CHAPTER 11

A/N: Thank you to all the new followers! I really appreciate seeing that some people are enjoying this as much as I am. PeevsyPadfoot: Thank you for the review. I am glad you are enjoying it. There will be some Draco/Hermione action soon, I promise!

Sound returned to the table and Draco sucked in a big gust of breath. This was it. This moment would define him and this moment would change his life. The head of the committee stood and looked at Draco with a hard gaze.

"The committee is prepared to inform you of your verdict. Are you prepared Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco tried to speak, but found his throat had closed. He nodded his head instead.

"The committee finds you, Draco Lucius Malfoy, to be a valuable asset to the Wizarding Community. We lift the terms of your probation and welcome you back into the folds of society."

Draco shook and blinked. Had he heard correctly? Was he free? The door behind him was opened swiftly and Chaz waltzed in. He walked straight to Draco, resting his hand on his shoulder and giving him an encouraging smiled. Draco had never felt this out of control before. He couldn't move, he couldn't speak. He just sat there shaking.

"Draco, thank the committee," Chaz murmured.

Draco looked from Chaz to the committee that was watching him carefully.

"I—thank you all, very much," Draco managed to squeeze out. Chaz pulled him from his chair and ushered him forward, toward the exit of the chamber.

"There is someone who is waiting to see you," Chaz informed him.

Draco was bewildered. Who could possibly be there to see him? Before Draco had any more time to think. Someone was wrapped around him tighter than he could imagine. A head of blond hair was blocking his eyes, but he knew instantly that it was his mother.

"Mother," Draco breathed, wrapping his arms around her back.

"Oh, Draco! I knew you would be fine! You had to be. I couldn't lose you, too!" Narcissa Malfoy was chattering away, hugging Draco like her life depended on it. And there was Draco, never one to show emotion in public, hugging her back with all he had. He blinked back the tears that tried to flow over. It had been a long two years. He hadn't seen her in two whole years. He had always been close to his mother, and to hear her babble about not being able to live without him, broke his heart. Over his mother's shoulder, he caught Chaz's eye. The man smiled.

"You are free to go and live your life, Draco. Keep in touch, will you?"

Draco pulled away from his mother softly, giving her a smile. He walked forward, grabbed Chaz's hand and looked into the man's eyes. This man had been his savior. He was positive that he never would have made it as far as he had. Without his help and encouragement, Draco never would have been able to move away from his past and toward his present.

"You saved my life, man. I will never forget hits. If you ever need anything, anything, contact my right away."

Chaz gripped his hand tightly and nodded his head. "This isn't goodbye."

"No, it's not."

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Narcissa dragged Draco back to the Manor, but it didn't feel like home anymore. It felt too big, too empty, and filled with way too many memories. "How are you still staying here, mother? Why didn't you move away? Or better yet demolish this place?"

"I can't do anything to this place. I don't own it."

Draco turned confused eyes on his mother.

"The moment that your father was sentenced everything was turned over into your name. But because you were on probation, you couldn't touch it. Nothing is in my name. I get a small monthly allowance."

Draco was furious. This must have been his father's doing. He would forever be trying to understand the ways of his father. "Don't worry, mother, I will get it all straightened out."

His mother gave his a shaky smile, and Draco could see the tears glittering in her eyes. He embraced her again and felt her start to shake. "When did you grow up?" She whispered into his ear. Draco didn't answer, just held her tighter.

"We'll get everything figured out. I can't stay here, but if you choose to, I will write the deed to the Manor over to you."

His mother nodded her head, and Draco was sure that she would stay. He knew that the Manor held many good memories for her, not just the bad. Draco, however, couldn't stand the idea of living in this place anymore. He couldn't even call it a home. It had stopped being a home to him a long time ago.

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The next day, Draco made his way into the Wizarding Bank, Gringotts, to sort out his deeds and vault. He need to make sure that his mother had access to anything she wanted and that the Manor was signed over to her. He also needed a list of all of the properties in the Malfoy name. He needed to find a place for himself. His mother had convinced him to stay with her for a few weeks at the Manor, so that she could spend time with him. He found couldn't say no to her.

It was early in the morning, just the way Draco had planned it, he was hoping to get in and out without running into anyone he knew. He was sure that life was going to be very hard for him. His mother had told him about the looks and whispers that she had been getting. He was sure that his would be worse by tenfold. He could only hope that over time, he would be able to bring back the Malfoy name into good standing in the Wizarding World. He was thrown from his thoughts when someone called his name.

"Malfoy?"

Draco whipped around and came face to face with Harry Potter. He looked confused to see Draco.

"Morning, Potter," Draco answered. Might as well try to be polite. Draco was grateful and in debt to Potter for standing up for him at his trial. If not for him, Draco's life would be hell.

"Wha—What are you doing here, Malfoy?" Harry asked. Draco was surprised to note that he didn't sound snide, just surprised.

"Probation is over, just coming to settle a few things with the bank."

"Merlin's beard, has it really been two years?"

Draco snickered quietly at the flustered look on Potter's face. "Sure has been. Listen, Potter, there is something that I need to say to you."

