Author's Note:
Well, here's a little surprise…this week's chapter up a few days early!

Last chapter was really painful for me to write because even as I knew what was going to happen, losing Sanguini wasn't easy. I am still feeling bad about it. If any group of people could understand the emotional pangs of a favorite fictional character dying I know it would be all you fine readers. There is so much more development with Sanguini and his friendship with Hermione that I didn't get to include so maybe I can post some one-shots in the future.

I also wanted to say how appreciative I am that you lovely readers are picking up on the nuances of Hermione and Draco's interactions.

Chapter 10

It was raining and the drops of water on the courthouse windows were a soothing distraction from the click of the clock and the long, painful silence as the witch and vampire waited.

You are far too invested, Sanguini had chided her gently. His pale skin was clammy and cast in a sickly grey color, a side effect of being awake during the daytime. It was 4PM, the latest time the ministry court was willing to see his case. It made Hermione furious that they did not accommodate vampires, knowing that many of them became physically ill if they tried to be active during the daytime. It was prejudicial laws and systems such as this that kept vampires from pursuing legal claims. But with Hermione's support, Sanguini was persistent in the fight for his right to personhood.

The young lawyer took every case seriously but she knew he was right. She was invested. Perhaps it was because he reminded her of Remus Lupin, a beloved friend and mentor who had also been a werewolf. Remus had not lived to see Hermione become a civil rights lawyer, nor prosper from her efforts to give those like him the dignity they deserved.

She didn't know if it was Sanguini's gentle eyes or the slow cambering smile that reminded her of her former professor—whatever it was, Hermione was fueled to help him.

They waited another hour before they were called into the courtroom. A stately man perched on his chair looked down at them. He gave Hermione the benefit of stating their case before denying the request. They needed more proof of identity was the excuse he cited. Proof that the vampire was who he said he was, or rather, who he had once been.

He had said proof of identity but really what the judge had meant was evidence of humanity. The trouble with seeking personhood was that the ruling was always subjective.

How do you prove you are worthy to be considered a person was the heart of the case. Hours of waiting only to be dismissed in a moment: Hermione was heartbroken, Sanguini was resigned.

"You did your best," he said. A drip of blood fell from his nose, another symptom of his body reacting to the daylight. He retrieved a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed up the mess. "We knew there was likelihood this could happen."

"It's not over," she promised. "I won't stop fighting."

Sanguini nodded with a sad smile, "I know."

Hermione howled in anguish over the chard and mutilated form of her friend. Her sadness struck Draco to his core and he struggled with what to do. He still clutched his wand defensively as he looked around the empty space.

Kneeling down, he grabbed her wand that Hermione had tossed to the ground in shock and agony. "Granger," he said and corrected himself with a softer tone, "Hermione? I need you to stay put while I check the rest of the home. Keep your guard up and I will be right back."

She nodded silently and took her wand back, pushing away the tears with the sleeve of her blouse. Draco saw her struggle to stifle the pain but did as she was asked, calming down enough so she could remain alert. Her brown eyes were still brimming with tears as she regarded all that was left of her friend.

Draco moved through the kitchen and back into the living room. Nothing was out of place in the home as he moved from room to room. He got to Hermione's office last which was where he saw books tossed on the floor and a locked filing cabinet that had been crushed. Laying on one side, the metal furniture appeared to be missing half of the front upper drawer. His mind immediately flickered back to the night Frankford had been murdered and the uncanny resemblance of the scene. Only now, he wondered, if whoever had done this had gotten what they wanted. Whatever it was that had been in the filing cabinet.

He didn't hear Hermione crying anymore and the lack of sound troubled him. Uneasy, Draco quickly made his way back to where she now sat in the living room. Hermione had summoned her Patronus, a silvery sleek otter that swirled in the air in front of her with ethereal grace; Draco was so entranced by the sight, having never been able to conjure one himself, that he didn't initially realize what she was doing.

It wasn't until it bounded off in a trail of shimmering stardust, Hermione and Draco both watching it disappear, that the witch finally spoke with a vacant tone. It seemed her initial panic had been replaced with a resolute mask of calm. "The Aurors should be here before long."

