As she headed down the hall, Hayleigh cried inside. It was the day of her mother's court date, and she had no choice but to testify against her, sending her to Azkaban for life, and losing the only family she had left (next to her sister). Hayleigh sighed, and stepped into the "court room." She saw her mother in a chair in the center of the room, and Draco's father right beside her. Draco already sat next to her mother, so she was forced to either sit beside him or his father. She chose him, and dropped into the chair.

"Hayleigh.would you please tell us why you believe your mother to be an accomplice in the murder of your father?" Fudge asked. She sighed.

"What makes me believe that? The fact that she blamed my boyfriend, when she knew it wasn't true.and when I heard her say herself that she wants everyone to feel the pain she felt in Azkaban." Her mother shot her a glare, but Hayleigh ignored it.

"What do you mean by that?"

"My mother was once wrongly imprisoned in Azkaban, and, though it was corrected, she was never the same.she says it was horrible in there, and one night, as she spoke to my father, I overheard her say that she wanted everyone to feel the pain she felt. That she wanted everyone to know what it was like. It wasn't long after that that my father died.and that she accused my boyfriend."

"But she said she heard him threaten your father."

"My father and my boyfriend were friends. They joked around like that all the time, by saying things such as

'I'm gonna get you for that,' and 'I'm so gonna kill you.' It wasn't a threat between them, not ever. That's why I loved my father so much, because he liked my boyfriend. He even told me once that, as long as I made good grades and good choices, I could stay with Oliver for the rest of my life. My mother, however, never liked Oliver."

"How do you mean?"

"She tried to run him down with her Muggle car once. With me in the passenger seat. And then there was the way she acted when she was accused."

"Which was?"

"Have you already spoken to Draco?" she asked, motioning. Fudge looked at the others in the council.

"Why, yes, we have."

"Did he tell you how his father reacted to being accused?"

"Yes."

"My mother was the same. She said I ruined her reputation here at the Ministry.and I was disowned. I was no longer her daughter. So I was left without a home. Of course, one of my friends is speaking to his mother, to see if I can live with him."

"The Weasley's."

"Yes. That's correct. And.the fact that Draco sent me the letter in school was another reason I suspected something. Draco is from the Slytherin house, sir.I am a Gryffindor. We do not get along. But.I have always listened to all sides of a decision I need to make. I learned from my father that I should not follow what my gut says, nor should I follow what my mind says. I should stop, analyze, and trust my heart. It will always be right. And he was correct. I've always followed the right path, I've always believed the truth. That is why I believed Draco. He was telling me the truth. Since he was disowned, as well, I repaid him by finding a place for him to live during the summer."

"With Mr. Wood."

"Yes." Fudge lowered his head for a moment, and nodded.

"You two may go. We will make our decision, and get back to you." Draco and Hayleigh stood up, and walked from the room, breathing deeply. Oliver waited outside for her.

"How did it go?"

"We don't know yet. They're making their decision now." Oliver took Hayleigh's hand, and they headed towards the main hall of the Ministry. The doors opened again, and her mother and Draco's father were brought out. Hayleigh slowed down, and turned to see her mother, her hand still in Oliver's. A look resided on her mother's face. One that she could not explain, but one she had seen once before. When her mother tried to run down Oliver. Her hands pulled out from behind her back, ripped her wand from the guard, and raced to her daughter, throwing her against the wall. Hayleigh screamed once, as Lucius Malfoy took his wand, holding everyone back.

"How dare you accuse me!!" her mother screamed. "How dare you put me back in that Prison!"

"It's where you deserve to be!" Hayleigh choked out. She felt as though she had a noose around her neck, and it was slowly being pulled tighter.

"Silence!" she cried. Hayleigh squeezed her eyes closed.

"You can't make me!" She opened her eyes. Oliver pulled his wand from inside his jacket, and pointed it at Lucius.

"Stupefy!" he exclaimed. Lucius hit the floor, asleep. Hayleigh's mother spun around, letting Hayleigh fall to the floor, coughing. He pointed his wand at her mom.

"Oliver! Don't!" she cried.

"I have to! She wants to kill you!" he cried. "Crucio!" he exclaimed. Her mother fell to the ground, screaming. Fudge ran out, as Oliver ran to Hayleigh. Fudge picked up the wands of both attackers, handing them back to a guard.

"Finite Incantatem!" he cried, pointing his wand at Hayleigh's mother, and at Draco's father. They looked up as the guards tied their hands again. "You both are found guilty of murder, and attempted murder.take them to Azkaban!" Fudge exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. Hayleigh was still coughing, trying to get the air into her lungs. Oliver wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her hair from her face.

"Hayleigh, breath.come on, Hayl." he said, taking her hand. She sucked in a deep breath, and slowly let it out, ceasing her coughing. Hayleigh dropped her head against his chest, taking in short, quick breaths, trying to slow her heart.

"I was trying to breath. What, you think I like choking?" she muttered, taking another deep breath and looking up at him. He laughed, and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her.

"You had me worried," he said, smiling.

"I had you worried? I had me worried," she said, smiling. He kissed her cheek, and hugged her again. Hayleigh smiled, and watched as her mom and Draco's dad were pushed down the hall, away from them.

"Azkaban?" she asked.

"Azkaban," Oliver said, nodding.

She laid down on her bed that night, gently rubbing her throat.

"Hayleigh?"

"Yes, Hermoine?"

"How are you feeling?" she asked, sitting on the bed next to her.

"Good. Kind of jumpy. Tomorrow night is the graduation dance."

"I know, isn't that exciting? It means the year is almost over!" Hayleigh smiled.

"Only for you. It means I'm almost out of school." Hermoine smiled.

"What are you going to be doing after school?"

"I don't know. Oliver wants to play Quidditch professionally, and he wants me to play, too..but I think I'd rather actually go into Muggle studies. That way, Mr. Weasley can help me over the summer."

"That's great, Hayleigh." Hayleigh smiled, and nodded.

"What about you? I mean, I know you have a few more years left, but, do you have any idea?" she asked. She wasn't in any mood to sleep yet, so she thought she'd talk to Hermoine.

"I don't know. I know a lot about Muggles, so I might do Muggle studies, as well, but.I don't know. Maybe I could be a teacher."

"A teacher?" she asked, propping herself up to see Hermoine better.

"Yea. Maybe, like, for Arithmancy, or Astrology, you know?" Hayleigh smiled.

"I think you'd make a great teacher, Hermoine. I mean, heck, you are already teaching Harry and Ron a thing or two." They giggled, and Hayleigh sighed. "I am so going to miss you guys next year. Everyone but Charlie and Bill and Percy will be here, and I'm going to be stuck finding work, while Oliver plays Quidditch and Percy works somewhere in the Ministry." Hermoine smiled faintly.

"We'll miss you too, Hayleigh, but we will write. We'll be seeing you for Christmas. Its not like after this summer we'll never see each other again." Hayleigh smiled.

"I guess your right, Hermoine. We should be getting to sleep now, don't you think? It is late, even if tomorrow is Saturday. The dance is tomorrow night and I need my energy." Hermoine smiled.

"Goodnight, Hayleigh." Hayleigh pulled her curtains, and dropped the blanket at her waist.

"Goodnight, Hermoine."