"Can you believe this shit?" Ron exclaimed loudly, slamming the Daily Prophet on the kitchen table next to Hermione. "What is it?" asked Hermione. Since the Death Eater trials began a few months after the war ended, she had grown accustomed to Ron having something negative to say every morning about the latest news. Ron simply waved his hand at her to read it for herself-his mouth full of orange juice and his other hand piling food on his plate. Hermione read the head line Remaining Lestrange Revealed as Never being Death Eater.
"How is this even possible?' thought Hermione to herself. As she began to read the article, her eyes slowly got bigger and bigger. 'This is going to create quite the stir.'
The trial of Rabastan Lestrange was held yesterday in front of a packed Wizengamot Chamber. Lestrange, 34, is the last living member of the wealthy Pure-blooded family of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Rodolphus, his brother, and Bellatrix, his sister-in-law, were both killed during the famed Battle of Hogwarts just two short years ago. Lestrange was originally incarcerated in Azkaban for the torture of the Aurors Frank and Alice Longbottom following the downfall of the dark wizard Tom Riddle, commonly known as Lord Voldemort. During his trial it was revealed that Mr. Lestrange was not actually a participant in that activity, he had been arrested as his home and falsely sentenced with the deceased Death Eaters Rodolphus and Bellatrix Lestrange and Barty Crouch Jr for those crimes. It was revealed that Mr. Lestrange was never a marked Death Eater as he was only 15 when they took place. Mr. Lestrange was home for the Christmas Holidays from Hogwarts and had been sleeping in his bed when the Aurors stormed Lestrange Manor looking for any other remaining members of the vigilante group of Riddle's followers. It was falsely assumed that he was a participant, and as Rabastan was never given a chance to speak at his own trial, he was thrown in to Azkaban as a minor with no cause. No doubt new Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt will want to look in to why this gross miscarriage of justice occurred to an innocent child. Mr. Lestrange did not participate in the Battle of Hogwarts either, as was testified by him under influence of Veritaserum. The Wizengamot attempted to lay the charge of escape from Azkaban, but as he was falsely imprisoned in the first place he was acquitted of that charge and released from custody. Mr. Lestrange was not available for comment, and we are certain that he will be receiving extensive reparations for the loss of his innocence and childhood. We are the Daily Prophet are looking forward to this member of the Sacred Twenty-Eight taking up the helm of his House and re-entering wizarding society.
Hermione couldn't believe what she had just read. "Has Neville seen this yet?" she asked as Harry walked in, hair wet from the rain outside: "I just got back from the Burrow, he was there with Luna. She is comforting him." Hermione could only imagine how Neville was feeling, one of the men she always though was responsible for the loss of his parents was actually innocent and walking free! Ron was still fuming: "He is a Lestrange, everyone knows they are a horrible family. Full of blood magic and muggle torture. He should be locked up just for having that last name! They never should have given these Death Eaters trials, they should have all just been kissed on site!" "Ron!" Hermione admonished "the Wizengamot tried him fairly, he wasn't even marked. He was just a child. Can you imagine how he has felt all the years?"
"What, is this going to be your next pointless crusade? A fucking Death Eater? God Hermione, you are so soft. After all we went through you just can't stop this bleeding heart bull shit."
Harry looked at both of them, and said "Just stop guys, let's not start this argument again.
Ron just rolled his eyes and continued eating. Hermione smiled softly over at Harry, silently thanking him for stopping what she was sure would have been another major row between them. She stood up, expressing her desire to take a shower before she started her day.
She hurried up the stairs to her room on the third floor of Grimmauld Place, quickly locking the door behind her. Ron had taken to following her around, hoping that if he caught her in a vulnerable moment she would finally cave and have sex with him. Since the kiss they had shared in the Chamber of Secrets, Ron had just assumed that he and Hermione were dating. It still bothered her that he had never formally asked her to be his girlfriend. He had also never taken her on a date, just expected nightly snogs. They had only progressed to heavy petting, but Hermione knew that soon she would have to make a choice to either give in to him or end whatever it was that they had going. She knew in her heart that they weren't right for each other but everyone just assumed they were so perfect she just didn't do anything about it.
Hermione realized after the water began freezing her that she needed to get out of the shower and face the day. Her depression had only gotten worse and time went on. She just could not seem to get out of the funk that had been swarming around her since Voldemort was defeated. She had job offers from so many places after scoring perfect on her N.E.W.T.S. after returning for her 7th and final year at Hogwarts. But she just didn't know what she wanted to do, so she had taken some time to herself. She had been able to find her parents in Australia, but she was unable to reverse the memory charm she had placed on them. After dressing in jeans and a simple t-shit, she slowly made her way back down stairs. As she reached the end of the steps she could hear Ron and Harry having a conversation. "I just don't know man, I mean. You and Ginny do it all the time! You can barely keep your hands off of each other. She just doesn't seem interested in me. I am starting to get tired of trying with her. I am a man, and I have needs. If she can't take care of them, then maybe I will have to get them taken care of somewhere else!" Hermione heard the words coming out of Ron's mouth and but she just waited to hear Harry's response of "c'mon Ron. Every couple has a difference pace when it comes to the physical. I know you and Lavender jumped in to sex right away but Hermione isn't a slag like her." Hermione smiled hearing that, but Ron wasn't placated. "You're right, Hermione is different, she's the iron fucking lady. Lav was a quick and easy lay. And man could that bird suck a di-…"
Hermione had finally heard enough "Oh, I am sorry that I have morals Ronald Weasley! Just because Lavender will open her legs for any guy who pays even the smallest bit of attention to her doesn't mean I will too! If she is such a good lay, why don't you go pester her to get your 'needs' taken care of, because I have told you I will NOT be having sex with ANYONE until I am engaged AT THE LEAST!"
Ron looked at Hermione with rage in his eyes, "You know what, fuck this. I don't need to hear your shit again. I am leaving." Ron yanked his coat off of the back of the chair and stormed off. They heard the door slam and Mrs. Black started shrieking "Filthy blood-traitors. Desecrating the house of my ancestors with Mudbloods and filth!" Harry jumped up to close her curtains. When he did, he knocked the copy of the Daily Prophet that he was getting ready to read, off the table.
Hermione started crying, knowing that Ron might return in the morning drunk as anything trying to apologize yet again for his actions. She was tired of it. She decided that she was going to visit Andromeda Tonks and little Teddy that day. It had been a few days since she had last seen them. She grabbed her beaded bag that she still always carried with her, kissed Harry's cheek as he was getting the curtains shut and walked out on to the front steps. As she stood there, preparing to disapparate away she took in a deep breath. She knew she needed to get her life in order, but she just didn't know how. Maybe this visit would help, Andy always knew what to say to make her feel better. Hermione spun in place and disappeared with a quiet *pop* sound.
Harry heard the noise from the hallway where he had finally gotten Mrs. Black's portrait closed. He sighed because their fights were just getting worse and worse each time. He just hoped that Ron didn't do anything he regretted again. Harry knew that Ron had cheated on Hermione once before, but he made Harry promise not to tell her because he swore he would never do it again. Harry went back in to the kitchen to clean up the mess that had been created from Ron storming out. He picked up the fallen newspaper and threw it in the trash, not wanting to see something else that would disappoint him. '
In all of the fuss of that morning, none of them saw a very small line for an article in the Prophet at the bottom of the first page: Marriage Law proposal gaining traction in light of new research from Dept of Mysteries p. 9.