Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author.

Many thanks to the lovely DHLane for the beta of this chapter.

The click of her heels against the parquet floor echoed as she paced back and forth. Her teeth worried her lower lip as her nerves slowly began to get the better of her.

The side door to the chamber opened finally and Hermione spun around to face the source of the noise. She watched as Neville and Ron led a magically bound Lucius Malfoy into the drawing room and saw Ron point at the chairs by the fire. She walked over and joined him there, sitting on the lounge chair opposite him. She noted that his appearance was slightly more kempt that it had been when she had visited him in Azkaban only eleven days before. Someone had taken great pains to make him look tidy despite his gauntness in a pair of plain black trousers and a tucked-in navy shirt.

Hermione didn't particularly care for that colour on him, but she didn't say anything. It wasn't a case to dispute fashion after all. The stakes were much higher than that. Not only was his freedom on the line, but Neville's reputation and her job also hung in the balance. She couldn't afford to look bad – not with her employers scrutinizing her tiniest move in that courtroom.

With a wave of her wand, a tea service appeared on the coffee table in front of the two of them and she moved forward in her seat to pour.

'How do you take your tea, Mr Malfoy?' she asked, pouring two cups.

'White with one sugar, thank you,' he answered, accepting the cup when it was handed to him.

'Are you ready?' she asked as Neville took a seat beside her.

'As I'll ever be, I suppose,' Lucius answered.

'We want to just run through everything with you one last time before this begins,' Hermione started, handing the second cup of tea to Neville before beginning to prepare one for herself.

'Ronald and I will be escorting you into the courtroom and you will, regrettably, be magically chained to the chair in the centre,' Neville explained. 'After that, Hermione will address the court on your behalf and the proceedings will begin.'

'The judge will ask you to either take a vow of honesty or take Veritaserum before we go any further,' Hermione continued.

'I understand,' Lucius said with a nod, taking a sip of his tea.

'I will begin by showing the Wizengamot the files and letters I have compiled and follow by showing the memories your witnesses bestowed upon us for the trial,' she said, stirring sugar into her own teacup. 'After that, I will call your wife, your son, and finally you to the witness stand to make statements before the court. Hopefully after all of that, I will be able to offer conditions for your early release, which they will accept. Then you'll be free, even if it is on parole.'

'A shortened parole?' he asked curiously.

'I will be asking them for two years instead of the standard five,' Hermione affirmed with a nod.

She stood from her spot on the lounge and collected her briefcase, nodding at Neville before heading across to the door that led to the courtroom. Turning back, she took another moment to look at Lucius.

'Good luck today, Mr Malfoy,' she said with a small smile.

'Thank you, Miss Granger,' he replied. 'Good luck to you as well, although I fear at this point that might sound a little self-serving.'

Hermione's smile widened at that before she turned on her heel and walked through the door that led to the courtroom. She was surprised to see that there was not a single seat left empty in the entire room. She sighed. It was Lucius Malfoy on trial, after all. It was, more or less, expected that the public would be curious to see how it went. She had a feeling that they would be surprised by the case she had built.

As she gazed around the room she caught sight of her employers who both nodded at her and smiled encouragingly. She flashed a nervous smile back at them and let her eyes continue to wander. Draco and Narcissa were seated in the witness section along with the wizard from China, who looked a little nervous if the sweat on his brow was anything to go by. Harry and Pansy both smiled and waved at her from their seats towards the front. It seemed being the Boy Who Lived still meant something to the magical world. She was about to walk over and speak to them when the Chief Warlock cleared his throat to call the room to order.

Hermione quickly took her seat behind the desk for the defendant and pulled her case files out of her briefcase, organising it on the table before her.

'Welcome,' Tiberius Ogden said, his deep voice resonating through the room. 'I would like to call this trial to order. In the matter of the Wizarding World versus Lucius Malfoy, the defendant was previously found guilty of all charges brought up against him. Some of these charges include murder, torture and extortion. This trial today is to assess whether or not the prisoner should be allowed to go free on parole. I would like to ask Mr Malfoy's representative, Ms Hermione Granger, to stand and address the court.'

Hermione pushed the nerves bubbling up to the surface down and stood from her chair, walking to a position in the room where she could address both the court and the audience.

