4th June 1998

"Malfoy's trial is tomorrow."

Hermione looked up, seeing Harry's pensive face looking back down at her. "Yes. I know." she agreed

"You're still going to testify?

"Yes." she nodded. "Are you?

"Yes, he whined petulantly. "I don't want to though."

Hermione huffed out a laugh, "Poor Harry having to be a grown-up." she teased.

"I don't like it, My. It sucks."

"It does indeed," she replied drily.

"On the subject of grown ups, what's going on with you and Zabini?"

Hermione's eyes blew wide. "Was that your attempt at subtle?" she demanded incredulously.

Harry flushed, "I'm not good at this." he muttered, "And don't avoid the question!"

"Nothing is going on with me and Zabini." she shrugged, trying not to laugh at the slight pout on his face that was all Sirius. "He winds me up for a reaction."

"You're sure that's all it is?" Harry probed

"Yes. What the hell else would it be?" she demanded.

Harry reared back from her in shock. "Ah… Hermione…seriously?"

"What?" she barked, feeling uncomfortable at the incredulous look on his face.

"Oh, my dear god. You actually don't know?" he breathed.

"Don't know what!"

"He fancies you, you idiot!" Harry all but shouted at her.

"Don't be ridiculous," Hermione scoffed. "He does not!"

Harry blinked, "He does! Merlin the way he looks at you makes me bloody uncomfortable. Haven't you noticed he always seems to ensure he's with you when we're helping at Hogwarts? And he bought Severus that wizarding stories book the other day. He's not stupid, he knows he needs him onside."

Hermione stared back in horror. "You're wrong."

"I'm not bloody wrong," Harry scoffed, "You're just scared."

"I'm not scared!" she hissed.

"Yes you are." he retorted, "Other than Viktor you've pretended you're not a girl. He scares you."

Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "You're ridiculous. Are we going to discuss the utter lack of Ginny around here?"

Harry shrugged, "You know what Molly's like. She's worse since Fred got out and refused to move back to the burrow, and it's not going to get any better when Charlie goes back to Romania at the end of the month."

"You could go there." Hermione pointed out.

"I could," he agreed, "but it makes you uncomfortable."

"I don't need to come!"

"But you should be able to." he retorted sharply. "Everyone else thinks it's ridiculous. Ron mentioned there's been several arguments. I wouldn't hold my tongue, Hermione, it's better for me not to be there."

"I know there's been arguments," she sighed, "I heard about them the last time I went to visit Lavender. It's like Mrs Weasley can't decide whether she hates me or loves me. On one hand, I'm a slut after every boy with legs, on the other I'm still apparently a better bet than Lavender for Ron. Or I was until I adopted a child without discussing it with anyone…meaning her I assume."

"Yeah I heard she ranted for hours about that," Harry muttered. "Apparently it was Charlie who shut that one down. She was livid."

Hermione groaned, "I don't want anyone falling out over me."

"And no one is. She's being ridiculous. I have no idea what's going on. She never used to be that bad."

Hermione's eyebrow arched, "Harry, she barely spoke to me at fifteen because a journalist with a known penchant for exaggeration printed nonsense. She didn't clarify, she just believed the worst. She tried to take Sirius' place with you, she tried to baby us to the point it was dangerous because no matter what that war found us…you…and if she had her way we'd have had no information. Mrs Weasley believes that her way is the only way and I don't fit into that box. I had parents, I didn't need a mother. I have new parents now and I have a bloody mind of my own. She doesn't like it. She never has."

Harry blew out a breath a look of dawning horror on his face "Fuck when you put it like that…"

"Look.'' Hermione interrupted, "She doesn't have to like me and my relationship with her shouldn't dictate yours. It's always been different."

He frowned, "But you're family. You've always been family, and if she can't accept that…." he trailed off at the look on her face, "Mya. Stop it. Mrs Weasley's issues are not your fault."

"I don't want to cost you your family because you feel you have to," she replied softly.

"You're not!" he protested. "And Gin could stand up to her too! She's just as wary of rocking the boat because she doesn't want to deal with the shouting continuously either." Hermione huffed but did not contradict him, knowing there was no way she was winning this argument. "Are you still speaking to Malfoy?"

"Yes…he's…I don't really know what he is. Lonely I think."

Harry frowned, "Malfoys lonely?"

"And scared. He thinks he'll go to Azkaban."

"He might."

"I know."

"Well, this got depressing fast," Harry muttered. "Did McGonagall say when she thought the rebuild would be done?"

