A/N: Not really soon but doing my best. Here is your chapter Eight.

Disclaimer: I own this chapter and nothing else… I don't even own Hermione and Draco…

"Harry, please."

"Nope. I had already done all that is suffice for him. This I won't."

"But-"

"Give him a break, Hermione. He's right after all."

"Oh shut up Ron! Since when did you become the Judgemental Chief?"

"Since never. I am just saying that I don't see why you are taking the side of an enemy."

"Excuse me Mr. Ronald Weasley! But in case you were asleep this past twelve months, the War is over. We have no enemies now."

"Of course we do. They are the prime example."

"No they aren't."

"They are."

"Then explain why are we going to stand for them in the trial?"

Silence

"Hermione, I will only let them get excused because they saved my life by lying. Not that I want to save Malfoy's life."

"But yet you don't want to see him in Azkaban either."

Silence.

"Hermione, drop it."

"Ron, it's only the case of a wand."

"Yeah, but Hermione-"

"Okay fine, if you guys can't return back his wand then why do you intend to stand for him and his mother in his trial? I have seen you, Harry; living without your wand for six months and that is enough for me to comprehend how devotedly attached a wizard is to his wand. Even if Malfoy would be spared a life in Azkaban, I don't think it will be any different from living without a wand that chose him years ago. So why bother trying to get him and his mother excused?"

"I don't understand why you both are arguing over this petty matter."

"Because tomorrow is not going to be any other day. It will decide the lives of many and till some extent we have the power to change the course of their future. All those who step out of the trial free from any harsh punishment will start their life anew. And if Malfoy has a possibility of a good beginning, I don't see why you shouldn't return his wand."

"But why do you care what holds for him tomorrow?"

"I have a feeling that tomorrow won't be the last time I would be encountering him. And I think I must have at least a record of one good history with him to make that happenstance civil."

"Humph! Like he'll even bother!"

"Well nobody 'bothered' you to reply, Ron."

"Look Hermione, let's make an agreement. I will return his wand tomorrow IF only he shows even a bit of gratitude for trying to get him excused. Otherwise the wand remains with me a few days longer. And I think even Ron will agree. Right, Ron?"

"He won't even give you a damn after the trial."

"I don't doubt that, Ron. But we'll see."

"As you say, Hermione."

I waited as Mrs. Weasley poured some tea into my cup. As soon as she finished, I lifted it and took a sip. It felt warm after a staying half the night outside in that cool weather. Taking another sip I tugged the rug closer to make myself comfortably warm. Yet that comfortable factor remained lost somewhere as over 15 pair of eyes stared at me.

I gulped nervously and kept the cup cautiously on the table as if fearing it would break just with a small contact with the table. Taking a deep breath, I faced my audience.

Harry (Obviously!) sat at my closest facing me. Directly opposite a few metres away at the other end of the dining table sat Kingsley, The Minister. To my right sat Ron, although not as close as Harry who had pulled the chair closer to mine. Next to Harry sat Mr. Weasley, followed by Bill, George and Percy and near the Minister on his right sat Aberforth. On my right, following Ron were Mrs. Weasley (who had just taken her seat), Fleur, Neville, Luna, Ginny and Rebecca, an Auror working directly under The Minister himself. Another Auror stood behind Kingsley whose name I did not know.

Although I knew what they were waiting to hear from me, I took my time clearing my throat, tugging the rug, gulping continuously until I could find no other activity to while my time away. Since the moment I bade farewell to Draco (it was more of a stiff nod and a threat from him not to forget the dangerous promise I made to him tonight) I had rehearsed my speech over and over again and each time I would find it unsatisfying to be recited in front of the Order. There were some implausible reasons at which they could get more suspicious and by the time I corrected all the flaws that I could find in my finalised speech I had already sat in the dining room of Grimmauld Place, with a fussing Mrs. Weasley draping a warm rug over me. To say that the rest of them fussed over me would be an understatement. They were agitated as if I had just returned from the most gruesome battlefield where I had ten hippogriffs against me. My privacy was inexistent to them and even now when all I want is to snuggle under the warm and stuffy blanket of a tempting bed in my room upstairs and not be disturbed until late tomorrow morning, they want to hear my heroic narration.

"I am sorry." I started.

"There is nothing to be sorry about." Said Ron at once.

I shot him a 'Let-me-finish' look and continued my recital.

"I had no idea that the Death Eaters would be here tonight. I just happened to be outside when I came across Malfoy-"

"Malfoy?" asked Kingsley. "You mean Lucius' son?"

"Umm… Yes." I didn't quite comprehend what effect it might have on them.

"But what in the world was he here for?"

"To warn me about the storm." I replied simply.

"That ferret was here to give a weather report?" asked George incredulously.

