Hermione only managed a week at the Hearthstone before it was determined that the high concentrations of magic weren't helping her mental state in the slightest. The children were happy she was there with them, but even the youngest of them knew something wasn't right with her.
She had black-outs, she would be focused on a task one minute and then she'd blink and find herself somewhere else entirely with know clue how she got there. Most often, she would be found walking towards the Sun Stone.
Her biggest fear was falling under and attacking her children and her nightmares grew to the point where she wasn't really sleeping, she was just taking micro-naps and the lack of proper sleep made her black outs happen more often.
So she had no choice but to try going home to Hawaii to recover. Chibuzo's magic only manifested during temper tantrums, and Bernice and Hana had no legilimency ability. The magic there was very low and there were mind healers in Kilokilo who could help her.
Hermione didn't register the journey, the moment her hand touched the Portkey, the complete saturation of magic was too much for her mind to handle. Thankfully, Blaise had volunteered to escort her and they had made sure she didn't faceplant the ground when they arrived.
"Let's find your family," they said, supporting her.
The news after her interview had been so vague, they hadn't considered anything would happen without warning, so it was a shock when they were suddenly surrounded by Aurors.
"Herminia Sanchez, you are under arrest for breaking the Statute of Secrecy!" said a witch. "Do not try to resist. Anything you say or do will be used against you in a court of law."
"Are you mad?" Blaise protested. "Tom Riddle is running rampant, killing innocent people and she's the one you arrest?!"
"She broke international law."
The world blurred and words became nothing more than white noise. Blaise was no longer by her side. Hermione was being detained. Where would they take her? She couldn't let her parents be arrested for harboring a fugitive. She was one in Magical Britain, but did that extend to the rest of the world or did she have a claim to sanctuary? Her Law knowledge was mainly centered around British Magical Law, which may not apply much in the States. She wasn't sure which country's laws Kilokilo followed or if it had its own law.
As the shackles were placed around her wrists, she could barely focus on Hana struggling to reach her.
It wasn't fair, but if the laws were fair then Voldemort wouldn't have been able to rise to power a second time.
'When I was six years old I saw a magnificent picture in a book…'
Crack!
Hermione flinched and raised her hands to shield her face. Two Aurors sat down across from her, the one who slapped down her file didn't seem to care that he had scared her. The other was a legilimens.
When did she get here?
Hermione started rocking in the chair, it was steel and made an awful squeaking noise. The one who slapped down her file grabbed the chair and made her stop, so she curled over herself protectively instead.
"What name do we use?" he asked. "Herminia Sanchez or Hermione Granger?"
Hermione pursed her lips and continued rocking. The lights were too bright, the walls vibrated with magic, too loud, too much, too much.
'Wouldn't it be nice if we were older, then we wouldn't have to wait too long?'
"You have quite the record for someone so young," he continued. "Suppose you think your Order of Merlins and Grand Sorceress title put you above the law? Well? Say something! I hear you've got quite the motor mouth!"
'Don't say anything. I know my rights.'
"I invoke my right to remain silent," said Hermione. "I invoke my right to a lawyer."
"What do you have to hide?" the Auror asked.
Hermione moaned and curled her head into her arms. The Legilimens was prying and it burned. 'Get out. Get out. Get out.'
They asked questions, she refused to answer. Finally, finally, finally a knock came at the door and an official looking witch strode into the room.
"Excuse me," she said. "I am Miss Sanchez-Granger's attorney, Mun Jin-Yung. What are the list of charges against her?"
Jin-Yung. Mom's cousin. Lawyer. Friend of the family. Once took Hermione to the park when Mom had class.
"Are you seriously asking us that?"
"Well," said Jin-Yung. "If there are no formal charges against my client, then you are holding her without cause. If there is, then I have a right to consult with my client and be with her during any interrogation process."
"Fuckin' lawyers," the Auror spat.
"Come on," said the Legilimens.
Jin-Yung sat down next to Hermione while they left the interrogation room. Hermione raised her head and looked through the mirror at the three wixen who were watching the interrogation. They weren't leaving. Anything they recorded during her meeting ran the risk of being thrown out and unable to be used as evidence against her.
