A/N: A quick note on the previous chapters, Thanks to a couple of reviews that really cemented my misgivings, I've edited the past chapters with regards to Harry being Head Auror, for now he's just a regular Auror, along with Ron, though when the department settles back into a normal routine again he will be groomed to take charge as Head Auror eventually - but that will come into play later on in the story.
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far, and to all my readers, I hope you enjoy the next chapter.
xBx
~ Chapter 4: Decisions ~
Draco had spent the entire morning pacing his library, staring at the clock, waiting for the hours to pass. His mother's trial would be starting at 1pm, and he had nothing to do for the rest of the morning but wait. Blaise arrived around mid-morning, intending to provide Draco with moral support, and found him still pacing, though now with a glass of Firewhiskey in hand.
"I wouldn't drink too much of that before court," Blaise commented in lieu of a greeting, "I don't think it would help your Mother look good, if her son appeared to be a drunkard."
"I don't know," Draco scowled, "Maybe it will make the Wizengamot sympathetic – without my mother to look after me I'm going to the dogs." He joked dryly.
Blaise laughed, "Yeah, because that will work on the Wizengamot." He commented with sarcasm.
Draco shrugged, "It's only one glass, to settle my nerves. It's going to take a lot more than that to get me drunk. And besides, I'm not even really drinking it, I just needed something to do with my hands. Would you like one?" He offered, remembering his courtesy at the last minute.
"I think I'll pass," Blaise replied, taking a seat, "One of us should keep a clear head." He joked.
When Draco failed to respond, Blaise sighed and spoke again, "Drake, stop your pacing, you're only going to stress yourself out even more. You've done everything you could to help her. At the end of the day, it's in her hands and the hands of the Wizengamot. As long as she tells the absolute truth, she'll be fine."
Draco succumbed and let himself fall into a couch, "You're right, I know, but it doesn't make it any easier. I hate having no control!" He exclaimed. "How early do you think we can go to the courtrooms?" He asked quietly, after minutes of silence.
Blaise shrugged, "Well there are no trials on this morning, as far as I'm aware, you're Mother's is the first of the lot, so the rooms will be empty. We'll want to get there reasonably early, but you wouldn't want to be sat around in them for too long. I'd say we leave here about twelve, go by Floo, that will give us enough time to get through the security checks, even grab a coffee before heading down."
Draco nodded, then sat in silence, the pair didn't move for the next hour; they sat staring at the fire in silence until Draco abruptly stood up, laid his barely-touched drink on the table, and took up his tie and robe he had flung unceremoniously across the couch when he had first entered. When he was correctly attired, he pulled a pot from the mantle piece and held it out silently to Blaise, who stood and joined his friend by the fire. Silently, Blaise took a handful of Floo Powder, and tossed it into the grate, turning the flames green. Stepping in, he calmly declared "Ministry of Magic, Visitor's Fireplace." And disappeared with a whoosh, Draco calmly followed the same routine, and appeared moments later in a cavernous marble fireplace, stepping out to stand beside his best friend in the large Floo Network Corridor of the Ministry Of Magic.
Silently they made their way out into the main atrium, through security checks, toward the elevators and down to the courtrooms.
As the par descended the stairs from the Department of Mysteries, Blaise spoke up for the first time, "What courtroom number is the trial to be held?" He asked quietly.
"Seven," Draco answered immediately, having committed the letter concerning his parents' trials he had received to memory, "There should be seats reserved at the front of the Gallery for us." He said monotonously as they started their walk down the gloomy corridor of courtrooms.
Blaise smiled, "Lucky number seven."
"Lets hope" Draco sighed.
At the door marked with a large brass "7" Blaise grasped Draco's shoulder, "Whatever happens in their mate, you're going to be fine. You've got your plan sorting your life out, and you're going to do it. I'll be at your side to help you along the way, even if your parents wont be."
"Thanks, I appreciate it." Draco said, genuinely.