"No, I mean he was here to give a forewarning of a future attack from the surviving Death Eaters. Not the ones who had passed the trials." I added hastily.

Malfoy had made it clear that in no way should I put any blame on him or his father's associates in case the Minister puts them back in Azkaban while he faces the wrath of his suspicious father at the Manor.

"Hermione," asked Harry looking directly at my eyes. "Are you hiding something?"

I gulped. Oh I was so bad at lying. No matter how much I fool the rest but Harry was an impossible person to lie to. This whole session was threatening to shake me violently until I would be forced to tell the truth. On top of that, my encounter with Malfoy and the idiotic deal that I made with him did not do anything to soothe my nerves either.

Both of us shared the same opinion that getting help on this matter from the Order was impossible. And I had absolutely no idea how to help him alone. I don't seem to fathom what in this wide world ever made me agree into his plan. Confound is the mind that the man who had done enough to turn by days into nightmare in Hogwarts is the one whose extended hand I had accepted by the turn of events in a single night. And when this little-no- huge perplexity could not be apprehended by me, how could I definitely expect them to understand?

"Other than the fact that I did not have pleasant night, no, I am not hiding anything." I declared trying to sound convincing.

It seemed to have worked. Surprise! Harry nodded and turned towards the Minister for his approval. Kingsley looked at me for few seconds.

"Miss Granger, are you sure he or any of the others did no harm?" He asked as if to confirm that he would not be made to arrest them at once.

"No! Not at all." I added rather hastily. "Its just I happened to be outside so he dropped the hint on me. Other than that I am in one piece. Although," I said looking at all of them one by one, "I don't have any idea of what conspired here."

Mrs. Weasley sighed whereas Mr. Weasley and the Minister exchanged looks.

"No one was stupefied by the Death Eaters, actually," Said Rebecca, looking a bit tentative.

"What do you mean?" If the Death Eaters did no harm, then the only option left was-

"The guests all seemed to have panic attack at the same moment!" declared Mrs. Weasley with despair. "The Dark Mark was enough to turn this place into a banshee competition arena. I don't know how many of them actually left through the fireplace or the Main Door. Most seem to Apparate on the spot without even batting eyelid as soon as they heard of the Dark Mark while others tried to do so without a wand. And what was more ridiculous that a few, finding it hard to move in the hassle-tussle decided to even jump out of the window."

"At the end it took eight Aurors, seven Weasleys and plus Harry and sixteen wands to bring the situation under control." completed Ginny.

"And what was more asinine," added a wary looking Arthur Weasley, "the Death Eaters did not move an inch from the front porch during the whole time and watched the whole chaos as it were a Muggle action film. The only thing lacking was those corns that the muggle audience eat when they watch those pictures."

"Popcorn" I nodded understandingly.

"Exactly"

"So the Death Eaters waited until everyone had evacuated the house," continued Aberforth, who had been listening quietly all along, "and since they could not come inside therefore all they did was shouted from outside as if all our ears had gone dysfunctional. We had to put a Muffliato spell all around but it was already too late. Half the Muggles were already peering from the windows while others were out in their porch. The Muffliato spell only made our voice inaudible to them but not their outlandish dressing style. It took us another fifteen minutes to get them inside."

"What he means by us," piped in Ron, "is that while Harry, me, Dad, the Minister, Rowforth," he said pointing at the Auror behind Kingsley, "and Percy had a conversation with them, the rest worked upon answering the curiosity of the Muggles and sending them back inside."

"What did the Death Eaters want?" I asked.

"Draco Malfoy" said Ron simply

"Sorry?" I was sure I didn't quite catch that.

"They thought he was here to tackle us on his own." Bill said and he emphasized the last three as it were the most ridiculous words he could imagine.

And I quite agreed with him. And I don't know what made me do it, but the following fifteen seconds became a blur as I had started laughing devilishly. I didn't even pause to see the expression on the viewers' face. But I assumed as much that even they were finding it downright incredulous too. Draco Malfoy. Against the Order. Tackling them. On his own? It seems the Death Eaters had a holiday for too long of a time. No wonder that you find it hard to compare them with their past where half the evil tasks which includes murdering, kidnapping, sabotaging the Ministry was manipulated by them. And without doubt, they were cleverly planned. Merlin knows what in their right mind made them assume that Malfoy would be here to face the whole group of Order ,that too coincidently, tonight when not only the Order but also numerous other wizards were assembled under one roof. Certainly their brain abandoned them just like their conscience.

"Err, Hermione?" asked Harry looking concerned.

"Oh, sorry." I choked down my laughter and composed myself. "That was kind of ridiculous actually."

"We understand." said Rebecca, smiling. "It took us nearly thirty minutes to convince them that we hadn't kidnapped Draco."

