All characters are property of JK Rowling and I do not make a profit from this story.
Beta: Roman's Sundial
Chapter Five: The Review Hearing
Harry Potter - Present Day
October 12, 1999
Harry went back to his office for the fourth time to grab yet another file that he forgot. It was hard to focus on anything except George. It was the day after they tried out the new spell and George still hadn't awoken. Since the Order was a secret however, Harry along with the rest of the Order members had to go on as if nothing was wrong. George currently laid in an empty room at number 12 Grimmauld Place away from everyone, until the Order could find a solution. Harry made to head down to the courtrooms again when he ran into Kingsley at the lifts.
"Mr. Potter," said Kingsley. "I was just heading to your office. A word, if you please, before we head down to the courtrooms."
"Of course, Minister." Harry lead the way back to his office. They entered the empty room and closed the door. "Is everything alright? Has he woken up?" Harry asked frantically.
"I'm afraid not, Harry," replied Kingsley, "but I'm here to talk about today's trial actually."
"Oh," Harry was confused. Why would the Minister want a private word about a routine trial?
"Today is young Mr. Malfoy's review," Kingsley started. "And I'm concerned about letting him go." Harry said nothing but instead waited to see where Kingsley was going with this. "Draco, Narcissa, and Pius are the only three known Death Eaters that we let off, and with Grindelwald back, I'm not sure that was our finest idea. We need to protect the world from people like Grindelwald, not give him allies!"
"But Draco isn't working with him," Harry said. He wasn't sure how he knew this, but he was confident that he was right.
"Harry, we cannot have another war on our hands!"
"And with all due respect, Minister, but we need to keep what we know a secret! Convicting Draco with absolutely no grounds will only signal red flags that we are up to something!" Kingsley opened his mouth to reply, but at that exact moment Harry's office door swung opened and there stood Rubin Yaxley.
"Hello, Minister, I came to see if Potter was ready for the trial. Am I interrupting something?" he asked, looking suspiciously between Harry and Kingsley.
"Not at all, Rubin, I simply came to ask Mr. Potter's opinion on re-trying Narcissa Malfoy."
Rubin looked bewildered. "Narcissa? Whatever for?"
"To ensure we were thorough enough, is all," replied Kingsley.
"Surely if anyone is to be re-tried it would be Thicknesse!" Stated Rubin firmly.
Harry did not like where this conversation was headed. "We should go, we are going to be late." The other two gentlemen nodded in agreement and together they made their way down to the courtrooms. Harry was concerned about what Kingsley might do. His thoughts were far from the trial at the moment; He barely heard introductions or Yaxley's first sets of questions. He surveyed Draco intently. Surely him and his Mother had nothing to do with Grindelwald, but if Voldemort had in fact used the abracadabra spell on him, was there a chance the Malfoy's knew? And how did Grindelwald wake up?
"Mr. Potter," Yaxley turned to Harry.
Harry jumped. "Yes?"
"Your report? Is it ready?" he asked impatiently.
Harry grabbed his files. "Of course," he said. "It appears that Mr. Malfoy complied with all regulations and restrictions placed on him. He removed the Dark Mark, stayed in school, received more OWLs and NEWTs, and attended all Dobwig meetings."
Yaxley nodded. "That concludes my questioning, Minister," Yaxley said turning to Kingsley. "It is in my opinion that Mr. Malfoy should be let -"
"I have a few questions of my own first Mr. Yaxley," Kingsley interrupted. Yaxley looked surprised, the Minister has never asked questions in a trial before. Harry was concerned; what was he to do? "Mr. Malfoy, what good have you done since your last trial?" Kingsley asked Draco.
"What?" asked Draco, looking confused.
"Since your last hearing," the Minister repeated, "what have you done to benefit the wizarding world?"
Draco paused. "I did everything I was told to do."
"That doesn't answer my question, Mr. Malfoy. Following orders is an easy task, what proof is there that you have changed?"
