A/N: Hey guys! Just to let you know, I edited all the chapters. Nothing major. Just the dates. I added the days just to be more specific because some chapters are continuations from previous ones and some scenes may happen in the same month but not necessarily the same day. This is just so you and I won't be confused. : )

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I try my best to base my writing on the truth of the books however the following scenes may be very well from my imagination and may not be as accurate as to how it happens in J.K. Rowling's brilliant mind.

Chapter Nine

The Beginning

April 18, 2001

Even when the accused is obviously guilty, he still has the right to go through the legal proceedings – present his case to the court and if he wishes, defend himself. Even when we know the accused is guilty, we are to remain as impartial as possible – try to hear the case without bias.

The door in Courtroom Ten opens and Greyback enters followed by two Aurors. There is a sudden onset of whispers from the members of the Wizengamot. This is a first time in the history of Ministry apprehensions that a werewolf is captured and tried in court. But I don't bother to try to catch a word from what they're saying. My eyes are on Greyback as he moves to the center of the room. His hands are bound while the metals around each of his foot are connected by a chain, long enough for him to walk. When his eyes find mine, his mouth twists up into a sick smile. I don't break eye contact. He cannot touch me, not anymore. As soon as he sits down, chains spring to life and bind him to the chair. Fergus Eldridge, Chief Warlock since after Professor Dumbledore's death, clears his throat and everyone falls in silence.

"State your name," one of the Interrogators says.

"Fenrir Greyback," he snarls.

"Fenrir Greyback. You are accused of multiple murders among the Death Eaters during the Second War, accomplice in abducting and torturing Ms. Matilda Jenkins on January 5 and attacking Ms. Hermione Granger outside her home on January 12th of this year."

He smiles again, this time baring his yellowed fangs like he's proud of what he has done, like these were accomplishments.

"Several witnesses have accounted seeing the accused during the War in addition to Mr. Bill Weasley's testimony of his attack in June 30, 1997. Furthermore, Ms. Matilda Jenkins had recalled seeing the accused when she was brought to the house where she was found. Although she cannot say for sure if the accused was directly involved in the act of torturing, it remains that the accused has done nothing to prevent it making him just as guilty," Freeman, a member with a long pointed nose continues, providing evidence for the accusations for the Chief Warlock to hear.

"Lastly, Ms. Hermione Granger as well as Messrs. Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter fought the accused in Churchill Street, London, capturing Travers and Alastair Arkwright in the process," a woman interjects in a shrill voice.

Eldridge, sitting in the elevated chairs directly in front of Greyback, reviews the papers in his hands over his small round spectacles.

"Mr. Greyback, do you wish to say something?" the Chief Warlock says in his calm tone. Greyback stays silent and still smiling, trying to mock the elder.

"Well then. With all these evidence against the accused, Fenrir Greyback, you are thereby given the Dementor's Kiss–," Eldridge starts to say.

"I can tell you where the others are," Greyback interrupts then with a rasp.

Greyback certainly isn't unafraid of everything. The Dementor's Kiss, a punishment to criminals who have done heinous deeds, sucks a person's soul allowing him to roam the world without the one thing that makes him him – his thoughts, memories… his sense of being. They say it's worse than death itself, to be existing but not entirely, not really.

"In exchange for... a less harsh punishment, I can help you capture the others," he repeats smugly. His voice holds amusement in it. This is a game for him. He likes it because he feels in control. This wouldn't be a betrayal. He never cared about Voldemort's cause. For him, it's always been the opportunity to kill. Worse, to bite.

"Very well. If the information you give will be beneficial, I will make another verdict. Until then, you will be detained under the Aurors' custody," declares Eldridge.

The other members of the Wizengamot grumble but nonetheless, do not complain. The chains from the chair withdraw allowing Greyback to stand up. Immediately, the two Aurors stand on either side of him. He smiles at this. Before he's out of the door, he cocks his head to the side just enough to make eye contact and mouths, See you. Mudblood.

Despite the humidity, the hairs at the back of my neck stand up. He cannot touch me, I remind myself.

"Move," the taller Auror grunts. As Greyback is whisked away, I think of finality… the feeling that it is over. I'm half aware of the next accused coming in. Voices drone in the background. I take notes but I don't feel like I'm actually here. The next thing I know, people are standing up and exiting the court. I follow, riding the lifts with the last of them.

-o-

"Hey."

I'm at the door of my own office. It looks like my office with the potted Chrysanthemum on top of my desk. The only thing out of place is Malfoy leaning back against my table.

"I heard about Greyback," he continues, "He's being interrogated right now by the top Aurors of course. I'll give it one week tops. The rest of them will be shipped to Azkaban in no time."

I walk further into the room and stop a few feet from him. Does Malfoy feel it? The finality?

"Why are you so good to me," I hear myself whisper.

His eyebrows furrow in confusion. "I'm not Granger."

"Yes you are. Why is that?" I continue calmly.

He looks down. Then he stands up straight and heads to the door. He's leaving. Typical of Malfoy to avoid issues like this. I hear the soft click of the door closing.

"It's because I can do something," he says evenly. When I turn, he's already looking at me. I am taken aback by the intensity in his eyes more than him staying. His eyes… It's like he's looking directly at my soul, like he's about to tell me a secret – one with the highest level of security. Like a Fidelius Charm, I cannot betray it.

"What do you mean by that?"

Malfoy stays there, frozen. I see him blink like he's just realized what he's said. He hesitates and for one second, he looks like he's changing his mind.

-o-

I was wrong though. The next words that came out of Draco Malfoy's mouth made me realize that although that court hearing may have felt like the true end of the terror Voldemort has casted, the honesty in his words was the beginning of a friendship I never thought was possible.