Harry looked apprehensive, as if Draco was going to start throwing snide words his way. Draco took a deep breath and tried to get though what he knew he needed to do as quickly as possible.

"What you did—you and Granger—that was bloody kind of you, Potter. There was no reason that you had to do that, and I am grateful for that. You, literally, saved my life. I just needed you to know, how much that one little act has changed my life."

"Ah—well—ah. You're welcome then." Harry was flustered. He had never exchanged pleasant words with Draco before, and he didn't know quite how to take it. He was not good at accepting thanks and this was one strange thanks. He had honestly never thought to see Draco Malfoy ever again. And yet here he was, standing awkwardly in front of him, thanking him for saving his life.

"I hope to see Granger soon, so that I can thank her also." Draco announced.

Harry's eye brows rose high on his forehead. "You, want to thank Hermione? You want to speak with her? Willingly?"

Draco frowned deeply. "Yes, I have to thank her, and then I have a great deal of apologizing to do."

Harry was dumbfounded. Who was this man standing in front of him? He, surely, was not Draco Malfoy. The boy who had torture him and his two friends throughout school?

"I—well that will be a bit difficult. She is out of the country. I am not sure when she will be back, and I don't believe that she knows either."

"Granger is out of the country?"

"Yes, she is working on a new Dragon reserve in Romania."

Draco wasn't sure he had heard Harry correctly at first. She was working with Dragons?

"A Dragon Reserve?"

Harry was confused by Draco's sudden interest. Frankly, he was confused by the entire conversation. He decided it was best to duck out of the conversation before he got even more confused, not to mention he was going to be late for his meeting.

"Yes a Dragon Reserve in Romania. I really must be going. I would say it was nice to see you, but I must admit that it has been rather strange."

After a few more awkward moments, Harry headed out of the bank and Draco headed farther in. He had things that he needed to attend to with his vault and properties.

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Hermione thought she might have to knock some heads together. Fran had been a problem since the very beginning. The only thing worse than the constant complaining and the arguments was the whoring around. Hermione's boss had paid for a luxurious suit in a high-class hotel for them. The only problem? They had to share. This fact hadn't bothered Hermione too much until the second night. Since then, every night for the next two weeks there had been a different man every night. Hermione was not one to judge, but her roommate, apparently, did not believe in silencing charms. And Fran was loud.

Charlie Weasley had invited her to stay with him, but she had declined. She hadn't wanted to intrude on his life here, but she was getting to the end of her patience with Fran. Enough was enough! Grabbing her coat, Hermione made her way down to the lift. She nodded at the man informing him she needed the lobby. There was a floo system in place for guests of the hotel and she intended to use it. Once she reached the grand fireplace she tossed in the floo powder and stuck her head into the flames. She wanted to double check with him that it was okay if she came over for a bit.

"Hermione?" a familiar voice asked, before she even opened her mouth. "I knew you would come visit me sooner or later. I am simply too irresistible. What do you think you are doing? Pop on over here!"

Without responding, Hermione pulled her head out of the fire and stepped her whole body into the warm green flames. They licked at her as she quickly called out for Charlie's address. Floo had never been Hermione's favored mode of transportation, but it beat port keys by a mile in her mind.

When Hermione stepped out of the fire, she realized that this was the first time she had ever seen Charlie's home. It was wonderful. It felt homey, comfortable, and very tasteful. She could tell that a single man lived in it. There were no feminine touches, but she thought that it suited the place.

"Hermione, how are you?" Charlie asked as he skirted around the table pulling her close for a hug.

Hermione smiled brightly and embraced the red head. He was tall and strong, but his hug felt wonderful. "I would be better if I hadn't been run out of my hotel room by my loud co-worker," Hermione replied.

Hermione and Charlie had been working closely over the last two weeks. He had been carefully showing her all the details of the current dragon reserve and explaining to her what the new reserve would need. There was a lot of work to be done, and the plans would need to be presented to a Ministry committee and approved. But both she and Charlie were very optimistic.

"What's her name again, Fin?"

"Fran," Hermione giggled. "And she doesn't seem to be able to keep it in her pants."

Charlie rolled his eyes and offered her a cup of tea. Since Hermione had nothing better to do, and she was finding she really enjoyed spending time will Charlie, she accepted. The two talked long into the night, and when it was time for bed, Charlie grabbed her a pair of his pajamas and ushered her into his guest room.

"I see no reason for you to go back to your hotel tonight. You might as well stay here," Charlie said with a small smile.

Hermione didn't really see any reason either. She hugged him goodnight, thanked him, and headed to bed. She hadn't had such a nice night in a while. Since her fight with Sam, she had not heard a word from him. Ginny had said, good riddens, but Hermione was still hurt. She had really wanted things to work with Sam. He had been kind, sweet, affectionate, and they had great sex, but it wasn't meant to be. He was too wrapped up in being a werewolf and not at all ready to let her in. Maybe someday in the future he would learn to open up. Hermione drifted off to sleep and she slept wonderfully.

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A/N: You have reached the end of this chapter. Please drop me a review to let me know what you think so far! Up soon Draco and Hermione have a chance meeting!