Ron sat quietly trying not to listen as Hermione recounted the events of the previous day to his parents. Hermione was trying to ignore the distant look in his eyes, his leg shaking under the table and his white knuckles that were gripping his tea cup. Molly, who sat across from Ron, was worrying her hands as she watched his reactions to Hermione's story.

"Now let me see if I understand so far, " Arthur interrupted, "when they led Lestrange out there was only one auror with him?"

"Yes." Hermione placed a hand on Ron's leg, now shaking so hard his knee was starting to hit the table. As soon as she touched it, the shaking stopped.

"That seems strange." Arthur said thoughtfully. "Go on Hermione."

"So then I just kind of lost it. I let my anger get in the way." Hermione explained. "As soon as I got near enough to him the auror released him. Lestrange put up a shield around us. He said some nasty things and then raised his wand. I knew he was going to use an unforgivable so I did the first thing that came to my mind."

"What was that Hermione dear?" Molly asked quietly while reaching over to give her hand a reassuring squeeze.

"I used a curse I knew would hurt him but not kill him."

Ron was suddenly very alert and pushing Hermione's hand off his leg he turned in his chair to look at her. "Hermione, what curse did you use?"

""It's just one I had been working on at work. It never got too far. Actually it never got approved."

"Hermione, which one was it." Ron pressed, his eyes now filled with fire.

"Derma-inferno"

"Hermione, you told me that spell would never be approve and why. What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking I was going to DIE Ron. That is what I was thinking." Hermione crossed her arms over her chest and scooted in her chair away from Ron who was once again looking distant.

"Hermione, this is not good." said Arthur in a concerned and serious manner. "If the ministry finds out they are going to summon you."

Then as if waiting for the word an owl swooped in the open window, dropped an envelope in Hermione's lap, and flew back out. Looking down she saw the letter was addressed to her.

Hermione J. Weasley

The Kitchen Table

The Burrow.

Dear Mrs. Weasley,

We have received intelligence that you used an unapproved experimental charm, on the eve of April 16. This is a serious breech of your contract with the ministry. Therefore, you are here by summoned to appear before the Wizagamont on May 15 at 2pm. You are also hereby suspended from your duties in the Department for Experimental charms without pay until this matter is resolved.

Thank you,

Hermione looked up from the letter, her face drained from color as she held it in her hands.

Ron put his arm around her once more as he scooted over to her. "Hermione what is it? What did the letter say?" Worry and concern clean in his expression as he looked at his wife.

"I have been summoned to appear before the Wizagamont for the use of an unapproved curse and I am suspended from my job without pay until after the trial."

"Oh, Hermione." Molly whispered

Ron felt the anger begin to bubble up inside him. How dare they. How dare they try to punish his wife for fighting for her life. Did it not matter that this man had held him prisoner for years? Had it never occurred to them that they had a mole within the Auror department that caused this to happen? Where was the punishment for them?

"No, they can't send you to trial. They have no reason to." Ron spoke through his clenched teeth, anger still pumping through his body.

"Actually Ron, they have every reason they need to charge her." Arthur said very calmly rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"What?" Ron said the anger starting to come in his voice. "How can you say that dad? Look at her. Can't you see what they have done to her? Look at her dad. This job is what kept her going for five years, five years that I should have been with her. Five years she spent developing spells to help them save their sorry arses while out fighting the ones who were holding me captive. And they have the nerve to summon her?" He pounded his fist on the table, breathing heavily he starred at his father. "And you say they have every reason they need?"

"They do Ron. She broke the law. She used a curse she knew had not been approved, that is all they care about."

It was all he could take, Ron stood quickly the table flying up and falling to the floor. "What about HIM? What are they going to do with him? He was going to kill her are they just going to smack his hands and say no-no?"

"Ronnie dear, calm down." Molly said with a bit of fear in her eyes.

He looked over at his mother who was no longer looking at him but instead at Hermione who was sobbing into her hands. He saw his mother whisper something to Hermione and then the two of them got up and left the room. He turned his back to his father, his fist clenched and jaw set.

