AN: Thanks again for all who have reviewed, read, put me on alert, and favorited this! I'm glad everyon'es enjoying the story!
I own nothing you recognize.
Harry slammed the Daily Prophet onto the table after finishing the article. "What's wrong?" Luna asked as she entered the breakfast nook carrying a tea pot.
"She's defending him!" Harry yelled.
"Who's defending whom?" Luna asked as she poured some tea into Harry's cup.
"Hermione! She decided to defend Snape! I figured that Lucius would pull something like this, but why would Hermione agree?" Harry exclaimed.
Luna poured some tea in her own cup before looking up. "You said yourself that you weren't sure if Snape would do something like this. Why is it so bad if Hermione defends him?"
"I know what I've said about Snape, but after listening to what you overheard and looking at the evidence… Snape has a temper, we both know that. Sure, he's controlled and he holds things in, but everyone has a snapping point. Maybe Snape reached his. Merlin knows he didn't want anything coming out about him and my mother. I don't know. Honestly, after hearing some of the reports, I really think that he may have done it," Harry replied.
Luna sat down and rubbed her enlarged stomach for a moment. "You never answered why it was so bad that Hermione defends him."
Harry sighed. "I honestly thought we'd seen the last of her when she left England. I never really thought much about what she'd do, though looking back, becoming a lawyer does sound about right for her. What I don't get is why she'd take such a high profile case, especially one involving an ex-Death Eater. I mean, does she want to look worse than she already does? Is her career that damn important to her?"
"Hermione's always cared about her career, but she also has compassion. Maybe she saw that Snape needed some one to show compassion for him. Maybe she saw herself in him. Maybe, in a weird way, she needed to take this case to have some closure," Luna replied.
Harry sighed. "I suppose. Anyway, she may not stay on for long. If they move it to Britain, Snape will certainly hire a different lawyer."
"You don't really think that that will happen though," Luna replied.
He sighed and shook his head. "No, I don't."
"Do you want it to be tried in Britain?"
"I just want it done and over with so we can move on with our lives," Harry replied.
"Harry, it's no big deal for me to testify against Snape. He won't hurt me," Luna answered.
"I'm not worried about you testifying," he replied. "It's just that the whole thing has me thinking. First, there was Snape and my mother, and now Hermione and all those issues."
"Perhaps you should focus on the present," Luna answered.
Harry smiled. "You're probably right, Luna."
She smiled back. "Do you want to look for pixiecorns with me?"
He shook his head as his eyes sparkled in amusement. "No thanks, Luna. Please be careful, though."
She stood up. "I'm always careful. I think the baby likes hunting things with me. He kicks when he senses something close by. It's almost like he has a gift for finding magical animals."
Harry smiled. "I'm sure he does."
"Thanks for coming, Miss Granger," Adrian Conway began.
"Thanks for being so accommodating," Hermione answered.
Conway smirked as she sat down. "Somehow, I knew you'd be back. I had a feeling you just couldn't let this case go."
Hermione smirked in response. "I told Lucius and I'll tell you; I only defend innocent people."
"So you think Mr. Snape's innocent?" Conway asked with a raised eyebrow.
Hermione nodded as determination engulfed her eyes like a wildfire. "I know that he's innocent. I can prove it, too."
"Well, I s'pose we'll see about that. I like your spirit, though. It'll really come in handy when we go in front of the International Council."
The determination faded from her eyes. "I've never been in front of them before."
"I've seen one convene once back in Britain. It's really not a big deal. From what I understand this one'll have three American judges and three British judges. We'll argue why the trial should be in the United States and answer a couple of questions. They'll argue why it should be in Britain. Your client does want the trial in the US, correct?" he asked.
"Yes," Hermione answered. "He feels that he'll have a fairer trial here."
"Good. It looks better if the defense is on my side," Conway replied. "It looks even better that there's a defense, period."
Hermione smiled and then frowned. "Will I have to wait until the deliberations begin before I can examine the case files?"
"Oh heck no!" Adrian answered. "I can give them to you now. It'll probably look better for us if you are fully briefed. Granted, the investigation's still ongoing and people are still being interviewed, but I can give you what we have right now."
"Thank you. Will you need to interview Mr. Snape again?"
"Yes," Adrian answered. "We'll need to do it with you present. He wouldn't submit to an interview otherwise."
"Has he been interviewed without representation?" she asked.
"Yes, the first time. He waived his right to an attorney and was for the most part cooperative. When we arrested him, he refused to talk until, well, you came," he replied.
"If it's okay, I'd appreciate it if you'd wait until tomorrow before you interview him. I need to get caught up or I won't be of much use, I'm afraid.
"Of course Miss Granger. I'm sure if you talk to Perpetua we can get it on the schedule."
"Thank you," she answered.
Conway nodded and stood up. He drew out his wand and walked over to a drawer. After muttering some spells, it opened. He pulled out some papers and shrunk them. Then he walked over to her and placed them in her open hand. "Here you go, ma'am."
"Thank you," she replied. "I'll speak to Perpetua on the way out and get that interview scheduled as soon as possible."
"That'd be great," he replied.
"I'll also try to draw up a statement from Mr. Snape," she replied.
"That sure would be helpful," he replied. "We'll talk more about the International Council when you finish with that."
She nodded and stood up. "Thanks for everything," she replied.
"No, thank you," he answered.
With that, Hermione shook DA Conway's hand and walked out the door.