Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling, do not own Harry Potter, and I make no money from the writing of this fanfiction. Only this particular story line and original characters belong to me; everything else is the property of JKR

A/N: I would like to thank a couple of people for helping with this chapter. My thanks go out to Sampdoria, for the actual idea of a Daily Prophet article being written, and also to PartKneazle, for assistance in coming up with a "Rita Skeeter worthy" title for the article written by Ms. Skeeter. Thank you both so much.

Chapter Thirty One

The mood in the Burrow was a mix of sorrow, anger, and bewilderment. The Weasley family had just exited the Floo after being allowed to briefly speak to Ron before he was led away to be taken to Azkaban. Looking around the room and seeing Harry cradling Ginny against his shoulder as she cried, and George doing the same for his mother, caused Arthur to draw himself up to his full height-every inch a Head of House.

"Alright, there has obviously been more than a few things wrong in this family for quite a while now, so what I want to do is sit down as a family and talk about how we can make things better."

"I can tell you how things would be better Arthur; Ron would have come home with us today!" Molly snapped.

"Molly, for once in your life, be silent. It's exactly that kind of coddling that saw Ron display the attitude that his actions won't have consequences. He committed a crime when he hurt Hermione, Molly. He has to pay for that crime now. Why can't you see that?" Arthur asked, face flushing with anger.

"Mum," George began, "all of us saw how Ron would get away with things the rest of us wouldn't growing up. Yes, you sent him Howlers at school too, but I don't recall you sending any Howlers to Ron unless it had to do with something that might reflect badly on you or Dad; for example, Ron and Harry taking the car and flying it to Hogwarts their second year. When all of us took the car to bring Harry to the Burrow that summer, all of us were yelled at because we might have been hurt or seen. But your Howler to Ron, unless I'm not remembering correctly, was only concerned with the fact Dad had to face an inquiry at work because of it. I can see where Ron might have started to believe that he shouldn't have consequences for his actions from that, because the Howler was the only thing you did. Dad, if that had been Fred and I, what would you have done to us?"

"I would have gone to Hogwarts and brought you home that night, because doing something that reckless and immature would have told me that you might not be mature enough for Hogwarts, and I would have arranged for you to be home-schooled until at least Christmas, if I didn't also have your Hogsmeade privileges revoked by withdrawing permission in addition to that once I allowed you to go back."

"Exactly my point. Ron was punished growing up yes, but not to the same degree the rest of us were. Also, when we would hear him bad mouthing Hermione at school, it was just overlooked as Ron having a temper. We should have said or done something and didn't. Harry, I can understand to a point not saying anything; Ron was the only friend he had made in his life when he got to Hogwarts first year thanks to his cousin, so he wouldn't want to jeopardize that friendship by telling Ron to knock it off with the way he talked to Hermione. The rest of us don't have that excuse," George said, looking around the room.

"Mum, do you think I could have some tea? My stomach is still a bit upset," Ginny said, raising her head from Harry's shoulder.

"Of course, Ginny. I'll go ahead and make lunch for everyone as well. We can continue the discussion over lunch. How are you feeling other than upset stomach, dear?" Molly asked, her maternal instincts for her daughter coming forward.

"I've been a bit tired, so Harry keeps telling me to rest. He's told Kreacher to handle the housework without my help for now, so Kreacher doesn't even ask what I might want done, he just cleans the whole house."

"Apparently house elves love babies; once I told Kreacher Ginny was expecting, nothing would do for him but 'Mistress' taking care so as not to jeopardize the baby," Harry explained, seeing the dumbfounded looks on everyone's faces.

Molly made tea and brought it to the table, along with a few biscuits, then returned to the kitchen to begin lunch. Harry poured a cup of tea for Ginny, then himself, before sitting back in his chair.

"I noticed Rita Skeeter in the gallery during both the trial and sentencing, Arthur. Knowing what she's like, how do you want to handle things? It's a good bet something will be in the Daily Prophet about both," Harry said, grimacing.

"We all know Ron deserved his conviction, Harry. While I may not be happy with the length of his sentence, it's still not as severe as it could have been. Remember, Ron admitted he would rather see Hermione dead than let her leave him. That's not how I raised my children to think. I'd like to reserve judgment on how I'll react until we see what is in the Prophet, if there's anything at all."

"Knowing Rita, there will be; and as sensational as she can make it, considering Ron was on trial for hurting Hermione," Ginny chimed in.

"I still think that girl has hoodwinked people about this. Ronnie wouldn't do anything like that," Molly insisted, slamming a platter of sandwiches and fresh vegetables on the table.

Finally having heard enough, Arthur raised his voice.

"Molly, just drop the subject. All of us have had an exceptionally trying day, and you harping about Ron being innocent isn't making things any better. Just once, I would like to sit down to a meal without some sort of conflict to solve or listen to from the members of this family."

"I think after lunch, I'll take Ginny home." Harry said, looking around the table, "she needs to rest."

Not long after Harry and Ginny left, Arthur took Molly into their room for a long overdue talk.

"Molly, for over forty years I have watched you fly off the broom in a temper when things weren't happening the way you thought they should; so I should have been able to see the same in Ron. I more than likely overlooked it because I wanted to have a peaceful home. That all comes to an end today. Harry and Ginny are expecting a baby, and Harry at least has made it clear that unless things change in regard to your temper, they won't be bringing the baby here to visit. I'll take that one step further; if things don't change in regard to your temper, I will not allow you to visit their home to see the baby, even if they give permission for it to happen. I will confine you to the property of the Burrow if things don't change."

"You have no right…"Molly spluttered.

