A/N: All of this belongs to JK Rowling.
The events of this chapter happen at the same time as the last one, hence the reason why they both have the same ending.
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As Harry set out to the Wizengamot to attend the trials, Hermione elected to spend the day with her parents. 'Love If you need me, send me a Patronus and I'll be there as quickly as I can, okay?' Harry nodded his agreement. She draped her arms over his shoulders and pulled him into as tender a kiss as she could muster. 'I know that you feel responsible, but you have to let the process run its course.' He held her, lost in the moment, unwilling to leave the comfort of her arms. He had spent most of his life loving her from afar, never realising that she feel the same; now she was with him as an equal, his soul mate, the love of his life. She was the anchor that held him fast to his course. He reluctantly let her go and said 'Tell your parents hi for me will you?' she beamed at him and said 'they'll expect you over as soon as it is over with, you realise? Then we can all go to dinner.' Harry grinned 'I'd like that very much.'
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Hermione Apparated to her parents back garden, Emma saw her arrive from the kitchen window 'Dan, Hermione's here' she called to her husband. Dan came through as Hermione walked into the kitchen 'you know sweetheart, I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing you arrive like that.' her mother beamed at her. 'Hi mum, Harry says hello to both of you. I asked him to come here after, I hope you don't mind.' Emma and Dan both raised an eyebrow at her 'ok, ok I get the message.' Hermione hugged both of them.
Dan ushered the women to the living room before brewing some coffee and joining them. 'So this wizzywig thing is a big deal I take it?' asked Dan as he walked in 'Daaad! Its wizengamot as well you know, and yes it is a big deal. You heard Molly the other night, given the choice, she would take the veil rather than admit that she did something wrong.' Emma asked 'If Harry has resigned, then why is still involved in this case? Surely this would be a conflict of interests?' Hermione took her cup 'Thanks Dad, Harry is still the director of the DMLE until the end of the month, it's written into the contract. Magical law and non-magical law differ in loads of ways, while in non-magical law Harry would obliged to sequester himself from the investigation and any subsequent trial. Magical law requires no such thing; it's something that we have been trying to get changed almost since the day we started.'
Dan sat down and said 'so what's the likely outcome?' Hermione took a drink of her coffee and considered her answer 'It's hard to say. Ginny will likely receive a fine because she used the potion on Harry before the law was changed. Ginny is completely heartbroken about this whole affair, the thing is she genuinely loved Harry; it was hard for her not too. She was raised on stories of him performing acts of daring do and saving the day. Molly filled her head with the idea that she and Harry were destined to be together.'
Emma asked 'and what about Ronald? Surely his punishment will be severe?' Dan put down his cup and said 'I'd like his punishment to be locked in a room with me for 10 minutes...' 'Dan, you're not helping.' admonished his wife. 'Mum its fine, nothing dad can say will make it any worse. It's hard to know that you've been a fool, and to think that all this time I could have been with Harry and been happy.' She sat in silence for a few moments before saying 'I know what you're thinking dad because I've been thinking it too. Ron has been charged with 522 counts of sexual intercourse without consent, that's not the same as rape dad. As uncomfortable as it is for you to hear it, every time I slept with him it was my decision.' 'How can you be so sure, sweetheart? 522 is once a week for ten years, that's a lot.' She looked at her father and could see the anguish in his eyes, he desperately wanted to believe what she was saying to him but the father in him was looking for justice for his only child.
'I know because I have written in my journal dad since I was eight years old. Everything that I have ever seen or done is documented. The days that we had sex are all marked with a small x, I have looked over the last few years and I can see the pattern of infatuation in the comments I've written. It would appear that Ron at least had some scruples about that, it doesn't make it any easier knowing that for at least part of the time I was living a lie.' Emma got up and rushed from the room, listening to her daughter talking about what had been done to her over the last ten years was simply too much for her to take.
'I'll go speak with her dad if you make some lunch.' He nodded in agreement and headed tot eh kitchen. Hermione followed her mother up the stairs and found her curled up in her bed, soft sobs escaping from her. Hermione kicked of her shoes and climbed on tot eh bed behind her mum and put her arms around her the way her mother used to comfort her on the days when she would come home from school feeling particularly upset. 'I remember when I was about nine; Graham Parker stole my bag and threw all my books across the playground. I cried for what felt like hours, you came into my room and held me like this. You could always make me feel better; no matter what happened you could always put a smile on my face.'
Emma sniffed 'this isn't Graham Parker throwing your books across the playground, this is more serious.' 'I know it is, mum but I've been through much worse than this. I have a wonderful family and great friends and more importantly I have the love of my life to help me through whet ever comes.' Emma turned to face her daughter; Hermione was glowing with the possibilities to come 'so you and Harry; have you finally gotten together?' Hermione grinned like a Cheshire cat. 'The day we found out about everything; he told me that he had been in love with me since just before his twelfth birthday.' It was Emma's turn to grin like a fool. 'I can see that being with him does you good.' At this Dan called to tell them that lunch was ready, 'We'd better go down before he complains.' Hermione said, her mother agreed.
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During lunch the family spoke about everything expect the case. The Grangers filled Hermione in on the local goings on, who married who, who passed away, and how the practise was doing. Eventually they moved back in to the living room with more coffee, when a silver weasel Patronus bounded into the room 'Hermione, Harry has had a serious panic attack but don't worry I have managed to talk him down. All the evidence has been presented; we'll owl you with the outcome.'
Hermione sat in her parents living room, she received Arthurs Patronus message a few hours ago telling her about Harry, telling her that he was fine and that when deliberations were completed and sentencing was passed they would owl her. She looked at the clock; the hands seemed to stand still. Seconds felt like minutes, minutes felt like hours and hours dragged for what felt like a lifetime. 'Hermione, will you stop pacing? Honestly you're worse that your father was I was in labour with you.' said Emma. Hermione smiled at her mother, 'I'm just worried is all.' She replied 'Honey why you don't...' her father started but was interrupted but the sound of an owl pecking at the window