I sincerely thank anyone who reads it. Please, let me know if you spot any mistakes.

6. Madam Granger & Madam Chang, part III

They walked out of the Great Hall, side by side, hand in hand. She quickly scanned the area for Alecto and Amycus, but they were nowhere to be seen. The only ones patrolling the hall were Professor Slughorn and Argus Filch, the janitor. Hopefully, at least for now, everything seemed to be clear. However, he seemed distant and uneasy. She noticed his mind appeared to be far away from there. Maybe he had spotted something she couldn't see.

"Neville," she whispered to his ear, pretending to hug him. "Is everything OK? Did you spot something?"

"No, everything's alright," he pulled her closed, squeezing her tenderly, making the pretence into a real hug. She gave in to his caresses, locking her arms around his waist. "Don't mind it."

"I just thought you seemed nervous," she said as they broke apart.

He searched in his pockets for something, seized her right hand and, with his left, discreetly put whatever it was inside it; thus, with both his hands, he held hers clutched over it. Even though she hadn't seen it, she could feel it was a tiny piece of paper.

"What is it?"

"Keep it," he told her. "Read it only when you're home, OK?"

"Home?" she pocketed the paper. "Does it come from Ginny?"

"No, comes from me," he said, gently grasping her wrist and leading her towards the Entrance Gate. "Don't worry about it. It's nothing important, Luna... I mean, no, it's important... it isn't urgent, though."

"Then why can't you just tell me?" she asked casually as they headed out of the school, following their peers on the way to Hogwarts Express.

"Carrows ahead," on the alert, Neville discreetly showed Luna them with his head as they reached the school grounds. For the very first time in his life, he was content to see them, since it was the perfect excuse not to answer Luna's last question.

"Bloody hell, you're awake!"

Before Hermione could fully open her eyes, she was strongly enveloped by a pair of trembling arms she knew by heart.

"Ron, back off!" Hermione instinctively pushed her husband away. "I'm packed with dark magic!"

"No, you're alright," he pulled her back into his embrace. "Well, at least according to the dark detectors, you should be. I was dead worried anyway." He finally stopped shaking. "Everybody on duty at the time queued up to fix you up. Even Kingsley. I've been doing it every hour since I brought you home..."

"How long have I been out?" she asked as Ron released her and helped her accommodate herself on the bed. "You've been fixing me every hour?" Her face lighted up in a wide smile.

"I guess... it should be about four in the morning..."

"What!?" she turned her neck to peer through a window, catching a glimpse of the pitch-black night. She thus laid her head back onto her pillow, mentalizing everything that had happened before she passed out. "Is that... nasty... behind bars already?"

"We're lucky Dworkin could think on his feet... the moment that filthy wand blew off, its dark magic came crashing all over you at once..." Ron rambled, nervously. "He was quick enough to conjure a shield charm over you..."

"That's most fortunate, I won't forget expressing my gratitude..." she cut him off. "...but is that nasty man locked up in Azkaban already?"

"Shush!" he hissed, finger perpendicular to his mouth. Shaking his wand casually in the air, he murmured, "Muffiatto."

"Are Rose and Hugo here?" she mouthed.

"No," he answered. "Luna."

"Luna!? Why isn't she with her own kids?"

"It's a long story. We can catch up in the morning," he kissed her forehead, jumping out of the bed. "Don't bother about it now, you should be resting. I'll grab something for you to eat. D'you fancy some milk?"

"Ronald Bilius Weasley," her eyes pierced him, stiffly. "I know perfectly well when you're keeping something from me!"

"Full name? C'mon!" he fleed her stare. "I'm just worried about you, you ought to have a refreshing night..." Hermione crossed her arms fiercely, frowning at him. Resigned she wouldn't give in, he sighed. "OK. Here it goes... Ginny is here comforting Luna. They're in Rose's bedroom. She cried herself to sleep just a few hours ago..." he paused, trying to pick up the right words. "Er... after what happened to you, the investigation escalated, nearly the entire Auror Office got involved... and... Lorcan ended up being heard..."

"Lorcan? What about him?" she stared keenly at her husband.

"He... he pleaded guilty. Told a handful of aurors, including Dworkin, that he's been practising dark magic at home, snatching his parents' wands in the middle of the night. Claimed to be responsible for all the Unforgivable Curses."

"This is serious, Ron!" she chucked a pillow in his direction. "Don't try to be funny!"

"As much as I'd like to be joking, I'm not. I'm dead serious..." he giggled anxiously, scratching the back of his head. "Ginny thought it'd be better for Luna to spend some time on her own. She's devastated."

