Hello, this is posted earlish because my youngest's birthday and she wants to get her ears pierced. I have no idea how long that is going to take.
Chapter 31 Confessions
Sunday morning the wizarding world woke to the news Mrs. Ronald Weasley appeared to be a serial cheater. Ron kept Veronica distracted from the paper. Not a difficult task. She'd spent the morning prattling about some gossip or other that she'd heard. And wondering whether the next baby should be a girl or a boy. Never having been a great actor, Ron marveled at her inability to notice that while he suggested sending Hugo off for couple time he'd barely spoke to her or attempted to initiate sex. "Are you ready?"
"Just about, love," Veronica smiled at him adoringly. Her near slip at the weddings gave her a dose of reality. Just how easily she could destroy the perks she enjoyed in an instant. She couldn't risk such a thing unless it is something better and a done deal. "There, I'm ready." They flooed to the Burrow. Veronica greeted her in-laws. "Where's Hugo?" she asked looking around.
"Andromeda invited him to a play date with all the littles. Suggested we could have an adult meal," Molly smiled. She'd been worried about her youngest son since just before Percy's wedding.
Arthur grinned at him, "Come on in. Everyone should be here soon. Just about to go hunting the paper. Must have misplaced it tidying up after breakfast."
Ron's siblings and their partners staggered in over the next hour. Arthur never found his paper. Mostly, because Harry asked Kreacher to hide it. But judging by their expressions: Bill, Percy, and their wives had. Hermione caught their eyes and shook her head and looked at Ron. They nodded their understanding. While lunch finished baking, Audrey and Fred's girlfriend, Fiona, served drinks.
Arthur finally located his copy of the Daily Prophet a bit after they began with the drinks. "Oh, my." He looked at his son who sadly shrugged. "Does everyone else know?"
"Know what?" asked George looking between the two.
"That my wife is a thief, a liar, and a cheat," Ron growled.
"Ron, I," Veronica startled confused.
"Can explain?" he shot back. He showed the rest of the room the headline. "Go ahead, start at the beginning and explain all about what you've done."
Veronica's eyes glazed slightly and her chin rose a fraction. "I used luck potions, fertility potions, and charisma potions to get you to pay attention to me and get pregnant. I followed you for months until you were drinking alone. I waited until you were well and truly pissed and started seducing you. Thanks to the potions you came along quite willingly." She ignored, or didn't notice, the stunned stares as she recounted the events.
"I admit surprise that you immediately ran home in horror to confess, and even more that she forgive you. But the luck and fertility potions did their jobs. Once I know I was pregnant I found you and gave you my ultimatum: my son or your infertile shrew." She paused, "Turns out she's not so infertile. But too late, you're mine now." She smirked, "The only fly in the ointment was Hermione's refusal to slunk off in defeat. Regardless of the slight, the oversight, the insult, there she stayed on the edges a sad little sack only acknowledged when someone needed something. Pathetic really." The Weasley family shifted awkwardly all feeling various levels of embarrassment for their parts.
"Thanks to the potions you doted on me. Let me buy what I wanted. Everyone called me your true love. Probably because no one ever told the truth about how you cheated on Hermione with me. And chose to be with me. All the public knew was I was in and she was out. It worked out pretty good. Would have been better if she hadn't demanded her money out of the flat. Rather selfish and tacky, really. You needed it to look after your new family. But, no, it was hers," Veronica whined the last.
At this point everyone else looked at one another the shock settling in. The twins eyed each other with interest and a little guilt. Heedless of their reactions, Veronica kept talking, "But my plans worked. Some more charisma potion and your friends and family shunned the prude and befriended me. Then once again, Hermione had to be a selfish cunt. She refused to take Ron with her to the Enclave to be blessed. Even after I wasn't the only one to insist and wasted my last luck potion when he entered his name. Suddenly, Hermione stood up for herself. And ruined everything."
