"WHAT!?" The words are uttered, you're not sure by whom. You don't quiet remember.
The only thing on your mind as you make your way towards Bill and past his family, that is too stunned to do or say anything in that moment, is to wring Bill's neck.
You're on him in an instant as you all but tackle him to the ground, your fist connects with his face and you feel back and hit him again and again and again.
You can hear the commotion going off around you as the Weasley's come out of their stupor to focus in on what's happening.
You briefly feel the touch of an attempt to get you off of Bill, who's unsuccessfully tried to get you off to no avail as his face has been reduced to a bloodied mess.
The touch is felt briefly before a struggle is heard and you hear Percy's firm words, "He illegally doused her Charlie!,"
"That's still our brother!" The rebuttal.
You do not care for the words and you continue your assault.
A punch for every day that this monster violated Fleur and her right to free will.
How long had he been doing it!?
From the beginning!?
From the middle!?
Had she ever even loved him? Or had it all been the potion.
Lord Delacour's words filter into your head, "potions 'ave adverse effects on Veela,"
And it all clicks.
Fleur's actions, her emotions at being separated from Bill.
It all makes sense.
Your punches become more forceful as you start to feel crunches underneath every hit.
You hear the wail or Mrs Weasley but it does little to deter you.
There will be no respite for the pain and suffering that this monster deserves.
None.
You will not stop until the last shreds of life have left this poor excuse.
And even then you will not stop.
The force grip of a strong pair of hands finally pulls you apart from Bill, you look around, a pair of Aurors.
You look around you, Fleur is beside you in an instant forcing her way past the Auror to one side of you. The other grips you harder to assure that you will not make another attempt towards Bill.
The people around you are in varying states of shock, anger and grief.
Bill lays opposite you in a bloody heap as his mother wails over his massacred body and his father stands a ways behind with a shocked look about him.
An Auror steps forward as he looks about the situation.
"We were notified about a disturbance by a Mr Percy Weasley,"
Percy, let's go of Charlie as he steps forward.
"That would be me," Percy looks at the Auror with a grave look about him.
"Right, Mr Weasley, what seems to be the issue,"
You want to roll your eyes at the question. It's obvious!
"It would seem that my brother may have been illegally dousing his former girlfriend," Percy responds, no ounce of lie in his speech. You've never been more grateful for the law abiding Weasley until now.
The Auror assesses the words before asking, "and you have proof of this?"
"Only my memories of his confession which you have my express permission to retrieve," Percy responds once more, words firm.
"And Mrs Granger's assault on your brother?" The Auror asks.
"Delacour," you say speaking up as you make to step forward.
The Auror turns to look at you slightly startled, "Pardon?"
"I had it changed to reflect my wife's, I'm Delacour now,"
The Auror nods in turn.
"Right you assaulted Mr William Weasley," he begins before you cut him off.
"For violating my wife for years, or what else would you call it to illegally douse a woman with a love potion against her will," you rebut as you seeth out the words.
Fleur who's been oddly composed grips your side harder.
"Mrs Fleur Delacour is a veela isn't that right?" The Auror starts.
"What does that matter!?" You accuse.
"Those with creature blood are not like us average magic folk, their bodies have a way of shutting that down," the Auror says.
You see red.
"And are you a magi-zoologist to know that for a fact!? Have you extensively studied veela to be able to testify that before the wizengamont!" You state, all color drains from the auror's face as he takes in your words.
"Do you know who I am! I'm Hermione Delacour formerly Granger, I helped Harry Potter defeat the dark lord. If it wasn't for me you'd have had your wand snapped if your blood status was found lacking! I will be using every connection I have to see that this man is brought to justice and that you are stripped of your position for your bigoted words!"
You shrug off the Auror's hands and he easily lets go of you, too stunned at the words you've just shouted at his partner.
You wrap one arm around Fleur and pull her to you.
"I'll see you before the wizengamont," you utter at a groaning Bill as you turn and pull your wife alongside as you make your way outside of the burrow.
You're only a few steps outside before you hear several foot steps follow after.
"Mione!" You hear Ron first as you and Fleur turn to see him and Luna and Harry and Ginny right behind them.
"Look if you're here to convince me to drop this Ronald, I'm not-"
"No! No! Not at all, just wanted to let you two know that we've got your back," Ron states as Harry comes to stand alongside him and nods in agreement.