"And if you ever mention this conversation to anyone," Blaise continued, "If you let slip how feminine I'm coming off right now, I will kill you."
Draco snorted and pushed open the door, despite their early arrival they were not the first ones to enter: a quarter of the Wizengamot had already convened, and so had some of the Aurors – Potter and Weasley among them, the former of whom was looking rather tense. Potter looked up from his conversation with the elderly Auror Draco knew to be Horatio Trent, acting Head of the department, though in his anxiety to retire was wanting to Groom Potter up to be his replacement. On seeing Draco enter, Potter gave him a nod of acknowledgement, with no smile, but no hostility either, a nod which Draco returned, before taking his appointed seat, closely followed by Blaise.
The room steadily filled, though the noise level barely increased, five minutes before the trial was due to begin, Kingsley Shacklebolt hurried into the room and quickly took his seat at the head of the proceedings, next to Potter. Draco was sufficiently close enough to the Wizengamot to be able to hear Kingsley's quiet conversation with Potter, over the minimal mutters of others around them.
"Did everything go alright with the Grangers?" Harry asked, concern in his voice, "Only we were starting to worry, we thought you'd be here by now."
Kingsley gave a reassuring nod, "Everything went perfectly, no glitches at all with the memory remodification. I left Hermione a while ago, she said would be fine handling the explanations alone, it was some admin issues here that delayed me."
Most of the tension Draco had seen in Potter seemed to disappear at this point, "So Hermione was ok when you left her?" Draco heard Potter ask.
"Perfectly," Kingsley assured.
At this point Kingsley stood and a hush fell over the courtroom, he looked over to his undersecretary who had the duty of documenting the session's proceedings: Draco knew him to be a Weasley mainly because of his distinct red hair, though which one he had no idea – he remembered him being Head Boy at Hogwarts, but his name he had forgotten.
When the bespectacled Weasley nodded that he was ready, Kingsley spoke, addressing the entire room.
"The Wizengamot has convened today, Thursday the 22nd of June, to commence the first day of trials of those convicted of carrying out the crimes committed under the tyranny of the deceased Tom Marvolo Riddle, known by the pseudonym Voldemort-" Draco couldn't help but notice the shivers and hisses that ran around the room at the mention of his name, even in death many still feared the mention of his name.
Kingsley continued, ignoring the interruption, "and of being Death Eaters who consciously and willingly entered into the various activities associated with that group. "
Here, Kingsley nodded to the porter on the door, signalling for the first of the accused to be brought forward, the large wooden door swung open and Draco watched his mother being escorted to the chair in the centre of the room. Narcissa took the seat calmly, and looked up at the Wizengamot.
"The first to trial to commence is that of Narcissa Malfoy. Interrogators: Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister for Magic; Horatio Trent, Lead Auror, and Rebecca Athena Riviera, Head of Magical Law Enforcement. Court Scribe, Percy Ignatius Weasley."
Kingsley then faced Narcissa, "You are Narcissa Malfoy, formerly Black, the wife of Lucius Malfoy, are you not?" Kingsley clarified.
"I am," Narcissa answered in a strong tone.
"Firstly and foremost you are charged with being a member of the group, styling themselves 'the Death Eaters'. How do you plead?" Kingsley asked formally.
"Guilty by Association." Narcissa stated, Draco frowned, what did she mean by that? Surely she was only supposed to answer guilty or not guilty?
"Would you care to elaborate you meaning of Association?" Queried Rebecca with a frown, leaning forward in her seat - Draco assumed this was Rebecca, as only the interrogators were allowed to speak to the accused.
"I was never fully initiated into the Death Eaters, I was never branded with the dark mark – of course that doesn't really mean much, The Dark Lord only ever branded those who had served him a number of years, and who had gained a high level in his esteem; only those in his inner circle were ever given the brand." She explained clearly, keeping her calm,
"But my husband was one of these people, he was branded, and has worn the brand for many years. Through him I became part of the Dark Lord's elite: through association, even without the mark, I was considered one of them. My husband was a Death Eater, and therefore I was given that title also." Narcissa finished.
