I'm sorry for the delay in this final chapter, I found out that a University Professor that encouraged me to write fanfiction passed away due to pancreatic cancer and I fell int a bit of a depression for a bit.

This last chapter is dedicated to him thank you Professor Clements.

Chapter 10

"By ye decree of Wizarding bylaws and ye subsequent magical blood pacts of ye ancient lineages, do hereby absolve any and all acts committed by ye descendants in response to ye that which they cannot control.

Ye modernization of ye societies hold no jurisdiction over these individuals or ye acts that they may commit in response to ye blood pacts they are subjected to by the magical bond of their blood.

"Cleared of all charges!" The Chief Warlock grits out as he slams his gavel.

Witches and Wizards alike scream in a contrast of protests and jubilee as the verdict rings out throughout the chamber.

You watch on as Fleur's friend gives a mock bow and a man of slim frame, whom you've come to learn in the passing weeks is her Lordly father, shakes his head at his progeny's mocking.

The trial had been heralded as the trial of the century.

It had not taken long for the nobility of Wizarding France to catch wind of what had transpired in England.

Both the acts committed against Fleur and the subsequent resulting actions from Suzette.

It had resulted in an uproar at the gross negligible affront, a travesty to the adequate justice that should have been dispensed. And a threat of severed ties between England and France.

The Delacours where an old pureblooded family that only up until the most recent generation had become half-blooded. Theirs was an old family that held much respect and repute.

Im response the current minister for magic of France likewise had become involved as the likelihood of a trial loomed.

For the issue that had been presented was that a witch with creature blood had severely harmed a wizard.

A wizard who had committed a heinous act, but regardless a wizard all the same.

That had proved to be their downfall as the facts were presented.

For Suzzette was not creature blooded in the slightest, but a pureblood with a solid Wizarding lineage.

And so the importance of Wizarding blood pacts had emerged.

The Evreux family of France was an old family known for their close ties to the Delacours. Had helped Fleur's ancestor, bring the country together and unite it under one banner, causing the creation of the country of France.

Their ancestor had sworn a blood pact that would bind all those with Evreux blood to protect those of the line of Delacour.

Theirs was a strong union that could not be broken.

And so it had been presented that Suzette could not be held accountable for the harm she had inflicted upon Bill.

For she had acted in response to that blood pact.

She had been blood bound to act in response to the act that had been committed against her friend, her liege.

Much as it had been argued, it had come to the understanding of all present that the witch could not be held accountable for the crime in question.

She was not of creature blood.

Had acted in accordance to an ancient pact.

And had not committed a crime of her own free will.

The added pressure of an entire country's involvement in said trial had helped matters in the French national's favor.

And so the trial had proceeded and the charges had been dropped.

For William Weasley was not worth the potential severing of ties with an entire country.

Was not worth the economic free fall that could potentially ensue, should Suzette be charged.

It remained tenuous at best as it was.

At the lax punishment that Bill had incurred for his actions against Fleur.

The country of France was and remained in uproar over it.

That much was made glaringly clear as you'd met and shook the hands of many a noble and concerned French citizen the days leading up to the trial.

"We will not take zis lying down," an uncle of Fleur's had raged as you'd found yourself nodding in agreement.

"We'll close our borders and sever all trade with the English if we 'ave too!" Fleur's aunt had chimed in as many a witch and wizard Delacour had congregated in your humble home.

The concept that a single family could subjugate the very will and actions of an entire ministry, it's officials and it's very minister was foreign. But one that you had quickly grown to understand.

The Delacours, although they had relinquished their hold as monarchs of Wizarding France were still viewed and held the same power.

The underestimation that they'd be unable to flex that power had come to the determent of England's ministry.

They'd played the game of politics and international relations and lost.

It was with this in mind that you'd made the decision to leave the country all together.

You'd not subjugate your wife and your future child to this injustice.

Much as it was in its current state.

The law of Wizarding Britain had failed Fleur.

And although Bill would forever remain in the care of St Mungos due to the injuries he'd sustained.

It was not enough to take away from the fact that he'd still been given a light sentence in response to his actions.

"We do not 'ave to leave, zis is your 'ome," Fleur had tried to assure you as you'd made your intentions known.

You'd simply shaken your head, taken her hands in yours and told her with all the confidence in your being, "you're my home,"

And that had been that.

You'd not make your wife suffer the discrimination of England.

Would not subjugate your future child and any more that would come after to the unjust laws of your home country.

And so you'd made the necessary arrangements; emptied your vault at Gringotts, packed up your home and made the adequate visits to friends that you'd miss.

Your friends in turn had understood albeit it being a conflicted understanding.

The Weasley's had stood divided and conflicted as Fleur's friend's trial had loomed and played out.

Bill had been attacked, a direct hit to the head had left him incapacitated of various motor functions and had left him bereft of his former self.

