A/N: I feel awful about the long wait for this chapter and promise there is an explanation at the end of the chapter
Chapter Nine
The next week crawled by for Hermione. She spent her mornings waking up before Severus and making breakfast, and then either shutting up in her room with wards locking her door, or outside the house in a library, reading up on wizard law. Come Friday, she was going to be prepared to be found innocent. Wednesday she had received a letter from Ron saying that he was suing her for murdering their child without involving him. She was living in dread of what her fate could be.
Severus spent the week lying awake while he listened to Hermione as she cooked. He knew that she knew he could easily get past her wards, and as much as he wanted to demand information from her, he wouldn't do that. Instead when he wasn't reviewing wizard law, he was thinking back to her audition. She had been so lovely. And her reading afterwards, he had no clue where that talent came from. The only passions he had ever known her to show were loyalty to her friends, and seeking knowledge. This shed a whole new light on his student. He felt horrible about how little respect he had given her. And so in return he would help her win her trial so that she couldn't be sued by the stupid redheaded git.
Hermione sat at the table, alone, waiting for the minister to show up so the trial could start. It was a simple case. She should have it in the bag. But something in said there was trouble.
Then the door opened behind her, she turned to see the two men she wished wouldn't be here. Her husband and the boy suing her. Ron went and sat next to his whole family, minus the twins, and they all glared at her. Severus kept walking towards her and sat down.
"What are you doing here?"
"As your husband, I had rights to look into your medical files, and as your teacher, I must protect you. So I am here as your lawyer."
His tone was different from the way it had been. Lately it had been soft, and cautious. Today, it seemed back to his normal ways, cold, and emotionless.
The minister of magic walked in and everyone say after he did.
"We are here today for the trial of Hermione Granger for violating Wizengmont Law 3,321 article 1 subsection 3. Miss Granger please step forward and sit in the chair."
Hermione took a deep breathe. Slowly she stood and walked over to the chair and sat down while the minister began asking his questions.
"Miss granger; is it true that on the 20th of June you knowingly had an abortion without consent from the ministry?"
"Yes," Hermione answered.
"And is it also true that the father had not been informed of the fact until after?"
"Yes."
"Thank you. No further questions. Everyone who finds the defendant guilty of-"
"Hold on a minute," Severus stood up, his voice bellowing, "You did not give her lawyer a chance to present her case."
The minister looked around and saw the disapproving faces, "Very well try to prove her innocence."
Severus swiftly walked over to Hermione, looking straight into her eyes, "Mrs. Snape is it true that you found out about the pregnancy only a week prior?"
"Yes," Hermione answered, slightly confused.
"And isn't it also true that in that moment you called Saint Mungo's to schedule an appointment to confirm?"
"Yes."
"Now, why didn't you tell Ron from the very moment your first test came out positive?"
Hermione took a deep breathe, "Because I wanted to be sure. I know the only way to be sure is a doctor."
"But you had no desire to share the fact that you were concerned you were pregnant with him?"
"Not really. He is a very temperamental person, and I was afraid of anger. Plus, something felt wrong. I didn't want to get his hopes up and have something bad happen."
"And something bad did happen am I correct?"
"Yes."
"Thank you Mrs. Snape. You may return to your seat. I would like to call forth Dr. Pomphrey, the Doctor in charge of the procedure."
The minister nodded and a man in his forties walked forward.
"Dr. Pomphrey, how long have you been a doctor?"
"Near 25 years, I started young."
"And in that time how many abortions have you performed."
"Probably well over a hundred at least."
"For just any reason?"
"Only one and that is that the mother's health is at risk."
"And when did you get a call from Mrs. Snape."
"I believe it was June 13th."
"And what was the reason for her call?"
"She had a positive pregnancy test and wanted to confirm it."
"So she came in for an appointment?"
"Yes."
"And what day was that?"
"June 20th."
"And what happened?"
"We drew blood and it confirmed her pregnancy. She didn't know when her last period was so I decided to perform an ultrasound to find out how far along she was. Immediately sensors went off. She was having fraternal twins, but both were tubule. If she didn't abortion the babies within in the next couple of days, she would have died trying to give birth or if she waited, she would have lost her reproductive abilities."
"So extremely valid for performing an abortion?"
"Yes."
"And what about ministry permission?"
"As it was an emergency I performed the operation and then filed the proper paperwork."
"Yet here we are. Do you know why?"
"They claimed it was filled out incorrectly."
"And you double checked it after that correct?"
"Yes and every line was filled out in the exact manner it was to be."
"Thank you that will be all."
Severus then faced the members of the court, "As you can see, someone is clearly out to get her. Her life was at risk," With a wave of his wand an ultrasound image projected into the air, Hermione's breathe caught in her chest and she cried out. "Even she is torn up over the situation. Instead I propose now that she is married, she start a family. She did nothing wrong, and now has a chance to right what was done to her."
"Thank you Professor Snape," The minister spoke, "We will now come to our conclusion. Those in favor of the professor's offer, raise your hand."
Everyone's hand rose except for the minister's right hand men. A huge majority. "Alright then. The defendant is found innocent however it is her duty to conceive a child as soon as she can."
Hermione sat numbed. Even on the way home, she felt nothing. Only empty and hurt.
A/N2: I am so sorry it took this long. As you all know I said I wasn't writing till I copied all my stories I had somewhere back on to a flashdrive. To this day that still hasn't happened. However a lot has. I broke up with my boyfriend, and things did not end well at all. He told me suicide would have been a better choice. Then shortly there after my great-grandfather died. It was very emotionally tolling on me for a while. Then I met someone that got me writing this again, and I hit bloody writer's block. You have no idea how much I hate writer's block. On top of that, I had to reread my story to remember what had happened and where I was, plus I've graduated and been working on making my friends' presents (crocheting blankets, it isn't easy). I got distracted and have been struggling emotionally with a lot of stuff. But I finally wanted to write this because I remembered how happy and enthusiastic you all were to read this and I want to make you all happy again. So I promise to try and write chapter 10 much faster than this one came. Once again I am incredibly sorry. (oh and yes. Dr. Pomphrey is related to madame Pomphrey, a second cousin three times removed…jk, he's her brother, but won't play much in this story)