Draco looked stunned. "I was never one of them, I've always been a good guy!"
"What is the guarantee, Mr. Malfoy, that if another dark wizard should come to power, that you would not join him?" Harry needed to stop this, he did not like where it was headed.
"You have my word!" said Draco, sounding desperate.
"The word of someone known to have been in league with He Who Must Not Be Named is not good enough!" Kingsley said defiantly.
"Minister!" Harry interjected. "A word, if you please?"
"After the hearing, Mr. Potter," Kingsley said without looking at Harry. He continued to address Draco. "I am not confident that you would select the correct side should the situation arise." At that moment, Hermione walked into the courtroom. Good, thought Harry, she would put a stop to this! Even Yaxley thought Kingsley was going too far. Harry watched him lean in to the Minister.
"Uh, Minister, surely you don't mean to send this boy to Azkaban? Now?!"
"It is our job, Mr. Yaxley, to protect all witches and wizards alike from any evil doers. I have not seen Mr. Malfoy portray any actions that prove he is truly good. As such, it is my decision to have this young man under watch at all times!"
Hermione Granger - Present Day
October 12, 1999
Had she heard correctly? Kingsley was sending Draco to Azkaban? Hermione had made the decision to attend Draco's hearing to show him support. After their last conversation, she felt bad and had the need to show Draco that she truly did care, despite everything he had done to her. She assumed it would be a routine follow up, but clearly she was mistaken.
"Minister," Harry stood up. "Hermione Granger is also part of the Dobwig Association and is in charge of dealing with wizards who harm muggles. Surely if Draco is a dark wizard, she should question him as well?" Her? What could she possibly do in this situation?
Kingsley looked angry. "Ms. Granger is not a council member of this trial, Mr. Potter. Surely if the Dobwig Association has any questions, you have the ability to ask them." Hermione watched Harry freeze. Kingsley seemed to be content with the trial. "It seems as though everything is in order, then," he said to Draco. "Draco Malfoy, I hearby sentence you to-"
"Be under a watchful eye at all times!" Hermione interjected.
"Excuse me, Ms. Granger?" Kingsley looked mortified that Hermione had interrupted him but she didn't care; Draco did not deserve to go to Azkaban.
"You said he needed to be under watch at all times, well I volunteer! As a member of the Dobwig association, I volunteer to watch Mr. Malfoy at all times!"
"I vote yes!" Harry said quickly, with a huge disregard to proper trial procedure. Hermione watched Harry turn to Yaxley. "Mr. Yaxley?"
"If the Minister feels that this man needs to be under watch, and Ms. Granger agrees to do it, then I think it should be allowed as well."
"I think that settles it then, Minister," Harry said.
Kingsley looked enraged; Hermione didn't think he has ever been defied before. "This is preposterous! Ms. Granger cannot possibly follow him at every moment, he sleeps in separate quarters and uses a different gender toilet! No, the only place for this man is-"
"I'll swear to it!" Hermione shouted. She feared she was crossing a line but she just had to save Draco! "He shall be with me at every moment, except for when he is in his Slytherin common room. We will charm the common room so that he does not have in or out privileges unless approved by me. There he can sleep, use the toilets, and stay put when I physically cannot be with him. I will attend his classes with him and he will go wherever I go, or he will stay confined to his common room." Hermione knew she was not getting through to the Minister. She started to plead desperately. "I swear it I'll watch him, I'll take full responsibility of all of his actions, I'll.. I'll.. I'll make the Unbreakable Vow!" Kingsley's look changed to shock.
"Hermione," she heard Draco whisper behind her, but she ignored him.
"I swear it, Minister, I'll make the Vow, right here, right now!"
"Minister, if she is willing to make the vow, then let it happen." Yaxley stated. "Surely he needs to be out in order to prove himself, and like this he will still be supervised, as you wish." Hermione watched Kingsley's face grow darker with rage, but she knew she had won the battle. The Minister could not say no to this.
