It took them a day to agree upon the memories they would give Ron before he was released near the muggle police station that partnered with the DMLE. To her credit, Bella did exactly as they had discussed with only one slight modification. "A souvenir to remember our time together," she whispered to him prior to adjusting his memories. As a courtesy she left the memory of her stabbing him in the feet with her daggers. It was one of her favorite memories of their time together and thought he would benefit from being a little scared of her. Well more so than he normally was. "It's done," she told them when she came up the stairs. "I also took it upon myself to knock him out so you can transport him when he needs to go tonight," she glanced at her nephew.
"A few streets over from the precinct," he nodded.
"You'll have to featherlight him," Andy smirked, "you must have fed him good down there Bella. He's looking a little chunky."
Bell cackled, "lucky Hermione didn't come. She'd smack you for insulting him."
"How are things there?"
Bella shrugged, "better than they were. Plus, she seems to finally have realized what a waste of good oxygen that man is. When we were getting ready for bed last night," Andy's eyebrows shot up. "Yes, we shared a bed but no nothing happened. Baby steps."
"I don't need to hear about this," Teddy grimaced.
"Like I was saying," she continued, "when we were in bed she called Victoria 'that weasel girl' and I have never been prouder to call her my wife."
"Why didn't she want to come with us?"
"In case it ever gets back to this location, we thought it better not to have her magical presence anywhere near here." When they had discussed that it made sense to Bella so she didn't argue. "So you'll drop him off and place an anonymous phone call to the police. They will bring him in for holding. After the idiot boy wakes, he'll identify himself and the precinct will contact me."
"Why you, auntie?"
"I'm still the only contact the muggle police have for our department. I never changed it when I retired because what would be the fun in that for me," she laughed. "So, they will call me and I'll call Potter. Then he will be picked up by one of you and the questioning begins. I of course will be there for the event."
"Of course you wouldn't miss the fun," Andy smirked.
"Potter should've known better than to get me involved in the first place."
"Then," Teddy continued on with the plan, "Ron will confess that he left due to the pressure of keeping his daughter's attempted murder a secret."
"Precisely," Bella nodded, "then we head to Hogwarts for the second portion of Hermione's apology tour including a cameo from the headmistress and Red. Victoria gets what's coming to her and my girls get justice."
"How does it feel to be living in someone else's apology tour for once?"
"You'd think it would be a little more satisfying," Bella looked at her sister. "I just want my girls to be happy. Like I told Hermione, I don't care what happens to me."
Teddy hated when Bella would downplay her life's worth. "I care about what happens to you. I'm just sorry I didn't see this sooner."
"You are one of my most favorite people," she grabbed his hand. "Don't ever change."
"Did it feel weird seeing your old self? Grandma said I shouldn't ask but I've been dying to know."
Bella laughed when Andy smacked him on the arm, "she's something else. Thankfully the potions seem to be working and I haven't spotted her in a day. I fully expected to see her in the basement but she wasn't there."
"When are you and Hermione going to the healer?"
Bella gave her sister a look, "for someone who isn't part of my marriage you seem awfully keen on all of the details."
"You've been miserable without her whether you are witch enough to admit it or not. I just want to see you happy again. I care about you, Bella. So when do you go to the healer?"
Bella sighed. She knew her sister was only thinking about her well-being but it seemed ridiculous that she was that invested, "Hermione is setting the date."
Andy smirked, "see that wasn't so hard, was it?"
Teddy saw his aunt start to get a look in her eyes, "maybe we should get out of here before we cause a scene that brings the police by. I'll come back tonight and take him to the drop off spot and I'll see you in the office tomorrow."
"Again," Bella smiled, "being the voice of reason. Very well. I should be getting out of here. The stench of inferiority is starting to get to me."
"Let's go home," Andy followed the pair out of the house, locking it behind them. They said goodbye to Teddy as he left to go to his own flat. Andy looped her own through her sister's, "take me home."
"Remind me again why I haven't kicked you out."
Andy smirked, "I've nested."
