A Thousand Miles from Yesterday

Prologue:

"It's Judith McImier, here for the Daily Prophet, reporting Live from The Wizengamot, where today the infamous wizard family, the Malfoys, are standing trial for their involvement with and crimes in the name of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. The latest news is that there has been a family brawl between father and son. Seemingly Lord Malfoy is displeased with his son's actions at the final fight at Hogwarts. If this has anything to do with the family lawyer stating that he will not be representing Draco Malfoy at this trial, we can only guess. But it looks like the youngest of the Malfoy's is left fending for himself against the whole wizarding world that looks to punish them all for the crimes afflicted upon us.

"Will the fact that young Malfoy saved a fellow student, a foe, help him? We will have to wait and see, and it looks like… yes, here are today's main characters. Following the well-known Death Eater-defender, comes Lucius Malfoy, wearing his head up high and looking as cold and heartless as we all know him, must admit the shackles suit him fine! Clearly his wife isn't so cocky, concerned for the outcome, as time in Azkaban wouldn't do her any good, but is a likely verdict coming her way. She keeps looking over her shoulders and I can guess why. Young Malfoy hasn't come out yet… I wonder if his… No, wait here he comes and my Goddess… What the hell has happened to him!

"Zoom in on that look he's sending his parents… Makes you wonder if Narcissa is more worried of being left alone with her son than facing Azkaban, as he looks like he wouldn't hesitate to kill either of them in a second. Interesting turn of events, I must say. Draco Malfoy is flanked by a couple mean looking Aurors, for his protection? Or is it to protect others from him, you wonder? The boy looks as though he has been in close combat with a much stronger opponent and I would bet a years salary that it's none other that Lucius himself, now sitting next to his wife facing the Chief Warlock and Interrogators. The boy is placed in the background chained down to his chair, clearly in rage and even fighting a little… Uhhh, this is going to be exciting! I will return with updates as the Wizengamot reaches its verdicts for the two elder Malfoy's. Judith McImier for the Daily Prophet, Live at The Wizengamot."


Draco starred at the back of his father, beside himself in anger. The son of a troll had denied the family lawyer rights to take his case, saying that he didn’t have a son, but had beaten the living shit out of Draco while he had hissed he would have preferred to be born a Weasley than being burdened with the Malfoy-name. Since the male and female prisoners were kept in different locations, his mother hadn't been there to stop the two fighting and the warden had had to break them apart, leaving them chained to opposite walls swearing and cursing each other in words that made even the warden shake his head.

How the bloody hell did that son of a pogrebin expect him to defend himself against the bloody Wizengamot? He knew next to nothing of the laws or loopholes in it! He hoped that the Chief Warlock would throw that self-centred, prejudiced egomaniac back into Azkaban and loose the key! Draco's eyes shifted to the back of his mother, her shoulders were shaking and for a moment Draco's bitter and hateful mask slipped and he felt the room spin. If they sent her to Azkaban she wouldn't survive! He knew it and it hurt more that the beating he had recently suffered. "Mom… Please don't cry… Be strong!" he whispered loud enough for her to hear it and when she raised her head he knew she had put on a mask of coldness and indifference, if only to keep up appearances.

The room was buzzing as the spectators found their places. From where Draco sat he could see them all, he sneered at the thought of all the reporters seated up there, supplying the gossip to the masses. As his eyes flickered over the crowd he was surprised to see the Weasleys taking front row seats, he swallowed as his eyes meet Mrs. Weasley's and quickly looked away, not wanting her sympathy, or worse, pity!


"Why is he sitting by himself, Arthur...? And why is he all black and blue…?" Molly Weasley looked from the young blonde wizard to his parents and back. "I don't know, Molly dear… Perhaps the Chief Warlock wants to put him on a separate trial." Arthur frowned, he had seen many trials of families and it hadn't happened before. The normal procedure was to keep the families together, unless they had asked to be split up… His thoughts were broken of by the chatter of his children and Hermione. "Oi, move over George give your brother some room." George narrowed his eyes at Ron and bit back, he bloody well knew some needed more space that other.

"Shhh, you two… Hi, Molly." Hermione squeezed in over the seats to give the elder witch a hug, "Harry is on his way… Buying the last copy of the Prophet." She shook her head and looked out into the courtroom frowning as she saw Draco sitting alone, sneering up at some wizards who was yelling rude words down to him. "Uhhh, I just want to hex them… Look at how they harass him…" she went for her wand, but realized they had left them outside the courtroom. She looked up as Harry came rushing in flushed, panting and frowning. "Draco is on his own…! He has no lawyer!" Molly gasped and covered her mouth and the rest broke out in angry words.

"It's just like that slime ball to get back at his son like this," George growled and looked ready to jump the banister and strangle Lucius with his bare hands and properly would have done it if his brothers hadn't held him back.

"All rise for the Chief Warlock Tiberius Ogden," the Court Scribe yelled as the elderly wizard walked in. With a knock on his desk he asked who was defending and a mousy little man coughed and said he was defending Lady and Lord Malfoy and then stood back, leaving the Chief Warlock frowning. "And not their son?" The mousy man shook his head, starring at his feet. Coughing, Ogden asked who was defending Draco Malfoy and was worried as minutes pasted and no one stood forth.

"I am!" All looked around as someone jumped over the banister and walked over to the chained boy, who looked as bewildered as the rest in the courtroom. "And are you of age and in knowledge of the proper and precise ways of wizarding law? And who are you?"

Draco looked in shock at the brown-haired girl in front of him. He had accepted that he was most likely heading to Azkaban and now here stood Hermione Granger offering to defend him. He didn't hear her answer to Ogden, just stared at her. She looked at him, miming he needed to answer, and he blinked and looked up at Ogden. "Mr. Malfoy… Do you accept Miss. Granger as your defender?" Draco just nodded and whistling and applause sounded from where the Weasleys, including Harry Potter, sat, with Molly whipping away a tear of pride and the boys beaming at them.

"Order… Order… Let the trials begin!"