The characters and canon situations in the following story belong solely to JK Rowling. I am not making any money from the publishing or writing of this story.
This is just a little update more like a chapter- ette. I plan on writing more after dinner with folks, but just in case I wanted to get this posted just in case.
Charlie was the first witness called to testify. When his name was called Hermione turned around to see him rise and walk to the front of the court room. It was then that she realized how crowded the room was with people. The first thing that filtered through her brain was the presence of Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. They were there and sitting directly behind Charlie which was directly behind her. Their presence gave her a sense of calm and their choice of seats clearly indicated that they were supportive of her, over their son.
Molly Weasley gave Hermione a weepy smile as her husband wrapped his arm around her shoulders. The grim look on Arthur Weasley's face told the world exactly how he felt.
Charlie's voice brought Hermione back to the present; turning around her eyes swept past the smug monster. He was smiling and nodding to various members of the audience. When their eyes met and locked for a few seconds, Percy Weasley grinned and dramatically licked his lips as he winked at Hermione. Hermione was once again stunned. He truly thought this was all a game, a ploy and that at the end of the day she would be walking out of the courtroom with him.
The forceful sense of repulsion rolled off her, she was not going; she would be free.
Charlie had been stating his name and occupation while Hermione had glanced around the court room. He paused when he saw Percy make eye contact with Hermione. He had to fight the urge to leap out of the witness chair and pulverize his brother. The clerk indicated to the judges that all of Charlie's answers were in order and the Chief Judge motioned for Monica to begin.
Charlie spent the better part of an hour recalling in great detail how he had found Hermione and what condition she was in upon his arrival at the home of Percy Weasley. The court room was alive with the constant murmuring of the audience and the scratching of quills. The tension had everyone on the edge of their seats.
Monica finished questioning Charlie and the lawyer representing Percy began his interrogation. Charlie was able to deflect the accusations of breaking and entering, kidnapping, and arson. It quickly became apparent that there was nothing to be gained by trying to intimidate the dragon handler and Charlie was dismissed.
Monica called Hermione to the stand and the noise level in the courtroom escalated. This was the moment that Hermione had feared. This was the moment when she prayed that she had enough courage. As she stood and walked to the aisle between the two tables separated the attorneys from the witness chair and the judges' bench, her hand was grabbed. Percy's grasped on her wrist was painful. Hermione cried out as much from the surprise as the pain. The court room fell silent and watched as Hermione looked down at the white knuckled hand of her torturer and with great effort pulled her wrist free from his grasp.
"No!" she hissed at him, "you will never, ever touch me again."
Percy chuckled at her. "We will see, you are my wife and when I get you home you will remember your place."
Hermione took a deep breath to calm her quaking muscles and quickly made her way to the witness chair and was sworn in.
Monica gently questioned Hermione, leading her to answer in great detail about her relationship with Percy and the ordeal she was forced to endure while held virtual prisoner in her own home. Tears coursed down Hermione's cheek as she painfully recounted the endless beatings and how she was forced to beg for her punishments. Hermione's voice never quavered as she spoke of the death threats her husband had made against her loved ones and the audience gasped when she spoke of the cruel delight that Percy reveled in when he threatened to make Hermione watch as he tortured and disembowel her infant goddaughter, Jane Weasley.
Monica did not flinch when Hermione finally broke down and sobbed into her hands for a moment. Letting her client compose herself, Monica gathered the various healers' reports and photographs to have them submitted as evidence. Turning toward the judges Monica was that Hermione had regained her composure and after having her client verify the photographs and reports were in fact of her, Monica requested that they be submitted as evidence.
Hermione was ruthlessly crossed examined by the opposing counsel. But gathering all the courage she had, Hermione faced each accusation of treachery and deceit bravely and with a sense of calmness. She was telling the true and it would stand up to all examination.
A recess was called for lunch and Hermione turned to Monica. "Where do I go? I don't think I can face the gauntlet outside again."
Monica smiled, "There are a couple of small waiting rooms adjacent to the courtroom. We will order in and relax before the big event."
Charlie had joined them and heard the tail end of Monica's response. "What big event?"
Monica smiled an almost evil smile. This was the part she had been waiting for, once she had seen the pictures of Hermione's battered body this was the moment she had dreamed of. "Well Percy's testimony of course."