"A new battlefield"

The Unfair Task

It had been three months since Voldemort had been destroyed, and Hermione was leaving for work. She Her, Ron, and Harry had already gotten jobs at the ministry. They all did different things, but still got to see each other every once in a while.

As Hermione walked to work from her house down a few blocks, she noticed some witches and wizards still celebrating the destruction of the Dark Lord. She chuckled quietly to herself as she saw some passerby's stop to stare at her. Word quickly spread that she was a huge part of killing Voldemort. She didn't mind, and was glad she had never gotten arrested for breaking into Gringotts, or the other illegal things that they did…

She kept walking despite of the stares. She trudged through the snow on the sidewalk and shivered as a blast of cold air hit her cheeks and blew her frizzy hair back. She knew she could've just apparated, but she often enjoyed the snow. The white flakes on the icy ground reminded her of the many times she had gone to Hogsmeade with Harry and Ron.

The thought of Ron made her smile even bigger. He had just proposed to her four weeks ago, and it seemed to level out some of the sadness that still hung over the world. She glanced down at the engagement ring that gleamed on her finger. It fit so perfectly on her that she never wanted to take it off…not that she would anyway.

Hermione finally got to the steps of the ministry. She stated her name and business to the guard at the door. Even though most of the crimes have been dismissed, most guards still remained. Hogwarts was also heavily guarded too and its reconstruction was in progress.

Finally, the guard let her in with a small smile. She strolled further into the ministry and made her way up to her office on the fourth floor.

"Hey, Hermione!" The sound of shuffling feet and her name being called made her spin around, almost bumping into Harry.

"Oh hello Harry!" She quickly hugged him and then stepped back.

"Are you deaf?" he panted. "I have been running around and yelling your name for the past three minutes!" Harry bent over and put his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. He clutched his wand…the elder wand and eventually stood upright again.

"Sorry. You know how I go off in my own little world sometimes." Hermione said sheepishly. Harry just nodded like he had experienced that way too many times.

"Anyway, Mr. Ackerley gave me this note to give to you. Said it was important and that you not be late." Harry handed it to Hermione and he appeared to be waiting for something. Then she realized that he was just curious about what it said.

Quickly, she opened the envelope and read it.

Dear Miss Granger,

At 10:00 sharp this morning, please report to the courtroom on the lowest level. There will be a trial held for Mr. Draco Malfoy that we would like you to attend. Please don't be late because the doors will shut at 10o'clock on the hour. We appreciate your concern and time.

-Mr. Broderick Ackerley.

p.s. We have informed your boss that you will be missing work today, and for it not to affect your records.

The words were written sloppily, so it took Hermione a minute to decipher it. Once she did, she read it off to Harry who was a little taken back.

"Malfoy? And what do you have to do with prisoners? You work for magical creatures!" He said.

"I don't know Harry. But I do know that I must hurry up if I want to get there on time. Would you like to come?" Hermione asked. He nodded and then they went to the elevator.

"If anyone should testify against Malfoy, it should be me. I saw him about to kill Dumbledore. Plus, he hates me more than he hates you."

"I'm not so sure I will be testifying against Malfoy. And he probably hates me more than you actually. You are the one who saved him in the Room of Requirement. And at least you're a pureblood." Hermione seemed to hiss the last word like it was a bad taste in her mouth.

When they reached the elevator, Hermione pressed the button which sent them flying through the floors, and jerking their heads back and forth.

"But at least I'm an auror. You should have nothing to be doing with criminals from Azkaban."

"I really don't know Harry! Don't you think if I knew, I would tell you!" Hermione demanded. Harry took a step away from her surprised at her outburst. "Sorry. The mention of Malfoy just puts me on edge." She said. She gritted her teeth as the elevator door opened. They strode down the corridor that was completely empty. No people walked by and no pictures hung on the wall. The hallway was dimly lit and only made Hermione more nervous.

Harry reached the huge double doors leading to the courtroom just before Hermione did. He cracked open one and him and Hermione peeked in. About half of the jury had arrived, but it was only 9:30. The judge was sitting high up at the end of the room and Draco was sitting in a small wooden chair in the very center. The seats were all arranged so that you had to look down at him. Quite effective, Hermione thought. For Draco it must feel like everyone is looking down at you like you are below them and you are worthless. Malfoy needed that feeling, Hermione thought to herself.