Kingsley then took up his lines again, "You are also charged with taking part in the torture and subsequent murder of multiple wizards, witches and muggles, over the years of Voldemort's reign, as well as preceding his return: including the torture of the muggle family, the Roberts, at the Quidditch World Cup four years ago, and more recently, the murder of Charity Burbage, a former Muggle Studies teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. How do you plead?"
"I did not take an active part in the Murder of Ms Burbage, but I was present for the entire ordeal -" Narcissa began,
"A simple guilty or not guilty will suffice for now Mrs Malfoy." Kingsley reminded her.
"Guilty," she admitted, "I was involved too much for me to be otherwise."
"Do you have a case to bring before for us, to justify your actions?" Kingsley asked.
"It will not justify my actions," Narcissa spoke truthfully, "But I will truthfully explain my involvement as best I can."
Kingsley Shacklebolt took a seat and silently invited Narcissa to begin her narrative.
Draco sat there and listened as his Mother began to document her full involvement in Voldemort's regime from the very beginning; the more she talked the more she realised how heavy a hand his Father actually had. After detailing how she became a part of the Death Eaters after marriage, she then went on to address the charges directly.
"At the Quidditch World Cup, I was part of the group who had the Roberts family suspended in the air. I am not proud of my involvement, but my husband requested my presence at his side so I went along with him. When the dark Lord returned, my husband was once again directly involved with him, he was summoned right back into his inner circle – some would say they were friends, they all liked to believe so. But I was outside the circle looking in and I saw more clearly for it; the Dark Lord didn't have friends, just very devoted followers, whom he liked to use to his advantage. For a long time I had had my misgivings about the lengths the Dark Lord would go to in order to get what he wants. I confess I hadn't always been so concerned, but now my priorities had changed." Here Narcissa looked at her son, and she smiled a genuine smile – Draco had seen this smile plenty of times growing up, though he was positive no one else had had the privilege of seeing her quite so emotionally transparent. When Draco glanced up at the Wizengamot his suspicions were confirmed, a majority had raised their eyebrows at such a display, though Kingsley's face had remained a perfect mask, Potter however was leaning forward, an intense thoughtful look on his face.
His mother continued, looking back at the Wizengamot, "Being a mother changes you, it changes your priorities. Draco was my main concern now, and so I took a step back from my husbands dealings, the less I was involved, the better, I felt. Unfortunately that didn't work for me. After my husband was arrested in the Department of Mysteries, the Dark Lord felt the need to ensure better service in future: he invited himself into our home, and invited Draco to take his father's place until Lucius was freed. I had no way to escape from that except death. I was a party to the torture and murder of Ms Burbage: I didn't raise a wand myself, but it happened in my home, right in front of me."
The Wizengamot continued to listen in silence, drinking in every word, Percy Weasley continuing to write down everything being said.
"During the last year of the Dark Lord's reign, I was under his constant supervision, as was my Husband: when he would disappear for lengths of time we were in Lockdown at Malfoy Manor, and when he returned, we never left his side. I did everything I was asked to do because I knew it was the only way to keep my son safe. By the end of his reign, neither my Husband nor myself wanted any part of what was happening, but we couldn't get away. During the battle of Hogwarts our only concern was Draco: he was somewhere in the castle and all I wanted was to get to him so I could get him safely out, everything I did that night, I did with the thought of keeping him safe. Lucius and I were planning to run that night. As soon as there was a chance we were going to flee, we were going to take Draco with us, and hide-" Narcissa admitted.
Draco looked in shock at his mother, why had she never mentioned this to him? Draco felt Blaise turn to look at him, he glanced at his friend and shrugged,
"I had no idea" Draco mouthed in response to Blaise's unasked question, before turning back to face his mother, who was still talking,
"- we eventually made it into the castle, and found Draco, but then Harry Potter was duelling the Dark Lord, and the next thing we knew he was gone. It seemed pointless to run then." She finished.
