Ginny sat beside Draco, who laid in his hospital bed sleeping as peacefully as he had years ago when their relationship was something far simpler than it was currently. She held his hand tenderly as she watched his face, hoping that at any moment he would awaken from his deep sleep. In the back of her mind, however, Ginny knew the Ministry would be coming for her with the intent to charge her for the use of an unforgiveable curse.

Before she could dwell on the subject any more, Molly and Arthur entered the room slowly, Molly carrying a beautiful vase of flowers and Arthur holding Elizabeth on is waist. Ginny smiled weakly at her parents and managed to give her father a hug before he sat on the other side of Draco's bed. Molly pulled over a chair to sit beside Ginny, and put a comforting arm around her shoulders.

"They're going to be here any moment," Ginny told her in her broken voice before she turned to her father. Ginny was distracted, however, when she saw Elizabeth crawling beside Draco on the bed until she found a place to sit and look up at his face. Though Elizabeth was almost constantly laughing or at least smiling, she seemed to recognize her father lying in the bed and instead Elizabeth stared at him.

"Who?" Molly asked.

"The Ministry." Ginny answered.

"Harry, Ron, and Hermione would never give you up," Molly answered in a hush voice but Ginny knew better. She turned back to Draco and Elizabeth and rose to her feet. Leaning over the bed, Ginny reached for Elizabeth and pulled her to her lap. Ginny pressed her lips to the young girl's temple before a tear slipped down her cheek.

"Miss Weasley." A voice called from the door way. Ginny put another kiss on the side of Elizabeth's face before she handed the girl to Molly. As she rose to her feet, Ginny bent over Draco and pressed her lips to his.

"Everything I did was for you," She whispered to him before she kissed his forehead. As she turned to the doorway, she found two rather large men waiting for her, Crouch standing just a few feet behind them.

"We are taking you into custody for the use of one of the unforgiveable curses." The man on the right explained, but Ginny had already walked out of the room and passed the two agents. She stood before Crouch and stared at him, but he allowed the two agents to do the talking.

"If you want to arrest me, Crouch, at least be man enough to do it yourself." Ginny told him strongly, ignoring the fact that she was drawing quite a bit of attention to them. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they piled into the hallway, probably hoping to reach Ginny before the Ministry. Upon seeing Crouch, Hermione had stopped to take a breath, knowing there was nothing left to do, but Ron and Harry charged forward anyway.

"Ginerva Weasley, you are under arrest for casting the Crutious Curse against the late Lucius Malfoy." Crouch recited the words, but they sounded hallow even as the two men came at Ginny's sides each one taking hold of her arms.

"Now, why do I get the feeling you know this is wrong?" Ginny responded, but the two agents had started to drag her down the hallway, leaving Crouch standing outside Draco's room. Ron had tried to approach the Minister, but Harry knew better to hold him back. Instead, the two men stared at Crouch as he watched Draco sleep in his hospital bed, clinging to his life which Ginny had given him.

Ginny sat on the small bench, her back leaning against the wall as she stared up at the gray ceiling. She could hear the lock on the door slowly starting to turn until it clicked open. "I hope you realize, I know how to break out of these stupid holding cells." Ginny warned, not bothering to look at who had entered her cell.

"That would be advisable." Hermione's voice responded and Ginny finally turned to her.

"Did he wake up?" Ginny asked as the door closed and locked behind Hermione.

"Yes, he has." She answered as Ginny swung her legs over the edge of the bench, giving Hermione a place to sit as well. "I've spoken to Crouch."

"I don't care about Crouch." Ginny responded. "What about Draco?"

"He's fine." Hermione answered as though the topic bored her and she was looking to have a conversation about something else entirely. Ginny could only stare at her in utter confusion.

"You're hearing is scheduled." Hermione spoke, despite the look she was receiving from Ginny. "And I wouldn't count on seeing Draco until then, because he's busy forming your defense."

"Hermione," Ginny stared straight at the woman before her. "I killed him."

"Your defense isn't that you didn't." Hermione answered. "Your defense is that a lifetime of rights cannot be forgotten because you loved Draco more than your morals."

"He's going to come?" Ginny asked softly.

