''Those who flee temptation generally leave a forwarding address'' Lane Olinghouse.
Hermione straightened her robes nervously, and shuffled her papers into a neat pile. She was sitting at a table in the main chamber of the Ministry, the eyes of the Wizengamot staring down imposingly at her. She raised her chin proudly, wishing that her mouth wasn't as incredibly dry as it was: she was sure that her tongue was sticking to the roof of her mouth.
She still hadn't heard from Ron and Harry, and her stubborn nature refused to allow her to give in and call them. They would come to her eventually, she decided, no matter how long it took. Surely they couldn't be so incredibly mulish as to ignore her over something like this? She exhaled heavily: of course they could, and they would, be.
She was distracted from her reverie by the clank of chains outside the chamber. As she rose to her feet, Draco walked through the door, his mouth tight and his wrists manacled. Hermione's blood boiled. ''Minister, this is unacceptable! My client is entitled to a fair trial, which he can hardly be having if his jury see him dragged before them in chains!''
The Minister rolled his eyes, perfectly aware that the trial would be full of endless objections from Miss Granger. ''Release the defendant's chains.''
Draco gave a tense smile, and allowed himself to be led to a small wooden chair. His face was even paler than usual, making the silvery blonde stubble around his jaw seem unusually dark. His eyes flicked from one impassive face to another as he scanned the gallery of judges. All he recognised were a series of faces from families that his father had ridden roughshod over in his attempts to get to the top. It didn't bode well for him, he thought dolefully.
Hermione stood up and plastered a look of confidence onto her face, hoping that the Wizengamot couldn't see through it. ''Minister, I move that Draco Malfoy has been unfairly accused as the Ministry seeks a scapegoat for the atrocities committed during the war. There is no evidence linking him to any of the various crimes with which he has been charged, and as such, I would advise that he is released promptly, and with the full support of the Ministry.''
Catton stood up, and cleared his throat. ''Quite simply, I would ask that Mr Malfoy raise his right sleeve. The Dark Mark there is evidence enough.''
''Pius Thicknesse remains sitting on that bench despite the fact that he worked as a Death Eater for the majority of the war!'' Hermione retorted. ''A Dark Mark is not proof of an allegiance to Voldemort!''
''Malfoy's entire family were prominent members of the Death Eaters! Their son is no different!'' Catton's face was turning an unattractive shade of red.
''Family ties hold for nothing in a court of law!''
The Minister cleared his throat. ''I will not have this trial turn into a catfight between the two counsels. Mr Catton, please begin your examination of the defendant.''
Hermione subsided into her seat and looked at Draco, attempting a smile but failing miserably. She couldn't help but feel that she had stumbled at the first hurdle; unable to defend Draco from any of the slurs heaped on him. He gazed back at her, his expression worried. She couldn't blame him, she thought.
Draco didn't even hear Catton begin to talk, he was too caught up in staring at Hermione. She was looking paler and thinner than he had ever seen her, dark shadows beginning to gather under her eyes. She had spent the last couple of days desperately searching for any kind of precedent that would get Draco off scot-free, trying to reassure both herself and him that everything would be ok, and they would finally get their fairy tale ending. And yet, there was nothing. Draco's heart ached, as he longed to gather her up and cradle her, letting nothing harm her. He jerked back to reality as a slight inflection in Catton's voice demanded his attention. ''I'm sorry, could you repeat the question please?''
Catton rolled his eyes: could the Wizengamot see what he had to deal with? ''I asked you whether or not it is true that you have the Dark Mark on your arm?''
''Yes, that's true.'' Draco said evenly.
''Well, that would seem to indicate straight away that you were an active Death Eater.''
''My father, already referred to by you as one of the most prominent Death Eaters in Voldemort's circle, took me along to one of the meetings. I had no idea that that was what he was planning.''
''But surely you knew what having the Dark Mark would entail? Why didn't you just refuse to have be branded with the Mark?''
''Mr Catton, I assure you that I'm not a moron. I knew exactly what the Dark Mark would link me to, but I also knew that I would be killed on the spot if I refused to receive it. I valued my life rather more than my reputation, to be honest.''
