A/N: Hey everyone! Hope you guys liked the last chapter. I apologise for the way it ended, because it looked really weird to me, but to end it properly, I would have to add one more scene in it, which would have made it longer. Anyways, so Hermione finally tells him what she did. What do you think of it? Did you think I would reveal that this soon, or perhaps wait for a few more chapters? Read the A/N at the end to find out when the next chapter will be out. On with the chapter! 

 A few months later....

February 2005

"Still no sign of him?" Draco asked him as he entered Harry's office. 

The Chosen One shook his head. "I am telling you, he is a freaking genius. It doesn't even matter that we know his real name or that how he looks, we cannot catch him." 

"Did Kingsley ask other Ministries to look at this case?" 

He nodded. "But they won't help us. After all, he is not a Death Eater so they think he is not dangerous, which is totally rubbish. I mean, just look at you. I hate to admit this, but you are damn smart and you can be a leader of Death Eaters if you want to, and you can probably attack the Ministry and we won't even be able to catch you..." He faltered as he realised what he said after seeing the look on his friend's face. 

Friends huh? You will be lucky if Draco doesn't kill you after what you said about him, Harry thought. 

"I suggest you shut up before you make me kill you, Potter. And believe me, Granger will not protect you this time. Definitely not after she gets to know you said that I can be the leader of those Death Eaters." Draco spat and glared at him. 

If looks could kill... Harry shook his head. 

"Look, Draco, I am sorry. I wasn't thinking when I said that-" 

"What a shocker." The Malfoy heir rolled his eyes. 

"-but anyways, we should get on with the real topic." Harry said, ignoring Draco's interruption. "We still haven't been able to catch him, and if my Auror instincts are correct, then I think he won't rest until he gets his revenge." 

"Then there is only one thing we can do until we catch him." Draco said. "We need to protect Granger. Knowing that git, he would definitely come back. He would come out of his hidinf. And we need to be prepared. We can't let him get away this time, Potter." 

Harry nodded. "You are right." 

"I am right all the time, ain't I? And that is something most people forget." Draco smirked at him.

He rolled his eyes. "Anyways, I think we should not let Hermione help us with this case." 

The blonde wizard raised an eyebrow at him. "And why is that, Potter?" 

"Protection, Draco, protection. You yourself said a minute ago that we need to protect her. And if she is working on this case, it won't help the matter at all. If she got involved with this, it will only put her at even more danger. And we can't do that." 

"I hate it when you are right." Draco muttered. "So, do you have any ideas how we can stop Granger from working on this Carl Roger case?" 

----------

A few minutes later....

"I know what you are planning with Harry." Hermione told her partner as soon as he entered their office. 

"I have no idea what you are talking about." Draco said. 

"You cannot lie to me, Draco." She said. "I know you were discussing that case with Harry and knowing you two, you would have probably decided to not let me join it." 

"It's for your own good, believe me." He sat down in his chair. "If you don't get involved in this case, we will be able to solve it more quickly." 

"Really? How?" 

"If you joined it, I can bet that Rita Skeeter will definitely get to know about your criminal record file, and why exactly is that Roger guy after you for revenge. And not to mention, if Roger got to know that you are involved, he can tell everyone what you did. Furthermore, he will plan an attack, to get his revenge. I don't think even the Minister would be able to hide it if the top two Aurors of the Ministry of Magic, and the best Auror of Australian Ministry were working on a top secret case. He has to give information to other Department Heads, and one of them will probably tell a reporter. Do you really want everyone to know why exactly Roger is after you?" Draco asked her. 

Hermione shook her head. "I just... I can help you with this, you know? I have seen him, whereas you haven't, at least not enough to recognise him even if he changes his appearance. Besides, if I help with this case, and people get to know, we can set up a trap. We can use-" 

"No, absolutely not." Draco turned towards her and stood up. Walking towards her desk, his glare intensified as he said, "We will not use you as a bait. I am not going to put you in danger, Granger. I can't lose my best friend. I will not lose my best friend." 

