There was a gasp of shock from many present, as the story of her kidnapping, imprisonment and torture at Malfoy Manor was well known and she was surely the last person most would have expected to speak up for Draco.

Luna, looking well recovered from her ordeal and from the fight at Hogwarts, took the stand and was sworn in. She beamed at Draco when asked to identify him as the defendant and also at Kingsley Shacklebolt then she took her seat and Kingsley gestured at the man to his right to begin the questioning.

"Miss Lovegood, I have no need to go into the details here of your kidnapping from the Hogwarts Express, since they are well known and many of the culprits directly responsible died in the battle at Hogwarts school," the man said.

"I would however like to go into some detail regarding your experiences at the hands of the Death Eaters whilst you were illegally imprisoned at Malfoy Manor. I have no wish however to upset you, as it must have been a most frightening and distressing time. I am mainly going to limit my questions to the detailed actions of Mr. Malfoy, since he is the issue in question here."

"Thank you for your concern for my welfare, sir," Luna replied. "But I am happy to discuss all aspects of my time in the Manor, particularly when it comes to the actions of Draco, since, other than from my fellow prisoners, his, and of course, his mother's, were the only kindness I experienced during that horrible time."

"Thank you Miss Lovegood, your candour is appreciated." The man replied. "I understand that during your long incarceration you were abused and assaulted by several of Voldemort's supporters, including being severely tortured by the witch Bellatrix Lestrange and others, by means of Unforgivable curses and other methods. Also that you sadly suffered sexual abuse from several of the male Death Eaters. In addition you were being subject to slow starvation, because inadequate food was being supplied to yourself and your fellow prisoners. Is that correct?"

"Yes sir, that is all true." Luna replied.

"However, "the Defence Counsel said, continuing. "During that terrible ordeal you did, I understand, have some help and sympathy from two members of the Malfoy family, those being Draco Mafoy and his mother Narcissa. Is that correct?"

"Yes Sir, that's correct. There were several particularly bad torture sessions at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange, who kept trying to get information from me about Harry Potter and his friends, regarding their location and their intentions, even though I knew nothing. Narcissa Malfoy brought healing potions and unguents down into the cellar and treated my wounds. On more than one occasion I would probably have died had she not done so. Whilst she was healing me we got to talking in the privacy of the enchanted dungeon and she made it clear that she detested the presence of Voldemort and his minions in her home and she was very sorry about what her insane sister and Voldemort were doing to me."

"So," the Defence Counsel asked. "Narcissa Malfoy was, in fact, responsible for your survival, along with her son Draco? How did he help?"

"Draco sometimes smuggled extra food down to the dungeon for me, which I shared with the others, and this helped stave off starvation. Also, sometimes, I was being tortured by Voldemort and Bellatrix, even though by then they knew I could tell them nothing and were simply doing it for their own sadistic pleasure. Whenever that happened, Draco would sometimes try to get them to stop without giving away his motive and would also give me healing potions afterward... in secret, of course."

"Thank you Miss Lovegood, for your clear and helpful testimony. Is their anything in addition you might like to add?"

"Only that I believe that Draco was almost as much a victim of Voldemort as those he directly attacked. Draco was weak willed and from early childhood was under the sway of his father's vile opinions. However, in the end, he did turn away from the evil path they had been on. By the time of the Battle, he wasn't truly on Voldemort's side, as many of you saw what happened with your own eyes," she added disapprovingly.

The man ignored the derogatory comment and continued on. "And are you ready to repeat what you have just told the court under the influence of veritaserum?"

"Yes," Luna said.

"Good," the Minister said. "Thank you again, Mrs. Lovegood. You may take you seat." Luna did but not before shooting a reassuring glance at Draco which he somewhat returned.

You could see that the scale was beginning to tip but many were still unconvinced.

Kingsley cleared his throat once again. "And lastly, the defense calls... Mr. Harry James Potter."