Escape to Love

Title: Escape to Love
Author: Saffron
Beta: Beautiful Voice
Rating: Chapters 1-4 is PG-13 / R; will become NC-17. Don't worry--the sex is coming.
Summary: Hermione visits Draco Malfoy in prison. This meeting will change everything she knew about him and change their lives forever.
Author's note: Warning for Canon minions: this story does NOT follow canon. Check the bottom of the page for requested parts and other info about this story. This does not follow book compatibility. Before you all go off the deep end about pensives in this story--after you read the fic--read the Author Notes.

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling Owns Everything. She Rules the World. I Own Nothing.

Chapter Four - Closer to the truth

The Ministry of Magic

Hermione coughed as she stepped out from the floo. Hermione looked around; it was utter chaos. Witches and Wizards were popping out of the floos like crazy.

Hermione saw Neville Longbottom rushing with Luna. She stopped them. "Neville, Luna, what is going on?"

Luna looked at her wide eyed. "I am so happy you came."

Hermione was intrigued by the girl's nervousness. "Luna, are you okay?"

Luna shook her head.

Neville sighed, then spoke up to explain, "Members are saying that Narcissa Malfoy owled Shacklebolt asking the Ministry to look into Malfoy's disappearance."

Hermione could swear she could feel herself turning as white as a ghost. "Merlin!" she gasped.

"It seems she was hysterical about Malfoy. She doesn't believe he is dead, but if he is, she wants his body recovered," Luna explained.

Hermione wanted to run to the loo. She was going to be sick.

'Things are falling apart,' she thought.

Neville wrapped his arm around his wife.

"I do not blame her, love. If one of our babies were missing, I would do everything in my power to find him or her."

Luna nodded and kissed her husband.

"I know. I feel so bad for her, for what she must be going through."

She looked at Hermione who was pale, looking at the wall in a daze.

"Hermione!" Luna said, waving her hand in front of her face to get her friend's attention.

"Hermione, are you okay?"

Hermione shook herself out of her daze.

"Yes. I am just in shock. Let's get to the meeting."

The three walked to the meeting room.

Hermione wanted to run when she saw all the members of the Ministry sitting in their seats. She smiled, though, when she saw her department--The Department of Magical Law Enforcement. The trio took their seats next to their department members.

The room was filled with whispers and jabbering as they all waited for the meeting to begin.

Hermione smiled sitting next to Harry.

Harry leaned to ask, "Did you hear the rumours about Mrs. Malfoy?"

Hermione nodded.

"Luna told me. Poor woman."

Harry nodded.

"I don't like Malfoy, but Mrs. Malfoy is a sweet woman. She doesn't deserve this."

Hermione agreed.

Zabini was sitting back in his seat waiting for the meeting to start.

He spoke loud enough for them to hear, "I bet Drake is alive. Knowing Drake, he made it. He's probably on a tropical island having a few drinks."

Crabbe and Goyle laughed at Zabini's words.

Harry shook his head.

"No one could ever make it out of there. He jumped from his cell. That's thousands of feet. He's dead, mate."

Neville looked nervous. The glares the four Slytherins were giving them worried him. He shyly spoke, "Maybe he did make it out, Harry. Maybe he got help to break out."

Harry laughed.

"Obviously Malfoy is not capable of pulling off this type of break on his own."

Pansy growled.

"What are you trying to say, Potter?"

Hermione tried to calm down a very pissed off Pansy.

"Parkinson, he did not mean anything by it."

Blaise glared.

"Like hell he didn't. Drake is capable. Besides, if Black made it out, so can he."

Harry sneered.

"Sirius was a brilliant man. Draco was a stupid arse."

Blaise stood, grabbing Harry out of his seat. His face inches away from him, he warned, "You better watch your mouth about Draco, you shit."

"I'm just telling the truth," Harry said with a sneer.

Blaise pulled back his hand ready to strike.

Crabbe grabbed his arm before it could land.

"Oi, mate! Don’t! We’re just all riled up. Do not do this here. Besides, he is your mate."

Zabini relented, letting Harry go.

"You may not like Draco, Harry, but we do. So don't say anything bad about him in our presence"

"Sorry," Harry whispered.

The Slytherins nodded, sitting back down waiting for the meeting to start.

Hermione glared at her friend.

"That was not right, Harry."

He sighed knowing it wasn't the right thing to say and do.

"I know."

Before she could say anything more, a gavel hit the stone. Everyone hushed and waited.

A man no more than three feet tall spoke.

"All rise for the Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt."

Everyone stood when Shacklebolt entered. He kindly smiled at everyone and motioned for them to take their seats. The members all sat.

Shacklebolt stood, placing the enchanted microphone to his throat.

"I am sure you have all heard the rumours. I am here to confirm that it is in fact true."

The members all whispered at his words.

"We are going to be looking into the disappearance and possible death of one Draco Malfoy."

Hermione wanted to faint at his words.

A member stood, practically yelling in an angry tone, "Why? So what if he is dead? I say good riddance after what he did to Dumbledore."

Goyle stood, staring daggers at the man.

"You want to say that now, you shit?"

The look on Goyle's face clearly said 'Don't fuck with me.'

The man quickly sat down.

"Gentlemen, please," Percy Weasley stood. "Please control yourselves."

Goyle did not listen, just continued, "None of you knew Draco like we did. You thought he was a bad seed, but he would never have killed Dumbledore."

Yelling could be heard through out the room.

A man who looked to be 90 stood slowly.

"I say we know him very well, Mr. Goyle. He was a horrible man. He is a Death eater, just like his father. Like father like son"

Cheers could be heard from most of the members.

Pansy stood. She was in tears.

"Draco was not like that! He is a good man. He just played a part; he had to do it. Yes, he was a Death eater, but not by choice. He had to take the mark."

Hisses filled the room.

A woman stood to speak, "He could have refused. He had a choice. He chose to take the mark."

Members applauded the woman.

Crabbe stood.

"I did not have a choice, Miss. The way we were raised -- it was what we did to survive in our world. We took the dark mark because we had to, not because we wanted to. If we didn't, we would die. What kind of choice is that?"

Slytherins who were now members of the Ministry all pounded their fists on their tables in approval at Crabbe's words, while other members hissed and jeered them.