Hermione smiled at him. "I appreciate that, really, I do. But just think about what I said, okay? And please talk to-"

Before she could complete her sentence, she received a memo from Robards, asking her to give him the report on the latest case. 

"You go and give him the report. I will just finish reading this file." Draco said and walked away from her. Before she could leave, he said, "And that discussion is over, Granger." 

As she left the office, he took out Carl Roger's file from his brief case and opened it. As he had predicted, he felt the same rush of anger he did when he read it the first time. Oh and regret as well. 

Draco knew he should have caught him first, and then rescued Hermione. Harry had even shouted at him the next day, his exact words being, "What were you thinking, Draco?" 

But you see, that's the thing. He wasn't thinking. 

It had been six months and he could still remember that day clearly. 

Flashback

Draco was peacefully reading his book when he felt his wand vibrating. At first, he didn't think much about it, but when it vibrated again, he knew she was in danger.

Quickly standing up, he picked up his wand and dissapparated on the spot, without thinking twice. 

As soon as he arrived there, he saw something that made his blood boil. 

A raven haired guy was standing in front of Hermione, his best friend, laughing with others as he tortured her again and again. 

Thankfully, none of them had noticed Draco yet, well except Hermione whose eyes had widened as she saw him. 

Before any of them could notice her reaction, the blonde wizard shook his head at her, hoping that she would understand what he was trying to say, and would keep quiet. As he had apparated just in front of the door, he could focus on everyone, without needing to turn around. Also, none of them had heard the 'crack' of his apparation due to Hermione's screams. 

But Draco's luck didn't last long. Just as he had raised his wand, the guy standing next to the raven haired wizard saw him, and told everyone else as well. 

"Uh huh, looking for your girlfriend, Malfoy?" The raven haired man sneered at him, his wand still pointed at Hermione. "Oops, you are already married, aren't you? My bad. I am not even going to ask how you came here, let us just-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Draco yelled, "EXPELLIARMUS!" The force of the spell was enough to not only disarm him, but to throw him at the wall as well.

As the others saw their leader lying on the floor, all of them pointed their wands at Draco, who knew he couldn't fight with all of them at the same time. 

That, and he still hadn't been able to cast a corporeal patronus. Not that it would have helped him in any way, of course, since he didn't have much time to cast it.

The next second, chaos reigned.

Somehow, Draco was able to stun three of them quickly, and them being poor duelists helping the matter. The remaining four, except their leader who was still lying on the floor, was better than them.

But thankfully, not a match for Draco, who was one of the best Aurors in the world.

The said wizard used the Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder he had gotten from the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, the only thing he thought was useful from their shop, to create darkness.

But it seemed as if everything was against Draco at that time. Those people must have put several charms on the room, to prevent that darkness powder from affecting them or the room. Though, it was enough to create a distraction, and that was all Draco needed. 

Quickly, he used Petrificus Totalus on two of them, and stunned the other one. As for the last one, he had been slowly walking towards Hermione, and he was just about to finish the incantation for one of the unforgivables, when Draco threw a spell at him.

The guy had sensed the spell coming his way, and dodged it. Then the two, forgetting all about Hermione and Roger, started dueling. The guy seemed to know that he could not just win like that from Draco, so he started taunting him.

And well, Draco is not known for his patience or the one capable of controlling his temper, is he? 

Letting his temper get the best of him, Draco used Sectumsempra on him, after the guy made a derogatory remark not only about Hermione, but his wife and parents as well. 

Immediately, he went towards Hermione who was whimpering because of the after effects of the Cruciatus Curse. He quickly said, "Relashio," making the ropes around her disappear. 

Just as she became free, she immediately wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his stomach, and started crying. 

Draco removed her arms from around him, and knelt down in front of her. He slowly wrapped his arms around her, and lifted her out of the chair, setting her down on the ground in front of him. Her arms were wrapped tightly around him as Draco whispered, "It is okay. It will be okay," in her ears. 

