Chapter 29

Hermione POV

"Hermione Granger, you stand before the courts accused of performing several illegal memory and emotion modification charms on innocent civilians. If you are found guilty of these charges, you will be sentenced to five years in prison with no chance for appeal."

Hermione sat in a giant chair in the center of the circular room, staring at the judge, Mr. Durand, before her in a dull daze. Everything had happened so fast, yet not fast enough. She had been kept in some lower level of Laurophey all day yesterday. All of her possessions had been taken from her: her wand, her work, her ring, and even her clothes had been swapped out for the prison uniform. Though the Dementors guarded the upper levels of the facility, Hermione could swear she could still feel them. She couldn't stop shivering - she was so cold.

The guards who worked the lower levels weren't Dementors, but they had about as much warmth as them. They had thrown her roughly inside her stone cell, laughing at her, mocking her. One guard who the others called "Wouren" was especially cruel. He had brought her the one meal that she was provided yesterday, it couldn't be described as anything other than gruel. However, Hermione would've eaten it had she been given the chance. When she asked him a question about the trial though, he refused to answer, she questioned him more fervently and he kicked her plate of food against the wall. The sound of the metal clanking against the cold walls, echoed loudly in her head still.

She had demanded to see Dumbledore, knowing that he was her best defense right now. However, her request was immediately shut down. She then demanded to at least speak with her contacts, but her request was once more rejected. She was informed that she was not allowed to see anyone until the trail was over, and if she was found innocent - they laughed when they said this - she could see whoever she pleased, otherwise, she would have to go through the Ministry to establish a visit with outsiders. From the way they said it, and from what she knew, it was a deliriously long process and not always granted.

The cell had a bed, if you could call it that. But it might as well have not been there. The mattress was parchment-thin and the springs underneath poked sharply into Hermione's vulnerable body. She had curled up into a ball, racking her mind in an attempt to wrap it around this situation. She had managed to devise a defense for this morning, but at the same time, she didn't really know what they were going to throw at her. She had slept very, very little last night. The only time she felt even remotely at peace is when she let her mind still enough to allow her the reverie of Ginny wrapping her arms around her and holding her tight.

"Do you understand the charges against you?" Mr. Durand asked, his voice booming ominously across the courtroom.

"No," Hermione responded evenly, but with fierceness in her voice. "Explain how these charges came about and what makes you believe I committed them."

"Do you understand the charges," he restated slowly as she leaned forward and eyed her menacingly.

"I haven't done anything," Hermione declared, righting herself furthermore in response.

"Answer the question, Miss Granger," he warned. She noted how several Aurors took a step towards her. She didn't allow them to see her fear, but she merely nodded her head.

"Answer."

She closed her eyes for a moment, gathering her voice, and spoke. "Yes." The Aurors backed away as Mr. Durand gave them a subtle nod.

"Sir," Hermione said, though the acknowledgement of his superiority grinded at her insides, she didn't want to seem completely defiant. "Can you please explain how and why I've been charged with those crimes?"

"We were hoping you could shed some light on that, actually," he responded lightly as he reclined in his chair. His behaviour grated on Hermione and she nearly bristled; however, she committed herself to remaining stone-faced despite his taunting.

"I will do whatever I can to help sort out these misconceptions," she responded. "If you want me to take Veritaserum, undergo Legilimency, anything," she continued, "I'll do it. I have nothing to hide."

"We are pleased to hear that you are so compliant," he replied patronizingly. He turned towards a group of officials seated in the right-hand section of the stands and called, "Mr. Izmark." He held out his hand in beckoning and the man stood, and weaved his way through the crowd to stand before the Official. Though Hermione wasn't overly familiar with him, she knew Mr. Izmark to be a prominent Wandmaker in Paris.

The two whispered quietly to one another for a few moments, Hermione straining to hear their words with no success. The man nodded over something that had been said and reached into his robes and presented a wand to the judge - Hermione instantly recognizing the wand to be her own.

"Is this your wand, Miss Granger?" Mr. Durand asked as he held her wand out for all to see.

"Yes," she replied as her mind scrambled to determine where this was going. He nodded.

"Miss Granger, I had Mr. Izmark examine your wand and determine which spells you have cast. While most are harmless," he announced evenly as he twirled her wand in his hand, "there were numerous, which are a cause for concern." Outside of the memory charms she had cast upon Brumski the other day, she knew not what he spoke of, she told him so.

"That's interesting, because Mr. Izmark was able to detect numerous memory and emotion modification charms. False Memory Charms were placed upon numerous registered house-elf owners along with False Emotion Charms. While these may not be illegal spells in England," he explained, "they are here." The room felt as though it completely stilled - Hermione's heart was beating so strongly she could actually feel it beat against her chest. Mr. Durand went on.

