The Sentence

Chapter one

"Draco Lucius Malfoy is sentenced to one year without Magic, He will be supervised by one of our trainee aurors. He will attend a muggle high school in Manhattan, New York with our still undecided trainee auror," Kingsley Shacklebot, the new minister of magic, said to the court. "Does anyone have any questions?"

Draco sat in a chair beside two guards while he listened to Kingsley give him his sentence. What the bloody hell is a high school? He wondered. He guessed it was some sort of muggle school. Draco spent a month in Azkaban while Kingsley thought of a sentence for him. Draco's father, Lucius, was sentenced for the kiss a week after Voldermort's end. Draco was thankful for anything other than Azkaban, even living in the Muggle world for a year.

"When will you decide who Draco's trainee auror will be?" One wizard in the court asked.

"Tomorrow evening," Kingsley said. "Then he will be apparted to Manhattan and he will live in a small apartment near his high school with his trainee auror. Any more questions?" Nobody said anything. "Alright, court dismissed."

The two guards grabbed Draco by his shoulders and pushed him out of the courtroom. Draco stumbled and walked out of the courtroom with a limp that one of the other guards in Azkaban gave him the day before. He was taken from the Ministry to his old manor (which was being demolished in two months) to get some clothes and belongings. A fully trained auror came with him and threw him a bag which he didn't catch because he was very weak. He picked it up with shaky hands and muttered a curse under his breath. He put random clothes into the bag and walked around his room for some other stuff he might want to bring with him.

He put a picture of his mother (who was still in Azkaban, soon to be released for saving Harry during the war) in his bag, a picture of his father, and a picture of him with Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle. He sighed and nodded to the auror to take him to wherever he was going to stay that night. The auror grabbed him around his shoulder and apparted them to a muggle pub and asked for a room for one. That night Draco slept on an uncomfortable bed while the auror stood outside the room guarding it until morn. Draco didn't sleep at all that night.

~0~

"Ms. Granger, can I ask you a favor?" Kingsley asked the new trainee auror while strolling into her office. After the war, Hermione and Harry became Trainee aurors. Ron started working for George at his Joke shop because he claimed 'An auror is not what I want to be!'.

Hermione smiled and nodded. "I've found a task for you," he started. He stared at her for a few moments, thinking of something to say. "I need you to supervise a deatheater. You both will go to Manhattan, I'm sure you know where that is, and live in a small apartment. Also, you'll be going to a high school with him, because in the Muggle world you have to be 18 to live like an adult and he is only 17, so will you do it?"

"Manhattan? Wow," Hermione bit her lip, "Who is it? Who do I have to supervise?" She had an idea who it was.

"Draco Malfoy, I believe you knew him?"

"Yes, I did. But why do you want me to do it?"

"Mr. Potter has already been given the task to watch over Pansy Parkinson in Toronto and I believe you could be more mature with Mr. Malfoy than Mr. Potter could," He added, "Don't tell him I said that,"

Hermione's face paled. She was hoping she wouldn't have to see Malfoy ever again. "Couldn't someone else do it? Malfoy and I weren't exactly close at hogwarts," she sighed, "He hates me because I am a muggleborn! King- Mr. Shacklebot can't I have another task?"

"Look, Ms. Granger, if you can do this task for only a year," he forced a smile, "I will let you become a fully trained auror, How's that?"

Hermione blinked in suprise, "But it takes two years to become a fully trained auror," she scrunched up her forehead "Are you being serious, Mr. Shacklebot?"

"I give you my word,"

Hermione sniffled, "Only a year?"

"Only a year."

All was silent for a moment before Hermione whispered, "I'll do it,"

Kingsley broke into a smile, "Oh good! Well, you better pack your bags then. You'll be leaving for New York tomorrow!" He waved goodbye and with that he left her tiny office, leaving a pale Hermione shocked.

Tomorrow? she thought. How could she say to Ron (her Boyfriend), the Weasleys and all her other friends she was going to leave England to go live with Malfoy for a year in New York? Plus, she was going to a Muggle High School and she knew she might not be able to fit in as easy as she could at Hogwarts. She almost fainted at the thought.