"Hello, Herminia," said Jin-Yung, gently. "I haven't seen you since you were a little girl. The Aurors didn't do this to you, did they?"
She hovered her fingers over the bruising on her face.
Hermione shook her head. Jin-Yung's presence was comforting, distant but familiar. Safe. Her signature was so close to Hana's.
"Tom Rid-Riddle did," she said softly. "I didn't know. Didn't know. Thought they were s-s-still arguing. Cru-Cru-Cruciatus C-Cursssse."
She returned to rocking.
"Hana explained your situation," said Jin-Yung. "Don't worry about a thing, Nia. Okay?"
"Mm. They're watching us. Recording. Recording. Muffliato."
There was a zap from her shackles and she started crying.
Jin-Yung cast the spell protecting their conversation and asked questions Hermione was able to answer as best she could, jotting down notes the entire time. When the Aurors returned, Hermione went away for a little while. Where she went, she couldn't remember, but she returned feeling disoriented and exhausted, like reading an entire book in one sitting except the plot was immediately erased from her mind. How long had it been? She wanted Cedric with her to be her voice and her rock.
"She'll have to answer to the I.C.W.," said the Legilimens. "Bail is set. If it cannot be met, she will be held in the closest Magical Prison. Any attempts to escape will make her a world-wide fugitive."
"Understood," said Jin-Yung.
Hermione was brought to a holding cell. Not even an hour passed before more Aurors came.
"Your release is conditional," said a wizard, putting a bracelet on her ankle.
It was thick and vibrated with magic, but it wasn't harsh. Just an alarm.
"A Hitwizard will be assigned to you," he said. "If you set one toe outside your approved areas, there will be a warrant for your arrest. The Hitwizard will be notified of your whereabouts and will collect you. Do you understand?"
Hermione nodded.
"Understand?!"
She flinched.
"Un-un-understood."
He scoffed in disgust. "Mastermind my ass. I bet you haven't done a thing they said you did."
'Asshole.'
Hermione hugged herself and was roughly dragged along to the exit. Her parents were waiting for her and wrapped her up in a giant hug.
Relief washed over her as she breathed them in.
"Let's get you home, sweetheart," said Beatrice.
There was a cloud of reporters waiting just outside the station, their cameras flashing like lightning, their questions rolling over her. She didn't look up. Her name was dragged through the mud enough already. Nothing she said would matter to them, they'd find a way to spin it to their preconceived notions of her anyway. They would interpret her silence as well into something it isn't, but at least nothing she said would go to trial that way.
She blinked and she was sitting down on the floor at home. Chibuzo was chattering away about his school and everything he was learning.
"Here, precious," said Papí, placing a tray next to her.
Soup with dumplings. Her mouth wounds were still healing, so she would need to take tiny sips. The broth was fragrant and delicious. It was nice to be cooked for instead of being the one doing all the cooking. It was like home.
And for an instant, she wished that Roger and Beatrice had never chosen to adopt her. She wished Mrs. Smith hadn't hated her so much. That Harold Portly had never obliviated her. If none of that had happened then she'd be here. Graduated from Uluru, studying Pre-Law, and as far away form all that bullshit as possible.
"Mimi, are you okay?" Roger asked. "Do you need anything?"
Hermione got up and stormed up to her room, slamming the door shut. It wasn't his fault or Beatrice's, they hadn't known, but she was still angry. Angry at herself, angry at the world.
She paced around, then spotted her purse on her desk. Seemed Blaise had the sense to grab it so it couldn't be gone through or put into evidence. She fished out her mirror and crawled into bed.
"Show me Cedric," she said.
He was sitting at the desk in their bedroom, looking over the budget, a scowl on his face. He glanced up and the anger melted away.
"Hello, love," he said. "Get home alright?"
"Well, let's recap," she said, needing to speak slower and softer to avoid a stammer. "Upon setting foot in Kilokilo, I was arrested and detained. The Aurors were real dicks, too. My family had to post bail and I will be summoned by the I.C.W. so they can discuss the proper punishment for breaking the Statute of Secrecy."
"What the hell?!" he demanded.
Hermione sighed heavily and curled up.
"They put a house arrest bracelet on me," she said. "I wish you were here with me."
