A/N: Thank you for the warm reception after being away for so long. We are getting down to the last couple chapters. I still have a few more ideas I want to do with this and hopefully you all will stick around to read them. Here it goes, number twenty-eight...let me know what you think.

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Chapter 28:

Astoria pushed herself up from the bushes that she had been shoved into. She eyed the Chimera, who was obviously exhausted from the expulsion of flames. The anger radiated off her sister when she realized that Hermione was still alive. The jealousy had completely consumed her and she wondered if there was anything that could save her from herself. "Daphne, please come back to your senses." She mentally pleaded.

Hermione opened her squinted eyes to realize that she wasn't dead. She turned her head around to see Harry and Draco standing behind Daphne. Her eyes locked with those of Draco's. The sight of his burning desire swirling in his eyes made her body warm up, giving her strength to continue the fight. "Daphne Greengrass, I am taking you into the Ministry. There are just far too many crimes you've committed to speak of." Harry stated taking a step towards the shocked blonde.

"I'm not just going to come with you. I'd rather die than be taken to prison." Daphne shouted back, pulling her wand out from the inside of her top.

"Enough is enough, Daphne!" Astoria screamed.

Everyone looked at the younger Greengrass sibling. Tears trickled down her cheeks. Hermione understood the bond of family, because she shared it with Harry and Ron for so long. Right from the beginning of their journey through Hogwarts, she knew they would be special to her.

"Don't you understand, this is pointless. You are better than this. I've admired you for so long, because you were this strong woman. Don't throw it away, please!"

"I'm dead anyway, Astoria. Once I'm taken, Azkaban takes care of the rest. It's best it just ends now."

Daphne angrily expelled a spell from the tip of her wand in the direction of an off guard Draco. Hermione desperately lunged; but knew that she'd never get to him in time. The energy was suddenly countered with someone else's. Shifting her body, she could see Stewart Lyons standing next to Draco with an equally irritated facial expression on his face.

The surprise on Draco's face was justified. Stewart wasn't the only one who had arrived in that moment. Ron also stood with the Minister himself, Kingsley. The Chimera took several steps back and took off into the air, leaving behind nothing but a gust of wind. The thing Hermione had learned about those creatures was that they couldn't be controlled and if they were, it wouldn't be for long.

"Surrender now, Daphne." Harry suggested again.

"I won't!" She shouted again.

Another spell was cast from her wand, this time in Ron's direction. Again, it was deflected with another spell. It wasn't until Astoria ran and wrapped her arms around her sister's torso did she stop expelling wasted magic. Daphne's eyes widened at the gesture. "Please stop…" She heard her sister cry.

Daphne dropped her wand to the ground and wrapped her own arms around her sobbing sister. Astoria pulled out of the embrace and gave a weak smile before stepping aside. Hermione took several steps closer to the woman who had caused her so much torment. They stood face to face and once again, Hermione connected her fist to Daphne's already bruising face. "Was all of this worth it? Was it worth it to throw away a good life and relationship with your sister? No matter what you think, people have the freedom to choose their own path…. regardless of blood status."

Knowing that she was completely outnumbered, there was no way she would make it out alive if she tried to fight back. Daphne said nothing. There was nothing she could say that would justify her actions. All she could do now was live with the consequences and hope that Astoria would forgive her eventually.

Hermione knew that everything wasn't entirely Daphne's fault. It was how she was raised and if things continued the way there were, there would be another war in the magical world once again. A war that would be more devastating than the last.

Harry took Daphne into custody and was followed by Kingsley, Stewart, Ron and Astoria. Hermione felt the burning in her eyes the second she realized that everything was over; but she also knew that there was much to do yet. The trial would be spread out and she would have to speak on several occasions.

Collapsing to her knees, the sobs were evident even as Draco rushed to her side. He held her in his arms tightly, doing his best to soothe her pain. Running his fingers through her hair, stopping at her chin. The feeling of his fingers on her skin made her realize that this wasn't a dream. He really was there, holding her.

"Why didn't you go to Potter's like I asked you to?" He asked.

"I didn't want to put anymore people in danger. I wanted to do this alone. I've lost so much already and I couldn't handle anyone else dying because of me." She answered pushing herself out of his arms.

He helped her to her feet and they walked back through the house. Her wand was laying on the mantle just inside the living area. She took the item back and felt the need to restore the damage to the home. All Draco could do was watch her drown in her own emotions that he couldn't seem to penetrate no matter how hard he tried.

Once Hermione finished restoring what she could, Draco took her back to his apartment. It was Christmas Eve and the snow was falling out into the world. She immediately walked to the large window he knew she loved to stare out. Standing behind her, he wrapped her arms around her. He had almost lost her and that fear still ate at him.

"I'm sorry…" She said breaking the silence between them.

"Don't...I understand where your head was; but I almost lost you...and I made you a promise that I would keep you safe. I intend to keep that promise."

She leaned into his arm, pulling herself closer to him. His scent was comforting to the turbulent sea of emotions that threatened to drown her where she stood. The next few weeks were going to be a test on her willpower and she had a few ideas of what could be said during the trial. It was all about who would listen to her words.

XxXxXxXxXx

Daphne pulled her legs up against her chest. The cold brick of her cell was just as frightening as the men outside it. In just a few days, she couldn't even recognize herself. The only positive thing that still lingered inside her head was the fact her sister had visited her the first day she was imprisoned.

Astoria was positive, despite the fact that she could see through the mirage of it all. There was nothing positive about being in prison. She wished that she hadn't listened to her parents and their complex way of thinking. The fact that they never told her they had been on the dark lord's side during the war was a bitter pill to swallow and now she was paying the price for listening to them.

"I'm so sorry, Astoria…" She whispered to herself.

Hearing a rattling at her prison door, she lifted her head up from her knees to see one of the guards opening the door. Another joined him at his side when the door was fully opened. Daphne narrowed her eyes at them, wondering what it was they were doing. "Get up." The one on the right demanded.

She did as she was told. Both men took a hold of her arms, escorting her to one of the conference rooms they had for interrogation. Pushing her inside, they told her sit down. "You have a visitor." The one on the left stated this time.

"Who would visit me? My sister is out of town until the trial." Daphne asked.

"I did." A familiar voice entered the room.

None other than Hermione Granger stepped in-between the guards to look at her with messy chestnut hair pulled up into a low swept ponytail. She was dressed in jeans and a dark green sweater. Daphne had to blink her eyes several times, thinking she was a hallucination sent to torment her for what she did.

"You have thirty minutes, Miss Granger."

"Plenty of time, thank you."

Daphne was stunned to see the witch at all. Even more so when she watched her sit down in the chair across from her. There were so many questions she wanted to ask; but she thought the most important one, of course, was why was there at all?