Shacklebolt yelled, "SILENCE!"

Everyone quieted.

"I am deeply moved by your feelings for your friend, but that doesn't excuse the evidence," said the Minister. "We are not doing this to prove his innocence. We are doing this for the sake of his mother. Despite what Mr. Malfoy has done, no parent should go without knowing what happened to their child."

The members for once all agreed.

"But Minister," Crabbe said, "We believe that he is innocent. Why can't we re-open the case?"

Jeers and hisses could be heard from the crowd.

Shacklebolt sighed.

"Mr. Crabbe, please we are not re-opening this case. It is closed. We collected a substantial amount of evidence. With the eyewitnesses and character witnesses, not to mention that awful pensive anonymously given to us, well, we had no choice but to convict him."

Hermione's head shot up. She could not have heard what she thought she heard. She raised her hand.

Shacklebolt pointed to her.

"Yes Miss Granger?"

Harry looked at her.

Hermione stood nervously.

"Um, Minister, can you repeat what you just said about the evidence please?"

The Minster nodded.

"Yes, Miss Granger. As I said we had eyewitnesses, character witnesses and the pensive."

Hermione nodded, then asked, "Did you say anonymous pensive?"

Shacklebolt's eyes widened. She saw from his facial expression that this was not supposed to get out.

He had to admit, "Yes, it was an anonymous pensive."

Hermione gasped.

"So, you convicted a man because of a pensive you anonymously received?"

A woman stood.

"What does it matter if it was anonymous or not? You were there to see it. It was too compelling to ignore. The person who gave it to us was a Death eater, We may have not seen his or her face, but we saw it through their eyes. How can we not believe it?"

Hermione shook her head.

"Yes, it was, I agree. When I viewed the pensive, that, with the statement the witnesses made, made me believe he was guilty. But I thought the person who gave us the pensive did not appear because he or she was frightened, not because you had no clue who the person was."

"It doesn't matter!" a man yelled.

Hermione glared.

"It does matter!" Everyone was shocked to see the usually reserved Hermione Granger yelling.

She went on to say, "You convicted a man based on the fact that this pensive is true. What if it's false?"

A woman screamed, "No one would fasify what we saw in that pensive!"

Hermione sneered.

"How do you know? For all you know, the person who made this pensive falsely made it for revenge."

Crabbe, Goyle, Zabini were all listening to Hermione's words with hope.

A man smiled. "Ah ha, so you admit it -- he was a bad man."

Hermione glared at the man.

"I did not say that. I personally did not know Malfoy. But I would not classify him as evil. Sure he was an arse in school, but I would hardly call him a killer."

"HE IS A KILLER! HE KILLED DUMBLEDORE AND THE PENSIVE PROVES IT!"

Cheers and applause lit up the room.

Hermione slammed her fist on the desk making everyone stop.

"IT PROVES NOTHING!" she screamed. "As I was saying, before I was rudely interrupted, revenge -- not for something done by Draco's hand but by Lucius Malfoy's. What if someone made that false pensive as an act of revenge on Lucius Malfoy? He has already been kissed. What better revenge than to take his son down as well?"

A few people stopped looking at Hermione. Gasps could be heard. Hermione was pleased. It seemed some of the members agreed.

"That's not possible. No one would ever do that," a woman said.

Hermione sighed.

"What wouldn't you do, Ma'am, to punish the person who tortured and murdered your family? If it was I, I would do the same. Like I said, Lucius is gone. Draco is his family. It's the perfect revenge."

"NO!" a man on the main panel yelled. "The case is closed. Sit down, Miss Granger."

Shacklebolt nodded.

"I am sorry Miss Granger, but with the testimonies of the witnesses, it seems the pensive is not false."

Hermione shook her head.

"But Minister, please."

"Sit down, Miss Granger," he growled.

Hermione nodded, sitting.

Harry hissed, "We are going to talk about this after the meeting -- all of us."

Hermione nodded.

Shacklebolt stood.

"Now the whole Ministry will not be involved with this case. Everyone will work on their own department's cases. I believe that this should be handled by The Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

Hermione and her department all looked at Shacklebolt.

"You will locate Mr. Malfoy. If he is in fact alive, you will bring him here to complete his punishment."

The Slytherins all shook their heads in disagreement.

Shacklebolt sneered.

"If you do not do this, it will cost you your jobs and you will be charged with hindering prosecution. Do you understand me?"

They all reluctantly nodded.

"Now, as I was saying, you will locate him. If he is alive, capture him to complete his punishment. But, if he is in fact dead, we will recover his remains so his mother can at least put him to rest."

A man stood. "He should burn in Hell."

"YOU BLOODY BASTARD!" Blaise yelled.

He stood to lunge for the man, but Crabbe and Goyle stopped him.

"Blaise, don't," Crabbe begged his friend.

Goyle, who was quite a bit larger than Zabini, pushed him down into his chair.

"Don't, mate. He's not worth it."

Blaise sneered at the man. The man just mumbled under his breath sitting back in his chair.

Shacklebolt glared at the man.

"That was un-called for sir." He then nodded to Percy Weasley.

Percy stood. "This meeting is adjourned."

Everyone stood quickly and left.

Hermione quickly walked to her office. She had to get out of there before Harry cornered her to talk. She grabbed her things from her office. She opened her door to leave but froze. There stood her friends. Harry looked pissed off.

"We have to talk Mione. Now."

Hermione nodded.

They all stepped inside. Harry closed and locked the door, placing a silencing charm on the room.

Not even seconds after it was up, he screamed, "WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU THINKING, MIONE?"

Hermione glared.

"Do not talk to me like that, Harry James Potter. You want to talk to me, then talk, but DO NOT RAISE YOUR VOICE TO ME!"

He was angry. Everyone in the room could see it.

"Why did you do that? Now everyone thinks you believe Malfoy is innocent."

Hermione breathed in. She looked at Harry with determination.

"That's because I do."

The Slytherin's mouths all dropped. They looked at each other with shock written all over their faces.

"WHAT?" Harry shrieked.

"Harry, I always had my suspicions about him not being guilty. But I was too chicken shit to say anything. I just can't see Malfoy as a killer."

Harry glared.

