AN: Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last one. Great lot. :) Well, we're nearing the end, and I'm feeling it. I can't believe we're on the 25th chapter!!

Here's another "memory" so to speak... it's a bit different than the rest, so I hope you like it! This is probably the last of the memories which I'm sure you're all glad to hear. ;) From hereon out, it'll be mostly in the present.

Stand and Watch It Burn

XXV. From Another View

"How is she?" Ginny held her hands, clasped, up to her chest. Just behind her, a group of wide-eyed expectant redheads stared at him. Harry looked from one face to another, each waiting anxiously to hear his answer. The Weasley clan had all come to St. Mungo's when Harry had sent them an urgent message reporting that Hermione had been attacked. They had been waiting in the sitting room for a while, waiting for some news.

"Alive," Harry replied. "She came to an hour ago, but she didn't say a word. She's sleeping now… she seems stable, but they're not sure what the extent of her injuries are."

Mrs. Weasley burst out into strangled sobs, and George did his best to console his mother. Arthur Weasley let out the breath he was holding. "Have you informed her parents?"

"Did." Harry sighed. "They'll be here soon."

"They'll have questions," Mr. Weasley commented. "What happened, Harry?"

How could he say? What could he say? Should he tell them what he saw when he arrived? The horrible scene that was laid out before his eyes? But he couldn't… he just couldn't. It would mean that it was real. "We… We're not sure yet," Harry finally said. "We're still trying to sort it out. Kingsley and Tonks are at the scene trying to see what evidence was left behind, but there isn't much – whoever came pretty much left the cabin a wreck. Remus is going to need a new home."

"Any ideas?" Fred asked, sidling up next to his father.

Harry started to shake his head. "Not really."

Mr. Weasley nodded and leaned in towards Harry. "How's Ron taking it?"

"Not well," Harry replied. "Not that any of us are. But he refuses to leave her side, no matter what the mediwizards say."

As he said this, Ron stumbled out of the room, his eyes bloodshot. Harry suspected he had been crying.

"Ron." Mr. Weasley took his youngest son into his arms and held him close.

Ron barely reacted to his father's attempt at comforting him. "What have you guys been talking about?"

"I was updating them," Harry replied cautiously. "About what happened."

Ron's eyes narrowed. "Did you tell them about Malfoy?" he growled.

All heads jerked up and turned to face Ron at this. Mr. Weasley frowned. "Draco? What does Draco have to do with this?"

"Everything! Malfoy was the one who cursed and tortured her…"

Harry interceded. "We don't know that yet…"

"Yes, we do, Harry! You saw what I did! You saw Malfoy there with his wand, cursing Hermione!"

There was a small gasp from Ginny. The rest of the Weasleys could only manage blank stares.

"No," said Ginny in disbelief. "He wouldn't –"

"I saw it," Ron spat out in defiance. "I saw him with my own eyes, standing with the other Death Eaters! He obviously was acting as a spy for them! Who knows how long he's been giving them information? Who knows how many people died because of him?"

Ron's voice was getting louder and louder. Harry looked around nervously at the other visitors and mediwizards that were now all staring. "Ron, don't…"

"Hermione could have died, Harry! If we had shown up any later, who knows what the bloody bastard would have done…"

"Ron! I already told you! You need to stop shouting! Things are dangerous right now, and we can't have you ruining everything by blowing your top off!"

Ron shut his mouth but continued glowering. "Fine," he forced out through gritted teeth. He turned and stalked off, down the hallway, away from the rest of them. Mr. Weasley sighed as he watched his youngest son leave.

"You must understand, Harry. It hurts him to see Hermione like that."

Harry's mouth formed a straight line. "He's not the only one."

"No," Mr. Weasley agreed, "but he cares a lot for Hermione. He still…"

"Yeah." Harry knew that Ron had suffered when Hermione had ended things between them. Ron rarely spoke of it, but Harry could see the pain in Ron's eyes anytime he saw her or heard her voice. He had tried, of course, to get Ron to open up, but his friend merely changed the subject anytime Harry tried to bring it up. Ron was never one to share about such things, but Harry knew that it ate at him as it festered inside.

Mr. Weasley turned to Harry and asked in a low voice, "Is it true? What Ron said – is it true?"

Harry hesitated. "We did find other Death Eaters. And we did find Draco, with his wand, and Hermione was already unconscious…"

"But it doesn't mean he hurt her," Ginny protested. She had been eavesdropping over Harry's shoulder. When he and her father both looked at her, Ginny moved closer to them. "I don't believe it… I don't want to."