Kingsley let the narrative sink in, and then stood once more, "Do you have any witnesses you wish to call to your defence, to corroborate any or all of your account?" he asked, formality still present in his tone.
Narcissa shook her head, "None at all, the only witnesses are Death Eaters themselves." She answered.
"Do you wish to present any character witnesses, to vouch for your honesty?" Kingsley offered.
Narcissa smiled, "I have no one I can call." She admitted, then looked beyond Kingsley in mild surprise, Draco followed his Mother's gaze and saw that Potter had stood up to speak.
"I will stand as a character witnesses." He stated causing a ripple of shock to move through the room. Ron Weasley was looking at his friend as if he had lost his mind, and even Kingsley had raised an eyebrow at Potter's actions.
Draco watched Potter descend the few steps and turned to face the Wizengamot and began to speak. "Many of you don't know everything that happened that night, though you will all have heard the rumours. Halfway through the night I went to face Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest, he was joined by a select few of his followers – Mrs Malfoy included. We duelled, he fired a killing curse, which knocked us both from our feet."
Draco was unsure where this was going, and from the looks of the others in the room, he wasn't the only one, but they listened intently all the same, all except his mother, who was nodding along to the Narrative in clear remembrance of it all.
"In the confusion and concern for Voldemort no one actually knew if the curse had worked, if I was dead. Voldemort sent someone to check my body for signs of life – that someone was Narcissa Malfoy." Potter turned to look at Narcissa, who looked right back at him as he continued "When she felt my heart beat, heard my breath, she knew full well was alive: However, instead of breaking the truth, she shielded me from the view of everyone else and whispered 'Is Draco alive?'" Narcissa spoke the words in time with Potter, the pair looked at each other another moment, before Potter turned back to the Wizengamot to continue his speech.
"When I nodded in response, she sighed in relief before turning back and announcing I was dead. She lied to Voldemort, knowing that was the only way to her son, the only way she would get safely to the castle was with my body being paraded to the doors of Hogwarts. I'd also like to add that I saw the Malfoys in their own home earlier this year, I believe around Easter time, and not one of them – Lucius included – looked like they were there willingly. Belatrix Lestrange was a willing participant, but the Malfoys were more like hostages in their own home."
Harry finished his narrative looking directly at Kingsley, who asked: "Anything else to add?"
"That's all." Harry said.
Kingsley nodded, "You may retake your seat," He said to Harry. Harry nodded and made his way back, as he passed in front of him, Draco caught his eye and gave him a small smile and a nod of thanks, before returning his attention to Kingsley who had continued to speak.
"The court will be adjourned while the Wizengamot comes to a decision regarding the fate of Narcissa Malfoy." He declared formally. "Mrs Malfoy, you will be escorted to your waiting cell until you are summoned back to hear your verdict."
After his mother was escorted out, Kingsley spoke again, "Anyone who is not a member of the Wizengamot, I must ask you to leave the courtroom until a verdict is reached. Please take a coin from the basket by the door on your way out; it will notify you when a verdict is reached, summoning you back to the courtroom. Thank you."
Draco and Blaise stood with a number of others in the gallery, who had come to see the show. They waited for them to file out, and most of the Aurors, before heading to the door themselves, and picking a cold coin, which looked remarkably like a galleon, out of the basket.
Draco examined it quietly as he proceeded slowly up the corridor; he was distracted by a laugh behind them and he turned to see Potter and Weasley, the last to emerge from the courtroom, Harry was the one who had laughed.
"Well, I'll be damned," Draco heard him chuckle, while Ron frowned.
"What's so funny?" the red-head asked.
"You don't recognise these?" Potter asked starting to walk toward Draco and Blaise.
Blaise, who hadn't been paying attention to what was happening behind him, now asked Draco, "How do you reckon these work then?"
