Disclaimer: It's not 'stealing'; it's 'borrowing.' I'll give them back. Maybe.

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He was still leaning there when Hermione, Ron, and Dumbledore emerged two hours later. They weren't smiling.

"Malfoy was found innocent," he guessed.

"No. He was found guilty. But they aren't sending him to Azkaban." Ron said glumly.

"What?! But after all he did-"

'It appears, Harry, that Mister Fudge believes Draco will refrain from using magic again. He has been expelled, as have Misters Crabbe and Goyle. Their wands will be broken in half, as is customary."

"But it isn't enough, Professor!" Dumbledore said nothing. Harry looked to Hermione.

"But how do they plan to protect you?"

"Fudge says I don't need it."

"Like hell! Malfoy's going to try again!"

"You think I don't know that, Harry? You think I'm not worried?!" she yelled.

"I think perhaps we should leave them alone for a few moments, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore said quietly. He and Ron slipped away.

"Well, you certainly don't seem to be doing much about it!"

"What can I do? There's no way to appeal!"

"There has to be!"

"Well, there isn't! I already asked Fudge! And do you know what he told me, Harry? No, you don't! So shut up!"

"What did he tell you?"

"He told me I was lucky Malfoy got even that punishment! That if I really wanted to be safe I should either go back to my Muggle world, or stay at Hogwarts forever! That danger was something I should get used to!"

"Fudge said that?" Harry asked incredulously. "Cornelius Fudge, the man who won't even believe Voldemort has returned, told you danger was something to get used to?"

"Yes."

"Him?"

"Yes, Harry. He did." They were no longer yelling at each other, they were too exhausted.

"Any other news for me?" Harry asked. There was a slight note of sarcasm in his voice; he still couldn't believe Fudge had told Hermione to expect danger. Hermione ignored it. "Lucius Malfoy came over to talk to me."

"What did he say?"

"That you're lucky he isn't going to pursue the 'little matter' of you attacking Draco."

"Out of the goodness of his heart, I'll bet. Probably just wanted to look good."

Hermione sighed. "Look, I really don't want to discuss this any more. I'd like to go."

"Fine." He allowed her to help him up, and they walked off in search of Ron and Dumbledore.

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"Am I going to have to lock you two in a room again?" Ron whispered to Harry when he and Hermione caught up.

"No. I don't think so. But I should probably watch what I say for a while."

"Don't worry; she'll relax. And she does have good reason to be upset."

"Yeah."

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The halls were quiet. No one was in them; everyone was busy eating in the Great Hall. She could hear him behind her. But there was no pain. Not yet.

"Turn around, Mudblood." And she found herself being turned to face him, slowly.

"Crucio!" And the pain began. But just as quickly, it stopped. Why did it stop?

"Your mother was right. Fudge was wrong. I'm still around."

"Malfoy, get to the point."

"Wouldn't say that if you were awake right now. But, since you asked me to: Avada Kedavra." And the spell struck her body – a familiar forceful blow with green light and odd sound effects. She lay paralyzed, on the floor of the Entrance Hall.

"This is only a dream, Mudblood. But someday it will be real."

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Hermione woke up. It had been a year and a half since the attack. Draco Malfoy was now a known Death Eater. She, Harry, and Ron were already training to become Aurors. Training, schoolwork, and occasional dates had left her so exhausted that she normally didn't dream. The nightmares hadn't haunted her for a while now. But she had a feeling they were about to start again.

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A/N: Well, that's the end of it. I don't plan on doing a sequel, but who knows? For now, I'll leave it to your imaginations. Thanks for reading, everyone. J