"Oh look, the lovers having a cute and sweet moment." Draco heard someone saying and he craned his neck to see the raven haired man standing behind him. 

He was about to stand up, when Hermione's grip tightened on him. Her head was buried in the crook of his neck as she started shaking. 

Granger comes first, I will deal with that raven haired psycho later and it won't be good for him, he thought. 

"Look at that people. The youngest Malfoy trying to comfort a murderer!" Carl Roger sneered at them. 

"Shut up!" Draco growled.

"What? Can't handle the truth, Malfoy? Or did you not know that your lover is a murderer? Well it makes sense if you don't. After all, our Golden Girl is not as innocent as she seems, right? In fact, she is no better than those Death Eaters. Oh wait, you are a Death Eater as well, aren't you?" Carl smirked at him. 

Hermione now had a death grip on him, but Draco could not give a damn about it. He wished to stand up and strangle that man, but controlled himself when he looked at the girl, his best friend, crying in his arms. 

"You will regret saying and doing all of this, when I get my hands on you, you crazy man. You are the one who is not better those Death Eaters here. Just wait till I beat the crap out of you." Draco hissed. 

"You see, that's the thing, Malfoy. You will not be able to do that. And do you know why? Because of this." Carl took out a small box from his pocket, and used, "Finite" on the people lying on the floor. Well on all except one, on whom Draco had used the same spell Harry had used on him in sixth year. On that guy, Carl used, "Vulnera Sanentur." 

Draco couldn't do anything. Having thrown his wand away when Hermione had wrapped her arms around him, he couldn't reach it now, as it was lying a few centimetres away. He couldn't use his wandless magic either, because he knew he had no control of his emotions or magic right now, the two things required for doing wandless magic. 

Carl grabbed the person's arms, as the others placed their hands on the box their leader was clutching in his hands. "Until we meet again, Mafloy, and you murderer." The next moment, all of them whisked away as the portkey activated. 

"DAMN IT!" Draco shouted, though knew he had no one but himself to blame for this. 

If only he had informed someone before coming here. 

If only he had used Incarcerous on the people lying on the floor before he had focused all of his attention on Hermione. 

If only he had not thrown his wand away. 

Too many If Only-s, which was nothing new for Draco. He had started thinking about those If Only-s when he had been forced to take the Dark Mark, after Voldemort had tortured his mother. 

"It is okay, Hermione. I promise, you are safe now." He whispered as his arms tightened around her. "I will not let anything happen to you. I swear."

Flashback over

If someone had asked him if he regretted using Sectumsempra on that person, Draco would have immediately denied. 

Sure, it was a dark spell, and he knew just how it affected a person, having been at the receiving end of the wand when it was used by The Boy Who Lived. 

But at the same time, he had said some bad things about his best friend and his family. You don't just say things like that, test Draco's patience and temper and except him to stay calm and do nothing. 

A small part of him that time wondered if what that psycho had said was true. But even then, he knew that whether or not it was true, it would not change his friendship with Hermione. He knew if she was a murderer, there was a reason behind it. 

Well not that he believed she was a murderer, of course. She could never be. She wasn't tainted like Draco was. 

She was not a Death Eater like he was. 

And, she was not on the wrong side of the war like he was, even if he didn't want to, not even for one single moment. 

At times, he wondered what if he had been on the good side. What would have happened? 

So many things. He wasn't sure about other thing, but about one he was. 

His family would have been tortured again and again if he had not taken the mark. Voldemort had even threatened to kill him and his parents when he had initially refused to become a Death eater. 

Of course, he wasn't worried about himself. He didn't care if he would have been killed. As much as he was angry at Harry for using that spell, a part of him had wanted to die. He had wished he would have, because he knew it was a suicidal mission, and he was expected to die at the end. 

But he would do anything for his parents. Literally anything. And so, he had no choice but to do what The Noseless Voldy Moldy had ordered him to do. 

