Disclaimer: Only the story idea is mine. The characters you recognize and Hogwarts and such are all J. K Rowling's. Thanks to my beta ashash52009!

A/n: Here's chapter twelve. Two more before we are finished! :( If this story lasts past the 21 of this month, then updates will slow down a lot because of school. But I'm going to try to finish it off beforehand if possible since the chapters are short and I have it planned. We will just have to see how it works. :) I shall try! Anyways, enjoy.

I Didn't Know, 'Cause We Were so Young

Oh clouds of time, Seem to rain on innocence left behind

It never goes away…Can you stay strong?

Can you go on? Hermione are you doing okay?

A rose that won't bloom, winters kept you,

Don't waste your whole life trying, to get back what was taken away.

Oh clouds of time, Seem to rain on innocence left behind,

It never goes away… It never goes away.

Can you stay strong? Can you go on?

Hermione are you doing okay?

A rose that won't bloom, winter's kept you,

Two days later, the tests were all finished. Hermione thought this would relieve her, but it didn't help much at all. All of the negative answers were things she already knew, and having them face back at her on a chart Pomfrey had shown her did little to calm her nerves. What she was really worried about were her friends- Harry, Ginny and Neville- reacting and still hating her. She couldn't do anything about it if they did, but Merlin she would want to. She didn't want them still hating her. After all, Ginny was exceptionally stubborn and Harry could be difficult.

She sighed, leaning her head against the pillows on her dorm room bed. She would have her answers soon enough. The trial was coming up soon, and they were all required to attend. And something told Hermione the press would be there too. After all, two thirds of the Golden Trio were about to go against one other, with the third part sitting unsure at the side, not knowing what to think. The press was going to have a heyday with this story.

Life wasn't easy, that was for sure, but at least Ron wasn't a constant threat in the halls anymore. For that she was thankful. She wondered when the entire school would catch drift of what had gone on in the Headmistress's office not long ago. Obviously, Ginny's habit of being a bit of a gossip was not coming out on this topic, for although it would make Hermione seem bad, Ron would come off as bad too, and the ginger would never want that to happen.

Did her friends even have mixed feelings on the topic anymore, or had her friends decided where they stood on the matter? She hoped not, for she truly did not want to deal with the loss of people that had been in her life so long, over something that had actually happened to her and severely affected her.

Sighing, she rolled over and buried her face into the pillows. Nothing was fair at the moment- and although she was painfully aware of how awful life could really be to you- she wanted something to hold onto that wasn't angry with her, and the only person she could think of was Malfoy.

For some reason, that thought wasn't as bothering as one would think. He had been very sweet to her throughout this entire experience- even better to her then her so called friends- and that was saying something. He had even let her cry on his chest, his strong arms wrapped around her, and his silent response perfect; she had not wanted to talk.

Part of her wished she were hugging him at that moment; he was far more comforting then her pillow. With a groan, she buried herself into the soft material, hoping to simply find the pleasant nothingness of sleep. Unless Ron can still appear there too…

Draco was in his room too, his mind floating over roughly the same thoughts. His feelings towards the Gryffindor girl had been changing for a while, and letting her cry on him, release some tension, had caused him to lightly smile. He felt good trying to help her, which was a new emotion. Sure, he had enjoyed keeping Weasley away from her and out of his life, but had that been a cover up for deeper emotions? As corny and feminine as it sounded, his mind kept circulating back to that topic.

He rubbed his temples. Why oh why did he have to focus on that? It would be easier if his emotional attachment to Granger was strictly to keep her safe, so he didn't have to deal with another trembling, sobbing mess. But no, he had to go and start feeling… whatever this was for her! And that was oh so frustrating.

But it probably pissed fucking Weasley off. Which reminds me, I wonder how the prick is fairing?

Ron Weasley was not fairing well at all. People really glare down at you- despite your position as Harry bloody Potter's friend- when it is rumored that you have sexually assaulted someone. Obviously, just who that someone was had been kept under wraps, for no one in the Ministry had come thundering down the stairs to the holding chambers to scream nasty words at him.

At least, not in person. Unfortunately for the ginger, his family had to be notified, and the letter that came from his mother that morning had been less then pleasant. The fact that it was a howler only made it worse, but all he could be thankful for was that none of the other people down there could hear it, because the cells were charmed to be silent but constantly monitored. He had tried to cut off the noise his mother's angry voice made by covering his ears, but it hadn't worked. It wasn't as much the tone of her voice through the majority of her article, but the way she seemed unsure about whether or not this trial was a scam. He was her son! She should believe him over Hermione!