"We're here for you Hermione, for the both of you," Harry says as he gives you a firm nod.
"Regardless of what mum wants in this, she and everyone in there knows it's wrong what Bill did," Ginny says in agreement as you nod at her words.
"I'm grateful for the support," you say, you squeeze Fleur to you for equal measure, she's been oddly quiet the entire time and you suspect she's on the cusp of a break-down.
It's been a traumatic time, to find out you've been violated by someone you thought was a lover.
"Thank you all," Fleur states in a small voice.
A voice you've never heard before, it makes every fiber within you scream. You want to hold her close and protect her.
Your friends thankfully notice her state and bid you farewell with promises to talk the following day.
You thank them and turn to walk a safe distance before pulling Fleur to you in earnest and apparating back to your home.
It's then that Fleur crumbles in your arms.
She curls into you as the dam breaks and she starts sobbing in earnest.
You hold her to you as you allow her to break.
You want to protect her.
You want to make it all ok.
And you will, to some extent.
You will make sure that Bill is brought to justice.
You will pull all of the connections that you have to ensure that.
He will not go unpunished for what he's done.
You will do all that you can to ensure that.
You don't know how long you've held Fleur, minutes? hours?
You don't care.
You hold Fleur through all the sobs that wrack her body until she can't sob anymore and all that is left are hiccups.
You take her in your arms and carry her bridal style, take her up the stairs to your bedroom, help her out of her outside clothes and into a pair of pajamas and tuck her into bed.
You sit beside her as she drifts off, whispering soothing words as she succumbs to slumber.
Only once you're sure she's sound asleep do you kiss her forehead and leave the room. You make your way down the stairs and into the study that used to be your fathers.
Only once the door is shut and you've cast a silencing spell do you walk over to the makeshift floor you've set up within it.
You take a bit of powder off a nearby bookcase and throw it within, uttering the words, "Delacour Manor, Principle Estate,"
The gruff groggy voice of Clement and Apolline filter through.
"Ermione?"
"I apologize for the lateness of this call, but something grave has occurred and we need to talk,"
xxxxxxxx -
"l'audace de ce misérable, il ne s'en tirera pas, il ne s'en tirera pas!" A brunet with distinctive green-blue eyes paced about as she rambled on for the better part of the afternoon.
It had been a long few days since the incident at the burrow.
You had been in regular correspondence with Fleur's family regarding the situation at hand. A fact that Fleur had been grateful for as she'd been overwhelmed with emotion to do little else.
The reality of it all crashing around her as her new reality settled in, Bill had taken advantage of her.
Had violated her, taken her first time, her free-will.
He had completely and irrevocably been dousing Fleur with Amortentia since a second date, where Fleur had meant to tell him she was not interested.
The added effects of Fleur's veela blood had mutated the potion in Fleur's body and allowed it to continue its effects even after Fleur had been forced to be seperated from Bill.
The results had been Fleur's lashing out, her irrational actions.
Like an alcoholic going cold turkey, so to speak.
The Delacour's personal healer, well versed in veela anatomy had deduced as much as she'd cast various spells about your wife, trying to determine what Fleur had been laced with.
Once the results had been deduced, all hell broke loose.
You wanted to hunt down Bill and smite him where he stood.
You wanted to wring his neck, you wanted to make him hurt.
But most importantly you wanted to make the pain go away.
For Fleur was hurting.
Your partner, your lover!
So you had stayed strong and been there for her.
Had invited Fleur's parents to stay in your humble abode throughout this entire ordeal.
Had re-grouped with Harry, Ron and their respective wives on what to do regarding the trial that would undoubtedly have to play out.
And had even opened your doors to two of Fleur's closest friends, Suzette Evreux and Claude Dampierre. Two scions of the 2nd and 3rd most powerful families in France respectively.
The two had been near inseparable from Fleur's side since arriving and had been quick to join in on your brainstorming sessions regarding the trial at large.
The brunette currently pacing about your living room, Suzette.
You look over at your wife seated not too far away from her fuming friend as her other friend, Claude, sits to one side of her.
"I don't understand a word she's saying but it can't be very nice," Ron states as he enters the room, Luna alongside him.
You'd just gotten settled into another brainstorming session and had been waiting for Ron and Luna to arrive before you began.
"It isn't," Claude, a brunet haired young man with hard brown eyes states.
Ron nods at that and clears his throat before speaking once more, "Sorry for the late arrival, I was held up at the burrow,"
You all collectively turn to face him.