"Very well, Ms. Granger. You are hereby responsible for Draco Malfoy. The only time he will be allowed out of your sight is when he is in the Slytherin common room. He may not even use a toilet without your watch unless it is within his common room. Both of you step forward, I shall conduct the unbreakable vow." Hermione and Draco stepped forward. Draco was trying to catch her eye but she would not make eye contact with him at the moment. She took a deep breath and grabbed Draco's arm. The Minister of Magic completed the Unbreakable Vow fairly quickly, and Hermione backed away from Draco once it was done. "We shall re-visit this matter in five months' time," Kingsley commenced again. "Ms. Granger, you know your responsibilities and consequences of what you have just done. Should this oath be broken, it shall take your life."
"I understand, Minister," Hermione said quietly.
"Also, should anything go wrong and Mr. Malfoy does anything unacceptable while under your watch, both you and Mr. Malfoy shall be sent to Azkaban permanently, and a trial will be conducted to determine if the dementor's kiss should be performed on either of you." Hermione's stomach dropped. Surely he couldn't be serious? "Oh, and Mr. Malfoy," Kingsley said, "turn in your wand; you are no longer permitted to carry it."
Ron Weasley - Present Day
October 15, 1999
Ron sat at the kitchen table at The Burrow, waiting. He had just returned from seeing Jessica, the muggle he had met a short while ago. He wasn't sure what made him go see her; Perhaps what happened to George was too much to bare and so he needed to get away for a while. He enjoyed spending time with her, particularly because she knew nothing of the wizarding world, and therefore, things were always so easy. Although he never physically did anything with her, guilt always built up when he thought of Essa. This time was different, though. Essa never crossed his mind once, and this time, he had kissed Jessica. The worst part was that he didn't feel bad. He knew right from wrong, however, and so the moment he left, he messaged Essa and asked her to meet him at The Burrow; It was about time he ended things with her. He chose to meet at the Burrow because he knew nobody would be there. Everyone was either at work, doing work for the Order, or otherwise at Grimmauld Place with George. Ron couldn't stand to be near George at the moment. His lifeless body brought back horrible memories of Fred and he could not bare to lose another brother. A rustling noise made him look up.
"Essa?" He called out.
"Sorry, mate, it's just me," came his brother Charlie's voice. "Didn't expect to find anyone here, just stopped to use the toilet before I headed back to Romania."
"Have you heard anything?" Ron asked urgently.
"Anyone here?" Charlie asked skeptically. Ron shook his head. "I'm afraid I don't have much to say regardless, little brother," Charlie said sadly. "I went to Nurmengard, but it's as Helen had said. Empty. We couldn't find a single clue to help us find the counter spell or to indicate what happened when You-Know-Who had visited there."
"Nobody knows anything?" Ron asked.
Charlie shrugged. "The main guard is a bit of a troll, if you ask me. Bloody idiot. Doesn't know how the grave was manipulated. Said it looks the same now as it did prior."
"There's no body in it!" Ron said.
"Yeah, well, like I said, bloody idiot."
"Git! There's got to be something!" Ron said frustrated. "We can't just sit around and do nothing!"
"Nobody is sitting around mate," said Charlie. "Helen is pulling all of her strings; she'll find something. If not her, then Hermione will, she's almost read every book at the Ministry! Pomona is also maturing her mandrakes and is going to try that too. Nobody is going to let this go!"
"And Pius?" Ron asked angrily, trying to take his mind off of George.
"Still being tagged, still ditching the tail at the same spot."
"Ridiculous," Ron mumbled, more to himself.
"I asked Harry about using the Imperius Curse on Pius," Charlie started. "He shut it down immediately. Said we can't start using their tactics or we'll be just like them." Ron shook his head. Leave it to Harry to think like that, it wasn't his brother laying there.
"What about Veritaserum, then?" Ron asked.
