Yep, it's all J.K. Rowling's, except the plot.

Classes the next morning were rough, but it was worth it. My night with Draco had been amazing.

So, of course, I told Ginny every detail.

"Aww," she cooed at the end of my blatant gushing, "that's so sweet!"

"What's so sweet?" asked Ron, as he and Harry entered the common room.

Ginny looked at me. Considering it a moment before I spoke, I replied, "Draco."

And it was the silent glares all over again.

"Oh, shove off it," Ginny snapped.

Their glares shifted to her.

"Look," she said, "Hermione's happy. And if you two gits can't see that, well, you're even dumber than I thought."

With that, she stormed out, flipping her hair as she went.

The boys looked, surprisingly, crestfallen.

"Oh," Harry managed. Ron still said nothing.

"Ron. Harry." My voice was quiet as I addressed them. "I know you two don't like him."

Mutual scoffs.

"But I do." I paused. "A lot."

Mutual eye widening. At this point, I strongly began suspecting they shared a brain. But no mind. I continued.

"He makes me happy." I shrugged. "And we're not even dating, I just..." I finally realized his attraction. "He's good for me." Assessing their persistant silence, I added, "And it would really make me happy if you tried with him. Can you at least think about it?"

The silence seemed to go on forever.

Finally, Harry spoke. "Okay, 'Mione," he said, poking Ron in the side.

"Ow!" yelled Ron. Then, "Yeah, yeah," he muttered roughly, glaring at Harry. "I guess, you know, for you, we'll try."

Since I had a feeling that was the best I was going to get, I took it.

When the lawyer contacted me later that day, I had almost forgotten about the trial altogether. It hit then. Hard.

I had an appointment with the counselor that afternoon.

Since I had finally started doing some work, I had decided she wasn't so bad. Sure, she probably talked too much about feelings and survival and how everything came back to me, but I probably needed it. I suppose.

"So how are you doing with everything?" she asked, counselor voice in full mode.

"I'm okay, I suppose," I said quietly. Then, rethinking it, I said, "No, wait." She looked up. "That's probably a lie."

Taking a deep breath, I continued. "I just don't know what to do anymore. There's just so much and it's so built up and I'm just getting through all of it, and now I have to face it again." My voice got even more quiet as I added, "It's just not fair."

She nodded. "Yes, you're right," she said softly. "It really isn't fair." I looked down. "You know," she said, "It makes me mad that he did this to you and put you in this situation. Does it make you mad?"

I knew that was a counseling ploy. At the same time, I hated that it worked. I felt tears form in my eyes, and I willed them to stop. They refused.

'"I suppose a little," I conceded. "But I think I'm just more upset with the situation than anything." She nodded.

And so I talked. I talked everything out with a counselor. And, well, it felt good. Healthy, somehow. I knew when I did, that she wouldn't tell anyone and she wouldn't judge me and for once, while I discussed all the evil things that happen in life with tears in my eyes, I didn't feel weak. I even liked it.

The trial was rough. Draco had offered to go with me, but I told him I didn't want to get him in the middle of it.

"Hermione," he had stated, "I've been in the middle of it for a while now."

"Even so," I replied, "I just don't want to put you through it."

So he left it at that, and I found myself sitting on the cold wooden benches in the courtroom without him. As soon as the judge spoke, I knew I wanted him there.

Nonetheless, I survived the trial. It was hard. So hard I don't even want to go into all of it. I didn't look at him at all through my testimony. I didn't want to see his face as I told them. I told them I wouldn't mind seeing him sometimes, but that I didn't trust him to be alone with us. Especially when he drank.

I told them all of it. I cried. And I felt it.

In the end, they sent him to prison for attempted murder. He was supposed to get 20 years, but given the muggle system, he'd only serve 10 on good behavior. And, given other aspects of the muggle legal system, he might not even serve that. I could visit him when I wanted, but only under strict supervision.

And with that, the nightmare with him was over.

As soon as the officials took him out of the room, my siblings and my mom rushed to me. We hugged, kissed, and cried. Mom was okay, but it had been a close call. I was just glad to see her again.

I was back in Hogwarts the next day.

"So," Draco said, holding my hand as we walked the grounds, "how did it go with him?"

I took a deep breath. "It wasn't terrible," I allowed. "I mean, I did speak, and I said everything I wanted to say." He nodded.

"I refused to look at him."

"Of course."

I looked up at him, surprised at his reply. "Well," he said, "I'd only assume as much." Ruffling my hair, he added, "Hermione, you forget." He paused. "I understand you."

And without thinking about it, I kissed him. Before I really knew what was happening, I had gone on my toes, wrapped my arms around his neck, and pressed my lips to his. He immediately made a happy sound in the back of his throat and kissed me back. It was amazing. His lips were so soft, and our kissing styles complemented each other so well I could scarcely believe it.

I was lightheaded. If his arms hadn't been around my waist, I probably would've fallen right on the spot.

As much as I might have wanted him to, he didn't try to intensify the kiss at all. It was just soft, and sweet, and lingering, and I loved every bit of it.

As he softly pulled away, he muttered, "Wow." I breathed my consent. "What was that for?"

I laughed softly. "I don't know," I said. "I guess I've just wanted to for a while."

"Yeah," he agreed. "Just about every day, I've just wanted to scoop you up in my arms and kiss you like that."

I blushed furiously, unsure of what to say.

"But I figured you'd shove me away or something," he added, almost shyly.

Smiling, I replied, "Did that seem like shoving you away?"

He laughed. "Not so much," he said.

Then he kissed me again.

It was a while before we returned to the castle.

A/N: Hey everyone, let me know what you think. I'll have at least one more chapter coming soon.

As for the camp I went to, it was good. I'm just going to do the replace feature for this chapter, though, so the author's note doesn't interrupt the story.

Anyway, thanks for being patient. Hopefully you all still like it!