But still, her letter had been highly unfriendly to read. Each line replayed in his head again;

Ronald Weasley! Have never been more disappointed in you! I can hardly stand to call you my son! The Ministry informed me this morning about your treatment to Hermione, and I am completely ashamed! Raping the girl? I thought I taught you to treat women better then that! Hermione is so sweet, how could you ever treat her like that!?

At first I didn't believe the letter sent to me from the Auror's who spoke to you, but I was informed about some tests Hermione took, and each one came up positive to you. How the hell can you do that to someone! I can't stand you at the moment Ron, and you certainly need some time to correct your behavior if you think this is how to treat a girl!

I will be at your trial, mark my words! If you are proven innocent, I will forever stand by your side. But if the facts do truly show that you can be a monster, don't expect I or your father's support once you get to Azkaban! If you can go through with an action like that then you can suffer the consequences!

Really Ron, how on earth did it even get to this point? Draco Malfoy is even involved in this matter! How in Merlin's beard did that happen? I also asked around, but your father was able to testify that the Malfoy boy will be on her side during all of this. Would you like to explain to us why you and Hermione are on opposite sides of this? Shouldn't Draco Malfoy be playing the bad guy? I expect answers when I arrive young man, and they better match up to what the court brings up! No lies!

I have owled all your brothers and Ginny, and each one of them will attend, as well as Harry. I am so hopeful Ron that they are coming to support you, not stare on at you in disgust by the end of all of this.

I will see you in a few days, and then you have a lot of explaining to do!

And like in second year, the letter stuck its tongue out at the redhead angrily before tearing itself to pieces. He had stared on at the torn letter, angry and shocked. It had all been a twist of whether or not she believed her son over the apparent information the Ministry had given her. How could they! This was his family and he should be able to prove to them in court that he was a good man, and had never hurt Hermione.

Which he would. He refused to go to Azkaban for taking something owed to him for months. It was a simple fact that she had held out too long and he had been waiting patiently, but enough had been enough. He wanted what was owed to him, and that was it. The court had to realize that, right?

He sighed, leaning back against the uncomfortable bed given to him. He just couldn't wait to get out of there, but he really couldn't wait for Hermione to come to her senses. When would she realize she had enjoyed it?

She's probably off with that prick someplace anyways. That thought made him grit his teeth. That Malfoy had stepped between them and the rift formed by her denial of liking his actions had grown at the blonds constant presence. Now she was probably more comfortable with the prick then her former boyfriend, and that was ridiculous. Malfoy would end up hurting her worse than he had, and he couldn't believe she was being so stupid as to trust that prick.

Oh well though, everyone's true colors shine through at some point.

Draco and Blaise sat in the Head's common room that night. "They're still unsure," the Italian said, shrugging his shoulders.

Malfoy pursed his lips. "That's the problem though, they're unsure about what happened," he snapped, standing and pacing the space. They had been talking about this for twenty minutes, and still didn't know how to make Gryffindor's Princess feel better about her crumbling friendships. After all, she needed friends the most right now, and although Draco and Blaise had decided to help her, they just weren't Ginny or Harry and they both knew it. She wanted the comfort of people who had been in her life for years, for exception from the people who were temporarily mad at her, and neither of the Slytherin's could give her that.

"They need to be on her side, not leaning towards the gingers," Malfoy said after a moment's pause, sighing.

"The best way for them to really understand what happened is to wait for the trial. Will you stop trying to push the matter so? It will happen, and they are bound to see, but worrying about it right now will do no one any good."

The blond rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I suppose. But I best check on that girl, she's been holed up in that room all day long."

Blaise smiled a knowing smile. He had been paying attention to how the two's body language bounced off each other these past weeks. "Of course," he said, standing. "I'll see you in a few days."

The Slytherin Prince barely acknowledged him with a nod as his friend departed, his mind traveling back to a few days prior when he comforted her. Were her emotions jumping off the walls again? Walking to her door, he nudged the almost closed door open with his foot and peered inside.

She was asleep, seemingly having been crying. He found that odd, since she was supposed to be getting better, but the closer he got the more obvious the wet lines on her face became. Sighing, he reached a hand down and brushed her hair off her shoulder, away from her wet face. She looked peaceful, and that in itself was comforting. The journey was almost over, and hopefully once the case was sorted through she would get better, and be herself again- with the exception of being kinder to him. A part of him hoped they wouldn't go back to hating each other.

Reaching over, he pulled her duvet over her body to keep the chilled winter air away. Hogwarts was, after all, a castle with stone walls. Tucking her in up to her chin, he couldn't resist placing a gentle kiss to her temple.

"Sleep well Granger; you'll need all the rest you can get."

A/n: Kind of a filler chapter, but what do you think?