Veronica began to pace as she ranted, "That blessing would have brought us prosperity, wealth, and fame. But, no, Ron couldn't have any. Not even after she got back. Nothing for one of her oldest friends, disgusting. Then she turned Harry against Ginny. She spent just as much time with Harry as I did Ron. But Hermione convinced him it wasn't enough. Ginny wanted him back so I suggested she pretend to date Jeffery to make Harry jealous. It kept him from constantly making goo goo eyes at me. I told him years ago, he was fit as hell but flat broke and a nobody. I have no intention of ever working and I wanted to be famous. I wanted it more than anything and I got it. Then Ginny had to suggest they try dating for real, or at least hooking up." Veronica's face twisted. Her voice changed, hardened, "I thought another baby would shift the attention back onto me. Where is belonged, on blood relation not some pathetic hanger on. But no matter how much fertility magic I used, nothing, just a few false alarms. Ron spoke spoke of wanting a big family. And I'm stuck with one brat while she has five! Where is the fairness in that?" She flung her arms wide and stomped her foot. "Then Ginny cut Jeffery off. He tried to blackmail me. I tried to erase his memories of the things he wanted to use. But something went wrong and I erased all his memories. I covered it up by pretending someone attacked me. Which made Ron lose the plot and quit his high paying job to be a glorified stock boy for his brothers," she spat out. "We went from comfortable to barely making ends meet." She grimaced, "I had to stop getting take away every night and had to cook to help stretch food. The ingrate starting arguing with me and making demands. Affording those stupid weddings completely broke us."
Veronica's face softened briefly, "At the bar after the rehearsals a handsome muggle hit on me. I didn't accept his offer, but I didn't refuse it out of hand either. He kissed me during breakfast and proposed a time and place to met later. I fed Hugo a baby dose of sleeping potion. I planned to use his sleepiness as an excuse to slip off later. If I decided to, that is. But I did not. The whole thing made me realize I would be putting everything I have in jeopardy. Ron might not have the money, but his name still attracts attention and opens doors." She stopped talking.
The rest of the family stared at one another in horror, silent and motionless. Hermione surged forward and before anyone could move to stop her she punched Veronica in the face, twice. "That is for everyone present. The only person with more of a right to do that is Ron, and that is just barely."
Ron stood blinking away the brain fog, "I gave up a job I loved to keep you safe from yourself?" he seethed.
"I never told you to. I begged you not to. But did you listen to me? No!" she shouted.
Harry stood and fiddled with a thin band on his wrist, "I would apologize to Ron for this, but I'm doing him a favor. Veronica Weasley, you are under arrest for the magical assault, giving false report, improper magical manipulation, and impeding a criminal investigation." He looked at Molly and Arthur. "Back up will be here momentarily." They nodded still looking shocked.
A polite knock on the front door broke the silence. Harry admitted the aurors and explained Veronica's confession. They escorted Veronica from the Burrow, weeping loudly. Molly sprang into caregiver mode and began serving food. Fleur assisted her and Fiona offered more drinks.
Ron wandered into the kitchen and sat at the table, "What just happened? I mean, I know what, by how?"
The twins settled across from him, "We, uh, may have had an unwitting part in this. We spiked her drink with Babbling Beverage mixed with a new potion that compels you to answer any question as honestly as you can. Once you start you can't stop yourself until you give a full answer. We had no idea you were mid-fight."
Fred nodded, "Never dreamed she's confess all of that."
"Not you guys' fault. You had no way of knowing. Could have ended up a harmless prank. Fuck, I didn't even know. What do I do now?"
His father sat next to him, "What do you want to do?"
"Grab my son, change our names, and make a run for it."
"You could do the first and last very easily. But is that really what you want?" Arthur prodded.
"No, I want to make sure Hugo is mine not Jeffery's and leave her in the dust."
"We will be here for you while you do that. What about sharing parenting?"
Ron snorted, "By the time she gets out of Azkaban he won't remember her. And we'll have been divorced for quite some time. Because I do want that."
Marcus spoke up, "I know a great divorce solicitor."
"Thanks, mate," Ron looked down at the table again. "Can Hugo and I stay here? I don't want to be alone or risk seeing her."
"Of course," soothed Molly, "as long as you need. We can fix up Percy's old room for Hugo."
