a/n1: Hello again, thank you for your reviews for the last chapter! Especially thanks to Chester99, I hope I found the best solution to the mentioned problem ;) My beta was viv-heart as always and she continues to be the most patient beta ever. Have fun! :)

Draco drew in a laboured breath, clenching his fists and trying to get rid of the pictures in his mind. The Aurors might have been disgusted, but he had to live with the guilt of having hurt so many people. He didn't know how Granger was able to look him in the eye much less defend him in front of the Wizengamot. He should have been dead like the others. He was no better than Rowle or Dolohov.

The return of the Aurors jolted Draco out of his guilt and back into the present. He accepted the glass of water and Veritaserum and drank it in one go.

"Mr. Malfoy we will continue now. Please answer the questions as accurately as possible. How many times did you attend the meetings of the Death Eaters?"

"Fourteen times if you count the official meetings. But many Death Eaters especially those who were wanted by the Ministry stayed permanently at Malfoy Manor as the Dark Lord made it his headquarters. Therefore they were all present for most dinners but during those nobody was tortured or killed," Draco answered in an emotionless voice, taking refuge in his mask of cold indifference.

"How often did you participate in torturing, killing or raping people during those meetings?"

"Four times."

"Can you give us the dates?"

"Sixth of July 1996, fifth of June 1997, twenty-fifth of December 1997 and twelfth of April 1998."

"Thank you. Now, would you please describe your actions leading to the murder of Albus Dumbledore?"

Draco took a deep breath and began to tell the story. He knew he shouldn't stop and think about it or the horror of those memories would come back and he could not break down in front of these people.

On the other side of the door Hermione paced nervously.

"Why does it take so long? They were only supposed to retake his testimony not ask completely new questions! They are at it for nearly two hours now!" Hermione ranted under her breath.

"Why are you so nervous dear? I am sure everything is fine," Narcissa tried to calm her, but the younger witch shook her head.

"They wrote down the time of the last testimony on the protocol, it was one and a half hours!"

After many more turns and worried looks from Narcissa to her ashen faced husband the door finally opened and the Aurors and Draco came out. The latter looked tired but otherwise indifferent. He smirked when he took in Hermione's flustered face.

"Anxious to see me, Granger?" Draco drawled while looking at her coldly.

"Draco!" Narcissa exclaimed.

Hermione ignored him and turned to the Aurors. "May I have the protocol? I am his defendant."

The Aurors looked at each other and shrugged and the female Auror gave the parchment roll to Hermione. She took it and looked over the questions. They seemed to be the same as in the first testimony until she came to the last one. "Were your parents ever in real danger had you not obeyed?" Hermione asked turning to the Aurors. "That wasn't in the first testimony and therefore doesn't count. You were to ask exactly the same questions and check the answers not invent new questions!"

The male Auror looked at his partner. "We were instructed to ask more questions if we thought they would make the case clearer."

Hermione huffed and read the answer 'Yes, the Dark Lord demonstrated on more than one time that he always fulfilled his threats. For example when Yaxley wasn't able to get control over Thickness fast enough he was tortured. He wasn't even able to move on his own afterwards.' At least the answer wouldn't complicate the case as they surely had hoped when asking the question.

"Any more questions Miss Granger? We would like to continue with Mrs Malfoy," the male Auror asked impatiently. Hermione looked up from the protocol, duplicated it and gave it back to the Aurors. They luckily hadn't noticed the handy jinx she had put on the parchment to prevent them from tampering with it.

"Good luck, Narcissa," she said cheerfully and went back to sit with Mr. Malfoy.

The two remaining Malfoys didn't seem too happy to have her company but neither complained openly. Hermione had the feeling that they both were quite shaken from the interview.

While Draco had made his testimony Lucius hadn't spoken a word and Narcissa hadn't pressed him. So Hermione was rather surprised when she suddenly heard a voice next to her.

"What did you say? I'm sorry I was in thought," Hermione said turning to the elder Malfoy.

"I said that it was a good idea to prevent them from tampering with the protocol," Lucius repeated, still staring ahead and looking rather haunted.

"You noticed?" Hermione asked nervously.