Harry and Ron had caught up to them by now, they heard Blaise's question and it was Harry who answered politely, as he passed, "It's a protean charm. Kingsley will touch his when the verdict is reached, and the others will glow at the same time."
Comprehension hit Ron at this point, "The D.A!" he exclaimed with a grin, as he and Potter continued along the corridor. "I always wondered what happened to the coins that got returned."
Neither Draco nor Blaise could comprehend Weasley's response, so they shrugged it off. Draco spoke up then, taking this opportunity to properly thank Harry, before he disappeared up the stairs.
"Potter, wait." Harry stopped and turned, letting Draco continue, "Thank you, for speaking up in there. I had no idea about what happened in the forest, my Mother never said. I know we don't deserve your kindness, nor even you forbearance, but I appreciate what you just did. So thank you."
Draco held out his hand in a gesture of goodwill, which Harry didn't hesitate to accept.
Shaking his hand Harry said, "You're welcome. Your mother deserved someone to stand up for her, it wouldn't have been right for me to keep quiet."
Harry then turned and continued on up the stairs, Draco and Blaise followed, heading to the Atrium to grab something to eat while they waited on the verdict.
###
Hermione stared at her parents, her mother's comment slowly sinking into her brain. "You can't be serious?" She asked quietly.
"Of course I am." Her mother said, "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Ok, I know that you're memory of the past year doesn't exist. I know that it feels like you haven't been away. But a year has passed." Hermione began, trying to keep her composure, "I haven't seen you in twelve months, you have been absent for twelve months." Hermione reiterated.
"I would have thought you would be more concerned about that; I thought you would prefer to spend time readjusting, spend some quality time with me, compared to planning a party. I'm sorry if that is selfish of me." Hermione commented dryly.
Her mother smiled patiently, the way she always did when Hermione got like this. "Of course we want to spend time with you, of course we want to readjust. But adjusting wont take long - with regards to the business, honey we have complete faith in you – I remember starting to make plans a year ago." Her mother frowned, "Or would that be two years ago?" she asked, the shrugged before Hermione could answer. "The year you came home and told us You Know Who had come out into the open."
"That was two years ago." Hermione clarified, taking a seat the sofa facing her parents. "I returned to Hogwarts after that, for my sixth year, and when I returned-"
"You told us it was time to put our plans into action, time to go into hiding." Her father finished. "We remember. And your mother is right about the business; we have complete faith in you. You told us everything you intended to do, we've given you a good grounding in it, and you know everything we know. We trust you."
"And with regards to spending time with you, dear, what better way to spend it than planning your wedding?" Her mother added. "We'll have lots to do before September, we'll have to spend nearly all day every day planning. It's not impossible, but it will be full on – I just hope you can survive so much time with me." Her mother joked with a smile.
"Mother, isn't September too soon?" Hermione tried to reason, trying to find some potential way of getting out of the wedding, even simply postponing was enough for now, as long as she had some time to work on her mother. "I mean, you've only just got back, I haven't even decided what I'm going to do with my life yet, I need to figure that out before I can even think of marrying." Hermione explained, trying to at least make her parents consider the possibility of postponing.
Her father decided to intervene at this point, "Look, why don't we discuss this tomorrow," he said tactfully, ever the mediator between the two fiery females in his life. "It's been a long afternoon," He continued, turning to his wife, "Victoria, can't we leave this until the morning. We both need rest, get a good nights sleep, we need to allow ourselves at least tonight to let everything digest. I don't know about you, but finding out I have a full year of my life missing from my memory is taking quite a mental toll on me."
Hermione's mother sighed, "You're right." She looked at her daughter, "We'll talk more tomorrow, I am quite tired." She admitted, apologetically. "I hope you won't mind us retiring to bed so early?" she then frowned, "You do still live here?" she asked slowly, "Have you been staying here since you returned?"
