CHAPTER X: Painful truths

A/N: Thank you guys so so so much for all the wonderful support you given me thus far. It means the world to me.

I don't own Harry Potter or anything affiliated with it.

CHAPTER X: Painful truths

There was a panel of six examiners seated behind the high bench. In the center of the room, Draco lounged in the chair of the accused. Another chair, a witness chair, was placed a few feet away. Hermione crossed behind Draco, to reach it and Harry and Ron found seats in the back of the room.

"Good afternoon, Miss Granger," Howard Hornsby, the head examiner, greeted her. His welcome was followed by five more; all seemingly, unenthused.

"Good afternoon." Hermione was too preoccupied with her own thoughts to notice.

"Before we begin, Miss Granger, there are a few questions we need to put before you."

"Alright."

"How long were you in the company of one Draco Malfoy?"

"Three weeks."

"Were you together the whole time?"

"Yes."

"No time apart? No separate side trips?"

"No payoffs," Hagatha Schmemann added.

"Excuse me?"

"Come, dear, this is Draco Malfoy. The. Draco. Malfoy. Payoffs are not an unreasonable suspicion. I'm sure you understand."

"Mayhap not for Mr. Malfoy, but it is very unreasonable for me."

"If not money, maybe something else." Betty Puff, a third examiner suggested slyly.

"Such as?" Hermione didn't like the line of doubt that was being cast upon her character.

"Ohhh, he is a handsome lad," Hagatha and Betty exchanged knowing looks. "Our young Mr. Malfoy has successfully had his way with girls far more alluring than yourself. I'm afraid you really wouldn't be much of a match."

"What?"

Draco chose that moment to comment, "What they are not so subtly wondering is whether we shagged. Something like that could have an effect on your testimony." He crossed his hands behind his head and stretched out his legs. His smirk was in place and he absently wondered if she realized how much embarrassment he had spared her with his timely interjection. The answer to that question would halt the assumption that they had been intimate at all. He starred at the ceiling; contemplating ways to rip out Ron Weasley's heart.

"If that's what you're getting at, I can assure you that I have not had sex with Draco Malfoy."

A large, black hand lay across Hermione's shoulder as a soft but dangerous voice said, "That's enough."

A chorus of 'Minister', and 'Minister Shackelbolt', rang throughout the courtroom as the examiners acknowledged the new arrival.

"Kingsley," Hermione smiled into the face of a dear friend.

Kingsley returned her smile before narrowing his eyes down the row of examiners. "Ladies and gentleman, need I remind you that Miss Granger has done the ministry a service. You would do well to hear her report with graciousness and remove the unnecessary judgments. Mr. Malfoy may give you reason to pause, but, I should not have to reintroduce you to Miss Hermione Granger: Of the highest integrity. Of the Golden Trio. Of the department of Magical Law Enforcement, if I can convince her,"

"Kingsley?"

"I was coming to speak with you before the hearing, but I was detained. Maybe you'll stop by my office before you leave?"

"Of course I will." The thought of a job doing what she loved best lightened Hermione's mood.

"You could get to that if we could actually get to this hearing." Draco had run out of ways to torture Ron; he wanted to go contemplate some new ones.

"I believe Mr. Malfoy is right," Kingsley said. "Carry on." He left the courtroom without a backwards glance.

Howard Hornsby was all about business when he said," Miss Granger, please tell us of Mr. Malfoy's behavior."

Draco knew a moment of regret. Until then, he hadn't thought of anything other than killing Weaselbee. Now the notion that Hermione may try to retaliate for his slightly rude comment popped into his head.

"Mr. Malfoy behaved just like the gentleman he was raise to be. I don't see why you would expect anything different."

"He was polite? Civil?"

"As can be expected."

"Meaning?"

"I am a mudblood. Not his favorite species."

"Did you observe him around muggles?"

"Upon occasion."

"Did he treat them with the respect and consideration they deserve?"

"I wouldn't go that far, but he didn't harm them, nor was he intentionally vicious. And, no one was cursed, to my knowledge."

"From what you know of Mr. Malfoy, would you say his disposition has improved?"

That made Hermione laugh, "Look, you are never going to get him to like muggles. Really, It's pointless to even try. But, he knows how to be civil; probably better than most. He's also smarter than most. The fact that he's cooperating with your terms speaks better for his character than anything I could say. Because, quite frankly, he can work around it."