"As Head of House Weasley, Molly, I have every right to do what is necessary to make sure my family is kept safe and healthy. Harry mentioned you seeing a Mind Healer about your anger issues, so I will make this condition: you will, with Harry's help, locate a Mind Healer and begin a consultation. I've stood by far too long and watched as you used your temper to intimidate the children, causing the boys to fear your temper, and our son in law to state that he doesn't want you around his child if you don't get help. I will ask for regular reports from the Mind Healer on your progress, but you will see a Mind Healer."

Watching Arthur turn and walk from their room, Molly sat on the bed, wondering how she had lost control of her family.

OoOoOoO

Early the next morning, as everyone sat down to breakfast, the mail along with that day's Daily Prophet arrived. When Hermione, Draco, Harry and Ginny, and the Weasleys opened their copy of the paper, reactions were a mix of anger, outrage, and humiliation.

ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT UNDER ATTACK

By Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet Reporter

It has long been accepted in the Wizarding World that there should be a certain standard of conduct. This holds true in most families, but even more so in those families that are Pureblood. Young witches and wizards are taught from a young age that actions have consequences, and witches in particular are taught that sometimes those consequences will be physical discipline to correct the behavior in the future. Why then, is this age-old teaching now being challenged?

Hermione Granger (26), has apparently decided that the rules and traditions the rest of us are brought up with shouldn't apply to her, and brought assault charges in the Wizengamot against her (now Ex) fiancé, another third of the Golden Trio, war hero Ronald Weasley. Crying 'abuse', the Gryffindor Princess was able to not only convince Madam Amelia Bones to prosecute the case; she has also been able to convince the panel of Judges in the trial. Unsurprisingly, having witnessed the sob story for myself, a young man who was only following TRADITION was sent to Azkaban for eleven years, while the young witch who was accusing him of 'abuse' was whisked out of the courtroom flanked by not only Madam Bones, but another Pureblooded wizard, and Heir to one of the largest fortunes in Wizarding Britain, Draco Malfoy. Did this scheming witch decide that she would rather have money instead of love? How long has the association between Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy been going on? Did Ronald Weasley suspect that Ms. Granger was cheating on him? Could that be why he decided to follow TRADITION and discipline Ms. Granger to correct her behavior?

Rest assured dear readers, that I will find the answers to these and other questions regarding this flouting of established tradition.

Further down the page, another article about the trial and sentencing had been written. This one however, was written with an entirely different point of view.

RONALD WEASLEY SENTENCED TO ELEVEN YEARS-COULD WE FINALLY BE SEEING AN END TO ABUSE DIGUISED AS "DISCIPLINE" AND "TRADITION"?

BY Dennis Creevy, Special Correspondent

Having gone to school with both the defendant-now convicted-Ronald Weasley, and the victim of his actions, which in this reporter's opinion were both degrading and abusive (I have not named Ronald Weasley's victim out of respect for this young woman's privacy, although other of my colleagues may not have the same level of discretion), when the case was brought before the Wizengamot, I was there in the courtroom for both the trial and sentencing. Because I attended school with both, I am also aware of the background to this story, a background which goes back to our years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The FACTS of the trial stand thus:

The complaining witness was given a full measure of Veritaserum before testifying; a method which has been used for years to ensure the testimony given would be unvarnished truth.

The complaining witness provided more than THIRTY Auror-grade memory phials of memories regarding the relationship she had with the Defendant, all of which had been tested-and VERIFIED by a member of the Auror Corps during the trial-to be untampered with and true memories.

Only one or two of the memories were shown in open session-depicting a level of sadistic pleasure and predilection for violence on the part of the Defendant, Ronald Weasley, that this reporter found disturbing-with the rest of the memories being viewed by the panel of Judges during deliberations.

On being asked if the rest of the memories were similar to the one just viewed, the complaining witness said the rest weren't similar…they were WORSE than the one that had been shown.

During his own time on the witness stand, being placed under Veritaserum, the defendant IMPLIED (meaning he did NOT outright say the words everyone there, myself included, inferred from his words) that he would prefer the complaining witness DIED rather than leave him and the situation he had created in the relationship.

After deliberations, the defendant was CONVICTED on all charges brought (a total of five charges, two of them specifically related to a violent act).

The defendant-now CONVICTED-Ronald Weasley was sentenced to eleven years in Azkaban for his actions. After research into possible sentences for each charge, this reporter finds it both interesting and fitting that for the length of the sentences for EACH of the five charges, the ONLY ones to have been delivered of the maximum sentence were the ones of a violent nature. The remaining three charges were given a minimum to middle ground sentence.

In addition to the time in Azkaban, the panel of Judges took what the complaining witness said in her statement before sentencing to heart. The complaining witness DID NOT request one way or another that the convicted be placed in Azkaban, leaving that decision to the panel of Judges. Instead, the complaining witness put forward the idea that the behaviors displayed by the convicted had been LEARNED, and requested that the convicted have sessions with a Mind Healer to attempt to UNLEARN that behavior. Ronald Weasley will not only be serving time in Azkaban, he will be required to speak with a Mind Healer while there, as well as for a period of five years after his release, while wearing a magic-suppression cuff.

Those are the FACTS of the case.

Having seen the buildup to physical violence on the part of the convicted from verbal taunts and put downs while all three of us were in school, I can say I agree with the complaining witness and hope that the convicted can learn to change his behaviors.

To learn that a colleague wants to call what happened "tradition" turns my stomach. When, exactly, did it become "tradition" to look the other way as someone is beaten, or abused in another way? Why is abusing someone physically weaker considered "tradition" in the first place?

It is my hope that this case will provide the incentive needed to see that so-called "tradition" change.

OoOoOoO

It was that same morning that the potioneers Amelia had given the items sent to Hermione Granger were able to figure out what potion had been sent, as well as whether or not the fudge had been tainted as well.

It looked as if the workload Amelia had currently just doubled.