In the grand tradition of life, time marched on. Our lives slowly began to return to normal as classes started back up and everyone slowly adjusted to our new world. Of course it was so hard every day to think about the people we'd lost and to know that they weren't able to see the world they'd help create. But we muddled through life. Day by day it became easier to breathe again and our hearts didn't clench every time someone said certain names. Life was different without out friends, life slowly got better. We remembered them every day, but the pain slowly dulled.

When we weren't in class Draco and I spent a lot of time together. Mostly we talked, taking the time to really get to know each other. I heard about his history with Blaise and wished that I could have gotten to know him better; Draco told me he wanted to meet my dental obsessed parents. We talked about all the important things and all of the trivial things, and every time we saw each other we got closer. I didn't tell him how I felt. I fell more in love with him every day, but I still wasn't sure that the time was right, so I decided to keep it to myself for a while. I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep it quiet.

Draco and I were sitting together in the library one day talking about what we had always wanted to be when we grew up when Dumbledore walked in. I stopped mid-sentence and my mouth dropped open. I searched my mind but I couldn't seem to remember having ever seen Dumbledore in the library before. He had become rather hands on of late, but this was unusual even for him.

"Professor?" I asked.

Dumbledore stopped in front of Draco and me and frowned. "Hello you two," he said kindly.

Something about the look on his face brought panic rushing forward and I spoke to him with a quaking voice. "Is something wrong professor?" I asked.

He nodded. "I'm afraid so Miss Granger. Draco, I've just received some correspondence from the Ministry. I'm afraid they have summoned you to stand trial for your father's death."

Silence fell hard around us and I took a deep breath to force down the bile that rose in my throat. "How can they do that? Don't they know what Draco's done for them? He saved me!"

Draco shook his head. "Its okay, Hermione."

I looked at him with tears shining in my eyes. "It's not. You saved me, you saved Ginny, you literally helped save the world and they want to…" I broke off.

"I know how you must feel, Miss Granger, and I too have expressed my displeasure, but our new Minister is adamant. Mr. Malfoy will have to stand trial."

"I'll go," Draco said firmly. He turned to look me in the eyes and took my hand. "I'll go and it'll all be fine. I promise you."

I nodded, and that was that, but inside I was terrified that this was all going to go horribly wrong. I was terrified that they wouldn't accept the truth, and the thought that Draco could go to Azkaban if they didn't believe me made my heart stop in my chest. But all I could do was watch and wait.

It took hours and a whole lot of yelling to convince Draco that I should be there, but I won in the end, and two days later he and I along with Dumbledore took a portkey from Hogsmeade to the Ministry of Magic. I took Draco's hand the moment we hit the ground in London and immediately decided I wouldn't let go until I absolutely had to. We went through the motions, got our badges, had our wands checked, and Dumbledore led us to the room I knew Harry had been tried in only a few years before.

We stopped outside and Draco pulled me into his arms and kissed me sweetly. "It's going to be fine," he said.

I nodded and kissed him again before Dumbledore led me to my seat and Draco took his seat in the middle of the room. I looked up at the stern looking Head of the Wizengamot and felt my heart constrict. He didn't look like a man who would be merciful. He was surrounded by a wide array of wizards and witches, not many of whom I knew. None of them looked particularly in the mood to be kind. I felt my nails bite into my hands as they began to ask questions.

"Draco Malfoy," the stern wizard boomed. "You have been brought here to stand trial for the murder of Lucius Malfoy. This wizengamot will decide your fate. Do you willingly admit that you took your father's life?"

"I do," Draco replied placidly.

"What do you have to say for yourself?"

I distantly saw the familiar blue eyes flash as he looked up at them. "We believed that my father had been killed in the battle at Hogwarts. Once it was all over it became painfully clear that it wasn't the case. He was spotted near Hogsmeade a few days later. Needless to say I was worried, for myself and for the other people in my life." He shot a quick glance at me. "I knew that my father would be out for my blood, but I never dreamed that he'd go after Hermione…"

The witch sitting to the left of the Head of the Wizengamot cut him off. "Are you referring to Hermione Granger?" she asked incredulously.

"Yes," Draco said with a nod.

