"I do know it mother, and this ridiculous farce ends here now, Hermione doesn't deserve this and you're upsetting Rose!"
"There's no way you could know that William, how could you possibly-"
But Bill cut her off before she could finish protesting, and her face turned ashen at his words.
"Because he tried it with Victoire too."
The whole sordid tale came out then, and Molly simply sat ashen as she took in everything that Bill told her.
About a year ago Ron had stayed at Shell cottage for a night to babysit Victoire and Dominique whilst Fleur and Bill had a date night. Ron had attempted to assault Victoire in the bath, the same way that he had with Rose, under the guise of cleaning her. Though due to her Veela heritage gained from her mother, Fleur had made sure to teach victoire from a young age about sex, and the young girl had called her uncle out on his actions. Telling him that he was trying to touch her in a 'bad place' and she was going to tell her mother if he did. The boy had of course panicked, and stopped, and tried to talk it off. Victoire had carried on bathing herself, and allowed her uncle Ron to dress her, but had stalwartly refused to leave her younger sister Dominique with the man, despite his protestations. She'd insisted on helping him bath her, and had insisted on the girl sleeping in the bed with her, much to his annoyance.
Bill, not wanting to believe what his daughter was saying, had hoped that it was just a misunderstanding on the young girls part, and that her uncle really was just being thorough when he bathed her, and that he only wanted to get Dominique alone in case the other child was getting in the way, after all he was a doting father to his own young daughter.
Bill had spent a lot of time living in egypt, and it was a lot easier for him to carrying on swimming in that well known Egyptian river, than accept what might've happened in his own home.
Regardless of the fact that they had both agreed to push this to the back of their mind and convince themselves of his innocence, Bill and Fleur had not invited him back since.
When the news had reached them of Hermione's trial, and subsequently what Ron had been accused of, they had finally realised the truth of his attempted actions that day, unable to deny it any further, and were only thankful that it had stopped where it had, that their precocious young girl had known enough to call him out and not allow him to be alone with her younger sister, for Bill with the wolf-like effects of greyback's attack, and Fleur with her veela heritage... neither would have hesitated to kill the boy if he had touched either of their children.
oOo
Molly's case began to unravel after the declaration from Bill, and when he repeated his testimony under veritaserum she sat back in her chair and barely spoke, though kept casting forlorn glances at Rose, muttering to herself and shaking her head.
Even Percy had grown nervous, and had left to floo call his wife, for Percy himself had a young daughter.
When an ashen faced Percy returned half an hour later, it was with a similar story to Bill and a new seat filled on Hermione's side of the table.
Like Victoire, Ronald had also been inappropriate to Percy's daughter. He had not done anything untoward...yet, but it was clear to all assembled that he had been grooming her. It had started shortly after his failed attempt with Victoire. He'd seemingly realised that he could not push his luck with other children like he did his own, and instead of going to straight to assaulting her, as he had attempted with Victoire, he had instead spent a lot of time grooming her. Talking to her, touching her under the guise of familial affection, stroking her hair and such. All things that under duress could be explained away, but had made the girl uncomfortable enough to tell her parents when asked that she didn't like spending time with her uncle, something that was could be easily written off simply as childhood dramatics. Though when added together with what was already known about him, it created a damning picture. Furthermore while Percy was speaking to his wife and daughter through the ministry floo, his young son had chimed in with the fact that he didn't like how his uncle was always making him sit on his lap, even when he didn't want to.
It was with the realisation that Ronald didn't reserve his affections just for the girls, that Hermione began to wonder if there might have been another reason why Harry and Ginny had both been suddenly so adamant on leaving to relocate to the states last year, with their sons in tow.
oOo
The case began to unravel at the seams then, and finally ended with the appearance and testimony from the mediwitch that was 'hexed' by Hermione. The same mediwitch who'd thankfully handed the card to Severus. She stalwartly refused to press charges against Hermione, testifying to the state of mind of the woman when she arrived at Mungos, along with the state of injury of herself and her daughter.
When all was said and done, there was only one argument left to Molly, which she attempted to push through despite the only Weasley being sat at her side was Arthur. And even he seemed as though he was not actively taking her side, but simply so shell-shocked that he was no longer taking in the proceedings at all.
Molly argued that Hermione had no means to care for the girl and no suitable home to raise her in, or provide for her, though those were quickly squashed when Severus spoke up.
Hermione sat in stunned silence when Severus claimed them both in the courts.
"They are under my protection" He had said simply, and that had garnered a few sharp looks from the people in the courts. Arthur, Bill, Even Draco and Lucius seemed a little taken aback.
Molly froze for a moment before speaking "You cannot! You have no authority-"
"As Lord Prince, I have claimed them both, do you wish to challenge me?" He'd asked coolly and Molly had stopped, mouth agape mid tirade.
"You finally accepted the title?" Lucius asked almost breathlessly, and he looked as shocked as Hermione had ever seen the man, but Severus cool as ever simply inclined his head in affirmation.
There was a tense moment where they waited for a Molly's response. All the Weasley children looked immensely worried, though none spoke. Having finally laid claim to the title that was his by birthrate, Severus had automatically, being the last heir of the prince line, become Lord Prince and gained all the titles, wealth and prestige that went along with it.
As Lord of an extremely highborn family, Severus was well within his right to 'claim' both Hermione and her daughter under his protection. To challenge his claim, in old pureblood terms was to insinuate he was unfit or unable to care for them, and was grounds for at the best a blood feud, and at the worst a duel of honor to the death.
