Nope, still don't own the rights to Harry Potter. Those are reserved for J.K. Rowling.

The next time I actually talked to Draco was in the library. I saw him studying, and I, albeit hesitantly, took the seat across from him. He didn't say anything.

After a while of tense silence, I finally said, "So, how are things going?"

He glared at me. "In what regard, Granger?" he asked coldly.

I shuddered slightly, tempted to just give up. Somehow, though, I knew he needed to talk. And as far as I knew, I was the only one at Hogwarts who understood.

"You know," I said slowly, "everything with Dumbledore and your father, and all that."

"Oh," he said, that cruel tone still evident, "you mean how you told Dumbledore about what you weren't supposed to tell anyone?"

"I..." I started. Then I sighed deeply. Without really thinking, I put my hand over his. He looked up at me with not quite as much hate, and I said, "Look, Draco. I really didn't mean to hurt you." He scoffed, pulling his hand away. "I just... I was so worried about you, I didn't know what to do." I looked down, afraid to meet his eyes. "I didn't even mean to tell him," I said softly. "I just started talking before I even knew what I was saying."

"Typical for you," he said wryly, and I thought I detected a slight smirk when I looked up.

His expression got much more serious, and he said, "Do you know how much danger you could have just put me in?"

My breath caught in my throat. "I know, Draco, that's why I didn't want to say anything..." I looked at him hopelessly. "But you know Dumbledore, he's a very intelligent man, and I didn't even say much..."

I drifted off, looking away sadly.

Draco didn't say anything back.

The tense silence seemed to go on forever, and eventually I realized he wasn't going to be the one to break it. So I took a deep breath. "Look Draco," I said so softly I wasn't sure he could hear me. He looked up, which showed me maybe he had. I closed my eyes for a moment, then opened them and looked into his. They were a bit softer than before, and I took that as some sort of sign. Again without thinking, I found my hand covering his. "You know I'm here for you," I said. "No matter what."

Another moment of silence passed between us, but I noticed he didn't pull away. Finally, he sighed. He looked at our hands and rubbed his thumb gently along the length of mine, then said, "Yeah, Hermione." He looked up at me. "I know."

My heart skipped a beat as we sat there, looking at one another. I noticed his hand was so warm under mine, and the look in his eyes was much softer than before. I smiled softly, gently squeezed his hand, and then pulled away. As I stood, I said, "It'll be okay, Draco."

He smiled softly. "I don't know," he responded, and I noticed he looked a bit more hopeful. "Maybe it will."

I didn't get to go to the trial. Both Dumbledore and Draco said it would be best if his family didn't even know I was involved at all. From what I heard, Lucius was downright feral during the proceedings. Dumbledore and Draco also decided it would be best if Lucius didn't even think Draco had told anyone about it. Since Dumbledore did know enough about dark magic to recognize the marks, he decided to tell the court that he had simply noticed the marks and questioned Draco. Since that was essentially what had happened, minus my involvement, this testimony from both sides held up even under Veritaserum.

Mrs. Malfoy was questioned as well, and Draco told me he had never seen her look so upset. "She just looked so torn," he had said sadly. "I've never seen her like that..." In the end, they had to give her Veritaserum to get her to say anything against her husband at all, and her story matched Draco's. Once they finally convinced Lucius to testify at all, Veritaserum once again came to the rescue. Lucius admitted to all of it, and his future looked quite grim. As it turns out, those "often extreme penalties" involved a sentence of life in Azkaban.

Draco came to me the day of the final sentencing.

He looked absolutely torn, and I wasn't completely sure what to do. At first, he said nothing at all.

"So it's today, huh?" I asked lamely, if for no other reason than to break the silence.

"Yeah."

"Are you okay?"

He looked at me, and I saw that same pain, only magnified. Without a second thought, I hugged him. Seemingly surprised, he hugged me back, relaxing into me. "It'll be okay, Draco," I said softly.

"Are you sure?" he asked. I'd never seen him look so insecure. "I mean, Azkaban, that's, wow..."

"Sssh," I said quietly, rubbing his back. "I'm sure the court system will know what's best."

He pulled away slowly, his eyes locking with mine. I could hardly bear to see him in that much pain, but I continued to look. "I don't know, Hermione," he said. I had never heard his voice so genuine. "I mean, he's done some really awful things, and not just to me." He paused, as if lost in his own thoughts. "But, you know, he's my father."

I nodded.

"Shouldn't I love him?"

Tears filled my eyes and I looked down. I had absolutely no clue what to say.

When I looked up, I noticed there were tears brimming his eyes as well. I hugged him again, this time with even more emotion than before. As he cried softly on my shoulder, his question still hung in the air.

Draco's thoroughly unexpected show of emotion plagued me throughout the time they were away for the sentencing. I knew what he must have been going through, and I tried to imagine what I would think in the same situation. I mean, if my father hadn't been so compliant, if he had gone that far, what would I do?

Would I have to ask myself if I should love him?

I was beginning to realize the standards of normalcy are completely overrated. Sure, some people have their perfect lives held up to our general standards of how everything should go, but those are few and far between. Everyone has their secrets, even the ones who seem to have it held together the most. Likewise, even people who don't have as severe of issues still have issues that are just as big to them. Take Ron, for example. The constant bickering between him and his siblings, combined with Percy essentially abandoning the family, gets to him. Just because Mr. Weasley doesn't abuse them doesn't mean they don't have their problems.

Everything with Draco had taught me a lot up to that point. Sure, we both still maintained our pretenses of the perfect lives, but it really was nice to talk to someone. I didn't completely avoid the subject anymore, and I started realizing for myself that life isn't perfect. In Draco's case, I knew people would find out. Powerful wizards like Lucius Malfoy don't go to Azkaban without the press getting ahold of it.

I just knew I'd have to be there for him when it happened. For now, though, I had nothing to do but sit and wait for the sentence.

A/N: Hey all, let me know what you think. Hopefully this chapter wasn't too emotional, but I think it was fairly realistic. Even the people who seem the strongest can break from time to time. Anyway, please review. Thanks!

Also--question for you all. Should I wrap this up in the next chapter, which was the original plan, or should I continue on a bit after the trial is over? Let me know what you think!