''Why did you not break off contact with your father when you became aware of his dealings?''
'' Because I was 16, and utterly dependent on him.''
''A sweet little sob story. I assure you Mr Malfoy, that will guarantee you no sympathy in this court.''
''I'm not looking for sympathy,'' Draco muttered. ''I will also freely admit, that I didn't see a huge problem with joining the Death Eaters. It was a group composed of family friends, and it was a way to make me feel more…powerful, I suppose. I didn't see Voldemort asking me to do anything, it would just be a club that I could join in with, without any serious obligations. But then the demands began, and I realised that I was…in over my head, to say the least. I began to try and withdraw from the group, but it wasn't until I received one order that I simply couldn't follow, that I found myself able to run. I spent the war in hiding, praying that Voldemort wouldn't find me. And then the Ministry found me.'' He shrugged as if to downplay the enormity of what he had just said.
Catton rolled his eyes. ''So you found the 'courage' to run? Mr Malfoy, please, what kind of ridiculous story is this? For starters, what was the order that you were given that you refused to follow? Or is it, conveniently enough, too morally repugnant for you to disclose to this court?''
''I would prefer not to say, but…''
''How handy!'' Catton bawled.
''Mr Catton! If you would please let my client speak!'' Hermione stood up, her whole posture rigid with fury. ''This is hardly fair!''
''Much as it pains me to say, I agree with Miss Granger,'' the Minister said wearily.
Hermione turned to him indignantly, ''Minister, I hardly think that…''
''Miss Granger, I've already weighed in on your side. Please don't push me.''
She reluctantly sat back down, and let Catton continue in a slightly subdued voice. ''I believe the court would like very much to know precisely what you were ordered to do that you found so beneath you.''
''I was…ordered to kill someone.'' He answered reluctantly.
''How long had you been a member of the Death Eaters before you were given this order?''
''Roughly a year.''
''You lasted a whole year in the company of murderers and torturers without being asked to commit a murder yourself? Many would consider you unfeasibly lucky.''
''The length of time didn't make the order any easier.''
''I must say it's lovely how you have an answer for everything Mr Malfoy.''
''Objection! I fail to see what this has to do with the trial!'' Hermione's voice quivered slightly, the amount of adrenaline in her system destroying her nerves.
''I am just commenting, Minister, that Mr Malfoy's almost flawless answers would suggest that he has been coached. Surely there would have been time for Miss Granger', he placed an unpleasant emphasis on the words, ''to have informed her client of what best to say. In case the esteemed members of the Wizengamot are not aware, Miss Granger and Malfoy are involved in a…relationship, for want of a better world. She has spent frequent nights in his cell.''
Hermione's cheeks flushed bright red as the rustling of whispers echoed through the chamber. The Minister leaned forward. ''Miss Granger, surely you were aware of how this would look? You cannot expect your arguments to be taken seriously if you're in a relationship with the defendant!''
Hermione took a deep breath and rose to her feet. ''I would argue that it shows my level of faith in my client. You accuse him of being a Death Eater, the very kind of person that would be happy to kill me. I am, after all, a Muggle-born. And yet, I feel secure enough to spend time with Mr Malfoy, as isolated as we could possibly have been. His behaviour is clearly not that of a member of Voldemort's inner circle!''
Catton snorted quietly. ''His aggression towards the guards has been well-documented.''
''No, his anger at the inhumane treatment that you have subjected him to has been well documented!'' Hermione snapped back.
The Minister slapped the desk in front of him. ''Will the pair of you stop this? Not only it is undignified, it is highly unconstructive. Mr Catton, please make no further references to Miss Granger's relationship with the defendant. The Wizengamot will quiz her on that in due course.''
As Catton continued with his examination, attempting to damn Draco with every word, Hermione sat back in her chair and stared blankly at her notes. How could she have been so stupid? She had always managed to delay gratification before: refusing trips to Hogsmeade because she had work to do, never eating too much before dinner. And now, the one time that it was truly important not to, she had given in to temptation. Because of her, Draco was facing the harshest sentence that could be inflicted on him. By loving him, she had cast doubt on her own competence as Draco's defence, and was running the risk of losing the one thing that truly mattered to her. Icy fingers ran down her spine as she contemplated a life where Draco was always separated from her: not by their own stupidity and stubborn natures, but by walls and spells. It was terrifying.
