a/n:As always, I can't thank callieskye enough for being the incredible beta that she is. I am sorry for the late update, my highly technical and insane work hours keep me away from what I love doing best. But as I have said before, I'm not abandoning this story.
Hope this makes up for the delay.
Chapter 20: The Silent Knight
"What on earth is happening?" Harry barked, pushing the door open furiously, coming face to face not just with Ainsworth but also the Minister of Magic himself.
Ainsworth gestured silently for Harry to take a seat and Harry exhaled before roughly pulling the chair over and sinking into it.
"Can I get some answers now?" he asked irate, looking between the two senior men. Ainsworth pushed a scroll at him and Harry scanned it hurriedly, his jaw clenching. Finally, he turned to the Minister.
"Kingsley, they're obviously just taking advantage of this Right to Justice Law now." He tapped the letter furiously with his finger. "This says Ron tried to murder Gregory Goyle last evening but- ", he turned sharply to Matt, "- where was Ron last night?" he asked.
"Knockturn Alley- nothing major, just normal rounds," Matt provided hurriedly. "There were no incidents reported by him or anyone else."
"What was Goyle doing there?"
"He claims he was just taking a stroll when Ron rounded him up and beat him unconscious."
Harry scoffed bitterly. "Just like that? Likely story, eh?" He turned to the senior men, "You can't possibly order Ron's arrest based on Gregory Goyle's lies!"
"Potter, we don't believe it either," Ainsworth stated firmly. "But this has gone beyond the jurisdiction of our department. A law is a law. That man at the hospital is brutally injured. If he has named Weasley, we have no choice but to figure out why and take action. The press has been-"
"Fuck the press!" Harry barked. "What do you expect me to do? Chuck Ron in Azkaban? Goyle's father was a Death Eater and if Voldemort was still running a show, Goyle would have been right there in his closest circle! I was in school with him, yeah? That bloke is a bastard."
"POTTER, KEEP YOUR PERSONAL FEELINGS ASIDE AND THINK LIKE AN AUROR THAT YOU ARE!" barked Ainsworth, and Harry stared at him for a while, taking deep breaths until he could think straight again.
"We don't expect you to arrest Ron or send him to Azkaban, Harry." Kinsley, Harry noticed, looked exhausted. "-but we have no choice but to keep Ron under house arrest. Meanwhile, talk to him, get his side of the story, and get him a lawyer."
"Have you got the details yet?" Ainsworth asked Matt who was still standing, watching the proceedings uncomfortably.
"Yes, yes, Sir," he began nervously. "As Harry said, Sir, Gregory Goyle's father was in the inner circle of the Death Eaters and has been in Azkaban for seven years now." provided Matt hurriedly. "Although Gregory himself hadn't officially the services, he was known to be in support of the Death Eater ideologies."
"Get to the point, Matt!" barked Harry, annoyed.
"Right, yeah so-Goyle was admitted to St Mungo's last night, with multiple fractures- ribs, arms, legs, and even his skull. He's awake now, but he was unconscious until early this morning. The case against Auror Weasley was filed by his mother this afternoon." He looked uncomfortably at Harry before directing his answer to the two older wizards. "They claim that Goyle was peacefully strolling along the bi-lanes of Diagon Alley until Ron attacked him and hit him physically till he was half dead. Claims Auror Weasley did it just out of spite and without provocation."
"Bull shite," exclaimed the old man, and Harry looked up as Ainsworth continued, "Bloody lousy story. If he was so injured, how did he land up in hospital?"
"Hospital records show that he was admitted by Auror Weasley himself," provided Matt, looking at Harry.
"So Ron could have come by the injured man and gotten him admitted," Kingsley mused aloud, "But then why are they pressing charges against him? Concussion?" He looked at Harry, "or are they trying to frame Ron intentionally?"
"I am going to have a word with Ron," announced Harry as he left the chair. "Matt, get in touch with Hermione, find me eye-witnesses. Find out whatever you can."