The witch glanced down at her notes. "Are we to understand that the two of you are in a relationship?"

"Yes," he managed.

I heard her let out something that sounded suspiciously like a snort before the Head spoke again. "Continue Mr. Malfoy."

I saw Draco's eyes narrow ever so slightly before he continued. "I left Hermione in the hospital wing assisting Madame Pomfrey in her inventory while I went to meet with Professor Dumbledore. While I was gone Lucius attacked Hermione. I heard her calling out for me and ran back upstairs. Hermione couldn't get away and my father was threatening her. I got him away from her and did what I had to do."

My heart was pounding in my chest as he finished. There were large chunks of the story missing, things that would make his innocence painfully clear. I could only hope that the more questions were asked the more would come to light.

"Mr. Malfoy," a wizard cast in shadow asked. "Could you have not simply stunned your father and left him to the Ministry? Why did you feel it was your duty to kill him?"

Draco answered with utter conviction. "My father was a murderous bastard. He beat me on a daily basis from the day I turned five until he was sent to Azkaban, and until I took the mark he had some of his cronies continue his work. When I wasn't handy he used my mother as a punching bag. He attacked Hermione and would have condemned her to a fate worse than death. He deserved to die, plain and simple."

The Head of the Wizengamot regarded him coolly. "Very well Mr. Malfoy, is there anything else you wish to tell us?"

He shot a warning glance in my direction and shook his head. "No, there's nothing else."

In that moment I lost control. I felt Dumbledore's hand on my arm but I sprang from my seat anyway. "No!" I yelled.

"Miss Granger control yourself," the Head told me.

"Don't do this Draco," I pleaded.

"Miss Granger what are you talking about?"

"He hasn't told you everything." I whispered.

The wizard's look seemed to say that he knew Draco had been hiding something, but he turned to me. Very well Miss Granger, what do you wish to add?"

"Hermione you don't have to do this," Draco said sadly.

"Be quiet Mr. Malfoy," one of the wizards barked.

"When Draco said I was attacked, he left out some rather important details. I was doing inventory when Lucius Malfoy found me. He hit me several times and performed the Cruciatus curse. I fought back as hard as I could, but he was much bigger than me, and I didn't have a wand. He… he threw me on a bed…" I squeezed my eyes shut against tears but they came anyway. "Lucius made it perfectly clear that his intention was to rape me. By the time Draco got to me my pants and shirt were gone and my underclothes were about to follow. He was choking me and even though I kicked and screamed and fought I couldn't get free. Draco killed his father, yes, but it was what Lucius Malfoy deserved. Draco saved me from being violated in the worst way. He saved Ginny Weasley from the same fate during the battle." As I finished speaking with conviction I looked back at Draco. He was intently focused on me and in that instant I saw the same emotions from that day playing across his face.

"Is this true Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco nodded.

"Why on earth would you omit such crucial details from your story?"

He turned back to face them. "Why would I put her through that again? She's working so hard already to heal, why would I have made her relive the moment again?"

It was quiet in the room for a long while. I couldn't move, I couldn't breathe. I needed to hear the words that would tell me that they were letting him go, that he had done the right thing. They conversed for nearly ten minutes before they turned back to face Draco.

"Though Miss Granger's methods for revealing evidence are rather unorthodox, we agree that the information she had brought forth certainly changes things Mr. Malfoy. The Wizengamot agrees that considering the contributions you made to the war effort and the fact that Miss Granger was saved from a horrible fate along with Miss Weasley, you did not act inappropriately. Your father was one of the worst offenders against our world, and he certainly was deserving of his fate. In light of all this we agree that there is really no reason for you to be here in the first place. You're free to go Mr. Malfoy."

I let out a sob and collapsed into my chair.

"Thank you," Draco said sincerely.

We managed to remain relatively calm until we were out of the room. However, the minute the door closed behind us I launched myself into his arms and kissed him long and hard. When we pulled apart he pressed his forehead to mine and sighed. "Thank you," you may have just saved my life."

"Well I owed you didn't I? Thank you for the concern but you're an idiot!" I cried, smacking him upside the head. "You could've landed yourself in Azkaban!"

"I know, I know," he said before bringing his lips to mine softly. "Thank you for making sure I didn't."

