This story spawned from a thought I had when I was reading an 8th year Harry Potter story. How come Draco is always just allowed to wonder around the school after he was a death eater? It gave me a thought about him being assigned an auror to follow him around. Every day I take the subway to school and I day dream to pass the time. So while trapped under ground and starring at a window facing a black wall while there was a subway delay so we were stopped in the tunnel, I had a ten minute thought that turned into this story.

*I'm in the middle of transferring chapters that I have caught spelling mistakes on. I'll underline Golden Protector to show it's the updated chapter.

Golden Protector

Chapter 1: The Trial

…

Since the war had ended last month it felt like all he'd seen was the inside of a courtroom. After the tenth trial with his presence at every single one of them, people had just started to except that he would be there though he rarely spoke out. Because he was the boy who lived he felt it was his duty to see the evildoers behind bars and the actual innocents set free. That's why he was here.

Sitting in the stands; waiting for his turn to testify at Draco Malfoy's trial.

Fingering the wand in his pocket, he thought about how he owed this at least to Malfoy since without his wand he surely would've died. They both owed each other life debts. and they couldn't repay those if Malfoy was in prison.

He'd told his friends that this trial was tomorrow since he knew that they would insist to come with him but he felt he needed to do this alone.

He sat in the back aisle like usual. From his position he could see everyone coming and going. In the front row he could see Narcissa Malfoy arriving for her son's trial. He'd testified at her trial, which had been only a week after the war ended and managed to get her on house arrest.

The judge finally arrived, everyone stood in respect. Harry felt like he was just going through the motions since he'd done this so many times. The judge sat down and everyone followed his example.

"We are here today for the trial of Draco Lucius Malfoy, who is accused of being a death eater, planning to kill Albus Dumbledore, torturing, making dark potions, performing dark magic..." The judge read off a large file.

The list went on further. Harry knew it sounded bad but he knew why everything on that list happened and it wasn't at Malfoy's own free will. Hopefully his testifying would be enough.

"Bring the accused in." The judge commanded some nearby aurors. They went to a door near the side of the room and went through it. When they came back out they had the Slytherin held between them like he needed their support to continue to stand. They dragged him over to the chair in the middle and locked his chains to the arms of the chair.

He couldn't believe that they'd put Malfoy in chains like he was a dangerous criminal. The other boy looked awful like he'd been in Azkaban for years instead of in just a ministry holding cell for a month. At least he thought the blond had been held in the ministry and not shipped off to Azkaban. The thought off the boy held in the wizarding prison horrified him.

Malfoy was wearing the classic black and white jumpsuit; like the one he'd seen Serius wearing. He looked like he hadn't gotten a proper bath in a while or a proper meal. He'd always been slender but now he looked almost skeletal. In his shock at his school rivals appearance he'd missed the beginning of the trial.

It seemed the Wizengamot was much divided over this trial. Some claimed because of his age he couldn't be held accountable for his actions. Others felt his deeds were too dark to be forgiven and he should spend the rest of his life in prison.

Malfoy hadn't spoken a word through the whole thing like he had accepted his fate already.

The judge was just about to start the vote when Harry realized he hadn't gotten a chance to speak yet.

"Wait!" Harry yelled, making his presence known to Malfoy. He could see the blonde's shoulders tense. "I would like to testify for the accused." Many whispers started as he made his way forward.

The judge for the day raised his eyebrow. "Usually you have to register to testify but because of who you are we'll make an exception." He said once the boy who lived had made it in front of him. "Harry James Potter, to testify for the defense of the accused, Draco Lucius Malfoy." The judge announced.

Harry took the seat in the defense box. He had a clear view of Malfoy's face from here and it looked shocked. He didn't wait for the arguer the ministry had hired to start asking questions since he knew the Malfoy's vaults had been frozen until further notice so they didn't have the money to hire their own. The arguer would try to steer him whichever way the ministry wanted this trial to go.

"Draco Malfoy has been threatened and black mailed through this whole war. Voldemort..." Harry saw everyone flinch at the name but he just rolled his eyes before continuing on. "He was displeased with Draco's father. Voldemort threatened to kill his mother, father, and then him; if he did not kill Dumbledore." He stopped to take a breath.

