Author's Note:
Sorry about the wait everyone. I had my birthday on the 12th so I have been a little busy.
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Chapter 20-
Hermione stood outside the familiar courtroom doors. She had decided to tell Ron and Harry that she had received the ministry's letter. Her friends seemed shocked and of course outraged at the idea that Hermione could have possibly been reprimanded or worse for performing the life saving magic to protect her family.
"This is bollucks!" Ron hissed as he shuffled his feet. His father looked down at him, severity in his eyes.
"Quiet down son. This is stressful enough for Hermione." His father warned as he gently placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder. Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and gave a gentle squeeze.
"Don't worry Hermione, just go in there and explain everything. It's not like Umbridge is in there." He slightly smiled. Hermione giggled at the thought of the normally bright pink clad witch who would torture anyone and smile about it afterward.
"I would rather take on a thousand dementors than her again." Hermione laughed as she hugged her sides. She couldn't stop from fidgeting. She looked around the darkened hallway, not sure of what was going to happen next.
"Ms. Granger?" A small witch dressed in black robes poked her head out of the court doors.
"Yes." Hermione had practically jumped hearing the woman's small voice.
"They are ready for you."
Ron and Harry made to walk next to her when the little witch placed a hand up to ward them away.
"I'm sorry Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter. This is a closed session." The little witch smiled.
"What?" Ron persisted as he took a step toward the doors.
"I...I must insist. It won't be long." The black robed woman persisted. Ron and Harry exchanged glances.
"Don't worry guys...I will be fine." Hermione was of course lying. She was a rattled mess but she didn't want to let on with her two best friends that she was a bundle of nerves. She tucked a few curls behind her ears and straightened her burgundy blazer. She pressed a small hand to her stomach and attempted to stand taller as she made her way through the open doors.
"Please...have a seat." The small witch asked pointing to the same chair Harry had sat in not that long ago when he had been interrogated about his use of underage magic. Hermione sat carefully, crossing her legs at the ankles and brushing the wrinkles out of her beige skirt. Hermione looked up to see Kingsley Shacklebolt was sitting in the minister's space high above everyone else. His face seemed bruised on one side, a tell tale cut alongside his cheek. Hermione narrowed her eyes wondering what had happened to the wise wizard.
"Ms. Granger, we are glad that you made it." Kingsley smiled at her. Hermione smiled back but still allowed the nervousness to creep onto her pretty features.
"We have found that you performed an Obliviate charm earlier this year prior to the assault on Hogwarts. Is that correct Ms. Granger?" Kingsley asked as he looked down at the witch from high upon his perch.
"Yes...it was out of protection." Hermione said quietly as she began to wring her hands.
"Was the charm on your parents?" Kingsley added, his stare intense and unyielding.
"Yes. I wanted to protect them from being located by Voldemort and his followers." Hermione could feel her heart begin to pound wildly in her chest.
"Where is the location of your parents Ms. Granger?"
"I'm not sure exactly but they are in Australia." Hermione bit her lip trying to avoid any tears from building in her amber eyes. Kingsley and the rest of the Wizengamot sat quietly studying her like a science experiment.
"Ms. Granger, you do understand that the usage of underage magic outside the confines of Hogwarts is impermissible…"
"Yes minister...I understand but…" Hermione began to stammer. Kingsley put his hand up to silence her.
"We understand that during times of war certain rules cannot always be upheld…" Kingsley's booming voice echoed throughout the courtroom. Hermione held her breath waiting for the results of the inquiry.
"We here at the ministry have undergone a revamping as such. Thus it is important that our rules and magical laws also be revamped. It is this court's opinion that the underage magic that you, Hermione Jean Granger, performed was only facilitated during extraordinary circumstances. We have come to the conclusion that you are innocent and have been cleared of any and all charges. Do you have any questions?" Kingsley asked, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Uh...I...um…" Hermione was at a loss. Tears of joy and relief began to brim in her eyes.
"Oh...and Ms. Granger...one more matter." Kingsley began to say then turned his eyes toward the doors Hermione herself had just entered. A tall man, hair matching her own and a petite woman with dark hair entered. It was her parents. Hermione let out a muffled cry, tears spilling down her face. She looked up at the rest of the court as she sobbed.
"Go ahead Ms. Granger." Kingsley finally allowed the smiled to creep onto his face. Hermione launched herself from the interrogation seat and into her parents waiting arms.
"MUM! DAD!" She howled as they held her close.
"Oh Hermione!" Her mother crooned, her own watery tears falling from her cheeks.
"How...you...you remember me?" Hermione gasped as she pulled away from them for a second.
"It took a bit Ms. Granger but a stay at St. Mungo's with our very best witches and wizards seemed to have done the necessary." Kingsley added. The rest of the Wizengamot got up to depart.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Hermione cried as Kingsley made his way down in front of the small family.
"Oh...don't thank me Ms. Granger." Kingsley said. Hermione was more than confused.
"Minister…" Hermione began to ask.
"Oh Ms. Granger...please...Kingsley." Kingsley smiled, placing his hand gently on her shoulder.
"What...what happened to you?" Hermione asked, the bruise on his face seeming more purple and dark the closer in proximity she was to him.
"I was stunned by a couple of death eaters a few days ago while in my home. Surprisingly they didn't do anything else to me than that."
"I'm so sorry." For some reason Kingsley's story shifted something in Hermione's brain. Why would deatheaters just stun him and not do anything else? There were still deatheaters after the war? Hermione shook the thoughts out of her brain and smiled at the dark man.
"I cannot thank you enough for uniting me with my family. It means...It means so much to me." Hermione could feel the tears choking her slightly.
"I apologize for the whole interrogation Ms. Granger. It is part of procedure when a young witch or wizard performs underage magic that there is a hearing." Kingsley said, his eyes seeming distant.
"I understand."
"Now Ms. Granger, I have quite a few meetings to contend with. I apologize for cutting this short."
"Oh no...thank you minister...I mean Kingsley." Hermione grinned and allowed the dark man to leave them. She turned and hugged her parents desperately. She never wanted to know the feeling of their absence again.
The Granger family walked out of the courtroom, hands clasped as they continued to hug each other. Harry, Ron and Mr. Weasley came over seeing the joyfulness on all of their faces.
"Good news I see." Mr. Weasely commented as he shook Mr. Granger's hand.
"Yes." Hermione grinned. She suddenly paused when she noticed a shock of platinum down the hallway. Was she imagining things?