As Matriach of the Weasley Family, Molly could make such a challenge.
After a moment her eyes narrowed, and her lips moved but before she could speak, Arthur cut in.
"No Lord Prince. We make no such challenge. As Head of my family I accept your claim, and would continue to call you friend despite it."
Severus inclined his head to Arthur, as Molly sat down in a huff. Arthur was the only person who technically outranked her, browbeaten or not.
Hermione offered a sad smile to Arthur, which was returned and once again she couldn't help but think how old he looked.
"Then it is settled, we move to close this case. Hermione Granger has proven beyond all reasonable doubt she is of sound mind and a fit guardian for her daughter, and as Lord Prince has claimed them under his protection, she is not without means to support her so-"
A triumphant gleam hit Molly's eye, and she quickly leant over and whispered something to the judge, before wiping her tears on her handkerchief.
The judge considered for a moment, before he nodded to himself.
"Hermione Granger, I find no reason to call you an unfit guardian, therefore all charges of neglect and instability are hereby dismissed." There was a collective sigh of relief from Hermione's side, and a whoop from George before the judge continued.
"-However. I can find no legal reason to deny the child's grandparents reasonable access to her. They have done no wrong, and as such I deem it unreasonable for you to continue to isolate your child from her other family and hinder them access as you have done to this point. The child grandparents are head of their house, and have proven themselves to be good and trustworthy people. You will not unreasonably withdraw visitation privileges, and starting from today the child's grandparents will be permitted sole guardianship of her on weekends to allow them to make up time with the child they have until now been denied. As today is Saturday, the child will return home with the Weasleys to be returned to yours and Lord Prince's care on Monday. This hearing is closed and my decision final"
"No! You can't!" Hermione stood and made to back away from the room, holding tightly to Rose as Molly moved forward to take her.
There was uproar from the others, until the judge forcibly silenced anyone who was not directly involved in the case. It left a number of seething onlookers, with only Arthur and Molly, Hermione, Severus and Lucius still with the ability to speak.
"You can't ! You can't do that to her, you-" Hermione was crying and desperately backing away as Molly still moved to take Rose. Arthur was stood, looking conflicted between Rose, Hermione and his wife and Severus was seething.
"ORDER. Miss Granger control yourself before I begin to question my decision on your state of mind!" The judge growled.
"Please! Please your honor, Rose will be terrified she's rarely been to the burrow she doesn't like it, doesn't know it she -"
"A problem of your own making Miss Granger, for isolating her this long, challenge me again and I will hold you in contempt of court!"
Hermione was sobbing as Severus was fighting the urge to hex when Lucius quickly stepped up an spoke, putting a hand on both their shoulders as he spoke in a harsh whisper to them both.
"Heed my warning friends. The hardest part of politics is knowing when to stop fighting. Do not sacrifice the war you have just won for this single battle. I can get this overturned in time, but for now I would agree to this short compromise or see the war lost and her taken forever."
Hermione sobbed as she held onto Rose tightly, but after a moment nodded gingerly as Severus shook with repressed emotion.
Rose was hanging tightly to her mother when Molly came to take her, despite the vicious glares she was getting from the rest of the people in the room. Including the aurors at the door, and the secretaries who had been noting the minutes of the case.
"Come here Poppett, come to Nana Molly"
Hermione was sobbing as Molly took hold of Rose. And Severus was occluding so dangerously heavily, that his body felt like concrete, his blood pumped round his heart like battery acid, and his stomach was taking a vacation in his shoes, yet his face remained expressionless.
Rose immediately began to cry as Molly held her and she desperately held on to her mother. But molly un-threaded the small girls arms and finally took her from her grasp.
Immediately rose began sobbing and crying harshly, reached back for her mother and shouting. "muh-mee. Muh-mee no" her face was red and tears and snot ran down her face as she desperately fought to get out of Molly's grip, arms outstretched towards her mother.
When she called for her and reached her arms out, sobbing all the while, Hermione, sobbing herself made to move forward and grab the girl back but their hands barely brushed before she was held back by each arm, by the stoic forms of Lucius and Draco.
Blood rushing in his ears, Severus felt like he was underwater as he watched the scene unfold from behind his occlumency. The dangerously high walls were all that were keeping him in place. Rose was sobbing so hard she was hiccoughing, on the verge of being sick. Hermione was sobbing so hard she had fallen to her knees and only Lucius's arms were supporting her.
Scorpius was screaming, sobbing and crying for rose, and Draco had to grab him and pull him back as the boy had barrelled through them all and made to run towards her. The toddler was kicking and screaming in Dracos arms shouting her name over and over again. "wose. wose. lub you. wose wose"
The sounds all bled into one constant hum around him, almost indistinguishable, yet so loud he could practically feel the vibrations of it on his skin.
Until Rose turned and met his eyes.
She was hiccouping, her face pale yet her cheeks flushed. Her eyes sparkled with tears, that were running freely down her face and she was fighting Molly so much that she was sure to have bruises from how hard molly had to hold on to her.
Tearful blue eyes met his ebony ones, and the cacaphony of noise around him dimmed into utter silence, his occlumency walls crumbled into so much dust, and the acid that was pumping around his blood stream set alight...when two shaky arms reached out imploringly and called to him. "Daddy"