"Is his true Mrs. Malfoy?" The judge turned to ask the accused.

"Well yes, and…" Malfoy sputtered at being addressed suddenly.

"That's enough." The judge stopped him from adding on. "We just need you to confirm what the witness is saying. Continue Mr. Potter." He gestured for him to speak.

"He assigned this mission knowing that Malfoy would fail. He never expected Malfoy to be successful. Dumbledore knew of his mission to kill him the whole time but what no one knew is that Dumbledore was dying from a curse already. His death was preventible so he made Severus Snape make an unbreakable bond to promise to kill him when Malfoy failed." Harry stopped to observe the crowd. He could hear Skeeter's quill scratching over her parchment along with many others. Harry had never revealed any of this information to the public before.

"So that he could save Draco's innocence. He cared enough about Malfoy to do this for him. I watched Draco very closely that whole time at school. I kept saying I knew he was up to something. You could say I was stalking him. I could see that whatever he was doing was tearing him up inside. When he was finally back at his home, Malfoy Manner; that Voldemort had taken over and turned into his base. He was kept a prisoner in his own home. Only called on for meetings and sessions where Voldemort forced him to torture fellow death eaters. Not innocent people like it probable say in your notes. I know this because I saw it through my connection to Voldemort's mind first hand. I could feel how much he enjoyed the terror he put into the boy. Draco Malfoy only performed all those things on that list with Voldemort's wand at his back." Harry spoke directly to the wizengamot. He nodded to show that he was finished and started returning to his spot near the back. Mrs. Malfoy nodded to him in thanks as he passed by.

The judge cleared his throat before speaking. "Thank you Mr. Potter. We are now ready to vote. All in favor of sending Draco Lucius Malfoy to Azkaban raise your hand." Only a couple sparse hands raised but when they saw that no one else did near them, so they put it back down as if to change their vote. "Those in favor of setting young Mr. Malfoy free." All the hands raised now.

"We can't just set you free boy. There is an issue that must be settled first." The judge addressed Malfoy directly while shifting through a file.

Harry stopped half way up the stairs and turned around demanding. "Why not!?"

"Quiet, Mr. Potter. I will not have you disturbing my court again. There is a safety issue. Not Mr. Malfoy endangering others, but his own life is in danger if he is not protected. It was revealed in an interrogation of another death eater that..." The judge pauses before speaking. "Voldemort promised the werewolf Greyback the young Malfoy heir in payment for his loyalty once he'd won the battle. We have been informed that Greyback still plans on having his payment."

Draco could feel a panic attack coming. He knew that the werewolf had always been watching him but to want him as payment. What did he want him for? Horrible things were jumping through his mind. He jumped when he felt a hand land on his shoulder. Shooting his eyes behind him he relaxed when he saw it was just Potter who'd made his way from his previous position.

"Has there been any word on Greyback's location?" Harry asked.

During the Battle at Hogwarts Ron and Neville thought they took the werewolf out for good but once the dust from the battle had settle no one could find his body. Either he got up and escaped while everyone was distracted who some one had helped him. It was hard to take out a werewolf because of their in human strength, they shouldn't have thought it would be that easy to get ride of him. Just a week or so after his master's death people started reporting sightings of the werewolf all over. Originally the ministry claimed that they were just being paranoid but when Greyback bit a child and turned him, they could no longer deny that the werewolf was still on the lose. They had a full man hunt that matched the scale they went to when Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban.

"No there has not. He is still on the run. We are afraid that if he hears of Mr. Malfoy's release he will come to collect him." Judge explained.

"Do you have a plan." Harry asked.

"We have talked to the aurors about the issue if Mr. Malfoy was to be released and have made a plan of action. He will be released into his Mothers custody and will join her in house arrest." He spoke more towards the accused for that. "There is constant auror presence there as they catalog all the dark items so he will be safe. Since Mr. Malfoy is under age it is a condition that he must finish school. That is where it gets tricky."

"Why? Hogwarts is completely safe." Harry asked. They spent months fixing the schools defenses and it was a s strong as ever.

