Disclaimer:

I own nothing but the plot.

A/N: I am thrilled that this has had such a great beginning. I had hopes for everyone to enjoy this, I always see stories where she passes the child off as Ron's (sometimes unknowingly) and that would be fairly easy to do because they are all the same race. But I have always wondered about if she married someone else. Blaise was a great choice and I wanted it to be someone that Draco was close with because I never wanted the child to feel like they were not as loved as any other children in the home because the father was not her "Biological" father. Having it be a friend of Draco's made that connection where a bond could form between father and daughter.

There was a review from the first chapter that I would love to address, FeistyKitten2001 mentioned that she loved the dynamic of Hermione's and Blaise's relationship. That they are still loving to one another even though they are divorced. The reason I wanted to write that they are still a loving family is because essentially, they will always be a family. In today's world there are a lot of families that are blended. Most children have step parents who love them as well as biological parents that love them. But most are not so lucky to have parents that love them enough to be civil and friendly towards each other. Blaise and Hermione have the most open and honest relationship I can give them. They are best friends and co-parents before anything else. The love they have for their friendship (which developed because of the love they have for their children and especially the unconditional love that Blaise gives his daughter) and their family is one of familial love. They want the best for their family and their former spouses. They love each other enough for them to want each other to find a love they deserve. I hope that makes sense.

Thank you to AvisBlue once again for taking the time to rebeta this work for me and to Grapette513 for going through it the first time around.

Love and Slyther,

Gimi aka Jess

OoOoO

What a lot of people didn't know was that Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger used to be friends. They were in all the same classes, being first and second of their year in grades. They had worked very well as a team.

After the war, there was so much mistrust for Slytherins; especially for Draco as he was a former Death Eater. But Hermione and oddly enough Harry, both became friendly to him after the war. They seemed to form an unspoken bond with the blond.

Harry and Draco never became great friends, but they were not openly hostile either.

Hermione though, she would go out of her way to make sure everyone knew she forgave him for his past. That meant the world to him then and still did to this day. Having someone that did not define him by his past, even if that someone should hate him because of it.

Draco stood with his hands shoved into his pockets as he walked down the pavement toward the exit of the platform. He glanced up at the sky casting back on memories he's not thought of in a long time...

His father had been sent to Azkaban; there would not be any denying that he was in fact one of Moldy Voldy's top lackeys. Draco's mother had been placed on house arrest for a year and magical probation for three for aiding in the war.

However, her sentence was reduced to house arrest for 6 months and a year of magical probation because of Potter's testimony that she had helped him when he needed her the most in the forest.

Draco was sure he would be sent Azkaban, in an adjoining cell right next to father dearest. He was a Death Eater afterall. The mark had faded considerably after Moldy died -12 years later it was completely gone, all the dark magic leaked out and faded away- but it was still visible. He was sure that it was coming. He remembered sitting there, in the middle of the Wizengamot floor, chains holding him to the chair -like he was going to run away-, dirty and grimy from his cell. He braced himself for the verdict. Then he heard the doors open, turning slightly in his chair, that was when he saw them; Harry Bloody Potter and his sidekick Hermione Bookworm Granger.

Draco had inwardly groaned when he saw them. He had never been very nice to the Golden Trio, as they were now known. He had always went out of his way to make them feel inferior and to make fun of them: I'm going to be in Azkaban for life…Unless they decide to just give me the kiss. Probably why Potter and Granger are here, make sure I get the kiss, he thought darkly. He slumped down in his chair feeling, if possible, more defeated than before when something odd happened. Harry Potter and Hermione Granger walked right up beside his chair and each put an hand on his shoulder.

Draco remembered looking up confused. Hermione looked down at him with a look of sadness in her eyes and gave him a half smile, as Potter began speaking next to him.

Draco knew he should have been listening to Potter. He needed to be sure he wasn't telling the Wizengamot the time he wished Granger dead, or tried to get the hippogriff of the oaf's killed.

