The whole Hogsmede trip, both Draco and Holly thought about the hug. When Holly had returned to Ron and Hermione, both were staring at her as if she had turned into a hippogriff!

"What?!" She exclaimed.

"You!" Hermione replied.

"What about me?"

"You hugged fucking Malfoy!" Ron said rolling his eyes.

"Well excuse me for being kind to the person who saved my life!" Holly said, raising an eyebrow at Ron.

"You don't know he did that!" Ron muttered. "He could have just asked the Professor to do it and then pretended to save you!"

"And Professor Zorander would go through with this because?..." Hermione asked, waiting for a response.

"I don't know!" Ron said and the three fell into silence.

"Why don't we go to the three broomsticks?" Holly suggested, breaking the awkwardness.

"Yeah! That's what we need. A little butterbeer to cheer us all up!" Hermione said optimistically.

The three walked into the pub and took a seat. They all ordered a butterbeer and began to sip on it.

"Holly, what really happened?" Hermione asked after a few seconds of quiet.

"We know you've told us briefly but what's the full story?" Ron added.

"Well you know I got that note from Padfoot, I don't really know who it was from but when I got to outside defence against the dark arts, Zorander pulled me into a dark corridor and he had Padfoot tied up! Then he asked me who he really was and when I wouldn't tell him he used the cruciatus curse on him. He then tried to do it again but I may or may not have got in the way!" Holly explained.

"Why didn't you use the sheilding spell?" Hermione asked, placing her drink onto the table with a bit of a loud slam.

"Because maybe not everyone is a walking encyclopedia of spells!" Ron joked as Holly almost spat out the small amout of butterbeer she had just drunk from laughing.

"Well for future reference, use protago! It works against most spells and is very useful!" Hermione said, emphasising the words 'very useful'.

"Well anyway, then Padfoot transformed and that just caused him to torture me more and then, I couldn't really see at the time but looking back on it, I know it was Draco who saved me. But by the time he had done anything, I passed out and didn't wake up for five days!" Holly finished off. Ron and Hermione sat in silence, blinking at Holly who seemed very unphased by this.

"They have got to arrest him!" Ron said eventually. "He belongs in Azkaban for that!"

"Dumbledore said that I would have to tell him exactly what happened at some point. So maybe when I do everything will sort itself out!" Holly suggested with optimism in her voice.

The rest of the trip went smoothly. Holly saw Draco come into the three broomsticks alone just as she was about to leave. She felt sorry for the boy as he never seemed to be around anyone anymore! Holly was tempted to leave Ron and Hermione and go sit with Draco but then Ron would get upset again and probably go in a mood!

The next day at breakfast, Holly got two letters, one from Sirius and one from the Ministry of Magic.

Holly I just wanted to say sorry for not doing anything the other week when you were attacked! I didn't have my wand on me since I had been a dog at the time and I shouldn't have trusted the new Professor since they all end up being evil in some way or another- apart from Moony! He is a warewolf but that's not a conscious decision to become a wolf on each full moon! Everyone else had tried to kill you or attack you if I recall correctly. Anyway Dumbledore wrote to me and I told him everything I knew! I'm really glad your back. You scared me for a while!

Padfoot

Holly's heart warmed- Sirius was alright! Zorander hadn't sold him over to the Ministry! However, on that train of thought, Holly became anxious to open the next letter.

Miss H. Potter,It has come to our attention that last week, at 9.21am you were attacked by the cruciatus curse, being performed by Professor E. Zorander. Professor A. Dumbledore has requested that you have a hearing tomorrow at 12.00pm sharp so we can debate what the proper punishment should be. He will discuss matters with you at some point between now and then.

Kind regards,

Mrs M. Hopkirk

Holly felt her stomach drop. She would have to go to a hearing and for the first time since the attack, have to be in the same room as that man without being armed! She looked over to Professor Dumbledore who gave a supportive smile to the anxious girl. Why is it always me that's attacked?

The next day rolled around in a flash. She had recived an owl from the headmaster to meet him in his office as soon as the second lesson started.

"Honeycomb." Holly said, checking the correct password on the letter Dumbledore had sent her. The staircase began to appear and Holly walked up the stairs. Dumbledore was waiting at his desk, once again reading the quibbler.

"Miss Potter!" Dumbledore said calmly- sensing the girls nervousness. "We will be leaving now to ensure that you get there on time. Do you have any questions?" Holly thought for a moment.

"What do I need to do?" Holly asked eventually.

"When they ask for it, just tell them your side of the story!" Dumbledore said simply. "We will be apparating so if you could be so kind as to take my arm!"

"But I thought you couldn't apparate within the Hogwarts grounds!" Holly said furrowing her brow.

"Well when your me, you get small perks like that!" Dumbledore said with a small wink. Holly took his arm and before she knew it, she felt as if she were being bended around!

The two arrived outside a red phone box on a deserted street.

"In here!" Dumbledore said, gesturing to the small phone box. Holly walked in, Dumbledore going in after. He pressed in the password: 62442. Then, the booth began to sink into the floor. It was an odd sensation but not as strange as apparating!