"It's more about the parents worry for their children. If he was to get inside the school and hurt one of the students while looking for Mr. Malfoy." The judge explained. "We have decided to assign him his own auror bodyguard who will follow him everywhere until the capture of the werewolf. To assure the other students safeties as well as his own against Greyback and others who wish to harm him. Headmistress McGonagall has agreed to this kindly." He gestured towards the crowd.

Harry followed the judge's eyes to the head of Gryffindors location in the crowd. He hadn't seen the women arrive. It made sense that she would be present at a student's trial.

McGonagall stood up in the middle row. "Yes, I have. As long as Mr. Malfoy behaves himself and keeps up his grades I see no point in keeping him from finishing his education and getting a good job." She nodded in the blonde's direction.

"Do you agree to these terms? If you do not you will be placed in Azkaban." The judge addressed the Malfoy heir directly.

Harry watched as Malfoy's face paled a little further if that was possible.

"Yes, I do." Draco agreed readily. After spending a couple weeks in Azkaban he was ready to never see the place again.

The judge smiled. "Case dismissed then. Your house arrest starts immediately."

Draco sighed in relief as the aurors unlocked his handcuffs. He rubbed his wrists to get the feeling back into them. He stood on his shaky legs. As soon as he spotted his mother making her way through the crowd to him he met her half way. She enveloped him in a tight hug and kissed his cheek. Usually he'd be embarrassed by this but right now he didn't care what anyone thought. His mother and he were safe. He hugged back.

"Aw, Malfoy." Came a nervous voice behind him and turned around to face Potter.

"Yes." The boy blanched when they both responded at once since he only used his last name.

"Draco?" It felt weird saying Malfoy's first name but he guessed that he'd have to when in the presence of his mother.

Putting a restraining hand on her son, Mrs. Malfoy approached him. "Thank you Harry Potter for everything you've done for me and my son." Mrs. Malfoy smiled at him from her place behind her son. She poked said son in the back as if to remind him of his manners.

"Ow, right." Draco grumbled. "Thank you for testifying for me. I don't know how that vote would've gone if it wasn't for you."

"I owe you two. If it weren't for your actions I wouldn't standing here now." Harry starred in Malfoy's eyes and then turning to smile at Mrs. Malfoy. "Both of you."

"That reminds me. I just wanted to give this back to you." Harry reached into his robe and pulled out something.

Draco looked down and was surprised to see his wand. He reached out cautiously and took it. He smiled when he felt the familiar tingle of magic at the tips of his fingers but then it was snatched away from him.

The man in the auror robes placed the wand in his pocket.

"Hey." Potter yelled indignantly for him so he didn't say anything.

"Your wand will be kept for safe keeping by the ministry until you return to school, and then it will be entrusted to the auror assigned to you for classes. If you behave while at school you will be allowed to have full use of you wand back eventually. Until then your spells will be monitored." The auror who had snatched it informed Draco before marching off with it.

Draco sighed. He guessed that he'd just have to get used to that. It'll be like that for the next year or so. "Thanks anyway Potter. I guess I'll see you at school."

"Yeah, see you." Potter said with a familiar angry look on his face but it wasn't directed at him for once but at the aurors back.

"Can we make a truce?" Draco asked and held out his hand. "I could use a strong ally at school."

Potter blinked at him in surprise. "Sure." Harry took his hand in a strong grip. It felt like he'd been waiting for this moment for years. "Remember, we aren't at war anymore."

"Maybe you aren't." Draco said cryptically as he let his mother lead him away.

Harry watched them leave. They had a full auror escort back to their manor.

o0o

Hermione removed the kettle from the stove in the kitchen in 12 Grimmauld place. She poured the hot water into one of the china cups that held a tea bag of earl grey. No one else was up yet but it was still early. She and Ron had been helping Harry remodel the old house over the summer. If all the protections put into the house and it being fully paid for already, Harry saw no reasons to buy a new house. This one would just have to do no matter how decrepit it was.

Others were also still staying here. Even though the Order was no longer needed they still felt joined together. With all the members they lost during the war they needed the support to get through there loses.

Pulling out a rickety chair and sitting down at the table. She unrolled the Daily Prophet that Kreacher had left there, knowing she liked to read it while drinking her morning tea. Her eyes widened at the headline and giant picture spread across the front page. "Harry!" Hermione yelled in anger. She quickly got up out of her chair and ran to the bottom of the stairs. "Harry!" She yelled up them.