'Its a mercy I didn't kill 'im zey should be grateful,' Fleur's friend had seethed after she'd been released to the custody of her Lordly father prior to the trial. She'd been allotted privileges that had not been offered to Fleur. And all because she had not a drop of creature blood.

It had filled you with a sense of conflict, pride that your wife's attacker had been brought to heel and would be left a permanent reminder, while at the same time leaving you with a feeling of uncertainty. Should you feel glee for the act? Was it wrong? Was it right? It sure felt right.

Could there have been a likelihood of a second trial in defense of Fleur's unjust treatment, with the power and sway that her family held, could Bill have been brought to justice the lawful way?

You'd found yourself conflicted of these thoughts and had even voiced these very thoughts to Fleur's father on many a late night after she'd gone to bed.

He'd heard you out and assured you that it best not to dwell on the actions of the past. They were as they were and what mattered was how you delt with them moving forward.

He'd been very much enraged at what had occurred to his daughter, his eldest, his heir! And he'd been fully prepared to bring the might of France should he have been given the chance but Suzette had acted sooner.

'Blood pacts are forbidden to occur now, but one's enacted in ze past remain, I should 'ave known her friend would do zomzing like zis, I am neither appalled nor dismayed. I am in part overjoyed zat some justice was dolled out for my child,'

You'd thought long and hard over your father in law's words. Justice.

Rather the concept.

What was it really.

And who decided what was the line between justice and malice.

Yes you'd thought long and hard over the scales and where exactly the balance lay.

Had had an argument or two with Ron as he'd agreed that his brother should have payed for the act that he'd committed against Fleur but not at the cost that had been enacted.

If it hadn't been for Harry you're not sure if you'd still be on speaking terms with Ronald Weasley.

But in the end he'd been a bridge between you two and had helped you both see reason. Had helped Ron see that there was nothing that you could both do to change the past but much that you could do in the present.

The added factor that you would depart the country once the trial culminated had been an added reason to not sever the bridge of your friendship.

The feel of Fleur's hand as she grips yours tightly brings you back to the present and you watch on as Aurors a-plenty try to keep the audience from becoming unruly.

You look across as the Weasley's huddle together to grieve, for the son they've more or less lost, for the acts he's committed, for what had to occur as the direct result of his actions.

As that had been the main argument that had sealed the trial's verdict in Suzette Evreux's favor.

If Bill had never committed the acts against Fleur, then the blood pact the Evreux's had would never have compelled Suzette to act in such a manner.

You don't dwell on the thought for long as you find yourself and the Delacours ushered away by a group of French Auror's that had been assigned to ensure the safety of the Delacour family.

You give a small nod in the direction of where your friends stand as you're ushered away from the trial room and out of the Ministry of Magic Headquarters.

The next few hours are a whirlwind as you're apparated back to your packed up home where a portkey awaits you and you're whisked away to a decadent manor of which you've come to know is the Ancestral home of the Delacour family of France.

"An 'omage to ze palace of Versailles, our ancestor Philippe brozer to ze Sun King zought it a fun plaisanter and 'ad ze original manor renovated," Fleur's father explains as you're ushered about the manor, no more like palace.

"It iz a bit much I know, but I hope you will get used to it in time," Fleur says beside you as you squeeze her hand in turn to reassure her.

"I'm sure I will,"

—- —-

FLEUR

There is a certain feeling that cannot be described when your soul meets the one it is destined to be with.

The one you had not expected to find yourself with.

Had not had an inkling of thought that the bushy haired 14 year old you'd met at the cold dreary school in scotland would one day be your spouse and the parent to your unborn child.

You put your hands to your stomach as you think on the months that have passed.

You're back home and in the safety of your family estate, back amongst allies and friendly faces.

Back amongst your people.

And you could not be happier.

You had a rough couple of months back initially as you'd tried to heal from the actions that had occurred against you.

Hermione had been with you through it all as you'd waken up in a cold sweat on many a night.

Had held you and soothed you through those hard nights.

You'd worked through the trauma and were slowly healing at your own pace.

And had been assured on many an occasion that you were safe and would remain as such as you were back in a country where its denizens adored your family.

Back amongst friends that had long since missed you.

Claude and Suzette, the latter coming to visit only once the magical 'grounding' her father had bestowed upon her had been lifted.

'He said that I should have attacked well after the trial, preferably in a dark alley not in the presence of so many witnesses,' You'd chucked heartedly at that.

'I mean really what did he expect me to do! I'm an Evreux, its in my blood,' you'd hugged your friend in earnest, she'd had the sense to do what you couldn't.

In the moment you had felt helpless and had found yourself at a loss for words as your attacker got off with a slap on the wrist.

If Suzette had not 'brained' him you don't know if you would have been able to heal to the point that you currently had.

"Sickle for your thoughts?" Hermione asks as you turn to find her walking towards you.

You'd elected for a quiet sit in the sun room for the afternoon and had been so lost in your thoughts you had not felt your spouse's presence come into the room.

