Project 137.43.M.D.

LVIII. | TESTIS

LVIII.
TESTIS
(witness)

She was nervous. So nervous, in fact, that she didn't even realize she wasn't alone anymore until she heard a slight cough. Her head snapped up and she froze when she saw Pansy and (to her horror) Nott standing by the partition wall of her cubicle.

"Granger."

Pansy gave her a curt nod. She was pale, but seemed determined.

Nott, for his part, was fuming with rage, and Hermione had to force herself to tear her eyes away from him and return his wife's greeting.

„Pansy, I'm glad you came. The witness hearing takes place in courtroom three. On level ten. I was only going to be on my way in a few minutes." She glanced at her timepiece. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

It was difficult for Hermione to keep her voice steady, because she was already strained to the breaking point.

"We just wanted to make sure you kept your word, Granger," Nott hissed scornfully, looking at her in disgust. "If anything happens to my wife, or our name is slandered in public because of this stupid testimony she is about to give, then I swear to you-"

"That's enough, Theo."

Pansy neither raised her voice nor turned to Nott. Nonetheless, he immediately fell silent at her words and Hermione noted (secretly in awe) that the ex-Slytherin clearly had her husband under control. Maybe she had underestimated Pansy. Despite the uneasiness the witch radiated from every pore and her tense posture, she seemed sure of what she was doing.

"I asked the Wizengamot to ban the press from the courtroom and they agreed," Hermione hastened to say. A touch of relief crossed Pansy's face. "Apart from the Gamot members, Draco, Harry as the head of the Auror Office, and myself, no one will attend the hearing."

Nott cracked his knuckles, but Hermione studiously ignored him. Instead, she continued to look at Pansy, who finally gave her a short nod. A „thank you" seemed to flicker in her eyes. She didn't say it out loud, but Hermione decided that it was good enough for her.

That exchange of looks seemed to be the end of the brief conversation, as Pansy turned and grabbed Nott's arm. Then they were gone. For a few seconds, only their footsteps echoed through the office section, until it was quiet again.

Hermione didn't have more than two minutes to recover from this unexpected encounter before she was snapped out of her thoughts again. Someone cleared their throat and her heart jumped at the sound. With a frown, she realized it was Draco she expected every damn time, but she was disappointed again.

It was Blaise Zabini who now sauntered into her cubicle and leaned casually against the partition wall. Hermione had to suppress an exhausted sigh. Today was apparently the unofficial day for Slytherin audiences.

Unlike Nott, Zabini looked downright amused.

"Can I help you, Zabini? The interrogations will take place in courtroom three on level ten," she repeated lamely. "I'm afraid they won't let you in, though. Spectators are not allowed. You can wait for Draco outside the courtroom if you like."

Zabini waved his hand dismissively.

"Yeah, I know. I accompanied Draco here and already said goodbye to him downstairs. I just felt the need to tell you personally what I think of your commitment."

Hermione's heart clenched. On the one hand, because Draco was already there and obviously hadn't bothered to stop by before the questionings. On the other hand, because she could imagine what Zabini would accuse her of. He probably had similar things to say as Draco. But she could take it. It wouldn't make any difference anyway. She didn't mind hearing from another person how encroaching she had been over the past few months.