As suspected, Bella was woken up around 6:45 by her hello phone ringing. The police chief had informed her that they picked up an unconscious man outside of their barracks. He said that man showed his wand and he was properly identified as a wizard. They have no other information as the man refused to speak with them. It doesn't seem any crimes have been committed other than public drunkenness. Bella thanked the chief and said she would get her people out to pick him up and bring him back to the Ministry. She placed a quick call to Harry to let him know the chief called and relayed the message of a man matching Weasley's description was picked up in London. He said that they would take care of it and for her to come to the Ministry around noon when they would begin questioning. "I wouldn't miss it," Bella smirked and hung up, turning to see her wife still sleeping peacefully beside her. They hadn't been intimate the previous evening or any time since that stint in the Ministry lift but it was the first time they shared a bed since the girls left for school. She felt like a blushing virgin next to Hermione. Not knowing where it was appropriate to place her hands during the night so she mostly kept to her own side of the bed.
Don't be such a prude, she scolded herself before reaching over and gently rubbing Hermione's back. She already knew she could forgive her wife for her stupid behaviors in the past however many months because Salazar knows Bella's existence ran on stupid behaviors. She was however not too confident that their youngest daughter would forgive her so readily. Her daughters were the ones really affected by Hermione's actions. There would have to be lots of groveling before Minnie even began to forgive her. Cass had forgiven Hermione months ago which Bella thought showed exceptional emotional growth and development on her part. Their daughters were a problem for tomorrow. There was another issue at hand. She rocked Hermione gently, "pet? It's showtime." The brunette turned only slightly and brought the comforter up to cover her, "they got Weasley."
That got Hermione's attention and she no longer felt tired, "did you call Harry?"
"Mmhmm," she let herself have a moment of weakness and wrapped herself around Hermione. "He said come in at noon for questioning. I suspect you should go in at your normal time so we don't raise any suspicions."
"I've missed this," Hermione snuggled back further into the front of her wife. She laced her fingers with the ones that were resting on her stomach.
Quiet surrounded the pair, Bella made no move separate herself from the other woman, "me too, pet, me too."
"Bella?" She heard a quiet hmm from the dark witch, "I am truly sorry for everything that's happened between us and our daughters this year. It was never my intention to not watch that memory. When Minerva decided the school was calling it an accident, I was stupid for just going along with it. I only wanted for Cass to get better. It never should've gotten to you compromising yourself. I am truly, truly sorry."
"I know you are," Bella squeezed her tighter. "We will work this out as a family. My soul healer is quite wonderful. A pain in my ass but she knows her stuff."
"I suppose I should get ready. Harry will probably ring me as soon as I get into the office. It's going to be a big day. Then," Hermione turned on Bella's arms, "we go to Hogwarts so I can apologize to the girls right?"
"Right and that little bitch will get exactly what's coming to her."
Bella took her time getting to the Ministry as she didn't want to appear over eager for the questioning. Truth be told she was a little nervous that she might have missed something in the memory magic performed last night. She was good at what she did but still she was only human. "All right, what do we have here?" She pushed the doors open and strolled in like any other day.
"What we have here," Kate rolled her eyes coming out of Bella's old office, "is a class A shit show."
"My favorite type of show," Bella walked right to the middle of the cubicle area and waited for Draco to stand, offering his seat. "So, is anyone going to fill me in?"
"Right," Draco began, "you already know some of it as I'm assuming the muggle police chief called you. We really need to give him one of our numbers."
"Semantics. How is the idiot?"
"Confused," Draco shrugged, "but that seems to be a constant state of being for the Weasleys."
"George and Freddy Jr excluded," Kate smirked.
"He's talking a bunch of shit about his daughter and Bella and disgracing his family's name. Though if you ask me there wasn't much there to disgrace."
"Can't argue with that," Bella cackled.
"Teddy and I picked him up this morning," Kate went on with the account. "He was speaking a lot of nonsense. We aren't even sure if there is anything to charge him with besides being a waste of human flesh who abandons his family and fucks off to get drunk."
"Has anyone notified the Minister?"
"It's weird when the two of you are at odds," Draco made a face. "Seems like the world is dark or some bullshit like that."
"So," Bella's smirk grew evil, "so I get first go at him?"
"Well," Kate folded her arms in front of her, "we've been talking about that. Do you think it's such a good idea for you to have access to him knowing your history?"
She pretended to be offended, her eyes landing on her youngest nephew, "and you too Teddy?"
"As the lowest man on the totem poll they forced me to agree with them."
Bella rolled her eyes, "I'll place nice. Swear to Salazar."
"Nobody here believes that," Kate laughed. "Tell you what. We will take turns and you can watch from the double sided mirror. If we need you to rough him up, we will let you know."