He had thought that Hermione was way better than him even when she had told him what she had done all those years ago. 

Flashback

"You are okay, Hermione. I promise." Draco told her as he carried her, one arm under the back of her knees, the other one on her back. He sat her down on the couch, and was about to step away when she clutched his shirt tightly in her hands. 

"D-don't leave me, p-please. I-I am s-sorry, Drac-co..." Hermione sobbed. His eyes softened as he looked at her. He sat down next to her and she hugged him tightly. 

Taking out his wand, he accioed his mobile towards him, which he had left behind, and called Astoria. 

His wife had called him a few minutes before he had gone to ask him if he would come to Daphne's house that day. Her husband had wanted to discuss something important with him. 

He had told her that he would come after half an hour, as he wanted to finish the book he was reading, which was helping him to solve a case. 

"Hey Tori." Draco said. 

"Draco? Where are you? Are you coming here? Look, it's okay if you don't. I understand-" She started rambling but he cut her off. 

"I would have come there, Tori. But I can't. Something has happened." At that, he looked at his best friend who was not paying attention to him, and quickly told his wife what had happened.

Not even a second after he had told her that she informed him she would immediately come to their house and had ended the call. 

"I had to make up an excuse to Narcissa, who had arrived there a few minutes ago. I don't think she really believed me, but didn't ask any questions either." Astoria said as she sat down on the other side of Hermione. 

Draco nodded. "I don't think it is a good idea to tell her what happened right now. My mother may love Hermione very much, but we should not overwhelm her right now. And the less people know what had happened to her, the better. I will inform Potter afterwards, and tell him not to come here. It is best if we tell Kingsley as soon as possible, to have a chance to catch those freaking people." 

Astoria made soup for Hermione, and brought a few healing potions as well. Just as she was about to talk with her husband, Daphne called her, asking when she was coming back. 

"You should go back. Your sister and my mother are really nosy and they would not hesitate to come here to ask what had happened." Draco told her. 

Astoria nodded. "You should stay here with Hermione. She has been through a lot today, and I don't think it would be good if she is left alone. Take care of her, Draco." 

She quickly kissed him, and patted Hermione's back. "Stay strong, Hermione. We are here for you. And don't worry, we don't judge you at all. You can stay here for as long as you want." 

Draco kissed her belly, and told her to call him when she reached there. After she had flooed to Daphne's house, he turned towards his best friend. 

"You should eat the soup, Hermione. You need to eat something before I give you the healing potions." He removed her arms from around him, and picked up the bowl of soup. 

As her hands were still shaking, Draco fed her the soup, and gave the required potions as well. After she had stopped shaking, and calmed down, he turned towards her, dreading to ask his next question. 

"Look, Hermione, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I completely understand that, and it is no problem. I don't mind at all. But I need to tell Potter what had happened. I have already delayed it, and if I don't tell him now, I don't think we will be able to catch those people." He said. 

She nodded. "I understand, Draco. I-I will tell you what had happened. But please tell Harry to tell Kingsley what happened. He would understand. I am not r-ready to tell anyone else." Hermione said. 

He then immediately called Harry, informing of what had happened, and what Hermione had asked him to do. After that was done, he wrapped his arms around her, who was still silently crying, despite having been calmed down a few minutes ago. 

Of course, she dreaded to tell him what she had done just as much as he dreaded to ask her the question. But she knew she had to. 

The thing she was afraid of was whether or not he and his wife would judge her. And his mother, as well when he would tell her, obviously after taking Hermione's permission. 

Because she knew Draco never hid anything from his mother. 

 "I think it's time you tell me what you really did all five years ago, Hermione." Draco whispered. 

She buried her head in his chest and sobbed. "I-I killed someone, Draco." 

And to say he was shocked, despite hearing what Carl had said, would be an understatement. 

Oh, but it was not the only thing that had shocked him that night. 

Turns out, Hermione had left England, and went to Australia because she was a criminal here, and most of the people had no idea about that. 

