A/N: I'm sorry I haven't updated lately as frequently as I used to, I just started work and have been busy with a social life. (HA! Who am I kidding?)

Anyway, here is the update! This is the second last chapter I think and the last one will be posted within a few days.

Enjoy! Please review and tell me what you think!

Chapter Ten

Hermione

Don't freak out, don't freak out, but no matter how much she thought it she almost screamed. She had heard from Harry and Ron a few days ago. They'd been switched back and returned to their families with their families being none the wiser. They had been notified of her expulsion and her upcoming trial, and were invited to attend. Hermione wanted nothing more than to see them again, even if for the last time.

She had been sent a Ministry Escort to assist with actually getting into the Ministry. Plus, she was 13 so she needed someone with her, being under the age of 17.

They got into the trial room, which looked big enough that if filled with beds could sleep all of Hogwarts. Since when was it necessary to have this many people for a trial of underage magic? Was it because they were considering re-sending her to Azkaban?

She shivered; she didn't want to go back there, where nobody cared what happened to you, where nobody was able to soothe you, tell you it was going to be okay. That was mainly because it wasn't.

"Hermione Jean Granger," Fudge started, "you are here today because you, full knowingly, performed the Body Switching Spell while you are underage. Not only is underage magic illegal but so is the use of that spell. I request a full expulsion for this girl, she is lucky she is out of Azkaban."

Hermione looked to the crowd and saw Harry and Ron. Somehow, having them there was a calming influence.

"Have you any objections to what I just said?"

"I-I- I regret what I did Minister. At the time I believed I was helping, and it wasn't until after I attempted the spell I learnt that it was illegal. Had I been aware, I promise you sir, I would not have done the spell. I know that is no excuse for doing underage magic in the first place, but I am deeply truly sorry for my actions."

"Well, that was very, um, touching, Miss Granger, however like you said, that does not excuse the fact that you did underage magic."

Harry piped up from the sidelines.

"She only did it because we asked her to! I would have done the spell myself except I thought the person who originally cast the spell had to do it."

"That is all very good Mr Potter, but Miss Granger didn't have to listen to you. And she shouldn't have even done the spell in the first place."

"But it's like she said innit? The book she was reading from didn't say that the spell was illegal. And she performed it at Hogwarts so can only be charged for doing the second spell." Ron said, a bit of a stretch, but the Minister must have bought it because his face softened.

"But it didn't even work, so she didn't technically end up doing any magic outside of school." Harry added. By this point Hermione was holding her breath, but the Minister looked confused.

"But she intended to perform magic-"

"She didn't though! Because it didn't work!" Harry shouted.

"But it did, didn't it, because if the spell is cast but doesn't work it gives one of the enchantees, if you like, the Wizard's Disease? I don't know how both of you ended up getting it, but really it is because of her spell that you two ended up as sick as you were."

"It is also because of her that we're well again!" Ron yelled. "Without her, we would be at St Mungo's waiting to die! Not to mention all the future victims of the disease that she's saved!"

Fudge was staring at the ceiling, seemingly pondering what Ron had just said, while Hermione turned to the boys and mouthed Thank-you.

They returned with a grin and thumbs-up.

Amelia Bones started talking from the front row. "All those in favour of expulsion?"

About half the people in the room put their hands up, including Fudge's. She started counting and said, "I'm sorry love. But there's only a hundred here today, and there are fifty-three hands up. That's a majority."

"Hermione Jean Granger," the Minister concluded, "you have been expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Your wand will be snapped and you will be forced to live in the Muggle World."

Hermione burst out in tears. Everyone had gotten up to leave, and the boys had come over to comfort her. "I'm a failure. I would rather die than this."

"Hermione, I wish I could get expelled instead of you. It's because of me arguing with Harry in the first place that you did the spell-"

"No, no. You two were great. But what are two kids, one not even a teenager yet, to one hundred officials from the Ministry?"

There was a ruckus from the front of the room.

"WAIT! Everybody sit back down!" A voice boomed from the front. Whoever the man was, he must have had a lot of authority, because everyone, including the Minister, sat down without another word.

Hermione knew that voice; she should have recognized it immediately. How many speeches had he given at feasts? Who was one of the first voices she heard after waking up from her petrification?

Dumbledore!

"My colleagues and I apologize for being late. We had not been notified of the trial until ten minutes ago."

"No matter Albus, the trial is over-"

"Oh, Cornelius, but I was under the impression that according to the law, every available member of the Wizengamot had to be present for this trial. Since I was available, but had not been notified, it is only fair to redo the trial."

"Redo the trial? Are you mad! No way!"

"Well then why not redo the vote? My associates were caught up to speed with Miss Granger's crimes. We are as prepared for the vote as you were two minutes ago."

Fudge looked outraged, but Amelia Bones nodded. "Of course, Dumbledore. You and the other Wizengamot members may sit down. How many of them are there?"

"Six."

"So that means there are one hundred and seven present at the Wizengamot today, correct?"

"Correct."

"All those in favour of expulsion?" She asked, a moment later when everyone had been seated.

All the same hands had been raised, none of the new hands had.

"All those in favour of dropping all charges?"

The rest of the hands were raised.

"Fifty-three out of one-hundred and seven. The majority rules, you are free to go."

"Defendant cleared of all charges." Fudge stated simply, before leaving. He seems in oddly good spirits for someone who just had their butt kicked, Hermione noted.