"Me too," he said. "Will you still be able to see the Mind Healer?"
"Yes. I can still go to Kilokilo and I think I can go to town, but they need to be able to summon me at a moment's notice."
"It's not fair," he said. "Tom is the genocidal maniac, not you."
"And yet, I'm the one with the moniker of Grim Reaper. If they decide they need to put me in prison…"
"Mimi…"
"I'll just have to come home," she said. "Come home and go into hiding for the rest of my life. Would you still love me half-crazed?"
"You know I already do," he said. "But let's focus on the positive."
"What is the positive?"
"I don't know," he admitted. "You've got the beach on your doorstep?"
She hummed. "I'm so angry, Cedric. I don't know what to do."
"Then just take it one day at a time, I guess," he said. "I'm angry, too."
Hermione shivered.
"I'm s-slipping," she said. "Just talk to me? Please? Tell me nice things."
"As you wish."
~o0o~
The mind healer was good at her job and had actually studied the work done on the Longbottoms several years ago. Hermione had never really followed up on the research done and was glad Dr. Giovanni's work had been documented, collected, and shared with the wider magical medical community.
The overall process would take time, but she was confident she could get Hermione to a place where being in the same room as a legilimens wouldn't cause her mind to shatter.
Hermione kept her regular appointments and worked on projects to keep herself busy. She had gotten an idea when reading Howl's Moving Castle to Chibuzo, and while it was difficult to work and think half the time, she was collaborating with Noa on the project.
Her parents rotated shifts so at least one of them was home at all times to be there when Hermione had her bad days. Well, most days were bad days, so perhaps 'worst' days was a better word for them.
She tried going out with Bernice a few times, but she was just so terrified of being ambushed by Death Eaters she couldn't focus on any activity they did. On one memorable occasion, she had put Kai into a chokehold when he touched her shoulder.
Since then, she decided it was best to stay home. She studied up on the local Magical Law and worked on building a case with Jin-Yung for her eventual hearing with the I.C.W., which was still awaiting a date. Word was they were waiting for a clear bill of mental health from the Mind Healer so she couldn't claim insanity.
An argument could still be made for insanity, but Hermione didn't fancy spending the rest of her life in a mental institution.
With each passing day, Hermione felt a little more grounded in her own body, though there was still a nagging sensation at the back of her mind of some greater power going, "Let me see! Let me see!" She was oceans away from Hogwarts, but the entire network of ley lines and anchor stones were alive and restless. Ever since St. Mungo's was destroyed she had felt a constant burning.
There were some rules that just could not be broken. That was the problem with magic. If it was concentrated enough, it developed a mind of its own.
Good thing she never destroyed the anchor stones beneath the Ministry of Magic like she once considered.
There was enough to focus on.
And before she knew it, four months flashed by.
It was such a beautiful day. Thunder clouds swirled in the distance, but it would take them ages to reach the shore, and by then she would go inside. Hermione sat quietly in the rocking chair on the porch just watching the view of the sunset. Chibuzo sat at her feet, playing with his toys or drawing while talking her ear off about Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and Reading Rainbow.
Manuia stepped outside and sat down on the stairs.
"Papá, you don't have to take so much time off work, you know," said Hermione.
"Dave understands," he said, smiling as Chibuzo handed him a dinosaur. "You're my little girl, let me take care of you. How are you feeling? You have an appointment with Dr. Lawson tomorrow, yeah?"
"I feel fine, Papá," she said. "And yes, I do."
She trained herself the best she could, but she still felt… weak. When she went back in…
Well, if her parents had their way they would wrap her up in a bubble for the rest of her life. They had arguments about going back when (if) she was acquitted. They were the worst arguments she'd ever had with her parents and none of them were backing down. So it was easier just to say nothing at all about any of it.
Cedric, Daphne, and Fleur kept her in the loop on things and she was able to direct from a distance, but it felt wrong to her. Getting rid of the horcrux in Little Hangleton could turn the tide of the war. People were receiving aid, yes, but for how long? How long until Voldemort decided to do more like what he did to St. Mungo's? She was safe at home while her people were putting their lives on the line.
But unless she was certain she was healed, she would be of no use to them. They couldn't be worrying about her on the battlefield.