"Hermione, he is a cruel bastard. Look at what he did to us in school. Have you forgotten how horrible he was to you?"

She sighed.

"How can I forget, Harry? It's burned in my mind, but that doesn't mean he is a killer."

"But Hermione, if he is capable of what he did to us, he is capable of anything."

Hermione shook her head in defiance.

"Harry, teasing and calling me Mudblood is one thing, but I can hardly call those trademarks of a killer."

Harry glared, pointing at her.

"You said it Hermione -- marks. He has the ruddy Dark mark."

Zabini, Goyle and Crabbe stepped to him, lifting their sleeves to reveal their marks. Luna winced at their marks; Neville took his wife into his arms.

Goyle said in a somber voice, "We have the mark as well, Harry? Does that make us killers too?"

Harry turned his head.

"You're different."

"HOW?" Pansy yelled.

Harry looked at them, pleading with his eyes to stop.

"You're my friends. I trust you."

"And we trust Draco," Crabbe said

"Well, I don't." He sneered at them.

Harry turned back to his friend.

"Hermione, even if the pensive is false, the witnesses --"

Luna jumped in.

"She's right."

Harry looked at Luna in shock.

"You believe this crap too?"

Luna gave him a sad look.

"Harry, the witnesses are not creditable."

"Yes, they are," He defended the families.

"Harry, they aren't. Five of them were Death eaters. They would have said anything to save their skins."

"And the others were the victims' families." He sneered. "Don't you all forget that. Why would they lie about what they saw?"

Goyle spoke up.

"Potter, they did not lie about what they witnessed. They just fibbed about Draco's participation."

Harry shook his head.

"No, they would not lie."

Hermione walked up to him.

"Harry, if Wormtail died before you had your revenge, and if he had a son who was a Death eater, I know you would want him to pay too?"

"No, I would not do that."

Hermione shook her head sadly.

"Harry, do not lie."

Harry turned his head in shame.

"Harry, I know you don't like Malfoy. I understand that. But he doesn't deserve to get the kiss. What if he did not do it, Harry? If we find out years later he was innocent, would you be able to live with yourself? I know I wouldn't."

Harry sighed, nodding.

"If he is guilty, we will bring him to face his punishment but if he is innocent, Harry, we will set a man free. It's what we do. We are The Department of Magical Law Enforcement; we seek out the truth."

"But Shacklebolt said we have to find him," Neville said.

Hermione nodded.

"We will, but when we find him, we will not turn him in until we find out the truth."

They all nodded at her words.

"Luna, Neville, Crabbe and Pansy, you will try to find out if Malfoy is alive and if he is where he might be."

They agreed.

Hermione looked at the rest of them.

"We will find out who made that pensive. And find out once and for all what really happened."

Harry gasped, "Hermione, how are we supposed to get the pensive?"

Hermione quirked her brow.

"Please, Harry, we did it before, we can do it again."

The Slytherins were all confused.

"What do you mean, 'before'?" Crabbe asked.

Hermione shook her head.

"That's not important nor is it relevant."

Harry sighed at his friend.

"Mione, there is no way we can get in. After the last…um, you-know-when…they locked it up tight. It's harder to get into than Fort Knox."

"What is that Fort Knox?" Goyle asked, looking confused.

Neville spoke. "It's a high security bullion depository where the American's hold the majority of the United States' gold."

The Slytherins nodded.

"Hermione, I do not think--"

Hermione put her hand up. "Harry, we can do this. I know we can. If we find out who made that pensive, we will know who framed him."

Harry nodded, "All right. I need to talk to someone about this."

Zabini gasped, "No, we cannot tell anyone. Our asses are on the line."

Harry glared, "I know that, but I trust Arthur and he can tell us what to do."

They all nodded in agreement.

"We'll start tomorrow. Right now let's all go home and rest."

"But it's Saturday," Neville said. "Luna, the kids and I were supposed to see Ron play in his match."

Hermione slapped her head.

"Oh Shit! I forgot Ron."

Harry chuckled, "You always forget you hate quidditch."

Hermione smiled, "Well, we can start on Monday then."

They all nodded.

Zabini smiled at her, "Thank you Granger."

She weakly smiled, "You're welcome Zabini. I will see you all bright and early on Monday."

They all left the Ministry, Hermione using the floo. She had to return to Draco and tell him he was one step closer to being a free man.

00000000000

At the cottage

Hermione nearly fell through the door, almost tripping on her welcome rug.

"Bloody rug," she mumbled.

Hermione took off her cloak, flopping it on the chair. She put her grocery bags on the kitchen table and looked at the clock. It was 10:00 pm.

"Malfoy!" she called.

[Silence]

Hermione went to his room, peeking in. "Malfoy," she called again.

[Silence]

Hermione quickly went back to the kitchen looking around.

"Malfoy? Malfoy, where are you?" Hermione walked to the library. "Malfoy, say something!"

When he did not reply, Hermione became worried. She rushed through the cottage in a panic.

"MALFOY!" she screamed.

Hermione then saw that the bathroom door was open. She barged in and froze at the sight. Her eyes were deceiving her. There was no way she was seeing this.

There, laying in a bath full of bubbles, was Malfoy with her ipod. His head was bopping to music. His long legs stuck out of the water bouncing to the beat. He held a butterbeer in his hand looking like he didn't have a care in the world.

'He must have seen my ipod on the counter and was curious,' she thought. She shook her head. She had not updated that ipod in years.

'I am so going to tease him about this. Big bad Malfoy takes bubble baths,' she thought, giggling.

She flushed. His chiseled chest and rock hard abs gleamed with water. All the eating he had done has given him a bit of shape again. 'Oh bloody hell. He's all wet. He looks hot.' Hermione licked her lips.

She was about to walk out when she heard him hum. She quirked her brow. She knew that song. She nearly died when Draco started throwing his hands in the air like a rapper as he rapped the lyrics,

"Every thug needs a lady
And every thug needs a down ass bitch, huh, feel me
Every thug needs a lady
Baby I'm convinced, you my down ass bitch"

Draco moved to the beat, his butterbeer in his hands, flashing signs in the air. She nearly lost it when he did Ja Rule's signature, "Uh."