Audrey frowned, "Would you like is to park up her things and seal the flat?" Ron looked at her, "My friend's ex cleaned out everything of value. His family helped, and it seems to me Veronica's family would help her."
"Thanks, that would be great."
Angelina, Fleur, Malin, Fiona, Hermione, and Marcus joined Audrey. While not a blood Weasley, Hermione encouraged Harry to stay behind. She shook her head when she lowered the wards. "I should have known back then. The letter didn't get past the wards because there was no dangerous letter to begin with."
Angelina snorted, "I cannot believe you're here helping with this."
Hermione shrugged, "This all blew up in his cheating face. I have everything we wanted and more. Why should I be petty now?"
"And a better partner," chimed in Marcus.
"Yes, that was the more part. Do keep up. Though, I have gotten some shots in. Though a life well lived can be the best revenge."
"You are not wrong," said Fiona. "How do we want to do this?"
Marcus took charge, "I'm going to create boxes out of her tacky decorations. You ladies will fill them. Hermione will sit her and remove the old wards and create new ones and locking everything down." His wife eyed him suspiciously. "Yes, you're sitting because you are three months pregnant. You are doing the wards because you're the best at them."
"Yeah," teased Malin, "You're more than just a pretty face." They laughed.
Angelina eyed the sixteen boxes of clothes with disgust. "She filled both closets in the master bedroom and the guest room. Who needs this much clothing?"
"She blew through all of his savings shopping," supplied Malin.
Audrey packed bags for Ron and Hugo, "They shouldn't have to come back before they're ready to."
Marcus shrank the boxes and combined them in one bigger boxes, "Any ideas where to store this?"
"I suppose at the Burrow, in the attic maybe?" suggested Audrey.
"Easily accessible when her family requests them," agreed Hermione.
"Very sensible," Angelina gave one firm nod. "I think this is everything.
Malin flicked her wand, "Accio Veronica's belongings."
"Why didn't we think of that an hour ago?" whispered Fiona.
"No clue," answered Angelina.
A few potion vials flew in from the kitchen. Hermione examined them. "Charisma potion. Why didn't she throw these out?"
"Because she's an idiot," Angelina rolled her eyes. "Let's go." The exited the flat and Hermione sealed it. The group returned to the Burrow.
Fred and George pressured Ron into taking at least a week of paid leave. They reminded him he needed to get Hugo settled and start legal proceedings. The first thing Sadie Babbcock did was file for separation. "We need to prevent further victims coming after you. And to keep her from demanding you pay for her defense. Now, what assets did she assist you to purchase?"
"Uh, none of them. She's never held a job, before we married or after. She stayed home with Hugo and spent my money. Like all of my money."
"So, you used your money before the wedding to buy out Hermione and then paid all of the expenses?"
"Correct."
"Excellent. My plan is to try and prevent her getting a big settlement or alimony based on her deceit in beginning the relationship and her ultimatums forcing it. Long shot, I admit, but it seems like she got her "share" of your assets all ready. Now, custody?"
"She admitted to drugging our toddler's food so she could slip off for adult time with another man. Whether she actual went or not doesn't matter. She endangered our son's health so she could have a good time. If she avoids prison time, or until her trial, supervised visitation only. After her threats to vanish with him, I don't trust her to not kidnap him in hopes of getting out of this. If she doesn't we can discuss it after her sentence." Sadie gave him a nod. "I want to be as done with her as I can be."
"I'll do my best," his solicitor promised.
On her part, Veronica's family attempted to convince Ron to reconcile. Once he provided enough evidence of her misdeeds she backed off. Veronica's barrister, Dennis Collins, cautioned her to consider where her money would be best spent. They could fight Ron, or rather Sadie, but could lose her criminal case. She agreed to Ron's terms: no settlement or alimony, but also no child support. Supervised visitation only until Hugo was older, or to be determined after any sentence was served. She retained any personal items from the marriage, but Ron kept the flat and as he bought out Hermione without monetary assistance he did not have to buy her out.
Her mother pointed out she could always demand that the divorce settlement be reopened after her innocence was proven citing pressure from the trial to settle. The one thing she asked for was to keep the Weasley name, her son's last name. Ron saw no reason to refuse.