A/N: As said guys I am back with a new chapter... :) Thank you for all the love from previous chapter 💕
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The following day, Sirius got a note from Dumbledore. It told him that Harry's hearing would be on August the Twelfth. It said little more than to have Harry ready and waiting down at the ministry. When Sirius told Harry this, Harry just laughed and nodded.
"I'm coming along," Draco said after swallowing a bite.
"Are you sure, Dragon? I still don't think you're up to it," Harry said, concerned. Draco glared at his friend.
"I'm coming, and that's final."
Harry huffed. "Fine, you tell Severus that, then."
"I will."
"I've ironed your best clothes for tomorrow morning, Harry, and I want you to wash your hair tonight, too. A good first impression can work wonders." Molly said, serving him another plate of food. Harry began to wonder when he picked up a new mum. He was beginning to not like it. Molly Weasley could be pushy and overbearing. She was very nice, sure, but he was still annoyed with her.
"How are we getting there?" Harry asked. Molly scrunched her forehead in concern.
"We, dear?"
"Draco's coming," he said matter-of-factly.
Mrs. Weasley shook her head. "Dear, I don't think that's allowed."
"He's coming, unless Professor Snape says differently," Harry informed her. They looked over as Severus entered the room.
The man shrugged. "I don't mind. He is all but healed. It might do for him to get out and see something other than this dusty, old house."
Draco smiled.
"So, how are we getting there?" Harry repeated.
Molly sighed, her voice gruff. "Arthur's taking you to work with him."
"You can wait in my office until it's time for the hearing," Mr. Weasley offered. He looked gently over to Draco. His mind had changed about the boy the moment they brought him into Grimmauld Place. He still could not believe Lucius would do that to his own heir, but knowing the boy was abused led him to think of the blond as a human being, not as a prat.
"I think I should come along," Sirius told them.
"Professor Dumbledore doesn't think it's a good idea for you to go with Harry, and I must say I-" Molly started.
"-Think he's quite right." Sirius said with clenched teeth.
Harry stepped in.
"Padfoot, it's a good idea for you to stay here. You get to come with us to Hogwarts, anyway."
Sirius nodded in defeat.
"Okay, but you have to tell me all about it."
Harry smiled. "Of course."
The next morning, Harry and Draco woke up at half past five. Molly had laid both of their best muggle clothes on their beds. Draco just shook his head.
"I'm not wearing this."
Harry sighed. "We have to go through muggle London to get to the ministry."
"Fine, but for the record, I was not for this."
"Duly noted," Harry agreed.
They walked quietly down the stairs past Kreacher's ancestors into the kitchen. They had expected it to be empty, but it was not. When they reached the door, they heard the soft rumble of voices on the other side, and when they pushed it open, they saw Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Sirius, Remus, Severus, and Tonks sitting there almost as if they were waiting for them. All were fully dressed except for Mrs. Weasley, who was in her dressing gown.
She leapt to her feet the moment they entered. "Breakfast?"
"Mo-mo-morning, Harry, Draco. Sleep alright?" Tonks asked.
Harry smirked.
"Better than you, apparently."
"I've been up all night, come and sit down."
Harry and Draco sat.
"Wotcher, cousin," Tonks greeted Draco. He looked up at her.
"Blood traitor," he said causually. He quickly put a hand over his mouth. "Sorry, reflex. Do I know you?"
"Why, yes, I'm your cousin, Dora Tonks." She paused. "Wait, how did you not know who I was, yet still call me a blood traitor?"
"I'm grumpy in the mornings. Anyone I come across is a blood traitor before eight in the morning." Draco looked around the house. "In fact, I think anyone in this house right now is a blood traitor, according to pureblood standards. That includes me." He turned excitedly to his friend. "Harry! I'm a blood traitor now!"
"Dragon, I don't think that is something you should be excited about."
Draco shook his head. He turned back to Tonks.
"Wait, how am I related to you? I only have one aunt, and she can't have children."
Tonks examined him closely. She began shaking her head.
"Narcissa never even mentioned her older sister?" Tonks muttered unbelievingly.
"Yes, Bellatrix Lestrange. Aunty Bella, if you please."
Tonks shook her head again.
"Not her oldest sister, her older sister. Andromeda Black? I guess, even though disowned, I assumed Narcissa would at least mention her," Tonks said, downcast.
"Why was your mother disowned?" Draco asked, confused.
"Does Tonks sound like a pureblood or halfblood name to you?"
Draco smirked.
"Nope, it does not. However, that doesn't matter to me. Nice to meet you, cousin." Draco stretched out his hand. She took it.
