"I'm coming." Hermione shot back.
"Alright, but you don't have to." Draco said slowly.
"I didn't ask you if I had to." Hermione shot back.
"It's going to be a long two days and you've been put through enough from my fa-"
"It's not about me!"
"Well it is to me." Draco said firmly, practically slamming his mug on the counter.
"That's your problem then." Hermione's words cut like razor blades.
"My problem is that I'm worried about you?!" Draco almost yelled, standing up to meet her gaze.
"Precisely." Hermione got up and walked around the island so that she was standing directly in front of him. "I do not need you to protect me, I can do that on my own."
"Of course you can." Draco said earnestly, but Hermione mistook it for sarcasm and glared at him. "That doesn't mean you should have to." Hermione's glare dropped and Draco seized the opportunity by putting both of his hands on her waist and pulling her closer to him.
"I'm coming."
"Okay." He said and kissed her lightly on the forehead. Hermione fought the urge to melt into him and pulled herself away long enough to regain composure. "We are not having this conversation again." She said tersely and walked back over to her seat at the island. Draco nodded and not even a second later a large figure walked out of his fireplace.
"When do I have to be there?" Andromeda asked, her hand on her hips.
"Aunt Meda, you don't ha-"
"That will be enough from you." Andromeda reprimanded roughly, looking directly at Hermione. "What time dear?"
"8 o'clock tomorrow." Hermione answered and noticed Draco's disapproval.
"I'll be there."
"Who's going to watch Teddy?" Draco asked, clearly looking for a loophole in her plan.
"George."
"Is that the best idea?"
"Did someone ask for your opinion?" Andromeda shot back, and Draco folded. "Now that you are done being ridiculous…did you contact your mother's healers?" She asked and Draco shook his head. "Did you talk to Blaise and Astoria?" He shook his head once more. "Well let's get to it!" Andromeda said dramatically.
"I just wanted to eat first Aunt Meda" Draco said, exasperated akin to a child answering his mother.
"Well you've eaten." She said, looking pointedly at empty plates in front of them. Andromeda started towards them and spelled both plates to the sink. Draco looked like he wanted to object but decided not to. Hermione liked seeing him this way, with someone who cared about him. It was a nice change from his one man show persona. She also liked that Andromeda could come in like this and get the ball rolling. Hermione wondered how Draco would approach the conversation with Blaise when suddenly an idea struck her.
"I'll be back!" She said quickly, grabbing her coat and heading for the door. A cool hand grabbed hers, causing her to spin around. Her eyes locked with Draco's and she gave him a reassuring look. After a moment he nodded, let go of her hand and she spun back around and out the door.
"Together huh?" Andromeda asked lovingly.
"I guess you could say that." Draco responded coolly. "Is George watching Teddy right now?" He asked, obviously a little annoyed that she just showed up like this. Andromeda shook her head.
"Harry is."
"I'll be having words with Potter." Draco said menacingly.
"You will do no such thing." Andromeda met his tone. "Go talk to the healers." She ordered and he did. She stayed back tidying up his flat.
Hermione was heading back to Hogwarts, trying to get Neville to be a character witness for Draco. She knew he'd object, but she didn't care. It would look so good for him to have someone they didn't expect to vouch for him. She knew that Neville would do it in a heartbeat, which was more of a testament to Draco's changed behaviors than anything else. She made her way to the greenhouses and found Neville wasn't there, so she made a split second decision to go to Hagrid instead. She could see Hagrid outside of his hut from a mile away, seemingly tending to his tiny pumpkins. He got them so early and grew them from little baby pumpkins, in his signature Hagrid nature.
"'Ermione!" Hagrid was filled with joy. "'Ow are ya?"
"Hi Hagrid, I'm good. How are the pumpkins growing?" Hermione responded, matching his joyful tone.
"They are looking great! By Halloween they will be nice and plump!" Hagrid answered excitedly. "Come in for a spot a tea?" Hermione nodded and followed Hagrid into his hut. Hagrid put a kettle on his stove and sat down in his big armchair. "So what brings ya here?"
"I'm actually here to talk about Draco." Hermione said tenderly.
"You two together yet eh?" Hargrid's smile filled his whole face, and Hermione went pink.
"I guess we are…" Hermione started and Hagrid's eyes went wide, obviously not knowing his joke was accurate. "...but that's not why I'm here."
"Good for you 'Ermione, I hope you're happy." Hagrid said as he got up to get the screaming teapot. He poured them both tea and sat back down again.
"Draco's father was supposed to get out of prison tomorrow." Hermione explained, watching Hagrid's eyes filled with anger, a rare sight to see.
"I 'eard that. Didn't ask him about it mind yeh, but I 'eard it."
"Draco is fighting it, he's accusing his father of using an unforgivable curse on his mother." Hermione paused, clearly expecting a reaction from Hagrid. "You knew." Sudden realization hitting her.
"Neville told me." He said with shame, knowing he wasn't supposed to know.
"Don't tell him that." She said tersely and Hagrid nodded. "The trial starts tomorrow, Draco needs some character witnesses…I was wondering…"
"Of course I'll do it 'Ermione!" Hagrid jumped in. "What time tomorrow?"
"8 o'clock." Hermione said and he nodded. "I'm not sure how long you'll have to stay though, it might be a bit."
