Robert Greene was one of those people who loved to help each and every person who came to him. He was thoughtful, passionate, and very sympathetic towards Hermione. Even when she showed up at his door with her eyes red around the rims and her too tight shirt and a coat that wasn’t even hers and her hair scraped back, away from her face... Robert invited her inside with a huge smile on his face.

‘I’m so sorry,’ Hermione found herself apologising when Robert opened the door, ‘I look a mess but... the thing is that I-’

‘Hermione - I can call you Hermione, right?’ Robert asked and smiled when Hermione nodded. He continued, ‘Hermione, don’t worry about it. I know this is a tough time. Why don’t you come in? I made dinner.’

‘Thank you,’ Hermione whispered, clutching her coat a little tighter as she crossed the threshold to his apartment.

Even though Robert lived in an apartment, rather than a house, it was pretty obvious that he made good money. The apartment opened up to a large room with a television mounted to the wall and a black and white sofa sitting right across from it. Art and paintings were decorating the white walls with black trimmings and Hermione found herself wondering if Robert was married. By the looks of his apartment, she’d bet he was a bachelor.

Her thoughts were correct as Robert apologised for the mess – though, there was none – and said, supporting a goofy grin, ‘this place needs the hands of a lady, wouldn’t you say?’

‘It’s a lovely apartment,’ Hermione said, turning her eyes back to him, ‘I should probably wash my face though. Is there a...?’

‘A bathroom? Down the hall to your right,’ Robert smiled at her, ‘I can’t really cook so it’ll be frozen lasagne for dinner. I think you could use some food.’

‘Yes, that would be great,’ Hermione nodded, trying to smile at him but it probably came out as a grimace.

She took off her coat and hung it on one of the hooks where Robert’s jacket was hanging too before going down the hall, looking at the various paintings. Robert must be an art sort of person and a lawyer. She had a hard time figuring out why he was still single.

The bathroom was like the living room: modern and colour co-ordinated. The blue walls and curtains reminded her of the ocean on a sunny day and Hermione felt herself smiling a little. She used the toilet and then washed her hands, inspecting her face in the mirror. She looked tired and worn and used and just horrible. Hermione shook her hair out of her ponytail and ran her hands through it, trying to untangle and control the mane. When the attempt failed, she tied her hair up into a bun and washed her face twice, getting rid of the tears that had made her face a little sticky. Hermione dried her face and hands before leaving the bathroom.

‘Through here,’ Robert smiled at her once she came into the living room. He gestured her through into the kitchen.

A table had been set up with frozen lasagne on two plates and some water next to it. Hermione smiled her thank you at him and went to sit down, Robert sitting opposite her. She dug into the lasagne, feeling hungry and incredibly tired but they had a lot to discuss before tomorrow. Eating seemed like a waste of time... fundamental but a waste all the same.

‘Slow down, Hermione,’ Robert murmured, watching her eat, ‘savour the taste and just relax, you look like you need it.’

‘I can’t just relax while Draco is in that cell,’ Hermione looked at him, a touch of a frown on her forehead. She shook her head, taking another bite.

 ‘I’ve been working on this case non stop,’ Robert informed her, seeming not to take offence to her snapping, ‘and I’m very confident that I can let him off. He might have to do public services but that, or anything, is better than Azkaban.’

Hermione nearly choked on the last word and looked at him intently. Robert met her gaze calmly, looking as though he had a lot of experience not to glare at someone when they were getting angry at him.

‘I don’t want Azkaban to even be considered for Draco,’ Hermione told him.

‘Considering or expecting the worst is a good strategy. We need to work at avoiding that worst option. In this case, it’s Azkaban or the death penalty,’ Robert said, picking up his fork and looking at the lasagne for a second before saying, ‘there is one way we could have an advantage.’

‘What?’ Hermione asked, nearly leaning over the table.

Robert chewed, thinking over how to word what he was thinking. If Hermione could make it happen, Draco would surely be let off. In any case, this idea of Robert’s would mean that Draco would never have to think about Azkaban, let alone actually be shipped there.

‘What is it?’ Hermione asked, impatiently, fighting the urge to glare at him.