"Get the truth from Weasley, Potter," stated Ainsworth in that deep voice of his when Harry was almost at the door. Harry paused and turned. "And make sure you hire a fucking good lawyer," continued the old man, "Weasley hasn't made it easy for himself-" Ainsworth looked at the Minister of Magic, worry lines deepening the wrinkles on his forehead. "Let's hope the boy has a solid alibi. Unfortunately, most of the cases he has dealt with this week have landed in the hospital ward. It's not a good precedent."
…..
Ron didn't even bother walking into the living room when the loud crack of Apparition sounded.
"Beer or whiskey?" he called aloud instead, instinctively pulling out a bottle of the fiery amber liquid and a couple of glasses.
"Firewhiskey, of course," grumbled Harry as he stomped his way into the kitchen and dumped his robes on a chair, rolled up his sleeves and grabbed another chair roughly. He took the crystal glass from Ron, drowning the contents in one go, noticing the letter from the Department of Law Enforcement lying on the table.
"Sorry about this," Ron gestured at the parchment as he lifted his glass to his lips. He took a deep swig and smacked his lips. Harry fumed aloud for a solid few minutes, refilling his glass before Ron could bring himself to speak. He placed his glass aside carefully, blowing out softly through his lips.
"Umm… mate…" he paused, knowing well that Harry would get even more frustrated and angry, "The charges are justified."
"WHAT?!"
A fair amount of Firewhiskey splashed onto the table as Harry's glass landed on it with a thud, and Ron looked at it intently before looking up at his best mate. He exhaled, fighting the guilt, he was hiding things from Harry again. "I don't deny the charges. I- " he paused abruptly and fumbled for a moment before taking a deep sip just for the sake of doing something.
Harry continued to look at him. "What did that fucker do?" he asked, grim.
Ron traced the rim of his glass with the tip of his index finger, wondering how to break it to Harry, "Can't tell you that, mate... " he said at last.
"You- you?!" Harry paused, looking boiling mad. "What the fuck are you trying to do with your life, Ron?!" he asked bitterly at last. "Are you not done messing it up?!"
Ron swallowed his reply with another swig from his glass.
"He deserved it," he replied softly. " Can't tell you why-you just gotta believe me," he added after a thought.
"Of course I trust you, you wanker!" Harry barked. "But you see that?" he gestured wildly at the Ministry scroll, "They are gonna need answers!"
"I- "
The Floo call chimed and the duo left the table to hurry down to the living room where Matt's head was bobbing in the grate.
"I've mailed Hermione Granger, she's meeting us in half-an- "
"Hold the fuck on!" barked Ron, looking at Harry in shock, "Why?" he asked.
"You need a lawyer, you moron!"
Ron glared hard at Harry before turning at Matt who was still looking between the two men. "Not her," he instructed firmly. "Get me someone else," he addressed Harry.
"Are you out of your fucking mind?!" Harry snapped. "We need a damn good lawyer to get out of this mess!"
"Don't tell me she is the only one Ministry's got," he retorted. "Get someone else-" he told Matt, "Anyone, don't care," he waved his hand.
"What the-" began Harry but Matt interrupted fearfully.
"If I may- we can get Malfoy, perhaps? He's dealt with some tricky ones too- maybe I could…" he looked between the two men.
Harry's head snapped back at Ron who shrugged nonchalantly, "Yeah, okay. Get him."
Harry glared at Ron for a solid minute before snapping back at Matt. "Tell him, we need to meet him as soon as possible. Give him the details and tell him to apply for a bail request immediately."
As Matt's head vanished, Harry rounded on Ron. For a moment Ron thought Harry would break out into one of his famous fifth-yearish temper outbursts but his best mate simply looked exhausted. His voice was soft and hurt when he spoke. "I know no one means more to you than she does, Ron, but you seemed to have forgotten- I need you too."
….
