Again, Harry flew her to her appointment on his broom, always loving the feel of her warmth and perfume close to him, not to mention her arms around him and her cheek resting on his back. Upon arrival, they dismounted and he put an Invisibility Charm on the Firebolt after putting it in a safe but accessible place, then went inside St. Mungo's and the psychiatric outpatient counseling office.
Once they got to the office, Harry gave Ginny's name and informed the young witch serving as receptionist that he would be accompanying her during the sessions at her request. "I understand it is permitted under special circumstances," he reminded the receptionist when she gave him a funny look.
"Yes, it is," she agreed. "It's just … uncommon." She opened an intercom and informed the women's rape counselor that the two o'clock appointment had arrived. Harry and Ginny were then told where to go to meet with the counselor; a few moments later they were ushered into the office of a kindly-looking mediwitch who looked to be in her thirties, but was probably far older, than that owing to the long lifetimes usually granted witches and wizards.
"Greetings. I am Healer Arabella Collingsworth. I will be your counselor, Miss Weasley. I take it this is your … boyfriend?" she inquired, looking Harry over at length.
Ginny nodded. "He said it was permitted for him to sit in on our sessions."
"And so it is. It's simply uncommon," the counselor returned. "But no matter. Have a seat, both of you." She gestured to the seats facing her desk.
The pair smiled and nodded in her direction before seating themselves. Once they were situated, Arabella smiled and asked, "Would either of you like any refreshment?"
"Butterbeer, if you have it," Harry replied before Ginny had a chance to draw breath to speak.
"Cold?"
"Please."
"One moment." Arabella opened the intercom again. "Angela, bring three butterbeers to my office."
"Yes, ma'am. Right away."
Five minutes later the receptionist came in with the three butterbeers on a tray. "Just leave them on the table near my desk, Angela. Thank you." The young witch nodded and left.
Not long afterward the butterbeers were distributed and Arabella sighed deeply before taking a swig of butterbeer, then leaning back in her chair. "Before we get started, I want you both to know that I know what it's like to be … sexually assaulted and understand virtually every feeling experienced by a rape victim, so I doubt anything either of you say will surprise me."
The couple were naturally curious as to what had happened to Arabella, but decided to shelve their curiosity for the moment. They were here to see that Ginny got help rather than make this a social call. Time enough to find out Arabella's story later on.
"Now tell me the story from the beginning."
This is where Harry decided to explain how the attack had come about. "Two adversaries of mine decided to … get revenge on me by going after my girlfriend. One of them kidnapped her while she was on her way to Quidditch practice at our school, rendering her unconscious with a nonverbal spell, then tied her up and Apparated out of the grounds, using a relative of mine with whom I've never gotten along as an … accomplice. I believe the main reason he went along with it was to be able to … have sex with a girl, since he had not been able to up to that point."
"Pardon me, but may I inquire as to whether or not you have an … established intimate relationship with your girlfriend, young man?"
"I have … but then, we are engaged, so it's only natural," Harry explained. "But that's getting off the subject. One of my adversaries is a fellow wizard and he took her to his family home upon abducting Ginny here." He gestured in her direction and latched onto her hand that she suddenly held out, keeping firm hold of it in order to calm her. After squeezing it reassuringly, Harry continued. "A friend of mine happened to witness the abduction and came to inform me within half an hour after it had occurred. I immediately took off to find her."
Harry took a breath after his lengthy speech, pleased to note that Arabella seemed both interested and caring of their feelings by not asking a lot of nosy questions.
"What did you find upon arrival?"
"My … one adversary seemed to be expecting me and said that he had already had his way with Ginny and that my relative was now doing so, even as we spoke."
"Did he drug her in any way?"
"Yes. He gave her a … love potion and planted a suggestion in her mind that I was the one who had assaulted her."
"At that point you had not been … intimate with your girlfriend, is that correct?"
"Yes," Harry confirmed. "And because of what had happened, I was sure that I would never be able to do so."
"Do you intend to see that they are punished?"
"Oh yes, definitely. I have given copies of all the evidence I have to the Wizengamot and it's only a matter of time until my main adversary is … arrested. However, the other adversary is a Muggle, so I have to go after him in the Muggle manner."
"Do you plan on testifying in each case?"
"Most assuredly," Harry replied firmly. "So will some of my closest friends and members of my girlfriend's family, if only as character witnesses for both of us."
"Would you like me to add my report to your body of evidence?"
Harry was surprised but very pleased at the offer. "Yes. It would be very much appreciated. We need all the help we can get, especially since my one adversary is quite well off, and is likely to be able to either bribe or buy off witnesses in his own favour. But I'm not overly concerned about that, since I have my own fortune, a large … inheritance from my parents, and can do the same if necessary."
"You are an orphan?"
