Chapter 28. The Ruling

POV Hermione

She instantly heard shouting as they stumbled out of the floo at St. Mungo's. Hermione knew it was Draco based on the panicked and angry feelings that were tickling at the edge of her mind. She rushed through the corridors toward his room hoping that if she could reach him, it would prevent another explosion of accidental magic. Turning the final corner she was greeted with an array of medical staff and Aurors who were attempting to subdue Draco.

"Stop!" She cried, and everything went silent.

Her eyes connected with his and everything clicked together, like they were puzzle pieces looking for their spot in the picture.

"Hermione." He breathed and rushed towards her, gathering her up in his arms.

"I'm so sorry, you're not hurt are you? I tried to keep control, but I could never have fathomed how bad it truly was."

She shushed him and buried her face into his chest, "This was not your fault. I should have known it would be too much to handle, but I couldn't remember it on my own!"

He tilted her chin up and planted a kiss to her lips. Relief washed over her as all her senses were filled with him. It had felt like an eternity since they last kissed and Hermione knew then that she never wanted to be apart from him again.

I'm in this 100%. I hope he is too.

"Eh hem."

"What Nott?" He asked.

"Oh nothing. Nothing at all. Just your bestest friends in the world standing here waiting for their greeting."

She rolled her eyes, and caught Draco doing the same. It warmed her heart knowing what loyal and genuine friends they were, but tucked away was that twinge of sadness at its reminder of what she now realized she never had.

"Go hug your bloody friends." She teased, pulling away from him.

"Thank you for taking care of her." He said, pulling them both into a hug.

"Well we didn't do as much as we should have. She didn't tell us she needed to go home so Narcissa did that instead."

She looked at him sheepishly, and she could feel his eyes bore into her, "I didn't want to be a bother and I didn't want to leave."

"Hermione you have to take care of yourself too." He said reaching out to rub her cheek.

"I was, but the lights flickered and I thought you were in a state like I was, so I was trying to talk to you. Do you remember anything?"

"No. But that doesn't mean anything, I was under magical sedation, you weren't."

"I know. I was just worried about you being stuck in a nightmare again."

"I'm alright, I promise."

"Sorry to break up the sweet moment, but we actually don't have very long and we need to get the Princess here fed before the ruling." Pansy said, pulling Hermione back by her shoulders.

"How bad were his memories? Do you think it was enough to win?"

"They were really disturbing Drake. It was good you weren't there to see them. He fucked Lily in the toilet at the Three Broomsticks and called her Hermione… It was borderline assault, after she pulled away, he took off to find Hermione."

"I'll kill him if he doesn't go to Azkaban."

"We will help." Pansy added.

"Please don't. I can't lose any of you."

They all turned to look at her as tears pooled in her eyes.

"Granger, we can't let him get away with what he's done."

"BUT AT WHAT COST PANS!?" she shouted and they all stared at her in shock, "THESE PAST FEW WEEKS HAVE PROVED TO ME THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD TRUE FRIENDS! SO YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO ANYTHING TO RISK GOING TO AZKABAN, CAUSE I CANT TAKE IT!"

"Okay Princess, you got it. No risks." Theo said gently, pulling her into a hug, "Now lets get you some food. Sound good?"

She nodded and took Theo's hand in her right, reaching for Draco's with her left and made their way down to the cafeteria.

She hadn't even finished her Caesar salad when the twins appeared to inform them the Wizengamot was ready to present their ruling. She turned to Draco whose face had lost the little color it held in its alabaster skin, turning him almost grey.

"They are letting you come home right?" she asked, meeting his gaze.

"They said this evening so they might be ready to release me now."

"Oh good. Erm… I'll meet you at home then?"

"Yeah." He answered, placing a kiss on her mouth.

"Alright now, that's enough, we got to go. Go on Drake, we will keep her safe. See you at the house later."

They pulled her along towards the floo, likely trying to make their exit before Draco could try and come along. She wanted to drag her feet, to pull away and not go back. She didn't want to see his face again, even to see him found guilty. She was ready to just move on and begin her new life, whatever that entailed.