Hermione sighed, resigning herself to defeat this evening and smiled wearily, "I haven't stayed here yet; I've been staying with Harry and Ron, while I've been preparing the house for your arrival" She explained, "But I will stay here tonight, I'll be here in case you need me. And of course I don't mind, you must be exhausted, after everything we've gone over today. I will call in on Harry and Ron for a while, but I'll be back before midnight."
"Thank you dear," Victoria said, rising from the sofa, her husband following suit. They kissed Hermione's head as they passed her on their way out of the Library, when the door shut behind them Hermione helped herself to a whiskey, and sat in front of the fire. The boy's wouldn't be finished dinner for another half hour she guessed, which would give her time to calm her thoughts before she apparated over to Grimmauld place, craving an evening of normality with Harry and Ron, before returning to the battle she knew would commence on the morrow.
She appeared on the top step, forty minutes later, and let herself in, within moments Kreacher appeared to tell her the boys were upstairs in the drawing room. When she entered, Harry jumped up with a smile, while Ron jolted himself out of the snooze he was falling into.
"Hermione, we wondered whether we'd be seeing you." He said, "Drink?" he offered.
Hermione nodded, "Yes please. And I told you I would call in." she said, taking her favourite seat.
"How are your parents?" Ron asked, stifling a yawn, as Harry poured a drink and handed a glass to Hermione.
"Tired, but good. Kingsley was great, the spells and charms worked perfectly. But it was long afternoon."
"How did they take the news?" Harry asked, returning to his seat.
"A lot better than I expected, they seemed to accept it really well. But we'll see what they're like tomorrow, they could still be in a little bit of shock at the moment. They've gone to bed already, they had a lot to take in this afternoon." Hermione explained.
"Are you spending the night here or there?" Harry asked, while Ron tried to keep awake.
"There, I think I'll stay there for a while, until they're fully settled." Hermione said, "But enough about my day, how was yours? First day of trials today, wasn't it? How did that go?"
"Really well actually" Harry said with a smile, "The first was Narcissa Malfoy, and it went really quick, we got through the entire thing in one afternoon."
"So soon? So she's been handed a verdict already?" Hermione asked, astonished.
"Yep," Ron joined in the conversation, "But when you look at how many are scheduled to happen, we need to keep them speedy otherwise we'll be there till next year."
"Well, hopefully we will be able to keep them speedy, if Narcissa can help us like she said she would." Harry countered, at which Hermione frowned.
"Hang on, help you? Take a step back for me please, I wasn't there remember, fill me in."
Harry laughed, "Sorry, of course. She pleaded guilty to the charges, but there were extenuating circumstances."
"Extenuating circumstances?" Hermione asked sceptically,
"She was never a fully fledged Death Eater, everything she did was at her husband's behest, or to ensure her son's safety." Harry elaborated.
"And the Wizengamot accepted this?" Hermione asked.
"Course they did," Ron said, "Once Harry stood up as a character witness in her defence."
Hermione's eyes widened, "You did?"
"Of course I did," Harry defended, "Come on Hermione, you saw her face when we were first brought to Malfoy Manor, she wasn't so much a proud hostess as a terrified hostage in her own home, and her husband and son didn't look any more comfortable than she did." Hermione lost her wide-eyed look and nodded her acceptance, Harry was completely in the right; she had noticed those looks too.
Harry continued, "And in the forest, she knew I was alive, but she lied" he told her for the first time, "Her lie brought me safely back to the castle, to finish him off, and allowed her to enter the castle safely to find her son."
"So what was her sentence?"
"She has to serve another two months in Azkaban, after which she'll be under house arrest at Malfoy Manor for twelve months, if her sister will consent to be her guardian."
"She has a sister?" Hermione asked, "I mean, another one, aside from Belatrix."
Harry laughed, "Yeah, Andromeda Tonks."
"Of course," Hermione laughed in realisation, "I always forget that. Is that all then? That seems fairly lenient, doesn't it?"