Draco hesitated, pausing only for a moment before sitting down beside her and then slowly as if expecting her to swat him away he wrapped one arm around her shoulder. Hermione was comforted by the gesture, leaning her head against his arm if nothing but out of pure exhaustion and shock. She sensed his hesitation but appreciated his silent presence. He didn't try to fumble through sympathies or coax her out of her thoughts; he simply shared the space with her as they waited for the Aurors to arrive.

"I am so sorry, Hermione" Harry said empathetically. They were standing on the porch of her home while the investigating Aurors removed Sanguini's body and scanned the home for evidence. It was an eerily similar scene to Frankford's murder only this time Draco didn't leave when they finished questioning him. Instead he dutifully remained at Hermione's side even if he had little to say to Harry. "Do you know who might have done this?"

Hermione had a hunch. And so did Draco which was why he was surprised when Hermione offered up nothing but a shake of the head. She was trying to fight back the tears, "No, not really. Maybe. Sanguini was staying with me because he had been attacked at his home but I don't think whoever it was intended to target him. They broke into the filing cabinet in my office."

"What was in there?"

"A few client files and some court documents. The cabinet was goblin-forged; it was supposed to be impossible to open so I am not sure how anyone could have broken into it. But honestly I haven't been able to see what exactly was taken."

Harry nodded, he looked at Hermione but his gaze flickered to Draco. "And what was he doing here?"

"Iwas assisting Granger with some work," Draco replied coolly to the question directed at Hermione. Both wizards now turned their gaze expectantly to Hermione in the hopes she would elaborate further.

She hesitated, not knowing where to begin to explain her suspicions to Harry. She knew there was chance he would dismiss her but given the circumstance of Sanguini's death, she realized that perhaps she did have a target on her back. So she explained what Draco and her had begun to uncover, watching Harry carefully as she spoke for signs that he understood the gravity of the situation.

"This is pretty serious," Harry said with a frown. "Like massive corporate conspiracy theory serious."

"Two dead, Potter; this isn't much of a conspiracy theory as it is a fact," Draco replied curtly. Harry had almost been able to ignore the former Slytherin's presence while he had remained silent

"And what are the chances you might be involved in this, Malfoy?" Harry shot back with a suspicious tone. To describe their history as anything but venomous would be an understatement.

"I told you, Draco has been helping me get to the bottom of this," Hermione interjected and both men looked at her. She didn't baulk under their scrutiny but saw the visible surprise in Harry's expression.

"He's Draco now?" Harry asked.

Hermione gave an exasperated sigh. She knew she owed her best friend an explanation and yet the evening's events had left her both incredibly weary and troubled. This wasn't the time nor the place to have the discussion. All she wanted to do was sleep.

Sleep. That reminded Hermione that her home was now a crime scene.

"Harry, can we please talk about this later? Right now I need to find my cat. And after that I need to figure out where we are going to stay because it certainly won't be here tonight," she said tiredly. And before Harry could make the offer, she cut him off, "nor Godric's Hollow. I won't be putting you or Ginny in danger. " Or your unborn child, leaving the last part out because they were in front of Draco and it wasn't her news to share.

"Hermione…"

"Harry, I have made up my mind on the matter."

"Then where?"

"You can stay at my place," Draco said quietly. There was long pause where both Harry and Hermione stared at him, as if expecting the wizard to retract his offer. Unsure of the awkward looks, he added under his breath. "And I guess the bloody cat can come too."

"Are you sure about this? I mean—"

"I have been stirring the cauldron as much as you with looking into this," Draco explained, "at least for tonight. You can stay until you can figure out something more suitable."

Hermione nodded.

It took another fifteen minutes of Hermione reassuring Harry that this would be the best solution, even after he pulled her aside and made sure she wasn't being coerced. She expected in the morning she would be hearing from Ginny (if not the entirety of the Weasley family tree as well) but the energy it took to convince Harry was about all she had left in her emotional reserves.

"Is thing your's?" Draco called out from the front lawn just as Crookshanks weaved himself in between the wizard's feet. The cat purred in response. Draco gingerly picked up the massive cat as Hermione and Harry rejoined him. Hermione retrieved her familiar from the wizard and gave Harry a hug.

Hermione said her goodbye while Draco simply gave a stoic nod. Harry did nothing to mask his continued concern for his friend as she took Draco's outstretched hand. There was a loud crack and suddenly Hermione, Crookshanks and Draco were gone, Disapparating into the darkness of the waning night.