Disclaimer: See previous chapters

Sorry, that it took me about six months to update. Hope you can for give me.

Chapter 18 – The Last Chance

Hermione found herself bound and blindfolded. Unceremoniously she was thrown on the ground by an unknown force. If she had a moment of rational thought she would have know that a portkey had delivered her to the destination, instead she could only feel fear. The only thoughts running through her mind was of the strong possibility of never seeing Ron again, of never building a family with him, of never seeing what this world would become after this recent civil war.

She knew she blew it. She knew Ginny had given her a real chance to make a difference. Her mouth ran away from her as her grief finally set in and Ginny happened to be the unlucky recipient of that venom. Unfortunately, for Hermione, Ginny just happened to be the Queen.

Another thing Hermione tried to wrap her head around. How in the world did little Ginny Weasley of all people become Queen? It seemed just out of left field, as did Ginny's marriage to that death eater who killed Professor Dumbledore – Severus Snape. She was supposed to be in love with Harry, but she married him? At first Hermione thought, he placed her under the Imperious Curse. To hear Ginny talk about him it was obviously not the case. Of course, it did not take Ginny long to get over her husband's demise, just like it did not take her long to get over Harry's – considering her very obvious affair with Draco Malfoy. Really, is this how Ginny dealt with Harry's betrayal – by bedding every one of his enemies?

She should not have publicly embarrassed Ginny about the pregnancy, but she was 16 years old, a Queen, a widow, and more than just slightly showing in her pregnancy. Under any other circumstances, she would have been happy for Ginny – if it had been Harry's baby or even Dean's.

Hermione shuttered as she thought about Dean because thoughts about Dean led to thoughts about Dean's death, which was a testament to how much he really loved Ginny. He knew. The bastard knew that she was playing both sides, but he said nothing. He did not even care. All he cared about was that she survived the damn war and she did but at what cost? Hell, if Hermione was going to die she may as well give Ginny a reason to kill her. At least Dean would have been good for something in the end. He would make that bitch pay.

Ginny was not sure what she should do. Hermione had been her friend for years. She tried to be understanding, to look the other way, but Hermione only became more obstinate. She knew that she would have to make an example out of Hermione, but the question was what kind of example she wanted to send.

Ginny looked over the green lawn of the meadow that the portkey landed them in to find Greg lounging by a tall oak tree observing the surroundings to determine if any security precautions needed to be taken. She knew that she could not order Greg to kill Hermione for her. He would do it for her, but it would tear apart his soul in the process. Greg had been the forerunning advocate in the women's agenda that passed. He had seen death eaters abuse women and children and it sickened him to the core. He had taken great pleasure by using vigilante justice to defend those who were unable to defend themselves. Vigilante justice was the only form that existed during the war and was a reason that the bill was so important, to not only the women and children, but to Greg.

Out of the corner of Ginny's eye, she noticed a tall young man, an Adonis, with a smirk on his face. Draco saw this as Granger's day of reckoning and he intended to milk it for all it was worth.

Draco initiated eye contact with Ginny as he stalked toward her with the grace only an angel could possess. "You should kill her. Make her an example. Her actions need to be answered and the best way to do it is through her" Draco said as he took Ginny by the shoulders.

Ginny turned in Draco's arms and shook her head. "No."

"What do you mean – No? She committed treason with her words. You are the Queen…" Draco proclaimed only for Ginny to interrupt him.

"That is why I need to lead by example. Do I really want to create a society where people will be killed for any infraction or do what I want there to be limits and justice. She was my friend. That has to count for something." Ginny implored.

"Some friend considering the way she treated you. Was she even grateful for the fair warning you gave her to marry the Weasel King?" at this Ginny shot him a glare, "Sorry Ron Weasley before that law was passed? Was she grateful that you ensured her a seat on the counsel so she would have some influence on the society that is still developing after the war? No she wasn't! I will tell you why – unlike Severus, Greg, Percy, Bill, me and hell even Dean Thomas. She was only your friend when it was connivent. Dammit Gin… take a good hard look at her. Let her words actually sink in instead of bouncing off your back. She was Potter's friend, she was Weas… Ron's friend, but she was not yours, not really, not when it counted. Draco lamented.