It was scary having her mind fragmented. She didn't know what was real and kept reacting to small things like she was being attacked. She was relieved she didn't hurt Chibuzo when she dissociated, but he seemed to know to stay away, only coming around when she was lucid again.
Now, all she had were her nightmares and no Cedric around to keep them mostly at bay.
"Papa, you be the castle," said Chibuzo once he had his toys lined up. "Nia, you be the dragon!"
Hermione smiled and moved down to the floor to play with her brother. He'd already followed her lead calling Manuia Papá, Hana Mom, and Roger and Beatrice were still Daddy and Mummy. It made sense, he had been living here for almost three years, and though he was only six, he accepted the change readily. Or perhaps he accepted it because he was six. He was thriving at school and loving the small town where everyone knew each other and was in each other's business. Amalea had settled into her role as a big sister well, playing with him and taking him out places when she was home.
"Can I be a sleepy dragon?" Hermione asked.
"Just until the prince comes," he said and handed Manuia the Buzz Lightyear she sent him for Christmas. "This is the princess and Barbie is the prince."
"Oh?" said Hermione.
"The princess always gets saved by the prince," he said wisely.
"That is true," said Manuia, grinning.
They played Chibuzo's game on the porch until the storm blew in, by that point Hermione was ready to go inside and curl up under her weighted blanket. Her father asked her a question that she didn't hear.
"Yeah, sure," she said distractedly.
"Oh, really?!" he said excitedly. "I'm so glad! Thank you!"
Wait, what?! Hermione whipped around in alarm, not sure what she just agreed to. Manuia laughed and patted her shoulder.
"I thought you weren't paying attention," he said. "I asked you what was on your mind. You seem more distracted than usual. Are… are things going badly?"
"No," she said. "But word is that the Weather, particularly those who followed Dumbledore first, are realizing they prefer me as a leader over Cedric. He's keeping everything running how I would, but he's very Major Payne about it."
"Ah."
"And training is going well," she said. "So I'm told. They should be ready to act in August."
"that's still months away," said Manuia. "You could go to the Multicultural Festival."
"Sure, Papí, but…" Hermione pursed her lips. "Nevermind, it's stupid."
"Hey, come on, I'll make you something to eat and we'll talk."
He got some water boiling before taking out the steam baskets and getting the premade baozi out from the freezer. Hermione put on a movie and sat with Chibuzo in the living room.
"Here you are, precious," said Manuia, handing her a plate with three buns and giving a plate of one to Chibuzo.
"She has more than me!" he said.
"Her stomach is bigger than yours," said Manuia patiently. "Eat that one and if you're still hungry I'll give you more."
He nodded and turned back to his movie.
"So, what's wrong?" Manuia asked.
Hermione pushed back her hair. It grew out long enough to get starter locs again and she had gone with coils. She'd gotten it done in the living room of one of Beatrice's friends from town.
"Just… promise you won't laugh?"
"I promise," he said.
"I've been thinking," she said. "About my relationship with Cedric. I was thinking of asking him to marry me."
She watched him closely. He seemed to be mentally at war with himself.
"You are turning twenty this September," he said, making an amazing attempt at being rational about this. "I know people who got married straight out of high school. It just still seems so young to me. Of course, I was only a few years older than you when you were born. What made you decide this?"
"I miss him so much it hurts," she said. "And I want to be connected to him in some way even when we're apart. But I also could have died in January. I think it's only my curse that saved me, ironically. Our bad luck never kills us, it's just… bad luck. Even if I seem to have the worst luck in the family. Things are still uncertain, either of us could die tomorrow from the war or we choke to death on a Triscuit. If I love him and he loves me and we know that we want to be together…"
"Then why wait?" Manuia concluded.
Hermione nodded.
"I think him leaving like he did is something that will always be there," she said. "But we've talked about it and he knows there's always going to be some hurt over it, whether or not I understood why he felt it was the only way. And lord knows I'm not perfect, either. But I think we're strong enough to stay together in spite of these things. I originally wanted to wait until after the war but… what if it never ends? What if he dies and I regret never taking that step?"
Her voice broke slightly, so she took a large bite of her food to swallow back her tears.
Manuia was quiet for a long moment.
