Another shortish one. I just wanted to save the really great Dramione scene for the next chapter. I'm on winter break right now so I will try to update two or three more times before the New Year. Merry Christmas everyone, consider this my gift to you. Enjoy! I mean I meant to update two days ago, but real life kinda interfered.


Draco

My fingers had lost all feeling. My nose felt like an ice cube. And I was really missing my shirt right now. I didn't hear the door open, and I barely recognized that there was a beam of light blinding me.

"Get up boy, follow me. And put this shirt on."

I followed the auror down to a pristine white cell, this one was warm and had a bed. There was the sudden sensation of being drenched in water, which left almost as fast as it came. I shivered. He inspected my face by grasping my chin tightly, painfully.

"Shirt… And Malfoy, if you tell anyone about what Richards did to you, be assured your mother will be killed," he spat out, venom dripping from the cruel words.

"You can't kill her. She has done nothing… Nothing wrong," I croaked.

"She brought you into this earth."


Hermione

"The charges will be pressed against Julian Richards, Vara Giovanni, as well as any other auror who is discovered to have caused any harm, physically or emotionally, to Draco Malfoy," I read from the paper. "A court date will be set by owl at the time most convenient for the prosecution, and will require the attendance of all defendants. Serious injury or sickness will be the only exemption for a defendant and must be verified by two qualified Healers. Other personal commitments interfering with the set date will not be tolerated and will result in immediate sentencing of the absent defendant."

I sighed, set the paper on the desk and crossed my fingers.

"Mr. Richards-" I began.

"Head Auror Richards!"

"Mr. Richards. Are there any terms of this you disagree with?"

He sighed and eventually hissed out a no.

"Excellent," I rose from my seat, and smoothed down my robes. "At this time I would like to see Draco Malfoy."

"Very well Miss Granger. I have another meeting I am late for so someone else will have to show you to his containment quarters," he smiled.

Everything about this man was completely fake I was slowly realizing.

"Travers!" He shouted out his office door.

I exited the office behind him, rolling my eyes. Whoever had appointed this man head of the auror department was brainless. Whoever had let him become an auror, even more so.

"If I may make a suggestion Richards. Had you been on time to work, you would have in turn been on time to your meeting. It only started ten minutes ago, and you were almost half an hour late."

His hand twitched.

"I wouldn't pull a wand on me," I warned.

Even with a wand that wasn't mine I knew I could outdraw and outcast this arse any day.

"Head Auror Richards sir. Can I help you?"

Travers was glancing nervously at me, which produced a small smile on my part.

"Please escort... Miss Granger to Malfoy's cell. I believe it is in Area Four," Richards straightened his robes and left.

"Follow me please Miss Granger."

I followed Travers through several heavily warded doors and into a hallway so white I thought I would go blind. It was long, doors lining every side, each one as white as the last. Sterile was the only way I could possibly describe it.

"Is Draco... alright?" I asked finally, when the silence became too much.

He turned to me curiously, and blinked several times, but never answered. For the first time I really studied the man. He was taller than me, significantly. I knew he was at least in his late twenties from Professor McGonagall. Brown eyes, dirty blonde hair cut short, military style. And then a long and seemingly freshly healed scar from his left temple down to the collar of his shirt, and probably beyond.

"You fought in the war," I stated as we continued to walk.

"I killed my brother."

"I'm sorry-."

"Don't be. He gave me that scar you are staring so intently at. Plus a multitude of others. Not wanting to be a Death Eater while in a family of the most devoted... let's just say it didn't end well."

"I'm sorry."

He chuckled and halted before responding.

"And once again I will tell you not to be. If they hadn't been cruel then I wouldn't be here now," He watched me carefully, and began to wave his wand in front of the door. "And yes, everyone deserves a second chance. All you need to do is look past the glamour of what is offered to you and take it."

The door clicked and a door knob appeared.

"Miss Granger, I will have to ask for your wand before you enter. It is protocol after all," Travers resumed his professional behavior.

I extended the replacement wand to him. He opened the door, and motioned for me to enter.


This room was also white, except the lights were a softer blue than the hallway. A curtain was pulled shut around what I guessed was a toilet and sink. The white tile on the floor looked icy cold, but otherwise it was a decently warm room. And finally my eyes fell on the bed in the corner, where a hunched figure was sitting against the wall.

Draco's arms wrapped around his knees, drawing them up to his chest and he rested his forehead on them. I vaguely wondered if perhaps this was how I appeared to him in the dungeons.

"Draco," I whispered and stepped toward him.

His head snapped up...


Draco

I stared at her. Hermione's brown hair curled around her shoulders, escaping from the braid. She advanced towards me smiling faintly. And finally she sat down beside me.

"Are you okay? Did anyone hurt you?" She was whispering gently. "Draco?"

"I'm fine. Missing you of course."

My voice was raspy, earning a curious look from the brunette.

"Are you sure?" Hermione placed her hand on my cheek.

I flinched. Which was when I realized how badly I had screwed up. My girlfriend was too smart to not realize something was going on.

She dropped her hand immediately.

"Sorry... sorry."

Hermione's tiny hand pressed against my shoulder, running her fingers along my collarbone.

"This isn't your shirt. Draco, tell me. Did anyone hurt you?" She stared into my eyes hard. "Oh! Travers of course... look past the fucking glamours. Draco, I will be back for you in no more than twenty minutes. Who did they threaten?"

I grasped her hand firmly shaking my head no. When she repeated the question I finally said it.

"Mum."

She planted a soft kiss on my forehead and then ran from the room.

"Please don't go," I begged, even though I knew she wouldn't hear me. "Hermione, I... I need you. I love you!"


Next chapter is some serious Dramione stuff guys. I'm so excited. Please review! A big thanks to my reviewers last chapter, I love it! Have a fantastic holiday!