A/N: Hi guys.

Some of the reviews I got seem to forget that Hermione, right now, is really knackered. She's just been told the most shocking news ever and its a lot to digest. So it was easy for the very conniving Draco to manipulate her. Also, Hermione is anything BUT naive. She's a strong woman, and a very rationale one at the. She just isn't the type to bend over backwards for anything, even her life.

Also you guys need to remember that Draco Malfoy is NOT a nice man. Yet. This story is not of one where Draco Malfoy has just miraculously changed, this story is of one where he WILL be changed. I am not at all forgetting that Draco Malfoy is the only child of a prejudiced bastard.

Please keep reviewing though, it really helps clear things and gives me a lot to think about and better this story. Thank you all.

Thanks to my Beta, Stephanie Suprano.

Chapter eight: Underestimating Love.

She was left standing alone, her eyes fixed on the door that had slammed shut. She was very much aware of the silence in the room, which had been full of a strange sizzle of feelings just a few minutes ago. Slowly, the door creaked open.

"'Mione?" Ron spoke uncertainly as he peeked into the room. She was standing in the middle of the room, her eyes on him. She looked very small. "You okay? Malfoy seemed angry. He practically tore Pansy's arm off in his hurry." Ron came inside followed by Harry and Ginny, who had come as soon as she heard about Hermione.

"I heard what happened. Are you okay?" Ginny asked concerned. Harry rubbed her arm and Ron hugged her.

"I… Harry?" Hermione turned to him abruptly, "Did any of the Light get arrested for killing innocents in the war?" Harry had been in the front lines since after the war. He planned to be an Auror after their time at Hogwarts ended and thus he had taken an interest in the research about the capturing and handling of cases after the war. He would know she knew: he was very thorough when he set his mind on something, like killing The Dark Lord.

"What? No, no one did, because we didn't kill anyone innocent. Hermione, why are you asking me this?" Harry asked soothingly rubbing her back. Hermione, however, was turning paler by the minute.

"He was right. Look at all of us. We are prejudiced too. Even the system is. I have to help. I have to." She started muttering under her breath and looked up at Harry slightly misty eyed. "Even if they didn't get arrested, since it was the war and they probably didn't know who was behind the mask, the families should have been helped. Not Zoe's mother, but that poor girl."

"Zoe? Hermione, who is that and what are you talking about?" Ron asked impatiently. She leaned into Ron and told them what Draco had said. There was silence after the little speech, which was broken by Ginny.

"He may be right, Hermione, but that doesn't mean that he isn't in the wrong. Most of the people on his side were evil too. You can't deny that. At least you listened to him, Hermione and are open to his views, but do you think he, or most of the Death Eaters, tried to rationalise that murdering people because of perceived impurities was wrong?" She said this very calmly, but with passion. Ginny had grown out of her childlike thoughts and actions ages ago when the Carrows had come to Hogwarts. She had always been the youngest and only daughter, kept in a bubble of love and protection. The war had changed her, like it had many, and she had grown into a strong, logical woman. She had even shed her childhood obsession of Harry Potter when she realised she had just liked him as the Boy Who Lived and her love had never been due to the boy himself. "And also I'm not saying that what Zoe and Evan did was completely wrong, maybe they did what the situation called for, but they could have shed their masks and asked for help from the Light side. Do you think anyone from our side would be prejudiced enough to punish them if they did that?"

Hermione listened to her words. She was so glad she had gotten to be friends with the cheerful and rational Ginny Weasley.

"No, they wouldn't have harmed them then." Hermione whispered.

"Exactly, Hermione. And do you think if a half blood, or even a pure blood, wanted to join their side they could have without facing prejudice. I, for one don't think so. They'd still hold a very cruel bias against them."

"You're right, Ginny. Oh God, they were knowingly and willingly cruel to so many. Even if all the Death Eaters weren't so, most of them were and we had to do what we could." Hermione said.

"That's our grey area of the war." Ginny spoke. Hermione gave her a small, weary smile. They both had developed a strong friendship over the years, one of understanding and open mindedness. Sure, they both still enjoyed various silly conversations, but they knew they could come to each other for any serious issue, too.

"Right, now that it's all sorted, how about we go for some dinner?" Ron spoke, "You look like you could use a chicken leg, or two." He said looking at Hermione. She smiled at Ron and then shook her head.

"I have to talk to Headmistress McGonagall." She spoke, resigned.

Hermione sat in the stiff chair, rather… Well, stiffly. Her back was sore, and she felt drained of energy. The Headmistress had asked her to sit in the office, until Malfoy arrived. She sat across from Hermione at this very moment and looked at her with her keen, sharp eyes.

"So, Ms Granger, how are you keeping up with all of this?" She asked quietly. Hermione looked up at her favourite teacher and sighed softly.

"I'll be fine I guess." Hermione replied gloomily. Let it be known that Hermione Granger was the furthest person from gloomy that ever was. Even in some very dark moment of her life she was never the one to wallow in dreaded gloom –never. She was the person who, when challenged by life, sat down and thought of the quickest way to cross the metaphorical hurdle. But today, Hermione Granger was indeed, very much, gloomy.

"Yes, you will be, I have no doubts. But how are you now?" The Headmistress asked raising a thin, questioning eyebrow. Hermione blinked at the question. She looked at the concern flickering in the woman's eyes and looked away.

"Minerva," A familiar voice spoke through the room, "I find it best to offer the child a candy before asking them about personal matters." Hermione looked up to see the twinkling eyes of Albus Dumbledore smiling at her from a portrait.

"I hardly think a candy will help in this situation, Albus." Headmistress McGonagall spoke.

"Candy helps in all situations where a person's life isn't at stake. And I think this situation calls for some candy." Professor Dumbledore spoke.

"If I may, Professor, my life is at stake here." Hermione interjected.

He gave her a knowing twinkle before saying, "I think you're underestimating something, Miss Granger."

She opened her mouth to ask a question before there was a knock on the door and at the very same time the fireplace turned a bright red signalling a floo call.

"Miss Granger, would you kindly wait outside with Mister Malfoy for five minutes while I take this call?" Headmistress McGonagall asked kindly. Hermione nodded and stepped out.

As the Headmistress went to towards the floo, she asked Professor Dumbledore a single question, "What is that something you think Hermione is underestimating?"

"Love, Minevra, love."

A/N: Oh God I kind of hated everything I wrote after Ginny and Hermione's conversation. Tell me that you think though. Sorry it's so short too, but I'll upload the next one asap so hopefully it'll be fiiiinnneeeee.

And so sorry it took so long to upload. I just finished with my finals and all my submissions and all. University life is ca-razy. Maintaining some kind of GPA is tough work. Anyways, me and my Beta are on smmer vacation now so expect a lot of chapters soon :D

Ciao for now, Alexia.