"Middle of July, she thinks. Kings is talking about NEWTs in December. I was thinking that once we see what's happening with Malfoy that we should arrange a group to study. Lavender doesn't want to go back, neither does Dean or Seamus. Nev's still considering it, and so's Sue. Luna and Gin won't have a choice…."

"And Zabini?" Harry interrupted with a smirk.

"Arsehole. I have no idea."

"Well then, we should definitely ask," he grinned. "To make Malfoy more comfortable, obviously."

"Oh obviously," she scowled.


5th June 1998

Hermione and Harry waited outside the courtroom, Hermione fidgeting nervously. Leaving Severus had not gone well and he'd protested vehemently. In the end, Remus had stepped in and told her to go. She knew he couldn't come but it left her feeling unsettled.

"Miss Granger?" Auror Jarvis looked at her as if she couldn't believe she was there. "They're ready for you."

Hermione took a deep breath before squaring her shoulders and walking in. The first thing she noticed was the eerie silence as she walked into the room, every eye there following her progress up to the witness stand. It was more than a little uncomfortable. Her eyes met Malfoys briefly. He looked terrified, the strain clear on his face, his hands clenching on the arms of the seat he was shackled to. Dragging her eyes away she looked at Kingsley

"Thank you for joining us Miss Granger." he smiled, not sure that she could trust herself to smile back she nodded. "We are here to discuss Mr Malfoy. Would you please explain why you felt the need to testify today, given your history, it came as a…surprise to many in this room."

Draco flinched but Hermione took a breath eying the Wizengamot. "Draco Malfoy was sixteen when he was Marked. Sixteen," she began, her voice sounding too loud in the silence of the room. " And Marked by a man so evil that many in here won't even say his name. Voldemort," she stressed, seeing their flinch, "was living in his house. There was no escape, no avoidance. He wasn't a man you said no to, as I'm sure you all know. We were all children fighting an adults war, and you let us. You cannot condemn a child forced into a situation no one should be in. And he was forced, because let us not pretend that Dumbledore didn't know exactly how nightmarish Draco's situation was. He confirmed as much in a conversation with Severus Snape. I know you've seen the memory. He knew Draco Malfoy was in an impossible situation and he left him in it." she blew out a breath. "But more than that, when Harry, Ron and I were taken to Malfoy Manor, Draco refused to identify us. It would have given his family back some standing with Voldemort, instead, he lied and said he didn't recognise us. It bought us time. without it, we would have lost the war."

"Is it possible he did not know who you were?" a witch interrupted.

"All three of us?" Hermione scoffed. "His father recognised me having only seen me a handful of times when I was a damn sight cleaner and healthier than I was when I was taken to his home. Do you truly believe the boy I went to school with for six years did not?"

"He let Death Eaters into the school." another shouted.

"Yes." she agreed "he did. But again, he was obviously ill that year. He was gaunt, stressed, barely keeping his head above water in classes, and clearly not eating. I noticed. Harry noticed. You cannot tell me that the adults supposed to be looking after us didn't notice. You cannot tell me that no one noticed him disappearing for hours on end to repair that cabinet lest Voldemort murder his mother for his failure. You cannot tell me that there weren't several opportunities to offer him an alternative. No one did. Dumbledore very deliberately didn't offer him an out. He made that decision knowing what Draco was going to be expected to live with, what he had been commanded to do. What the hell was he meant to do?"

Several members of the Wizengamot shifted uncomfortably. "You didn't do anything either Miss Granger." one of them sneered.

"No, I didn't. And despite being a child, I should have." she agreed calmly, leaving them stunned, "But my inaction doesn't absolve anyone else's. And unlike anyone else, I'm trying to rectify that now. You're all so keen to convict a child, it's sickening. Where the hell were you during that war? What choices did you have to make? Because when Draco Malfoy was living with a monster, when he was being threatened and tortured at home, when Harry, Ron and I were on a mission to take down Voldemort with only a fraction of the information we should have had, starving in a damn tent in the middle of winter, when muggleborns were being rounded up and put in Azkaban, when children were being crucio'd in school where they should have been safe, where the hell were you? You're all happy to live in this world we fought for while you hid or quietly went along with the new regime, the children you relied on to fix your bloody mess did most of the work, the least you can do now we've done it is show some bloody compassion for one of them caught in a situation so fucking nightmarish most of you wouldn't dare to imagine it."

There was a ringing silence before a visibly amused Kingsley cleared his throat. "Thank you, Miss Granger, Auror Jarvis will see you out."