"Neither do I," Harry admitted. "Neither do I."

x x x

Remus Lupin felt rather tired. The full moon had just passed, but as always, the work was never ending. He had his mission with the werewolves up near Scotland to deal with, as well as secretive communications with several double agents around the world, every conversation vital but dangerous at the same time. The war was starting to reach its climax; Remus recognized the signs. The tension was reaching a high point. Outbreaks were peppering the news. It was much like the first war. Sooner or later, something had to give.

Meanwhile, they soldiered on at home, the first front of the war. And at every turn, there were losses. Friends – some nearer than others, but each so precious and valiant – fell at every step. And every day, Remus carried on, trying to ignore the burden he felt squarely on his shoulders. He knew he wasn't the only one fighting, and that his burden was not the greatest of all.

But some losses were harder to bear than others. And loss came in many forms, not just death.

Remus looked up at the building in front of him. The Burrow. Sighing a bit, he walked up to the front door and let himself in.

"Hello, Remus."

"'lo Molly," Remus replied, smiling at the matriarch.

Molly was bustling about the kitchen, as usual, putting together another large meal. She had a large, steaming pot in her hands and she was transporting it from one counter to another. Remus could smell its delicious aroma as it wafted across the kitchen.

"Staying for dinner?" she asked almost breathlessly. Molly placed the pot down and brushed her hands against her apron, dusting the flour off her palms.

"If you wouldn't mind."

"How many times do I have to tell you, Remus? You're always welcome here." Molly smiled kindly at the disheveled werewolf standing in front of her. Her gaze drifted down to what Remus was holding in his hands. It was a tattered paperback. "Here to see Hermione, then?" she surmised.

It was more of a statement than a question, but Remus nodded in response anyway. "How is she today?"

"The same." Molly was staring down at the bowl in front of her. Picking up the spoon she started stirring what looked like to Remus sticky batter. "She's up. Still not speaking."

To be honest, Remus hadn't expected anything else, really. The others were getting anxious with Hermione's… condition. But Remus understood. He knew a little about being betrayed by someone you trusted more than life itself.

"Where's Harry and Ron?"

"Trying to decode some message or the other," Molly replied distractedly. "They're having a tougher go of it without Hermione, you know."

Remus chuckled. "She was always the brains of the lot. One of the brightest witches I've ever had the privilege to meet."

"Same." Molly shook her head. "And to think such a fine mind ruined… ruined by that… that dirty little…"

Remus interceded. "We don't know the extent of Hermione's injuries yet."

"She hasn't spoken, Remus." Molly's eyes glistened with oncoming tears. "She hasn't said a single word since she left St. Mungo's. What are we – am I supposed to think? It's been days, weeks nearly. What if he destroyed her memory? Ruined her mind? I can't bear to think…" Her breathing quickened. "And to see how it hurts the rest of them – Ron, Harry… all of them. It haunts them. I can see it in their eyes."

Cautiously, Remus put a comforting arm around Molly who was silently sobbing. "It'll be all right," Remus reminded her.

Molly straightened up and used her apron to dab at her eyes. "Of course it will," she said quickly. "I'm just being silly." She sniffed and then started stirring the sticky batter again. "Now you get on, and I'll finish making this pudding for dinner."

Remus smiled warmly at her as he departed. His smile faded slightly as he ascended the stairs to the room Hermione was staying in. She was sharing a room with Ginny; no one trusted her to be alone.

The door was slightly ajar, and Remus pushed it gently. The room appeared as it always did, every time he had come. Two beds were set up, side by side. Hermione's bed was by the window, and she was sitting up, staring listlessly out the half-drawn curtains. She did not react when she heard the door opening.

"Hello, Hermione."

At the sound of his voice, Hermione finally looked from the window and turned towards Remus. Her face remained stoic, even as her eyes met his.

"How are you on this fine day?" Remus nodded toward the window. "Summer is getting near, isn't it? It's a lovely day – the roses are nearly in full bloom."

Remus could have sworn he saw Hermione tense a little at this. But the moment passed, and Remus decided it was merely his imagination.

He walked across the room and seated himself in the chair at Hermione's bedside. "Did you like the last novel I brought?" Remus looked at the nightstand where the last tome he had brought – East of Eden – lay, seemingly untouched. Unfazed, Remus propped up the book he had brought along. "I brought you a new one. The Unbearable Lightness of Being. I just recently read it and thought it might interest you."