'Thank you, Chief Warlock Ogden,' she said, addressing Ogden with a nod. 'I am here, on the behalf of Mr Malfoy, to offer up new evidence that would support his petition to be released on an early parole. I would like to call upon Mr Malfoy, who is present here today, to be a part of this trial, so that he may be at liberty to represent himself.'

'Motion granted, bring in the prisoner,' Ogden said with a wave towards the door through which Hermione had entered.

The door opened and she watched with bated breath as Neville and Ron led the magically shackled Lucius into the courtroom. He was immediately led past Hermione and placed in one of the chairs at her desk. Ron walked past Hermione with a look in his eyes that said 'it's not too late to back out, you know' and simply sauntered back to stand by the door. Hermione rolled her eyes and looked to Neville who had seated himself comfortably beside Malfoy.

'Ladies and Gentlemen of the Wizengamot, I ask that you keep an open mind and try to absorb all that you will see here today. Lucius Malfoy is not an innocent man. Yes, he has done some unspeakable things, but did we not all do unspeakable things for the sake of loved ones during the war? The evidence that I offer you today consists of memories and letters that were sent to me which will show you a different motivation than previously brought out during the Lucius Malfoy case of seven years ago.'

'Bring forth your first witness,' Ogden said.

'I would like to call Master Hui Xang to the witness stand,' Hermione said clearly.

The older man stood from his place beside Draco and walked forward. His oriental style of wizards' robes stood out in the courtroom, the reds, yellows and orange providing a sharp contrast against the sea of black and navy robes. He took his seat in the witness stand and looked towards Hermione for questioning.

'Master Xang, will you please tell the court about the first time you met with Narcissa and Draco Malfoy?'

'I met the Malfoy mother and son exactly three months ago,' he replied, his accent heavy despite the translation amulet he wore around his neck. 'They came to me to ask for a the performance of a charm that would annul an Unbreakable Vow.'

'As the members of the Wizengamot will see before you, Master Xang is a charms master, and the only wizard to our knowledge, who can sever the bonds of the Unbreakable Vow without harming those bound,' Hermione said.

There was a flurry of sound as everyone turned the pages of the files Hermione had prepared for each member.

'Master Xang, can you please tell the court whether you were able to break the vow that held Narcissa and Draco Malfoy?'

'I was able to sever the bonds, strong though they were. A strong wizard cast the spell, but I could sense that the one who cast it no longer lived, so the spell was able to be broken,' he replied.

'And are you able to tell us if you know the details of the vow?'

'A vow of secrecy it was, to ensure that Mr Malfoy would be punished for committing crimes,' Master Xang replied. 'Mrs Malfoy was greatly relieved when it was removed. She had no wish for her husband to be punished when it was not his fault for many of the things he did.'

'Thank you, Master Xang. You may step down now,' Hermione said.

The man nodded solemnly and walked back to his seat amongst the crowd. Hermione then looked at Narcissa who blinked at her with a slight inclination of her chin.

'I would like to call my second witness, Narcissa Malfoy, to the witness stand.'

Narcissa moved to the stand and immediately took a seat, ever the picture of serenity. Hermione addressed her then, asking her to tell the court the exact same story that she had told her and Neville a few weeks before. As they listened, she looked around the room and took in the faces of all the people. There were more than a few expressions of shock, especially when it was revealed that Severus Snape was the one who performed the bonding charm of the Unbreakable Vow on the Malfoy's, the night before the Final Battle.

Even though only half of the evidence for the case had been revealed, Hermione knew that they were well on their way to winning. When Narcissa was finished giving her testimony, she turned to the Wizengamot to address them once more.

'I have memories that I would like the court to view, taken from Lucius Malfoy by a trained Healer of St Mungo's,' she said firmly. 'The same Healer, will be able to testify to the number of injuries that Mr Malfoy has received during his time as a prisoner in Azkaban.'

'Bring the memories forward,' Ogden said with a wave.

Hermione walked towards him, clasping the vial that contained the memories. He took the vial from her and as one, the members of the Wizengamot stood and walked out of the courtroom through the same door used by Hermione earlier. In there, they would view the memories of Malfoy's torture by some of the prison guards during his stay there. Fifteen minutes later they returned, and Hermione called the Healer to the witness stand.