"Pius would never agree; he would rather go to Azkaban."
"Then lock him up in Azkaban!" shouted Ron.
"Then we would have nothing!" Charlie replied. He placed his hand on Ron's shoulder. "He's my brother too, mate, we will figure this out." Ron said nothing. "You need to get to the store, Bill has been taking care of it, but he needs to get back to Gringotts soon."
Ron nodded. "Okay." There was nothing more he could say. Charlie got up and walked to the door. He opened his mouth to say something encouraging to his brother but closed it again. The truth was that all of the Weasley's were terrified that they were going to have to mourn another brother.
Ron Weasley - The Past
October 24, 1998
Ron sat on the ground and started picking the grass in front of him. He hated coming to Bill and Fleur's stupid parties. He never understood the point of parties if nothing was being celebrated, and lately it seemed like Bill and Fleur had one every month. Just two hours, he thought to himself, then it would be an acceptable amount of time to leave. He thought he would pass the time with Harry, but Harry was too immersed in Ginny. Ron didn't think he would ever get used to that.
"Hey, it's Ron, right?" Ron looked up and saw one of Fleur's cousins standing over him. What was her name again? Emma?
"Yeah," he responded.
"I'm Essa Delacour, Fleur's cousin. We met at the wedding." Ron just gave her the thumbs up, as he was in no mood to entertain. "Where's your girlfriend?" She asked him.
"Who?" he asked, puzzled.
"Hermione, wasn't that her name?"
"No," Ron said coldly.
"Yeah, it was! I remember it being such a distinct name!"
"I mean she's not my girlfriend," Ron said bitterly.
"Oh, but she was at the wedding. That sucks."
"Seriously? Are you done?" Ron asked her. He got up to leave.
"Oh no, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that!" Ron walked away from her. He looked around and spotted the table with the firewhisky. He sat down and helped himself to a glass. "Uh, Ron?"
"Bloody Hell, Esther, what do you want?"
"It's Essa, actually, and I just wanted to let you know that your non-girlfriend Hermione is here." Ron spun around. Sure enough, there was Hermione standing next to Fleur. Ron cursed loudly, finished his firewhisky in one swallow, and got up to leave.
"Wait, where are you going?" Essa asked him.
"Away from here."
"Did she break up with you?" Essa asked, following him.
"You know, you really need to learn to mind your own business."
"Stop walking away Ron!" Essa stood right in front of him. "If she broke up with you then don't leave, it let's her know she's won; it's affecting you!"
Ron stood motionless. "I broke up with her."
"Even better!" Essa replied enthusiastically. "You left her so you obviously don't want to be with her, so why leave?"
Ron looked at his feet. "She cheated on me." He wasn't sure why he was telling her this.
Essa was quiet for a moment but then she smiled. "Come with me." She grabbed Ron's arm and dragged him to the middle of the gathering. "Dance with me!" she told him.
"Uh, what? No!"
Essa wouldn't take no for an answer. "Come on! It'll be your revenge! Look!" She nodded in Hermione's direction. Ron turned and saw Hermione watching them with a skeptical look. He instantly started dancing with Essa. He had never danced with Hermione other than at Bill and Fleur's wedding, no matter how many times she had tried. Maybe Essa had a point, it was nice to see Hermione hurt for once. "You're a good dancer!" Essa told him.
"No I'm not, I bloody well hate it!"
Essa giggled. "It doesn't look like it!" She twirled around him. "I think it's working, she looks upset!"
Ron frowned. "It doesn't change anything," he said.
"Well then, we have to do more! Let's see. What will get you out of this slump?"
"Her feeling what I felt," Ron responded angrily.
"That's easy, then!" Essa replied, and before Ron knew it, Essa was kissing him hard on the mouth in the middle of the gathering with many onlookers, including (to his pleasure) Hermione.
Author's notes: I know we are just getting into it, but please don't hesitate to comment with a specific "past" request, or character's PoV!