Hermione was on the stand for what seemed like hours. She got into more graphic detail of what happened to her. I kept feeling the tears prickle my eyes and a large lump in my throat form as I desperately tried not to cry. The attorneys for the guards make her out to sound like a slag and that she really wasn't innocent at all. The judge would put a stop to their line of questioning and the crowd in the courtroom would become restless and hiss the cross-examining attorney.

She insisted that I stay away from her; but I couldn't. Harry and I were permitted to go to the trial; plus, we had to testify. We were not however assigned to her protection after her attack. I was furious that they put a rookie Auror, Sanderson Moxley, on the detail. He was inept in my opinion and didn't know his right from his left.

The prosecution had been able to get a new Azkaban guard to go testify that he witnessed their treatment of Hermione. The young man, obviously scared, had recanted his story on the stand stating that he never saw anything. Other female prisoners took the stand to describe their treatment, but since they were still in Azkaban, I wasn't sure if their testimony was believable. A member of the kitchen staff was able to testify to the verbal and physical abuse but was not able to see anything that went on in the cell.

Hermione sat in the front row of the courtroom behind the prosecutors while Harry and I sat behind her. She tensed up when the first guard was brought to the stand. I placed a hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged it away. Her shoulders sagged more and more as the guards denied everything. Finally, the last guard was called.

"State your name for the record."

"Simon Brockway."

"Mr. Brockway," his attorney began, "I'm just going to start with the most obvious question. Are any of these accusations true?"

"No, absolutely not."

"Describe Ms. Granger's behavior at Azkaban Mr. Brockway."

An objection was entered by the prosecution but it was overruled.

"She was placed in an isolated area for protection from other prisoners. Prisoners are not allowed to talk, but she would not obey this rule."

"What do you mean?"

"She would constantly try to use her feminine charms get the guards to do special favors for her."

"Could you describe feminine charms?"

"She would offer sex in exchanged for special treatment." There was a murmur in the courtroom at this statement and the prosecution objected but it fell on deaf ears. I could see Hermione's shoulders shake and could tell she was crying.

"Did you accept this offer?"

"No, it is against policy. She was very persistent and I wouldn't be surprised if someone did."

"Why would she make up these lies?"

"Ms. Granger was upset by her conviction and is obviously lashing out at anyone for revenge. With my interactions with her, I find it hard to believe her innocence."

"Objection!" This time it was sustained.

The prosecutor got up to begin his line of question. "So you said that you wouldn't be surprised if someone had had sexual intercourse with Ms. Granger."

"No, as I said she was persistent."

"Do you know of anyone who did take advantage of her?"

"Not specifically, but if it did happen, she got what she deserved." He gave a slight smirk.

"Got was she deserved? Could you expand on that?"

Realizing his statement, he began to backpedal. "I only meant that this woman was convicted of treason."

"So, for some prisoners it is okay to abuse them?"

"Yes…I mean no. That's not what I meant." Brockway began to shift his weight, obviously uncomfortable and afraid he was saying too much.

"We've heard from several other female residents of Azkaban and a few employees that they witnessed this treatment or had been a recipient of it, what do you say to that sir?"

"They are obviously lying. They couldn't see what happened in the cells."

"So you're saying that there was something going on in the cells?"

"No! Stop twisting my words."

The prosecutor then changed tactics. "If you're so innocent, why did you flee?"

"I panicked when I heard that we might be arrested."

"Really, you had been siphoning off money into accounts in Canada soon after Ms. Granger's release and before anyone was made away of allegations. Isn't it true that you were petrified that Ms. Granger would tell authorities of her treatment and that is why you fled well before the indictments were handed down?"

"No."

"Then why run weeks before it was known publicly Mr. Brockway? If you were innocent, why run at all?"

"I heard a rumor of what Ms. Granger was making up and with public sympathy the way it was, I figured I didn't have a chance."

"Were did you hear this rumor? Only the Aurors and my office knew of it."

"I don't know."

"You don't know where you heard it?"

He didn't answer so the judge instructed him to do so or be held in contempt of court.

"I heard it from a friend that knows someone at the Ministry."

"Who is this friend? If the allegations were so outrageous why care?"

Brockway refused to speak. The courtroom and everyone in it knew he was lying and hiding something.

"Permission to treat as hostile." Asked the prosecutor which was met with a quick objection. "Your Honor, there is obviously a leak in the Ministry that would be uncovered too."