"No way!" Hermione got to her feet too. "This can't be happening! Why would any auror believe a little kid would be able to cast Unforgivable Curses!? That's insane!"

"It's all my fault, Hermione," Ron bowed his head. "Lorcan's testimony perfectly matched Rolf's... they... they combined their testimonies..." He cupped his face with his hands. "Rolf dashed into the room I had been waiting with Xeno and the kids, yelling to Lorcan he had to confess everything or he and Luna would end up in Azkaban... I'm... I... I'm so sorry..."

"No..." she walked towards him, seeking his gaze, but he fleed her still. "This is not your fault, Ron."

"I completely screwed up, Hermione..." he fidgeted nervously. "I... I couldn't figure out at the time what he was up to... I didn't stop him, I just grabbed the kids and ran straight to dad's office... locked myself in there with them..." He finally had the nerve to face her. "It was my fault, I should've stunned him right away..."

"Of course not! You would be the one in trouble if you'd done that," she emphasized. "Ron, you're no longer authorized to stun suspects. You couldn't have done better than you did, Ron..." she paused. "I'm really not telling that just to make you feel better. If it's anyone's fault, it's Harry's."

"Oh, yeah. I heard that. Cho's been here. Ginny didn't like it."

"If she was mean to Cho, she'll have to apologize," said Hermione. "Cho's been amazing. We owe her. I thought it was granted that Rolf'd end up in Azkaban. I almost overlooked the issue of Luna's civil capacity. Thank Merlin she was around!"

"She said she'd... how do you say..." Ron stared quizzically at Hermione. "You know, she'll send you... an... owl... on..." Ron pointed a finger to the bedside table, upon which laid a... "phone."

Hermione hurriedly seized it out from there and opened her e-mail box the fastest that she could.

"D'you want..."

"Something to eat? I'd love," she answered, not really paying attention, completely absorbed in reading her phone.

Granger,

I hope you're back on your feet as early as possible. Dworkin's told me everything that happened. I'm glad you're still alive. You must have heard from your husband that tables have turned in the criminal investigation. Lorcan Scamander's testimony led most of the aurors to believe Rolf isn't guilty and Luna's mentally unfit. Ron, Xenophilius and Lysander all told me Rolf walked into them this morning and made the boy combine testimonies with him. We'll have to call all of them as witnesses, though I have my doubts if they'll convince anyone.

To sum it up: Luna is not a suspect anymore, she is considered to be legally incompetent. They believe that being exposed to Lorcan's dark powers has worsened her already fragile condition and that she may be delusional about Rolf assaulting her, since the idea of being abused by your husband is somewhat softer than being by your own son.

As for Rolf, the investigation goes on, though it's unlikely he will be facing major charges. Your sister-in-law's informed the Daily Prophet (they dismissed him by the way, so she says) is treating the case as a violation both of the Statute of Secrecy and the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Sorcery. Maybe, by the time you're awake, it's already out. He's being treated as responsible for Lorcan's alleged underaged magic. If he goes to court under that charges, I really doubt he's going to end up in Azkaban, since he's a first offender.

We need to meet up as soon as you can. If Rolf gets away with his crimes, I reckon Luna'll lose her kids in civil litigation. If she's considered mentally unfit, there's not much we can do. We have to avoid that at all costs.

I am sending as an attachment the entire content of this evening's testimonials. You have to unlock them with Alohomora. It's just a little security measure to keep muggles out of it. Please, delete this e-mail as soon as you read it.

Best regards,

Chang

Chang and Lampard Legal Firm

"Alohomora," Hermione murmured, aiming her wand at the phone.

They spotted Ginny on the opposite end of the station. Their eyes meet for a brief second, but they didn't show any further sign of acknowledgement. They had agreed it was better if they sit far apart from each other, given that the last time they'd been on the Hogwarts Express, they had unexpected (and unwanted) visitors; they had been after Harry Potter and muggle-born students. So, this time, they'd be on the alert, carrying their D.A. coins to message each other if anything happened. Ginny's plan was to travel alone in some of the last carriages. Luna and he, for their part, intended to find somewhere in the middle of the train.

"What about here?" Luna muttered to his ear as they passed by a carriage occupied merely by three very tiny Hufflepuffers, who seemed to be in their first year. "This seems nice, sitting with some random little kids doesn't sound like we're up to something..."

"It's perfect. Let's get in," they joined the carriage and the kids instantly froze at their sight. "Kid, make room," Neville ordered one of the first-years who sat alone on his bench.

