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Thanks to all of my friends who helped edit this story—I wouldn't have found half the mistakes that you guys did!
This chapter is really short, but be prepared for the next chapter. It will be AT LEAST twice as long---definitely the longest one yet!
Shades of Gray
Chapter Four—Two Trials?
Still laying in a hospital bed, Hermione was trying to avoid thinking of the death of her parents. She contemplated on anything else but that, and avoided the subject like a plague. Contemplating on everyday life, on seeing Harry and Ron, and even on homework already! The bookworm inside her still lived on! Yet Hermione simply lay in the room of fluorescent, blinding lights, on her stern and stiff bed with her arms laying motionless by her side. Her dull eyes stared emotionlessly upwards, trying to make her mind as blank as the white, plaster ceiling she was staring at. A tiny squeak resonated throughout the room, betraying the fact that two pairs of sneakered feet stepped through the door. Hermione turned her head tiredly and a small smile flitted across her face as she saw her two best friends staring sadly at her. Ron lurched forward, engulfing her in a hug, whispering words of sympathy in her ear. She felt another arm lay across her shoulder, offering silent comfort. They sat for awhile together, just enjoying the reassurance of seeing one another again.
Hermione was slowly conquering the grief that once threatened to overwhelm her. This was the third day she was in the hospital, and she thought that in a little while, she might be released. It would take much longer to fully recover, though, and Hermione had a feeling that the horrific images of that night would haunt her in the years to come. Hogwarts was her home now. Granted, she had always considered Hogwarts her "home away from home", but now it was her only one. She slowly pulled away from Ron and Harry, and gave a small little smile. Their compassion seemed to roll off them in waves, and Hermione was so sick of being pitied. She had already talked to Professor Dumbledore and let him know that she did not want the rest of the student body to be informed of her parents death, she didn't need the looks of pity that she knew she would receive. Some would undoubtedly find out, but the less people that know, the better.
"Thanks for coming. I missed seeing you two." Hermione stated in a voice slightly stronger than it had sounded this morning.
"We came the minute we heard. All of us were so worried; Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and even Fred and George." Said Harry, his normal understanding self. His shock of black hair contrasted sharply with the unforgiving white of the room.
"How are you?" asked Ron.
"As well as I can be, considering the circumstances I suppose. I'll survive. But it'll take time."
"Of course it will."
"If Dumbledore hasn't told you yet, I'm going to be living at Hogwarts." Ron and Harry's eyes widening was all the answer Hermione needed.
"Alright, I'll assume that he didn't by the look on your faces." All at once, Ron and Harry started stuttering over one other.
" But Hermione, why don't you just stay with us?" Hermione grinned at the sweet gesture.
"Ron, that's so nice of you, but I don't want to impose on you and your family." Protests were raised by the red-head at this statement, but she quickly cut him off and finished her statement.
"There's one more reason I want to go to Hogwarts. I know that you both will always be there for me, but I need to be strong on my own and overcome this challenge by myself."
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Draco's head spun as his feet slammed into the ground. The experience of apparating was much different when one was being forcefully dragged. He gazed regretfully for a moment at his mother, who was still unconscious. However, he knew that Narcissa had brought this fate down upon herself by participating in Death Eater rituals. Draco shuddered at the thought of having to watch the horrific events that he knew occurred. Lucius brought home triumphant news of torturing muggles after every meeting. Draco was a bit confused at how hurting a defenseless person was empowering; they couldn't even defend themselves! Not that Draco liked muggles, oh no. That was one tradition that had been drilled into him his entire life, and he completely agreed with his father that muggles were completely inferior. But not that they should be tortured. He had struggled for years to overcome the conflicting feelings concerning non-magic folk. In the view that his father had encouraged, well, more like forced, him to believe in was that all muggles and mudbloods should be killed. When he was younger, he had tried to believe this, but he couldn't stand the thought of watching muggles being tortured. He finally realized that this was an unrealistic view when he was older. The wizarding line would eventually die out if muggles and wizards didn't intermix. He, however, would never lower himself to socialize or court a muggle. He was jolted back into reality by the sound of raised voices.
One of the aurors was arguing heatedly with the secretary, a man with greasy brown hair. Draco leaned slightly forward on the thickly carpeted floor, straining to catch bits of the conversation. Soon he realized that there was no need, as the two men began shouting furiously at one another.
"What do you mean, go on without him? He's the Minister of Magic!" exclaimed the secretary indignantly.
"Yes, and if we wait there is a chance that our prisoners will be released or even escape. Are you willing to take that risk, because I AM NOT. The Minister of Magic can complain to me when he returns from another one of his many vacations, but until he does I am putting these two on trial." Draco straightened up quickly. The phrase hit him hard, shattering the mask of a calm, frozen exterior that had been plastered on his face. Shock washed over him.
I am putting these two on trial.
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Hermione smiled as her two best friends shuffled reluctantly out of the room. It had taken awhile to convince them to go home and not try and stay here all night. She knew that Madame Pomfrey would have a fit if she walked into her hospital room only to find two teenage boys spread across the floor. Hermione sat and stared at a red leather photo album peeking out from a duffel bag on the floor. Tonks had flooed back to her house and brought some essentials for her, and decided to throw in the family album. Hermione sighed. She wasn't ready to confront her memories yet. Not yet, but soon.
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A new chapter!! I was going to put the trial into this chapter, but decided against it. I'm going to have a whole chapter dedicated to the trials of Narcissa and Draco—hopefully the next one!
CHOICES FOR NEXT CHAPTER
Narcissa gets thrown into Azkaban
Narcissa doesn't get thrown into Azkaban
Hermione goes to Hogwarts
Draco goes to Azkaban
Draco goes to Hogwarts
Dumbledore comes to Draco's rescue
REVIEW! Don't get me wrong, I love encouragement, but I really like it when I get advice and criticism in my reviews. I can't improve if I don't know what I'm doing wrong!
THANKS TO ALL OF MY REVIEWERS…
Me19--- I updated as soon as I was content with this chapter
Orelira-I was trying to have Dumbledore be himself, but I wasn't sure how to have him tell Hermione about the deaths of her parents. There is no easy way to say it and I just did what I thought fit him the best, even though it may have been a bit OOC. I try to stay true to the characters at least in the beginning, though they may slowly change parts—only parts- of themselves later on. It may happen to Draco on one particular subject YOU'LL SEE! Thanks for reviewing so well, and telling me what I can improve on—I really appreciate it.
Prowlingwolf-My friend loves editing fics too! She edits mine all of the time and finds stuff that I wouldn't in a million years! Thanks for the hair compliment, I love the way hair, at least most hair, kinda flows and I think it creates a great visual picture. I had Harry and Ron come just because I had to have the part where she's going to try and be strong on her own come into play. This was a really short chapter but my next one will be the longest one yet! Just wait!! And I've decided to edit every chapter and then repost the entire completed story later on, b/c I hate it when stories are just edited and then I get all excited b/c I think there's a new chapter. Thanks so much for the advice and I'll try and work on that stuff!!
CrazyPoet—I've been working on a poem to put in later on, but it needs some fine tuning and all that. I can't wait!! I was a little worried about the battle scene just because I have this scene in my head, but it doesn't always come out right on paper!
Love2045—I'm going to have Hermione and Draco go to Hogwarts, but I'm going to work up to it eventually. I just don't think that this would be the right time, just too abrupt or something.
Browneyedtook- I never even thought about that! Her life is kinda like Harry's now! Lol!
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