One Life for Another

Hermione lay on the bed, trying to relax after finally being able to release her control over the dark magic. It was over, as countless patronus' had informed her of, but she wasn't feeling up to celebration yet. Her head pounded from the tension her efforts had caused to build, and her heart ached in worry. She and Draco had jumped one hurdle in their path, but there were many yet to come.

The sound of the door being thrown open caused her head to pound even more painfully, but all was forgotten when she felt Draco's lips touching hers. The pain faded into the background in her happiness, and she eagerly pulled him down on the bed with her.

His clothes were bloodied and covered in mud, but she took that as just an excuse to divest him of them all the more quickly. He kissed her body all over, wherever flesh was exposed, telling her with his lips how much he'd missed her and how he wanted her. She raised her hips up against his lithe form, encouraging him to get to the point. She'd been worrying all day, and at this point she just wanted the feeling of her man inside of her as assurance that all was right in the world. At least, as right as it could be. Close enough.

Draco's hand worked its way between them and slowly unbuttoned the front of her shirt. She'd already removed all of his clothing with her wand, but he wanted to take his time with her. Each new piece of flesh that was revealed his lips followed, and soon he had her moaning her frustration. Hermione could feel him grinning as he kissed her inner thigh, and she decided she'd had enough.

The element of surprise was the only way she managed it, but she was able to roll him over on the bed. She straddled his hips, kissing him fiercely as she lowered herself on his erection. He hissed in response, surrendering to the feeling and thrusting up to meet her. She gasped in response.

-x-x-x-x-x-

Later that night they were laying in each other's arms when they heard the sound of footsteps descending the stairs and then knocking on the door. "Hermione!" came Harry's voice from the other side of the door. "Draco! I need to talk to you!"

They got up quickly and pulled on clothes, letting Harry in as soon as they were decently covered. The expression on Harry's face surprised Hermione, though, and she instantly began worrying again. "What's wrong?" she asked as soon as he entered the door.

"It's not wrong, exactly," he said, wincing. "It's just... they are rounding up the Death Eaters, beginning the trials. Draco needs to go in now, at the start of it, so we can clear his name. I won't let anything happen to him, 'Mione, but he has to let himself be taken into custody."

Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but Draco put a hand on her arm to stop her. "Potter's right," he said, pulling her into his arms and kissing her cheek. "I knew it was coming, and I have to go. I'll be back before you know it."

She shook her head, forcing back the tears that were fighting to come to the surface. "Don't make promises you can't keep," she said. "We'll get it straightened out one way or another, but don't pretend it will be overnight or that I won't miss you."

Draco hugged her tightly, kissing her lips softly, and walked over to where Harry stood. "I'm ready to go," he said, then turned back to Hermione for just a moment before leaving. "I love you, cariad, and I'll be back when I can."

-x-x-x-x-x-

When Draco reached the Ministry, it was only having Harry Potter at his side that allowed him even a moment to speak. Aurors rushed in to capture him, ignoring the obvious fact that he was in of his own accord. He had to admit, though, that having Potter there was a definite plus. Harry stopped them and went straight to those Order members who had the highest Ministry positions, using all of his weight to insure that Draco be treated fairly.

Kingsley Shacklebolt and Nymphadora Tonks, who had narrowly escaped death through Hermione's interference, came out quickly to take Draco into custody. Tonks, they discovered, had known all along of Draco's involvement after Lupin confided in her, and she promised them both that she would stay close by Draco's side until everything was said and done. This didn't make Draco feel all that more confident, but he managed to appear so completely calm and collected that he lived up to the Malfoy name.

He was taken into a small room without windows, furnished only with a large table surrounded by plain metal chairs. Tonks led him to a couple of the chairs and they spoke quietly between themselves while they waited for the other aurors to arrive and take his statement.

When they did arrive, Draco was surprised to find they looked more like muggle accountants than aurors. Both were short and stocky, one donning glasses and the other nearly bald, and the overall impression they gave was one not anywhere near intimidating. The Slytherin in him took it as a good sign, however, thinking that they must be open to his innocence if they didn't bother sending anyone more menacing to question him.

