Time for another chapter! Thank you to those who reviewed. I love getting them and it makes me more motivated to write.

A/N: ::IMPORTANT:: FYI- it is five years after school so they are 21-22! I'm pretty sure there will be a flashback in the beginning of every chapter for the next few. It will help to bring some more details out about the murders and what went on during that time. And just keep in mind that the flashbacks happened about a month before the present time in the fic. So "about a month ago" is when everything started happening. Hope that helps!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the plot, unless it's been done before!

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Chapter 3

Severus Snape stood in the middle of a very ornate room. Its ceiling was high and its walls contained many lavish portraits. However, it was becoming increasingly difficult to notice his surroundings after the third time of being subjected to the Cruciatus Curse.

He screamed in agony for the third time as he felt every bone in his body catch on fire. He tried to fight the pain but it was useless.

He fell to his knees in pain while his fellow death eaters laughed mirthlessly as they watched their master torture one of their one. What they didn't know was that each one of them was next.

Voldemort lifted the curse and looked at Snape as if he was something undesirable on the bottom of his shoe. Then he lifted his wand once more and said, "Legilimens!"

Snape fought the spell with every ounce of strength left in him. Which after being 'crucioed' three times wasn't much.

He felt Voldemort in his mind, looking, prying, searching for anything that would give him away. He tried to concentrate on something else, anything else but the only thing he could think about was the pain his body was in.

Pain, pain, pain…

"He has caused many people pain, Severus. Hopefully we will be able to prevent him from inflicting any further damage." Albus Dumbledore spoke from behind his desk in his office.

"Headmaster, I believe he will strike the Ministry again. He wants more than the prophecy. He has found out about the power hidden within one of the rooms and he wants it. What will we do?" Snape asked from his seat across from Dumbledore.

"We will do anything we can, Severus, and everything we can."

"So it's been you all these years, Severus. You turned to the side of the light. How sweet," Voldemort's voice was full of malice and a chill passed through the circle of death eaters. They shuddered as one. "I knew someone must have been warning that muggle-loving fool, but I have to say you put up a good show. After all, you had me fooled. Along with everyone else." He shot a withering glare around him and they all shuddered once more.

He knew he was dead. No one was coming for him and the Dark Lord would avada him in a few more moments, if he didn't decide to torture him some more first. If he was going to die, he would not do so like a coward. He shakily lifted his head up and was able to get on his knees, defiance written all over his face.

"Your time had come…traitor," hissed Voldemort. "Ava-

Snape closed his eyes and waited for the end, but it never came. At that moment the doors to the room were blasted off of their hinges and in stormed the Order members. They started hexing people left and right. Leading the group was none other than Dumbledore himself. He had promptly disarmed Voldemort and had proceeded to duel with him while Lupin had rushed over and grabbed Snape. He was hoisted to his feet and then before he knew it they had both apparated back to Grimmauld Place.

Once there, they waited a few minutes while the other Order members apparated back. A few minutes and minor injuries later, everyone was safe at Grimmauld Place.

Before anyone could speak, before Snape could whisper his thanks, Dumbledore spoke to him first. "When you didn't return, we knew what was wrong."

A trace of a smile might have been visible on Snape's face but it was gone as quick as it came and he passed out from exhaustion.

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My head was aching. Not for the first time, the ferret had given me a headache. How did he get himself into this situation?

He killed five people, that's how.

But did he, did he really? The evidence was clear, almost too clear and it just kept falling into their laps. It was almost too easy.

Because he obviously did it.

But he said he was framed. And it would make sense if he knew things that Voldemort didn't want getting out. And why would he kill the first four people and not leave a shred of evidence and then kill the fifth and have ten witnesses?

He got sloppy?

That's just it. Malfoy didn't get sloppy. Whenever he did something in school he always made sure he got away with it. Obviously, the same would hold true for murder.

I need to talk to someone other than myself.

I decided I needed another point of view. Who better to ask than my two best friends?

I walked over to the fireplace in my apartment and sat cross-legged in front of it. I took a pinch of floo powder and threw it in before placing my head in the flames and saying, "Room 12, Tokyo Hotel, Phoenix feather," the latter being the password. Obviously Harry and Ron didn't want just anyone being able to get into their hotel room.

A few whirl-winded seconds later I found myself looking into the very small but very lavish hotel room. I looked around and noticed the silhouette of someone changing behind a Japanese screen.

I cleared my throat.

The person behind the screen visibly jumped. I saw him pull his wand out. When he emerged from the screen and saw that it was only me he blushed and realized that he wasn't wearing his shirt.

I laughed. "My, Harry, have you been working out?"

It had taken a few years but Harry had finally filled out. He had grown a little taller though still shorter than Ron and had developed some muscles.

He quickly put on a shirt and buttoned it up as he walked over to the fireplace.

"Hey, Hermione! How is everything?" he smiled.

"Oh, it's great, just great."

Why did I lie? I don't know. After all, I had wanted to talk about it right? He knew I was lying anyway so there was really no point.

"Hermione," he said a little sternly, "what's wrong? And don't just say you called to say hi."

"Well…"

I was cut off by Ron bursting into the room. He looked a little confused for a moment. Honestly, he was acting as if he'd never seen my head floating in a fireplace. Not even a 'hello?'

"Honestly, Ronald is this the way you say hello to your best friend?" I asked cocking my head to one side.

"Sorry," he blushed a little, "Hi. Hey, didn't you say you were getting your first case today from Moody? How'd that go?"

Damn! I hoped he forgot that, after all he does forget everything else.