Arthur walked over behind his youngest son, and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Ron, there really is very little you can do. You'll just need to get a lawyer. I really am sorry son. I wish she would have thought a little harder before using that spell, she's smarter than that."

Ron turned on his father thrusting his arm out of his way. "Don't you think we don't all think that? What do you think is going through her mind right now? You don't have to tell me how smart she is I already know. She reacted dad, she didn't think she reacted." As Ron spoke he pushed his father in the chest backing him up until he was against the wall.

Arthur stood there calmly watching his son. "Ron, are you through now?"

"No, DAD, I'm not through," he had one hand still pressed into his father's chest. "How can you just stand there so calm like you don't care?

"Son," Arthur said placing his hand around Ron's wrist, "If you only knew just how much I cared."

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As Molly led Hermione into the other room, she cast a silencing charm on the door behind her so the father-son discussion did not interrupt what they needed to talk about. After casting the charm she turned and was shocked as she looked, truly looked, at her daughter-in-law for the first time since Ron had came home. Molly had been so overjoyed at the return of her son she had forgotten the toll it must be taking on Hermione. As she looked at her, she saw not a happy, healthy looking woman instead what she saw was a thin, drawn, pale woman. She looked almost like a little girl sitting there on the sofa her head hanging low and her hands twisting in her lap. "Hermione?"

"Yes, mum?" Hermione asked in response looking up at Molly. She had been fully ready to lay into Hermione about being smarter than to use an unapproved, experimental spell; but one look at the tired eyes staring back at her and the weak, defeated expression on her face stopped her. Never had she seen Hermione look so helpless. Walking over she sat beside her and took her in her arms.

"Oh, Hermione, none of us has even thought to think how all this was affecting you. I'm so sorry."

"No, no one did. You know what hurts most? Is that Ron has been home for one day now and I can't stand the thought of leaving him alone. It's killing me sitting here not being able to see him, because I'm afraid when I walk back into that kitchen that he is going to be gone and this will all have been a dream."

"But it's not a dream Hun, it's real. He's back and he needs you to be strong and there for him. Things are going to get rougher, he'll need you more than ever."

Hermione pulled herself away from Molly and sat up straight trying to compose herself. "Do you not think I don't know how much he needs me to be strong? I know he needs me to be strong. I was strong when I walked in the door and saw my husband sitting on the steps waiting for me thin and bruised from the beatings he endured. I was strong when I sat there holding him while he told me all he had been through. And I was strong when I walked up to the man who tortured the man I love and used a spell I knew would get me in trouble. How much longer do I need to be strong? When is it my turn lean on someone?"

Not knowing what else to do Molly drew Hermione into her arms again. "Do you know what a strength you have been in this family Hermione? You have been the one we have all relied on for good or for bad over the past fifteen years and even more so through the past five. We pushed you to try and move on from Ron, find someone new and start a new life. All we wanted was for you to be happy again, now I see you were happy because you knew in your heart of hearts Ron was alive. For five years, you kept Ron alive for us. I know that it has been unfair to you but I only want you to know how much we, Arthur and I, care for you. Things are going to get harder and whenever you need a post to lean on, you can come to me. Just know that I love you and am grateful when you are around."

"I think I'll take you up on the leaning on part now." Hermione said and leaned in to her mother-in-law, and let five years of tears flow. As Molly stroked her hair she cried too.

After a few minutes Molly straightened herself and pulled Hermione up. "Ok, Hermione, it's time for us to be the strong women those two men in there need. It's time to get to work on how we are going to fight this new battle."

Molly waved her wand in front of Hermione's face and then her own taking the swelling from the tears they had shed away. "Now fix your hair a bit," Molly said while fluffing her own.

"Ok I'm ready now." Hermione said her posture poised as always her hair neatly tucked behind her ears, her face set.

With that Molly waved her wand, taking down the charm around the room. It was only a few seconds before Ron and Arthur walked in. Ron walked directly towards Hermione taking her in his arms and giving her the comforting embrace she had yearned for since the letter came. "We need a plan. Hermione, do you know any good lawyers?"

"I know the perfect one. Susan Bones."