"I'm sorry, sir... I..." the kid trembled, terrified. "We'll leave the cabin all for you, sir."

"No!" Neville halted them, putting on an attitude. "You lot stay. You'll cluster on that seat, my girlfriend and I'll have this one."

The young, thus, promptly jumped onto the other seat, seating side by side with his friends. "Anything you say, sir," he courteously said. "Just to let you know, a guy was sitting there. He's tall like yourself... I think he's a seventh-year..."

"Maybe it's a Slytherin," Luna muttered to Neville's ear. "Maybe it's better if we leave..."

"Lovegood," a boy Neville didn't know joined the cabin. He greeted Luna politely, but his face turned into a frown when his eyes landed on Neville. "I'm sorry, but I was here before." He showed his luggage with a wave.

"I'm sorry, Stebbins," Luna answered, as polite as the other. "Could you please take your things and find somewhere else?"

"Er, no. I was here before. Even before them," he indicated the kids with his head. "Why don't you find somewhere else instead?"

"I'm not leaving here, Mr... Stebbins, is that right?" Neville neared the guy, staring intimidatingly at him, crossing his arms. "You should get out. Now."

"Screw you, Loony, and that nasty caveman you're dating! You keep freaking everybody out! Once we're back at Hogwarts, I'll tell Professor Flitwick everything!" Stebbins quickly snatched his belongings and fled the cabin, grumbling passionately against them.

A scruffy Neville who resembled more Dudley Dursley than the good old forgetful boy threw himself on the bench, staring menacingly at the first-years. "What you lot looking at!?"

"Neville," Luna wheezed to his ear, taking the seat by his side. "The show's over, we've got what we needed. Now, knock off the bully attitude, OK? You're freaking them out..."

"I don't like this either, Luna, but you can't deny the 'caveman' reputation comes in handy..."

"You really don't like it? Sometimes I think you do," she said, concern in her eyes. "I hate it when you act like that..."

"No, I don't! I hate it as much as you!" he straightened himself in his seat. "And since when do you care about what people say?"

"I really don't... it just makes me doubt who you are. I want to believe you're still the sweet guy who made me like you in the first place, not a dreadful caveman who enjoys intimidating the others..."

Neville felt like a bucket of cold water had been thrown upon his head. He couldn't actually decide if what she said was good or bad news. Luna had said she hated the way he'd been behaving, that made him feel horrible and embarrassed, for the last thing he wanted was for the girl he liked to think something like this of him. Yet, she may have admitted she liked him without even noticing it. Did she mean she liked liked him, or did she mean merely as a friend? That brought butterflies to his stomach, but also made him feel anxious and frightened. In short: he felt horrible, embarrassed, lovesick, anxious and frightened, all at the same time.

"Hey," one of the kids tentatively sought to start a conversation. "Are you really Loony and Caveman?"

"Oh, no," Luna moaned. "Is 'Caveman' a thing now? Have you actually heard that name before?"

"He's not that bad, guys," the kid said. "They're Ernie's friends."

"Are you talking about Ernie Macmillian!?" a girl asked, sceptical that someone as righteous and pompous as Ernie could be friends with that couple of scalawags.

"Yeah! And Hannah's as well... they've told everybody in our common room how these two broke into Snape's office! You're like legends! We wanted to join Dumbledore's Army as well, but Ernie said we're too young..."

"See, Luna? We're famous! Legends!" Neville cheered, touching fists with the kids. "Sorry about before, kids. You can chill around us, that was just an act." The tiny ones beamed at them with utter admiration. "We're Loony and Caveman! That's wicked!"

"No, it's not!" Luna frowned, fending off him on the bench. "Neville, I can't believe you like it!"

"Oh, Luna, don't be a buzzkill. Of course Loony and Caveman were bad names at first, but, if we embrace them, they just make us look tough. Like 'Mad-Eye' Moody, for instance, blessed be his soul. Don't you guys think that?"

"Totally!" one of the kids answered as the others lively nodded.

"I don't mind 'Loony'. I never did. I don't care how people call me."

"Then why are you against this?"

"It's just..." she fled his gaze, gazing unseeingly through the window. "A girl wants to have a gentleman as a boyfriend, not a caveman."

He neared her, cautiously touching her shoulder. "Luna, I..."

She wheeled back towards him, blushing vividly, and whispered to his ear once more, so quietly the first-years couldn't hear it. "But, of course, I'm not your real girlfriend. Nevermind that. I was being silly."

She was about to turn her back on him again, but he stopped her. At first, he wanted to kiss her right away, but he thought a real gentleman wouldn't do it that way.