Everyone was silent. Her summery meant different things to different people.

The panel had never examined anyone who gave honest answers. After spending time in Draco's company, people, women especially, unanimously nominated him for sainthood. They sung his praises so high, no one believed it. But, Hermione Granger was telling the truth. They didn't know what to do with some one who told the truth.

Ron was clearly disappointed. He wanted Malfoy in Azkaban and anything less than that was betrayal.

Harry was confused. She talked about Malfoy as if he was some one other than Malfoy. She hadn't told anyone she had spent time with him. Obviously, they weren't friends. But, Malfoy was in her head. Why was Malfoy in her head? Did Hermione allow it? Did Hermione know it? What were they talking about earlier that was so intense?

Draco was dumbfounded. Hermione had just described him as if she knew him; as if she paid attention. She said things about him that were true; things that were honest. He also picked up a distinct lack of judgment in her voice. Like she neither approver or disapproved; just accepted. Nobody just accepted him. They either loved or hated him, but, nobody just accepted him; the good and the bad, exactly the way he was. Granted, he and Hermione had never been phony with each other. Granted, they shared something that was too sacred for the rest of the world. But, she didn't owe him public acceptance. Especially, not after what he had said to her, but she gave it anyway. She hadn't looked in his direction since she came into the room, but she accepted him.

A/N: well this us the end of that chapter, but as I was in a particularly good mood and since I'm not done and wont be able to update FTA today, I decided to give you two. So here's chapter 11. Enjoy.

Isiss

CHAPTER XI: The Dragonfly

Long after Hermione gave her report and the hearing was adjourned, Draco sat in his chair rethinking what she had said about him. Ron, grumbling, accompanied her to Kingsley Shacklebolt's office. The panel of examiners had their own reports to file before going home, so they had left. Draco didn't know what had become of the Potter, but a rematch could be expected. There always was.

He knew he shouldn't have attacked Potter, but the boy-who-would-not-go-away had no business invading his mind. Technically, Potter had invaded Hermione's mind, but that was just a detail; and a minor one at that. Hermione belonged to him, Potter was invading his mind. The repercussions, however would be hers. Potter was her nosey friend; she could deal with him. He didn't have nosey friends and He didn't like Hermione's. Maybe he would buy her some new ones. That was a happy enough thought to motivate him to get moving. He pulled himself out of his chair and left the courtroom.

"Malfoy."

Damn. He was definitely buying her some knew friends. "What do you want, Potter?"

"Why were you in Hermione's head?"

"Why were you?"

"Don't play games with me. I don't have time for it. Is there something going on between you and Hermione?" Harry was momentarily distracted. A large dragonfly flew past. It circled Draco's head and flew past again with amazing speed and a furious buzzing.

Faster than a thought, Harry had drawn his wand so that when the insect flew past a third time, he blasted it. The bug froze in the air right between Draco's eyes; then in slow motion, it spiraled to the floor…dead.

With the same slow motion, a knowing smile spread across Draco's face. It didn't stop until it reached his eyes, making them glow dangerously. "Of course, an auror such as yourself would have top clearance."

"What of it?" Harry couldn't understand the sudden change in Malfoy's demeanor. While yes, it was an impressive bit of wandwork; it was still just an annoying bug.

"I owe you one. And, because I will never be in your debt if I can help it, Potter, I'm going to square it with you right now. Yes, there's something going on between Hermione and me. I can't tell you what it is, because I have no idea. We met in America, and it turned out to be better than expected. But, we're a bad mix; we already know that. Is that enough information for you?"

Harry didn't know what perplexed him more: That Malfoy admitted he and Hermione were involved or that Malfoy cooperated at all. He said the thing that was most important to him. "If you hurt her, Malfoy, I will hunt you down and bury you."

Draco gave a humorless laugh. "I know that, Potter." He turned away. A half second later, her turned back, wand drawn.