"Yes. My parents were killed when I was just a little over a year old and I was placed with my mother's sister and her family. However, they were … not kind to me, to put it mildly, and for that reason, I am very glad to be of age and able to get away from them permanently. I now live with my girlfriend's family, and plan to do so until we are married."
At this point Arabella looked intently at Ginny. "Have you anything you wish to say, Miss Weasley?"
"Definitely," Ginny assured her. "Harry … my boyfriend … recently told me all the details of my abduction. It turns out that the Muggle accomplice was his cousin. I had never met him before that and from what I've been told about him, wouldn't care to even if given the chance. It was sickening to learn that he had also raped me. The other rapist is a member of a rival House at our former school, Hogwarts. We were in Gryffindor House. This … person was in Slytherin and we have always been adversaries."
Ginny took a breath, then continued. "I recently had a bad nightmare, mainly due to the subconscious memories of my ordeal surfacing in my mind. I had to be given a Calming Draught, and both Harry and my family believe it best that I obtain counseling in order to lay the bad memories to rest."
"And they're right. If you allow them to fester, they can only become worse. Believe me, I know … and will do all I can to assist you in putting them to rest." She then turned back to Harry. "Have you anything to add?"
"I ordered my adversary to bring Ginny to me, and he did so. However, he did not dress her. Instead, he … brought her to me wrapped in only a blanket."
"I'm so sorry. That must have been very difficult for you."
"To put it mildly! But I've managed to deal with it and put it behind me, with the help of Ginny and my friends. Also, once Ginny was returned to us—one of my friends managed to retrieve her clothes—we brought her here and made sure she received the treatment she needed."
"How does her family feel about her abduction?"
"They were very upset, to say the least. One of them even vowed personal revenge on her attackers, but I managed to talk them out of it, although it was not easy, to put it mildly. However, I have … taken the responsibility for my girlfriend's medical expenses because her family has a limited income. Just the same, they are very proud and would insist on repaying me if they knew, so I would appreciate it if you don't mention this fact to them should you speak to any of them at any point in the not-too-distant future."
"I assure you, whatever is said in this office remains in this office," Arabella declared firmly. "That is, unless you and/or your girlfriend decide otherwise."
"Thank you," Harry smiled … then they heard a soft clanging sound.
Arabella looked up and said, "Time's up."
"It's been an hour already?" Ginny could scarcely believe it.
"Oh, you'd be surprised how fast an hour can go by in a session like this," Arabella laughed. "Would you like to continue the appointments at two p.m. on this day every week … Wednesday, I believe?"
"No problem," Harry assured her.
"Good. I'll see you next week then." She stood up and ushered them out, praising Harry for all he was doing to help Ginny and her family, both emotionally and financially.
Harry smiled modestly and nodded in acknowledgment. "It's the least I can do for them after all they've done for me."
"Well, keep up the good work," Arabella told him.
"Oh, I intend to, I assure you," Harry replied with another smile. "Let's go now, Gin. Remember, we have a supper date."
"That's right," Ginny recalled. "Thank you for everything, Arabella."
"Glad to help in any way I can," she smiled. "See you next week." With that, the door closed behind the couple.
Once they were alone, Harry slid a strong but gentle arm around Ginny's waist and led her back to where his broom was situated, lifting the Invisibility Charm with a nonverbal spell, then they headed back to the Burrow after their supper date, where Molly and company were surely waiting to hear how the counseling session had gone.
They were naturally pleased to hear that it had gone well … this time, at least. But what really made certain people's day was an owl post from the Ministry informing him that Draco Malfoy had recently been arrested for the rape of Ginny Weasley, and there had been nothing not even his furious father could do to stop it. The authorities had sufficient evidence to hold him, and nothing even Lucius Malfoy could do could change the fact of its existence. Draco was currently in a holding cell, awaiting scheduling of the trial.
Once Harry had told the others the latest developments, they felt like celebrating. Just the same, this was just the first step—and once the trial really got rolling, he knew not only he would have to testify, but Ginny and company likely would as well. Even at that, he was sure they would be all too happy to do so, if only to ensure that Draco was put away once and for all.
Harry also fully expected a furious, threatening diatribe from Lucius at virtually any time, so he vowed to be prepared for it when it came—and he had no doubt that it would. For the time being, however, he intended to enjoy the knowledge and fact that Draco was no longer walking free to menace other young women; was in fact, sitting in a jail cell, most likely contemplating his probable fate. If Harry had his way, that fate would be a life sentence in Azkaban—and it would be no more than he deserved. This time no amount of money or influence-peddling was going to get him off, and that suited Harry and company just fine.
Fortunately Harry had also bought a Muggle-type post box for the Burrow, so he could get posts from the authorities in his old neighborhood, up to and including updates on the investigation involving Dudley and his assorted sex crimes. The evidence found in his room was currently in possession of said authorities and despite any and all efforts by Vernon and Petunia, no matter what their claims—be it manufacturing evidence or unlawful entry—would change the fact that the evidence indeed existed and was in the hands of the law.