I saw Harry's bright green eyes widen in realization and then narrow in suspicion. "That's what you wanted to talk about isn't it? Spill."

I started to tell them but as soon as they heard Malfoy's name, they promptly erupted into yells.

"Malfoy?!" Ron screamed. "Say 'no.' Can't you just turn down the case?"

"Yeah, Hermione. I mean, you're just asking for trouble," said Harry, concern etched in his face.

"I can't. It's part to the new law that Fudge passed. Every person has the right to a lawyer, what ever one they choose. And since, according to Fudge, Malfoy will probably go to Azkaban anyway, I don't have to do much."

"Wait, you mean Fudge told you not to try?" asked Harry incredulously.

"Yeah, right. You might as well try telling me not to like quidditch," said Ron.

"I know," I said. "The problem is, I think I'm going to have to try the hardest I've ever tried before."

"Why," they asked together.

"Because…I think he's innocent." I braced myself for the explosion.

"What?! Hermione, what is wrong with you? This is Malfoy we're talking about. He's probably You-Know-Who's right hand man, after Lucius of course," Ron said incredulously.

"His parents are dead, Ron. Voldemort killed them," I said looking at Harry, almost begging him to understand.

"Yeah, says him. He probably helped."

"Ron!" I yelled. "Listen to logic for once will you. I know the evidence all points to him, but that's just one thing that bugs me. It's all coming together too easily. The evidence just keeps falling into our laps. AND," I continued before he could interrupt, "he just happened to lose his wand right around the time when the murders started. And whoever is framing him knows that he only does his business deals once a year so they'll know that he has no alibi's. And, he says he was with Pansy when the others were murdered, so it would make sense if they killed her because she was his only alibi." I finished slightly out of breath.

Harry looked pensive while Ron just looked like he didn't want to believe it. Then a flash of realization crossed across Harry's eyes.

"What is it Harry? You've just thought of something haven't you?" I asked eagerly.

"I don't know if you know this, but about a month ago Snape's cover was blown. He was at a death eater meeting when Voldemort started to torture him, then he did legilimens on him and saw that he was a spy. The Order got there just in time to save him."

I had my hand over my mouth. About a month ago?

"It would make sense. What if Voldemort found out about Snape and then he became suspicious of all his other death eaters? That could be why he killed Lucius and Narcissa and that could be why he's framing Malfoy. Malfoy did say that his father had told him a lot of things that Voldemort wouldn't want getting out." I tried to figure out the situation out loud. But was I making any sense?

"You know Hermione, that does make sense," Harry started slowly.

If it wasn't for Harry, sometimes I would think I was going crazy.

"But how is he doing it? That's the real question," said Harry again.

I racked my brains trying to come up with a way, but I was tired and my head was just aching more from taking in all of this new information. "I don't know," I said wearily, "but whatever he is doing, we can be sure it's not really him. It's probably a death eater which means he hasn't gotten rid of all of them . He probably kept his most loyal, or at least the ones he thought were loyal." I rubbed my temples slowly.

"Mione, I think you should get some sleep," Ron said talking for the first time in a while. I didn't even notice that he had changed his clothes. "You know you think better after a good nights rest."

There was definitely no denying the truth in that statement. "You're right. I guess I'll just talk to you guys later. Thanks for all your help and come home soon." I blew them a kiss before I pulled my head out of the fireplace.

Note to self: do not floo when you have a headache.

I walked groggily over to the kitchen and made myself a cup of tea. Tea always calmed me down before I went to sleep. Especially if I have had a very stressful day. I think this qualifies.

I sat on the couch watching the TV and sipping my tea when a scratching noise from behind me made me turn around to face my closed window.

I slowly pushed the curtain aside and sitting there on my windowsill was a very large and almost dusty looking owl. It was very gray and had stray black feathers all over it. It scratched at the window impatiently waiting for me to open it. When I undid the latch it soared around the room once before landing gracefully on the couch next to me. It stuck out its leg and just started at me waiting for me to take the letter.

I looked at it curiously and its big black eyes just stared back. I didn't recognize the owl and couldn't think of anyone who would write me this late. Apparently the owl got tired of waiting so it scratched my arm instead.

"Ow! Okay, that was unnecessary," I said yanking the letter off of the owl's leg. If I didn't know any better I'd say that owl smirked at me before it left.

I ripped the letter open, arm still stinging from the scratch. Inside was a rather short letter written in strict and perfect looking handwriting. It read:

Mud-Granger,

They are moving me to room 11 A on the bottom floor of the containment facilities. I will be expecting you tomorrow to discuss my case further. With any luck you will prove that you really have those brains that all the professors loved to talk about.

Your client,

Draco Malfoy

He has a lot of nerve. He 'expects' me tomorrow? And just exactly what will he do if I don't come? 'My client' indeed, he hires me then he's questioning my talents! He knows perfectly well I have all those brains and then some. After all, it was my brains that always kicked his butt in all of our classes and I'm sure he hasn't forgotten that.

I let out a big sigh and tried to calm down. So much for going to sleep relaxed. I walked to the bathroom to mend my cut from that wretched bird and then I went to bed.

I hate him. But I can't let an innocent man go to Azkaban. No one deserves that. Look at what Sirius had to go through. Everyone thought he was an evil murderer and look how that turned out. As much as I hate him, I can't let that cloud my judgment. Even though I know he would never help me if the situation were reversed.

I turned over in my bed and hoped for a dreamless sleep. I'm going to need all the rest I can get if I decide to go take on Malfoy tomorrow.

Merlin, help me.