"Well, that was fucking brutal. What the hell did you say to them?" Harry demanded as he came out following his own testimony.

"Nothing that wasn't warranted." she waved him off.

He eyed her but didn't push. "Right. Half an hour and they'll give a verdict. I assume you want to hear it?"

"Yes." she agreed.

"Kings mentioned Narcissa being this afternoon. I thought I might speak on her behalf."

"Oh?" Hermione arched a brow waiting for his explanation.

"She lied to Tom," he muttered. "It deserves acknowledgement."

She hummed, "Let's go get tea, there's no point hovering here."

They returned as the spectators were being bundled back into the courtroom and quietly slipped in behind them.

"It's his birthday today you know," Hermione murmured as they sat down.

Harry turned to look at her in horror, "Seriously?"

"Yes, not one he's likely to forget I imagine."

The crowd went silent as Kingsley stood. Draco's face went sickly pale. "Draco Lucius Malfoy. You are accused of being a Death Eater, of letting Death Eaters into Hogwarts, of orchestrating the death of Albus Dumbledore, and of hosting Tom Marvolo Riddle in your home. The Wizengmaot has heard the evidence both for and against you and reached a verdict. While they find you guilty of all of the above, they recognise the position you were in and have decided on five years wand monitoring, monthly check-ins with the Aurory and community service, the particulars of which will be discussed at a later date. I assume I do not need to remind you that if you break any of the conditions which will be outlined in full following your release, you will be subject to Azkaban." he paused, "You will be required to remain with a sponsor until your community service is complete."

"What?" Harry hissed.

Hermione shook her head, she had no idea what this was. Kingsley took a breath. "Sirius Orion Black, do you take responsibility for Draco Lucius Malfoy?"

Sirius smirked as he stood his eyes falling briefly on Harry and Hermione, "I do."

"Good. Then Draco Lucius Malfoy, you are free to go. Aurors will escort you to an office where the full list of your restrictions and responsibilities will be outlined."

"We're going to that meeting right?" Harry demanded, "Sirius didn't say anything!"

"Of course we are, " she scoffed. "Come on, let's go."

"Or." Came Sirius' voice, "You could just come with me."

"Pads!" Hermione jumped.

"Kitten," he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "Shall we go and see what rules we've to enforce with your new cousin?"

"Why didn't you tell us?" Harry demanded.

"It was…a bit of a last minute decision," Sirius admitted. "Look, he reminds me of Reggie. I…it seemed like the least I could do and let's face it, no one deserves to be stuck in that house of horrors he used to call home."

"What about Narcissa?" Hermione checked.

"Andy will take her. I spoke to her earlier. It'll be good for them. Assuming they don't murder each other first."

Hermione's eyes met Sirius', "Seriously?"

He shrugged, "They're sisters, it'll be fine."


"Sirius." Kingsley smiled, giving a huff of laughter at the sight of Harry and Hermine beside him, "Hello you two."

"Kings." they dimpled.

He shook his head goodnaturedly "Is there any point in me trying to prevent entry?"

Hermione shrugged, "We live there too…Severus lives there. I..I do trust him not to murder us but I think I'd like to know what the parameters are."

Kingsley hummed, "Fair enough, it was your testimony that got him off after all."

"Surely Harry…"

Kingsley snorted, "Hermione love, you called out the entire Wizengamot and then called them cowards."

"You did?" Harry demanded.

She shrugged self-consciously, "Not exactly. I just reminded them how young we were."

"And essentially asked what the hell the adults in your lives had been doing," Kingsley cut in. "If I didn't know that you know exactly what I was doing during the war I might have felt ashamed of myself. But as I know you do, I feel safe in saying it was the most entertaining testimony we've had so far."

She groaned as he pushed open the door, "Go on then, I imagine Mr Mafloy will be keen to get out of here."

Draco was sitting in a chair facing the scowling Auror, his face carefully blank.

"Mr Black," the Auror paused, "Mr Potter and…Miss Granger."

"Granger-Black." Sirius corrected, "Auror Jameson, shall we get this show on the road?"

The auror blinked, "Right," he muttered, "Here is the list of what's allowed and what's not." He handed over the list that Sirius promptly handed to Hermione, who scanned it as Harry read over her shoulder.

"What about self-defence?" she queried.

"Pardon?"

"He's not allowed to use any spells that cause harm, which is ridiculously vague by the way, who is going to determine whether a cutting curse is used on fabric or on a person…." The auror blinked back at her, " And what happens if he's attacked?"