"As I understand, the house-elf reform that you were a key member in was under scrutiny by the Minister and was in danger of being shut down. However, you were informed that if you gained enough support from key members of society and could secure the funding, your project would move forth, am I correct?"

She nodded as her stomach dropped instinctively. "Yes."

"Your Team Lead, Miss Vivian Blake came to us the other day, informing us that she had reason to believe that you had tampered with these individuals' free will. We brought in a few of them and after much work from our Obliviator Headquarters, our Memory Specialists were able to extract the victims' true memories. Admittedly, the charms you placed were very thorough and if our team had not been especially diligent, the charms would have gone unnoticed. However, you tampered with the victims' memories and manipulated their psyches' so that they would support your reform. You were even able to pull this same trickery upon members of Beauxbatons," he sneered.

"Sir-I don't recall any of this," Hermione protested as her mind churned. "You can speak with my colleagues, I was at work every day, all day. When would I have been able to perform these charms?"

"Your coworkers cannot account for your whereabouts at all hours of the day," he replied.

"This is preposterous," Hermione declared, though she willed herself to remain calm.

"Is it?" He asked evenly. "Ms. Blake informed us that you have been supporting the liberation of house-elves since your fourth year in wizarding school. You even founded your own social organization to champion the cause. Spew, was it?" He asked flippantly. "You badgered other students to join the movement, to the point of harassment."

"I did no such thing," Hermione rebutted. "Yes, I did create the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare," she explained purposefully, "but I'll have you know that I did not badger or harass anyone to join. The Society didn't even end up accomplishing anything, truly," she admitted before speaking in controlled rage, "And all these 'tips' are from Ms. Blake, are they? Have you looked into her background at all? Perhaps are you aware of how she put Mr. Pius Thicknesse under the Imperius Curse and then turned around to have him arrested for crimes that he committed while under her control?" She sat, satisfied as excited murmuring erupted in waves across the courtroom. Mr. Durand pounded his gavel against the stand and called for order.

"That's an outrageous claim," he stated. "Ms. Blake is a model of ethics and is highly revered-"

"And how did she get to the position she's in, hm?" Hermione interjected. "She had to get rid of Mr. Thicknesse!" More excited murmuring rang across the room and Hermione forged on. "If any of those spells were truly cast by my wand, I guarantee that it's because she's placed me under the same curse. Check my mind for memory charms," she proclaimed, "I'm positive you'll find them. I don't know how or when, but she's cast them on me after putting me under the Imperius Curse - I promise you."

"Enough." He held his hand up to silence her. Hermione bit her tongue. "Do you have evidence?"

Hermione's gaze fell as she thought to Brumski and his current state. "Well, yes, but I don't know how effective it will be," she announced slowly. She huffed as she committed to continuing on; she had to do everything that she could. "Ms. Blake's house-elf, Brumski. If we could call him here...," she started. She turned in her seat as she heard rustling behind her and her eyes fell upon Ms. Blake sitting at the back of the stands in her Ministry robes. Their eyes met and Hermione narrowed her eyes at the loathsome creature before her. She turned back around to face Mr. Durand. "But, we also need to bring another house-elf here with him. You see..., Brumski is under the Fidelius Charm...nobody can hear or see him."

The courtroom erupted in snickering and laughter.

"Likely story, Miss Granger," Mr. Durand commented with a sly smile.

"Sir, please," Hermione implored. "I'm innocent."

He had been antagonistic and bemused throughout the entire trial, but upon hearing Hermione's statement, his eyes turned solemn and he spoke sincerely. "I wish we could believe you, Miss Granger. You truly showed great promise. There are many here and in the British Ministry who are sorely disappointed."

"Please," Hermione whispered, tears forming in her eyes as she felt hope slipping away. They stared at one another for a few tense moments before Mr. Durand broke eye contact to examine the papers before him.

"If you have no further real evidence, the jury will begin its deliberation," he announced.

Hermione scanned the courtroom quickly and her eyes fell upon Ms. Blake again. A thought struck Hermione. "Read her wand," she said urgently. "Ms. Blake, read her wand for dark magic," she reiterated. "But she has two wands, one specifically for dark magic."

"Don't be silly," Mr. Durand laughed. "Each witch and wizard has one wand bestowed to them."

"You may check my wand if you wish," Ms. Blake offered as she rose from her spot in the stands, holding out her wand. "I wish to be as helpful in this trial as possible."

"That's not necessary-" Mr. Durand began, only to be cut off by Ms. Blake's insisting.

"Please, go ahead," she went on. "I have nothing to hide and if it will make Miss Granger rest better, then so be it."

Hermione shot the woman a hateful look that went unnoticed. However, others must have been giving Ms. Blake questioning looks because the woman explained herself in a manner that made Hermione sick to her stomach.