Gently, Remus laid the novel in Hermione's lap. Her fingers curled ever so slightly around the worn paperback. Remus had bought it used, from a Muggle bookstore years ago and had only recently decided to read it. It was a strangely lyrical narrative that helped him relax in the late nights when he felt restless and couldn't fall asleep.

Hermione's gaze was fixed on the book in her lap, though Remus wasn't sure if she was really looking at it so much as she was looking at its general direction.

"Hermione." Remus cleared his throat. "Hermione, I'm not sure… I'm not sure what sort of state you're in. Mentally, emotionally… I don't even know if you remember anything that's happened." Remus looked at Hermione, hoping for some sort of indicator, but her face remained blank. "I know something of… being in your position. I can't say I understand fully because that would be too presumptuous of me –but I know something. I don't…"

Remus's voice trailed off. It was too hard. Too difficult to think about it. But Hermione's brown eyes were staring at him. He had her attention. Swallowing hard, Remus tried to carry on. She needed to hear what he had to say. He knew that.

"Almost sixteen years ago," Remus said quietly, "I was put in a similar position you find yourself in now. James and Lily…" Remus sighed and shook his head. "And worse – I believed Sirius was the traitor. I believed that the man they had entrusted their lives and their son's life had betrayed them. It was devastating. I was devastated – I had lost all my best friends… my only friends. And I hated Sirius." Remus closed his eyes briefly before continuing. "I never told anyone that. But I hated him. I hated him for being weak, for giving in. I hated him for not being stronger." Remus looked up at the ceiling, trying to calm himself. "But then," he continued, "as we all found out, Sirius was innocent. So all's well ends well, I suppose." Remus dropped his head and looked back at Hermione, trying to smile. It was difficult. "My point being I know how you might be feeling now, how hurt you are. And I just want you to know that I understand, that you're not alone, no matter how much it feels like it."

Hermione was still looking at him. She blinked. And then turned away.

Remus sighed. He tried. And he wondered, too, if the pain of Sirius's betrayal could truly match the pain Hermione now felt over Draco's. Perhaps not.

"Molly almost has dinner ready. So, I'll see you down there, then."

Remus turned and left without another word. If he had stayed longer, perhaps he would have seen the single tear that dropped down Hermione's cheek.

x x x

"Silence! Silence!"

The pounding of the gavel echoed through the frenzied courtroom. The mania was at a fever pitch. Ron looked around anxiously at the judge who sat before them, moving his sweeping, plum-colored robes from his elbows so he could sit more comfortably. When things appeared to be more orderly, the judge pulled himself up to his full length in his big wooden chair and said slightly pompously, "Court is now in session."

The day that they had all been dreading had now arrived.

The day of Draco Malfoy's trial.

They had all argued about what to do for this day. Harry had been summoned to testify, but he was still unsure. He argued that he had a conflict of interest, that he was busy doing other things – but Ron knew the truth. Harry felt uncomfortable testifying against Malfoy. Ron clenched his fist. Even now, Harry didn't see! He and Harry had gotten into an awful row over it, and the outcome was inconclusive. Even this morning, Harry seemed unsure of his course of action. He had left early that morning before anyone else was up, leaving a note saying he needed a walk to clear his mind and that he would see the rest of them at the courtroom later that day.

Ron of course, could have testified, but Harry's word carried much more weight. And perhaps Harry knew that too.

And there was the question of what to do with Hermione.

"We can't just keep her cooped up here, alone!"

"Well, we can't exactly bring her either, now can we, Harry?"

"You're being unreasonable, Ron…"

"Harry, Ron, please, both of you…"

"No, Remus, listen to him! Hermione needs to go to this trial! For all we know, it could trigger something…"

"We don't know that! Harry, it could just make things worse…"

"You're just scared of her seeing Malfoy! You're still not over her leaving him for you! Admit it!"

"Harry, that was uncalled for. Ron, where…?"

Ron had walked out. He had gotten furious. But also, it was because he knew what Harry was saying was true. He was afraid of Hermione seeing Malfoy. He was afraid of what it might do to Hermione, and they weren't completely unselfish reasons either. Ron shouldn't have just walked out, he knew… but sometimes the truth was too hard to hear.

In the end, he had conceded that Harry and Remus were right. Hermione had to go, and she had to be there.

But it didn't mean he had to like it.

"First order of business…" The judge looked over his spectacles at the papers sitting in front of him. "Please bring in the defendant."