‘Well, my original plan was to plead Draco’s case and that would work but there is a sure fire way of making sure Draco is let off,’ Robert explained and then sighed, ‘we need to get Harry Potter to plead Draco’s case.’

Hermione felt her bum hit the chair as she sat back down, no longer leaning over in anticipation. It made perfect sense that Harry could persuade the court that Draco was innocent since they would have to listen to Harry. He was, after all, the main person of the war and uprising of Voldemort and his death eaters. But...

But.

Harry wouldn’t do that. He thought Draco was guilty and blamed him for Dumbledore’s death even though Draco didn’t kill him. If Draco hadn’t fixed that Vanishing Cabinet, the death eaters would never have put the school in an uproar and Snape would never have had to kill Dumbledore. Harry would see it no other way than how it looked in his head. He never forgave Draco for what he did, what he had to do.

Hermione had to convince him to plead for her boyfriend. Robert couldn’t convince Harry since he was pretty stubborn and wouldn’t listen to his friends, rather than a strange lawyer who he didn’t even know. So now, it was up to Hermione.

‘It would help the case and we should definitely see into it,’ Robert said, watching her carefully, ‘but if Harry Potter refuses to plead for Draco, I’ll plead for his case and keep him away from Azkaban if I can.’

‘If you can...’

‘I’ll try my hardest, Hermione.’

‘If... you... can?’ Hermione repeated again slowly, tasting the words on her mouth, ‘that isn’t good enough.’

‘Finish eating and I’ll show you what I intend to do tomorrow if worse comes to worse,’ Robert said, picking up his fork again.

‘What if you can’t save him and he gets sentenced to Azkaban?’ Hermione frowned, not picking up her cutlery. Her mouth felt dry, ‘what am I going to do? What will I tell Rose? What’ll happen to Draco?’

‘That won’t happen, Hermione. I’m not going to let it happen,’ Robert said and sighed, ‘the war ended so many years ago and most of the death eaters have been captured and sent to Azkaban. There’s only a few left, including Draco.’

‘Draco’s not a death eater,’ Hermione frowned at him.

‘Sorry. Ex death eater then,’ Robert said and continued, ‘Draco’s not caused harm to anybody in these last few years. We can use this to our advantage, Hermione.’

Hermione watched him for a second before picking up her fork. She kept her eyes on her food, finishing it off. They ate in silence.

---

Surrounding them were files and papers and folders, all different colours. Robert must have been a very colour co-ordinated person, Hermione thought. Her eyes were stinging now and she was on the verge of falling asleep on his oh-so-comfortable sofa.

Robert had been talking her through his speech for tomorrow and how many questions he would ask and how he would twist and turn some of the evidence against Draco so that it would be in favour of Draco. Hermione kept up with him but now her mind was bailing on her. She was so tired and she knew she should get to the Burrow to see Rose.

‘But, like I said, if you can get Harry Potter to plead... please, try to do that,’ Robert said, also looking as tired as Hermione felt.

Hermione shrugged on her coat and stepped into her shoes, nodding, ‘thank you, Robert, for everything. I’ll talk to Harry and try to persuade him... but it’ll be hard work. He’s very stubborn but he’s been through a lot.’

Robert nodded, watching her, ‘get some sleep. Get someone to take care of Rose. Drink some coffee in the morning. I don’t want you all sleepy when Draco gets let off.’

Hermione smiled at him and said, for the hundredth time, ‘thank you, Robert.’

‘See you tomorrow, Hermione.’

Hermione nodded and closed her eyes, disapparating. She wished she could go straight to the Burrow and cuddle up to Rose and fall asleep if sleep ever came, but she had to do one more pit stop. Landing in front of Harry’s house, Hermione didn’t hesitate before knocking on the door.

It was late but Draco needed this so Hermione would get Harry up, no matter what.

Thankfully, it didn’t take much to wake Harry. She wondered if Harry hadn’t been able to sleep since he came to the door straight away, opening it. His eyebrows shot up in surprise when he saw Hermione.

‘Hermione... come in,’ Harry said, standing to the side to let her in. He then closed the door behind her, taking a deep breath, ‘I know you’re angry but-’

‘I need a big favour and if you care about me at all, you’ll help me,’ Hermione said, feeling confident when it came to Draco’s freedom.