"I know." Ginny whispered with tears in her eyes, "But I still won't kill her."

"Why not? For the sake of a brother that wants nothing to do with you?" Draco sneered at the thought of his friend being so soft after all she had endured.

"No. For the future, not her's , but the future we are trying to build." Ginny said with resolve.

Draco looked Ginny in the eyes. 'This is her last chance.' Draco said with his eyes. Ginny nodded in agreement. "Let's get to it then, but for the record this is a bad idea."

"For all our sakes I hope you are wrong." Ginny said as she left Draco's arms and motioned for Greg to join them.

This was the part he was dreading. Greg walked toward Ginny knowing he would do whatever she asked of him. He knew the mudblood had to answer for her crimes. He jus hoped that he would not have to be the one to do it.

"Please remover her blindfold, Greg." Ginny asked as she looked at him with a strength he never knew she could muster under the circumstances.

Greg walked briskly to Hermione. 'Best to get this over with' he thought.

Hermione felt the blindfold leave her head as well as several charms leaving her person. She could finally see and hear again. She no longer felt a restriction as well as a large amount of pressure holding her in place. As her vision cleared, Hermione saw Goyle in front of her. In her peripheral vision, she saw Ginny off to the side. It wasn't until Hermione heard her voice that she knew her life was over.

"Hermione Jane Granger-Weasley, you stand accused of treason against the Queen of Europe. You stand accused of misconduct as an advisor to the Wizarding Council. How do you plead?" Ginerva stated in her role as judge.

"He begged for his life in the end. Did you know that Ginny?" Hermione stated in an eerily calm voice.

"Who are you talking about?" Ginny asked while trying to envision where Herimone was going with this line of reasoning.

"Dean of course, or have you forgotten him already." Hermione taunted with a feral grin and a manic gleam in her eyes. "He knew what you were up to and the funny thing was he didn't care. Hell, he just wanted to join you! Do you know what we did to him when we found that Dark Mark on his forearm?"

As the words flooded Ginny's ears the images of Dean's mutilated body flashed before her. How could they? He was their friend for five years. For them to desecrate his body was sacrilege, she was right not to kill Hermione. The trio deserved a fate worse than death.

"You are found guilty of the charges." Ginny proclaimed as she raised her wand at Hermione. "Oblivate." As she cast the spell she concentrated on only removing the memories of Hermione's life after the war while preserving the memories of Ron, their wedding, and their marriage. It was her last gift to a friend who left her long ago.

Unfortunately, Hermione reacted to the verdict with a spell of her own. She used a wound to draw blood and bound her soul to the demons in exchange for sliding the scales in the way things should have been – at least in Hermione's opinion.

As the demons rose in pits of hellfire to consume Hermione – who in that split second had no recollection of why the demons were taking her to hell, Ginny's conscious tore from her body. She freefell into nothing until she felt a hand grab hold of her.

Suddenly she heard Albus's voice reaching her from beyond. "This is the way things could have gone my dear child. Chose wisely on your path to come for the choice is yours. If you want your life back you will have to fight your way back to Severus. Until then play your part for survival. Good luck Ginerva."

The hand released her and Ginny fell again until the sensation finally stopped and Ginerva was weighed down by a reality that was not her own.

She opened her eyes to find emerald eyes peering back at her. She almost screamed in terror until she heard Albus's voice in her head telling her to "choose wisely."

Note 1: Please don't hate me. This will not be a Harry/Ginny story. She will only play the part until she can get back to her own reality. Basically in the next few chapters we will see how life could have gone for our favorite characters had Harry and Ginny never broken up.

Note 2: This story is two-thirds of the way finished. I am considering writing a Ginny/ Greg Goyle story afterwards. I would like some feedback from the readers to determine of this is a good idea.

Note 3: Thank you for waiting and I apologize for the long wait.