"I think… arguments could be made for getting married and not getting married," he said slowly. "Is it something you were already talking about?"
"Yes. Cedric said he'd marry me whenever I was ready," she said. "I wanted to wait because I was worried we were only together because of the uncertainty but… we fit. Whatever happened doesn't matter, it's how we go forward and he's been my anchor through all this. When I feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders, he's there to shoulder it with me. And we're there for each other on our bad days. We fight and argue sometimes, but we always make up."
Manuia considered her words and nodded. "Well, it sounds like you've given it a lot of thought. I just have one request."
"What's that?"
"Make sure the aisle is wide enough so Roger and I can both walk you down it," he said.
She smiled. "Of course. I'm thinking something small. If we really want to, we can have a large celebration after the war, but for now it's about the label and knowing that we're bonded like that."
Manuia squeezed her arm. "I support you, but… maybe wait until your appointment tomorrow? Make sure you are recovered?"
"Of course, Papá. I still have to make the stones and some design ideas for the rings to send to Juana," said Hermione. "Not to mention a few more for payment. Stephen is here, I should get that sent off."
"Ah-huh," said Manuia. "And… how's your other project going?"
She looked at him in amazement. "How…"
"You left some of your work on the kitchen table the other day," he said. "What's it for anyway?"
"Well, you know how Mom has those doors that open from her shop on Kilokilo to her shop on the Big Island?"
"Yes," he said.
"I was looking to see if there was a way to do that but… boost it. Like… seven thousand miles? Give or take? Or even just forty-five hundred would work. That way, when it's over, I don't have to choose where to live. We can just… visit. I think I can boost it with crystals inscribed with runes. And all of our homes are on or close to ley line crossover points. I can draw energy from those and most likely not disrupt the balance of magic."
That assumed she wouldn't be a fugitive of the law.
"And how likely is 'most likely'?" Manuia asked.
"There's a ten percent chance messing with ley lines can cause a collapse, but the entities that form over these major crossovers think that that would only happen if everyone in the world tried to have a door. If we keep it strictly to our family, the harness energy wouldn't be enough to disrupt anything."
Manuia stared at her for a long moment. "Auē, kid, where did you get these brains from?"
"I got good genes."
He smiled. "Well, it'd be nice to be able to visit spontaneously. And yeah, it's a good way to keep us together without asking anyone to give up where they feel at home."
"I'm going upstairs," she said when she finished her food. She checked the time. "I'll come down when the rest of the fam jam gets home."
She went upstairs and gathered her notes for Cedric's ring. She already created the stones. She thought he would like how beautiful alexandrite was and how it never looked the same in any given light. Circle cut with a magically reinforced moonstone on either side. She planned to go with a bypass shape for the ring. Something thin, sleek, but made of a metal sturdy enough to not break if he forgot to take it off before he got to work. Juana had tungsten in the workshop and she could dye it black.
If Hermione had any skill with rings, she would have made it herself.
Tía Manola would no doubt tell the entire family of her plans. Viktor would probably make it sound like she had already proposed and would in turn congratulate Cedric before Hermione could even arrange to get him to her so she could propose.
That's when a brilliant idea struck her. She would have a few weeks to fine-tune it while the ring was made.
The next day, after her appointment, she sealed everything in an envelope and then put that envelope in a second envelope before giving it to Stephen and sending him on the journey to D.R..
As he flew away, an official looking owl landed on the perch. It dropped a letter and left.
Hermione looked at the seal and sighed, opening the letter.
To Miss Herminia Juana Kamalei Lotulelei-Sanchez y Granger,
Your hearing has been scheduled for May 2nd, 1999 at 8 am. This is to decide if you will go to trial for breaking the Statute of Secrecy and will not determine a punishment at this time. Please arrive promptly with your defense ready.
Sincerely,
Matilda Grimblehawk
Statute of Secrecy Task Force (Great Britain Division)
Hermione frowned and went to the IMNs on her desk in her room.
Shaylyn, is Matilda Grimblehawk one of ours or one of theirs?
Shaylyn answered fairly quickly.
One of ours, she keeps a log of every time the Death Eaters attack the Muggles so when the war ends indictments can be issued properly and no one can hide behind the imperius curse. Why do you ask?
