guys had been silent for a while until Harry asked with a smirk, "Eloquence? You're definitely spending too much time with Hermione."

"Shut up," was all he got in response as the doors opened.

Ten minutes later the trio was sitting in the largest courtroom in the Ministry of Magic, the one reserved for full criminal trials, waiting for it to start. They were all visibly nervous. Harry kept wiping his hands on his robes, Ron was bouncing his legs up and down and Hermione was messing with her hair, and darting her eyes around the room. Harry and Ron had sat in on their fair share of trials already, but none regarding the people they had captured at the end of the Second War, and none with people their age as the defendant.

The trio had agreed that they would just watch, and if they thought Draco needed help convincing the Wizengamot of what happened, then they would intervene.

When the fifty wizards all filed in and took their seats on the high dais in the room, Harry flashed back to when he was fifteen and had to be tried in front of them. He couldn't believe that was five years ago this coming summer. So much had happened since then.

Kingsley Shacklebolt slid into the booth next to them as the head of the Wizengamot began speaking.

"Kingsley…I mean, Minister, what are you doing down here? Aren't you supposed to be…"

"No, I am not a member of the Wizengamot. The minister may attend significant trials, but I thought today, I would sit beside my three favorite employees." He smiled at their nervous faces.

They each smiled back then turned to face the courtroom as Draco was led in by four guards, and chained to the chair in the middle. He looked awful. He was so pale that his skin was almost see through. His hair was shoulder length, he had a small beard, and his usually blonde color was tinged with grey. Harry could see his hands shaking and the fear in his face was clearly visible.

"The appeal of Draco Malfoy shall commence immediately. As you all will remember, we convicted Mr. Malfoy of conspiracy to overthrow the Ministry, discrimination against half-bloods and muggle-borns, attempted murder, and being a known death eater. We convicted him to life in Azkaban. He has come here today to appeal this decision."

Draco stood up and gave his evidence over the next half hour. His voice was shaking and Harry was unsure that he was accurately getting his point across to the wizards of the court. Harry noticed that several of the witches and wizards of the Wizengamot were shaking their heads in response. Indeed several more didn't look as though they were even paying attention. This made Harry angry. How could there be real justice if these wizards did not actually care about the testimony in front of them? He glanced at Kingsley who was frowning up at the dais. They made eye contact briefly and nodded to each other; they would have a conversation about this later.

Harry was too busy scrutinizing the Wizengamot to have heard much of what Draco was talking about, and was surprised when the head wizard stood up and asked those present in the courtroom, if anyone would like to speak on Draco's behalf. Without glancing at Ron or Hermione, Harry stood up and walked to the front of the room.

"I would like to speak on Draco's behalf."

The witches and wizards who hadn't been paying attention, were certainly paying attention now, Harry thought smugly.

"Draco Malfoy is a victim here too. It may not be as obvious to all of you on your high horses up there, but he was forced into the life as a death eater by his family. You know his father, what he was like. Do you really think that Draco could have chosen a different way? He did not choose the life that led him here. When Voldemort was rising to power again, Draco's life and the lives of his family members were threatened, forcing Draco to act in the manner that he did. Tell me, what would you do in that situation?" Harry paused for dramatic effect.

"You can ask Draco. We have never been, nor will ever be friends, I don't think. But when Ron, Hermione and I were captured and taken to Malfoy Manor, he lied to his family and told them the he didn't recognize us. Why would he do that if he were intentionally in Voldemort's pocket?"

Harry had been pacing in front of Draco's chair, staring up at the wizards sitting on the dais, but now he stopped in the middle of the room and swept his eyes around him.

"Draco Malfoy has been in jail for eighteen months. I think that is punishment enough. He has paid for having been in a bad situation, but he should not be punished anymore simply because his last name is Malfoy. It is my belief that he should be given the opportunity at a normal, or as normal as it can get, life."

Harry turned and walked back to his seat as Ron and Hermione each spoke to the court, in turn. They both said similar things to what Harry said, emphasizing that they were the last people on earth who would ever forgive Draco, but that doesn't mean that he should be in prison any longer than he had been.

Once they were all seated again, there was a beat where the Wizengamot sat in stunned silence, before they began discussing amongst themselves what was to happen to Draco. After what felt an eternity to Harry, the head wizard stood. "Those that wish the accused to remain guilty and spend life in Azkaban?" Several hands went into the air. "Those that wish the accused be set free into society once more?" The majority raised their hands.

Smiling at each other, the trio stood up to leave the courtroom, their jobs done, when they heard a weak voice say, "Wait!"

Harry turned to see Draco running over to them, finally free of the chains that had bound him. "Why? Why did you help me?"