At last Harry opened the door fully and stepped inside followed by Hermione. The room was awfully quiet. Harry was pretty sure that you could've heard a pin drop. When they walked further in no one seemed to take notice of them. No one acknowledged them or even looked up. They all had their heads buried in paper work. All except for Draco who spun around as quick as a whip. His scowl deepened tenfold. His eyes shot daggers at Hermione. He seemed a little nicer about Harry's appearance. Well I guess the hatred for mud-bloods hasn't changed, Hermione said quietly to herself. No one noticed.

"I'm sorry but this is a closed trial." Finally the judge looked up and stared at the two new comers.

"Your honor, I'm Hermione Granger." She said. The judge's face confirmed recognition and he smiled.

"Oh, yes, Miss Granger. Please take a seat there." Broderick pointed to a seat across from the jury. No one else sat in that section and Hermione felt quite alone as she made her way up. Harry silently tagged along, hoping Mr. Ackerley wouldn't notice…but he did.

"Mr. Potter, I'm sorry to inform you of this, but you do not have permission to be in here for Mr. Malfoy's trial. I'm sure your friend here can tell you all about it once it is finished."

Harry looked down at his watch seeing that there were still 25 more minutes.

"And how does one get permission sir?" Harry asked with a smirk on his face. Hermione rolled her eyes, knowing exactly what he was up to.

"Well you must be asked by me of course. Or if you had scheduled ahead of time you could've also been given a spot in here. Seeing as you have not, and you had not been asked by me, you cannot participate." The judge said returning Harry's smirk.

"What if I was an auror who could protect you if made any sudden movements? An auror who was in the same year as and crossed paths with him on a daily basis at Hogwarts? Then could I have permission from you?" Harry questioned. The smirk on Broderick's face disappeared quite quickly.

"Yes, you can." He said exasperated. Judges were rarely ever persuaded in the wizarding world.

"Brilliant! I'll just sit here then, and be quiet." Harry's cocky smile grew as he sat down next to his friend.

And quiet he was. In fact, the whole room was silent then. And that was how it stayed for the next 25 minutes. More jury members began piling in, one by one and none of them ever made a sound.

Feeling awkward, Hermione pulled out a quill and finished some assignments due for work the next day. The minutes were dragging by slowly. Hermione kept asking Harry for the time, to give him something to do, and for her just to know how many more minutes of torture she would be receiving.

Suddenly a bell rung so loudly that Hermione jumped from her seat and her papers went flying everywhere. Everyone turned to look at her with blank expressions. Some even glared at her for disturbing the silence, as if they hadn't even noticed the ear piercing bell. Draco was looking up at her chuckling to himself.

When Hermione's heart beat began to slow down from the school-like bell, she gathered her papers.

She looked over to see the double doors shut and locked with 5 locks. They weren't kidding when they said that the doors would shut at exactly 10.

"We are gathered here today on behalf of Mr. Draco Malfoy's future verdict. It has been noted that he has never used the killing curse. However, he was a death eater. He had been a follower of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named for a very long time. His father, Lucius Malfoy had also been a follower." The Judge started. His voice made him sound 5 times older than he actually was. It was raspy and he often had to pause to take in a huge breath.

"If Mr. Malfoy is found guilty of being a follower on his own terms and not You-Know-Who's then his charges will be that he will be sent to Azkaban for five years…at the minimum. If proven innocent, then all charges will be erased, and a careful eye will be watching him."

" has a defendant for him, although it appears that she- Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy- is not present, so we will proceed with Jury questions and opinions." The judge continued.

For quite some time questions were shot at Malfoy from different jury members. Hermione and Harry sat alone still not sure why she was asked to come here.

Hermione continued to tap her fingers on her lap. She looked down at her fingernails that were history. She had never really paid attention to her nails and wasn't planning on starting now.

As time went by her and Harry grew more fidgety and Hermione desperately wanted to get up and stretch her muscles. The sound of Harry's name being said snapped her from a trance.

"What was your relationship like with Mr. Harry Potter?" One of the jury members asked. She had short brown hair that barely touched her shoulders. She also had very buck teeth that were worse than Hermione's…and that's saying something. The woman, Hermione soon found out was named Angela Bones.