The large, black, marble entrance was empty as everyone would have been in their offices, impatiently waiting for the lunch break. Dumbledore lead Holly through the Ministry, almost as if he knew exactly where to go like it was perfectly engraved into his memory! They reached the hearing rooms at 11:59 and there was a middle aged, toad-like looking witch wearing bright pink from head to toe waiting outside.

"Miss Potter!" She said while pushing the door open. "If you would like to enter the court room." Holly nervously made her way into the large room and saw many people looking down at her. She took the seat in the centre of the room and looked to the people just above the door she had come through. Professor Zorander was there and sat next to him, surprisingly was Draco.

"Miss H. Potter. Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. Hearing been called for an attack by Professor E. Zorander." Called the Minister of Magic himself. "Would you mind telling us what happened?"

Holly explained everything. About how she had been passed a note by someone- she almost backed herself into a corner when she nearly mentioned Sirius but managed to get herself out of it by not being specific. Then she said what Zorander had done to both her and her Godfather before finally saying that Draco had saved her. When she said this, a long blond haired man jolted his head to where Draco was sat. Oh fuck! Now I've got him in trouble!

"If Professor E. Zorander will please come forth and plead his case." The Minister said while taking a few notes.

Holly's blood boiled as she heard Zorander's claims.

"Honestly I was under the influence of the imperious curse!" He pleaded. "I would never hurt anyone intentionally!" He carried on with this huge thing about how nothing he did was himself- merely the actions of someone else working through him!

"Now will the witness please come forth and tell us what they believed happened." Draco stood up, Holly could see from the other side of the room that he was shaking. After all, his father- who was a death eater- was sat in the room and Draco was about to rave about how he helped Holly Potter, the girl Voldemort wants to kill!

Draco told the Minster everything he knew about the attack. He left out the part about Sirius being there and Holly assumed that Zorander just forgot about him as he was too focused on his sob story. The Minister looked like he was about to say something after Draco had finished speaking but Dumbledore cut him off before he had even started.

"I have one last witness! He was also a victim in the crime." A shot of fear stabbed through Holly as Sirius walked through the doors. Screams flooded the room and everyone pointed their wands at the 'murderer'. If Holly still had hers and hadn't had to give it in, she would have used expelliarmus on each and every one of them just to protect her Godfather!

"No! Stop!" She yelled, unable to do anything else. The whole room fell silent.

"Miss Potter you are aware this is the only man eho has ever escaped Azkaban and he was put in there for mass murder!" Snarled the toad like lady in pink who was cowering in a corner.

"He was framed! He's innocent!" Holly announced to the whole room. "And he's my Godfather!" Gasps filled the court as Holly said this.

"And where is your evidence?" Asked the Minster, slightly ducked down so he could escape any spells cast at him.

"Use veritiserum for all I care!" Holly shouted. "I will tell you the exact same story!"

"Minister, I willingly put myself forward for a trial using veritiserum!" Sirius announced, making himself known to the room.

"Please do it!" Holly begged. The thing she currently wanted most in the world was for her Godfather to be able to walk around freely!

"Why should we trial him?" Cornelius asked, snapping his fingers and getting Sirius in handcuffs.

"Because he's innocent! It was Pettigrew!" Holly said, finally calming down a little bit.

"Pettigrew is dead!"

"No he isn't!" Holly snapped back. "Give him a trial! You didn't do it last time for no reason but out of fear!"

"Well for now he can go back to Azkaban. We will have his trial as soon as possible!" Fudge unwillingly agreed to as he was slightly scared of the fifteen year old shouting at him!

Holly jumped over the barrier infront of her and ran over to Sirius, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. Why does he have to go back to Azkaban? It's not fair!

"Not to be disrespectful Minister, but Sirius Black was still a witness to the current crime being trialed." Said Dumbledore in a calm voice. "And since you believe in him enough to give him a trial 14 years after the crime was committed, I trust you should let him give a statement!" Holly had always found the Headmaster to be very convincing with his words and apparently so did Cornelius.

"Very well then!" He said, pointing for Sirius to sit on the chair.

"I was staying at Hogwarts in my animagus form when the incident happened." Holly's eyes widened- he was giving himself away! Does he not remember that being an unregistered animagus is a crime? "I went there so I could be closer to my Goddaughter, Holly Potter, and I was staying with the young Professor Zorander! One day, he took me into a dark corridor and tied me up. Around 10 minutes later, Holly came and he began to interrogate her about me. Zorander then proceeded to use the cruciatus curse agaisnt me to try and get me to transform but when I didn't, he stopped. When he tried again, Holly jumped in the way to save me. He seemed to have no desire of stopping and soon after, Draco Malfoy came and took her to the hospital wing." Sirius said in a completely cool and calm manor.

"And this is all you know?" Asked the Minster.

"Yes it is Minister!" Sirius said.

The Minister turned towards the two people on either side of him and consulted them.