Harry also fully expected a countersuit from them at any time, if not a furious, threatening letter, but so far hadn't gotten either any official-looking envelope from the Little Whinging constabulary or one from his relatives. Just the same, Dudley's comings and goings were being watched closely and he had a nine p.m. curfew, both he and his parents already having been served with a warning that if he violated it even one time, or if any further incriminating evidence was found either on his person or in his room (which was thoroughly searched once a week), he would be formally charged with multiple counts of sexual battery.
Harry would have preferred him to be under virtual house arrest, because he knew what Dudley was capable of and wouldn't put it past him to at least try to give them the slip, but had to settle for the Little Whinging authorities keeping a close eye on him. Or at least as close an eye as they could. He also decided to drop a note to them and suggest that they speak to the families and friends of Dudley's victims, not to mention the victims themselves, and see if they couldn't get either statements from them or promises to testify for the prosecution at any possible trial.
In the midst of all this, though, the two young couples were going to school and just basically living their lives as normally as possible. Ron and Hermione had had to return to Hogwarts, but made sure to ask for any and all new developments with each owl post—and they were just as happy to hear of Draco's having been arrested as those at the Burrow had been, not to mention the latest developments involving Dudley.
Harry and Ginny were headed for the Leaky Cauldron when they were approached by the first member of the press … one Kingsley Shacklebolt, a long-time reporter for the Daily Prophet as well as an Auror and long-term member of the Order of the Phoenix. However, he was here in his journalist capacity this time.
"Harry, may I talk to you? I'd like to ask a few questions regarding the recent arrest of Draco Malfoy on rape charges."
Harry wasn't fond of speaking in public hearing on such a sensitive subject, so he motioned Kingsley to accompany him and Ginny to the Leaky Cauldron; they sat down together and ordered meals for themselves, including mugs of butterbeer. Kingsley just ordered a mug of butterbeer, having an animated quill and pad similar to Rita Skeeter's ready to take down everything said.
"What would you like to know?" Harry finally said once they'd gotten situated.
"How did you ever manage to actually get Draco arrested, for one thing? Usually Lucius is able to get him off the hook for virtually everything."
"Not this time. I had some people at the Ministry dig, and they eventually found plenty of evidence to support my position. He's now cooling his heels in a holding cell, awaiting the scheduling of the trial."
"I'm also given to understand that he had a Muggle accomplice. What can you tell me about that?"
"That's true. The Muggle is … technically … my cousin. But neither of them have ever liked me and decided to get revenge on me by going after my girlfriend. He is lso suspected of attacking several girls in my old neighbourhood. The local authorities even searched his room and found considerable evidence that linked him to the attacks. As a result, they watch him closely and he has an early curfew. If he doesn't keep his nose clean, they'll likely charge him with multiple counts of … sexual battery, which means jail time if he is convicted, even above and beyond the rape charges I'm currently pressing."
"I imagine his parents aren't pleased with the whole affair."
"To put it mildly … which suits me just fine. Especially since I'm of age now and they can't touch me, legally or financially—and have considerable evidence to back up my claims of not only … rape for Ginny, but physical, emotional and verbal abuse against me. They may rant and rave and threaten, but they know it's all true, and if they press too hard, I'll go after them and enjoy doing it … which I suspect is the main reason I haven't gotten a countersuit or nasty letter from them."
"Do you think you'll eventually win the case and that both perpetrators will be punished for what they've done?"
"I think so," Harry opined. "And that will be one of the happiest days of my life."
This was when Kingsley looked in Ginny's direction, hoping to at least get confirmation from her, if nothing else, but Harry's fierce look checked any comments he had been about to say. "Leave Ginny out of it, please. She will eventually testify, and you'll learn her thoughts at that point … but until then, any questions you may have, direct them to me. I also strongly suggest we cut this interview short, at least for the time being, so she and I can finish our meal. Whatever else you want to ask, owl me at the Burrow and I'll do what I can to answer you."
Kingsley was reluctant but knew that Harry meant business, so he didn't argue. "Very well. Thank you for your time and the comments you've given me."
Harry nodded in acknowledgment. "See you at the next Order meeting." He hadn't meant to be so short with the man, since Kingsley was generally fair and honest, but he was fiercely protective of Ginny and wasn't about to allow even him to browbeat her, as some journalists were wont to do in order to get the response they wanted from an interviewee.
With that, Kingsley stood up and left, at last allowing the couple to complete their meal and leave the restaurant, then return to the Burrow. Upon arrival there, they discussed it with the elder Weasleys, who praised Harry for his handling of the situation, as well as for not saying too much in front of Ginny, not to mention his cutting off Kingsley at the pass, since either action could easily set back the benefits of her counseling by weeks if done indiscriminately.