Hermione covered her mouth. She ran out of the bathroom. She ripped open the front door. As soon as she was outside the cottage, she fell over laughing. She knew that there was no way in hell she was not going to tease Malfoy about this. This was too good not to tease him. Hermione walked into her cottage. She had a devilish smirk on her face. She had a plan.

00000000000

Draco walked out of the bathroom, wiping his wet blond hair. He froze at the smell in the air.

He groaned, "Oh bloody hell -- food!"

Draco walked to the kitchen. He smiled at the sight in front of him. Hermione was wiggling her hips as she cooked. Draco leaned against the counter watching her hips move. 'Bloody hell, she has a fine ass,' he thought. He shook himself out of his lust filled musing and spoke.

"What are you making?"

Hermione gasped, looking at him.

"Why do you insist on scaring me?"

He chuckled, "Because it's fun." He pushed away from the counter to join her. "So, what are you making? Do you need help?"

She smiled, "I'm making apple pie. I bought some ice cream. I thought apple pie would go great with it as a midnight snack."

"Bloody hell, what is that smell?" he asked as he sniffed the air.

She giggled, "While you were in the bathroom I made the apple mixture. You want to help make the dough?"

He nodded.

"Good. Go and wash your hands and we will get started."

He frowned, "Why do I always have to wash my hands?"

"Because if you don't, you could contaminate the food, worse you can get sick"

"Bloody all right." He walked to the sink.

Hermione smirked. Before putting her hands into the flour, she turned on her cd player. The opening of Ja Rule's "Down Ass Chick" came on.

Draco froze mid handwash at the music.

Hermione was looking at the flour wanting to laugh.

Draco shook his head.

'Nah, it's just a coincidence,' he thought.

Every thug needs a lady
And every thug needs a down ass bitch, huh, feel me

He turned to help her with the dough when he took a good look at her. Her shoulders were shaking.

Every thug needs a lady
Baby I'm convinced, you my down ass bitch
Baby say yeah, (baby say yeah)

At first, he thought she was crying until he heard snickering. Draco glared at her. When she started throwing her hands in the air and rapping to the music, he wanted to run and hide.
'She fucking saw me,' he thought.

If you'd lie for me, like you lovin' me
Baby say yeah, (baby say yeah)
If you'd die for me, like you cry for me
Baby say yeah, (baby say yeah)
If you'd kill for me, like you comfort me
Baby say yeah, (baby say yeah)
Girl I'm convinced, you're my down ass bitch

Hermione moved her hips to the music as she rapped. A woman dancing sexily would usually cause Draco to stand at attention. But he wasn't turned on; he was pissed. She was mocking him.

"Granger!" he growled.

Hermione turned, batting her eye lashes.

"Yes, Malfoy?"

He glared.

"You saw me, didn't you?"

"Whatever do you mean, Malfoy?"

She made a look of mock innocent.

"Don't play dumb with me. I know you saw me in the bath."

Hermione giggled nodding.

Draco groaned.

"Bloody Fuck. You shouldn't have seen that."

Hermione stopped laughing. "It's okay Malfoy. 'Every thug needs a lady'." She gave him a wink and laughed.

Draco glared. Out of nowhere he threw flour at her face.

Hermione gasped in shock. She coughed blinking away the flour in her eyes. She wiped her face, and glared. "You are so dead." Hermione threw flour at him. It flew into his face making him cough.

He growled. "This is bloody war."

Hermione screamed, making a mad dash out of the kitchen when he grabbed flour container. He took off after her with the flour. Draco sprinted after her as she dodged the flour being thrown at her. Hermione rushed behind the kitchen island. A cloud of flour dust filled the air.

She giggled. "Please, Malfoy, stop."

He chuckled. "Never."

"Malllfooyyy," she whined

"Grrangerrr," he mocked her voice.

Hermione gasped at the evil smirk on his face. He grabbed a bit of flour in his hand. Hermione moved to the left. He followed. Hermione grabbed a towel near her and flung it at him, catching him off guard. Hermione dashed to the living room. She squealed when he jumped on the couch and tackled her to the ground, capturing her under him. The flour container fell to their side. They both were laughing as he slapped flour on her face making her laugh.

"I win," he said playfully.

She giggled looking at him. She was trying to breathe. "Okay, Malfoy, you win. Now get off." She wiggled, trying to get out from under him. "Malfoy come on." When she looked at him, she froze. The way Draco was looking at her scared her. Harry had the same look at her office. "Malfoy, your not exactly light you know."

But he did not hear her.

Draco looked at her. For the first time, he really looked at her. He chuckled at the sight of her. Hermione had a flour hand print on her face. Flour stuck on her lashes, her curly hair was covered in flour. A pink flush painted her cheeks under the thin layer of flour. Even like this, he had never seen anyone look more beautiful than she did right at this moment. Draco touched her face where the flour handprint lay. He ever so lightly touched her skin, wiping to clean her skin.

Hermione gasped at the contact.

"Malfoy."

Draco looked into her honey brown eyes.

"Hermione," he breathed.

He gently ran his fingers over her eyes to wipe away the flour.

Hermione shivered. Her name from his lips made her body tingle. His touch was sending chills up her spine. Hermione swore she stopped breathing when he leaned in pressing his lips ever so gently to her lips.

"Draco," she whispered against his lips.

Draco groaned. His name from her soft lips made his skin tingle.

She shook her head.

"We cannot do this," she pleaded.

"Shh," he said, leaning in to kiss her again.

"Draco no listen, you just haven't been with a woman for years."

"Hermione---"

"You would fuck a Knockturn Alley whore in a heartbeat your so horny. You have all this stored fustration."

He chuckled, "Nope just you."

Hermione pushed at his chest to stop his advances.

"Draco remember it's me Granger, the buck-tooth frizzy-haired girl from school. You would never look at me twice and now you want to kiss me."

Draco chuckled caressing her face, " I want to do more then that."

Gasping at his words she knew now something must be wrong.

"You've been hexed."

"No---Hermione you think I have to be hexed to find you attractive."

"Draco you wouldn't look twice at me."

"Hermione in school more than once you made me look twice."

"What?" she asked in shock.

"You are beautiful."

"Draco stop this."

She turned, thinking he would get the hint. Her eyes nearly rolled up when she felt his lips kiss her neck. She flushed red. It turned her on when a man paid attention to her neck.

