Scene warning: World-class oral action forthcoming, inspired by my dear husband...I'll leave it to you to guess my part in it!!
No Time for Epilogues
Chapter 38-
August 8, 1999
As with the previous Malfoy hearing, the Wizengamot gallery was at full capacity. Draco said nothing except to greet a wizard who took a seat next to him and observed his mother, again the accused, calmly observe the goings-on from the chair in the center of the chamber. He sat straighter on the bench when Hermione and Ron entered and gave his mother a nod and faint smile. He saw Harry and a group of Auror trainees gesturing around the chambers and scribbling on parchment. Kingsley and his two-wizard administrative team, one of them Percy, took their places behind the judgement podium. Kingsley cleared his throat and started.
"Welcome one and all, this morning of August eighth in the year of the common era nineteen hundred ninety nine. We come this morning in the matter of Narcissa Malfoy, on charges that the accused knowingly and willingly used magic on another, while on probation that prohibits the use of magic. What do you plead?"
"Guilty, Minister."
Draco saw Hermione throw her hands up and whisper to Ron furiously.
"Very well, your plea is noted. Today you have the opportunity to tell your side of the case, as well as call witnesses on your behalf. Do you understand what I have told you?"
"Yes Minister."
"Very well, let's begin. On the morning in question, were you at the Ministry for Magic?"
"Yes."
"Why were you there?"
"For my monthly meeting with a probation wizard."
"Did anyone accompany you? And if so, who?"
"Yes, my son."
"Why was he with you?"
What's that got to do with anything? Hermione thought, wondering why Kingsley was asking such inane questions.
Narcissa thought about her answer for a few moments. "He usually accompanies me whenever I leave our home."
"Why is that?"
"He is concerned for my welfare."
"I assume you know who Thomas Marbury is?"
"Yes, he was the one who attempted to attack me in the Ministry Atrium."
"Let the records show that Madame Malfoy acknowledges the identity of Thomas Marbury, who was sentenced yesterday to 25 years in Azkaban prison."
"Please describe the incident."
"My son and I were waiting for our turn at the lift when I heard Mr. Marbury verbally threaten me. He removed a wand from his pocket and sent a curse my way. My son pushed me from the path of the curse and shielded my body with his. The wayward curse unfortunately struck the person behind us who had just stepped from the lift."
"Who was the person?"
"Missus Weasley."
"Let the records show that Madame Malfoy acknowledges the identity of Hermione Weasley, victim in this case. Continue."
"I observed Missus Weasley suffering the effects of the Insolitus curse."
"What is that exactly?" a Wizengamot witch asked.
"A Dark curse, meant to slowly strangle its victim."
The gallery witnesses collectively shuddered.
"What did you do next?"
"I used my son's wand to counter the curse."
"Knowing that you were prohibited from using magic?" Kingsley asked.
Narcissa sighed. "Yes, I know I'm not supposed to use magic. I have been the unwitting wife of a Death Eater for over twenty years, Minister, and unfortunately have first-hand knowledge of dozens of Dark hexes and curses, having been the victim of many myself. The Insolitus curse is an old one, rarely used, so I doubt the dozens of wizards on the scene would have known what the curse was, much less the counter curse."
"So you used magic to save a life?"
"Yes."
Narcissa's probation wizard was called to testify, and gave a glowing report about her behavior during her probation. Next, Draco was called to testify and his account was the same as his mother's. Ron's account was the same as the Malfoys, adding that "it's bloody stupid to punish someone for doing something good!"
That's my Ron, eloquent as ever, calling the Wizengamot bloody stupid! Hermione thought.
Kingsley cleared his throat. "Your opinion is noted, Mr. Weasley, you may rejoin the gallery."
Hermione patted his hand when he sat down. "You did good, love," she whispered.
"Well, someone had to set them straight," he mumbled and straightened his tie.
Hermione was the last of the day to be called.
"Mrs. Weasley, please give your account of the incident."
"I had just left my office to meet my husband for lunch. I stepped from the lift, only to feel a blow to the neck then the feeling that I was being strangled."
"Were you aware that Madame Malfoy used the counter curse?"
"Yes, I do recall that it was her voice that said the incantation."
"Knowing-"
Hermione sighed. "Yes, knowing that by performing magic with a wand, she violated her probation. When the provisions of her probation were made, were there any allowance made for use of magic in self-defense or extreme circumstances, such as the incident that morning?"
The members of the Wizengamot remained quiet, but looked at each other pensively.
"I can see by your faces the answer is no, no provisions were made. Draco goes with her everywhere for her safety! What is she supposed to do when threatened with magic? Slap them, ask them to stop?"
She should be an advocate! Kingsley thought.