"Just zinking," you respond in turn as Hermione takes the seat next to yours and reaches over to place her hand on your stomach.

"It'll be any day now," she says as she tenderly touches your stomach, you smile in turn and a warmth fills you as you think on what the months that have passed have brought forth for your love.

She currently holds a position in the department of magical law and regulations in the French Ministry, acting in the capacity as a member of the House of Delacour.

A boon for your father as he'd had some of the stresses taken from him, alongside with the help that you had also allotted him as you'd taken your rightful place as his heir. You'd both given him the respite he'd so long deserved.

Everything felt right and as it should be.

And as you looked into the eyes of your beloved you could not wait for what the future held in store.

— —-

7 Years Later

"My dear compatriots, you've chosen to put your trust in me, and i want to express my deep gratitude to you….It's a great honor and its a great responsibility, because nothing was inevitable. I want to say thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. My gratitude goes to all those of you who provided their vote and their support. I won't forget you. I will put all my care and energy into being worthy of your trust…..But at this moment I want to address all of you, the citizens of our country, whatever choice you made. Many difficulties have weakened us for too long. I'm fully aware of them: the economic difficulties, the social divisions, the deadlocks and the moral weakening… I'm aware of the anger, anxiety and doubts that a large proportion of you have also expressed. Its my responsibility to listen to them while protecting the most fragile, by better organising solidarity, by combating all forms of inequality and discrimination, by implacably and resolutely ensuring your security, and by guaranteeing the nation's unity. For behind each of the words I've just uttered, I know there are faces: women and men, children and families, creatures of all species, entire lives, there are you and yours.

This evening I am addressing you all, all of you together, the people of France!

The crowd's cheers and deafening as all in attendance and those at home watching cheer as the new minister for magic of France give their speech and is sworn in.

Minister for Magic of the Country of France; Hermione Jean Delacour. Wife to the Heir and future head of the Noble Family Delacour, Fleur.

Mother to Victoire, Dominique, Louis, Margaery, and Loras Delacour.

Her's had been a hard won election for her opponent had been none other than Claude Dampierres a close family friend.

Both candidates had been honorable and had run fair campaigns against one another.

Neither stooping to any low underhanded tactics.

And as both candidates shook hands and Fleur sided up to her wife's side all could see that no bad blood was had between either parties.

From her meteoric rise as a simple ministry employee in the magic law and regulation department to the undersecretary of the minister of magic to her candidacy.

Hermione Delacour had enacted good and proper change for all magic folk alike.

The country had all but closed its borders and subsequent trade with England, motions that had been headed directly by the ambitious witch herself.

She'd strived to make the world a better place for her family, her children and all the generations to come.

As the Delacour couple waved their hands together to the roaring crowd, their youngest children at home watched from their magical television set that had been enchanted to view the magical broadcast.

The country of France had come a long way in the seven years that Hermione had been in the French ministry, as they'd adapted many a muggle device to fit the needs of their citizens.

"There's Maman and Mum!" Louis Delacour exclaimed as he and his two younger siblings, and their various second cousins watched from the comfort of the Delacour Manor, their various nanny's around them ensuring the children stayed safe.

"Yes master Louis, your mother is now the Minister," a nanny intoned as the excited blonde child pointed at the television screen.

"Margy Loras look! There's Victoire and Dominique," Louis exclaimed once more as his two year old siblings looked on in wonder at their older siblings animated expressions.

The eldest Delacour children appeared on the screen as they joined their parents' sides. The two eldest Victoire and Dominique had been deemed old enough to join their parents for the inauguration.

The children watched on long into the night until it was deemed too late to stay up and had been ushered to their respective beds, tucked in and soothed to sleep.

Xxxxxxx -

"Do you think that Louis stayed up?" Hermione asks as she and Fleur gather a tired child into their arms.

"I can walk mummy," Victoire murmurs as she struggles to keep her eyes open. Hermione chuckles in turn as she holds her child to her and rubs soothing circles on their back, the child leans into their parent's touch and falls into a quick slumber.

"He probably tried," Fleur responds as she settles Dominque onto her hip as the Auror's flank them and they are escorted to a nearby secure floo.

Hermione chuckles.

They make their way into the floo and appear a moment later within the safe haven of their wing of the Delacour Estate. They tuck their daughters into their respective beds and kiss them each goodnight before going to kiss their three youngest and turning in for the night.

As they lay in bed in each others arms Fleur asks, "Do you ever think about the marriage law,"

Hermione holds her wife close to her as she mulls over Fleur's words.

"No," Hermione responds a moment later.

"Oh?" Fleur asks a hint of mirth in her voice.

"It led me to you," Hermione responds as she captures Fleur's lips.

They share several minutes of bliss until they're both breathless.

"Its how I became yours," Hermione states as she and Fleur lose themselves in each other.

Thinking back on it, she really should have known then that the ordeal would eventually lead her to become Fleurs.

In this lifetime and the next.