"Luna, please, read the note," he said, quietly.

"What? Now?"

"Yes, please."

"You told me to read it at home..."

"Now I'm asking you to read it now."

She had just brought her hand to her pocket when the train suddenly stopped. The three kids shivered and yelled, frightened.

"It's all fine, kids," Neville said, standing up, brandishing his wand. Luna pulled hers out as well. "No need for panic."

They could hear people boarding the train, and strange voices shouting indistinct things. However, the first person they saw dashing through the corridor was someone they knew. It was the seventh-year from Ravenclaw who had been made Prefect in Neville's fifth year, Anthony Goldstein.

"If it was something to worry about, they'd probably have sent Malfoy," Neville made as if pocketing his wand.

"Keep your wand out!" Luna didn't let him, though.

The second one, nonetheless, didn't pass through them but stormed into their cabin.

"Ernie!" exclaimed one of the young Hufflepuffers.

"They're after a girl," he rustled softly to Luna and Neville, trembling harshly. "We overheard them talking to Malfoy in the Prefects' carriage." He turned green. "We think it might be Ginny."

"No," Neville couldn't believe it.

"Anthony's searching for her. He'll disillusion her."

"He hasn't completely mastered this charm, has he?" Luna asked. "I think the girls could've done a better job..."

"We thought it'd be better if the girls remained at the Prefects' carriage... it's safer there... just in case..." this time, he turned purple. 'In case it's them they're after,' Ernie thought. He could never finish that sentence, though.

Upon hearing that, Neville's face also went purple. And green. At the same time. "Can you disillusion Luna, Ernie?" Neville questioned, pleading, already knowing the response, for Ernie didn't take Charms anymore. "'Cause I... I... I can't... I'm useless..." Neville was actually the worst of the class at the Disillusionment Charm, having had extra homework from Flitwick for weeks, which, of course, he had utterly ignored.

Ernie brought his hands to his hair as he shook his head.

"What do we do!?" Neville, trembling from head to toe, turned his fearful face to Luna, whose expression was as calm and serene as it was this morning on breakfast.

"I really think it's Ginny they're after," Ernie leaned towards them and muttered as silently as he could. "Just in case, Luna, I suggest you make yourself ready to bail." Neville froze when these words reached his ears. Shortly after, Ernie straightened himself. "I really got to go. Keep your eyes wide open, OK?" he opened the carriage door. "Keep calm, guys." He addressed the first-years as he left.

Whereas Neville's brain had been still processing the information, Luna headed towards the windows and spread them open as widely as she could. Then, she neared one of the corners of the window, aiming her wand somewhere Neville couldn't see.

"Doing what?" he muttered.

"Unscrewing."

"What?!"

"I figure I can pass through the window just fine, though it'd take some time," she said, nonchalantly. "So I imagine it'd be better to take the entire window off."

"Let's just smash it open, then we can jump at once!"

"We aren't going anywhere. It's a girl they're after..." she moved to another corner. "Please, help me with that. I can't reach the screws up in there."

"I don't know how to..."

"Open my backpack," she required, and he complied promptly. "Accio." Something flew directly to her left hand and she chucked it towards Neville. It was a penknife. "There you go, Caveman."

"Thanks," Neville said as he climbed onto the seat and started unscrewing the screws next to the ceiling.

"OK, leave 'em slightly loose," she suggested, adjusting the screw she'd been working on. "Now try to act normal." She returned to her seat. Neville did the same seconds after her. She leaned in his direction and spoke to his ear, "If anything happens, don't do anything. I'll be fine."

Before he could respond, a man stormed into the cabin. The three kids cried, in panic.

"Shut up!" a wizard aimed at the Hufflepuffers. "Silencio!" the loudness quieted, but they still panicked. "Hey, Travers, this one fits the description!"

Neville passed his left arm around her waist, clutching his wand discreetly as he surveyed the man carefully. Luna also brandished her wand under her robes.

"Right, Selwyn. Short, thin, and this is definitely their hair. It's unmistakable."

"Are you Miss Lovegood?"

Neville's breakfast almost came back at once when he heard that, but he kept himself together. He aimed carefully at Selwyn, waiting for the perfect moment to attack.

"Most certainly, sir," she cheerfully said.

"You come with us."

"Expulso!" Neville shouted, and Selwyn was forcefully pushed out of the cabin, knocking Travers down in the process. Almost at the same time, Neville leapt to his feet, lifting Luna from the seat by her waist.

"Bombarda," she cast, aiming at the window. Nothing broke; as Luna had correctly guessed, the glass was unbreakable. Nonetheless, the entire piece was detached from the rest of the train with the force of the spell.

