It had been a long day at the office for Hermione Granger. Shortly after the war, Hermione discovered that there was no wizarding-world equivalent to a public defender's office, which, in hindsight, made Sirirus's abominable treatment make much more sense. Horrified, Hermione immediately brought up the situation with Kingsley. Two months later and she was leading the new Wizarding Public Defender's Office that had a major influx of cases dealing with war crimes. It hadn't been her first choice of career, but her fierce sense of justice would not let her turn away those in need of a defense, and it was clear that the only reason this office was being opened was because of her status as one of the golden trio. If she didn't agree to lead it, there would be no office at all.

Kingsley gave her a laughable staff of two to handle the mountain of cases: Neville Longbottom and Susan Bones. Despite their small number, they mostly managed. Neville was determined to prove himself and Susan knew quite a bit about procedure and custom from her late aunt, Amelia Bones. When Hermione had a question that wasn't in a book (which always disappointed her a bit), she went to Susan. Although it had been a year and a half since the Battle of Hogwarts and the end of the war, there was still plenty of work to be done. Trials took time, especially when there were so many of them.

Hermione walked into the door of her flat, greeted first by Crookshanks and then by the sight of Harry and Draco, fully clothed but horizontal on her and Harry's couch. "Ahem," Hermione said in her best Dolores-Umbridge voice.

Harry and Draco sat up and started smoothing out their robes. "Hi, Hermione, didn't expect you so soon," Harry said casually.

"Harry, it's nine o'clock. I'm late," Hermione replied, but in an exasperated rather than in an annoyed tone. She had been least surprised of anyone when Harry and Draco announced their relationship. As a keenly observant person, she knew there was more to Harry's obsessive following of Draco in their sixth year. With Cho, he had always hung back, but with Draco, he was practically a stalker.

"When are you two lovebirds going to get your own place?" Hermione asked more out of teasing than anything else. She knew she would miss Harry dearly when he moved away. Harry was probably the only person she could forgive for leaving his dirty socks hanging on the back of the chair or always leaving the kitchen with the smell of something burning. She had considered looking for another roommate when he inevitably moved out, but she knew that anyone else would just drive her insane and vice versa.

"Hermione, dear, you know how traditional my mother is," Draco replied in his characteristic drawl. "I'll take Harry off your hands after the wedding." Draco continued, squeezing his fiancee's hand. Draco and Harry were recently engaged, and from the sounds of it, Narcissa was planning quite the pureblood wedding. Although there was some supposed disappointment on her end that Draco was marrying a halfblood, she said she "couldn't be too disappointed" that her only son was marrying the Chosen One. Anyone could tell how thrilled Narcissa was, though, despite what she said. She had been extremely fond of Harry ever since he saved Draco during the Battle of Hogwarts, and the feeling was mutual as Narcissa saved Harry, as well.

"Actually, I think Harry has something he wants to ask you." Draco leaned back on their couch, giving Harry a pointed look.

"Well, now is maybe not the best time," Harry muttered, refusing to make eye contact with either of them, "Hermione just got back from work."

"Harry, tell me what's going on," Hermione replied in her signature bossy voice, crossing her arms and jutting her hip out to complete the effect.

"Well, I have good news and bad news." Draco laughed at Harry's nervousness.

"Bad news first. Bad news always comes first."

"I was hoping you might do us a favor. As you know, Lucius Malfoy's trial is coming up in just two weeks, and his lawyer was arrested today, so… you're a lawyer."

"Brilliant observation, Harry," Hermione responded dryly. She did not like where this was going.

"Well-"

Draco cut Harry off. "Hermione, you're not just a lawyer, you're the best damn lawyer we know, and the bottom line is we really need you to take over Father's defense."

Hermione groaned. "Flattery will get you nowhere, Draco."

He chuckled darkly in response. "Experience has taught me differently, Hermione. In all seriousness, I don't know who else will take the case this late. His hearing is in two weeks. We've already tried to push it back, but they want to make an example out of him. I know he hasn't been the best guy, but he doesn't deserve to spend the rest of his life behind bars. Please." Draco's gray eyes were pleading.

"Well…"

Draco shoved Harry and whispered something in his ear.

"Don't you want to hear the good news, Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Sure," Hermione responded, annoyed. How easy did they think she was to manipulate?

"I want you to be my best man."

Hermione couldn't contain her squeal and before she knew it her arms were wrapped around Harry. "What? What about Ron?" She choked out. And then: "Is this only so I will represent Lucius?

"No!" Harry exclaimed. "I had already decided this, but we might have decided to tell you tonight for… reasons." Draco was shaking his head next to Harry.

"I can't believe the Hat ever considered you for Slytherin," Draco muttered.

"Look, Hermione, I suggested Harry should tell you tonight. He wanted you to be best man, anyway. As for Ron, there was no way in hell I'm letting that weasel in our wedding when he doesn't approve." Draco spat the last part out, and Harry put a comforting arm around him. Ron had been less than thrilled at the news that Harry and Draco were an item, not able to look past the Malfoy name or Draco's past. He had begrudgingly accepted them, but still wasn't as happy for Harry as Hermione was.

"He approves," Hermione responded softly, joining Harry in rubbing Draco gently. This eventually turned into a large group hug. Then, the two of them started to stare at Hermione with puppy dog eyes.

"Fine, fine, fine," Hermione said, exasperated. "It's not fair when you gang up on me." Her voice was muffled under the weight of them both hugging her again, but they understood. She saw their matching lopsided grins as she let go of the pair of them.