"What I said was true, Draco. I believe that you didn't want to do the things you did and I don't think you should be punished for it." Pausing before he turned to go, he added, "You've been given a second chance, Draco. Don't screw it up." With that he turned and followed Ron and Hermione out of the courtroom.

On their way up to their respective offices, he stopped Kingsley, but Kingsley held up his hand. "I already know what you're going to say, Potter. We need to change the court system. I agree." He paused and turned to Hermione. "If only we had someone like you in the Department for Magical Law Enforcement." He turned and left Hermione looking confused and blushing slightly.

It was true. Harry had thought about it a lot in recent weeks, but especially today. The court system needs to be changed from a bunch of pure-blood, extremely wealthy wizards deciding everyone's fate. Harry like the idea of the muggle way, like he used to see on TV. He hoped that Kingsley would put some effort into changing it. He was right about one thing, if Hermione was behind the helm of changing it, he knew she would not rest until she got her way.

He left work a little early that day because he wanted to surprise Ginny with Dinner when she came home, but he was the one surprised when he found her asleep on the couch in the living room when he got there. He didn't want to disturb her, but scooped her into his arms anyway. He carried her into the bedroom and threw the covers over her before going back into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

He was at the stove a while later when he felt Ginny's arms slide around him and her head rest on his back. He kept stirring the skillet with his right hand, while placing his left on her arms. He was humming tunelessly and swaying back and forth with Ginny moving along in his wake.

"So," he said breaking the silence, "you'll never guess who I saw today."

"Hmm?" She hummed, not taking her head off his back.

"Draco Malfoy."

"What?!" She spun Harry around to face her. "Are you hurt? I thought he was in Azkaban!"

"He was. Today was his appeal, and they let him go free. Before you say anything," he cut her off because it looked as though she was about to protest, "I testified on his behalf. So did Ron and Hermione. We helped him go free."

Ginny was certainly at a loss for words. She looked as though she wanted to yell at Harry, but at the same time, she had this strange, proud look on her face.

Finally, she said, "Harry, I can't begin to understand why you three did that, but I trust that you did it for the right reasons."

Smiling he pulled her to him and kissed her long and hard on the lips.

A few weeks later, on a warm March morning, Harry was running late to work. He had stayed up late with Ginny the night before, drinking too much, and he was sluggish this morning. Dragging himself into the office an hour later than usual, Harry was startled by a voice coming from the conference room next door.

"Potter! You're late!" Robards announced to the whole floor.

"Sorry, Sir, I was unaware that we had a meeting today."

"Do you not remember what today is, Potter?"

"Today? No…"

Walking into the conference room he was bombarded by shouts and balloons and sparks bursting from wands. Looking around he found Ron smiling and drinking a pumpkin juice with Neville, Carrie, Tiffany and Matt. Oh. He remembered now. He had been an auror for a year officially, today.

After joining his friends for some doughnuts and pumpkin juice, he heard Robards speak again. "Congratulations. You are now fully-qualified aurors. Your probationary period is over and you will no longer work under a senior auror. You are free to choose your own cases, caseload, partners, and area to work in. Meaning that you will not necessarily be required to stay in the violent crimes division." He gestured around the room. "You will notice that there are strangers among this group now. They are also aurors that had served their probationary period in different departments. If you stay here, you will welcome them and help them with whatever they need. Do not forget that no matter what, all aurors are our partners, and none shall ever be left behind."

With that he left the rest of them to chat and get to know one another. Harry and Ron were talking to a very nice guy by the name of Riley, who was at training during the same time they were, when Harry caught the eye of someone he knew. He froze as they locked eyes before smiling slightly and continuing his conversation with Riley.

After the festivities had ended, Harry and Ron got back to work. He was trying to gather the evidence together that he had collected on Phaedra, which wasn't much, but he didn't like that this file was stagnant for so many months. He needed a new lead. He was lost in thought when he heard a knock on the door. It was Neville.

"Can I talk to you Harry?"

"Yeah, Neville. What's up?"

"Well, you know how Robards said we didn't have to stay in violent crime? I was considering moving to another department."

"Oh. Ok."

"Yeah, I was thinking maybe illegal trafficking. It is different and potentially very interesting. I just don't think that violent crimes is for me."

"I thought that you were doing really well, Neville. Your dueling skills have improved so much, you could probably take me down."

"Ha ha, yeah. Well, ever since I was, you know, captured or whatever, I think I would be more comfortable being in less danger, and I know that Hannah would be too."

"Ok, man. Sure. I understand."

"I have one favor to ask of you though. Can I still be left in the loop about the Phaedra case? I think I will just need to know."