Harry shrugged "It is lenient to a degree, but she has agreed to help. She admitted during the trial that she had long been sceptical of Voldemort's regime, but by the time her doubts settled in her husband was too far involved, and the safety of her son was more important to her than her moral code. Kingsley decided to use this, and ask if she would aid them in the future trials buy giving us names of all those branded with the mark, all those who acted freely, and those who were under the imperious curse. She agreed of course, and I'm glad she did, because that information will be a huge help, especially if Lucius can corroborate her."
"Will he though?" Countered Ron, "I mean, he was the fanatic of the pair, obviously. She had doubts long before he did, and who's to say he really did have doubts?"
"What will he gain by keeping quiet? And Narcissa admitted to their plan of running away from Voldemort, sounds like he had the same amount as doubts she did."
Hermione smiled and leaned back in her chair, listening to the two of them debate, they had both matured a great deal this past year – they both had to, with the things they had had to face. Sometimes she had to remind herself that they were all still only teenagers, Harry not even eighteen yet! But the past year had been so long, it felt like their teenage years were long gone.
After another hour of relaxed discussion, Hermione took her leave, and spent her first night back at her parents house – she wanted to say it was her first night back home, but the word just didn't seem to fit the place anymore; but the more she thought about it, the more it perturbed her because she couldn't say where 'home' would be, if it wasn't here. The closest she could think of was the tent she had spent most of last year living in, Hermione still felt herself to be in limbo: she had no idea where her life was going to take her in the coming months.
When she woke the next morning it took a while for her to remember where she was. When she did she allowed herself a small smile and slipped out of bed, padded over barefoot to the doors, and let herself out onto the balcony. She was relatively calm considering what the day would have in store for her: she knew she wouldn't be able to convince her mother to call the wedding off entirely, at least not right away, but if she could at least buy herself some time she may be able to sway her eventually, all she needed was to get her mother to postpone, in this she felt somewhat confident she could persuade her mother to her way of thinking.
After breakfast, Hermione and her mother remained in the kitchen, while her father went up to the office to begin looking at the business.
Hermione went strait to the point: "Mother, I've been thinking, about my future, and what I want to do and I have options I would like to discuss with you," She started in complete calmness, knowing her mother would listen more to a calmly delivered, well thought out argument compared to a passionate rant.
Victoria leaned back on the couch, inviting her daughter to continue, Hermione smiled and took up the cue:
"I have two possible routes: first to return to school and take my final year, take my exams, and get my qualifications, before enrolling in an internship at the Ministry. Going back to Hogwarts will also give me time to really think about the department I want to enter." Hermione explained, her mother nodded, without saying a word, letting her continue uninterrupted.
"On the other hand," Hermione continued, "I do have the option to join the ministry right away, without my full qualifications: I've been given paperwork on trainee programmes for nearly every department – I'm fairly well known in the Wizarding world," She explained modestly, "The ministry knows of my achievements, both academically speaking, and outside Hogwarts; the know of my work ethic, my dedication and my reliability. Every department I've received information from are happy to take me on immediately, requesting only that I take the relevant NEWT exams they require. They all start around mid-October, they provide a rather impressive salary package for an internship, as well as accommodation for the first year; I would be studying part time as well, ready to sit the two or three exams I'll need next summer. It's a perfect opportunity for me to take my first step into working in the wizarding world. Of course, the same opportunity will be available to me next year as well, should I decide to return to Hogwarts, but it's there for me now if returning to Hogwarts isn't ideal for me." Hermione finished.
Her mother was quiet for a few moments, considering Hermione's options. "Would you like my advice?" She asked her daughter, "Or have you made your decision."
"I would like your advice, I'm not one hundred percent certain what I want to do, and advice would be welcome." Hermione answered truthfully. "On the one hand, I've grown up so much this past year, that returning to Hogwarts would seem like a little bit of a step back, I'm definitely ready to go out to work and start my career. But on the other hand, I want to finish my education completely: I want to graduate from Hogwarts, with the best NEWT grades possible, like I dreamed of that very first day I stepped foot in the castle."