"Get on my back," Neville said, pulling her by her arms and bending slightly.

"Neville, what are you...?" she objected but locked her arms tightly around his neck.

"Hold on tight!" he shouted, hopping onto the ledge. So, he jumped off the Hogwarts Express with Luna on his back.

He fell heavily on his stomach on tall weed, Luna still on his back. She struggled to get up as quick as she could and readily squatted by his side to help him up as well. "You're not hurt, are you?" for the first time, she didn't sound calm and nonchalant, her voice leaked an ounce of concern.

"I'm alright," he replied, standing up without the help of his arms, which were injured for he'd used them to break their fall. At first, he was glad she'd helped him up grabbing his shoulders and not his arms. However, when he was already standing, she seized his hand and he had to fight hard not to wince in pain.

"Let's go," she called him, and they promptly started to sprint without destination.

No more than 20 steps they'd travelled and, suddenly, the weather turned freezing cold, the light started to fade and they felt their powers being drained. "Dementors!" bellowed Neville, as two of these nasty hooded figures approached them.

"Expecto Patronum," a white and bright hare came out of Luna's wand, bouncing elegantly in the air, causing the dementors to retreat. Luna and Neville turned around and resumed their sprint, though more dementors came from that direction as well.

"They're over there!" they heard Travers hoarse voice coming from afar. Apparently, he and Selwyn had left the train and were out to get them.

"We're trapped!" Neville told her.

"Help me," she pleaded, softly, struggling to scare away the dementors all by herself. They were now cornered by five dementors whilst the bright hare bounced in circles around them.

"I can't..." he moaned. "I have never managed to produce a patronus..."

"Think about something happy," she coached him, calmly but panting.

"Expecto Patronum!" he yelled, and a white formless light leaked out of his wand. It ceased shortly after.

"Longbottom, Lovegood, it's useless! Turn yourself in, right now!" this time, it was Draco Malfoy's voice echoing. "If you cooperate, you have nothing to fear."

"Right, nothing to fear!" Vincent Crabbe cackled out loud hysterically, a dissonant chorus of disturbing laughter coming shortly after.

She stumbled on him, lacking the forces to maintain herself standing. Her hare kept bouncing around them energetically, but she seemed to be on the verge of passing out.

"Luna!" he cried as she leaned on his shoulder, her wand still in the air. "Expecto Patronum!" he bellowed, desperately, nothing in his mind besides saving her.

Most unexpectedly, this time, from his wand emerged not a shapeless form, but another bright white hare exactly like hers. Both hares advanced towards the dementors, each in one direction, finally scaring them away for good.

Neville rocketed onwards, towing her by one of her arms. She kept up with him for a minute, but collapsed shortly after, her powers completely drained out from facing all those dementors on her own for so long. "I've got you," he suspended her by her two arms. Thus, he resumed escaping with her on his back. "Luna, you're awake?" His hands were slippery with sweat, he didn't know how long it'd take until he started to lose grasp of her. "Luna, please, talk to me..."

"Encarcerous!" Neville heard someone shout behind his back, and then he tripped violently on the ground, thick ropes binding his wrists and ankles together. Sprawled on the floor, he realized Luna had fallen unconscious by his side. "That was a mistake, Longbottom." It had been Draco Malfoy.

"Longbottom?" Travers had just approached them. "Ha! A perfect Christmas gift for Bella!"

"This is not what you've been told to do!" Malfoy snarled. For a brief second, Neville suspected Malfoy wanted to protect him... but that couldn't be true, could it? "Get the girl to the Ministry at once. Longbottom, you'll come back to the train with me."

"Ministry? No, this one's going to the headquarters first," Selwyn arrived as well. "May have information on Harry Potter."

"Information on Harry Potter!?" Malfoy exploded. "This is non-sense! She's been with Snape! Do you perhaps believe she could've concealed information from Snape, Selwyn!?"

"Your aunt doesn't trust Snape," Selwyn explained. "She's up to a quick talk with the girl. When she's done, we'll toss her in Azkaban until the old freak decides to collaborate. Of course, it's only a matter of time until we come to get you too, fathead." He smirked deviously at Neville. "We might as well take them all at once... save the effort, you know?"

"Take me!" Neville roared, struggling on the floor. "I'll go! Take me! Now!"

"NO!" Malfoy shrieked. "Since when does my aunt gives you orders? She doesn't get to say if Snape is trustworthy or not, she's not the Dark Lord!" With difficulty, Malfoy yanked Neville from the floor. He tossed him in Crabbe's direction. "Drag the loser back to the train, now!"