Draco looked around the chamber, aware of the need to focus on Catton's interrogation, but unable to concentrate. Hermione looked petrified. She clearly thought that she had all but placed the black cap on her head and sentenced him to a life sentence. Absentmindedly giving an answer, he wondered if there was going to be anything that he could say to console her, or whether she would be locked into her cycle of despair and determination. He couldn't believe that the most pure thing in his life was being turned into something dirty; something that courts would look at and shake their heads, something that the media would print in screaming black letters, something that people would whisper and point about. To him, that had always been the one redeeming feature: he might have been a coward, a bully, a manipulator, but at least he was able to recognise and adore someone so wonderful as Hermione, complete with her flaws and foibles.
Finally, Catton was finished, and he sat back down. The Minister looked at Hermione over lowered glasses. ''Miss Granger, prior to you beginning your interrogation of the defendant, we wish to speak to you about your relationship with him. Did you think it was professional to begin a sexual relationship with him?''
''Sir, it wasn't really beginning it. It was continuing it. We were in a relationship at Hogwarts, but it…drew to a close just before I left to fight Voldemort with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. Then, when we met again, it was as though we had never really been separated.'' She couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corner of her lips.
''What I fail to understand is why someone of your previous history, would choose someone like Draco Malfoy.''
''That's because you don't understand who he is Minister. I'm the first to admit that he's not perfect, not by a long straw. He can be greedy, angry and lazy, but he's not a killer. That's not in him at all. I think I know him better than anyone in this world. That's why I can defend him, and know that what I'm saying isn't biased. I've seen him at his best and I've seen him at his worst. But I could never believe that he was a murderer. I would trust him with my life.''
''Very touching Miss Granger.'' The Minister paused. ''Very touching. But that has no place in a court of law.''
''Consider it part of my evidence Sir.'' Hermione forced a smile and turned to Draco, praying that she would be able to provide a strong enough case. As she looked at him, grey eyes meeting brown in a flash of complicity and love, a thousand memories ran through her mind. Draco holding her in strong arms, Draco tipping her face towards him, Draco shouting in frustration, Slytherin and Gryffindor robes in a tangled heap on a floor, soft whispers in her ear, kisses that enveloped her and kept her safe. And she knew that she had to save him from prison, do anything that she could to keep him close to her.
''Draco, I know you've already been asked about your time in the Death Eaters, but I need to talk to you about it again.'' Draco nodded at her, giving her an encouraging smile, and she took a deep breath and plunged in again. ''Was being a Death Eater something that you'd ever thought seriously about?''
''I was aware that my father had…high expectations of me, shall we say? He wanted me to join, but it was never something that I would have considered doing on my own.''
''Why was your father's influence over you so strong?''
''I can't really say. But I constantly sought his approval, regardless of the consequences.''
''Ok,'' Hermione took another breath, shocked that she could hear her blood pounding in her ears. ''And how long did it take you after joining the Death Eaters to start regretting it?''
''Probably after the first formal meeting. Up until that point, getting the Mark was something to show off with to my friends, to impress people with. Then I went to the meetings and the reality began to kick in of what I was expected to do. I was at school most of the time, so I was able to avoid the worst of it.''
''By seeking refuge in Miss Granger's arms?'' Catton cut in. The Minister quelled him with a single glance and then turned to Draco.
''Mr Malfoy, the court would like to know the extent of your relationship with Miss Granger.''
''Is that really necessary Sir?'' Hermione asked shrilly.
''I want to know how serious the relationship was, and whether Miss Granger was accepting of your association with the Death Eaters.''
Draco smiled at Hermione. ''I adored her, and I know she adored me. But I wasn't exactly a shining example of humanity. I tried to separate her from her friends, to lead her astray. So she cut off the relationship.''
''She broke off all contact?''