The crowd went insane again as Malfoy entered the room. Malfoy, looking a little more pointed and even more pale, walked in, arrogant as ever. Ron narrowed his eyes.

He felt a sudden movement next to him. Ron turned to look at Hermione, and he knew where her eyes were fixated.

Neither he nor Harry believed that Hermione had forgotten everything, like some of the mediwizards and other members of the Order speculated. Hermione's silence was baffling. She still hadn't spoken, and no one could really understand why. But Ron knew.

And Ron could see it in Hermione's eyes now, as her gaze rested on Malfoy. She remembered… she remembered something. The anger, the hatred… the pain in her eyes.

"Draco Abraxus Malfoy," the judge said in his rickety voice. "You are here on charges that you have conspired with He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named for the death of Albus Dumbledore, three counts of treason, and assault. How do you plead?"

Malfoy remained deathly silent, his eyes cold and grey.

"Very well," he said. "Will the prosecution please begin their case?"

A lawyer seated on the table opposite from Malfoy stood up, a winning smile across his handsome face. "Thank you, your Honour. First, I'd like to remind the jury that…"

- - -

The trial had carried on for an hour. Ron was feeling slightly overwhelmed by the formality of it all. He wasn't really sure what the purpose was. This trial was more of a show than a real trial. Everyone knew what would happen. These trials were more for morale than anything else – a proof that the Ministry was prevailing in this war.

"For my next witness," Ron heard in the distance, "I'd like to call to the stand Harry Potter."

There were little gasps and yelps of surprise from the crowd as everyone turned toward the opening door. Ron's eyes widened as he watched his friend walk through the crowd and towards the stand. Around him, Ron could hear murmurs of confusion and wonderment. Ron, too, wondered what Harry might say.

After Harry was sworn in, he took his seat. His face looked very severe.

"Please state for the record your full name."

"Harry James Potter."

"Thank you." The prosecutor – now identified as Thomas Fitzwilliam – circled around his table back to where his prepared questions were. "Now, Mr. Potter, what can you tell us about the night of April 29?"

Harry straightened up before answering. "We received a distress call in the middle of the night. It was from another Order member…"

"Hermione Granger."

"Right. As soon as I received this call, I quickly got the other members who were on duty…"

"Can you name them please?"

"Nymphadora Tonks and Ronald Weasley. We knew where Hermione was stationed, so we went there as quickly as we could."

"Can you give me an approximate time?"

"I'd say about midnight."

"And what did you see?"

Harry's expression was grim. "I saw Hermione stretched out on the floor…" Ron saw Harry hesitate. This was it. This was that moment. Ron turned to look at Malfoy, but if he had been expecting to see any sort of emotion in Malfoy's eyes, he was sorely disappointed. Malfoy's steely eyes remained emotionless as ever.

Taking a deep breath, Harry continued. "And the only other person there was Draco Malfoy. He was holding his wand."

Fitzwilliam nodded as he paced. "Why was Mr. Malfoy there?"

"I don't know. Reckon he was on a mission for the Death Eaters."

Ron's eyes widened. Harry just lied.

"What did Mr. Malfoy do when you and Ms. Tonks and Mr. Weasley arrived?"

"Nothing," Harry said. "He just… stood there."

"Thank you, Mr. Potter. Your Honour, I have no more questions."

x x x

"The judge was a bit of an ostrich, don't you think?" Ginny asked as she pulled on her pajamas. "All he needed was some feathers, and that'd have done the trick."

Hermione gave no response as she sat, upright in bed. Ginny bit her lip, wondering. Every night she tried to engage her friend in some sort of conversation, hoping to bring a sense of normalcy to Hermione's life. Ginny's method to helping Hermione was something akin to pretending nothing happened at all. It was, Ginny believed, better than dwelling on a past that should not be relived. So, each night, Ginny tried to talk to Hermione as they normally would.

Only there was nothing normal about their conversations anymore.

"Dinner was good, don't you think?" Ginny remarked. "Mum makes the best pumpkin pasties, I think."

Ginny looked over at Hermione. Her friend was getting awfully thin, Ginny noticed. At dinner, Hermione had barely touched her food. Ginny had heard her mother disparaging this one night. Hermione was barely eating.

Hermione remained silent. She was sitting at the edge of her bed, her hands gripping the edges. She was staring fixatedly at the floor – staring at nothing and staring off.

"I wonder what we'll have for lunch tomorrow," Ginny rambled on. "I reckon Harry and Ron will be taking off soon… They have that one last Horcrux to find and it's been tough… but hopefully that breakthrough Remus had will help."