Healer Wharton testified that the injuries and memories were all true before he returned to his seat.

The last piece of evidence the defenceI would like to offer you, are the letters sent to Lucius by his father, Abraxas Malfoy,' Hermione said, walking over to Ogden with the bound stack of letters. 'Therein lies the evidence that supports the claim that Lucius Malfoy was threatened, not only by his father, but also by Tom Riddle himself, confirming the notion that Lucius Malfoy committed many crimes while under fear for the lives of both his wife and son. I have sample letters from the Ministry Archives that were written in the same hand, proving it was indeed, Abraxas Malfoy who wrote them.'

Whispering broke out amongst those in the Wizengamot and Hermione watched as many of those who had been vehemently for Malfoy's imprisonment, were already having a change of heart. After ten minutes of heated discussion and deliberation between them, Hermione waited with anxiously to hear the results of all her efforts.

'The Wizengamot would like to thank Ms Granger for all of her hard work,' Tiberius Ogden announced. 'Now that all the evidence has been presented, we will vote. All those opposed to Mr Malfoy's release?'

A couple of hands went up immediately, followed by a few more until a third of the hands were raised. Hermione felt butterflies in her stomach. They were going to win.

'All of those for his release on early parole?'

The remaining hands went up in the air, though Hermione could tell that there was still reluctance from some.

'Those who elected to vote "for" have it,' Ogden announced. 'Lucius Malfoy, you are hereby released on the terms of parole as dictated by the agreement you have signed. The court assigns Hermione Granger as your parole officer, to whom you shall report to once a fortnight until your parole has reached an end.'

With a bang of the gavel against the block on his desk, Ogden sounded the end of the trial and Lucius looked up at Hermione. She walked over to the front of the courtroom and retrieved Malfoy's wand from the Chief Warlock. He nodded stiffly at her before standing and leaving the courtroom. Returning to where Neville and Malfoy still sat, she used the wand in her hand to remove the bonds on Lucius's hands and ankles.

'You are free to go, Mr Malfoy,' she said with a smile. 'However, you must know that there are limitations already in place on your wand. You'll only be able to use basic spells for the first six months, and you won't be able to leave the country for a year. I expect to see you at my office in exactly fourteen days.'

He smiled at her, and to her surprise, put his arms around her and hugged her until she could barely breathe. 'Thank you,' he said simply before releasing her.

Neville stood and shook Malfoy's hand before the man strode purposefully over to his wife and son and put his arms around them in a tight hug. Hermione felt herself tear up a little at the reunion, but quickly blinked them back before turning to look at Neville once more.

'Congratulations,' he said, holding a hand out for her to shake.

'Thank you,' she replied. 'I wouldn't have been able to do it without you.'

'We make a fine team,' he said, smirking at her. 'You look tired. Let me take you out for a celebratory dinner.'

'I might have to rain check on that offer,' Hermione replied evasively. 'I already made plans with Harry and Pansy for tonight, but maybe in a little while.'

Neville gave her a strange look then that she couldn't read, but his nod and smile a moment later distracted her. He patted her on the shoulder then and walked away, his shoulders slightly hunched as he walked through the exit. Hermione's confusion was short-lived however, as a moment later; her employers were upon her, both boasting proud smiles.

'Congratulations on an excellent trial, Hermione,' Mr Jennings said, putting a hand out and shaking hers vigorously, followed by Mr Hyde.

'Excellent show,' Hyde said, smiling from behind his gigantic moustache.

'Thank you both for the opportunity,' she replied. 'I was grateful for the challenge.'

'We can't stay to chat now, but we would like to see you at the office first thing tomorrow to discuss your promotion to partner,' Jennings said.

Hermione felt elation soar through her at those few words. Despite knowing that the promotion was a possibility, actually hearing the words was quite another thing. She beamed at the two men before her.

'I'll see you both at nine tomorrow morning,' she said, nodding and waving as they walked away.

Standing by herself in the mostly empty courtroom, she sighed, still smiling for a moment before she turned to walk out.

To be continued.