"Filth, Mud blood, scrums of the earth..." Mrs. Black's portrait started to yell.

"Put a cork in it." Hermione said as she cast a spell she discovered that would actually render paintings unable to speak.

"What?" Harry asked tiredly as he reached the landing. He had laid awake last night playing the trial over in his mind, not managing to fall asleep till early in the morning. His plan of sleeping in was disturbed by his friends yelling.

"Did you testify yesterday at Malfoy's trial?" Hermione questioned. He scratched the back of his head nervously. "Did you?"

"Yes." Harry answered sheepishly while playing with the banister so he didn't have to look at her.

"I told you I wanted to go with you. Why'd you lie to me?" Hermione questioned with her hands on her hips indignantly.

"I had to do this on my own. Why'd you want to go so badly anyway?" Harry asked as he descended the stairs.

"For support." Hermione answered with much less anger.

"Have you even read the article yet?" Harry asked as he walked past her on the way to the kitchen.

"No, but I didn't need to when there's a giant picture of you and Malfoy shaking hands on the front page." Hermione said as she shook the paper indignantly at him as she followed him into the kitchen. She retook her seat by her cup of tea. "So how did it go?" She blew to cool down the hot liquid.

"Why don't you just read the article?" Harry suggested tiredly as he poured a cup of tea himself. It was too early in the morning to have to tell stories.

"You know that paper only ever tells half-truths. I want the truth and nothing but the truth." Hermione demanded with a pointed look that she wouldn't leave him alone till he did.

"Fine." Harry sighed tiredly. "I testified, saying how Malfoy only did all that stuff with Voldemort's wand at his back which managed to change the wizengot minds enough to get him set free. It didn't look it that was going to happen before I spoke up for him." He said. Talking about it made him think about the conclusion to yesterday's trial.

"That's great isn't it, why do you look so troubled?" Hermione asked with a furrowed brow. She leaned on the table to better be able to see his face.

"Well, once it was voted that Malfoy wouldn't be going to prison they revealed some information from interviewing some of the other death eaters. Apparently Voldemort promised Greyback that he could have Malfoy as payback, and he still wants him now even though they lost. You know how they haven't caught him yet."

"Why?" Hermione had a surprised look when she spoke. "What could the werewolf possibly want with him?"

"No one really knows but Greyback himself, but the ministry has put Malfoy under house arrest for the time being, the manors swarming with aurors so he'll be safe. Greyback would have to be a total idiot to attack him there." Harry explained. "You know how Malfoy's still considered a minor even though he turned 18 last week. They have the rule that..." He was interrupted.

"All minors must finish school." Hermione said like she was reading the rule from a book. "So Malfoy has to return to Hogwarts in September." She said understandingly.

"Yes that. He's in too much danger with Greyback after him to just be able to wonder around by himself right now. The aurors are nowhere close in catching the werewolf, so the ministry decided to assign Malfoy an auror while at school."

"His own personal auror, I'm sure Malfoy's pleased about that." Hermione said jokingly.

"I'm just imagining him being trailed around by some, crazed close to retiring auror like Mad Eye Moody." Harry said with a laugh. He took a sip of his tea.

"Are you glad you did it?" Hermione asked once they calmed down from laughing.

"Don't regret it on bit." Harry answered with confidence in his voice. "You know Malfoy asked for a truce after the trial." He told with a smile on his face at the thought as he looked into his tea.

"Really?" Hermione said with surprise. Harry just nodded. "Wow." She thought about how much that contradicted with what she remembered Malfoy being like. She hoped the war had changed him for the better.

"Harry!" Could be heard being yelled from up stair's. They both looked at the ceiling in surprise.

"Crap, I'm sure Ron just received his copy of the daily prophet." Harry exclaimed with a hand over his eyes.

Hermione sighed as she pushed her chair out. "Drink your tea. I'll go talk to him for you." She ruffled her hand through his hair in friendly affection as she left the kitchen.

Harry sat in silence just staring at his tea thinking.

"So you got Draco off." Came a deep drawling voice from beside him.