Her mother nodded, then spoke. "Well, either option wouldn't really pose much of an issue for you. Should you decide to go strait into work, you wouldn't need the accommodation - Richard has an apartment in London, does he not? I'm sure when you're married he'd happily move down there with you, when you tell him your plans. And your October start date is perfect, you can be married, have your honeymoon and be back in London in time for your first day, without it being too rushed."
Hermione gaped, as her mother continued, "And if you do decide to return to Hogwarts, well we'll just postpone the wedding until after you graduate, it's not ideal, but it's possible." She stated simply.
Hermione tried so hard not to lose her temper, she knew her mother would be hard to sway, but her obstinacy in this matter really was a lot to take. Finally she regained her speech, and spoke as calmly as she could:
"I'm sorry, but no. Not once did I mention marrying Richard in my options." She stated, getting frustrated at her Mothers insistence in this, and her subsequent reluctance to listen to her. "Right now, I need to focus on myself, I need to get my life on track, I can't do that, and embark on a marriage at the same time."
Hermione's mother smiled sweetly, "It did not need to be mentioned, it's a given that it's going to happen. You will marry him, and it will be part of getting your life on back on track – you will both get back on track together."
Hermione laughed, "No, it's not a given. I won't marry him. I can't marry him, he knows nothing about me! You can't force me into this."
"If you take an internship," Her mother reiterated, ignoring her daughters outburst, "You can be married, have your honeymoon and be back before your start date, as I said before, without any rush. I see no issue with this. But you will marry him in September.
"Then I'm returning to Hogwarts. I can't very well marry him in mid-September if I'm holed up in a castle, up in Scotland, can I?" Hermione stated in desperation.
"Then, we will hold off until June – it won't be the early autumn wedding you've always wanted, but it will be beautiful, we could have it here, in the gardens." She smiled, Hermione shook her head in disbelief, and her mother frowned.
"Hermione, I don't understand why you are so against this all of a sudden, once you were over the moon about this match." Victoria reminded her daughter.
Hermione ran her hands through her hair in frustration, "I'm not suddenly against it, mother, I've been against it for some time."
"And I'm not hearing you come up with any reasonable objections, Hermione." Her mother countered, beginning to become as frustrated as her daughter.
Hermione stood up, and re-stated in calm coldness, "I won't marry him. I can't. And I will return to Hogwarts in September to finish my education." She then apparated out of the room, leaving her mother to cool down after their disagreement, appearing a moment later outside Grimmauld Place.
Letting herself in, she made her way directly to the drawing room, seating herself at the desk; she pulled out her Hogwarts letter from the drawer where she had left it, and took out a quill, ink and parchment from a separate draw to begin her response.
Before she could start, Kreacher appeared at her side, "Good morning Miss Hermione, I did not know we were to be expecting you. Will you be joining Master Harry and Mr Weasley for dinner later this evening?"
"Oh, hi Kreacher, sorry," she apologised, "No, thank you. I only dropped by to answer my Hogwarts letter, I forgot I'd left it here." She explained, "I'll be dining with my parents tonight, though I will look in after if that's alright?"
"Of course, Miss. I'll leave you to your letter writing, please call if you need anything."
"Thank you Kreacher," Hermione smiled as the elf left the room. Hermione turned back to her parchment and wrote her response accepting the invitation to return to Hogwarts in September to complete her final year of studies. When the letter was complete she rolled it into a scroll, sealed with wax then departed for the post office in Diagon Alley, thinking of calling at the Leaky Cauldron for lunch, before heading home to face her parents.
A/N: The next update will definitely be a while in coming, as I will be finishing my previous fanfic in the coming weeks. But until then, I hope you liked the recent update. Next chapter we will finally get to meet Hermione's infamous fiancé, Mr Richard Alden.
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xBx