"Now, her proper name is Nymphadora," Sirius began. Tonks quickly swatted him away. Draco smirked.
"Nice to make your acquaintance, Nymphadora."
"Don't call me that. I already have to deal with Remus, Sirius, and Snape trying to call me that."
"All the more reason." Draco smiled.
They left soon after and continued on to muggle London. They walked down the street and made it to the subway station. Harry noted once again that Mr. Weasley held his wand in his pocket. Draco spent his time on the walk in awe of his surroundings. The subway both confused and fascinated him.
They made it to the Ministry of Magic. Harry and Draco squeezed into the phone booth and were taken with Arthur down to the atrium. They had their wands registered and they began to walk toward the auror office. They stopped in and said "hello" to Shacklebolt. Draco thanked him for coming with the rest to rescue him. Shacklebolt said to think nothing of it. He also handed Arthur The Quibbler, telling him that a certain someone might like the article on Sirius Black.
They continued down and reached Arthur's office. Harry was trying his best not to mention the fact that the time and place of the hearing had been changed. He knew he should not know this information, but he would rather not deal with the anxiety of all that would occur because of the change.
Arthur was soon made aware of the changes for the hearing. He anxiously ran with Harry toward Courtroom Ten, where the trial was to take place. Draco took all this in while they ran about through the ministry. Harry Potter never seemed to have a normal life, by far. He was currently at the ministry trying to defend himself in front of the entire Wizengamot over a silly little patronus charm. Life was not fair to the boy.
They arrived at the courtroom.
"Go on," Mr. Weasley panted. "Get in there."
"Is Draco allowed to come with?"
"No, No. I'm afraid he's not. Good luck!"
Draco and Harry nodded. They understood each other. Draco would be waiting for Harry to come back.
Harry was taken aback once again at the size of the courtroom. It was more like a dungeon, but Harry did not have time to consider all this.
"You're late." A cold, male voice rang across the courtroom.
"Sorry," said Harry nervously. "I was not made aware of the time change."
"That is not the fault of the Wizengamot," said the voice. "An owl was sent to you this morning. Take your seat."
Harry had to wonder if it was not Dumbledore who had redirected the owl so that he would not make it in time. It would make him more dependent on Dumbledore's help, and Dumbledore would look like the hero.
"Very well," said the man, who he now recognized as Fudge. "The accused being present, finally, let us begin. Are you ready?"
"Yes sir," said an eager voice Harry knew. It was Percy.
"Disciplinary hearing of the Twelfth of August," said Fudge in a ringing voice. Percy began taking notes at once. "Into offenses committed under the decree for the reasonable restriction of underaged sorcery and the international statute of secrecy by Harry James Potter, resident at Number Four Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey."
They began the court case. Dumbledore showed up as he did before. He argued that it was perfectly reasonable for Harry to use magic, as he was protecting himself and his muggle cousin, who already knew about magic. He brought in Arabella Figg, which still surprised him. She was not even there! How could Dumbledore justify this perjury? He understood why Severus could not testify-it would compromise his position with the Death Eaters and Tom. But lying to the Wizengamot? That seemed a little extreme.
The Wizengamot decided that Harry was not guilty and redacted his sentence. Instead, they agreed to start an inquiry into why Harry was attacked by dementors in a muggle neighborhood.
Harry left rejoicing. He told Draco all about how he got off. Draco congratulated him and they both laughed. They walked out chattering away, and Harry caught sight of something he knew would make his friend sick.
"Draco?" Lucius crooned softly. Draco stopped dead in his tracks.
"Malfoy?" Draco returned.
His father looked incensed. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question. However, I am here to support my friend."
Lucius sneered. "You are to return home immediately."
"You have no right to me."
"I do believe you are my heir, Draconis. I have every right…"
Draco shook his head.
"No, not anymore. I want nothing to do with the House of Malfoy. Disown me if you have to, but I will no longer belong to you." Draco began to walk away. Lucius turned red before going back to his aristocratically pale features.
"Your mother will be displeased to hear so."
Draco shook his head and sneered. "We both know that's not anywhere close to the truth."
Harry smirked.
"If you're here for anything, Malfoy, know that you will have to go back empty-handed. Draco is under the protection of the Potter and Black houses."
Lucius was caught off guard by that.
"What?"
"Just a thought," Harry answered cryptically. He took Draco and made for the atrium. Lucius grabbed Harry's arm.
"You will pay for this." He sneered.
Harry shook his arm away.
"I'd like to see you try."
They left and headed to the atrium. There, Remus and Tonks waited for them. They grabbed their wands and left, both feeling like a load had been taken away from them.
CHAPTER END
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