"Torture is my specialty. Especially to red headed alcoholic idiots. Honestly," she shrugged, "the muggle police should've locked his ass up and kept him there. He's a waste to the wizarding world."
"Nobody is arguing that point," Draco smirked. "I've been saying that since school. Waste of flesh, honestly. What good did he contribute to anything? I mean, I was evil but at least I participated and contributed to something."
"You sure did, Dragon," Bella patted his cheek.
"Okay," Kate tried to reign her group back in, "we need to get this together. Bella, you and Potter will be behind the two way mirror while we question Ron. Find out why that asshole left and see if there was any crime committed besides his stupidity."
"It's not like his wife was worried," Bella was examining her fingernails,unbothered. "Will Granger be joining us in the booth?"
Draco looked at his aunt, "seriously you two need to make up. I don't like this alternate reality."
Bella rolled her eyes and left the department heading to the second interrogation room behind the two way mirror. Harry was already sitting, waiting for her. "So, you've been banished to the minor leagues too?"
Harry smiled, "excellent muggle sports reference."
Bella cackled, "Jack taught me a thing or two," her smiled dropped slightly thinking about her father in law. She really did miss him. "I don't know why everyone is so worried about me interrogating Ronny boy. I'd be impartial."
"I'm guessing it's the same reason I wasn't allowed in. They think because we used to be close I'd miss something or let things go," Harry shrugged, "Ron and I haven't been that close for many years. Godric, I think I'm better friends with Draco now than anyone else."
Bella nodded, "well it's about time you realized our superior genes. Draco's a good kid. It serves you well to be friends with him."
Harry wasn't disagreeing with her. He knew that Draco proved to be a good friend and employee over the past 20 years, "I like to consider myself an honorary member of the House of Black."
Bella laughed, a genuine belly laugh, "Salazar, that was a good one, Potter."
The laughing came to an abrupt stop when Ron was brought into the room by Kate, "wait here," they heard her say. "We will be back in a few minutes." He sat and watched her exit the room. They could tell he had been sweating. He looked like complete shit. Bella had managed to heal most of his wounds except those on his feet. Still, he looked unwashed and confused.
"He looks stupid," Bella had no problem voicing all of her opinions loudly. "Can't even wash himself."
Hermione entered the room after a small knock, "did I miss anything?"
"Right on time," Harry moved over so the seat in between him and Bella was open. He noticed his friend hesitate to sit down. "They just brought him in."
Hermione nodded, sitting down next to her wife. They were still meant to be acting like they had been separated. It was Hermione's idea yet when Bella only greeted her with a tight, "Granger," it hurt her more than she expected. "How are you, Harry?"
"Could be better. Did you ever expect to see Ron in handcuffs?"
Hermione shrugged, "well out of the three of us, he did seem the most likely to end up a criminal."
Bella stifled a laugh, "been saying it for years. Inferiority runs deep."
"Bella," she turned towards her wife, "how have you been?"
Bella crossed her arms over her chest, "finally care enough to check in? Don't worry about me, Granger. Worry about the idiot behind the glass."
"Draco was right," Harry mumbled, "it's weird when you are fighting."
"22 years… it was bound to happen. Though," Bella smirked, "if I were a betting woman I'd have thought Hermione would be the one pissed off at me."
"First Granger then you called her by her first name," Harry sighed, "what is this world coming to?"
"Enough. Please."
Bella could tell Hemrione was close to tears and felt a little bad but she really did bring this on to herself, "look the fun is getting ready to begin."
"Weasley," Teddy addressed him first, "it's going to save us all a great deal of time if you just tell us what happened."
Kate laughed, stood across from the redhead, "I'll tell you what happened. The idiot boy went on another alcohol induced bender and got his stupid ass lost. Am I close?"
"Kate," Draco joined them in the interrogation room, "I know he's just a Weasley but let's not be too mean."
Another laugh from Kate, "that's rich coming from you."
"Why are there so many of you in here with me?"
Teddy shrugged, "would you rather us leave and let Aunt Bella do the questioning?"
Bella laughed, "yes, let's do that," she said as they watched from behind the two way mirror.
"No," Ron shook his head vehemently in response.
"Was Draco close in his theory?" Kate, Draco and Teddy were all standing around the opposite side of the table looking over the redhead.
"Should at least one of you be a good cop here? Look," he seemed as if he was trying to think of what to say ahead of time.