She's part of my hearing.
Be careful. Not all members of the task force are on our side.
Hermione was afraid of that. If any of them had a Dark Mark she may be able to expose them.
She'd have to be prepared to make an escape.
A backup plan was made, but she knew Jin-Yung was a good lawyer. Hermione just needed to be prepared for all options.
May 2nd arrived and Hermione half-expected some nonsense like what happened at Harry's hearing a few years back.
But it didn't (yet) and she was sitting next to her lawyer in a massive meeting room for the International Confederation of Wizards. She still felt like a fish in a bowl, but she remained composed and adjusted the crystal she was using to record the process. This wasn't her first rodeo and she had come prepared. Her mind was strong and her physical injuries were healed (though she was riddled with battle scars no amount of makeup could hide) but she was going to need three days to recover from the stress of the trial regardless.
The Supreme Mugwump, a wizard by the surname Akingbade, stood up.
"Thank you for gathering today," he said. "We are here for the hearing of Herminia Lotulelei-Sanchez y Granger, Grand Sorceress, for the crime of breaking the Statute of Secrecy on a worldwide scale."
While he droned on for a bit, Hermione scanned the room. The Great Britain Statute of Secrecy Task Force was there as well as Pius Thicknese, the Minister for Magic. None of them had Dark Marks, but that didn't mean anything.
Many members of the I.C.W. took turns to discuss why they were there and the history of magic-kind and why it was so important for them to remain hidden from the world.
"Does the Defense have anything to say?" Akingbade asked.
Jin-Yung stood up.
"Ladies and Gentleman of the I.C.W., my client does admit to consenting to an interview to Non-Magic press and in this interview she does give some detail to the magical world. However, there has been very little backlash from the Non-Magic community. For five months there have been think-pieces and discussions with very little action. It appears the entire world has chalked up Miss Sanchez's interview as a hoax, which is the best possible outcome. You may ask why my client felt the need to do this at all and the answer is simple: to make all of you pay attention. So she could stand before you today and plea for aid against the Death Eaters wreaking havoc across the country she has called home for fifteen years."
"If I may," Thicknese interrupted. "Miss Granger has been a scourge to Great Britain for years now. She's always causing a stir of some sort or other and she was simply blowing this unpleasantness out of proportion. She is a criminal. She has broken into the Ministry of Magic, she had robbed trains, she has murdered members of government! However, there is no need to trouble all of you any further. Simply turn Miss Granger over to me and we will handle her quietly."
"Just as you have handled those Death Eaters who have been openly causing destruction for the past several years?" Jin-Yung countered. "You can't keep blaming broken bridges and giant attacks on weather! People are being murdered in their homes, entire streets and buildings blown up and they're stupid enough to leave their calling card after each one! And my client is the one who is standing here before you all today! We have compiled evidence that whether or not she was there, this footage would have made the news and we have proof that thanks to Miss Sanchez's interview the world believes it is a hoax and are not going into a frenzy of conspiracy!"
She held up the video tape.
"If I may have permission to show you all," she said.
"I'll allow it," said Akingbade.
Hermione stood and set up the video on a projector.
First it played the newsreel footage of that day, followed by many, many, many think pieces and talk shows discussing it and clippings from news articles. They all seemed uncertain of what was actually going on, but were willing to believe the magic thing was a hoax and that a terrorist organization by the name of the Death Eaters was behind all the death and destruction and that an underground resistance group called the Weather was fighting against them. The things caught on tape were just a way to get everyone to pay attention, nothing more. Simple special effects.
Further proof was needed before they would acknowledge the existence of magic.
"That still does not negate the fact that you gave an interview!" one witch protested. "I want to hear what you have to say to defend yourself!"
Cries of agreement rose up.
Hermione looked at Jin-Yung, who nodded, and stood up, moving to the center to address the room.
"Yes, I gave an interview," said Hermione. "But I didn't know how else to get your attention. People are dying. I have begged and begged for assistance! For sanctuary! For help! And all I get in return is rejection! Sorry about those orphaned children, we just don't have the resources to spare to take care of them! Oh, Tom Riddle is your problem, he hasn't pushed our borders an inch! Well, you're going to listen to me today and if you reject me, you have to look me in the eye and do it! All of you are sitting here comfortably in your tower above it all and seem to think that Tom Marvolo Riddle is going to be satisfied once he has the British Isles conquered! He has already collected aid from outside the country and NONE OF YOU CARE!