"And it took another thirty minutes for them to convince us that they did not have you." said Ginny smirking.

"And it was only when Lucius' son appeared that they decided to call it a day and go back to wherever they have come from." finished the Minister. "But honestly, we didn't have any idea that you were with him all this time."

Although I was looking at Kingsley intently, from the corner of my eyes I could see Harry, Ron and Ginny raising their eyebrows at me.

"Not exactly," I said fidgeting a bit. "I had actually gone for undercover. And when I was about to warn you all, Malfoy came into picture. And I had to tackle him first before I could come over to you all."

"That's okay dear," came out Mrs. Weasley's comforting voice. "Also may I add that it's already really late and unless nobody has to go to work tomorrow I don't mind you all getting up for another couple of hours?"

There was a murmur of agreement at this and everyone rose at the same time to retire to their respective houses and rooms. The Minister along with his two Aurors bade farewell who were followed by Bill and Fleur departing to their cottage, with Aberforth tailing behind them. Percy, George and Mr. Weasley moved towards their own rooms while Ginny and Mrs. Weasley stayed back to clear up the table and the kitchen. On offering to help them, Mrs. Weasley shooed me away saying that I had a long night and I needed a good sleep before joining the Ministry tomorrow.

Now that had really slipped my mind. After I had come back from Australia with my parents I had sent a letter to Harry asking him to fill in my interview for a job in The Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. He returned a reply saying that they were more than welcoming to have me as a part of their Department. But he also questioned as to why I did not join the Law Enforcement Department like him and Ron. I didn't quite explain that for I knew he understood my intention. Since my Fourth Year in Hogwarts I had taken keen interest in the rights of elves (not to forget S.P.E.W., which had gained enough unpopularity than I could expect for) although my ways of promoting it was unsatisfactory. But the years that followed, elves did not become the only reason for my present post. During our hideout two years ago, I suddenly decided that probably I'd want to join Auror office. There would be a high rise in the demand of new Aurors after the War if their side won. But as days passed with each new adventure cropping up here and there but always around the three of us, I saw the list for Ambitious to-be Aurors getting longer and longer, I doubted whether I really should move forward with my decision. On top of that, another sight was welcomed by my eyes that gave me the confirmation of which post to choose. Humans, namely wizards and witches were not the only ones who were affected by the deathly scenes of the days before the start of the Battle. While in the forest, Harry, me and Ron discovered that even goblins were on run. Added to that, the blind dragon that was held captive in Gringotts somehow raged me to such a length that I had even considered petting it (Of course I would never admit that to Ron).

But the biggest turning point was Dobby's death. The death of free elf by the hands of its former master just showed how ruthless and hard-hearted wizards can be. Although I never admitted it to Harry but at that moment when I stood by his grave, I made solemn promise. No other creature would be tormented that and Dobby's revenge would be surely taken. Although Mrs. Weasley fulfilled that bit, I consider it as a purpose of mine to observe none other elf is met with the same fate as Dobby.

"Hermione dear," came out Mrs. Weasley's voice, "you look really drained and worn out. The sooner you go to bed the better."

I nodded at her and followed out with Ron and Harry who insisted on accompanying me to my room. As soon as we reached mine and Ginny's room Harry opened the door and let me in. Standing there clutching the door knob he looked at me with observant eyes.

"Hermione," he said, "you sure you don't want to talk of any added information that you might have missed out in the Hall?"

I raised my eyebrows. So did Ron.

"Erm, what added information?" Ron enquired looking a bit left out.

I eyed him pitifully and then narrowed my eyes on Harry. Who said you need Legilimency to read someone's thoughts? As much as I can understand each variation of the two boys' expression and what is going on in their minds, Harry is no less behind on that either. And something told me he wouldn't take my added information a bit too positively. Especially, if it is regarding his arch nemesis.

"Harry," I said in a weary tone and expression, "I really had a long night and so did everyone. If I stay up any longer I might even be narrating my dreams to you."

Harry sighed.

"Sorry mate, but she's right." Ron really had an eye for supporting at the right time. "Not only her, but even I might be snoring half the way she's telling whatever that she has to tell."

"Its okay." said Harry with a defeated sigh. "I guess we must retire to Dreamland."

And with they both closed the door and sauntered to their rooms.

After changing my dress and a quick shower, I hopped into my bed wearing a white vest and blue pyjamas as Ginny entered the room like a walking ghost. Without even changing her outfit, she fell on the bed and mumbled a goodnight and a silence prevailed. After few moments of silence when I had assumed she had fallen sleep, her voice came out softly from under the mattress of her bed.

"Malfoy did surprise us."

I looked towards her direction making a silent agreement.

"More than you think." was the only plausible reply that I could give.