"I understand, Mr. Durand, I do. But if it will help the person who I thought would become my protégé, feel better, then I wish to do it. Just one last gesture of good will, I suppose," she smiled sadly.

If Hermione had even an ounce less of self-control she would've lunged out of her chair and across the room at Ms. Blake. However, she slowly turned in her seat to face forward. Mr. Durand was speaking quietly with Mr. Izmark once more.

"Okay," he announced as he looked up and Mr. Izmark crossed the room. "Mr. Izmark will read your wand. Miss Granger," he said as he turned his gaze on the young brunette, "you will be brought to the interrogation room and watched by the Aurors while Ms. Blake's wand is read and while the jury enters a consequent deliberation. You will be summoned once more as soon as we have reached a verdict."


Hermione let out a shuddering breath as the Aurors strode towards her and grabbed her gruffly before dragging her out the back door and into an adjoining room. She struggled against them, but knew she couldn't even remotely begin to overpower them. She really just did it to show that she wouldn't go without a fight, even if this was all she could offer.

"I know you're just doing your jobs," she relented as they roughly sat her down in one of the chairs in the quiet room, "so if you put me through the trials that you should, you will see that I'm innocent. You guys have seen a lot, I know you have, so you must know how underhanded some dark wizards can be," she tried to reason with them. "You, of all people, are aware of all the tricks they can play and the various spells they can use and how they can perform them undetected. Please-"

"Excuse me-"

Hermione looked over to the door as it opened and was met with the sight of Ms. Blake sauntering into the room.

"You!" Hermione seethed - all prior composure flying swiftly out the door as she saw the woman who was responsible for this mess. She quickly clamped her mouth shut though as the Auror's wands were swiftly pointed in her face over the outburst.

"I appreciate the effort, ladies and gentlemen," Ms. Blake said softly as she eyed each of the Aurors with false regret in her eyes. "But before the verdict is delivered, I wish to have a word with Miss Granger."

"Are you sure, Ms. Blake?" One of the senior Aurors asked and Ms. Blake offered a solemn nod in return.

"Would it be too bothersome to speak with Miss Granger privately?" Ms. Blake asked in a weary voice that made Hermione's blood boil in fury.

"Don't leave me alone with her," Hermione requested rather fiercely as she tried to make eye contact with the Aurors.

"Are you sure that's what you want," another Auror asked Ms. Blake who again nodded. "Here, take my wand," he offered.

"No, thank you," Ms. Blake declined. "I'm fine, but I appreciate the generous offer."

"You're sure you want us to leave you alone with her?" He asked one more time.

"Yes. Hermione and I had grown rather close - or so I thought. I just want to have a word with her before the verdict is released," she relayed wistfully.

"Very well," another Auror replied gruffly and he began to usher the others out of the room. "We'll be right outside in case you need us." He shot a look toward Hermione, one of disgust and chagrin. "It's a damn shame," he declared as he walked out, slamming the door behind him, making Hermione wince at the violent noise. She quickly turned her eyes towards Ms. Blake's devious ones.

"You did this," Hermione seethed as she began to stand.

"Sit down," Ms. Blake said calmly as she pulled one hand out from behind her back to reveal her wand and tilted it down. Immediately, Hermione felt a powerful force pushing her body back down and onto the chair. She fell violently into it as her body collapsed under the pressure - Ms. Blake chuckled as she slowly paced around the table.

Hermione's wide-eyed gaze followed the woman in realization. It was the second wand that Brumski had told them about. If Hermione could get a hold of it, she could show it to the Ministry and they would be able to detect all the dark magic the woman had employed.

"You put on a good show out there," Ms. Blake congratulated as she mockingly clapped her hands softly. "You expect everyone to believe you're innocent, hm?" she continued. "Honestly, everyone knows how over-zealous you are and how you would stop at nothing to make sure that your little house-elves were liberated."

Hermione tried to continually follow Ms. Blake with her gaze as the woman came around, but the brunette found herself stuck facing forward, Ms. Blake's magic still holding her still. Hermione's breathing deepened as Ms. Blake's slow, even footsteps got closer and soon the woman was behind her.

"You mean to say," Ms. Blake started, "you don't remember anything?"

Hermione's breath caught as she felt her mind being invaded. Like a waterfall, a slew of memories cascaded into her consciousness. Images of her getting up late at night, taking the floo to various residences and performing the accused Charms on entire families as they slept peacefully in their beds. Memory after memory like this was revealed - it must have been going on for over a month. She watched in horror as each night she snuck out, and how Crookshanks tried to stop her, she even hit him numerous times as he pawed at her.

"He knew," Hermione realized in another region of her mind - his erratic, desperate behaviour suddenly explained.