"Why would he be attacked?"

Hermione looked at him as if she thought he was an idiot, a look that was mirrored around the room. "Seriously?"

Auror Jameson flushed, "Well, he can cast a shield can't he?"

"For how long? Is he allowed to stun? If there's a risk to life is he allowed to fight back? A shield will be no use to him if they're trying to maim or destroy the place he's in now will it?" Hermione demanded.

Auror Jameson blinked, "Well I…common sense…."

"On whose part? His? The auror making a judgement call with ingrained prejudices?"

"Well…I….thats... .Miss Granger-Black…" he trailed off helplessly, looking to Kingsley for guidance, all of them ignoring the stunned disbelief on Draco's face.

"Are you sure you won't help me here?" Kingsley begged. "Magical law wouldn't know what to do with you."

"No thank you," she replied primly, as Harry and Sirius snorted.

"Right," he sighed with disappointment. "Perhaps we need to assign a specific Auror to make a judgement call?" he hedged.

"I'm listening."

"I trust Auror Jarvis, you met her earlier, no?" Hermione nodded, "And any incidents that may result in Azkaban I'll personally review."

"Ok." she blew out a breath.

"Anything else?"

"The community service…."

"Will begin when you say it does." Kingsley cut in.

"What?"

"Your orphanage? Or those creature rights plans you had. He is completely at your disposal. As long as you allow for NEWTs, obviously."

She hummed, not sure what to make of that. "How many hours?"

"Two thousand. Just short of a year full time."

Letting out a long, slow breath, she nodded "Alright then."

"You'll keep track of hours?"

"Of course"

"Well then let's add the changes," Kingsley murmured, adjusting the contract. "If you'll sign here Mr Malfoy, Sirius. And then Hermione, sign here to take responsibility for his community service." He waited until they complied, "Wonderful Mr Malfoy you are free to go."

Draco hesitated. "My mother…?"

Kingsley shared a look with Sirius. "I think it would be best if you were not here," he began.

He looked at him in horror "But …if she…"

"If she's convicted the Minister will give you a chance to say goodbye," Sirius interjected, staring Kingsley down.

He sighed, "Fine. Now bugger off out of my office before you upset any more protocol."

"Actually Kings," Harry began noticing the resigned slump to Kingsley's shoulders.

"Yes?

"I want to testify for Narcissa.

"For Narcissa." he checked incredulously.

"She lied to Voldemort, without her, I'd be dead."

Kingsley whined low in his throat." Right." he muttered, "Well you come with me. Her trial isn't for another hour. The rest of you, for the love of Merlin, go home!"


Draco looked around the room he'd been shown to upon arriving at his new home, wondering what he was meant to do now. He was startled when the door opened and a tiny curly head popped itself around it.

"Mummy said to leave you in peace," Severus whispered, looking at him with interest.

Draco snorted, "And yet here you are."

He nodded solemnly, creeping further into the room. "She said you live with us now."

"I do," he nodded, blowing out a breath cataloguing the changes the adoption had wrought on the boy. The hair was the most startling, curls in place of lank strands. His eyes were still his, but his face had a slightly softer appearance, more Granger than Prince. Only time would tell what the fate of his nose would be.

"Why?"

"Ah because the Minister said so."

"Why?" he asked again.

"Because…Sirius, Grandpa is meant to look after me."

Severus' head cocked to the side in a gesture Draco had seen from Granger on more than one occasion, a small impish grin stealing over his face, "Why?"

"Because," he replied shortly.

"Why?" he singsonged.

"Sweet merlin. Go and find your mother."

"Why?"

Draco groaned, "Is this payback for my own childhood?"

Severus frowned, momentarily nonplussed before he shook his head. "Why?"

Draco stood abruptly, picking the now giggling boy up and holding him around the middle under his arm before bouncing down the stairs. "You lost this," he informed Hermione, depositing the boy on her knee.

"Again!" Severus crowed

"Not again! Sweet Merlin, I'm surprised he didn't murder me if I was this irritating."

Hermione bit back a smile, schooling her face into something appropriately stern as she looked at her son. "What did I say?"

"To leave Mr Malfoy in peace," he recited.

"And did you?"

Severus looked down fidgeting. "No Mummy." he sighed, peering up through his lashes at Draco, "Sorry Mr Malfoy."

Draco sighed looking utterly unsure what to respond to that when Hermione drew his attention back to her, "Severus?"

"Yes, Mummy?"