The Brightest Witch of Her Age had committed three crimes, one of them being killing a person. The reporters, particularly Rita Skeeter, would have had a field day if they had gotten to know about this. 

Flashback over

Just as he had predicted, Draco felt no different than he had before she had told him, about her. She was still his best friend, and would always be that. 

The only thing that had changed was his determination. Before she told him, he had wanted to catch that guy just because he tortured Hermione. 

But when she had told him, he wanted to catch that guy, and his group's members as well to prove to everyone that Hermione wasn't a bad person. And that, nobody is born evil. 

Not even Voldemort. 

He could understand why that guy wanted revenge, but that doesn't mean he supported him. No, but he wanted to bring justice to what had happened five years ago. 

He wanted to find the real person who was actually responsible for everything that had happened, and probably convey a message to everyone about who actually are those bad guys. 

As Hermione came back a few minutes later, his jaw clenched as he remembered what she told him. 

It was nobody's fault, well except for the person who had actually been behind all of that. 

He would find that person, and thus clear Hermione's name.

And hopefully, have a talk with Carl Roger to make him understand, and convince him to leave behind all of that, and change his ways. 

--------------

"HARRY JAMES POTTER!" Ginny exclaimed as soon as her husband entered their home after finishing his work at the Ministry. 

She had her hands on her hips, and an extremely angry look on her face. All in all, she looked exactly like an 'Angry Molly' at that moment. 

And you do not want to deal with an angry Molly. 

Or an Angry Ginny for that matter. Ever. 

According to The Boy Who Lived, also known as there Chosen One, Ginny can be more dangerous than Voldemort. 

If it hadn't been for the prophecy, Harry was sure that Ginny would have killed Voldemort with her simple spells, and if it wasn't enough, her one look was enough to make Tom Marvolo Riddle quiver. 

So, when she had exclaimed with an angry look at her face, Harry had frozen on the spot. He could do nothing but just stare, and occasionally blink at her. 

"Mind telling me what is this?" She asked as she threw a crumpled piece of parchment at him. Harry straightened out the creases as much as he could and read the letter. 

Weaslette -turned- Potterette

Your husband would kill me for telling you this, but I thought you had a right to know what had happened. 

Not like I am scared of Potter of course. The guy could not kill a fly if he wanted to. How he managed to defeat Voldemort is beyond my understanding. 

Of course, he had help from you and everyone else. 

Oh and my mother as well, who lied to Voldy. 

Then he had some luck as well. 

And last but not the least, ME. Draco Lucius Malfoy, the most handsome and talented wizard ever, gave his wand to Potter not caring about his own life as he was practically defenceless. 

Don't I deserve an Order Of Merlin for this? 

Of course I do. I should talk to Kingsley to give me one. 

Harry looked up at his wife. "Uh... Draco wrote a letter to talk nonsense and," He looked back at the letter, "Say that he deserves an Order of Merlin?" 

"Not that you idiotic husband of mine." Ginny shook her head. "Read further." 

I mean, I haven't written this letter to talk about that stuff. But well that is important too. Anyways, let me tell you the real reason I have written this. 

Your best friend, Hermione Granger, was attacked five months back, in September. She was tortured a few times before I could save her. 

Oh and your husband knew everything as I had told him what had happened that day, but he didn't tell you. 

Of course, you know me and I don't do anything just for the sake of doing it. So here is the reason: 

Potter again compared me to those Death Eaters, and you know how much I hate that. Also, he gave me a FERRET plushie for Christmas, and told everyone, I mean everyone, about the time I was turned into a ferret. 

I could have killed him for doing that. But of course, when I got to know that Potter hadn't told you about what had happened, I got this idea.

Pretty sure that Potter is scared of you, and so I told you what had happened. If you have any more doubts, you can call me. And not anytime. 

I am not your best friend that could call me whenever you wish. 

Oh and I asked Granger for her permission as well, to tell you this. 

Hope Potter will get an earful. 