Despite these outings and consequent repulsive behaviour, each day before sunrise, Hermione watched as she arrived home, put her shoes back neatly on the mat and climbed calmly into bed. This also explains why she had been so outrageously tired. The only times she had actually gotten a full night of sleep is when she was on holidays - that was the only time she was free from Ms. Blake.

So when Hermione and the rest of the team had later approached each of these individuals under the context of work, they had no recollection of Hermione, nor of their strong revulsion to liberating the house-elves, and instead gladly signed the petitions.

Hermione's body collapsed, her head now nearly resting on the table as her shoulders and chest heaved in an attempt to recover from the psychological onslaught. When Ms. Blake spoke, her words sounded miles away.

"I'm sure that if you search your mind deeply enough," she said lightly, "you'll see the truth."

Hermione gasped as Ms. Blake abruptly reached out and grasped Hermione by the chin, pulling her face up until Ms. Blake was so close that Hermione could feel her hot breath upon her skin.

"Such a shame," Ms. Blake said evenly as she thrust Hermione's face out of her hands, the brunette nearly falling over in her weakened physical state. "Rufus had such high hopes for you," Ms. Blake continued on sadly before chuckling lightly. "You and I were suppose to become," she paused to laugh a bit once more, "equals at some point. Imagine that?"

Hermione gathered her strength and stared down Ms. Blake - if she could only get the woman's wand.

"I must admit," the blonde went on in a resigned sort of voice, "You are quite good - as skilled, bright and talented as they all said you were. Couple that with your determination and your passion and you have a very strong candidate for Department Head, even Minister," she announced with an impressed nod. "But," she said regretfully as she gestured to Hermione with a questioning stare, "this, is a bit of a career killer. I think you may find yourself unemployed by the end of the day, Miss Granger."

"Is that why you did this?" Hermione asked in disbelief. "Because you considered me a threat?"

Ms. Blake gave a subtle shrug of her shoulders. "I know, I can't believe you'd ever be considered competition for me. But I guess that's over now. I must say though,

had I known ahead of time that you had such a scandalous private life, I might've held off and just used that to oust you. But, things were already underway, and well, who am I kidding, this ending is far more satisfying than if I had just used petty slander. Though I did have to have a bit of fun with those scandals - just toy with you a bit. Oh, and if you're thinking you can use Veritaserum or a pensieve to save yourself, think again, after exposing you and your crimes, I have to say the both ministries' trust in me is better than ever and I'd say it's safe to say that the court has made their decision and has all the evidence they need."

Before Hermione could conjure up an alternative to expose what was just revealed to her, Ms. Blake cut off her thoughts with a light chuckle.

"That, and of course I don't leave things like this to chance. I'll of course take extra precautions," she informed Hermione with a self-satisfied nod. "If I get so much as a hint that you're making a fuss in Laurophey...well, let's just say that behaviour would be very ill-advised. I'm sure you want to see your meddlesome little girlfriend when you finally get out, and that can't really happen if she takes a particularly nasty tumble during a match-"

"You leave Ginny out of this!" Hermione screamed - dully amazed at how she found the energy to respond so vehemently.

"Ah," Ms. Blake noted quietly with a humorous smile, "I had a feeling that you two didn't break up."

Hermione hurriedly retracted her anger as she became aware of how she just put Ginny in very serious danger.

"Don't worry," Ms. Blake said with that fake kindness in her eyes. "I'll take good care of her while you're gone. You have nothing to be concerned about. Take care, now, dear. It was a pleasure working with you."

Hermione clenched her jaw so tightly that she felt her teeth would crack under the pressure. She wanted to scream, to throw herself at Ms. Blake and rip that wand right out of her hands, but Hermione knew she wouldn't get a foot before she'd be slammed with a stunning spell or something worse. Overwhelming dread flooded her system as her thoughts drifted to Ginny and what Ms. Blake might have planned. Hermione had to find a way to warn Ginny. Did Ginny even know that any of this was happening?

Her mind was still running madly when Ms. Blake held up her wand.

"That was just too much fun. Such a feisty one, I just couldn't resist. Ah well, back to business." A cold smile crossed the woman's face before her lips parted, her command just a whisper. "Obliviate."


The Aurors re-entered the room and snatched her up once more, dragging her back into the courtroom and depositing her carelessly in the chair she had been seated in earlier. She righted herself and stared down Mr. Durand who was watching her intently.

"Miss Granger," he announced slowly after the din in the courtroom faded. "The courts of the French Ministry find you guilty of all charges. You will be escorted back to Laurophey where you will be provided with a permanent cell, which will be your place of residence for the next five years at which time you will be released. Court is adjourned."

So this was it - this is how the Great Hermione Granger fell from grace.

AN: Hi everyone :) A little glimpse into what poor Hermione is going through and a bit more of Ms. Blake and what her deal is all about. Thank again for all the amazing support! Have a great weekend!