"Mr. Malfoy," the one with the glasses began, shuffling around paperwork nervously, "I am Auror Clarke and this is Auror Wilkinson. I have been informed that you claim innocence of Death Eater activity. That you aided the Order of the Phoenix in its defeat of Voldemort, and that any illegal actions you may have taken were done under duress. Is this correct?"

Well, thought Draco, he certainly gets right to the point. "That is correct, Auror Clarke," he said. "Several members of the Order of the Phoenix can testify to my involvement, as well as Harry Potter. I am also willing to surrender certain memories relevant to the case, as well as being willing to consume veritaserum if necessary."

"Yes, well," said Clarke, obviously taken aback by Draco's willingness, "the necessary measures remain to be seen. For now, I need your testimony, in as much detail as possible."

Draco obliged, taking only a moment to collect his thoughts before launching into his version of events. Clarke and Wilkinson listened politely, interrupting only periodically to ask questions about specifics. As he finished the story and brought them up to date, Draco sat back against the chair he sat in and waited for their next move.

-x-x-x-x-x-

Hermione sat laughing at the kitchen table in the Burrow, trying to forget her worries over Draco and enjoy the knowledge of Voldemort's demise. Molly was busy cooking a feast for half the Order, and people kept popping in and out in between their duties at the Ministry. The first few times she asked for news of Draco, but it seemed that things were so chaotic that they either knew nothing or thought they knew more than they actually did. So after those first few attempts, she just stopped asking.

They were all happily chatting about plans for the future when Hermione noticed a beetle crawling through shadows across the kitchen floor. Normally, she would think nothing of it, but now she was able to sense magic around her, and it occurred to her now that she'd never seen that type of beetle in the vicinity of the Burrow.

Anger flared within her, and taking her wand in her hand with movements as if of boredom, Hermione cast several spells in succession. An empty glass from the counter fell right on top of the beetle without breaking, effectively trapping the creature.

Her actions caught the attention of everyone else, and they all looked at Hermione as if she'd sprouted an extra set of arms. "Are you alright, dear?" asked Molly, looking at her worriedly. "I didn't realize you had such an aversion to beetles."

"Only a certain type," said Hermione. "The animagus type that I warned long ago to stay out of my business." She turned away from Molly and glared at the insect. "My secrecy was conditional on you keeping up your end of the bargain, Ms. Skeeter. Those terms are still in effect, and you have violated them."

She removed the glass and kept her wand pointed at the beetle. "Change back to your human form, and this will all go much easier for you."

A moment later the beetle grew and changed shape, becoming a petite blonde woman holding a quill and paper. "Miss Granger," said Skeeter with an exaggerated smile that didn't quite extend to her eyes. "Such a pleasure to see you again. Tell me, are you limiting yourself to Harry Potter now or have you found more exciting prey? I believe I did hear the name 'Draco' being mentioned earlier."

If looks could kill, Skeeter would have been dead just then. Still, Hermione chose her response carefully. "Ms. Skeeter, allow me to remind you how easy a bug you would be to squish. If any of the comments you have heard while here at the Burrow are published, or if they are released through alternative means in an ill planned attempt to get even with me, I assure you I will be more ready than ever to see your demise."

Skeeter maintained her frustratingly fake smile despite the very real threat that she knew Hermione presented. "Very well, Miss Granger. Touché. However, please consider consenting to an interview within the next few days. You were, if I do say so myself, suspiciously absent from the final battle. One might question your loyalties, not being there to support your best friends. Or is there more to this story, perhaps? Please, Miss Granger, enlighten us all."

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A/N: As we come closer to the end, it seems like the chapters become far more difficult to write. Not sure why, but it seems like that's always the way. Hope you enjoy this chapter, I especially enjoyed writing it (writers block aside). Reviews always help my muses though, so please, read and review! :)

Gryffindor_Slytherin -- I swear you catch everything! lol. You were right, those two parts didn't quite add up. I was speaking of more an emotional pain that his having a dark mark inflicted, but it wasn't written clearly I'm afraid. I've reworded it slightly to make more sense. Thanks for looking out for me there. ;)