"Take me instead!" Neville pleaded, sobbing. "She doesn't know anything! I have valuable information!" He fiercely resisted Crabbe's grasp. "Let her go!"

"He doesn't have anything!" Malfoy roared, annoyed and anxious. "He's just bluffing to save his girlfriend. Take Longbottom to the train, Crabbe."

Neville thrashed around violently. "You'll take her to Bellatrix Lestrange over my dead body!" he hollered. He struggled so aggressively that both Crabbe and Goyle had to strive to contain him.

"Neville..." Luna's weak voice reached his ears. "Stop... it's alright..."

"NEVER!" he shouted, a river of tears running down his face.

"Stupefy!" Malfoy bellowed, aiming his wand straight at Neville's temple. At once, he collapsed unconscious. "Off you go, Crabbe, Goyle, back to the train." They obliged, carrying Neville rudely. "See you in a few, Loony. Don't try anything stupid," warned Malfoy, as Travers and Selwyn dragged her off the floor. "I stress that if you and your freakish daddy agree to help us, you'll walk free in no time." He turned his back on them and headed back to the train.

"Recorder Fuller, a major dark magical wound doesn't necessarily imply loss of mental abilities," Hermione stated for what seemed to her like the 50th time that morning. "Draco Malfoy's a model example of that, his entire family actually. I'd dare to say his own wound is about three times bigger than Luna's, not to mention it was caused by Voldemort himself!" Fuller flinched at the mention of that name. "OK, OK, You-Know-Who, I'm sorry!" Hermione added apologetically, as Cho sighed anxiously by her side, checking on their files. "Please, Recorder Fuller, take his report into consideration."

"Document 17, Your Honour," informed Cho.

"I am taking it into consideration, Madam Granger, Madam Chang," he answered, patiently. "Mr Malfoy is undoubtedly an expert. However, he's not the only expert we've listened to. We've listened to dozens of alienists, healers, aurors..."

"Even dark wizards, must I add," Hart added, sneeringly, suitably resembling Malfoy himself when he attended school with Hermione. Bentham snorted by his side.

"Yes, Hart, even that. I myself am no expert, I am in no position to draw my own conclusions on this matter. I can only go with the majority. I am so sorry, Madam Granger." Recorder Fuller shook his head resolutely at her. "I won't discuss this matter any further. The plaintiff is mentally unfit, period. If you disagree, please, feel free to appeal." Hart and Bentham gleamed at each other, while Rolf sought to maintain his composure.

"What are you celebrating? The least we can say of this man is that he's a very negligent father and husband! He shouldn't be allowed to keep his children's custody!" Mr Lovegood hissed, hatefully, lifting himself from his chair. "Shall I remind you that, in case my daughter is actually mentally unfit, the one and only to blame is this..."

"Please, compose yourself, Mr Lovegood," Cho discreetly pulled him back to his chair. "We do wish to stress that, Your Honour. Since you are really decided to dismiss our allegations, we ask you to take into account what the Criminal Court of Wizengamot have regarded as facts. The defendant is serving sentence for his utmost irresponsibility towards his children, having endangered to expose the entire wizardkind." She straightened herself on her chair. "Even if the plaintiff is mentally unfit, that doesn't necessarily mean she shouldn't be with her children. We hereby request the twins' custody to be granted to Mrs Scamander's legal guardian, her father." Lastly, she elegantly indicated Xenophilius with her left hand.

"This is no criminal trial, Madam Chang," Bentham objected. "Our client was condemned indeed, though he's trying his best to pay his debt to the wizarding community. He's wholeheartedly complying with all the sanctions imposed on him. He posed no resistance when the Section of Improper Use of Magic put the tracer on him, nor when Criminal Court prohibited him from acquiring a new wand."

"Indeed," Hart agreed. "Mr Scamander is already being punished for his actions. What's at stake is the best interest of the children." Hart blinked at Cho, scornfully.

"I couldn't agree more, Sir Hart," said Cho, looking daggers at the man.

"Very well," Recorder Fuller raised his voice, solemnly. "If none of you would like to add anything, I'm ready to render my decision." He cleared his throat. "This is no criminal trial, indeed. I am not here to punish Mr Scamander a second time for his actions. Nevertheless, what Madam Chang stressed is also correct. The fact that Mrs Scamander isn't mentally fit to take custody of her children at the present time doesn't mean it's right to split mother and child, mainly when we're dealing with a mother as loving, caring and devoted as she is. This would surely be inhumane." Hermione barely squashed Cho's hand behind the table in excitement. "Therefore, I grant the custody of Lysander Filius Scamander, 6, to his grandfather, Mr Lovegood, who also serves as Mrs Scamander's guardian."

