Ron's Downfall
"Parked all right, then? I did. Hermione didn't believe I could pass a Muggle driving test, did you? She thought I'd have to Confund the examiner" Ron had said to him and then followed it up with his admission. "As a matter of fact, I did Confund him. I only forgot to look in the wing mirror, and let's face it I can use a Supersensory Charm for that" and Harry sighed. The old friends watched as the train pulled out of the station and vanished from sight before he gave a twitch of his hand and his wand dropped into his grip.
"Hermione, Ginny? Step away from Ron please" he said sadly.
"Harry?" Hermione blinked as Ron's mouth dropped open and Ginny looked stunned.
"Ronald Weasley, I am arresting you on suspicion of Misuse of Magic Upon A Muggle. You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defense if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence" Harry's wand came up to point at his oldest male friend. "I waited until your children had left so they wouldn't have to witness this, Ron, but please surrender your wand"
"I don't have it" Ron managed to blurt out.
"What has he done?" Hermione's eyes narrowed at her husband.
"He admitted to an Auror that he misused magic on that driving instructor, Ma'am" Harry hated to be so formal to Hermione, but knew that to be otherwise could lead him to letting Ron go free – something he knew he could not do. "You know the rules, Ron, but I'm going to have to take you in with cuffs on. At best, you'll receive a fine and it won't even get into the paper"
"Harry, can't you let him go?" Ginny asked. "He made a stupid mistake and he'll pay for it when he gets home from Hermione I am sure"
"No" Harry said simply. "Mr Weasley was an Auror and knows what the law is regarding the use of magic on Muggles. Place your hands out, please, Ronald" and the redhead shakily did so and Harry non verbally applied the magic suppressing cuffs before portkeying the pair of them to the DMLE at the Ministry.
#
"Harry, I thought you had given up dealing with the tough stuff" Shacklebolt sighed.
"Yeah, but I couldn't let this one go. We've already done an investigation and…" Harry sighed. "It looks as if Ron has been using magic on Muggles for years – the driving instructor was just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. It isn't as if its anything major, but its just minor things that all add up"
"Such as?"
"Using a little mind magic to get seats at places to eat, passing off counterfeit bank notes, using magic to gain certain rights…" Harry shrugged. "Ron used to be an Auror, he's still a reservist, so he knows what the laws are for this and what the penalties are"
"Why did he do it?" Kingsley just sat back and sighed.
"All to impress Hermione, it seems. According to him, everything he did was to prove how good a husband he could be"
"And in doing so broke the law. I presume that you have evidence?"
"Tons of it. He's demanding to speak to a solicitor to work out a plea deal and I have Madam Granger sat in my office with my assistant watching her sobbing like crazy"
"He should stand trial for the forgery charges alone" the Minister looked again at the paperwork Harry had given him. "Even working out a plea deal in that regard, he's facing an automatic six months for the crimes against the Muggles"
"I was kind of hoping you would have another idea" Harry shrugged. "I don't want to take away the father of children if I can help it" and Kingsley was silent for a long time before he replied.
"When he gets somebody to speak to him, offer them a suspended six months in Azkaban for the lessor crimes combined and a week in prison for the more serious of them"
"Fine?"
"Twenty Galleons… And we'll classify the records and seal them in order to spare Hermione's reputation given she's about to take over"
"Not the way you wanted to end your time as Minister?" Harry chuckled.
"Not really…"
#
"… generous terms" Ron's solicitor said as Harry explained the deal to him.
"Not so generous to him, but more to his wife… She is one of my most dearest friends and has worked hard to win positions in the Ministry and to end up being the next Minister. This will serve to punish your client and keep Hermione's reputation intact"
"I screwed up… Shouldn't be sent to prison" Ron said.
"If I had had my way, Ronald Weasley, you would be facing the maximum sentence on all charges. As it is, I am thinking of your wife and of your children" Harry shook his head. "Sir, I would advise that your client takes the options otherwise I shall press for the maximum penalties"
"I shall advise him" the much older wizard replied. "Might I have a few moments with my client?" he asked. Harry nodded and stepped outside to wait until he was called in. as he did so, he wondered why his friend had been so stupid as to use magic on Muggles… Hadn't that been amongst the things they had battled against? The thoughts were still going through his mind when the door opened and the solicitor looked out and said that Ron would take the offer but wanted to speak to Hermione first.
#
"You wanted to see me" Hermione was pale as she regarded her husband.
"Yeah… I'm supposed to give you this" he handed her a piece of parchment that was folded in half. Unfolding it, she looked at a short note and read it several times before her jaw dropped and she gasped.
"Why?" the woman managed to stutter.
"Because I screwed up and I don't want to get in your way"
"Doesn't mean you can divorce me, you damned fool!" Hermione thundered, losing her temper. "I took my vows very seriously when we got married – I still do"
"So you can have a start with Harry" Ron shrugged. "After all, Mione, you wanted to be with him until you went on the potions"
"What potions?"
"Oh shit…" the youngest Weasley male paled before Hermione drew her fist back and punched him square in the jaw. The solicitor blinked for several seconds and then rushed to the door to get help to stop Hermione from killing Ron…
# # # # #
Hermione was taken to St Mungos for a check up on her health and it was discovered she'd been on controlling potions for just over twenty years. The deal offered to Ron was withdrawn and charges were drawn up for the acts he had done as well as the new ones, Hermione was put through a short stay in hospital and papers filed for a divorce based on the abuse she had suffered over two decades. Although it wasn't the normal thing, Harry handled the entire case almost by himself as, though the rules said he was too close to both parties, nobody wanted to set off the guy that defeated Voldemort. He was clinical in his teardown of the man providing detailed evidence in the form of a signed confession, medical evidence along with empty vials of potions that he had made using an old school textbook.
"Does the jury have a sentence?" asked the Judge.
"It does" replied the Forewitch. "We, the Jury, find Ronald Weasley guilty of all charges and sentence him to a period in Azkaban prison for thirty years with a minimum sentence of at least twenty years. In the matter of compensation, we find that all of Mr Weasley's property and assets be sold off or otherwise transferred to Miss Granger to pay for what was done to her". As the closing comments were made and Ron was taken away to start his term in prison, Hermione felt the small scar that she still carried from her days on the run with him and Harry.
19 years, And she was free…
A/N:
Not what you were expecting, I know, but the next three main fic updates all involved terror attacks and after what happened in London recently, I've pushed them back – so expect a few one shot updates