"Get on with it, Weasel. I don't have all day," Bella rolled her eyes watching the scene unfold. She felt Hermione shift uncomfortably beside her. She knew the brunette was praying she stuck to the plan and only altered the memories as previously agreed upon. "Have a little trust, pet," she whispered low enough that Harry wouldn't be able to hear.
"I didn't technically do anything wrong. I just took a trip."
"A drunken trip through London immediately after a conversation at Hogwarts clearing your daughter's name of any wrongdoing linking to the near fatal injury of another student?"
"Those events are unrelated," Ron wasn't making this easy for anyone.
"Mr. Weasley," Kate sat directly across from him, "stop bullshitting us. Just tell us where you've been and why you left and we can work something out otherwise I'm going to be forced to go get the veritaserum and nobody here wants that. Well maybe Bella but she's not here right now."
Bella had to keep her smile to herself every time the redhead flinched at the mention of her name. True she gave him new memories but she left him a few souvenirs from their time together. She didn't like the threat Kate had made though. She wasn't sure how well altered memories held up against veritaserum. "Talk you idiot," she let out a quiet huff of frustration. She felt her wife brush her knuckles against the side of her thigh to help calm her. "Potter, are you going to do anything?"
"Not yet. Give them a couple of minutes. I know he will crack."
Bella cackled, "no spine."
Teddy pulled out his hello phone, "I can text Aunt Bella right now. I'm sure she'd love nothing more than to come down here. I heard her mention a new method of extraction. Something about daggers and feet? I don't know."
Ron's face lost all of the color. That was one of the memories she left him, "no don't. Please. Don't text her. Fine. I'll talk but truly I didn't do anything to that girl."
"Cassiopeia?"
"I wasn't even there.
"Yes we know," Draco rolled his eyes. "Plus, it's not like you could actually perform any useful magic to cause harm to anyone except yourself."
Bella cackled from where they were watching, "that was a good one." They could all see Ron's face turning red at Draco's remark, "see he knows it's true."
Harry suppressed his own laugh, "you are enjoying this far too much."
"It's been a hard year Potter. I deserve this," she crossed her arms over her chest.
Ron let his head drop, "Victoria. She did it."
"And did you know this when you were at Hogwarts?" Teddy had been taking vigorous notes during the whole interrogation.
"No," he shook his head, "I swear that I did not know until after Bellatrix had left the room that my daughter actually hurt the girl."
"If you knew then," Draco crossed the back of the room like in a muggle tv show which caused Bella to chuckle again, "why didn't you speak up immediately."
"Come on man," Ron's embarrassment was coursing through him and Bella wasn't even trying to hide her joy anymore. "Don't make me say it."
Kate shrugged, standing, "that's fine Mr. Weasley. Teddy, take him to the holding cell. We don't have time for this bullshit today. We have actual crimes to solve."
"Fine," he finally seemed to concede, "I didn't say anything because I couldn't stand to be the embarrassment of my family, again."
"Again?"
"Malfoy, don't."
"Tell us Ronny Boy," Bella practically giggled knowing what was coming next.
"What did you do?" Hermione whispered sharply beside her.
"Shh, pet," Bell shushed her. "I feel like something good is about to happen."
Harry leaned further forward in his chair as if trying to get a closer look through the two way mirror, "just say it."
"Frustrating little shit isn't he? Can't believe you've been mates all these years," Bella cackled again.
"Didn't you just shush me?"
"Shh, pet. We are trying to hear," she patted Hermione on the knee.
"I didn't want to embarrass them again because everybody knows I reaped the benefits of being in the Golden Trio without contributing. Harry was the chosen one and godric knows if Hermione hadn't been around we'd have died instantly. What purpose did I serve?"
Hermione felt happiness coming from her wife knowing that she must have planted that into his memories because of course she would. Though if being honest, nothing of what he was saying was a lie. Hermione had thought this herself for years.
"I didn't think my daughter was capable of doing such a heinous act to another student."
Kate smirked, "not just any student but the daughter of the Minister for Magic and her equally high profile and terrifying wife. A woman whom I have been told you have had quite a rocky relationship with over the years."
"That has nothing to do with this."
"The same woman who married the girl you tried to court on many different occurrences," Draco added fuel to the fire.
"This has nothing to do with Bellatrix or Hermione. My daughter fucked up, I didn't want to be the embarrassment of the family again so I fucking left okay? I took the cowards way, accepted that McGonagall was on Victoria's side and I left. I've been drunk for most of the past six months. Is this what you wanted to hear?"
