Ch 4

Draco was dragged into the courtroom in chains. Hermione heart skipped a beat. He looked just as he had that night 6 months ago. As the Wizengamot filed in everyone stood up and one announced, "The accused, Draco Lucius Malfoy, will rise." He rose, raising his eyes to look at the row of middle-aged men wearing pinstriped suits. "You are charged with the attempted murder of Hermione Elizabeth Granger. You are facing 10 to 15 years in prison or a banishment from the wizarding world. Please be seated." Draco lowered his eyes, his face expressionless. "Would Hermione Granger come up to the stand?"

Hermione felt sick to her stomach. She hadn't had to publicly speak of what had happened before now.

"Hermione Granger, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?" A short portly young man asked.

"I do." She answered with a quiver in her voice. Her legs shook as she walked up to the witness chair, facing Malfoy and the Wizengamot. He stared at her, his face void of emotion, his pale blue eyes drilling in her. It seemed almost as if he could read her mind. She looked away and up towards the Wizengamot. A man with graying hair asked her, "Tell us exactly what happened on the night of August the 15th."

"I was on my way to the Burrow and 2 cloaked figures jumped out from behind a corner. I guess they stunned me because the next thing I remember was waking up in the dark outside. Draco was pointing his wand at my head. That's all I remember. I woke up at the Weasley's with Mrs. Weasley leaning over me. That's all I remember." She repeated.

Draco almost gasped in his chair. The chains around him jingled menacingly as he moved. She didn't remember how he had refused to kill her? He would never get off now.

"Who else was there?"

"I couldn't identify anyone else. I think his father was there too but I'm not sure." She pointed at Draco but didn't look at him.

"Ms. Granger, you are excused." One man said. She wanted to run off the stand but managed to maintain her composure, still avoiding Draco's astounded gaze. As other witnesses came up his confusion turned to anger. How could she lie like that? She was just a cold-hearted mudblood bitch.

A few hours later the Wizengamot had come to a decision. "Will the accused rise to hear the verdict. The honorable Wizenmagot has decided that Draco Malfoy is guilty as charged. He is charged to 15 years of excile from the wizarding world. He is banned from using magic. Case closed." Draco couldn't believe his ears. No magic, banished for 15 years. Was this a nightmare? That mudblood bitch. He reassumed his expressionless face and tried not about Hermione, about her smile, her voice. Why was he thinking these thoughts? She had just sentenced him to a life of Hell.

As Hermione was riding home in the Weasley's new(old) car she thought about the trial. Dra- Malfoy's face had looked so haunted, so helpless. Then she had a quick flashback

She saw Draco looking down at her and pointing his wand at her head. There was a look of sudden recognition on his face. He turned to face the figure next to him. "I won't do it, Father." He said firmly.

Hermione almost jumped out her seat. "Stop!" she yelled.

"What's wrong, Hermione?" Mr. Weasley asked, concerned.

"We need to go back to the Ministry. I just remembered-"

"There's no need Hermione, don't worry, we know he's guilty." He reassured her.

She didn't say anything else. It was no use telling someone now. He was already charged and sentenced. Why did she care, anyway? He had been so mean to her at school, he deserved the time just for that. But she couldn't get the way he had looked at her helplessly when she had gotten off the stand out of her head…