‘I do care about you.’

‘Then what I have to say won’t be a huge problem for you.’

‘Can we just sit down? You look like you’re about to faint,’ Harry stated, gesturing to the living room.

Hermione followed him in and sat down on an arm chair. She was feeling a little odd but that was probably all the running and worrying she had been doing lately. Harry sat down opposite her on the sofa and they could both hear the steady ticking of the clock marking time.

‘Can I get you something to drink or eat?’ Harry asked, leaning forwards a little and putting his arms on his thighs.

Hermione shook her head.

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes.’

Formalities out of the way...

‘So, what do you need of me, Hermione?’ Harry asked, lifting his eyes to look at her intently, ‘if you need me to apologise before you tell me then... I’m sorry but I had to do it. He’s dangerous.’

‘He’s not dangerous. You don’t even know him, Harry. It’s been years since you knew him,’ Hermione responded, fighting to keep her voice calm and collected just like Robert’s.

‘I know that he destroyed half the school by letting death eaters enter it. I know that he nearly killed Katie Bell. I know that he bullied you and Ron and everyone else. I know that he was responsible for Dumbledore’s death,’ Harry frowned at her, ‘did you forget all that?’

‘He was not responsible for anyone’s death. Snape killed Dumbledore on Dumbledore’s orders,’ Hermione reminded him, shaking her head. A few strands of hair came loose but she didn’t notice.

‘There were many death eaters there. Dumbledore had no wand. Any one of them could have killed him and I knew that if Snape hadn’t then Draco would,’ Harry frowned, looking at the ground and closing his eyes as though he was in pain.

Hermione reluctantly moved over to sit next to him. She wrapped her arms around him and lay her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes.

‘Draco’s done a lot for me and Rose. When he found out that I hadn’t died, he was so happy and relieved. Harry, you should have seen him and you would’ve known he had changed,’ Hermione told him, quietly, trying to soothe him, ‘he’s a pro when it comes to Rose and even better when it comes to taking care of me. He got me out of a very bad relationship with a man called Michael. He was going to help me with my financial troubles and housing troubles. He took care of Rose when I had to work extra shifts. Harry, I love him and he loves me.’

Hermione opened her eyes to look at Harry who didn’t move or acknowledge that she had spoken. She sighed.

‘Harry, you’ve got Ginny and kids and everything you could ever want. I was so alone after the war and then I had Rose and she was my entire life. I love her so much but I always knew something was missing and that was Draco. Please, don’t let me life become incomplete forever,’ Hermione was practically pleading him now, ‘please, Harry. I love him. I need him.’

‘He knows nothing about love,’ Harry grimaced.

‘I’d teach him,’ Hermione stated, ‘please, don’t let sacrifice be his last lesson in love.’

Harry turned on the sofa, making Hermione sit up straighter, and turned to her. He noticed her red eyes and pale face.

‘What do you want me to do?’ Harry asked, quietly.

‘I want you to come to court tomorrow and plead Draco’s case. I need you to save him, for me. Don’t let an innocent man be sent to Azkaban. Don’t break my heart. Don’t break Rose’s heart,’ Hermione felt tears threaten to evacuate her eyes. It had been such a long day...

‘I can’t do that.’

Hermione stared at Harry as though he had spoken in a different language. He couldn’t do that? After everything that Hermione had just said, just poured her heart out for him to see, made herself vulnerable to him... he wouldn’t save Draco? Hermione tried to stop her tears as she shakily stood up, keeping her anger and contempt for her ex best friend at bay.

‘If you don’t do this, Harry, don’t ever show me your face again.’

Harry watched her disapparate, leaving only the ticking clock as his company.

---

‘Mummy,’ Rose murmured sleepily as Hermione slipped into bed beside her.

‘I’m right here,’ Hermione assured her.

Rose turned around and put her face into Hermione’s shoulder, wrapping her little arms around her mother as far as she could reach them. She fell back asleep almost instantly and Hermione cuddled her, staying awake as she thought of the decision that would change her life tomorrow.