"Kreacher? Is Harry back?"
The old elf hurried to the grate, bowing low before he replied. "Miss Hermione, Master and Mistress have gone to Mistress' family home for lunch," he provided.
"Oh, okay," she replied as she smiled tiredly at the aged elf. She pulled out of the floo and sat back at the front of her own fireplace, the letter from the Auror Department held tightly in her fist, fear mounting in her. Finally, she took a deep breath that didn't quite seem to fill her lungs and picked a fistful of Floo powder and threw it into the grate.
She stepped in the green flames. "The Burrow," she told the fire as she closed her eyes, the scroll still held firmly in her fist.
…
"Hermione!" Ginny gasped as she stepped out of the fireplace brushing the soot and ash from her clothes.
Hermione looked around at all the anxious faces and stuffed the scroll in her pocket. "Ginny!" she managed in a false-cheerful voice. "Where- where's Harry?" she asked, unable to hide the worry from her voice.
"He left for the Ministry," George replied, grim, as Hermione took a chair. She noticed the entire family gathered around the table realising she had landed during a Burrow lunch- one to which she hadn't been invited. She looked around- in what hopes she didn't quite understand- but Ron seemed to have missed the lunch as well...or perhaps… She was only wondering how to break the news to the family while she fought her own jitters when Athena flew in through the window to land majestically in front of her, and Hermione retrieved the new letter from the owl.
She unfurled it hurriedly, read through it, and folded it up, giving a weak smile to the others. It wasn't unexpected, but she couldn't deny that it hurt. She looked up to find everyone looking at her rather curiously. "I- erm-" she began but Ginny stopped her. She gave Hermione a long, contemplating look, as she slowly took the parchment from her fingers; Hermione didn't resist.
Ginny let out a small gasp and Hermione met her friend's eyes.
"He doesn't want you as his lawyer…" Ginny said slowly, looking up from the scroll to meet her eyes before she looked around to the room at large. "Ron picked Malfoy to defend him?!"
….
"Potter, Weasley."
"Malfoy," greeted Harry.
"Ferret!" barked Ron, chuckling to himself but earning a glare from Harry while Malfoy dropped the large volume in his hands, pushed back his chair, and folded his arm at his chest.
"In a rush to visit Azkaban?" Malfoy scowled while he and Harry grabbed the chairs for themselves.
"SinceI'm relying on you to defend me, I thought it came as a part of the deal." Ron scoffed.
"You are free to choose another lawyer- I didn't go begging you for this case-"
"Neither did-"
"OH! Cut it out- both of you!" snapped Harry, and Ron looked at his best mate, reigning in the comment on the tip of his tongue. "Ron, shut it!" Harry barked, "Malfoy, stick to the case. Do we have a bail order yet?"
Malfoy glared hard at Ron before pulling out a scroll and handing it to Harry. "House arrest, urgent hearing day after tomorrow. That's all I could manage."
Harry read the scroll quickly while Ron reclined his tall frame in the chair to look around. It was a decent office and he quietly wondered if Hermione's looked the same.
"I need to know what exactly happened."
Ron turned around to find Draco watching him closely, his quill suspended mid-air. He could feel Harry's eyes on him.
"Nothing."
Draco dropped his quill, a look of deep annoyance on his features, Ron found himself enjoying it tremendously.
"Potter, I can't do anything if he continues to behave this way."
Harry turned to him and Ron grumbled under his breath. "Ron, please-" Harry said quietly. Ron looked away to turn at Malfoy again.
"Fine. I was on patrol- a regular- round when I found him."
"Where?"
"Old Warlock's Alley," he said, talking to Harry instead.
"The one behind Knockturn's with the shops that were all closed post the war?" Harry inquired. "What was he doing there?
Ron opened and closed his mouth. "Can't say more."
"Can't say more?!" Malfoy snapped. "What do you expect me to do, Weasley? Magic you out of the courtroom?"