"If you ignore me again there will be no pudding after dinner."

Severus looked up at her horrified. "No pudding." he gasped.

"None. I need you to listen when I tell you something."

"Sorry mummy," he muttered. "I be good!"

She arched a brow, "Good. Now, come with me." Draco looked up, betting that whatever Granger was up to was better than this unsure awkward boredom he was feeling.

"Can anyone join this trip Cousin or is there a maximum height?"

Hermione rolled her eyes before a wicked smirk appeared, "By all means come along, Malfoy. You might learn something."

He scoffed, following her through to the kitchen. "Are we baking Mummy!" Severus' excited voice broke him out of his thoughts.

"Yes. Did you know that today's Mr Malfoy's birthday?"

"Is it?" Severus squinted up at him before his face screwed up. "What's a birthday?"

Hermione froze, a look of heartbreak on her face. "It's when we…celebrate the day someone was born," she answered softly. "We give them presents and cake and sometimes have a party."

"Presents?" Severus checked with a gleam in his eye.

"For the person whose birthday it is. So today, Mr Malfoy."

"Did you get presents?" Severus queried innocently.

"One of the best I could have gotten," Draco murmured, "I'm free."

Severus frowned, "That doesn't sound like a present."

Draco smiled faintly, "I hope you'll never know just how much of a gift it is."


By the time they'd finished the cake, Hermione casting a cooling charm so that Severus could decorate it in a plethora of questionable colours, Draco was antsy.

"We'll hear something soon,'' Hermione soothed seeing the look on his face before he was able to mask it.

He sneered but it was a pale imitation of the one he used to direct at her.

"Mummy, we have cake now?"

"What's this about cake?" Remus queried wandering into the kitchen, his eyes widening when he realised Draco was with them.

"We made Malfoy a birthday cake?" Hermione offered.

"Birthday cake…" Remus trailed off looking at him in horror, "Your birthday is today?"

"Yes," he muttered shifting uncomfortably

"His presents on top of the unit in the dining room, we'll take Malfoy to the living room."

Malfoy turned sharply to look at her. "What?"

"I get the present Mummy!" Severus exclaimed.

"Go with Grandad then," Hermione instructed, physically guiding Draco out of the kitchen.

"Seriously Granger, what?"

"It's your birthday.," she murmured, "so sit down and shut up. If you really can't stomach it, think of it as a learning experience for Severus who apparently can't remember ever having a birthday."

He fidgeted slightly, clearly uncomfortable, "Fine" he muttered, "But can he call me something other than Mr Malfoy? It's bloody awful and reminds me of my father."

"Such as?" Hermione queried

Draco?" he suggested.

"Uncle Draco it is," she nodded with a smirk.

"Uncle…no Granger that's…no!"

"Happy birthday!" Severus shouted, interrupting them, having clearly been coached as he thrust a present at Draco.

"Will we go get Unce Draco's cake?" Hermione asked, realising Draco needed a moment.

Severus' eyebrow rose, "Uncle Draco?"

Hermione pointed at Draco, "He's going to be staying and he's Mummy's…cousin. His name is Draco and well, another Uncle doesn't hurt now, does it?"

"Does he have stories like Uncle Ron," he turned excitedly to Draco, "Did you ride a stone horse too?"

"What?" Draco looked baffled, "I ah... no. I've ridden a flying horse though."

"A flying Horse!" he screeched, "A real one?"

A small smile quirked at Draco's mouth, "A real one."

"Come on you, Uncle Draco can tell you all about them once he's blown out his candles."

Severus looked baffled as Hermione and Remus sang to a visibly uncomfortable Draco, Sirius joining them for the last two lines with overblown dramatics that made him giggle.

"Cake now, Mummy?" he checked once the candles were blown.

"Yes, she laughed, slicing it with her wand.

"We make good cake," Draco mused as he took a bite.

"We, Malfoy?"

"I supervised…cousin."

She groaned but was cut off by the floo.

Draco tensed when Harry walked in alone. "Two years house arrest, and wand limitations not dissimilar to yours alongside community service. She agreed to be hosted at Andromedas. They'll be through once they sort the paperwork,"

Draco slumped in relief. "You ok Uncle Draco?" Severus asked, eying him with concern.

"Yeah," he rasped.

Severs nodded solemnly, clambering onto his lap, "Hugs make it better." he murmured.

Draco gave a disbelieving, choked bark of laughter as he wrapped his arms around the boy, "So they do." he murmured low enough that no one but Severus heard.