He knew he should be listening to Potter, but he couldn't turn away from Granger. She was openly crying, as she caressed his shoulder, trying to convey warmth to him. Why was she doing that? Why come to the court proceedings of a known Death Eater and give him kindness? It was such a Gryffindor thing to do. Brave the big bad Death Eater and forgive him all his transgressions, even though he watched her get tortured. Oh Merlin, he watched her get tortured! He didn't try and stop his psycho bitch aunt from carving her up like a Sunday roast.

"Miss Granger." Minister Kingsley's deep tone pulled Draco out of his reverie. "Do you have anything to add to what Mr. Potter has brought to our attention?"

Hermione brought her hands to her face and wiped away the tears; giving Draco one last smile, she gave her attention to the witches and wizards sitting before her.

Then she began to speak; finally, Draco paid attention to the court proceedings once again. He hadn't heard Potter speak, he didn't even realize that Potter still had a hand on his shoulder, that he was showing clear support for the Malfoy heir.

He listened to Hermione express her life at Hogwarts, how Draco Malfoy was clearly a problem and a right pain in her ass from the start. One of the witches interrupted the younger witch, asking if she was sure she knew what she was talking about. Was she there to support incarceration or if she was speaking on his behalf?

Hermione, clearly unhappy with being told that she was confused, continued on about what life was like. Draco, hearing all that he had done over the eight years they had been classmates began to feel something heavy in the pit of his stomach. He should have known she was condemning him. He must have read the signs wrong. He was a right git to her and her friends, they were probably there to make sure he would rot.

Then things took a turn for him. She began to speak of 6th year. How Draco had started out the year; still the same cocky asshole (yes, she used that word, the gasps around the gallery could be heard for ages. Draco was sure he saw a glint of a smile on the minister's mouth), but there wasn't the same venom to his insults. He had stopped calling her Mudblood - Draco remembered actually cringing at the mention of the insult-, he had stopped eating, sleeping, and even talking in class. The last part should have tipped everyone off, since Draco Malfoy loved to hear his own voice.

This was the year of the near fatal accidents: The necklace,

and the poison. These things did happen and Draco was the cause of them, but these were not acts of the second brightest student in the school. Draco was much smarter than that; she was sure he could have thought of a better way to get to Dumbledore if he really tried. Yes, he let the Death Eaters into the castle, but not because he had wanted to, because he had no choice.

"How do you know he had no choice," Madam Longbottom questioned. "How do you know, it wasn't intentional?"

"I can submit my memories as evidence." Potter offered, "I was up on the Astronomy Tower with Dumbledore that night, I was under my invisibility cloak when Draco came up. I had been hit with a body bind curse Dumbledore threw at me to keep me safe. I saw Malfoy's reaction. He was desperate. He was the only thing keeping his mother alive. His father was in prison and there were Death Eaters in his home. They lost status with Lucius' incarceration. Voldemort was planning on punishing the Malfoys with Draco's death. He was never meant to live through that night."

Hermione had put her hand back on his shoulder. He never realized; but a lot of the gallery of witches and wizards had taken notice. He did not flinch when the muggleborn witch would touch him. A move that most of them were sure he would have done. She continued on about how he recognized them, and she knew that he recognized that it was them when they were brought to his home during Easter.

She knew that he kept them alive for a bit longer by not telling his father. The Father he longed for approval from. They had caught Harry Potter. She also knew he was an accomplished dueler, even surprised, he would have been able to retain his wand in a duel, but he let his wand be won. She even knew that he had regretted bringing in his idiot friends into the room of requirement that night during the final battle. He was just after his wand, he didn't care about the rest of it. He even tried to stop his friends from using unforgivables on Harry.

"Does that seem like actions of a man who wanted to be a Death Eater?" she finished her speech, "For me, it sounds more like a boy who desperately wanted his father's approval. Who grew up one way and was expected to live that way. The teasing that I endured at the hands of Draco Malfoy was that of a child bully. His later behavior was that of a boy looking for his way in the world. A world his father demanded he be apart of, then of a boy who was desperate, not wanting to be apart of that world. He realized what it took to be apart of his father's world. I think he realized that his father, the noble Lord Malfoy, was nothing but a bigot. He saw him as his father, we see our parents through selective lights when we worship them. Draco has had a hard life, it doesn't seem like it because we would like to believe that money solves everything. Anyone with money should have everything they need or desire but that isn't always the case. Draco Malfoy didn't have what he wanted most in the world, the approval of his father. Don't punish the child for the errors of his father."