"Welcome. We'd better get Dumbledore and head back to the castle and share the good news." I turned to leave but he caught my by the wrist and pulled me back. "What?" I asked curiously. He lifted me off my feet and kissed me more passionately than he ever had before. I wrapped my legs around his waist and poured all of my earlier fears and my love and gratitude into the kiss. When Dumbledore cleared his throat I slid to the floor with my cheeks burning.

"Sorry Professor," Draco said sheepishly.

"Nonsense," Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling. "I do remember what its like to be young, though I will admit that it was some time ago. I remember young love well, and it is one of the sweetest experiences in life. Shall we return?"

In no time at all Draco and I walked hand in hand through the front doors of the school. When we arrived there was a crowd of students and professors waiting to hear the verdict. They caught Draco and my smiles and the grin on Dumbledore's face and began to cheer.

"I take it its good news then?" Ginny asked.

"They let him go!" I cried ecstatically. "There won't be any punishment!"

Everyone crowded around us to congratulate Draco. There was a round of hand shaking and back patting and hugging and ten minutes later it was still going on.

"Oh Draco, I forgot. Madame Pomfrey wanted to speak with you as soon as you got back," Harry told him, and I could have sworn I saw him wink.

Draco immediately realized Harry was giving him an out from all the attention and took it with a grateful smile. "I'll come find you," he told me before he slipped off.

An hour later I was in my quarters reading when there was a knock at the portrait. A smile came immediately to my face when it occurred to me that it was probably Draco. I hurried to let him in and he stepped past me with a dazed look on his face.

"What happened?" I asked, immediately concerned. Without answering my questions he went to stand in front of my little couch, turned and just stood there. "Draco?"

"Madame Pomfrey found a way to get rid of all of my scars," he told me.

I stood there shell shocked. "I just assumed your father made them permanent," I whispered.

"So did I, but she's found a way. She started looking into it when I was in hospital after I got stabbed and she's figured it out."

I crossed to the couch and took a seat as he turned to face me. "Okay, okay so when can she fix it?"

"She already has."

I couldn't help the amazement that I know must have been so apparent on my face. "She already… Oh." I paused and looked up at him. "Can I… I mean can I see?"

He nodded and pulled his shirt off just as he had that day months before. This time there was no pain in his eyes as he backed up to let me see his entire chest that had been so completely marred by scars. The first thing I noticed was that one remained; the one that wrapped almost all the way around his body. Other than that one scar, what I had assumed that first day was true. In my mind he looked like a god, and pale perfection were the perfect words to describe his body.

"You left one?" I asked.

He nodded. "So I never forget where I've been or where I want to go. I wouldn't let her take the tear either."

I nodded and closed the distance between us. I circled around him, trailing my hands across the newly smooth skin of his back and when I returned so that we were face to face I traced the raised flesh of that one remaining scar. "That first day, the only thing I could think was how I wanted to kiss every single on of those scars until all of the pain was gone from your eyes." I bent and pressed a kiss to the scar where it angled across his chest. As I did tears I could no longer prevent fell against his skin.

"Hey," he said. He lifted my head gently with a hand under my chin. "None of that."

"I can't help it," I whispered, pressing my face to his chest and my palms against his back.

He gathered me in his arms and held me close. "It's strange. I've lived with my body the way it was for so long that it's odd for all of the scars to be gone, but it's liberating." He pulled back just enough that he could look into my eyes. "You were the first person who was able to look completely past the scars and see me for who I am. You were the first person to embrace all of me."

"I know, and I want you to know that with or without the scars, I love you."

A charged silence fell between us and I waited with bated breath for him to say something, anything. "I love you too Hermione."

I stood on the tips of my toes and kissed him sweetly. I felt then and I still felt now that that kiss was the perfect seal to such a declaration." We pulled apart and gazed up into those vividly blue eyes I'd fallen in love with from the beginning. "Are we crazy?"

"Love is always crazy, but it's timeless. After all that we've been through I feel like we've been together for a lifetime. Some people will think we've lost our minds, but it's not up to them."

"You're right," I said before kissing him again. "I don't care what everybody else thinks. We're the only ones that matter."

"Good."