"Are you saying that she should have just stood there and watch me die?"
"No Missus Weasley, that's not what we're saying."
"As far as I'm concerned, the only thing she's guilty of is saving a life!"
"Thank you for your testimony and your unfailing candor, Missus Weasley. You may rejoin the gallery," Kingsley said.
After a thirty minute recess, the Wizengamot returned with their decision.
"The Wizengamot pronounces Narcissa Malfoy guilty of the charge of violating probation, but will set aside punishment at this time. This hearing is concluded, Madame Malfoy is free to go."
And with a rap of the gavel, the hearing ended.
September 10, 1999
Hermione's cubicle, lunchtime,
Tiring of interview requests, Hermione opened another letter fully preparing to bin it. She took a bite of her sandwich, read the letter and almost choked.
WhizzHard PublishersLondon, UK
Hermione Weasley
British Ministry for Magic
Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures
Greetings!
Our editorial team has finished reviewing the manuscript your husband submitted, and we would like to meet with you to discuss terms of publishing. We realize that you may still be convalescing, so we look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Best wishes,
Olin Merritt
Editor-in-Chief,
She dropped her sandwich. How could she have forgotten the book? Well, I almost died...again. Ron didn't forget and brought the manuscript to the publisher when she was in hospital. That dear, sweet man! The other workers in the Beast division heard a squeal of glee from her cubicle. They weren't surprised. She was the youngest in the division and her often voiced enthusiasm was welcome. She was seen leaving the office, half-running really, her hair, cloak and satchel flurrying behind her.
She went to the shop, where the clerk told her that Ron left to run an errand for "the other Mrs. Weasley" so she apparated to The Burrow. Rather dramatically, she swept into the home and spotted Ron moving the sofa.
"You!" she exclaimed.
"What?" Ron asked, wondering what he done wrong. He and Harry discussed it often. Sometimes, being a married bloke meant that you did wrong even when you didn't know it. Okay, I put the dirty breakfast dishes in the sink, my dirty clothes in the hamper, put kibble in the cat bowl...
"What in the world..." Molly murmured and watched Hermione hurry across the room and tackle him a hug, peppering his face with kisses between praises of "sweet" "thoughtful" "wonderful."
"Ugh, get a room," Ginny mumbled. Hermione turned around and saw Molly and Ginny regarding them curiously.
"Oh, hi," she said with a quick wave and returned her attention to Ron, showing him a letter. He read the letter and slowly kissed both her hands.
"Told you they'd like it. That's good stuff you've got," he said.
She rose on her tip-toes and whispered in his ear, "Do you have to go back to the shop soon? I'd like to take you home, thank you properly and show you more of my good stuff."
Bugger the shop! he thought and the two rushed out the door. She apparated them right into their bedroom, where she wasted no time and took to removing his pants. He said nothing and let her, becoming extremely turned on by her actions. It wasn't often she just showed up in the middle of the day and spirited him away to "thank" him in her own special way. She drew his boxers down, dropped to her knees and took him into her mouth.
She looked up at him as she performed an combination suck-lick maneuver she and Ginny had read from a magazine. She hoped he was looking down at her, loving the look in his eyes when she did this for him, but his eyes were shut, his head back and he was whispering her "harder...more" so she obliged. She scooted closer, wound her arms around his hips and took him in deeper. He cried out and pumped his hips, hearing his obsenities laced with his cries of appreciation. Her knickers were soaked and she was aching for him. He slowed, looked down at her with hooded eyes and hoarsely asked, "Can I?"
She grinned and gave him one more lick before she laid down on the floor. The "Can I" was Ron's code for the ultimate blow-job fantasy of his they tried a couple of times in the past month to great success. When she was comfortably on her back, a pillow under her head, he straddled her face and assumed a push-up position, pumping his cock into her mouth. It was a fantasy he had for years and was thrilled to be able to do it. She had learned to not gag taking him in deeper, and was into it as much as he was, her hands gripping his hips, drawing him into her eager mouth. When she gently squeezed his balls and tickled the skin behind them, he shuddered and arched his back.
"Fucking perfect..." he growled and sped up as he felt his climax coming on, wishing he could last longer, but she was relentless with the sucking and stroking. He shuddered and cried out, pumping deep and fast as he came. He fell flaccid, twitching as she gave a few last licks and nips and fell back to a sitting position.
"Magic, love," he said and pulled her in for a kiss.
On November 1, 1999, Centaur Compendium of Language and Daily Life by H.J. Weasley was released. She had no words when she saw her book on display at Flourish and Blotts, and people were buying them up. The first person to buy a copy was Harry, who left the counter and handed her the book.
"Sign it for me?" he asked.