Draco Malfoy

Harry Potter could kill Draco Malfoy right now. He slowly looked up from the letter to his wife and gulped upon seeing her expression. "Gin, l-listen to me. I-I was just..." 

But instead of finishing his sentence, he ran upstairs, before she could catch up with him. 

"GET BACK HERE, YOU IDIOT." Ginny yelled and ran after him. 

"You are sleeping outside the house today. On the ground. And I will not cook breakfast tomorrow. Also, you will clean the house tomorrow, the muggle way." She said as she reached their room where Harry had run off to.

He dodged the Bat Bogey hex she sent his way, and apologised again and again. 

Harry should have told her what had happened to her best friend. She deserved to know the truth. And on top of that, he had not allowed Hermione to tell her either, saying that he would tell his wife at the right time. 

But now he regretted doing that. 

Ginny Potter could be downright scary. 

----------

"What if I can't be a good father, Granger?" Draco asked as they made their way to the reception. After getting directions, they quickly walked towards the room.

And no, Draco did not want to call her Hermione. He preferred calling her Granger, and would always do so. 

"Don't be ridiculous, Draco. I have seen you with James and Teddy. I am sure you will be a really good father." She smiled at him 

They had been talking about some stuff at the Ministry, when he had received a peacock patronus from Narcissa, telling them that Astoria had gone into labour. 

Draco had almost dropped his cup of coffee when he had heard it. Immediately, they had apparated to St Mungo's while his mother called everyone else.

"What if I am like my father?" Draco whispered. "What if I..." 

But he didn't need to finish his sentence. Hermione knew what he was talking about. She placed her hand on his bicep and squeezed it. "You won't be like him, Draco. You are a good man. And I am proud of you." 

He gave her a small smile as they reached the room Astoria was in. She gave him a brief hug, and Narcissa followed her actions. Draco gave others a curt nod and entered the room.

A few hours later, he emerged from the room, with a huge grin on his face. "I have a daughter! She is so perfect." 

Everyone immediately congratulated him and Draco told them to come one by one. First, Narcissa went into the room to meet her granddaughter. 

"Congratulations!" Hermione hugged him. He grinned and hugged her back. He pulled away a moment later and looked back at the room. 

Then, Draco looked at his best friend and held out his hand to her. "Come on, Granger. Let me introduce her to you."

"You sure, Draco?" Hermione asked as she looked around. "Perhaps Daphne should go first, she is your sister in law and-" 

"And you are my best friend. Now come on." He grabbed her hand and led her inside the room. Astoria greeted her with a tired smile on her face, and Hermione hugged her tightly.

"Congratulations." She said. 

"Thank you, Hermione." Astoria said.

They looked at Narcissa who had her granddaughter in her arms. "She has Draco's hair and eyes." Narcissa said. 

"And she has Astoria's nose and lips. I swear, she is so perfect and beautiful. I will have to chase boys away from her." Draco smiled at his daughter.

"So what is her name?" Hermione asked him. 

Draco took his daughter from his mother and took a step towards Hermione. "Athena Katherine Malfoy." 

"You are right, Draco. She is really beautiful." She said and Draco grinned at her. He carefully handed Athena to her and made his way towards his wife. 

"I am so proud of you, love." He kissed his wife's forehead and sat down next to her on the bed. 

Half an hour later, as everyone was taking turns to hold Athena in their arms, the door of the room opened. 

And there stood someone whom Draco Malfoy had not seen in months. 

"Hello son." Lucius Malfoy said as he entered the room. 

A/N: That's it for this chapter. It was 5000+ words. Hope you guys liked it. A bit longer than the last one, but I hope it wasn't boring. So, I still haven't revealed what Hermione's crimes were, but it will definitely be revealed soon. In the meantime, I hope you liked this dramatic yet fluffy chapter. Random question: Your opinion on Ron Weasley? Answer in the comments below. Vote, comment and please share my story. Reviews are always appreciated. Thank you! 

Next chapter on 4/10/20(Sunday). 

Until next time.