Draco looked nervous at the question. He knew his true answer would only make him look worse.

"We were acquaintances really. We conversed here and there, but that was about it. He seemed quite friendly though." Much to Hermione's surprise and Draco's, it was Harry who had spoken. Draco was thankful, but the Judge looked at Harry sourly. He had spoken out of term and without persmission. Broderick eventually dismissed his outburst. Then the lady with the brown hair spoke again.

"And Mr. Malfoy, how was your relationship with Hermione Granger over there?" Then whatever self restraint that Draco had left, disappeared.

"We hated each other. She's a filthy mud-blood! And she…she punched me in our third year! You can't really expect us to be two peas in a pod." Draco growled. Hermione glowered at him then she giggled a little remembering when she had punched him full in the face.

"That's what I thought. And Draco, no one ever expected you to get along with Miss Granger. I saw the way you stared at her when she came in. Not very friendly." Angela said.

Hermione shifted uncomfortably in her seat. It turns out someone had been watching her when she entered with Harry.

Then Angela continued, "And, Miss Granger, do you agree with him, or is there something you would like to add?"

"No, he's got it down to a t. He thinks I am filthy and I think he's an arrogant ferret." Hermione said. After she spoke they did not ask her anymore questions. They carried on talking with the jury and Draco.

It was another painstaking half an hour before Hermione's attention was directed at the court again. The Judge began,

"…Therefore Draco Malfoy is found guilty of following He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Although, he does not face prison, he will be watched over by Miss Hermione Granger, who will report even the slightest mishap on his behalf. If that is to happen, he will be taken directly to Azkaban without further examination."

"What!" Draco and Hermione both shot up from their chairs and began complaining. Hermione couldn't believe her ears. She had only spoken two harmless sentences and now she is faced to watch over…him!

"Silence!" The Judged roared over the two of them. "I apologize Miss Granger, but as it states in the magical law, you are required to perform any task that a Judge, or Minister has assigned you. We will pay you for your efforts and once this is all over, you can go back to living a normal life, with the job you have currently."

"I can't just drop everything to babysit some confused, annoying teenager! And when will all "this" be over? Because people can trick you into thinking they are good when they really want, and then they will just turn on you when they get the opportune moment!" Hermione realized that she was rambling, so she quieted down, still full of anger. She finally brought herself to sit again in her chair.

"Granger, I'm not too thrilled about this either, so just shut it. And, I am NOT confused. I know exactly what is happening." Draco said dryly.

"Hermione, please listen. We will have you watch out for him for 18 months. You can make up your entire schedule as long as he is with you at all times. Plus, he cannot say no to where you wish to take him. Think of him as a child. You have to watch out for him, take him everywhere you go, not let him out of your sight because he might do something ridiculous, and you get to choose things for him."

"I am not a child! I've done things that would shock you." Draco said indignantly. Harry wasn't sure if he was saying this mockingly or not.

"I understand sir…but can't you…I don't know…GET SOMEONE ELSE!" She yelled.

"For once I am agreeing with Granger! Something is not right." Draco said.

"I hate to put this burden on you," The judge directed at Hermione but was interrupted by Malfoy.

"Gee thanks!" he rolled silver eyes.

"MALFOY! Shut up will you!"

"I'd actually prefer not to. And you shouldn't be talking Miss Know-It-All."

"Will you two please be quiet! Anyway, Hermione we had to choose you because if he really is Azkaban worthy, then he is most likely to show that in front of you…someone who was umm…raised by two muggle parents.

"But I'm..." Hermione needed an excuse and fast! Desperately she said, "But I'm getting married soon!" It was true as much as it was pathetic.

"I am not giving you the choice Hermione. You have to do this. I'm sorry. He really can't be that bad." The Judge said. He spoke more sternly this time.

"You have no idea." Hermione said sourly. Then she sighed. "Fine! I'll do it." Harry looked at her with an apologetic expression.

"Brilliant! Just meet me at my office tomorrow at nine and I will give you all the instructions." Mr. Ackerley said. Hermione stood up with Harry and started to advance towards the door. "And thank you again Miss-soon-to-be-Mrs. Granger." He smiled and waved us out and Hermione returned a cold glare at him then at Draco who was just about to make her life a living hell.