"I can't tell you, okay." He looked at both men. "Just do whatever you can," he told Malfoy. "No pressure," he added after a thought.
Malfoy exhaled loudly and threw away his quill and turned to Harry instead. "Goyle had severe injuries. He'd have died if not for the Healers." He abruptly pulled out a few scrolls as well as some newspaper cuttings and pointed them out. "And this isn't the first one either. The Auror Department admitted seven people to the hospital this week alone. Does he even realise how serious this is?" he asked, pointing furiously at Ron.
"Why did you hit him, Ron?"
He wouldn't have answered if Malfoy had asked- fuck the case- but he couldn't deny the look on Harry's face.
"He deserved it," he said softly.
"FOR WHAT, RON?"
"I- I can't tell you guys that. I really can't!" he insisted, "Just that- " he paused, breathing deeply at the memory. "Some people deserve that kinda retribution. If it fetches me a life sentence for it- I'll take it."
…..
"How likely is it that Malfoy will play dirty?" Ginny asked aloud.
Hermione looked up from her cup of tea and bit her lip. She felt the invisible ring with a nervous finger and looked up at Harry who was sitting with his hands folded under his chin, a look of deep contemplation on his face. He hadn't touched his cup.
"He wouldn't dare- too high profile a case and he's got a word from Kingsley himself," he replied, grim.
Kreacher brought out plates of steaming hot food and set their plates, but Hermione wasn't hungry. "Did he say what happened?" she asked softly, ignoring Ginny's eyes on her.
"No. Insists that Goyle deserved it-" He sighed tiredly, "but won't say why."
"Do you-" Hermione bit her lower lip again, "- trust him?" she asked in a small voice and looked up to find Harry's eyes fixed on hers, firm determination in his features.
"I do." he replied without breaking his gaze. She looked away hurriedly, least she ask more.
"What happens now?" Ginny asked after a few tense silent minutes.
"We've got the whole team looking for clues," Harry provided, pulling his cup close to himself at last. "I wish there was someone who could talk to him-" he looked up at her again, "-someone who could convince him not to throw his life away like this."
…
Monday night found Draco still in his office, flipping through books and cursing under his breath. He had nothing to fight this case, not a single witness to support his client, no clue that Weasley had had any solid reason to attack Goyle.
A knock sounded on the door and his assistant, Peter peeped in, "Sir, there is someone here to meet you."
"Not now, Peter," he replied angrily. "Ask them to come after the hearing."
"Sir, she says she has some information about the case."
That got his attention.
He dropped the book on his desk, right over the pile of parchments, and the evening's newspaper that had nothing but speculations about the most talked-about case in recent times.
"Send her in," he instructed as he took his chair behind the desk.
The girl entered after a few moments, and he left his chair at the familiar features, his curiosity peaking. "Aren't you- "
"Astoria Greengrass," she provided softly.
"Daphne's sister, correct?" He gestured for her to take a chair and sat back. "But Peter said you know something about the case?" he asked, noticing her eyes fixed on the picture of Weasley flashing in the newspaper.
"I know everything about the case, Mr. Malfoy," she replied.
…
Much later that night, Draco pulled out the oldest bottle of Firewhiskey he had and poured himself a generous drink. He knew he was winning the case the next morning, there was no doubt after what Astoria had told him. As he took a deep swig he wondered if he was standing on the verge of losing everything. He could lose the case intentionally and chuck Weasley's sorry arse into Azkaban, suggested a voice inside him and it was quite an effort to silence it, so he drank some more.
Hermione wouldn't rest after the truth came out, he knew that for sure. She'd want to find out about the past- about Weasley's true reasons to leave all those years ago. And as the fear in him grew; he was now sure that Weasley had not done it for any selfish reasons. He had lied to Hermione - for some idiotic Gryffindorish reason, no less. Hermione wouldn't rest till she found out, and when she did…
He let that thought remain unfinished as he drank some more.