To live happily ever after?

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Chapter 3: Trial

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Hermione felt the ground meeting her feet. She succeeded in landing on her feet and quickly looked around her. She was in the Ministry of Magic, that much was obvious. In fact, she found herself in front of the whole Wizengamot and the Minister of Magic and his senior secretary. The Hogwarts staff, Harry, Ron and the Ministry's envoys went to take the chairs just under the Wizengamot.

'Please sit down, Miss Granger.'

Eyeing the chair and manacles, Hermione snorted and grinned at Cornelius Fudge.

'If you don't mind, I'd rather stand.'

She took a closer look at those present: Fudge and Umbridge hadn't changed a bit. In the stands, Dumbledore was sitting, still with his long white hair and beard, still with his merry and twinkling blue eyes. Hogwarts Headmaster bowed slightly his head to Hermione and the young woman returned the salute, smiling slightly as she wondered if this old man knew, as he seemed to always do, what she had done those last 6 years. Hermione's attention returned to the Minister as she heard him began talking.

'Hermione Granger, you're here standing trial for the murder of Antonin Dolohov. Do you admit that, 6 years ago, you used an Unforgivable on this known Death Eater?'

'Yes.'

'Do you admit that you were about to use the Killing Curse on Peter Pettigrew when the Ministry's Aurors intervened?'

'Yes.'

'Do you admit that you escaped the Aurors who came to arrest you then?'

'Yes,' Hermione said for the third time, obviously bored with the conversation.

'Do you realise that these actions should land you in Azkaban for the rest of your life?'

'What I do realise,' Hermione replied, 'is that you went through a lot of trouble to force me out of hiding and you're now wasting the time of all present by talking about the past when everyone knows that you want to make a deal with me.'

Fudge looked quite amazed that Hermione had gathered this from the situation. Umbridge cleared her throat and looked at the young woman in front of her.

'The Ministry would like to offer you a chance to redeem yourself.'

'For what?' Hermione said with a laugh. 'I don't think I have to redeem myself for anything.'

'You killed a man!' someone from the stands shouted.

'I killed a Death Eater and I'm proud of it. If you think it's a crime, then you should send all your Aurors into Azkaban along with me. And again, we are forgetting why we're here. You want a deal, then tell me what you want and I'll see if I agree to it.'

Hermione looked expectantly at Fudge and Umbridge. The latest gathered herself before the other.

'We would like you to work with us to improve Hogwarts' security.'

'I'm not working with the Ministry,' Hermione said disdainfully.

She turned round as if ready to leave, but a voice stopped her.

'Then, work for me.'

Even if no one could see Hermione's smirk, they probably all were able to see the ghost of it on her lips when she turned to face Dumbledore.

'I'm listening.'

'We need as many people on the Hogwarts Security as possible. A witch of your talent would be a very good addition to it.'

'And what exactly would I have to do?'

'Patrol the corridors and grounds. Make sure that the students are safe.'

'And I will be getting paid for that job, as well as getting my week-ends off?'

Dumbledore smiled and his eyes twinkled even more. He could recognise a demand when he heard one.

'Yes, Miss Granger. Although I'm afraid you will have to work at least every other week-end.'

'Okay, but that will be paid overtime.'

Hermione smiled and walked up to Dumbledore. She spat in her hand and presented it to her ex-Headmaster. Not looking even slightly taken aback, Albus Dumbledore did the same and grasped the young woman's hand in his.

'Just letting you know, I will not take any order from anyone working with them.'

Hermione jerked her thumb at the Minister of Magic and Umbridge. Before any of them could answer, Dumbledore smiled and nodded his head.

'Agreed,' he said with a barely contained laugh in his voice.

Hermione walked back and was going to walk out when Fudge stopped her.

'But you still need to register your wand.'

Hermione rolled her right sleeve to show her wand, still safely strapped on her forearm.

'It's still the same. Fourteen inches, ebony and unicorn hair.'

Hermione heard the scratch of a quill over parchment, someone taking good note of that. So Hermione unrolled her sleeve to hide her wand once more. Then she went to stand at the very middle of the room. She turned to face those who had wanted to send her away.

'Just let me tell you something more. I came back here because you want to fight Voldemort and the Death Eaters. I will help you doing that very gladly. But keep something in mind: if I have the occasion, I will kill as many Death Eaters as I can. And if I'm lucky enough to face Voldemort, I'll help making sure that he rots in hell forever and ever. Believe me, I'll make sure they all go there.'

With those parting words, Hermione unleashed her magic and she disappeared in black, silver and red flames.

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A/N

A short chapter but the next one is longer. Promise.