"He let Death Eaters into Hogwarts! He led to Dumbledore's death!" An irate member of the Wizengamot shouted from the back.

Harry looked up with a sneer. "I would like to know what you expected him to do? His father in Azkaban, his home overtaken by Voldemort, his and his mother's life in constant danger. I happen to know Severus Snape left his memories of counsel with Draco, I know what they said. Yes, he portrayed the proud pureblood, eager to serve his Lord. However, I also saw his eyes when he would look at his mother, when he was desperate to get to Dumbledore, when I, myself, caught him in the bathroom full of anxiety over what he had done. He was a child, we are all children. I have not had a chance to actually grow up and be teen because I had to fight in a war. Does anyone realize that the Final Battle at Hogwarts was primarily fought by children? That we were barely able to understand what we wanted to be as adults when we were thrust upon this old war that I have been fighting my entire life? You want to hold someone responsible for Draco Malfoy's actions? How about the adults who were responsible for him? He was barely sixteen when he took the mark? We were children, fighting a war that I know for a fact only a handful of you were fighting with us. Hermione and I are here today to stop this insanity. You want to send this boy to prison for things he couldn't help doing. It isn't right, I will have no choice but to make sure everyone knows we don't believe this is right."

"Harry," Hermione spoke up again. "We have an interview to do soon. We're nearly late. I don't think Rita will mind, but we should be good little war heroes and not keep the woman waiting." She looked up at the minister and the panel. "Sorry, we have to run. Rita has been itching to get her hands on Harry again, find out about our year on the run, our take on the proceedings, how we now view the government. We must dash."

Draco gaped at the brave little Gryffindor, had she just blackmailed the Wizengamot? No, she couldn't have. That would be insane, to blackmail the Wizengamot over me.

Harry nodded in agreement, "You're right Hermione, we should go. I know we promised her an exclusive about how we view the treatment of our peers; how it was to fight in a war that grown men sat around and twiddled their thumbs over-"

"Are you blackmailing the Wizengamot, Potter?" The same member screamed out in outrage. "Is that what you are trying to do? An eighteen year old child, blackmailing us?"

Hermione laughed. "You are trying to hang Draco Malfoy on the fact that he is of age and knew with full intention what he was doing at the age of sixteen." She spat back at them, "But as soon as Harry and I mention the press and an interview, suddenly we're children? You can't have it both ways, we can't be adults when it fits your agenda; to fight in your war and children when you don't like what we have to say." Hermione scratched her head in impatience, "Draco Malfoy can not be held accountable for taking the mark, he was underage at the time. He let the Death Eaters into Hogwarts under duress and the possible murder of the only family that he loves. He also helped Harry and myself as well as Ronald Weasley by not turning us in and by keeping his associates from using unforgivable curses in the Room of Requirement."

"You go too far Hermione," Minister Kingsley finally spoke up, he knew full well she was blackmailing them, but needed her to stop before she said the actual words.

"No Minister," Hermione said firmly, "I go just far enough. You can try and silence Harry and I, but I'm sure I can find a way around it. I am the Brightest Witch in a century, I helped Harry figure out what the horcruxes were and where they were; we came up with a plan to break into Gringotts and escaped on a motherfucking dragon!" she held her hands out extravagantly, "As well as the ministry when I was the second most wanted person in the wizarding world; only beat out by Harry here. I think I can figure out the loopholes. Draco Malfoy is innocent. Good day Gentlemen and ladies. Harry, we must run. Rita is going to be up in arms and then we still have that interview with Luna and I believe Witch Weekly wants to run a special edition on you. You know how much they love you, 'The Savior' and all." With a final squeeze of Draco's shoulder, she and Harry waved and walked out of the courtroom with their heads held high, not even looking when Kingsley counted the votes and released Draco. He was cleared of all charges, all because a Muggleborn Witch blackmailed an entire courtroom full of old fools.