Friday morning snuck in the slit between the curtains and pulled Hermione from her slumber. She resisted with all her might but the became lighter and lighter and then her alarm went off from across the room. She sprang out of bed to shut it off before it woke Draco but when she returned sit at the edge of her bed, he arm snaked around her waste and pulled her back to him.

"Come on, up, up," she coaxed. "It is bad enough where we have to go today, lets not be late, too."

Regretfully Draco and Hermione got up. They dressed and ate in silence, fretting over the inquisition that was to come.

With a knowing glance and a sympathetic smile, Draco and Hermione apperated to the ministry.

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This was one of the times when Hermione really wished that Mr. Weasley had accepted the position as Minister of Magic. After Voldemort had been defeated and the Ministry of Magic had been cleaned up, Arthur Weasley had been offered the position of Minister. But he had declined in favor of the Head of Muggle Relations position. Hermione was grateful, however, that this wouldn't be her first encounter with the current minister, Kingsley Shacklebolt. She and Harry had worked with Shacklebolt in the Order of the Phoenix during the war, which had started her sixth year of school at Hogwart's. She didn't look anything like the little girl that Shacklebolt remembered, but Hermione Granger was hardly a name you saw every day.

The pair made their way to the Wizengamot Administration area on the second level of the ministry. Hermione and Draco entered the tribunal room silently. The room looked like a cross between a Muggle court room and board room. The atmosphere was about as comfortable as a medieval torture chamber. At the head of the room, there was a raised desk where members of the Ministry presided. Kingsley Shacklebolt sat in the middle. To his left sat Nymphadora Tonks who recognized Hermione and Draco instantly. Her acknologing nod made Hermione feel a little better. Hermione also recognized Delores Umbridge, that didn't help her feel any better. Hermione didn't recognize the other two faces. To the sides of the room were chairs which people with proper clearance could watch the proceedings. Hermione found comfort here. Nearly the entire group that she had been working with and she had spoken to only a week before sat on her side of the room in support. The only face she could notice missing was Ginny Weasley.

The thought that Ginny had refused to support her made Hermione's stomach ache. She had blown up at Ginny the last time that she had seen her and she was sure that Harry had told Ginny about Hermione and Draco. She could understand why Ginny would be mad, first Hermione had screamed at her about how much she loved her brother, and now she was sleeping with the ex-enemy. The room filled slowly, coworkers, ministry members, and friends. Hermione saw Harry enter the room and she snuck over to say hello.

"Hey Harry," Hermione said queitly.

"How are you holding up?"

"A little stressed," Hermione answered, "but it is Draco I am worried about. Can you imagaine, having to air your families dirty laundry to the entire wizarding world?"

"I can understand being the center of unwanted attention," admitted Harry. Since his first year at Hogwart's, it seemed that trouble had found Harry and the gang at every opportunity. Hermione smiled sypathetically. "How's Draco?" Harry asked, nodding toward Draco who was standing alone in the center of the room.

"As well as can be expected. He has to testify against his entire family if he wants to stay out of Azkaban. That is a pretty tough spot. No doubt he is on our side now, but still."

"Yeah, I can't imagine being in his shoes. You know, Hermione, I had some doubts when you told us that Draco wasn't a Deatheater. But I have always trusted you. You know people, you can look at them and see into their soles. That is what makes you so good at what you do. So, if you say that Draco is with us, that is good enough for me."

"Thanks, Harry. You don't know how much that means to me. If only everone else would."

Hermione didn't have a chance to say another word. Shacklebolt rapped his gavel on the bench calling the wizards to order. Harry squeezed Hermione's hand before she walked to Draco's side and they sat down together at a long table in the center of the room.

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