Hermione and Cho both froze on their chairs. Mr Lovegood, for his part, had just been about to celebrate when he took notice of the women's strange behaviour. "So... what about Lorcan?" he asked, suspicious.

"As for Lorcan Wilhelm Scamander, also 6, who is currently serving time in St Mungo's Child's Education and Rehabilitation Facility, he shall remain in the custody of the Ministry of Magic, under the care of capable professionals, until he is believed to be fit to return as a full-fledged participant of the wizarding community. He shall be returned then to the custody of his father, Rolf Scamander, as the kid stressed it was his wish."

As Mr Lovegood froze upon his seat, Cho and Hermione, quite the reverse, sublimated, going straight from ice to scalding steam, bursting into objections. "I object!", "This is not right!", "This is outrageous, Recorder Fuller!"

"No, Madam Chang, Granger. This decision is definitive. Please, feel free to appeal if it's not of your liking. Thereby, I declare Mr Scamander and Mrs Lovegood, previously known as Scamander, officially divorced."

Rolf, Bentham and Hart stood up, seeming satisfied with themselves. Rolf lively shook his legal assistants' hands, turning right after to shake Recorder Fuller's, courteously.

"Let's go, Hermione, Mr Lovegood." Resigned, Cho headed to the door, carrying a stack of documents, an expression that mixed disappointment and fatigue stamped on her face. "It's over."

"Aunt Hermione!" a little blonde kid lively threw himself on the lap of a witch who had just walked into the house. "You came to see us!"

"Not only I came, but I brought you a gift as well, dear," she said, warmly patting the boy's head before she sacked a little box from her bag.

"Wow!" he gleamed at the box, amazed. "For me?" He seized it, curious. "You're the best, aunt Hermione!" he began struggling with the colourful wrappings, as though trying hard not to tear the paper.

"Oh, that's nothing, dear," she grinned at him. "Your uncle Ron told me you'd freak out about it." She turned to Luna, who seemed tired and had large bags under her eyes. "Hey, you're OK?"

"I'm fine, thanks for passing by," she answered, wearily, looking everything but fine. "You didn't need to bring anything. Thank you very much."

"It's nothing, Luna. Ron's been promising to give him that for ages," they both turned to look back at the kid, who kept struggling with his gift. Hermione raised her voice, addressing him, "Hey, dear, do you want some help with it?"

"No, thanks, aunt Hermione! Don't bother."

"Could you do it anyway, Hermione?" Luna whispered. "I always open his presents with magic, because he likes the wrappings too much, he always keeps them... I think he didn't ask this time so he wouldn't remind me I lost my wand."

Fighting a heavy weight that abruptly emerged inside her chest, Hermione neared the kid. She squatted by his side and pulled out her wand, "Hey, let me do this," she swung it, and the paper unwrapped itself from around the tiny box. The box landed softly on Lysander's hands; the paper, for its part, intact, on top of it.

"Bloody Diadem!" his bright blue eyes shoot out of his face. "It's a brand new set of wizarding chess!"

"Don't invoke my Diadem in vain!" a voice hissed from the wall. Hermione whipped her neck to find out, bewildered, that it belonged to none other than Rowena Ravenclaw herself, or better, a portrait of her.

"Please, forgive me, Your Grace!" Lysander dove into a deep and somewhat clumsy bow. It didn't seem to work, since Ravenclaw harshly turned her back on him and left her portrait.

"She'll come around," Luna told him, trying hard to grin, yet failing to conceal her sorrow completely. "I'd for sure fancy a match later, lizard."

"Aunt Hermione, would you like to play as well?"

"Oh, no, dear. I'm terrible at wizarding chess."

"I never thought you could be terrible at something, aunt Hermione!"

Deeply flattered and touched, Hermione beckoned him and, when he reached her, she warmly kissed his temple. She knelt to his level and stared deeply into his eyes. "You're the sweetest, do you know that? I promise I'll bring Hugo on the weekend, I'm sure he'll be excited to play with you." He widened a smile. "Now, I need to have a quick word with mother. Could you give us a moment?"

"Right," he quickly kissed her cheek. "Thank you very much."

After Lysander climbed up the stairs, Hermione waved her hand, non-verbally casting 'Muffiatto' on the room.