"Of course, Neville. I wouldn't leave you out of it, even if you left the aurors all together.

"Thanks, Harry."

As much as he didn't want to believe it, he knew that Neville wasn't happy being put in danger all the time. Maybe he would be happier where he was going.

Harry was about to head home for the day when another knock on his door delayed him.

"Can I come in, Harry?" It was Valerie. He had seen her in the conference room that morning, but had tried to ignore her as much as possible. He hadn't seen her in a little over a year, and he couldn't exactly say he was happy to see her now.

"Uh, hey there…Valerie. Sure, come in." She closed the door behind her. Harry wished she didn't. "How have you been?"

"Oh, I've been fine. I just wanted to tell you that I will be transferring to this division tomorrow, and I just didn't want it to be weird, since we may be working together in the future."

"Sure, yeah. It won't be weird." It is totally going to be weird, Harry thought.

"Ok, great." She smiled a big smile. "And, congratulations on your engagement."

"Thanks," Harry said as she walked back out of the office.

The next day, the new auror class arrived. This class was much smaller than Harry's class, as the Department for Magical Law Enforcement was no longer in desperate need for aurors. There were only five new trainees this year, two of whom Harry and Ron knew. Neither Harry nor Ron, however, had paid much attention to the new class, for they were busy with their own cases. As they were walking out for lunch that day, they walked right into one of the new auror trainees.

"Harry! Ron! I was hoping to run into you."

"Seamus? What are you doing here?" Ron asked, surprised.

"Dean and I went in to auror training after repeating our final year. We figured that we got so much practice with Dumbledore's Army, that we should give it a go in the real world. I honestly can't believe I passed the potions portion." He laughed.

"Who are the two of you working under this year?" Harry asked.

"I think Dean is with someone called Nichols, and I am with Johnson."

Harry nodded. "Johnson was my training auror; he's really good. You'll like him."

"Awesome, well, I'm going to meet him now, so I'll see you guys around then, eh?"

The rest of March flew by quickly. Harry was enjoying having all of his Hogwarts friends with him as aurors. Their almost daily lunches at the Leaky Cauldron was almost like they were back in school again. Neville would even come with them from time to time. Dean and Seamus had gone on their first mission as aurors only a week after their first day, and they were shocked at how quickly they were thrown into the action. Both had come back with minor scratches, but excitement in their eyes as they relayed their experience dueling for the first time as aurors and assisting with their first "bust" as Dean called it.

By the end of March, they were settled in with their new roles and enjoying it thoroughly. One evening after work, Harry, Ron, Seamus and Dean went to some event called 'Happy Hour' at a Muggle bar down the road. Ginny and Hermione met them there, and Ginny even invited Luna, which was somewhat a surprise. Thankfully, she wasn't too over the top, for muggles only stared a little bit at her rather unorthodox way of dressing, not her shouting about blibbering humdingers.

By the end of the night Seamus and Dean each had dates with local muggle girls at the insistence of Ginny. She had seen the girls eyeing them all night and almost shoved them out of the booth to get them to ask the girls out. Seamus had a smile on his face that almost reached his ears as they left the pub. But the real surprise came when Luna announced that she was leaving town in April for an extended period of time.

"What do you mean you're leaving town?" Ginny asked a little affronted.

"Well, my boss at the Magizoologist Institute is taking a year-long trip around the world to look for new species, and he asked me and a few others to go along."

"Congrats, Luna!" Harry exclaimed.

"Wow." Dean, Seamus and Ron all said, unsure of what else was expected of them.

"Luna, that sounds like an amazing opportunity!" Hermione rounded out.

"But…but…what about my wedding?!" Ginny shouted desperately. "I want you to be a bridesmaid! I can't believe I forgot to ask you before now!"

"That's really sweet of you, Ginny! I would be honored to be a bridesmaid. I'll come back for your wedding. Don't worry."

"Ok, good! It's on June 30th. Don't forget!"

After Luna, Seamus and Dean bade them farewell and disapparated from an alley, Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione walked a ways before separating for the night.

"By the way Hermione, since you're my maid of honor, we should go look at dresses together soon."

"Wha- you want me to be your maid of honor?"

"Duh. I thought that was clear."

After some giggling and hugging, the girls started discussing dresses and options before stopping, aware that the guys were definitely not interested in this conversation. Changing tactics, Ginny asked, "So, Harry, who is your best man?"

Harry snorted, "It's Ron, obviously. I have already asked him. Oh and Neville, and George are my groomsmen.

In response to Ginny's look of shock and amazement, he said with a smile, "I'm on top of this whole wedding thing."