"But Ginny?" you question as you motion towards his sister and Harry seated on the couch across from Fleur and Claude.
"Gin had the sense to leave instead of staying through mum's attempt to make us sympathetic towards Bill," Ron states, Bill had been arrested and was currently being held in azkaban under Auror supervision while the looming trial waited. Whether he stayed there or was let go was another matter.
The latter for which you were all hoping for.
The man didn't deserve freedom, he deserved to rot.
"She kept going on about how our family had already lost so much during the war and how we should be supporting Bill throughout this hard time," Ron went on as he crossed his arms, brows furrowed.
"She's mental," Ron grumbles as Luna places a comforting hand on his arm in an attempt to soothe him.
"He won't get away with it," Ginny pipes up as your group collectively nods in agreement.
"Not wiz ze might of our respective families," Suzette seethes, Claude and Fleur nod alongside her.
"And the influence of the Golden trio," Luna states.
Truer words had never been spoken.
For all that was just you hoped so.
Xxxxxxxx -
"Now that we have been privy to the evidence presented and the arguments from the affected party, we ask the defendant, a Mr William Arthur Weasley, how do you plead?" Rowan Lacework, Chief Warlock, asks as he turns the attention of the Wizengamot to where William is sitting on the stand. Two Auror's placed alongside him.
From his seated position William looks up as his name is called and utters, "Not guilty, Chief Warlock!" this earns him a gasp throughout the trial chamber.
You will yourself to keep from launching yourself at him in that moment as you stand beside your seated wife. Your respective friends and families in the nearby seated rows.
"On what grounds?" you find yourself asking. This gets you a multitude of agreements from those in the rows behind, your wife puts her hand atop the one you have placed on her shoulder.
"Her thrall! She is veela! How could I not find myself compelled to act not of my own volition! I am but a simple wizard," Bill defends, this earns him several rebukes and hushed whispers as the wizengamot takes in his words. Fleur's hold on your hand tightens as she tries to keep you from acting.
"And what say you to this accusation Madam Delacour?" Rowan asks as he turns the attention to the wizengamot to your wife. You hold firm as your wife begins to speak.
"I am only ¼ veela and 'ad reached mai majoritie, veela are able to completely control zeir thrall by zen," Fleur speaks, all hint of tremor gone from her voice. Only calm steadfast resolution.
"Lies!" Bill shouts as the wizengamot speaks amongst themselves at Fleur's declaration.
"Silence!" Rowan shouts as he hamers a small stamp like malet, the wizengamot's murmuring settles to a hush.
"I am prepared to take veritaserum to corroborate mai claim," Fleur states as she stares Rowan, the wizengamot and then Bill directly.
The wizengamot deliberates amongst themselves for a moment before Rowan speaks once more, "That will not be necessary Madam Delacour, we were made privy to the evidence presented by Mister Percy Weasley via Pensieve,"
"Given the evidence presented, the blood status of each of the affected parties, the gravity of the crimes committed, and the pain they've each had to endure. We of the wizengamot have reached an understanding regarding adequate sentence," Rowan states.
Your heart hammers in your chest as you stand firm.
"Those in favor of conviction of a 5 year maximum in azkaban for the crimes committed," the Chief Warlock states.
5 years.
5!?
You step forward and those present shout around you as the conviction vote is pronounced.
"That's rubbish!" "E illegallie doused 'er!" "You don't know what you're doing!"
Molly Weasley's sobbing.
Your and Fleur's family and friends shouting all around.
"I'm sorry, did you just say five years!" you shout up as the Chief Warlock and the wizengamot stare at you, a majority with hands up in favor of the conviction.
"Given the nature of the trial and the evidence provided we have determined that a sentence of five years in Azkaban is more than adequate enough to absolve Mister Weasley of his crimes," Rowan states, several nods of agreement go off behind him.
"Absolve!? He committed a heinous crime! And you're allowing him to walk all but free!" you shout, your rage seeping out into every word.
"A sentence of five years in Azkaban is not free Madam Granger," Rowan states as he stares down at you.
"And had she been pure-blood, half-blood or muggleborn would you be giving him such a low sentence!" you accuse as the Chief Warlock is taken aback by your accusation, all around you several shouts of agreement can be heard.
"B-Blood status takes no part in this trial! Given the severity of the crimes we determined that five years would be adequate enough to punish Mister Weasley for his crimes!," Rowan states once more.