"Since I was twelve, I have been fighting back against that murderer!" She nodded at Jin-Yung and the tape moved forward showing the death and destruction caused at the hands of Voldemort.
"Turn that off!" Thicknese shouted. "Shut her up! She's mad! This is none of her business!"
"Not my business?" Hermione laughed sardonically. "Do you listen to this man? Have you heard him say a single word against the Death Eaters since he took over for Rufus Scrimgeour? In what way is this none of my business?"
"You are not a child of prophecy," said one of the members of the Task Force.
This struck up murmurs and Hermione's rage boiled.
"So because some tart didn't predict that I would be the one to kill Tom Riddle, I'm just… what? A meddler? In the way? I should be like all of you hemming and hawing over, 'What can I do? I'm not centered around the prophecy!' Shame on you. You have no interest in changing a world you are so damn comfortable in!"
She shook her head in disgust.
"Fine, if it's a child of prophecy you want then it's a child of prophecy you get!"
"Calling in Harry Potter, child of prophecy," said Jin-Yung. "Along with his guardian Sirius Black and a witness to the St. Mungo's incident Ronald Weasley."
The Death Eaters in the committee looked excited. Now was the time to be careful.
The adjacent doors were opened and Harry strode into the room flanked by Sirius and Ron.
"Harry Potter," gasped Thicknese.
"Please state your name," said Akingbade.
"Haridard Jamadagni Potter," said Harry.
"And there is proof you are the child of prophecy?"
Jin-Yung opened her case and brought out the crystal ball stolen by Cedric four years ago. She held it aloft for all to see and placed it in Harry's hand.
It fogged up and Trelawney's voice echoed out.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches.. Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…"
Harry gave it back to Jin-Yung and the undercover Death Eaters looked frustrated over only hearing half the prophecy again.
"As you can see," said Jin-Yung. "This is indeed the prophecy child."
"I request permission to speak," said Harry.
"Granted," said Akingbade.
"Nia has been by my side for the past eight years," said Harry. "She was one of the first friends I'd ever made, she gave me a family when my own flesh and blood rejected me. She had looked out for me like a big sister when my life was put in danger over and over again. The power the Dark Lord knows not is her. You take her away and you are the ones interfering. And she's right, we have asked for your help time and again and this is the first time you have even acknowledged what is happening! You don't want to get involved, fine then. Don't get involved. Let Nia go and let us handle this matter like we already have been."
"Words from a child," Thicknese laughed.
"Minister, we do have rules in regards to Prophecies," said Akingbade.
"This is preposterous, she is a menace to society!"
"Menaces don't typically earn Order of Merlins," said Sirius. "It is thanks to her that my name was cleared and the true murderer of my best friend was brought to justice."
The Minister to Brazil stood.
"If I may, when she attended Castelobruxo we did have her expelled due to the waves she made with her Society for the Advancement of Magical Beings. However, the programs created for were-creatures have been effective and attacks have decreased. We have also seen benefits by having ambassadors for several Magical Being communities working with our government."
The arguments began. Hermione had said her piece and so she sat down and mostly tuned them out. They argued over whether the broken Statute was really that serious and had any negative impact, if Hermione should be made an example of, if Harry was speaking the truth about her importance to the prophecy, if she was a true danger to society, if they should actually intervene to prevent her from breaking any international laws again, if she should be brought to trial anyway.
Thankfully Jin-Yung was there to steer them back to the official charges. Should she be punished for breaking the Statute of Secrecy?
The issue was that it was too complex for there to really be one good answer. If they decided she would go to trial, she would have to escape and become a fugitive. If they decided Thicknese and his goons had to be the ones to handle her they'd be signing her death warrant.
It wasn't January, she wasn't protected by the confines of her curse.
Hermione glanced over at Thicknese and saw him poke one of the neutral committee members with his wand. The wizard drew his own.
"GET DOWN!" Hermione shouted and ran for the Supreme Mugwump.
"Avada Kedavra!"