Disclaimer: See Ch 12

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"Thank you, Mr. Potter. Now, it is time for a break. Be back in fifteen minutes." There was a lot of shuffling as witches and wizards left for a drink, bathroom break, or just for some air. Several got jostled quite painfully, but Madame Pomfrey was there to lend a hand.

Dumbledore turned to the trio. "I do believe that this trial might end in our favor. Young Mr. Malfoy's confession will not be easy to ignore. Now, I suggest that you three take advantage of this break, and walk around."

"But-"

"Go."

They left the room. "What's the good of sending us out here?" Ron complained. "We'll worry just as much as we would in there."

"Dunno. Hermione, do you have any ideas?" She shook her head silently, gazing at the floor. "Hey," Harry said. He stopped walking at faced her. Ron followed suit. "Look at me."

Hermione didn't seem to listen at first. Then, slowly, she raised her eyes to look at Harry and Ron. "Hermione, we know you're upset. But if you prove to Malfoy that he's getting to you, then no matter what the verdict is, he's won."

"He did win, Harry," she whispered. "He wins every night." Harry didn't know what to say. Neither did Ron. "The nightmares…I can't handle it. At first, I thought they were sent; that's why I got the book out. But…"

"They aren't."

"No. And that makes it worse. Because every night he kills me. It's all there: the curse, the green light, and the noise. I just wake up afterwards, instead of dying. But the fact that he wins means…"

"That you wish he had," Ron finished. "Hermione, I read the book, too. Just because it's written doesn't mean that it's entirely true. Remember Lockhardt?" Hermione smiled faintly. "Personally, I think that you dream that ending because you're trying to deal with how close you came to that reality. Your subconscious keeps wondering 'what if?' and tries to find the answer. But it'll stop, eventually. And if they get too bad, then talk to us. You know we'll listen."

Harry stared at Ron in amazement. This was a side of him Harry hadn't seen before. How come it had never come out during his nightmares, or when Cedric died? A surge of jealousy rose up, and he fought to quell it. Probably Ron hadn't felt comfortable trying to say such things to him, since…what? He couldn't think of a reason that didn't sound dumb. He cleared his throat.

"Hey, uh…Time to head back in." They went back to the room, and sat in their seats.

"Is everyone back?" Fudge glanced around. "Good. Mr. Crabbe, would you like to speak?"

"Uh…Well, I just did what Draco wanted me to do. Didn't matter to me how it would turn out, s'long as we weren't caught."

"I see. And you, Mr. Goyle?"

"Same."

"Don't either of you have anything else to say?"

"The Mudblood deserved it," Goyle grunted. Crabbe nodded in agreement. Draco gave them both looks of approval.

"I see," Fudge said, frowning. "Very well. Mr.Weasley?"

"Er…Well, like Harry said, we were having breakfast when we heard the noise. I just thought someone had gotten a Howler. But Harry recognized the screaming as Hermione, and he rushed out of the Hall. I went to get Dumbledore, because if Hermione really was being attacked, then he would be able to stop it. But that's all I did. I ran out after Dumbledore, but I didn't see anything because Dumbledore had stopped it."

"Did you visit your friends in the hospital wing?"

"Not until the day of Hermione's first seizure. But then I was there every day after that."

"And has she been having nightmares, as she and the others claim?"

"Yes. Harry and I have found Herm sleeping in the common room, because she'd gone there after waking up from one. We had to wake her, once."

"Thank you. You may sit down. Miss Granger, we neglected this earlier. May I ask you to give us more details on your nightmares?" Hermione remained silent. "Miss Granger?"

"It's okay," Harry whispered. "You can do it. You told us." Hermione smiled shakily, and nodded.

"Good. Now, how often do these nightmares occur?"

"Every night."

"More than once?"

"Yes."

"And what details are there?"

"It's always slightly different. But usually it starts with the original attack, and then shifts to my mother telling me to leave Hogwarts. I get this nasty feeling that she's right, and then I'm being attacked again, but just by Malfoy. Harry's not there to stop it. It hurts, so bad…"

"Is that when you wake up?"

"No. It always ends with Malfoy killing me. I can see that light; I hear the whooshing noise, and then the spell hits me. Sometimes. Other times I wake up before it does. But I always wake up after he says the curse."

"One day, you won't Mudblood! Because then it'll be for real." Malfoy smirked. "I like your dreams. Quite entertaining."

Harry and Ron leapt up, but while Ron stayed still, Harry crossed the room until he was looking Draco right in the eye. "Stuff it, Malfoy, or I'll hex you," he said coldly.

"Mr. Potter!" Harry ignored Fudge, continuing to glare into Malfoy's sneering face.

"Try it, Potter." He whispered softly. "If you dare." Harry raised his wand.

"Mr. Potter, I'm warning you."

"Rictursempra!" Malfoy was hurled into the air.

"GET HIM OUT! NOW!" Arms grabbed Harry and pulled him out of the room.

"Great going, kid. Now you might face a trial. Not wise to attack a Malfoy; not wise at all."

Harry slumped against the wall. How could he have lost it like that? He'd only made it worse for Hermione.