"Please, I do not think we should be doing this."

"Don't think. Just feel."

Hermione moaned in her throat when she felt his warm wet tongue lick her from her collar bone to her jaw.

"Oh God," she moaned.

He chuckled with amusement.

"Name's Draco," he teased.

Draco laced his fingers into hers while he lovingly kissed the naked flesh of her neck.

"Oh please, this is wrong," she panted.

When he nibbled her collar bone, she lost all sense of right and wrong. He found her sweet spot.

Hermione gripped his hair slamming her lips onto his. Draco's eyes went wide in surprise at her un-Hermione like behaviour. His surprise faded, he deepened the kiss. She ran her tongue lightly over his lower lip asking him to let her in. He opened his mouth; she slid her wet tongue into his hot mouth. Draco moaned.

Draco ran his fingers down her arms; he didn't want to frighten her. He pulled away to look at her. Her face was flushed a pretty pink. Sweat beaded at her forehead. She looked beautiful. Draco touched her face, making her look at him.

"Hermione, can I touch you?"

Her neck flushed a rosy pink when she nodded.

Draco ran his fingers down her neck. Hermione gasped at the feeling. She loved the feel of his hands. Her breath caught when she felt him cupping her breasts. He leaned forward to kiss her. He didn't even have to ask; she opened for him. He ran his hands down her sides making her shiver. His hands slowly moved down to her hips. He moved them so they were on their side facing each other.

Hermione opened her eyes. She didn't even know they were closed. He was staring at her with such passion it made her wet. He slid his hand over her ass; he eased one denim-covered knee between her legs rubbing his knee against her aching center.

"Draco, we have to stop. I'm not ready for this yet," she moaned, gasping for air at the feeling of a part of him touching her.

He groaned, kissing her cheek.

"Just want to touch you. That's all, nothing more I swear," he panted. "Let me do this. Let me touch you please," he practically begged.

She nodded. She didn't care anymore.

Draco gripped her skirt, lifting it; he slid his thigh between her legs so he could get closer to her.

Hermione gripped his arms. The denim against her silk knickers was driving her crazy.

Draco gripped her ass, loving the feel of her silk covered globes in his hands. He whispered in her ear, "Ride my leg, baby, please. Let me feel your wet cunt against me."

Hermione and Draco slowly moved against each other. He pressed his thigh higher so she was literally riding his leg. Hermione's harsh pants rang in his ears. He pushed back to take look at her. She looked like a goddess, her face flushed with passion. Her lust glazed eyes bore into his, her juicy lips lightly parted. Gasps and moans left them. He captured her lips in a heated kiss as she kept riding his leg. He slid his tongue over hers. Hearing her moan he pulled away to let her breathe.

She looked at him with molten lust filled eyes. "Fuck me, please fuck me," she begged.

Draco's mouth dropped open. "Hermione, I--" he sputtered. He wanted her to be sure.

They were pulled out of their lust filled haze by a voice.

"Hermione?"

Draco and Hermione froze at the voice.

Draco dropped his head into her neck hiding his face.

"Oh Shit!" Draco whispered.

Hermione leaned over Draco's shoulder to see who it was. Her eyes widened at the man standing there.

"Harry?" she whispered.

Harry was frozen in his spot. His best friend was on the floor with a guy. He blushed crimson. They were obviously in the middle of something.

Hermione held Draco close to her.

She whispered into his ear, "Don't move your head until I tell you. My wand is in my pocket. When I tell you, make a run for my room; glamour your face and voice."

Draco nodded.

"Harry, what are you doing here?" Hermione said over Draco's shoulder.

"I followed you. I needed to talk to you. I thought you were going home. What is this place? And who in the hell is that?" he growled.

"Um, Harry…WHAT'S THAT?" she screamed, pointing to something behind her.

Harry turned quickly, his wand out.

Hermione grabbed the flour throwing it in the air, making the whole living room fill with flour.

"Go. Now!" she whispered.

Draco made a bee line for her room.

Harry was choking on the flour air. He blinked, trying to find Hermione.

"Hermione, what the hell? Are you okay?"

Hermione came into his view, coughing.

"I'm fine. Sorry about that. I knocked over the flour."

Harry coughed, looking at her.

"Hermione, what's going on? Who is that guy? Where is this place? And why are you here?"

Hermione giggled, "Well, Mr. Potter, we have who, what, why, where but all we need is when and a how."

Harry was not amused.

"Hermione, what is going on?"

Harry pointed his wand in the air saying a cleaning spell. The flour haze left the room.

"Harry, this is my place."

Harry was confused.

"No, it is not. I've seen your flat."

"Harry, this is my private place. This is my haven."

He frowned.

"Oh."

He was a little hurt she never showed him this place.

"Hermione, just tell me, who is that guy?"

"Um, Harry, look--"

Her words were cut off by a clearing of a throat. Hermione turned and gasped. Draco had charmed his hair to a medium brown, his grey eyes to blue, his lips were fuller, and his body he had made a heavier built. He did not look like him at all. She frowned. She did not like the glamour him.

Harry had just met him and he already didn't like him.

But for Hermione's sake he said a polite "Hello?"

Draco walked to him, sticking out his hand.

"Hi, I'm Derek." He looked around seeing a magazine he saw a name. "Derek Bradley."

Harry smiled a fake smile.

"Hi. I'm Harry Potter. It's a pleasure to meet you." Harry shook his hand.

Draco nodded, walking to Hermione and slipping his arm around her shoulder.

Hermione smiled weakly at Harry.

"Harry, what do you want?"

Harry frowned.

"I just wanted to talk."

Hermione glared at him. When Harry blushed she knew he did not come here to talk to her.

"Harry, look, maybe we can TALK -- I mean REALLY TALK -- tomorrow," she said, empathizing that she wanted to just talk.

He nodded.

"So, is this your boyfriend, Hermione?"

Hermione smiled looking at Draco.

"This is my friend, Harry."

Draco looked at her with sad eyes. His feelings were a little hurt.

His smiled returned when she said, "He could be. It’s somewhat new, so I do not want to jinx it with the boyfriend label yet."

Harry nodded.

"So, does he know about you and what you are?"