The judge consented and he brought out a vial from under his desk. It was veritaserum. If a witness refuses to talk and if the judge deems the answer crucial, it can be administered. Finally, I thought, we would hear the truth.

I looked at Harry who had hung is head. I realized that convicting the guards might expose Ginny. I was now glad she was thousands of miles away. A few drops were administered and the courtroom waited for the potion to take effect.

"I ask you again, who was it that tipped you off about upcoming criminal charges involving the treatment of Ms. Granger."

Brockway tried to fight it, but it was to no avail. "I was worried that Granger would talk to the Ministry about what we did to her so I asked Ginny Potter to find out from her husband if charges were going to be brought."

This stunned the courtroom. People were looking at Harry, whispering. The judge brought back order. Since the guard had alluded back to the original allegations in his answer, the prosecutor could now go back and ask about them.

"Sir, do you admit that the allegations brought by Hermione Granger are true?"

"Yes." Again the courtroom began to go crazy.

"Why did you go to Mrs. Potter for information?"

"I was a client at the bank and I would keep her up to date on how Ms. Granger was doing. I knew that she didn't believe that Granger was innocent so I knew she'd be willing to help."

"What do you mean you kept her up-to-date? Did she know of the treatment?"

"Well, I didn't describe it in detail but she knew what I meant. Mrs. Potter hated her so much that she didn't care what was happening as long as she was miserable."

At this, Hermione got up and ran out of the courtroom and was followed by some reporters. I wanted to go after her, but Harry kept me seated and pointed that Moxley was with her.

Brockway continued, "I met with her and had her transfer my money. She warned me that the Aurors would find me anyway. She met with her husband and I received a note saying that charges were coming. I tipped off the other guards and we all fled."

"Thank you Mr. Brockway, your testimony has been very enlightening."

I couldn't believe what had happened. Ginny, who used to be my best friend, was almost like a party to my rape. I still couldn't believe it two days later when the judge handed down a guilty verdict to the guards. Now they were going to be on the other side of the bars in Azkaban. I was relieved and felt that justice had been served but I couldn't help but be more depressed at the news of Ginny's behavior.

Since the verdict, I had seen Ron and Harry less and less. Ron tried to make it to dinner sometimes but he said he was busy with a case. I knew that the Weasleys hated me for exposing their daughter. Now she might never return to them.

The end of the school year approached and I entered Minerva's office with a heavy heart.

"Hermione, what is wrong."

"Minerva, I don't think that I can stay on another year. I've given it a chance I think that it is best for me and everyone else that I move on in the Muggle world."

"I was afraid this was coming. I don't want to lose you. I know that you love the library but another year in it before you become a professor may have been too long. The Defense Against the Dark Arts job is open, yet again, would you consider that position?"

"No, I don't want to be around dark magic."

"I don't blame you. Please spend the summer here and try to reconsider. The summer will give you time to go back and forth between the worlds to determine which would be best for you. Then you can decide."

"Okay. It's only fair I keep up with the library until you can find a replacement anyway."

Minerva looked down at her desk. "What about Harry and Ron? They need you Hermione despite what you think."

"No they don't. I'm a constant reminder of how their lives have gone down the cauldron. You have to have noticed that they don't visit much anymore."

"Ron said he was on a case."

"I know but he's different now. Maybe he's found someone to move on with his life with."

"Hermione, that statement there shows me that you still care for him. If you leave then he definitely will move on. I thought you were trying to build a relationship. Why are you looking for excuses?"

I couldn't answer her; my situation seemed hopeless. One minute I want to be with him, the next I'm afraid.

"What happened with Ginny is not your fault and no one blames you for it. And Ron knows that if he wants to be with you it will take a long time. You're still healing. By the way, this arrived for you this morning."

She levitated a crate onto her desk and opened it. It was my pensieve with instructions from my therapist on how to use it. I felt a small sense of relief wash over me.

"Hermione, this will be an important tool in your road to recovery. You should start using it has soon as you can."

"Don't worry, I will."

I left the office levitating the crate behind me. At last I was going to get some relief from the constant nightmares. I entered my chamber and read over the instructions.

Hermione,

I'm sure that this will provide you with some much needed relief. To use: think of the event and put your wand to your temple. Extract the memory by dragging the wand away. A silvery stand will appear and place it into the pensieve. See you at session on Tuesday.

Healer Vanessa Wilder

I began to follow the instructions with vigor. As horrifying things would surface, I'd place them in the pensieve. With each one, my spirits lifted and my sense of anxiety began to wane. Perhaps a future in the magical world was brighter than I thought.