"Probably not." Hermione answered. "But he gave me this to give to you." She explained as she reached out with one hand. Ginny peered down to see a white gold ring with a nice sized diamond in the center. On one side a small emerald was set and on the other, a ruby. "He said he wants to call you his fiancée when he's defending you at your hearing."

Ginny could only laugh as she took the ring from Hermione's fingers and slipped it onto her left ring finger. "Tell him, I can't wait."

Draco sat on the bottom bench in the Ministry room where Ginny's hearing was to be held. Ron, Harry, and Hermione sat on both sides of him, but only Hermione could see his nervousness behind the calm façade he presented to everyone around him. They were seated on the side of the room so Ginny would be standing just a few feet in front of them once she arrived, leaving Molly, Arthur, and Elizabeth to be seated in the back of the room. Around them were several people whom Draco had called upon for his defense of Ginny.

Within moments, the back doors of the room opened and Ginny was lead in by two agents, and only Draco laughed she tried to pull her arms free of their tight grasp. She was lead to the center of the room but before she reached her destination, her eyes locked on Draco who smiled back at her. Though he'd awaken nearly a week earlier, he had never visited Ginny in the holding cells claiming he needed every minute to prepare for her hearing. Though Ginny hadn't the slightest idea what that was to mean, she realized what he had done when she saw the several people seated throughout the room. She recognized each and every one of them as former Death Eaters, all people Project Lost had found and brought back to their lives within the magical world.

"Ginerva Weasley," Crouch rose from his seat and peered down at Ginny as he spoke, "You are charged with the murder of Lucius Malfoy using the Killing Curse. What do you plead?"

"Not guilty," Draco answered before Ginny even had a chance to part her lips. Draco rose from his seat and walked towards Ginny, but his eyes were on Crouch. "Isn't that what we are here for?" Draco asked. "To determine whether or not this particular case should move on to a trial?"

"If she pleads guilty, a sentence can be given now." Crouch answered, "But you know this, Mr. Malfoy. Are you defending Miss Weasley today?"

"You know that I am," Draco answered, watching Ginny out of the corner of his eye as she stared at him, a faint smile across her lips. "Don't be ridiculous. Every person in this room knows Ginny and I have been together for years so, you can just-"

"Well, since you've admitted it,"

"Draco." Ginny spoke his name through gritted teeth, stopping Crouch from speaking.

"Shh," Draco turned to her before looking up at Crouch. "Let the Minister say something stupid."

Ginny held back her laughter as she peered around the room at everyone who had come to her hearing, knowing they were all wondering what she was. Why is Draco sabotaging everything before the hearing has really even started?

"Mr. Malfoy." Crouch's voice sounded demanding, but Draco was unmoved by the man's anger. "Since you have admitted to having a relationship with your partner, I'm afraid you will have to give up your position in the Ministry."

"First of all," Draco responded, his smirk across his lips. "I don't work for the Ministry. You don't pay me, so I don't work for you. Secondly, Project Lost is done. We meant to find Ron and we did that and it was a bit painful when he returned, but he's back now." Draco explained, hearing Ron whisper to Hermione, probably defending himself for attacking Draco on his return. "And third, I don't really have time to waste on the Ministry anyway. I have a child now, so you'll forgive me if I just don't care about what you think about my relationships. But if that's all, maybe we can focus on Ginny now."

"Draco," Ginny turned to him, ready to hit him, but she realized her wrists were bound.

"I'm taking your approach, Gin." Draco responded as he leaned over to kiss her cheek. "You always said I was bullshitting when I did hearings, so here you go." Soft laughter rolled through the room as Ginny turned back to Crouch, unable to fight the blush Draco had forced upon her cheeks. "So, are we ready for my first testimony?"

"Name?" Crouch asked, his voice low and bitter.

"Missy Elliot." Draco answered. The sounds of a person climbing down the steps followed but Draco continued to speak. "You remember her. She used to be a Death Eater."

Crouch narrowed his eyes at Draco, who could only smirk as Missy Elliot came to his side.

Some twenty odd testimonies later, Draco was leaning against the railing around the small area where Ginny was to stand. A man whom they had helped in the early years of Project Lost was returning to his seat, and Draco was staring up at Crouch, who was still taking notes, as well the entire panel around him.

"Is that all, Mr. Malfoy?" Crouch asked. "Or have you more witnesses to testify on Miss Weasley's behalf?"