She nodded.

"He does."

Harry was now intrigued.

"I've never seen you before. I am sorry, but did you go to Hogwarts?"

Draco decided to tell a tall tale.

"I did not go to Hogwarts; I went to the Durmstrang Institute."

Hermione nearly laughed at his words.

"You may know my cousin, Draco Malfoy."

Hermione gripped his hand tightly.

'What is he doing?' she thought.

Harry gasped.

"You're Malfoy's cousin?"

He nodded.

"I have no bloody clue who, but somewhere down the line one of his relatives had a quick shag with my Mum and here I am"

Harry nodded. Hermione looked at Harry thinking there was no way he could believe this shit. But from the look on Harry's face he did.

Harry blushed.

"Well, I will be leaving now." He turned to Hermione. "I'll see you tomorrow."

She nodded.

Harry went to the floo and flooed home.

Hermione breathed out a sigh of relief.

"I thought you said no one can come through," Draco said.

"No one can. He came through the door."

"Shit," Draco mumbled.

"I have to put up better wards so no one can come through the door as well."

"But the wards…"

"It stops people who want to do harm, not people like Harry. I have to make sure no one can come in without my permission."

"Good idea."

Hermione took a few minutes to strengthen the wards. When she was done she returned to Draco.

"Can you take the glamour off now? It's kind of weird, you looking like that."

Draco smirked. He grabbed her wand and removed the glamour.

Hermione sighed. This was the way she wanted him.

"Why did you tell Harry that you have a cousin?"

"I had to tell him something. I have not done magic in years. I was worried he might recognize me. This way if he thinks I look like me, he will just think it's because we're related."

"But he could research you, you know that, right?"

Draco groaned. "I'm fucked."

Hermione shook her head.

"I have a way we can make your story work."

"How?"

"Malfoy, we have to tell your mother."

Draco's eyes widened.

"But you said that we should not tell anyone."

She nodded.

"I know, but now there is a reason we have to."

"Why?" he wondered.

"Your mother was the reason we had the emergency meeting."

"My mother, what happened?"

"She owled Shacklebolt asking for your case to be looked into. She wants to find you. She is hurting, Malfoy. Members are saying she was hysterical. I think we have to tell her everything."

The look in Malfoy's eyes tugged at her heart. She knew he was close to his Mum.

"Can your mother keep a secret, Malfoy?"

He nodded.

"Yes she can. I think it is the right thing to do and she can validate my little fib about me being my cousin if Harry asks her."

Hermione nodded. She looked into his eyes and blushed, remembering what she asked him to do, how she behaved like some wanton slag. 'Oh Merlin, what will he think of me? He must think I am a slut.'

Draco smiled, realizing what she must be thinking about. He decided not to tease her.

"So, what did they say at the meeting? Did you find out anything?"

Hermione smiled gratefully for his changing the subject. She nearly bounced excitedly saying.

"You'll never believe it. I got some great news." Hermione told Draco everything she remembered about the meeting--about the flimsy evidence and how they were going to research to find the truth.

Draco beamed at her.

"So all we have to do is find out who made the pensive, and we will know who framed me."

Hermione nodded, smiling.

Draco looked at her with tears in his eyes.

"You did it Granger."

She shook her head.

"We did it."

Draco wanted to know who was helping her.

"So, who's going to help you find the truth?"

She gave Draco a reassuring smile.

"The team is made up of Luna and Neville Longbottom, Zabini, Goyle, Crabbe, Parkinson…and Harry."

Draco's mouth dropped.

"Potter is helping?"

She nodded.

"We all persuaded him it was worth looking into, so he is helping."

He was gob smacked.

"So I guess we don't need to look through the files anymore?" he asked.

"No, I think we should still look through them. It wouldn't hurt."

He nodded.

Draco was interested in the friendship between Pansy and her since seeing the picture of them.

"So how did you and Pansy become friends?"

She smiled. She knew this question would come.

"Well, at first we were not friends. The first year at the Ministry was not fun. The eight of us fought all the time."

Draco sat back to listen to her tale.

Hermione brought her legs up to sit Indian style on the couch as she told her story.

"I do mean drag out fist flying fights. I would get to work and they would already be throwing blows at each other. You have no idea how many times in the first year we went to St. Mungo's. Pansy and I, we had some fights ourselves."

Draco quirked his brow.

"Really? You and Pansy fought?"

Hermione flushed.

"Two months into our work detail. She wouldn't listen to me about how to talk to a witness. She called me a filthy mudblood, and I punched her."

Draco chuckled.

"It took Goyle, Crabbe and Harry to finally break us apart. I had a black eye and a split lip." Hermione beamed. "She had a broken nose, split lip and a black eye."

Draco laughed, "Go Granger!"

She giggled, "After that fight Shacklebolt met with all of us. He said we had to get along or else we would be suspended indefinitely. So we went out for drinks. It was weird. We started talking and we found out we have so much in common."

"So, after that you became friends?"

"Yes, but it took time for us to get to where we are now. Even after we went out for drinks it did not just happen right away, you know."

He nodded.

"I wanted Pansy to give me a chance to be her friend, but you know Pansy. She has a hard time trusting people. It all changed at the wedding we attended."

"Why?" Draco asked, intrigued.

"My friends and I was sitting and talking at one of the tables when I saw Marcus Flint chatting up Pansy." She made a face.

"So?" he said, unsure why Marcus talking to Pansy would upset her. Then Draco's eyes went wide.

"You dated Marcus?"

She blushed.

"In fourth year, okay? It was a long time ago, it only lasted a month. That's when I found out about his fetish."

Draco smirked at her blush.

"What kind of fetish?"

"He has a thing for a girl sucking him off in public. It's the only way he'll ever cum when he gets head. He likes to have sex in public."

Draco threw his head back and laughed. He snorted.

"I didn't know if Pansy knew, so I walked up to her telling her I needed to talk to her. She was angry, telling me to leave. But I pulled her on the side. She wanted to throw blows until I whispered what would be expected of her if she dated Marcus. She was so shocked she walked up to him, called him a pig and left him."

Draco was holding his stomach as he laughed.

