A/N: Sorry, sorry sorry sorry! To those of you who had lost any hope that I would finish this, I sincerely apologize! The past few months have been really busy! Springtime is a busy time for building houses and since that has much to do with my profession, I myself have been quite busy! So please forgive me!

Thanks to all of you who gave me such awesome feedback on the last chapter. It feels great to here the positive words.

Now, on with the story…

Chapter 4

Hermione listened to the commotion in the hallway as the aurors chased after Draco. She was partly amused and partly scared. She didn't know what they would do if they caught him. The minister had told her he would perform the kiss straight away. Hermione's knees gave out at this memory and she slowly descended to the floor. Tears slowly fell down her face.

"Hermione, are you okay?" Ginny entered the room slowly, a look of compassion on her face. She walked over to Hermione and knelt next to her, "Everything will be fine, Herm, I promise."

Hermione shook her head slowly, "No, Ginny, everything won't be okay. How can it be?" Hermione looked up at her best friend, tears flooding her eyes. Seeing this broke Ginny's heart and she brought Hermione into a close hug.

"He got away," Hermione and Ginny looked up to see Harry standing in the doorway, "He's pretty quick as a rodent," Harry cracked a small smile but he knew his attempt to lighten the mood didn't work, "Look, Hermione, what was he doing here? Why didn't you tell someone?"

"Oh, for Merlin's Sake, Harry, you have got to be joking?" shrieked Ginny, "Why should she turn someone in who is completely innocent?"

"Ginny, it's not up to Hermione to make that decision or yours for that matter."

Ginny stood up, "Harry James Potter, I was there. Roger Davies was going to kill my father, I heard him admit it. If my own father can't believe me, if you can't believe-"

"Ginny, stop it!" shouted Harry, "Just stop, you know I believe you. But it's not on my word, or yours, or Hermione's for that matter. It frustrates me just as much as you!"

"What's with all the shouting in here?" Molly Weasley entered the room, "Calm down, all of you. You can be heard all the way across the castle," Molly's eyes moved from Harry and Ginny down to Hermione, "Hermione, Mr. Weasley would like to see you, please, come with me."

Hermione looked from Molly over to Ginny. She wiped the remaining tears from her face and stood. Without saying another word, she followed Molly out of the room.

"What do you think he is going to do," Ginny asked Harry, her voice back to its normal tone.

Harry took in a deep breath and took Ginny's hand into his, "I don't know, but I have a bad feeling about it."

As Hermione followed Mrs. Weasley through the castle, thoughts filled her head. She thought about running for it when they past the large oak doors, but she couldn't do that to her friends, or her parents. Oh God, her parents. They had been in the castle the whole time and hadn't come to see her. Were they mad at her? Was Arthur keeping them from her?

"Mrs. Weasley," she said softly, "Where are my parents?"

"Oh, well, they left a few hours ago," she said quickly, "Arthur informed them that they would be able to speak with you tomorrow."

"But, why couldn't they see me before?" she asked curiously.

"I don't know Hermione. You can ask Arthur that once we get to Dumbledore's office."

Hermione glared at the back of Molly's head. What kind of person would keep someone's parents from her at a time like this?

Before she knew it, they had reached the entrance to the Headmaster's office. Molly spoke the password and turned to Hermione.

"Go on up dear," said Molly, "Hermione," she looked away nervously. If Hermione didn't know any better, she could have sworn she saw tears in her eyes. "Please be truthful."

And without another word, she walked back towards the Great Hall. Hermione watched her until she turned a corner. She looked back the staircase the office. She took in a deep breath and headed up.

As she climbed the stairs she could hear voices growing louder.

"Arthur, I just don't see the point. We have two eyewitness accounts of the event in question."

Hermione recognized the voice as Professor Dumbledore. Another voice soon followed, "Yes Professor, but this is a matter of death. Hermione could very well be saying all that to protect the man she loves."

"And your own daughter?"

"Albus, Ginny and Hermione are best friends, how do you know Ginny isn't just saying that because Hermione asked her to?

Hermione's anger rose. She entered the room and moved towards Arthur, "You are the Minister of Magic. Why aren't you doing anything to find out the truth?"

Arthur looked down at her, "Hermione please sit down."

"No! I will not!" she protested.

Dumbledore cleared his throat and the room turned quiet, "Hermione, please have a seat and we can discuss this calmly."

Hermoine kept her eyes on Arthur for a moment. She took in a deep breath and looked over to Dumbledore and nodded. She sat down in an armchair just in front of his desk.

"Hermione," Arthur Weasley spoke firmly, "How long did you know that Draco Malfoy was in the castle?"

Hermione shook her head, "Not long at all, maybe about a half an hour before Ron saw him in my chambers."

"And how long have you known that he was an animagus?"

"Um, I would say a year or so."

"Hermione, why didn't you inform me of this after his escape," asked Arthur.

"I-I really didn't think about it. It didn't even come to mind until Gin-" she stopped quickly. The last thing she wanted to do was to get Ginny in trouble. "Until I saw him in my chambers."

Arthur lifted an eyebrow to her, "Ginny knew as well, were you going to say Ginny knew that he was an animagus?"

Hermione shook her head quickly, "No, not at all, I just kind of stuttered. You are making me nervous, I just-"

"I think we can move on from this Arthur," said Dumbledore, "Go on with you next question."

Hermione let out a breath of relief. Dumbledore had saved her from that one. In fact, Dumbledore himself knew that Draco was an animagus. He really must believe in Draco's innocence.

"Hermione? Did you hear me?"

Hermione shook to attention, "I'm sorry, what did you say?'

With a bit of irritation he asked again, "Can you tell me everything that happened that day? Everything that led up to the moment Draco Malfoy performed the killing curse on Roger Davies?"

Hermione couldn't believe her ears. Was he actually asking her what happened that day? Was he finally willing to give Draco a fair chance?

"Yes, I can. I would be more that willing," Hermione spoke with excitement. It took all she had not to jump up and hug Mr. Weasley.

"Very well then," Arthur reached into his robes and pulled out a quill and parchment, "This will record every word you say. And this," he reached into his robes and pulled out a vile, "this will be our assurance that you are telling the truth, truth serum."

Hermione took the vile from Arthur, "Sir, this is really great and all, and I am more than happy that you are doing this, but, why not six months ago when this all happened? Don't you think some time and energy would have been spared? The fact that Draco is now a fugitive could have been avoided, considering he would have been a free man."

Arthur shifted in his seat, "Well, er, we can discuss that at another time, now, are you ready?"

Hermione's curiosity was trying to get more answers, but she didn't want him to change his mind and forget her testimony all together. She nodded and swallowed the serum. She felt a strange feeling in her stomach and began to feel a bit light headed. She heard Arthur Weasley's voice, "Hermione please tell me what happened the day that Roger Davies was killed."

A/N: Alright, the next chapter will be up before you know it! Until then, you know what to do! R&R!