"Mrs. Malfoy." Draco corrected under his breath, his eyes staring at the shinning ring on Ginny's finger, but he soon turned his attention up to Crouch once more.

"What was that?" Crouch asked, one eye brow raised.

"Nothing," Draco answered and Ginny laughed beside him. "And no, I still have some left. Harry Potter is next." He announced as he looked back to Harry, who was seated beside Hermione. "You remember him, right?" Draco asked, peering up at Crouch once more. "He saved the world and was famous for a while back then."

"Yes, I recall that moment in time." Crouch replied, his voice heavy with irritation but Draco only smiled. "Is Mr. Potter your last witness?"

"No," Draco answered. Crouch stared down at Draco, obviously demanding to know how may were left, but Draco remained silent as Harry walked to his side. His testimony was given and he returned to his seat beside Hermione, who was already half way up before Draco even announce her name. "My final witness is Hermione Weasley." Draco announced then turned to watch Hermione's face turn as red as Ron's hair. "Sorry," Draco turned up to Crouch. "That's Granger, soon-to-be Weasley, in case you want that on record."

"I find it hard to believe that you know the nature of Miss Granger's relationship." Crouch responded and Draco shrugged as he laughed.

"I know all he has to do is ask, that's what I did." Draco answered, earning a soft hit from Hermione as she approached him. "Hermione, would you please explain why Ginny should not be charged with murder?"

"I think it's painfully clear that Lucius Malfoy would have no doubt received The Kiss should he have lived and gone to trial."

"And so that gives Miss Weasley the right to take his life?" Crouch asked.

"No." Hermione answered. "But under the circumstances, it's not quite the picture you painted it to be. Lucius would have killed Draco had he not been stopped, and there's nothing that say he wouldn't have killed me, Harry, Ron, and even Ginny after Draco." Hermione explained. "And then what, Minister? You send your agents after him and he kills them as well? I think everybody here knows Ginny and Draco were the only one who got even remotely close to catching Lucius and with them dead, how would you have ever found him again?"

"Is this your entire testimony, Miss Granger?"

"Well, I could've gone on about all the good she's done, but I thought you were tired of that." Hermione answered. "I'm only depositing the alternative had Ginny let the man live. And of course, this is all under the assumption that Ginny actually was the one who killed him. When I read the report, I recall that it was Draco's wand that was used to cast the spell."

"Mr. Malfoy was unconscious at the time the spell was casted." Crouch responded.

"Were you there?" Hermione asked. "I don't remember Ginny casting the spell." She lied and only Ginny, Draco, and Harry knew how well she had done it. Everyone else in the room refused to believe it was it even true Ginny could do such a thing. "Neither does Harry, or Draco. And that is your entire list of first hand witnesses of the account. Ron was unconscious."

"Then who casted the spell?"

"I can't recall."

"Thank you, Miss Granger." Crouch replied, obviously distressed by Draco's defense and Hermione's testimony. "We will be summoned here when a decision has been reached."

"Count the votes now." Draco requested.

"We can't do that, as of now, Mr. Malfoy." Crouch answered.

"Why not?" Draco asked. "Is there anybody who has not reached a conclusion?"

Draco and Crouch peered around at the panel, waiting for even one person to raise their hand, but it never came. Finally, Crouch's eyes fell onto Draco who only smirked up at him.

"Here, I'll count the votes to go to trial, and you can count the not guility's." Draco replied. Crouch sighed as he turned to his right and motioned for the first person in the first row to cast their vote. Ginny stared up at the woman who smiled as she spoke.

"Not Guilty."

Ginny smiled as well as she turned to the man beside the first woman. "Not Guilty."

Slowly Draco made his way around the railing around Ginny's place and wrapped his arms around her waist as the votes continued to be casted. After the first few minutes, one "not guilty" faded into the next. When Ginny turned, her lips met with Draco and everything around them faded for a brief moment until the sounds of Crouch's voice brought them back. As Ginny turned forward, she saw one of the agents who had escorted her in nearing her, holding a key in his hands.

He released her bound hand, and instantly, Ginny turned back to Draco, her lips finding his as he held her tightly. Draco could vaguely hear the sound of footsteps approaching them, but he couldn't care less as he kissed Ginny, holding her close.


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