''Yes. Refused to talk to me, ran away from me in corridors. She didn't want to have to.'' Draco looked at Hermione, the memories causing pain to glisten in her eyes. ''Every morning she had tearstains, and despite her best efforts, there was gossip about Hermione Granger constantly crying.''
''She wouldn't put up with a selfish schoolboy?''
''No Sir. And believe me, she approved even less of the Dark Mark.''
The Minister made a note, and once again, rustling whispers filled the chamber. ''Interesting. Very interesting. She never once condoned you joining the Death Eaters, or made any reference to covering up the truth?''
''No. She refused to speak about it, saying that she couldn't reconcile her beliefs with her love for me.''
Further whispers echoed around the room. Hermione's heart dared to lift slightly. Maybe that horrible time, maybe the worst thing that she had ever done, was actually the thing that was going to save Draco. By showing the judges that she wouldn't put up with his bullying, she had shown by implication that she wouldn't have ever condoned Draco being a member of the Death Eaters. Catton's face was sour, able as he was to see his prey slipping away.
''Miss Granger, please continue.''
''You said it was an order to murder someone that caused you to run away. Why?''
For the first time in a long time, Hermione saw a faint pink tinge creep onto Draco's cheeks. He paused for a second, as if unsure about how to word what he was about to say. ''The victim was to be someone that I…had known.''
''Wouldn't that have been the usual situation? I was under the impression that Death Eaters were supposed to have no problem killing their friends, family and acquaintances as long as it was for the glory of Voldemort?''
''I'm not a murderer. I had only ever gone to the meetings and worn a mask. I'd never seen a dead body. Even the torture that was inflicted on the other Death Eaters terrified me. There was no way I would be able to point a wand at someone and kill them.'' He answered candidly.
''Who was the person?'' Hermione asked curiously: this was something that they had never discussed.
Draco gazed at her. ''You.''
Hermione looked at him, her mind completely blank. ''Me?''
''Yes. Voldemort wanted to destroy Potter, and he thought the best way to do that was to kill off all those closest to him. You were the cleverest one, so you had to go first, was the logic behind his choice.''
''And you said no?''
''I wish I'd been that brave! I just waited until Voldemort was gone and then ran. There was no way I'd could have killed you. I had hated you for the way you'd left me, but I still loved you. There was nothing he could have done that would have made me take that back.''
The Minister was scribbling rapidly on the parchment in front of him. ''Miss Granger, I appreciate that this has been a shock for you, but please could you continue?''
Hermione smiled at Draco, her face genuinely happy for the first time since she had entered the wall. Draco felt his heart leap as he watched her eyes light up, and vowed to hold onto that feeling for the rest of his life.
The rest of the day passed quickly, arguments and counter arguments being thrown back and forth, heated words being exchanged, and the Wizengamot whispering more and more as the Minister filled page after page with notes. Finally, he took off his glasses and looked solemnly around the room. ''The Wizengamot will return tomorrow to discuss their verdict. Until that time, the defendant is to be kept in his cell. We will reconvene when a unanimous verdict has been reached.''
The black robed witches and wizards filed out of the chamber, and guards stepped forward to escort Draco back downstairs. Hermione ran forward quickly, and placed a lingering kiss on his lips, causing the guards to look away in embarrassment. ''I can't wait to talk to you properly, but just remember that we've done all we can do now, and it's out of our hands.''
''They'll understand. It'll be ok.'' Draco smiled at her, and both wished they truly felt the confidence that he was trying to project. ''I love you.''
''Love you more.'' She answered simply and watched with a sense of bereavement as he was led away from her into the darkness of the cells.
AN: I know at this point my apologies are actually becoming rather redundant, or at least a regular feature of my chapters, but I am truly sorry that it's been so long. I have been incredibly busy with my course (with joys such as EU law), and I have had time to do nothing apart from work, which has been incredibly frustrating. I know (or at least I hope) that everyone will want to know what the verdict on Draco is, so I will endeavour to put the next chapter up really really soon. Thank you so much to all my wonderful readers who have stuck with me through this and who are lovely enough to leave me reviews, which I am always so thrilled to get. Lots of love...petitesorciere xxx