"We have come to the agreement that veritiserum is required. If the attacker proves guilty, he will be sent to Azkaban. If not then we shall have to investigate farther." Just as Fudge said this, someome came in the room, holding two viles of clear liquid. "We can also hold Black's trial now!" He added and Holly sighed in relief- Sirius isn't going back to Azkaban!

The Professor downed the potion and was then interrogated.

"Did you attack Sirius Black and Holly Potter?"

"Yes."

"Did you do it with the cruciatus curse?"

"Yes."

"Were you under the influence of the imperious curse?"

"Yes."

"Do you know who cast the imperious curse on you?"

"No."

"Is there any other information you wish to tell us about the incident?"

"No."

"That will be all! He may have time off work until the effects have worn off! Now, Black!" The Minister snapped his fingers again and the two men swapped seats. Sirius was handed the vile of potion and he drunk it, placing the bottle down back on the tray.

"Are you a death eater?"

"No."

"Were you the one who told you- know- who where the Potters lived?"

"No."

"Do you know who it was?"

"Peter Pettigrew! He lived with the Weasley family up until 1984 which is when he ran away and went to serve Voldemort!" Fudge flinched when Sirius said Voldemort's name.

"Are you innocent?"

"Yes."

"All charges have been dismissed from your case. Do you know where we can find Pettigrew?"

"No."

"As for the recent attack, we shall have to investigate at Hogwarts! CASE CLOSED!" The Minister whacked the small mallet on the desk and from that moment forward, Sirius was free! Before he could even stand up, Holly had gone and hugged him.

"Your free!" She whispered, trying not to cry. "You can go outside!"

"I don't recommend that!" Dumbledore said, walking up behind the pair. "Everyone in this room knows your innocent but the ret of the wizarding world not so much. I suggest waiting until it's in the daily profit! Now you've missed enough lessons as it is Miss Potter- I think it best if you come back to school. I'm sure Mr Black can find his own way home."

Dumbledore glided out of the room, Holly and Draco following him. She waved goodbye to Sirius one last time, with the biggest smile ever on her face, before disappearing around the corner.

Dumbledore held out his arm for both fifteen year olds to take. Once all of them were ready, they apparated back into Hogwarts in the exact same position as they left. Almost as if they had never left at all! Holly glanced at the clock- it was 1.30pm. They had definitely been out!

"If you two would like to return to your lesson- that would be greatly appreciated." Dumbledore said calmly. How is he so calm after apparating? I feel like I'm going to fall over!

"Yes Professor." Draco said before turning and walking out, grabbing Holly's arm so she would leave too.

"What do we have now?" She asked, Draco not even turning towards her.

"Potions." His voice was cold and he had put all his barriers up. Holly knew this wasn't the Draco who wanted to be her friend, this wasn't the Draco who saved her, this wasn't the Draco who defended her in court.

"What's wrong?" Holly asked, not wanting to intrude too much.

"I JUST RISKED EVERYTHING FOR YOU! MY FATHER WAS IN THAT COURT ROOM AND HE'S A DEATH EATER! WHAT SHIT DO YOU THINK I'M GONNA GET TOMORROW! OH WOW YOU GOT YOUR FAMILY BACK! BUT FOR ME I JUST LOST EVERYTHING! VOLDEMORT WILL PROBABLY KILL ME NOW!" Draco snapped. Holly wanted to cry- not only because she was scared of the sudden outburst, but because she felt sorry for him!

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for any of this to happen!" Holly wishpered, fighting back tears.

"Well neither did I!" Draco walked off without waiting for a response. He didn't go towards the potions classroom however, he went to the Slytherin common room. Holly felt guilt wash over her. She began to make her way over to the potions room when she had a better idea.

Holly turned on her heels and headed for the Slytherin common room. Just as she cane to the bottom of the stairs, she saw Draco talking to the wall.

"Dura vita." He said and the wall opened up- almost like the on connecting the leaky cauldron to Diagon Alley. Once the wall had reclosed, Holly approched it.

"Dura vita!" She whispered, the bricks moved to reveal a door, it looked as if it would be creaky but surprisingly, it didn't make a sound!

The common rooms were the same as they had been three years ago when Holly and Ron had disguised themselves as Draco's friends to get more information on the chamber of secrets. She couldn't see the signature platinum blond hair of Draco so she ventured farther into the room and found herself in the boy's dormitory.

As she rounded the corner, she heard soft sobs. Holly tracked them down to the door at the end of the corridor.

"Draco?" She asked as she opened the wooden door. Draco jolted his head up- his eyes were red-rimmed and puffy and his cheeks along with his hands were wet with tears!

"What the fuck are you doing here?" He snapped, rapidly trying to wipe his gray eyes from tears.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to intrude. I just..."

"Well if you didn't mean to then why are you here? Your a Griffindor for fucks sake!" Draco snarled, putting Holly on edge.

"I just didn't want to make life hard for you!" Holly said. Draco took a step closer to her.

"There is no way my life can be easy!" A pained whisper escaped him.

"But if you just..." Holly was cut off. Not by words- by actions. She nearly fell over as Draco pushed her violently at the wall. It hurt her head but all the pain went away once Draco began to kiss her...