"I apologized to him. It wasn't right what she said. But she had to know. He understood. Pansy came over and sat with us. We laughed about it the whole day. She trusted me after that. I didn't have to tell her. I could have let her find out on her own, but I didn't. After that we became friends."

"So what happened to Flint?"

She smiled, "I introduced him to Padma Patil. I thought they'd hit it off since she's adventurous like him."

Draco smirked, "So the rumours about her are true?"

She nodded.

"Yes and there's nothing wrong with it. She just has a man's sexual appetite. They got married last year. They are very happy."

Draco nodded. He couldn't believe Pansy was friends with her.

"I still can't see it--Pansy and you best mates."

"We are. I really got to know her separately from the guys. She asked me to go shopping with her. I did--it was horrible, but fun at the same time."

Draco chuckled, remembering the many times he'd taken Pansy shopping. He loathed it.

"Now, she is as good a friend as Ginny is."

Draco nodded.

"So, whose wedding were you and Pansy dancing at?"

Hermione glared at his words.

"You went into my room."

"I was bored. I just looked at the pictures, honest."

She smiled at his begging.

"It was at Theodore Nott's wedding."

Draco's mouth dropped.

"Theo got married?"

She nodded at his question.

"Theo, as in Theo the Casanova of Hogwarts, got married?" Draco asked again.

She giggled. "Yup, and it seems you had the same reputation, Malfoy."

He chuckled.

"But yes, he got married."

He nodded, taking a sip of his butterbeer.

"He's married to Millicent Bulstrode"

Draco spat out his beer, coughing, choking on the liquid.

Hermione patted his back.

"Draco, are you okay?"

He whipped his head up to look at her in shock.

"Millicent the Hag?"

Hermione glared at his name for her "That's not nice."

"He married her?"

Hermione quirked her brow.

"You haven't seen her, have you?"

"Yes, I bloody well have and she's a dog."

Hermione slapped him on the shoulder. She pointed her wand at her bookcase. "That is not funny…Accio photo album." The photo album flew to her. She flipped through the album, pointing when she came to the picture she was looking for.

His brow furrowed with confusion at the pretty black haired girl. "Who's that?"

Hermione smirked. "That's Millicent."

He gasped, grabbing the book in awe. "No fucking way."

"It is. She really has grown into her looks."

Draco nodded. He scanned through the album, smiling. Hermione was one of the bride maids. She looked pretty in the blue dress even though the dress was the ugliest thing he had ever seen. "You look nice," Draco said.

She made a yuck face. "I hated that dress but she loved it."

Draco and Hermione sat in silence until Hermione broke it. "I'll go finish up the pie."

He nodded. "You need help?"

She shook her head. "Nah, it's all right. You can relax. I'll do it."

He smiled and sat back to watch television.

Half an hour later the pie was done. Hermione plated two pieces of pie, placing a heaping spoonful of ice cream on each piece. When she had everything, she walked into the living room. When she went to give Draco his piece she stopped, smiling at the sight before her.

Draco was fast asleep on the couch. She placed the plate on the table. Grabbing a quilt from the chair she placed it over him. She kissed his forehead.

"Sweet dreams Draco," she sweetly said before she walked to her room.

Hermione sat at her desk writing. She had to owl Mrs. Malfoy so she knew she was coming tomorrow to talk to her.

Dear Mrs. Malfoy,

I was wondering if I may visit you tomorrow. There is something important I wish to discuss. I ask that we have this discussion where it will be private and no one will hear us. I will also have a guest with me, if this is all right? May we use your floo?

May I come around 8:00 am?

Sincerely,

Hermione Granger.

Hermione folded the parchment and gave it to her owl with the instructions, "Take this to Narcissa Malfoy."

The owl squawked and flew away.

Hermione decided to take a shower while she waited for Narcissa's response. When she got out, a black owl was tapping at her window. Hermione grabbed a cracker, and opened the window. The owl flew in, sticking its head out to her. Hermione grabbed the parchment; she placed a cracker in the owl's mouth.

"Here you go. Thank you."

The owl ate its cracker and flew away.

Hermione opened the parchment smiling at what she read.

Dear Hermione,

I will be delighted to have you and your guest over for a visit. We can have tea and talk. I am looking forward to seeing you. My floo is open to you anytime, dear. Eight o’clock is just fine. Until tomorrow morning.

Sincerely,

Narcissa Malfoy

0000000000

The Next Morning

Hermione was a wreck. She had never cared about her appearance before but today she gave a damn. She was nervous about meeting Mrs. Malfoy. She charmed her hair with a spell she learned to tame her frizzy hair. Her hair fell to the small of her back in soft honey brown curls. She looked at herself in pair of jeans and a top. She groaned, unsatisfied with the look. Hermione took off the jeans and the top, leaving her in her knickers.

She looked at her clothes sighing at the choices.

"Dignified, something dignified," she mumbled.

Hermione ran her hands over her clothes sighing. She had nothing to wear. She pulled out a dress Lavender had given her. It was a very tight black dress. Hermione placed it in front of her and smiled.

"Hello, Mrs. Malfoy you remember me? I'm Hermione and I'm a slag," she mocked.

She threw the dress on the bed. She grabbed another dress. Mrs. Weasley had given it to her. It was a very conservative green floral dress.

"Hello, I'm Hermione and I'm a geek."

She rolled her eyes at the dress, throwing it on the side. Hermione sighed until she came across a simple white dress in the back of her closet. She pulled it out placing it in front of her.

"This will do," she said.

Taking the dress off the hanger and slipping it on. She stood in front of her mirror smiling. She had to admit she looked good.

"Thank you Ginny," she whispered.

Ginny had bought it for her last Christmas.

Hermione slipped on a black cardigan, in case it was chilly at the manor. Hermione said a make-up spell. The spell gave her a natural but rosy look. Hermione slipped on her last scandal as she stepped out of her room to meet Draco.

"Malfoy, I thought we could get your wand after we visit your mum," said Hermione.

As she came into the living room and froze. Draco sat on the couch waiting for her. Her mouth went dry.

'Oh shit, he looks good enough to eat.'

Draco wore a pair of dark denim jeans, a tight white T-shirt with a simple black coat over it, unzipped. She smirked at his pair of muggle converse chucks. He had pulled his hair back it looked shorter than before—about shoulder length.

