Yeah, yeah I know, I haven't updated in a long time. Life sucks, you know?

Well, I hope you enjoy it regardless of my ridiculously long abscence! RRR! (read, review, recommend!)

Chapter 15

The day was upon me.

I woke up that morning, warm and content in my bed, not a care in the world. Then, like the bitch it is, reality slammed into my brain. The trial was today, at ten o'clock, and I almost knew for a fact I was going to be sleeping on the cold, stone floors of Azkaban tonight.

I showered and dressed slowly, trying to make the clock slow down. I came down the stairs dragging my feet. Aunt Narcissa was waiting in the drawing room.

"Good morning," she greeted me.

"What's so good about it?" I snapped, sitting down on the loveseat with my arms crossed.

"At least you're not in Azkaban."

"Yet," I added.

"We're not going to let them take you there," she promised. She sat next to me, taking my hands in hers. "Yes, what you did was unlawful, but I talked to Harry last night, and he thinks he has a good defense for you."

"Like what?"

Just then, Harry appeared, leaning against the doorframe. "I was thinking that I could tell the court about the murder of Andromeda Tonks, and that I know who did it. It's all in the power of distraction."

I snorted in disbelief. "Do you honestly think that's going to work? Minister Shacklebolt isn't that stupid."

"I'm aware of that. I know the man on a personal basis. But we have two eyewitnesses to your aunt's murder – you and Teddy. That should be enough proof to distract them from the matter at hand – your… well, you know."

"I don't know about this…" I muttered.

"Nova, think about it," Harry urged, sitting down beside me. "If you can help subdue and capture Bellatrix Lestrange, that would be like repaying the Ministry for your wrongdoing. They will most likely clear you of all charges if we can steer the conversation in the right direction."

"I can't control minds, and neither can you," I argued. "This plan will never work. It's hopeless." In the back of my mind, I knew I was being ridiculously negative, but Harry's plan just seemed too good to be true. And besides, what chance did we have of tricking the court into letting me go?

"I do believe that Mr. Potter's plan is a rather good one, myself," said a smooth voice.

Lo and behold, there was my uncle, actually agreeing with Harry. I couldn't believe my ears.

"In fact," he continued, "I have a particular talent for directing conversation, as some might know. I could come along and see if I can be of any help."

"Yeah, sure," I said sarcastically. "The Ministry would just love to hear what the ex-Death Eater has to say. To be honest, uncle, I think you would be more of a hindrance than a help."

Narcissa looked worried for some reason. I glanced back at my uncle, whose gray eyes had a certain fire behind them – the fire that showed that he was aching to yell and scream at me for throwing his past mistakes back in his face. I really shouldn't have said that, but hey, it's true. The Ministry wouldn't believe him if he even tried to open his mouth.

"That… is of no consequence, young lady," he hissed.

I just shrugged and put my face in my hands. This is hopeless. I felt my aunt's well-manicured nails dig into my shoulder as she attempted to comfort me. Her touch seemed to calm me a little, but not enough to give me any optimism.

"Well, we should be going," Harry mumured. "Mr. Malfoy, are you coming with us?"

"She is my niece, Potter," he replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world that he'd be tagging along to watch my misery unfold.

"Alright, then." I looked up to see Harry check his watch. "Well, we're leaving in about a half an hour, so be ready by then." He gave me a warm, encouraging smile and left the room. Uncle Lucius followed him out, glancing at me with an unreadable expression.

"Do you want something to eat? I'll have the elves whip something up," Narcissa offered.

"No, it's fine. I'm not hungry." My stomach was turning so much I was afraid that, if I ate, I would be sick.

"Are you sure?"

I heaved a sigh. "Yeah."

I left the room, wanting to just escape to my room until it was time to leave, but apparently, that wasn't meant to be.

I heard one of the elves offering to take off someone's coat; a snide voice refusing the offer rather rudely echoed around the foyer. There was my cousin, Draco, with his son, Scorpius next to him.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Can't I come to my own house?" he snapped.

"In case you haven't heard, I'm going to trial, and your parents are coming with me, along with Harry," I added, hoping to scare him off with his worst enemy.

"Oh, that's today?" he asked, like the clueless bastard he is.

"Yeah, didn't you know? Oh, of course you didn't, 'cause you don't give a damn unless it concerns you!"

"Don't start fighting, you two," I heard Narcissa from behind me. "How are you, Draco? Come here, Scorpius, come give Grandma a hug!"

The boy ran up to his grandmother and threw his arms around her neck. Draco smiled – genuinely smiled, not the smirk that was so common for him he ought to put a trademark on it. I felt all warm and fuzzy on the inside at the sight, and I figured that even if I did go to Azkaban, I'd still know that I had family – even if they were some of the most dysfunctional people I've ever known.

I smiled. Everything was going to be okay.