Ginny had just turned her back when she suddenly heard a loud noise. She whirled around and found Hermione, crouched over, sobbing hysterically.

"Hermione!"

"Oh, Ginny, what did I do?" Hermione's voice was shaky.

"Nothing!" Ginny wrapped her arms around Hermione, willing the love and warmth in her heart to lighten Hermione's sorrow. So Harry had been right – the trial did trigger something… "This isn't your fault, Hermione. You need to stop thinking that it is."

"How could he just… Did the last year mean nothing to him?" Hermione's face was drenched with tears now. "Did… Did I mean nothing to him?"

Ginny said nothing. What could she say?

"I thought he loved me," Hermione choked out. "He said so. He said he loved me, Gin."

"I know."

"Then how could he do this to me?"

Ginny shook her head. "I… I don't know either."

Sobs racked Hermione's body and she shook with uncontrollable force. "Why did he do it? I… I don't understand… I just wish…" Hermione's words trailed off as her body slumped lifelessly to the ground.

"Hermione!"

x x x

Ron stared at Hermione's sleeping form, feeling cold.

He had known it. He had told Harry. He had been right. He should not have let Harry talk him into allowing Hermione to go to the trial. Only bad could come out of it, he knew. He had told Harry, and there was nothing Harry could say.

Ron felt miserable. When Ginny had come running down, shrieking something about Hermione collapsing, the whole family had been thrown into chaos. Ron had insisted on staying by her side the entire time. He couldn't bear to leave her side even one second. Ginny had been there before, but she'd left briefly, to go find Harry. Harry had been working with Fitzwilliam and talking to Aurors, and so he had not been at the Burrow.

Hermione had not come to. The mediwizard on duty had diagnosed it as an anxiety attack. When he asked Ron and Ginny if anything had happened that might have brought it on, they merely looked at each other, silent.

Ron's heart was tortured. He had never stopped loving Hermione and he knew that. Ron had tried to convince himself that he was happy if Hermione was happy, but every minute of seeing her in Malfoy's arms burned at him. Even being in the same room was too much. The smug look on Malfoy's face infuriated him. It wasn't right. It wasn't.

"Ron?"

He sat upright. "Hermione?"

She blinked slowly, trying to adjust to the low level of light in the room.

"Have you been here the whole time?"

"Yeah."

A brief pause. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"What?" Ron wasn't sure if he heard wrong. "What for?"

"For hurting you," Hermione continued. She swallowed. "God, I don't know. I can't... I can't..."

"Hermione, shh..." Ron reached over and tried to pat her gently on the arm.

"I didn't mean to, you know?"

Ron bit his lip. "I... I know."

Hermione didn't say anything for a while. Ron sat uncomfortably, wondering. Then after a few minutes, Ron knew why - Hermione was crying.

"Hermione! Are you..."

"I'm so sorry, Ron!" She burst out sobbing now. "Oh, God. Why... why did this have to happen? I don't understand. I... Why? I don't... I..."

Ron sat on Hermione's bed and wrapped his arms around her, trying to still her. Soon, her sobs subsided. Ron released her.

"Sleep, Hermione. Everything... everything will be all right."

Hermione laid her head down but didn't close her eyes just yet. She looked at Ron, her normally bright eyes dulled with heartbreak.

"Sometimes, I just wish..." Ron saw a tear trickle down Hermione's face. "I just wish none of it never happened. I wish I could just forget it all..."

Hermione's voice faded as she slipped back into sleep.

x x x

"Which way is she?"

"Follow me."

Harry walked with Ginny as they went down the halls of St. Mungo's. Hadn't they just been here, he wondered? He sighed and shook his head.

"How is she?"

"I don't know…" Ginny bit her lip. "Ron was with her when I left about an hour ago. We're almost there… we just need to turn this corner. Oh… that's strange. Ron's outside."

Ron looked pale and clammy. He was leaning against the wall, staring straight ahead, but Harry could see that his gaze was blank. He wasn't looking at anything.

"Ron?" Ginny ran towards her brother. Harry quickened his step to match Ginny's pace. The concern rife in Ginny's voice plagued his heart as well. The blank stare on Ron's face was absolutely terrifying. "Ron? Is everything all right?"

Ron was still speechless. Ginny stood in front of him, trying to catch his blank gaze. "Ron?" she repeated in a small, distressed voice.