Hermione cleared her throat.

Draco turned and nearly fell over at the vision in front of him. He ran his eyes over her.

"You look wonderful Granger."

She smiled as she replied, "So do you."

She blushed at his appraisal, but she frowned as she took out her wand passing it to him.

"Malfoy, you have to charm yourself. What if someone is at the manor?"

He agreed and using the wand changed his appearance. Again, she frowned; she really didn't like him this way.

Draco stuck out his arm.

"Shall we?"

She smiled at his gentlemanly gesture. She slid her arm into his as they went to the floo.

Draco took a bit of floo powder and yelled, "MALFOY MANOR!"

00000000000

Malfoy Manor

Hermione and Draco fell through the floo coughing. Obviously, the floo hadn't been used in a long while.

"I'm sorry. I haven't used that floo in a year," a voice called out.

Draco turned and gasped at the sight of the woman in front of him.

'This can't be my mother,' he thought sadly.

Narcissa Malfoy didn't look like the beauty she was known for. It was obvious to anyone she had been crying.

Hermione wanted to cry at the state of the woman.

She smiled, "Hello, Mrs. Malfoy."

Narcissa smiled. Walking to the Hermione she hugged her.

"Hello dear."

Hermione returned the hug.

"It's wonderful to see you Mrs. Malfoy."

Mrs. Malfoy smiled.

"It's so good too see you."

Narcissa turned to the man next to her and frowned.

'He looks familiar' she thought.

"And you are, young man?"

Draco's voice cracked.

"Derek Bradley, Ma'am."

Narcissa nodded.

"Please, let's go to the library. It is private as you requested."

Hermione nodded as she and Draco followed Mrs. Malfoy to the library. They sat in the library in silence while Mrs. Malfoy gathered the tea and cakes placing them on the table.

"Thank you Bugger."

The house elf bowed and left. Hermione smirked at its name.

Narcissa noticed Hermione's amusement and smiled.

"Draco named him when he was 13. He was annoyed with his father so he named him Bugger to annoy Lucius in return."

Hermione giggled, lightly jabbing Draco in the arm. Draco smirked back at her.

Narcissa sat back; she couldn't place him but was sure she knew that boy from somewhere. She pushed it out of her mind.

"So you wanted to talk?"

Hermione nodded as she took a sip of her tea.

"Before I begin, I must ask that whatever I say to you is completely confidential. No one is to know we had this conversion. Also, whatever you see here you must keep secret. No one must know."

Narcissa agreed.

Hermione sighed looking at Draco who nodded, wanting her to explain. Hermione breathed in, looking at Mrs. Malfoy.

"I am here to tell you that I am personally looking into the case of your son."

Narcissa’s eyes teared up.

"Thank you, I asked Shacklebolt for you personally. I know that you will find my son and bring him home so I can lay him to rest next to his father."

Draco gasped. His mother thought he was dead.

Hermione walked over to the woman and held her hand.

"No, Mrs. Malfoy, I am here to tell you that I am working with my team to find the truth and prove your son's innocence."

She smiled slightly.

"That's wonderful. At least people can know the truth even with his death."

Hermione teared up, shaking her head.

"Mrs. Malfoy, Draco is alive."

Mrs. Malfoy's eyes shot up, full of hope.

"What? But Shacklebolt and the papers… they say he's dead." She grabbed Hermione's hands tightly wanting to believe what she was hearing. "How do you know?"

Hermione smiled as she pulled out her wand. She said a spell.

Narcissa looked confused, but gasped when she heard, "Hello Mum."

Narcissa turned to look at the man who had replaced the man who had sat there just a few minutes earlier. She stood looking at him. Her body was shaking, trying to comprehend what she was seeing in front of her.

'This is a trick,’ she thought.

Her hands flew to her face in shock when she looked into the grey eyes of her beloved son.

"Draco?" she whispered. Narcissa's eyes rolled back.

Hermione tried to catch her, but missed. She fell with a loud thud.

"Shit," Hermione mumbled.

tbc…

AUTHOR NOTES :

For updates on this fic go to :

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Many Thanks to my beta beautiful voice, You Rock!

Info on non-canon pensive and altering OoTP…

As I said, I do not follow canon. Here is why: for this story, I needed a piece of evidence that would be so compelling that just viewing the evidence would convict Draco. My sister suggested a pensive. However, I needed the pensive not to reveal its maker until the characters figure it out. So I made up something called an anonymous pensive, which carries false memories.

Which does NOT exist in the world of Harry Potter.

The person who made the pensive is never anonymous because it is their memories. However, I needed it to be anonymous for this story.
Pensives can not hold false memories you can suppress memories but not alter them.

I also changed a bit of OoTP. In this story Harry, Hermione, Ron and the rest of the DA went to the ministry in OoTP but instead of the book version they went to get the prophecy in the fic they went to get a pensive. There is a reason for this. Just go with me.

I had a brainstorm with my sister and a few of my friends. The evidence I had at the start was just witnesses and a bunch of lame Circumstantial evidence but I thought it was too flimsy so I talked with them. I was stuck. My sister said I should use the pensive. I wanted it from the start but since it could not be anonymous, I scrapped the idea. Until my friend told me, I do not write canon anyway so why not. So I agreed and I believe this would be best for the story.

Sorry to canon minions but I had to change it.

Changes:

I knew I was missing something from the story. In chapter 3, I made a small edit and in this chapter, Luna Lovegood is in fact Luna Lovegood - Longbottom.

REQUESTED:

PyroAngel asked for how Pansy and Hermione became friends. This chapter has more detail.

Jennifer via e-mail asked if I could add a scene where Hermione catches Draco having a bubble bath and singing a rap song.

Hope you liked I used Ja Rule's Down ass chick.

Cammie via e-mail made an unusual requested she wanted me to use Fort Knox in the story somewhere. Therefore, I did. Hope you liked it.

Valen via e-mail asked if I could include a scene in the story where Hermione does, a Buffy like wardrobe try on in season one the harvest.

Rena via e-mail asked if I could go into detail about the wedding. She was interested about the wedding photo of Pansy and Hermione, whos' wedding it, was. I did not go all out flashback. I told bits and pieces of it through Hermione's words I hope this was good enough.

Well hope you all like it.