"Come on princess, you first." He said gently nudging her forward.

"You know I'm an adult right?"

"Yes darling but clearly nobody ever took care of you before so now Drake, Pans and I are having to make up for all that time. Now move it Miss Swotty Pants!"

"Fine!" she grumbled as she stepped into the floo and called out the Ministry.

"The Wizengamot calls the court to order." Kingsley said, and the room fell silent, "Members of the Wizengamot, have you come to a decision?"

"We have, Minister." Amelia Bones replied as she stood.

"Would you please read us your verdict?"

"Certainly." She said and pulled out a piece of parchment from her robes, "Minister Shacklebolt and members of Wizard Britain, the Wizengamot has taken all testimony and evidence into account for our deliberation. We have unanimously reached a decision in regards to the charges of sexual assault and attempted murder of Hermione Jean Granger by Ronald Bilius Weasley. On the charge of sexual assault, the Wizengamot finds Mister Weasley guilty."

Chaos erupted in the court room. Molly cried out, covering her face with the front of her robe, Percy wrapping his arm around his mother's shoulders.

"Silence in the court room!" Kingsley shouted, "Continue Miss Bones."

"On the charge of attempted murder, the Wizengamot finds Mister Weasley guilty. The Wizengamot suggest a sentence of life without parole and ask that Mister Weasley be remanded to Azkaban immediately."

"Accepted." Kingsley said. "Thanks you, members of the Wizengamot, you are dismissed. Please remember to turn in the required paperwork to Auror Dawlish in the DMLE. Court is dismissed."

Four bodies surrounded her in the blink of an eye as the rest of the court room emptied. She sat in shock, unable to believe what had just occurred. It was like the weight of the entire world was lifted from her shoulders, leaving her feeling both light and empty at the same time.

"Just another minute or two Hermione and we can go. Our mother is taking her time getting out. I think she was hoping to catch you, but don't worry, we won't let her get close." Fred said, placing his hand on her back.

When enough time had passed they led her out of the court room, each one taking guard in positions surrounding her. They moved like a unit through the Ministry as press member after press member attempted to obtain interviews, barring Rita who stood in the back, knowing she was already granted an interview the following day.

"Fucking animals, all of them!" George shouted as they barreled their way through the masses.

"Bastards is more accurate!" Pansy added.

"You doing alright Granger?" Fred called, keeping as close to her back as he could without tripping her.

"I'm alright. I just want to get—"

"Hermione!"

Harry?

"Fuck."

"No. Absolutely not. Who wants to handle him?" Theo said, pulling her tight against his side.

"I'll do it." Fred said, "Close in."

Fred darted out, making a b-line for Harry, while the three who remained adjusted their stance. She tried to crane her neck around Pansy to see him, but Theo stopped her.

"Ignore them princess, were here, let's go." He said, pushing her into the floo.

Hermione was about to drop the floo powder when she heard shouting, and noticed Fred up in Harry's face, finger pointed in his face. She tried to focus to hear what was being said, but Theo's shouting was drowning it out.

"GO!"

Fred grabbed ahold of Harry's robe and Hermione tried to rush out to help but Pansy stepped in front of her, wrapped her arms around her and forced her back in the floo.

"NOW THEO!"

He called out her address and threw the floo powder down, and she was pulled into the floo, stumbling out into her living room. She was getting ready to rush back in when a pair of strong hands grasped hers.

"Hermione!" Draco shouted pulling her tightly against his chest.

Suddenly in his arms, the flood gates broke and tears poured down her cheeks as she screamed and pounded her fists against her chest.

"That's it sweetheart. Let it out." He said slowly stroking her hair as she took out all the anger, resentment and heartbreak she had been holding in for weeks.

"What happened?" he asked Pansy as Hermione finally began to calm down, having slowed her cries to a gentle whimpering.

"We won." She said and dropped down onto the floor beside them.