Harry was so surprised he almost split his tea all over himself. "Don't sneak up on me like that." He snapped at the man leaning over the paper. He eyed Snape as he read over the article.

When he'd seen Nagina attack the man and his eyes close after he'd given him his memories, he thought for sure the man had been a goner. When he'd heard after the battle that Snape had been found a little worse for wear but alive he'd been dumbfounded. When you hear the man tell it, logically he always took anti-venom and others with his morning tea, just in case someone tried to poison him. Harry thought that it was just extremely paranoid.

"God every time, I think I'm seeing a ghost when you walk into a room." Harry said as he looked over the man's appearance. Snape was still recovering from being poisoned from the snakebite. Just because he'd managed to live didn't mean he'd walked away unscathed. It would be awhile before he was back to his usual healthy scowling self. That's the reason why he was living at Grimmauld place right now. His symptoms were like he had the stomach flu and bronchitis mixed together. He was here so that Mrs. Weasley could Molly-coddle him.

"You can't get rid of me that easily." Snape drawled sliding the paper closer to himself. His brow furrowed as he read over the information. Pausing to cough, it had a slight wet sound to it. "I can't wait until I can get out of here and back to my own place." He exclaimed.

"Do you think you'll be better enough to teach at Hogwarts again? Harry asked curiously. McGonagall had hinted that she wanted the man back teaching potions.

"Wild horses couldn't keep me away. I'm sure that oaf Slughorn has let the students get away with murder. I'll need to whip them back into shape." Snape replied adamantly.

Harry sipped his tea trying to look innocent, not wanting to remind the man that Slughorn thought him his best student when he'd really been cheating the whole time thanks to his old potions textbook. Slughorn really had let them get away with anything.

McGonagall flooed in using the kitchen fireplace, brushing off the soot.

"Hi." Harry greeted the witch in surprise.

"Headmistress." Snape nodded to his fellow teacher in greeting.

"I haven't gotten used to being called that." McGonagall exclaimed. "Does it get any less weird?" She asked the man.

"I never got used to it and I was headmaster for almost a whole year." Snape replied.

"I always forget that you were the head master for a time." Harry exclaimed. "Since I wasn't at school last year it just isn't something I associate with you." Whenever he pictured a headmaster of Hogwarts he always imagined an old man with a long white beard because of Dumbledore. He had to try not to laugh out loud when the image of Snape sporting a beard.

"I'll always just be the potion teach slash death eater slash spy in your mind." Snape drawled as he leaned back in his chair.

What are you doing here?" Harry asked the witch.

"I'm actually here to talk to you about the trail." McGonagall looked at him over her spectacles as she sat down at the table.

"I guess you saw me there." Harry said sheepishly.

"I would have to be blind and deaf to have missed you. You practically hijacked the trial." McGonagall exclaimed.

"I couldn't just let Malfoy go to prison. They were crucifying him in there." Harry exclaimed adamantly thinking that his head of house didn't approve of his actions.

"If you hadn't stood up right then I would've. I'm proud of you for doing the right thing." McGonagall patted him on his knee.

The kitchen door swung opened as Hermione re-entered alone. "Professor McGonagall, when did you get here?" She asked surprised.

"Not too long ago Miss. Granger." The head mistress replied.

"How did it go with Ron?" Harry asked.

"He's being stubborn." She sighed in frustration at her boyfriend's hotheadedness. "How are the repairs going at Hogwarts?" Hermione asked the head Mistress to change the subject.

Originally Harry had tried to help repair the damage that the battle had caused to the school but he'd gathered too much attention. His presence was doing more harm than good because people were following him around instead of doing their jobs. The hero worship was stronger than ever and showed no sign of stopping any time soon.

"We've finally finished the great hall and fixed the magical ceiling. We're branching out now to different parts of the castle." McGonagall informed them.

"That's good." Harry smiled at the information.

"I'm sure the ministry has stuck its big nose into the repairs." Snape exclaimed like it was a fact.

"Of course, I assigned a group of ministry wizards to help work on the wards to appease them." McGonagall shared.

"The hardest thing to fix I think is going to be the room of requirement?" Harry shared his opinion.

"I'm not sure if it'll ever be the same again." McGonagall sighed.

