"You think we can win?"
                              
"The law is the law. Public opinion doesn't control it that much. From estate mishandling, corruption, thief, wrongful confinement, and about a hundred other things."
                              
Draco nodded. "I don't want to go in front of the Wizengamot, Blaise."
                              
"I know, but threats work, too."
                              
"They do. Just tell Padma and Parvati not to overplay their hand. I'm not willing to even go disposition."
                              
"I know. I will tell them. I also... made contact with Higgs."
                              
"What kind?"
                              
"Just informational. Casually referenced you and his involvement. I might have subtly warned him what happens if he keeps messing with you. He got offended by that. Saying he was older, and he has rank and blah blah. He's a thick one. I'll give you that. Theo's pulling his records, too. I mean... Theo's not pulling anyone's records, cause that is wrong."
                              
Draco smiled. He wanted Higgs under control or gone.
                              
"I also hired a shadow."
                              
Draco looked at him. He didn't see how tracking Higgs's movements would yield anything. "You can use my money. I'm not lacking."
                              
"No, Draco. Consider my penitence for not keeping track of you."
                              
"They might have killed me, if you had tried to help, just to avoid legal entanglements. The only reason they let me go is that I didn't talk, and they wanted me to die outside of the prison. There was nothing you could have done, short of breaking into the prison and becoming a wanted criminal."
                              
"Tempting," Blaise said and shook his head. "Those fuckers deserve more than life."
                              
Draco nodded. "Harry... had to convince me to tell him what happened."
                              
Blaise raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
                              
"Cause they broke me, Blaise."
                              
His best friend's eyes were full of sympathy, and he edged closer. "Draco...."
                              
Draco leaned back further into his pillows. "Harry's the only reason I'm here."
                              
"Joel said that... well, said that you only started talking because of him."
                              
"He was so... careful, and it's hard to be scared of someone who is just as afraid as I was. He's getting worse. Not just with you... with everyone. He could barely meet my eyes after you came in."
                              
"He feels threatened by me. Maybe I should come after he goes home?"
                              
"It's not just you. Harry's hiding something. Guilt is another thing he carries."
                              
"I see. Well, I can get a shadow for him, too?"
                              
"No, definitely not. He'll notice and freak out. Try talking to his friends."
                              
"Go talk to the Head Auror and Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement? Suurrre. I still have a bad rep cause of my mum, Draco. I can't just walk into the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and ask to see them without an appointment."
                              
"Blaise...."
                              
"I will try... but it might take a few days or weeks as they are not idle drones at the Ministry. Granger is still waging war against corruption, and Weasley forgets that he is Head Auror and can delegate. He goes on nearly all the missions that come up. I'm not exactly a buddy of theirs to drop in and ask about their best friend."
                              
"His sister?"
                              
"Ginny "Quidditch Extraordinaire" Weasley? She's the top Chaser in league. And you got every magazine of her next to your bed for some reason."