After a couple of minutes, when Ginny's heavy breathing sounds filled the room, I found that the night's events filled my mind more than the sleepiness.

Draco Malfoy had surprised me to such an extent that I couldn't help but smirk.

His appearance outside the house, the rush to the woods and that too without leaving me alone, his plead or rather request for help as he put in, all had made me gape at him as if I had never seen any human do things as such before. Not a Malfoy, for a fact.

But what surprised me more than any of them was when he handed me the wand.

"Look Hermione, let's make an agreement. I will return his wand tomorrow IF only he shows even a bit of gratitude for trying to get him excused. Otherwise the wand remains with me a few days longer."

Harry is not known for breaking his word. Even Voldemort knew that. Whereas at the same time, Malfoy isn't known for even making a decent statement to someone he loathes.

Then is it possible for someone as him to show gratitude to his nemesis perhaps even say 'Thanks'? The thought is as impossible to imagine as it is to imagine Voldemort doing a Waltz with Harry.

I tossed over to the other side of the bed. The only reason I agreed to help him was….

I don't know.

I owe him.

I trust him.

I am trying to be civil to him.

Can any other absurd reason qualify in the list?

I sighed.

Draco Malfoy is sure going to make my days unexpected henceforth.

"Good Morning, Miss Granger." beamed the Dark Asian girl at me. "I am Irene and I have been asked to take you for a tour around our Department today."

I smiled at her. Irene was a few inches shorter than me with round glasses of thick black frame and hair tied up in a ponytail. She had a clipboard in her hand with a stack of parchments clipped to it. I raised my eyebrows at this as I had never seen any wizard clipping their parchments before. I glanced again at the twenty-something girl in front of me. She seemed to be immensely pleased and at the same time thoroughly nervous with my presence.

"This way please," she motioned me. I followed her lead as she chattered on about the Department.

"The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures is divided into three divisions. First is the Beast Division which regulates the activities or attacks of all inhuman creatures who aren't capable of intelligent understanding and responsibility. Second we have the Being Division consisting of us Humans and also Centaurs and Goblins because they fall under the category of a creature that has sufficient intelligence to understand the Laws of Magical Community and to bear a part of the responsibility in shaping these Laws."

"Sorry, I said looking at her confusedly as we reached the end of the corridor, facing a huge door, "but there is a separate association of Centaurs in the Ministry?"

"Yes," she said smiling a she opened the door and let me in, "But before you confuse yourself further do note that Centaurs aren't a sport for interaction and prefer isolation. Therefore they have never interacted with the Office since its creation. Thus, 'being sent to the Centaur Office' has become a euphemism at the Ministry for those about to be fired." She chuckled. "Anyway, the last is the Spirit Division for all the spirits in the whole of Britain."

"Okay, I get it." I said nodding. "Is that all?"

"Yes unless you need to be reminded of the main and primary aim of our Department. Most creatures that we know are extinct for the Muggles the most common example being the Dragons, whereas there are others to which they are not familiar with, like Hippogriffs or Jarveys. Therefore it remains as our duty to keep these creatures hidden. Primarily twenty-seven species ranging from dragons to Bundimuns were agreed upon to be kept hidden from Muggles so as to make the illusion that they never existed, but with the passing years and possibility of hiding more and more creatures, the figure rose up. In fact the Clause 73 of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy reads- Umm, wait a minute," She searched through her parchments for that bit of information.

" 'Each wizarding governing body will be responsible for the concealment, care and control of all magical beasts, beings and spirits dwelling within its territory's border." I said as I closed my eyes and tried to remember the Clause that I had memorised days ago and revised today morning. "Should any such creature cause harm to, or draw the notice of, the Muggle community, that nation's wizarding governing body will be subject to discipline by the International Confederation of Wizards.'"

Irene dropped her things on the floor as she stared shell-shocked at me with her mouth wide open.

I grinned. Surely, they didn't call me the brightest witch for nothing.

A/N: This is the longest chapter that I had written. Nothing important written here but I did consider introducing Draco back again at the end in Hermione's Office. But I need to do some research on his post Hogwarts Career before putting him in almost any Department. You see, I am following Rowling's pattern of the story. But I won't reveal whether I would accept the 'Nineteen Years Later' Epilogue. That will remain a secret (Heeheehee).

Anyway, the next chapter might take some time to be posted. School will re-open soon and I doubt whether I will be allowed to devote most of my time in this fanfic. But be assured that it will be around May as I promise to post at least one chapter every month.

But till then, do keep the #Dramione trend alive everywhere you can. And keep reading fanfics to keep your love for it alive.

Last but not the least, REVIEW please. Even if you just read one line, do give a review. I need your opinion more to help me with this fanfic.