~0~

At the Weasley Brunch, which was every Sunday, Hermione decided to break the news to the Weasleys', Harry and Ron. And she was a nervous wreck. What if Ron does something Rash? What if he finds someone better than me? She didn't want to think about that.

She knocked on the Burrow's door and was greeted by Fred. Fred lost all his humor after the death of his brother. It saddened Hermione. He gave her a 'hello' and went upstairs. She was greeted by the rest of the Weasley clan. She gave Harry a hug and Ron a peck on the lips.

"Oh, Hermione, Dear," Molly said, giving Hermione a bear hug. "How was your week?"

"It was well, I suppose."

"Well, that's good. Come take a seat and eat some potatoes, won't you, dear?"

Hermione nodded and gave Molly a warm smile. She took a seat in between Harry and Ron and took a few bites out of her potatoes. She watched everyone stuff themselves and cleared her throat. Everyone looked at her. "I have something very important to say," she said.

"So do I," Harry said. Hermione knew it was about him going to Toronto with Pansy.

"You go first, Harry,"

Harry sighed and looked at Hermione, "I'm going to Canada for a year," Ginny gasped. "To watch over Pansy," He continued, "I was given the task by Kingsley to complete my auror training."

Everyone gaped at Harry, excluding Hermione, before Ron said, "You're kidding, right, mate? You can't leave for a year!"

"No, Ron. I'm being one-hundred percent serious,"

"But, we don't want you to go!"

"This is for my job, Ron! You know how long I've been planning on being an auror! Plus, Kingsley will be disappointed in me if I don't finish this task, please understand!"

Molly, Fred, Hermione, Bill, Fleur, Percy and Arthur watched the fight in silence, but Ginny finally spoke up, "No, Harry! Please don't!"

"Ginny, you know how important my job is to me! I want to succeed! I need to go to Canada, Ginny,"

"Please," she cried, "Don't!"

"I have to," Harry said, looking down at his lap.

She stared at him, letting one tear roll down his face. She shook her head and ran up to her tiny bedroom in the burrow, followed by Harry.

"Bloody Hell," Ron and Fred said at the same time.

Molly shook her head and gestured for Hermione to tell her news to everyone at the table.

"Well, I'm-" Hermione started.

"Please, don't tell me your pregnant!" Ron said, with fear in his eyes.

"No, Ron!" Hermione half-screeched. "Now let me continue!" Ron sighed in relief. "I'm going to New York for a year for a task just like Harry's," Ron's face displayed so many emotions at that moment: Anger, Sadness, Frustration. His face was turning into many impressive shades of Red and Purple.

"If your task is like Harry's, who are you going to be watching over?" Arthur asked Hermione.

Hermione sighed and looked around the table, "Draco Malfoy."

Another minute of silence until Ron stood up and screamed at Hermione, "YOU CAN'T DO THAT TASK, HERMIONE!"

"Ron, I've already agreed to do it. I can't back out!"

"Hermione, IT'S MALFOY! The boy that tortured you at Hogwarts! He called you a mudblood whenever he got the chance!"

Hermione flinched at his use of the word 'mudblood', looked at him with sad eyes and said, "I'm sorry, Ron. But.. I've already said yes! I'm sorry!"

"Please, Hermione!"

"Ronald Weasley!" Molly yelled. "This is Hermione's life! You cannot control it!"

"Fine," Ron stated. "Then she has to choose between her job," he paused, "Or me."

"Ron, you know I can't do that!"

Ron shook his head and chuckled, "So, you pick your job over me?"

Hermione didn't answer him.

Ron sat back in his seat, pure shock on his face,"I can't believe this, Hermione. I can't believe you would do this, " he said. Then stood up again, and apparted to god knows where.

"He won't be mad forever, Hermione," Molly said, trying to comfort Hermione.

Everyone sitting at the table didn't say anything and Ginny's cries could be heard from upstairs. Hermione's eyes stung with tears, but she didn't want to show her vulnerable self. "I think I should go," she said and apparted home before anyone could protest.

~0~

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, if I did.. there would be Dramione!

A/N: So, how was that? I was sick today and stayed home. I was bored and started writing. I wasn't planning on publishing this but I thought what the heck! Anyway please Read & Review! It will get the chapters out MUCH faster. :)

- Adara