"I'll talk to Minerva, I'm sure it'll be fine." Hagrid said and Hermione suddenly realized it might not be fine. Neville was already covering Draco's classes, so if he came, she wasn't sure who would teach. "'Ermione." Hagrid called, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Minerva will let the whole staff go if it's needed, don't worry." Hermione always found that Hagrid could somehow read her thoughts. It was comforting more than creepy, and she truly appreciated his constant support.
They talked for a little bit but then she told him she had to go find Neville. She made her way up towards the castle and back to the greenhouses. She kept thinking about everyone's acceptance of their relationship. She knew times had changed, but nobody seemed even slightly bothered, other than Ron, who currently didn't count. She was pleased with the reactions, but a little unsettled about how none of them were surprised. She was relieved when she saw Neville in the greenhouses tending to baby mandrakes.
"Hey Neville." Hermione greeted kindly.
"Hermione! I didn't expect to see you, Minerva said you and Draco would be gone for a couple of days." Neville responded in kind.
"Did she tell you why?" Hermione inquired.
"No…" Neville started slowly. "...said it was personal." Neville finished with concern. "Figured it had something to do with his father's release."
"It does." Hermione retorted, seeing how the clarification put Neville at ease. "He's trying to keep him in there. He's accusing him of us-"
"He's telling them about his mother?" Neville asked, voice rising with slight panic.
"Yes. It's the only way to keep him from being released."
"That must be so hard for him." Neville said, his voice pained. "What do you need from me?"
"He needs character witnesses, but I'm not sure if Minerva will let you come seeing as you are covering Draco's classes." Hermione said lightly, trying to act as if it wasn't a big deal.
"She'll let me go, what time?" Neville sounded more sure than she's ever heard him.
"They told us 8 o'clock, but I don't know what time the witnesses have to give their statements." Hermione said methodically.
"I'll come at 8, ask Kingsley and then do whatever he says." Neville said, doing his best to problem solve.
"Do me a favor and let Hagrid know." Hermione asked and Neville nodded eagerly.
"Of course, do you need anything else?"
"No, I think that's it. I just wanted to get him some people that the ministry wouldn't be expecting to speak on his behalf, you know?" Hermione sounded like she was overthinking almost everything.
"Yea that was kind of you…" Neville seemed unsure about how to approach something. "...Hermione…" He started, looking at her more fully. "...I'm not sure how deep you are into this, but I know he does really care for you." He said tenderly.
"Neville I…" Hermione struggled to find the words. "...thank you." She decided to say instead. They'd had a brief moment where they knew they truly cared for each other before they continued their conversation. "Who else is going on his behalf?"
"Andromeda, Blaise and Astoria probably and shockingly Arthur."
"Arthur Weasley?" Neville's surprise caused Hermoine to chuckle lightly.
"I guess hell has frozen over." Hermione answered playfully and Neville laughed. "Draco should also be talking to the healers at St Mungos." Hermione said informatively and the two continued to talk for a long time about everything Neville had missed in this short span of time.
Draco walked out from St Mungos, satisfied with his conversation with his mother's healers. They said that they would gladly come to the hearing and explain that her injuries and current state could not be from anything other than the Cruciatus curse. Instead of apparating home, he decided to apparate to Blaise's instead. He arrived at his door with a POP and took a deep breath before knocking on the dark maroon door.
"Hey Drakey!" Blaise greeted while opening the door. He waved his hand to welcome him in and closed the door behind Draco as he entered.
"Hey" Draco greeted numbly.
"You good mate?" Blaise asked, noticing his mood.
"I kind of have a serious situation happening."
"You get Granger pregnant?" Blaise joked, but knew he shouldn't have by the look on Draco's face.
"Is Astoria home?" He asked, his voice dire. Blaise nodded and went to get his wife. The pair entered the room and Astoria rushed Draco with a hug. "Hey Stori."
"Are you okay, what's going on?" Astoria asked, fussing over Draco's coat and ushering him to sit on the couch.
"My father tried for an early release and got it." Draco informed, Blaise and Astoria's eyes were wide with shock. "He was supposed to be released tomorrow but I delayed it."
"How?" Blaise asked, transfixed on the story.
"I'm accusing him of using an unforgivable curse after the war already ended…" Draco's voice trailed off, it was clear he was having a hard time controlling his emotions.
"On your mother." Blaise said softly. It wasn't a question but a question, and Draco nodded slowly. Astoria leaped over to Draco hugging him tightly. "So what now?" Blaise asked, trying to be practical.
"The trial starts tomorrow…and I need…character witnesses." Draco seemed extremely uncomfortable.
"Of course we will Draco." Astoria said sweetly, finally releasing him from her grasp.
"Yea mate, whatever you need." Blaise agreed.
"They told us 8 o'clock but it might be a long two days, if you can't -"
"We will be there." Blaise said firmly and Draco didn't need to thank him, it was clear he was grateful.
He spent about an hour catching up with his friends, talking about his job and their pregnancy. Astoria asked a multitude of questions about Hermione, which Draco answered more plainly than he would have if Blaise had asked. He promised to bring Hermione around after the trial, and Astoria promised to keep him updated on his future god baby's development. Although he was enjoying his time with his friends, he parted ways eager to get back to his flat and to Hermione. Eager to get some rest and face the hell that would come tomorrow and the next day.