A flash of light was the only warning Harry had. The next thing he knew, he was attached to the wall. As he struggled to break free, Draco lost all sense of mirth. "First: we're even. Second: Don't threaten me. Your destiny has been fulfilled; you're expendable. Third: Whether I hurt Hermione or not isn't any of your damned business. And Finally, Potter, why don't learn something. Read a book. Ask a question. Anybody in that courtroom, except that redheaded dead-man you hang around with, could have told you about the Civil Behavior Bug. I give you profound thanks, but I assure you nobody else will." With that Draco walked off.

Harry was left stuck to the wall, watching hatefully as Malfoy moved farther away. When the blond head disappeared around the corner, Harry was suddenly freed. He fell, face first to the floor, landing next to the beautiful, but very dead, dragonfly.

Hermione looked around the restaurant. She hadn't been back to Diagon Alley since the day she apparated to America. If she wasn't mistaken, they were at the same table. She checked for extendable ears. As usual, Ron had more food piled in front of him than the house elves made for a Hogwart's banquet. It reminded her of mealtimes with Draco in America. Everything seemed to be reminding her of Draco in America. She would have expected a comment like that from Draco in America, not now. Everything was upside down and backwards. In America she had expected a pompous arrogant, self centered, pain in the ass. Instead what she got was charming, intelligent, engaging Draco. Attractive Draco. Hot Draco. And now she had expected…well she didn't know what to expect and that was part of the problem.

"Are you even listening to me?" Ron put his fork down.

"Sorry Ron. My mind just won't stay focused." Hermione stirred her soup, determining to remember what kind it was.

"I had asked if you were excited about working at the Ministry. It's what you've always wanted."

"Yeah. Yeah. It's going to be great. Congratulations to you, too. Why didn't you tell me you were an Auror now?"

"Like when have I seen you?" Ron returned to his eating.

Hermione returned to her musing.

"Are we going to talk?"

"What. Oh. Yeah. Sorry, Ron. What did you want to talk about?" She tasted her soup; hoping she could identify it that way.

"What do you think I want to talk about? I did propose to you today. Don't you think that warrants some discussion?"

"Ron. We can't get married."

"Hermione."

"You have to know it. What have these last weeks been like for us? There's been no us. Ron, we can't build a future like that." She gave up. She didn't want the soup. It probably had anchovies in it.

"I told you everything is going to change. I'm ready now. That was the only problem."

"Maybe, in the beginning. It's not the only problem now."

"Hermione, what happened in America? Something has changed you."

Hermione took her time, searching for hidden anchovies, thinking of the best way answer. "You're right. Something has changed me. But, that's not why we can't get married. You were happy with your life, your freedom, doing your own thing without me"

"But I'm done now. I want to be with you. Forever."

"You could be telling the truth."

"I am telling the truth."

"But it's not my truth."

"What's that mean?"

"You had me Ron, but you didn't want me. I don't hate you for it, but I can never trust that it won't happen again. I would always be worried that one day you're going to wake up and not want me again."

"That's never going to happen."

"It already did."

"Are you above forgiving?"

"There's nothing to forgive. I don't think it was about me, but I don't think I can spend my life waiting for it to happen again."

"So what? I have to prove to you that I'm not going anywhere?"

"I don't know, Ron. I just can't marry you. At least not right now. You don't love me."

"I do"

"You don't. You do, but not enough to sacrifice the rest of your life."

He starred at her silently, hating that what she said felt truthful. "What happened in America, Hermione?"

She put her hand on his arm. "In America, I found out, that I didn't love your either. Not enough to sacrifice the rest of my life. I found out that I want things that you don't want. I care about things that you couldn't be bothered with. I found out that I am somebody different than who you see."

"I've known you almost ten years. I know exactly who you are."

"You don't, Ron. I didn't even know me. And that's part of it. In school, so much was going on: It was a different world. Finding out I was a witch made my whole life different. And then every year was insanely intense, with Voldemort and the war. There was no time to find out who I was. I just became who I was needed to be. You did too; Harry too. Well, now, there are no exams or deatheaters. It's just us. That's why you were having so much fun being famous; the attention, the girls. You were just being you, Ron. I love you for it. I don't want you to stop being you, but I can't marry who you are. I think you know that. You knew that before I did."

She had been so logical. So reasonable. So Hermione-like. Ron was almost comforted. Except he would not be defeated. "We're getting married, Hermione. You just have to accept it."

"We're not getting married, Ronald. You just have to accept it."