Author's note:
Huge apologies for the delay in updating this but I'm back now and I aim to update regularly
and complete silence and tears over the Christmas break.
Chapter 15- A minor indiscretion
It was the 12th August when Ron was finally served with his divorce papers, by which point he and his wife had long since ceased to share a bed. In the end they cordially agreed that he would move out of the house. Ron had decided not to contest the divorce as he realised it was all he could still do to save it for his wife and children. If Hermione divorced him before his creditors caught up with him, he hoped, she would get to keep the house. He could at least console himself that his actions had not left his wife and children homeless. He therefore agreed not to contest the divorce in the interests of speeding the process trial was scheduled to begin at the beginning of December. Thus Ron found himself before the Wizengamot 12 days before Christmas, resigned to the fact that he would spend Christmas without his wife and children.
As the proceedings opened he listened to the opening arguments. His own lawyers had advised him not to plead guilty otherwise his wife would 'take him to the cleaners'-whatever that phrase meant. The opening statements were made and Ron found himself accused of 'willful neglect' in the form of failing to provide financially for his family. The following day 'The Prophet' screamed his disgrace to the Wizarding World. Ron knew there was nothing for him to do but to endure it.
The second day of the trial was excruciating, Malfoy gave evidence against him, describing their meeting and how he had begged for money. Surprisingly Malfoy failed to mention the fact that Ron had agreed to send Hermione to Malfoy Manor. Malfoy made it appear that he had been a generous philanthropist. That he had been unwilling to see Hermione on the streets hence had given Ron the money because he felt he owed Hermione. Ron glowered at the former Slytherin as he gave his evidence wondering how the entitled git could live with himself as he made political capital out of Ron's downfall. Hermione had yet to testify but she didn't need to she sat there looking like a wronged wife. Ron supposed she was a wronged wife and he knew that without saying a word she would have the courts sympathy merely by sitting there stoically and brave.
Finally they broke for lunch. Ron determined to find a quiet place where no one would notice him. He found a quiet muggle café just beyond the entrance to Diagon Alley, but if he had hoped to avoid the case he was to be sadly disappointed. He had barely placed his order when two young women entered the café in the throes of having a good gossip.
"You know they say she is divorcing him because there is another man!" The brunette commented.
"I heard earlier in the year that she was seen out having dinner with Malfoy," the second girl added conspiratorially
Ron sighed, of course she was, he thought disdainful of the gossips, I sent her there!
"Yes I heard that too but I think there is more to it," the brunette began looking around to see who was around and failing to notice Ron hidden in the shadows, "they were both at the offices of Zabini and Co. a few months ago. They didn't arrive together and I thought at first that it was just that he had some knowledge of the husband's problems but then Melanie my co-worker told me she had been called into Blaise's office to perform an unbreakable oath."
"Malfoy and Hermione Weasley took an unbreakable oath?" The second young women asked incredulously. Ron was paying close attention now was there something he had been missing all along? His mind began to spiral as the possibility that Hermione had betrayed him began to play in his mind. But she wouldn't, he convinced himself, not with Malfoy they despised one another. He continued to listen anger mounting in his veins.
"No, Zabini and Hermione Granger swore an unbreakable oath," Ron heard as the co-workers continued to gossip.
"What about?" the second women demanded to know.
"I don't know Melanie wouldn't say, she said it was highly confidential…"
Ron tuned out of the rest of their conversation. Why was his wife at the office of Malfoy's solicitor? Why had she sworn an unbreakable vow with Zabini of all people? There was something going on that Ron was not aware of and he had a feeling that Malfoy was at the centre of it and if Malfoy was at the centre of it he had a feeling something was very wrong.
Had Malfoy bribed Hermione into divorcing him? He silently considered. He needed to speak to Hermione before it was too late. Hope sprung in his heart, may be she didn't want to leave him, may be Malfoy had forced her. But why would he do that? Then again why had he wanted her to stay with him?
Ron was suddenly struck by the sick realisation that Malfoy, the billionaire who appeared to have everything that Ron himself lacked was after the one precious thing that Ron could lay claim to. Though it seemed incredible, given the way he had treated Hermione when they were young, Ron had the sudden nauseating feeling that Malfoy wanted the one thing that Ron himself had treasured most- he wanted Hermione and Ron had helped him to her.
"Damn you Malfoy," he growled under his breath, you will have her over my dead body, he determined inwardly as he headed out the café to speak to his lawyer as a matter of urgency.
So it was that a small indiscretion by one of Zabini's staff was to reduce all Hermione and Draco's carefully laid plans to dust.
The next day Hermione, who had never planned to give evidence found herself answering questions before the Wizengamot. Blaise advised Draco not to attend. They all knew Hermione could not lie to save her life and Blaise advised that she would only need to look at Draco and the game would be up.
"What do I do?" Hermione said panicking as she clung to Draco's hand in one of the ministries anti-rooms.
"Stay calm," Zabini advised, "if you look panicked they will assume you have something to hide."
"But I do," she pointed out.
"But they don't know that," Blaise cautioned, "tell the truth as much as you are able. Remember no matter how guilty you might feel at leaving Weasley you are still the wronged party."
"But I've…"
Blaise didn't let her finish, "you were already the wronged party before Weasley threw you in Draco's path. Try to remember that your guilt will destroy your dreams Hermione. Now go and freshen up," Blaise instructed.
As soon as she left the room Blaise looked at the blond and shuck his head. They both knew if Weasley's lawyer was any good Hermione's guilty conscience would drowned her.
"Mrs. Weasley," Ron's lawyer, a middle aged man in sharp blue pin striped robes began, "can you tell the assembled members of the wizengamot what the terms were of the gift of a million galleons given to your husband by Mr. Malfoy?"
"Terms?" Hermione asked, as if she hadn't understood there were any terms.
"Yes Mrs. Weasley, I believe Mr. Malfoy placed some conditions on the 'gift' he gave your husband, a service to be fulfilled before the money could be handed over." The lawyer clarified.
It was clear that Ron had made clear what the terms were, there seemed little point in lying. Hermione looked to Blaise he nodded infinitesimally. Telling her to go ahead and answer.
"I had to go and spend time at Malfoy Manor," she responded.
"How much time?" the lawyer probed.
Again Blaise gave that slight nod telling her to answer.
"A month."
There were a number of gasps as she said this,
"and do you know why it was to be so long?"
Hermione happily answered this one;
"Yes, I believe Mr. Malfoy felt that Ron would never agree to such a length of time but he did." Hermione replied honestly certain that this information could only help her case.
"I see," the lawyer said clearly formulating another direction of attack, "and what were you to do while you were at Malfoy Manor Mrs. Weasley?"
"Nothing really I was able to come and go as I pleased." She told the court, thinking the statement benign.
"Then what was the purpose of Mr. Malfoy's request?" The lawyer asked, continuing to probe.
"I believe it was to benefit the reputation of Malfoy Industries." Hermione admitted.
"How so Mrs. Weasley?"
"I accompanied him to dinner with some important clients." She clarified, "Mr. Malfoy believed it gave the impression that there would be stability in wizarding Britain moving forward if he and I could be cordial with one another, which would encourage investment."
Hermione concluded.
"And how many of these client dinners did you attend?" the lawyer pressed,
"Just the one," she confirmed,
"Then why Mrs. Weasley did you need to stay at Malfoy Manor a month. How did you spend your remaining evenings with Mr. Malfoy?"
Author's note
Will Hermione get through her questioning without giving away her Relationship with Malfoy?
please review-reviews are a great inducement to rapid up dates:)