"Luna... I'm..." sorrow once more rose inside Hermione's chest, this time bringing tears to her eyes. "We lost." Hermione gazed at her own feet, tears dripping on the floor. "I'm so sorry."

"You don't have to apologize for anything," Luna said, downhearted. "You did everything you could. You left your brilliant career at the Ministry just to assist me, Hermione. I'll never be able to repay that."

Hermione entangled her hands on her hair, pacing anxiously. "Cho's already getting started on the appeal..."

"I appreciate your effort, though I doubt it'll be reversed as long as I'm regarded as mentally unfit," she interrupted her. "Let it go."

"I agree..." Hermione took a deep breath, mustering all her might, then murmured by Luna's ear. "We should... instead... break into the facility... we'll arrange for you to flee the country with the twins..."

Luna didn't respond. She merely stood staring at Hermione, astonished.

"Parvati and Padma said they'd help you get to India... it's potentially problematic, though. There's no chance we could travel there solely by magic, it's too far... top of it, with two little children..."

"Hermione," Luna whispered back, realizing it couldn't possibly be a bad joke, for Hermione sounded deadly serious. "Break into the facility? I don't think this is a good idea."

"Kingsley knows. He'll cover up for us," upon hearing that, Luna's jaw dropped. Had Hermione been so committed to it that she had even involved the Minister for Magic? "The hard part is getting out of the country."

"No, Hermione," Luna told her, resolutely but kindly. "Thank you very much, but no. It's too risky. I could end up losing them both instead. Besides, I've already made up my mind what I'm going to do from now on."

"Really?" Hermione asked, curiously. "What is it?"

"I'm planning on getting back with Rolf."

Hermione crossed her arms, sceptically, much like she used to do when they were teenagers and Luna brought up nargles and other crazy stuff. To Hermione, getting back with that beast seemed much more outrageous than breaking into an official facility.

"Please, don't try to talk me out of it. I have to. It's the only way I get to be with both of them, Hermione." Luna fought back her tears, trying to maintain her casual tone, without much success. "I can't leave Lorcan alone with him..."

"Of course, Luna. You'll go back to that monster to ensure your kids are safe. If you're tortured, assaulted or murdered along the way it's not that big of a deal, is it!?" Hermione snapped at her, sarcastically. "You deserve to suffer, don't you? You brought that upon yourself! You must endure it all! If you don't, you're no worthy mother at all!"

Luna fought harder against her tears. She felt naked as Hermione revealed in loud voice all the worst thoughts she'd been mourning for so long, what caused her to thoughtlessly bend forward and cover herself with her arms with shame.

"This is ridiculous, Luna! None of this is true! It's dark magic that makes you think that!" Hermione embraced her friend as Luna finally broke down and started to cry out loud. "You can't go back with him, Luna. He'll kill you! You know what'll happen if you die, Luna!? Rolf will have both of them! They'll be all his! Who would protect them!?" she released her, staring at her keenly. "The escape plan's the best option."

"No, it's not. Lorcan will be at the facility for some time. I'll get together with Rolf when he's about to be released. Then, I reckon it won't be long before the twins are old enough to go to Hogwarts..." she sighed relieved as if reciting her plan was some kind of tranquillizer. "Once there, they'll be safe. Everyone on the staff of Hogwarts is trustworthy... Flitwick's there... McGonagall... Slughorn, Hagrid, Neville..." Luna flinched briefly after she realized she'd mindlessly said his name. "It'll work. I won't die."

"You're not even allowed to carry a wand!" Hermione hissed, contradicted. "How d'you reckon you'd keep yourself from dying?"

"That's much easier to pull out than international child abduction, I suppose," she swallowed her tears. "Olivander's already making me a new one." She crossed her arms. "Am I not mentally unfit? Thus, they couldn't possibly send me to Azkaban for of it."

"We can pull... international child abduction... do you really have to put it that way? That makes it seem as though it's something wrong... anyway, we can do it. We've pulled out much worse before..."

"This time my children are at stake. I'm not taking any chances."

"Luna," Hermione's voice came out pleading and exasperated. "Do you want your children to end up watching their own mother's death as well?"

Luna shut her eyes and clenched her fist, fighting hard to control herself as anger rose inside her chest. She didn't want to be mean to Hermione, she knew she meant well, but she couldn't believe she had dared to bring in her deceased mother to the argument.

"This conversation is over, Hermione." Luna declared, impersonating her usual tone. "This decision is mine to make."

"Luna, I didn't mean to, but..."

"It's alright." Luna turned her back on her. "I'll call Lysander, he may want to bid you goodbye." Luna climbed the steps gravely, without looking back.