"Only because I trained myself to notice everything done to important documents. It's a useful skill if you are trying to influence the government."

"Probably as well if one wants to work for the government," Hermione said under her breath but Malfoy seemed to have heard her anyway and chuckled.

"Quite right, few do. Makes it too easy to exchange documents," he coughed and drew in a shaky breath. The sound caught the attention of Draco on his other side who leaned down and asked his father something quietly.

"I am alright, just a bit weak. You have to understand that my lung isn't what it has been since Azkaban, Miss Granger. It's a wonder no one freezes to death there."

Hermione frowned and sighed. "I can imagine. I start to think that I will need to try to get into the Wizengamot directly instead of just working in the Ministry until I am able to really change something."

Mr. Malfoy chuckled again. "How you weren't placed in Slytherin is beyond me. You would have done well there. And please see it as a compliment. Andromeda was in Slytherin as well and she was never interested in the Dark Arts."

"I'll try to, Mr. Malfoy. But the Hat never considered me for Slytherin, only Ravenclaw or Gryffindor," Hermione answered stiffly. She had spoken about it with Harry when they were on the run and he also said she would have done well there if one only saw the traits the House favoured. Hermione had to admit that she was rather ambitious and cunning. She had kept a woman in a jar for weeks and left another to the Centaurs in the Forbidden Forest after all. On top of that, she always wanted to have the best grades to validate her place in the Wizarding World and when she learned about the dire situation of some house-elves she decided she wanted to change her new world.

"Maybe you're right, Mr. Malfoy. I still doubt that I would have been welcome though," Hermione said finally. Now it was Mr. Malfoy's turn to sigh.

"Probably. I should have noticed earlier how wrong our beliefs were. I was blinded by the power I already had as a pureblood and wanted more," the wizard turned to her. "I wanted to apologise for the way I treated you and your friends during our encounters. Part of it was because I wanted to ensure that everyone knew my family to be blood-supremacists should the- Voldemort ever return. But I also still believed the rubbish about blood purity and House rivalry. I am truly sorry that I raised my son to hate you based on your blood and House affiliation." Hermione looked stunned at the older Malfoy.

"I…I will accept your apology on one condition," she looked him squarely in the eyes. "You will show your change of heart not just in your words, but also your actions. I know from Narcissa's letters that you took a liking to your great-nephew and that's the reason I accept this in the first place."

Mr. Malfoy nodded. "That is only fair. And I like Edward quite a lot indeed. He is a precious little boy."

Hermione smiled and they fell back into silence.

Draco leaned against the wall and contemplated whether his father or Hermione would notice if he left. He didn't want to push his luck, but some time alone would probably help him to calm down his raging emotions. He hated himself for mocking Hermione earlier but he didn't want her or his parents to see how bad the testimony had been for him. He always fled into mockery and hate when cornered.

Having decided to pretend to leave for the toilets Draco pushed himself from the wall and mumbled his excuse. He fled to the staircase were he had sought refuge earlier and sat down. He put his head into his hands, trying to massage the headache from his temples. Why did they have to question whether his parents had truly been in danger! Draco was furious, how dare they not believe him! Taking deep, meditative breaths Draco tried to relax. He didn't want to snap at Granger again. He hadn't sworn to be at least civil to her to go back to his behaviour from school the first moment he was distressed! A few minutes later he finally felt himself calm down.

With a last deep breath he was back on the staircase and noticed someone standing on the entrance. In one fluid motion he had his wand out and stood aiming at the intruder who wand- and voicelessly conjured a bluebell flame. Now Draco was able to see the face of his opponent and lowered his wand when he saw that it was Hermione.

"I'm sorry, I don't take well to surprises," he went down to her and stopped one step before her. "How did you find me?"

"Your father told me about this stairwell. He thought you would be here. Narcissa is just finishing some paperwork so they can search the Black Manor that belonged to her parents."

Draco nodded and went for the door when Hermione grabbed his wrist. He looked down to it and then back to her face. She let it go immediately but the determination in her eyes kept him from leaving.

"I watched you for a moment there and…if you ever want to talk…I will listen. I probably won't understand completely but I won't judge you like the Aurors did," Hermione said quietly and Draco found himself relaxing.