"Why can't it be fixed like everything else?" Harry asked. He'd made many good memories in that exact room. Dumbledore's Army wouldn't have been possible without it.

"No one ever really understood how the room actually worked. To just be able to imagine what you want and it'd be provided is very strong magic. It was created by the founders and kept secret from common knowledge. Nothing has ever been found written about the spells they originally used either." McGonagall explained.

Harry turned to Hermione. "Have you ever come across anything in the library?"

"Sorry no. It was never even mentioned in Hogwarts a History until recently when you made it known to everyone. The room of requirement was created over a thousand years ago. I'm sure even if it was written down it would've been lost by now." Hermione added in.

George walked into the Kitchen. "Hey how are you doing?" Harry asked offering a seat for the red head to sit in. George just shrugged and poured himself a cup of tea. He hadn't been very talkative since the death of his twin which was understandable. He was sure he would say something if they were alone.

The kitchen door swung open admitting another house occupant.

"There you are!" Molly screeched indignantly as she strutted further into the room. Snape tensed when he heard the women's voice. "You are supposed to be on strict bed rest. What do you think you are doing in the kitchen?" She reprimanded the potion master like he was one of her own sons. "Get back to bed and I'll bring you your breakfast." She pointed towards the door and starred the man down until he complied.

Snape grumbled unhappily about meddlesome women as he got out of his chair and stomped out of the kitchen. Molly truly was scary when she was in a bad mood. She'd mad quite the reputation for herself, especially after she'd killed Bellatrix Lestrange. McGonagall was struggling to hold back giggles and he even saw George crack a smile at the potion master being reprimanded by his own mother.

"Harry my boy, what could I make for you?" Molly asked him, back to her sweet self.

Snape stuck his head back through the door. "Make me an English muffin and earl grey tea."

"Get back to bed!" She snapped at the man. Snape humped as he turned around to make his way upstairs. She turned back around to smile at him.

"Just the usual." Harry replied. He knew no matter what he asked for she'd fill his plate to the brim even if he claimed he wasn't hungry.

Mrs. Weasley started to crack eggs into a large bowl and heat up a pan for bacon. Soon the house was filled with the smell of cooking food. He could hear people upstairs getting up and the creaking of the stairs as they descended. Fleur and Charlie appeared first with Mr. Weasley entering not long after; he walked over and kissed his wife's cheek before taking a seat.

Ron finally showed up once the food started to cook even though Harry knew he'd been up much longer; he could never resist the smell of bacon. The red head showed up still in his pajamas while his sister entered right behind him completely put together. Ginny sat down close beside Harry and he shuffled away from her.

Molly started to serve the table what she'd made already. On the way around she kissed George on the head. She'd become extremely protective of her children since the loss of the one.

"Minerva will you be staying for breakfast?" Molly asked the other woman. As she decided how much food she was still going to have to make.

"No. I best be getting back to Hogwarts. There are still lots of work to do. Just came to talk to Mr. Potter about a bout his testimony at the trail yesterday." McGonagall said as she stood to make her way back to the mantle.

"Which trial is that?" Molly asked curiously as she flipped an egg.

Ginny narrowed her eyes. She snatched the paper off the table, quickly scanning the head line. "You testified at Malfoy's trial yesterday?!" She exclaimed surprised with pursed lips.

"Yeah he did, got him off too." Ron said disgruntled as he played with his scrambled eggs.

"I thought you hated him?" Molly asked. She'd only ever heard complaints about the boy from him and her children.

"I used to but after the war our rivalry just seemed petty. It's time to put our past behind us." Harry shrugged as he explained why he did it.

Mrs. Weasley glanced at the picture in the prophet. "The boy's only skin and bones, not an ounce of fat on him. I have half a mind to go over to that manor and fatten him up." She exclaimed. Harry smiled when he imagined Malfoy's reaction if that did happen. Molly Weasley was a force to be reckoned with when she thought a child was malnourished.

"I best bring Severus his food." Molly exclaimed as she picked up a large plate that was definitely not what the potion master had ordered. 'Oh well, at least she got the tea right.' Harry thought to himself.

The topic of conversation around the table slowly changed from Malfoy's trial to other topics.

It was hectic around here but Harry wouldn't have it any other way.

...TBC