Chapter 20

There was an awkward silence following Harry's departure.

"Look, I know that those two are, for some reason that escapes me, important to you…"

"Forget it." Hermione snapped. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I mean, nevermind. We all get angry with each other once in a while. One argument won't make Harry stop speaking to me forever…I think." She closed her eyes and put her head in her hands.

What was she going to do? What did Harry think of her? Did he not respect her anymore, think she was loose or something? He certainly was directing some anger at her. Why did he get a say in her personal life?

'Because he was your friend, and you betrayed him by "sleeping with the enemy," as it were.' Said a nasty little voice in her head.

Was this worth it?

Draco had a worried look on his face, sitting next to her. "Look," He said, taking a deep breath. It looked like it was extremely hard for him to say this. "You don't have to help me with this trial, if it messes with your life like this. You shouldn't have to give up anything just so I can stick around…" he looked pale. Yes, being selfless actually seemed to make Draco Malfoy sick. But for her, he would give up the one chance he has of skipping out on Azkaban? Too much. Yes, he was worth it.

"No, don't be ridiculous. Even if we weren't involved, I would still stick up for you for saving my life back there." She looked at him. "That's just the kind of person I am. I thought Harry would understand that, but apparently he's too angry with me right now to see reason. Oh, and there's the fact that he hates you."

"Well, yes, there's that both ways…"

She sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Let's eat breakfast. There should be at least some poptarts or something left."

"Poppy-what?"

She smiled. "Muggle stuff. If you're hungry enough, then shut your trap and don't complain." She laughed.

He made a face jokingly, and followed her into the kitchen.

***

Before breakfast she had used her wand to clean up a bit. She'd worry about a real shower later…food comes first! Months in the woods had taught her that much.

As Draco resentfully ate the pastries (and pretended to find them awful), Hermione thought about what to do next.

"Let's see…they should send the trial date my owl. I can explain how you saved me, and how Harry had visions of you being forced to torture…"

"Wait, what? What is all that about, now?"

She sighed. "This is too long of a story, and you are much too out of the loop, but suffice to say that sometimes Harry could see what Voldemort-" Draco cringed as she said the name fully out loud, "-could see. Look, the name isn't cursed anymore. Harry's always been free with the name. He's dead, now. Please tell me your not going to freak every time someone says it."

Draco made a face. "It just seems…wrong, to say it. I was brought up to use a more…respectful term."

Hermione scrunched up her face and rubbed it with her hands. They were in trouble. "Do me a favor? At the trial, don't you dare refer to him as "The Dark Lord," got it?"

Draco nodded slowly. "So…you know about some of the things I've done, then?"

She nodded, staring down at her half-finished poptart.

"And yet you still think I shouldn't be in Azkaban?"

She looked up at him, sitting across the small table. He was focused, waiting on her answer.

"I think exactly what I told Harry; you've paid enough for one bad choice. In the first place, it wasn't like you had a chance. Was there really and truly any way you could have told your father "No, I don't want to be a death eater?"

"No, but I wanted to be one, anyways. Or at least I did before I understood what it really meant."

She sighed. "And if you could go back now?"

"Of course I wouldn't want to be involved in all that. Like I said before, everything went way over the line." He took a bite of poptart. "And…I suppose now I have to admit that I was mistaken believing in all the pure-blood stuff, anyways…"

"Come again?" She asked, choking on her breakfast.

He looked away. "Yeah, yeah. You were right, in the end: where do you draw the line? If I believed that those who were not pure-bloods didn't deserve magic, and didn't deserve to be on top in the magical world, then I should have been on board for all aspects of the war. But I wasn't. I didn't want to hurt anyone…" He looked at her again. "And I couldn't image a world where someone as talented as you wasn't allowed to have a wand."

She let out a long breath. "I didn't know what your beliefs were at this point…back at the mansion…"

"You made good points, but I couldn't just let go, then. I still don't think I can be a muggle-hugger or anything, but I don't feel the same way anymore. Not since…the cabin."

"The cabin?" she asked, blushing furiously as he grinned.

"What you said, there, just before we were rudely interrupted? I realized that I wanted you, for real, and that in the world I was dreaming of people like you and me couldn't be together. It didn't make sense."

She nodded, and hesitatingly answered, "So, your saying you've changed."

"You loved me even when I hadn't. Why would I lie to you now?"

So, he had caught that word back then. And that's what changed his mind about who he was and what he believed in? Then it was probably a good thing she had just said what she felt, even though she was embarrassed now.

It made her feel a sense of conviction about her need to help Draco stay out of Azkaban. He really and truly didn't believe in the death eater's cause by the end. He wasn't the hero type though- he didn't straight up switch to the good side, no. He didn't go with the three of them when Harry asked him to. But he wasn't the same as before.

But could she really use the fact that he cared about her as evidence to his innocence? That because the two of them had a relationship, he had come to see things differently? How could she prove that he had changed, without anyone else's testimony?

She set her face into a determined look. "You will not go to Azkaban, Draco. Even if you still believed in…well, pure blood superiority, the fact is that you didn't act on those beliefs of your own accord. You were forced to, to protect yourself and your family. Surely the judge will understand that…"

Draco just shook his head. "How can you prove something like that? You think every single other death eater won't be saying the same thing, or claim to have been under the imperius curse?

She bit her bottom lip, thinking. "Well, my testimony should help, at least…"

"Unless they find out we slept together."

She jumped a little, nearly sloshing the coffee she was drinking all over. "Wh..what?"

He gave her a look. "Come on. They would think you were totally biased. Or that I had ulterior motives for helping you…" He raised his eyebrows. "Maybe the only reason you think I deserve to be out of Azkaban is that you've fallen for me. They could just disregard your whole testimony."

She shook her head. "This is why we needed Harry's back-up on this. I can't believe him…" she sighed. "They're accusing you of being a death eater. We can't argue that, but is there anyone else who would know that you were forced into doing the crimes associated with being a death eater?"

Draco laughed. "If there were, I'd be dead! I had to do my damn best to pretend that I could do anything if it was in the service of the dark lord!"

"According to Harry, you weren't a great actor."

"Yeah, well…I did some things that made me feel sick. I didn't have to be enthused, like Aunt Bella." He shuddered at some memory. "I just had to do it and shut up."

"Like torture?"

He shut his eyes. "I'd rather not talk about it."

"But I need to know, if I'm going to get you out of this. Other death eaters might rat you out to get their sentence lowered."

"Yeah, from death kiss to life in Azkaban. Tough choice." He said sarcastically, his voice getting a bit higher near the end.

Hermione stood up. "We can't just sit here thinking of all this. Come on." There would be plenty of time for them to talk about the heavy stuff later. Draco looked very close to panicking. She didn't want to upset him any more right now.

"What, where?" He asked, finishing his breakfast hurriedly.

"Just…out. Anywhere. Groceries! And some clothes for you, so you can fit in here."

"Muggle clothes…"

"Yes. Have a problem with that? Get up"

He grinned. "Have I mentioned that you're really sexy when you're bossy?"

She just rolled her eyes.

"Look, just take off your top robe for now. The clothes you have on underneath can blend good enough for now."

"Oh, and now your getting me undressed. Very nice."

She smacked his shoulder, none too gently.

Draco took off his robe. His clothing underneath was just like what he wore at the mansion; very classy, and would only look somewhat dated to the muggle eye. Perfect.