"Thank you. I am sorry that I snapped at you when I left the room," he answered and smiled a little at her relieved expression.

"I read the protocol. I would have been snappy as well," Hermione smirked at him in an expression he had seen on his mother's face too many times to not know what it meant: someone would pay for the questions they had asked him. "They can't just change the questions or add some if they want a repeat of what you said without Veritaserum. I will address that in court."

Draco smiled and soon they reached his parents and Andromeda who seemed to have joined them in the meantime

"Hermione! I see you found my missing son?" Narcissa asked with a scolding look at Draco.

"Yes, he was exactly where Mr. Malfoy thought he would be," Hermione answered in a light tone that betrayed nothing of the way she had found him. At least he hadn't been crying. He would have obliviated her if she had seen that!

"Alright, if everyone is here we will head home now," Andromeda said.

They left for the foyer and the fireplaces to floo home. Shortly before they were there Hermione touched his arm lightly and they both slowed down.

"Remember what I told you. I am sure your mother would happily include any letters you wish to send to me," she looked at him pleadingly. "And if you don't want to write me I will arrange it that you can write to one of your friends."

"Thank you, H- Granger," he answered quietly and continued a bit more loudly. "See you on Saturday. Father and I are already planning the meal."

The others said good bye as well and Hermione left directly after them.

Harry stared disbelievingly at the letter in his hand. Content, sender and time were so unexpected that he wasn't sure what to say, do or feel. Pansy Parkinson had hated him for nearly all of his time in Hogwarts and now she send an apology for what happened? Unbelievable! Another letter with the same handwriting was addressed to Hermione and he was really curious about its contents.

Harry reread the short message.

Potter,

I am sorry. I didn't need to torment you and your friends just because Draco didn't like you. I should have looked past house prejudices and that you declined friendship from my oldest friend. But I didn't. Because I was a child and I was raised to stick to Slytherins and believe in blood supremacy. I hope you know that I didn't want to see you dead. That I didn't want to give you to the Dark Lord because I thought his ideas were great. I feared for my life. I feared for the life of my parents, friends and the parents of my friends. I hoped, never believed, that the Dark Lord would leave us alone if we gave you to him. Please forgive me, at least for being terrified.

Yours,

Pansy Parkinson

When Harry finished the last sentence the floo roared to live and Hermione stumbled into the kitchen. She steadied herself and then turned to Harry.

"Hey, did you have luck with the new house-elf?" she asked while taking off her jacket and shaking out the soot.

"Yeah, I will introduce her tomorrow, if you managed to fill out all the paperwork," Harry answered a bit distractedly.

"All done! I met the Malfoys afterwards, that's why I am so late. Is there mail for me?"

Harry gave her a letter written in a handwriting Hermione didn't recognise.

"It's from Pansy Parkinson, she apologised," Harry said sounding somewhat confused.

Hermione opened the letter.

Granger,

I heard about the things you did for Draco. That you saved him, that you spoke in his defence at his hearing and that you befriended Narcissa. During the battle my father found me and took me, my mother and my younger sister to Germany to wait till everything calmed down. But only three days later he got a letter from Kingsley Shacklebolt asking him to return to his place in the Wizengamot. We thought about it at length and decided to come back to Great Britain.

I am sure you wonder why I am telling you all that. My father was impressed by you and told me in detail what happened in the hearing. It isn't easy to impress him. I only managed it once when I learned to play his favourite piece on the harpsichord (never mind that I wasn't able to move my fingers afterwards from the pain). Father asked me what I knew about you from school and when I thought about it I noticed how terrible I treated you from the beginning. And what for? For your parents? Because you are supposedly weak and dirty? Because you had bug-teeth and bushy hair? I myself didn't look too good back then.

What I want to say is that I am sorry. Prejudices like mine started the last three wizarding wars and I don't want to live in a world that is constantly at war. I am sure we will both return to Hogwarts to complete our education. Maybe we will be able to look past old prejudices, be it blood or house, and show the world that we want to begin a new era.

Yours,

Pansy Parkinson

a/n2: Alright tell me what you think! I am truly looking forward to the next chapter, mostly because it's nearly finished ;)