Last Lesson in Love - (Sequel to Tutoring A Malfoy)

Chapter Eighteen - 'The trial.'

Hermione stared out at the rain for who knew how long. No one disturbed her, Rose was quietly drawing something  as she sprawled out on the sofa, and Hermione had been waiting – quite impatiently – for Robert to show up.

But now the pouring rain held her complete attention. It took her mind off the fact that today was the day Draco was going to be freed... or sent to Azkaban. She could hear the splatters hit the window as though the rain was directed right at her. A puddle had formed in the Weasley’s front, messy, garden and some birds were flopping down into it as though hoping for food.

Hermione absentmindedly put her hand on the window, hearing the birds squawking loudly as the rain got heavier and heavier.

‘Mummy.’

Hermione’s finger followed a raindrop down the window until it joined onto another trail of raindrops. Was rain a bad sign for today? Was the squawking of the birds a bad sign too? It sure unsettled her.

‘Mummy!’

‘Hermione.’

Hermione jumped at the hand on her shoulder and quickly turned her head, feeling and hearing a crick in her neck. Wincing, she rubbed the sore part of her neck and looked at Robert who had probably apparated into the Burrow without her noticing. Robert was looking confident in his closely fitted suit and blue tie with a brown briefcase in hand that probably had all of Draco’s documents held in it.

‘Mummy,’ Rose muttered, looking at her mother impatiently.

‘Oh, Rose!’ Hermione jumped again, unaware that her daughter had been calling her.

Robert’s eyebrows furrowed up to make a frown. Hermione shook her head, trying to tell him that she was just nervous but she didn’t want to say that in front of Rose. Hermione moved over to kneel in front of her daughter and kissed her forehead, brushing a hand through her hair.

‘You remember what I told you this morning?’ Hermione asked quietly.

‘To listen to the old lady and not go outside,’ Rose nodded, throwing her arms around Hermione, ‘but, Mummy, I want you to stay!’

‘Rose, darling,’ Hermione stroked her hair, ‘this is the last time I’ll be leaving you. I promise. After this, we can go home.’

‘Home?’

‘Yes. You want to go home, right?’

‘With Dway-co?’ Rose inquired, pulling back to look imploringly at her mother.

‘I... um...’ Hermione stuttered.

How was she able to answer that question? She wanted Draco to go with her more than anything but it didn’t lie in her hands now. If it did, there would be no trial and Draco would be found innocent so they could go back to Australia. To their home.

‘We’ll see,’ Hermione tried to smile and kissed her forehead again, ‘I love you. I’ll be back soon, okay?’

Rose nodded and watched her mother stand up again. Hermione quickly called to Mrs Weasley that they were leaving and she said her goodbyes, offering her good luck too which Hermione gladly received. Hermione then looked at Robert and nodded, watching him disapparate first before following suit.

---

‘Are you ready?’

‘Yes.’

‘Shall I get you some tea to calm your nerves?’

Hermione looked at Robert incredulously, ‘Draco is in there. I don’t need tea.’

‘Yes, of course,’ Robert muttered a brief apology and nodded at the guard, offering his ID.