Harry apparated straight to the Burrow, where Ginny was staying, making the preparations for their wedding. He was in a trance as he walked to the door; the picture of Hermione's face as the guard pulled her out of the door, never leaving his mind. She hadn't even looked afraid of the man; like... she didn't really care. He opened the door and even the heavenly smell of Molly's cooking didn't do a thing to improve his horrible mood. A pair of arms surrounded him and held on tight to him from behind.
-Hmmhhh...I missed you! where have you been?
She didn't know, he gathered that much; then, what the hell has Ron been doing all this time? they should have known by now; Hermione should have been known innocent to everyone by now.
-Hey Gin.
Harry turned around to hug her as she smiled.
-Where have you been? mum's been driving me insane! She has invited 200 guests! can you possibly believe it? I need your help with picking up the decoration colours, by the way.
-Gin, Where is Molly? and Ron?
-Oh, mum's just in the kitchen; I haven't seen Ron around though.
-Who else is here?
-Well, Charlie is coming tonight, so Bill and Fleur are staying upstairs. George and Angelina will come shortly as well; Percy is in Dad's garage, by the way.
-"So, everyone's around?" he needed everyone to know it, as soon as possible.
-Uhm... yes, I guess. what's wrong? you look kind of pale. You're making me worried Harry.
-Gin, listen, I need you to gather all of your family in the living room. There is something important to tell you.
-Ok... sure.
Ginny had everyone around in a matter of minutes.
-"Harry dear! it's so good to see you." Molly said as she walked into the living room, hugging Harry tightly.
Finally George and Angelina arrived and everyone sat, looking at Harry closely.
-"Harry! your bachelor party is on, right? I've got fire whiskey prepared!" George said and patted Harry on the back.
-"Harry, I assume you have something to discuss with us?" asked Percy. All eyes were now on Harry.
-Yes. I think you should all take your seats. What I'm about to say is not easy.
-"What's going on Harry dear?" Molly asked worriedly.
-"look... " Harry started. "I know... I understand that this is hard to be reminded of, but... I just need you all to listen until I finish, can you do that?"
Everybody nodded.
-So, today a death eater was captured; through her interrogation, she confessed to being under the command of Rabastan and Rudolphus Lestrange.
Molly looked grim. Nobody knew where Harry was going with this, but those two names carried so many horrible memories.
-I'm not supposed to talk about confidential cases to any member of the family, but this is crucial to what I'm about to say.
Harry took a deep breath and tried to compose himself. This was proving to be more difficult than he had imagined, but he had to do it; for Hermione.
-She confessed something else as well... something about Arthur's case and the person responsible for it.
There was no way to describe the anger on Ginny and George's faces. Molly was shaking slightly; her tears threatening to fall upon hearing Arthur's name. Angelina immediately sat beside her and put a comforting arm around her.
-"What else could she have done? more murders? More association with death eaters?" George spat bitterley.
-"Harry, It's not very considerate of you to bring up this subject." Percy warned, pointing his head to his anguished mother. Bill and Fleur were about the only ones who were waiting patiently for Harry to continue.
-Everyone! please, that's the thing... you see this death eater... her name is Marietta Edgecombe, she... she is Arthur's murderer.
Silence...
For what felt like hours, everyone remaind in a deathly silence, as if no one was breathing. Bill was the first to regain composure; he gripped Fleur's hand tightly in his and said: Harry... that's not possible."
-"Of course it's not!" Said George furiously. "not after all the proof the fucking ministry gave us 5 years ago, not after what we witnessed with our own eyes!"
-George, Edgecombe's confessions are valid...
-"Is that so? How exactly?" This time it was Ginny, angry tears were running down her cheeks.
-She spoke under the influence of Rositta serum; she can't lie. Say she could... why would she confess to a murder?
-I don't know, maybe... getting that bitch out of Azkaban? Maybe it's a plan! Getting her out to commit more crimes, maybe...
-"Hermione is innocent Ginny." Harry whispered. Ginny looked simply furious.
-Oh, so it's Hermione again? She was a backstabbing bitch to you for the last 5 years; she is my father's murderer, you moron! Harry Potter, don't you dare side with her! don't you even...
-Ginny, Kingsley interrogated Edgecombe himself; all that evidence, it was fake; a perfect plan. I'm sure he'll be here to explain everything himself; look, Hermione's done nothing wrong. That's the plain truth.
George looked at Harry with an unreadable expression on his face for a moment and then said to Angelina: "Come on Angie, we are leaving."
Angelina gave Molly another tight squeeze and then stood up to join George. Fleur took her place immediately.
-"George..." Harry tried to get him to understand.
-Look, I... I need to clear my head. Maybe later, yeah?
And with that, George and Angelina apparated away. Percy stood up as well and silently left the room. Ginny was about to do the same but Harry grabbed her arm.
-"Gin, please, listen to me..." Harry pleaded with her.
-No! You listen Harry. I don't know what you're thinking, believing all this shit, but...
-Gin, come on. Don't be like this. You're seriously saying that you wanna believe she is the murderer? She has been your best friend for...
-"Don't you dare!" Ginny hissed. "she may have been my friend, but she betrayed me. she betrayed all of us. You're just blind Harry..."
-No, I'm not; you just don't want to listen to me. don't you see what "not listening" has done to us?
Ginny pulled her arm free from his grasp and said bitterly: "thanks for bringing all my mother's pain back to the surface."
She left for her room without another word and slammed the door shut. The sound of it resonating in the abnormally silent house, save for the sound of Molly's muffled sobs against Fleur's chest.
-"Ne pleure pas. pleez dont't do this to yourself Molly." Fleur tried to comfort her.
After a few minutes, Molly lifted her head and looked at Harry with a miserable expression on her pink, blotchy face:
-"Harry.. h-how? Are...Are you sure?"
Harry nodded and said: "I'm absolutely sure Molly. She was innocent all along. Look, Kingsley will explain it all himself and you'll see."
- B-but then... that means... H-hermione is still in Azkaban! Has been... f-for 5 years! Oh, what have we done?
Bill was pacing back and forth in the small living room, deeply in thought and Fleur was rubbing circles on Molly's back.
-I can't digest it. I need proof. Harry, please tell me that kingsley's got enough proof for us all to become clear.
-I know he does Bill; though I don't know much myself, Kingsley just told us about using legilimency and the serum. He said he has enough evidence and explanation to be certain. I trust him.
Bill nodded, accepting the answer, but apparently not fully convinced.
-Well... if that's true, we need to get her out of Azkaban.
-"Already done." Harry replied. "Neville and I went there, she'll be out in two days... but..." he paused.
-"What Harry?" Asked Bill
-She... she's not in a good shape.
Even the memory of her sight made him tremble.
-She couldn't... she couldn't even stand on her own, she didn't even know what year it was.
-"W-what?" Molly joined the conversation.
-"I'm going to make arrangements for her to be transferred to St Mungo's as soon as she's out."
Harry reassured as a matter of factly.
-Parfait. I do know a friend in the 'ospital. I'll ask 'er to pay 'ermione special attention.
-"Thanks Fleur." Harry said gratefully.
-"Oh goodness!" Molly exclaimed, suddenly looking frightened.
-"What's wrong mum?" asked Bill.
-"He will never get over this! Oh, my poor dear!" wailed Molly.
-"Who are you talking about?" asked Fleur.
-Ron!... my Ron!