AN: I'm lusting after someone. Rawr! *snickers evilly* Just kidding. One heck of an eye-catcher, eh?

Disclaimer: I don't own squat crap. *grr…*

Dedicated to: Certain people.

Chapter 9: Pieces

Such is agony

As drives a woman to hate

The fruit of her womb.

- Haiku, Original Poetry

"What you have done was something unheard of, uncalled for, and probably illegal." Moody stared at Hermione's pallid face, unblinking. Hermione nodded. "However, I understand, and I am willing to allow it." Hermione nodded again, then stared at Moody as if seeing him for the first time.

"It's impossible." she whispered. Moody shook his head. "No, it's not. It is not surprising for any Malfoy to own any Dark Arts item, however small, or harmless-looking." Moody stood up and began to pace the room, wooden leg clunking with every other step. "But these items…" he waved a heavily gloved hand towards the pile of evil-looking objects hidden under a charmed cloak of Restrainance. "… are neither small, or harmless."

He looked back at Hermione, who was sitting very still and silent. "Why did you request Mr. Potter's assistance in recovering the items?" he growled softly. Hermione looked at him through tear-filled eyes. "I couldn't believe it anymore. I just couldn't believe that…" her breath caught in her chest, and she paused a while before plunging on. "Draco owns all those…" Moody unscrolled a parchment and showed it to her. "This is Draco Malfoy's personal seal… and it was found on every single item that you had brought out of Malfoy Manor. All other items found in the house were unmarked."

A look of determination swept over Hermione's face, and she stood up, gathering her scrolls. "I'm going home, Moody. My husband would want to talk to me." She stopped, and held out a hand to Moody. "Thank you." Moody shook it and gruffly dismissed her.

When she Disapparated, he walked back to his desk, picking up the pile of photographs.

~*~

"That is just fucking impossible!" Draco growled, banging the table with his fist. "Please! Calm down! I know it's impossible, but it's impossible to prove it wrong as well…" Hermione pleaded.

They were in the kitchen, and Hermione had just broken the news about the seals to Draco.

"My father sealed each one of his items with his seals. I was never allowed to touch any one of his Dark items… he even had my mother charm each and every one of them to burn my hands if I did." Draco's eyes had narrowed into silver slits. "I was never fucking allowed to use my bloody seal!" he hissed venomously, and for the first time in their married life, Hermione was afraid of her husband.

"Damnit all! I'm going up to bed…" he stalked up the stairs, leaving Hermione with a broken vase and tears in her eyes.

Hours later, Hermione climbed into bed, beside Draco, who seemed asleep. But when she lay down on the bed facing away from him, she felt strong arms encircle her waist, and a soft voice whisper in her ear "I'm sorry." She turned over in bed, and laid a hand softly on his cheek, which was slightly damp. "Draco… I made you cry." she whispered. He took his hand in hers. "I'm so scared… what if it's all true?"

Hermione took him in her arms, like a child that needed comforting. "It's not true, Draco… you're here, and you're definitely not guilty. Believe me. Please."

~*~

The next day found Hermione sitting at her desk, poring over thick books on wizard law. It also found Draco beside her, chin in hands, flipping lazily through thin books with titles like How to Make Sure They're Telling The Fecking Truth.

A week passed, and in that time, the couple absorbed everything they could about law. Hermione's Soul-Keeper was mostly gray, occasionally darkening to purplish (scared), or yellow, which would be "relieved."

~*~

***July 27, 2010***

Harry smiled at her. "Hey." Hermione looked at him warily. "What is it, Harry?" Harry frowned briefly, before switching back to his disarming smile. "I've got something to show you… but it really isn't good news." Hermione's Soul-Keeper flickered to a dark olive-green, signifying suspicion. "Why are you smiling, then?"

Harry stopped smiling, and his eyes glittered coldly. "Happy now?"

He unceremoniously dropped a slip of parchment onto her desk, and walked out without another word. Hermione picked it up curiously.

Official Warrant for Arrest - Draco Thomason Magnum Malfoy

Headed by: Narcissa Kailine Malfoy

~*~

Draco shrugged sadly. "I thought so." Hermione stared at him through hysterical tears. "What do you mean you thought so?! She's you own mother!" Draco took her in his arms, trying to placate her. "Exactly."

~*~

Ginny held up the two scrolls. "This is the appeal… and this is the warrant. The appeal was anonymous, but accompanied by extremely heavy evidence against Draco, including photographs, and signed accounts by witnesses and victims." Hermione snorted angrily. Ginny continued. "This warrant however, was permitted by Narcissa Malfoy, in accordance to the appeal." She put the scrolls down and looked to Draco.

"It's kind of like a chicken and the egg theory. Without the appeal, the warrant would not have evidence to back it up. Without the warrant, the appeal would have become invalid. It's almost as if… people are plotting against you." Ginny told him. Draco frowned. "Ah, now is the conspiracy of the We Hate Pale Blond Good-Looking English Wizards Ladies Club, of which, my mother is the president."

Nobody laughed.

~*~

Hermione's Soul-Keeper was now permanently purplish, and she seemed pale and weak. Draco, on the other hand, seemed vehemently silent, but his eyes burned furiously with silver fire. They were a couple that people liked to avoid.

Finally, Hermione, who could take it no longer, confronted Draco.

~*~

"Draco…" Their eyes met, hers bright with tears, his narrowed. "The truth can be a painful thing." he whispered. Hermione grabbed his hands. "Did you know that you will be thrown into jail without trial?!" Draco nodded. "Then why aren't you doing anything about it?"

Hermione's voice had reached a high-pitched shriek. Draco took her in his arms. "Hermione… I have no choice. The Malfoy name has already been corrupted beyond reason, and no one trusts us anymore. If it weren't for the fact that my beautiful wife is a respected Auror, they would already be spitting on me on the streets." He held her away and looked into her eyes. "Azkaban is no longer avoidable for me."

Hermione scrubbed away her tears angrily. "Don't you know that if worst comes to worst, I'll be the one locking you up in Azkaban!" Draco closed his eyes, his chest rising in deep breaths. When he opened his eyes again, they were brimming with fire unknown. "I know. And when I really have to be thrown into prison, I'd rather it was you, than anybody else."

It was only weeks after that Hermione realized that Draco had said "when" and not "if."

~*~