"Did something happen?" Harry pressed. "Did something happen to Hermione? Is she…?" Harry stopped. He couldn't bring himself to finish that question. Hermione had to be all right. She just…

"I did it."

Harry and Ginny looked at each other curiously. "Did what?" Ginny asked.

Ron swallowed. "I… I Obliviated her memory."

"You did what?" Harry's jaw slackened and his mouth was gaping with shock and horror. "Ron, what the bloody hell were you thinking?!"

"I…" Ron shook his head. "I had to, Harry! You saw her! She's been in agony since Malfoy's betrayal and then today…" He clenched his fists. "Harry, it hurts me more than you'll ever know, to see her in pain like that. I can't… I can't take it anymore! I couldn't! I just… I love her, Harry. You know I do." His best friend looked to him with pleading eyes. "I always have, and I always will. I just wanted her to stop hurting so much."

"Ron, you shouldn't have done that!"

"But Har-"

"I don't care!" Harry cut Ron off, not wanting to hear his excuses. He turned to Ginny who had remained silent. She was looking intently at her brother, still wordless. "Tell him, Gin."

Ginny pursed her lips before speaking. "Did you go deep?"

"Ginny!"

The redhead turned on Harry. "He's right," she said. "Harry, you saw how much Hermione's been hurting since that night. We're her friends. We can't just let her suffer and not do anything about it."

Harry ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "I know! But –"

"But what?" Ginny crossed to stand in front of Harry between him and her brother. "There are no buts, Harry! We gave Malfoy the benefit of the doubt. We trusted him. We trusted that he turned, that he loved Hermione… and look what good it did us!" Ginny shook her head. "You have no idea, Harry – no idea – half the suffering Hermione's been through. Last night…" Ginny's voice trailed off. "Just trust me, Harry." Tears glistened in her brown eyes.

"I know Hermione's hurting," Harry said. "I know she is. But… you can't… you can't just wipe out the past and pretend it never happened! Things don't work like that. It's not right."

Ron opened his arms. "What if it were Ginny, Harry? What if it were my sister instead of Hermione? What would you have done?" When Harry hesitated, Ron folded his arms back around him. "So you see," Ron whispered, "maybe it's not so wrong."

The three stood, avoiding each other's eyes, all deep in thought. Was Ron right? Harry wondered. What if it were Ginny? What would he have done? Would he have done the same as Ron? It was hard to say; love did drive a man to do absurd things. Still, a small voice in the back of Harry's mind shouted that there was just something wrong about it all… but it was slowly being drowned by the image of Hermione sobbing, broken and brokenhearted.

Ginny finally broke the silence. "Besides," she said in a uneven voice, "what's done is done. Ron's already… already wiped her memory. Nothing we can do now."

Both Ginny and Ron looked at Harry a bit nervously. He knew they were waiting for what he might say. "What are we going to tell the others?" Harry asked almost matter-of-factly.

The tension that had been obvious on Ginny's and Ron's faces disappeared almost immediately. "We'll just tell them Hermione's started speaking again, that Malfoy's Memory Charm must have worked," Ginny said. She drummed her fingers on her arm as she thought. "And to not mention Malfoy to Hermione anymore. Ever again. Let him rot in her memory as the foolish schoolboy who called her names."

When Harry still did not look convinced, Ginny continued. "This is an act of kindness, Harry…"

"To who?" Harry asked angrily. "Who is this an act of kindness towards? Enlighten me."

"Hermione, for one," Ginny said softly. "She'll never have to relive that night, ever again. She'll never have to know that the one she loved betrayed her. She… she'll never have to suffer the regret of having loved him."

Harry's shoulders slackened. She was right. He knew she was – and yet…

"It's a kindness to Malfoy too." The features on Ginny's face hardened. "Not that he deserves it," she added. "But it is. Better that she hate him for his childish arrogance than to loathe him for breaking her heart."

"That's cold, Gin."

"I know." Ginny's eyes flashed. "But I wasn't the one who lied to the Wizengamot about Malfoy. You knew why he was there, Harry."

"That was different," Harry said defensively. "I didn't…"

"Maybe it is different," Ron interrupted. "But what you did, Harry? It's unchangeable, just like this."

When Harry didn't respond, Ginny continued. "We can never speak of this again. And we can't let anyone else know. Ever. Or we'll all have hell to pay."

AN: An assortment of memories from other perspectives. Hopefully this provides a fuller, more in-depth perspective of the past. And with that done, we can carry on in the present...

Review please!