A weak excuse, you press on.
"If it had been your daughter sitting opposite that monster would you be saying the same!" you declare.
The wizengamot around you erupts in various shouts of agreement and disagreement.
The chamber explodes in various warring sides.
"Siiilleennceee!" Rowan shouts once more in an attempt to take control of the chamber once more. Once the chamber calms does he speak.
"If you do not show this institution the proper respect Madam Granger I will be forced to hold you in contempt!"
"Its Delacour! And your institution couldn't even defeat the Dark Lord let alone keep him at bay, what do you think you'd be able to do to me exactly?"
This causes the Chief Warlock to go red in the face as he struggles to control his rage at your words.
You do not back down as you hear a shuffle behind you, for which you'll later find out it coming from Harry and Ron standing in the rows behind in solidarity. Hands at the ready for their respective wands.
"And those in favor of clearing the accused of all charges," The Chief Warlock bites out as he struggles to keep his anger in and conclude the sham of a trial.
Few hands go up at the vote.
The Chief Warlock slams his stamp like mallet several times, "Sentenced to five years in Azkaban!,"
You will yourself to step back as you gather your wife to you.
The chamber erupts all around as dissent, anger, sadness, sorrow, grief, disbelief and injustice float all around.
Fleur gets up from her eat and throws her arms around you as you hold her to you.
You feel the presence of your friends as they encircle the both of you.
You see the Weasley's in various states.
Molly distraught at her son's, light, sentencing.
Arthur with sorrow and remorse on his features.
Charlie angrily trying to get through the Aurors that have started to pull Bill out of the chamber.
Percy and his wife sitting on both sides of Penelope as she holds her son to her, the son she made with Bill.
George with his arms crossed as he stares at his older brother with a hard look. He had been vocal in his distaste for his brother's actions.
Your eyes find themselves trained on Bill and his on you.
He looks at you and smirks for a brief moment before an explosion goes off to one side of his head.
The chamber erupts in various shouts of horror witches and wizards scream alike at the attack, Bill drops to the floor in a bloody heap as the Auror's around him train their wands in the direction of the attacker.
You and Fleur turn to see one of her friend's, the girl Suzette, with her wand trained. Around her Claude and several Delacour's have pulled theirs out respectively.
"In France it is an affront to commit such a vile crime and go unpunished wizout the adequate severity," Claude states as he stands beside his friend.
"We are not in France," Rowan states as he steps forward.
"And you clearly do not understand our ways, since blood-status iz such an important zing to you," he states, taking a pause before continuing, "She is blood-bound by a magical pact 'er family made to Lady Fleur Delacour's back when 'er family ruled France, she too is absolved of zis crime,"
Shouts are heard all around as various members of the wizengamot clamer up for Suzette's arrest.
"Zat was tame! It will not kill 'im! Just remind 'im for ze rest of 'is miserable life zat ze Delacours send zeir regards!" Fleur's accused friend shouts.
"My son!" Molly shouts as she rushes to Bill's side. Arthur and Charlie alongside. The rest of the Weasley's in various states of distress. Not knowing what to do with the new development.
Various shouts go up at the uncertainty of the situation as the Auror's keep their wands trained on Fleur's friend.
The stalemate goes on for several minutes before Suzette hands her wand to Claude and holds her hands up.
"If I must subject maiself to a 'trial' to absolve maiself zen I will do so willingly and will expect to be treated wiz ze respect befitting mai station," Suzette states as she steps past you and Fleur.
Fleur moves to pull her friend back before the young woman holds up a hand.
"Zey cannot 'ope to convict me of a crime I am not responsible for, afterall I cannot 'elp ze nature of mai blood,"
This does little to quell the worry of your wife as you pull her back alongside you.
The Auror's surround Fleur's friend and various shouts go out once more.
This country is a joke.
You've come to realize.
You really should have realised it a lot sooner.
But it's become glaringly obvious, as you watch the Auror's escort Fleur's friend out of the chamber without so much as a hand anywhere near her person.
You still rage on the inside for the injustice that your wife has endured.
For the lack of severity the punishment Bill has been dealt with.
For the injustice of it all.
'I'm done' is all you can think to yourself as you watch the chaos ensues around you.
As you firmly hold your wife to you.
You'll do what's best for your growing family.
You'll do what you must to protect them.
This much you vow.