Teddy looked up from his notes, "it depends on if you are telling the truth."
"I swear I did not know what my daughter did before that meeting took place."
Kate looked at her colleagues, "one more questions. How did your daughter convince the headmistress that she shouldn't watch that memory? From Bella's recalling of the events in the office that day, Minerva wouldn't even entertain the idea of watching the vial. Why? From what I've heard, she's quite friendly with Bella, Hermione and their whole family even if Cassiopeia is a little shit sometimes."
He shook his head, "I've got no clue. You'll have to ask my daughter." He watched at the three of them talking quietly before they all got up to lead, "what happens now?"
Kate gave him a sympathetic smile or what Bella could assume was her best attempt at sympathy, "you'll be kept in holding until the Minister decides what she wants to do about a trial. We will need to go to Hogwarts to question your daughter. And we need to find out what happened in the office that day. After all of that, I'm assuming Hermione won't let this go to trial so it'll be up to the family how to proceed. If I know Bella, she won't go easy on your ass."
"I'll take him to the holding cell," Draco walked over, "come on mate. Don't make this harder than it needs to be. The more you cooperate, the easier they might go on you."
"I don't care about me. I don't want anything bad to happen to my daughter," he confessed.
Teddy joined Draco in his efforts, walking along the other side of Ron, "even after you realized what she did? Cass took her first steps not too long ago. I'd say at this point, you'll be lucky if Auntie Bella lets your daughter live."
The three of them sat in silence as they watched everything play out in front of them. "I don't even think I can say I'm shocked by any of that which is the most disappointing part," Harry broke the silence. "What do you want to do next, Hermione?"
She took a deep breath knowing what her next scripted line was, "I think I need to watch the memory now." She held her breath knowing what was coming next.
"Now," Bella turned so quickly it surprised both her and Harry. "After all these months you finally fucking want to watch the memory? Your daughter has been begging you and you do it now when your friend finally says his daughter was wrong? Fucking unbelievable."
Harry stood, "maybe I should give you two some time to talk things out. Bella I think whenever you guys are good, everyone in the department should see the memory as well. Then Hermione, it's up to you when we move on Hogwarts to approach Victoria, Ginny and the Headmistress." He stopped at the door looking back at his friend and mouthed, "good luck," when Bella wasn't looking.
Bella was looking anywhere but at her wife. They had just started making amends and she didn't mean to yell but the feelings were all so fresh and on the surface that she couldn't quite stop herself. She knew Hermione already felt bad for everything she put her through but that wouldn't make everything just disappear. "We really need to go to my soul healer."
Hermione let out a shakey breath, "I think that's a great idea. Bella," she turned to try to catch eyes but couldn't quite get Bella to look at her. "I'm so sorry it came down to this. I know I should've watched the memory. I have so much to apologize for to so many people. Minnie will never forgive me."
"Kate brought up an interesting point."
Hermione had not been expecting the abrupt change of topic, "which point exactly?"
"What happened in the office? Why didn't Minerva watch those memories or Red? They are our friends. It makes no sense and I don't think I put enough thought into that earlier. Well, I was busy dealing with Bellatrix but still it just doesn't make sense."
Hermione agreed, "do you think someone tampered with something in the office?"
"Too soon to speculate. So we go pressure a confession out of Victoria and snoop around Minerva's office to find out what really went down that day."
"Off to Hogwarts?"
Bella shook her head, "I want to run some things past the DMLE team first. Just to get some information out of them. Send Teddy and Draco to Hogwarts to collect some evidence from Minerva's office ahead of time. The presence of the police there might make Victoria nervous. We will go soon."
"I need to apologize to my girls."
Bella pulled Hermione into a half hug, "I know you do, pet. I'll go send Draco and Teddy with the orders so they can start collecting evidence. Give the techs a few days to process it and we can go to Hogwarts."
"Are we allowed to act civil towards each other at work? I know I messed everything up but the coldness here is killing me."
Bella seemed to think it over, "I mean we probably shouldn't fuck in your office or anything but I don't think it's out of the question to be friendly."
Hermione couldn't help the small laugh, "I think I'm good with that. I'll call the soul healer and set up an appointment for the two of us. We can go before we head to Hogwarts. I think it would be good so we go in on the same team. Don't you think so?"
Bella wanted to start the healing as soon as possible, "sounds good, love."
"I should go pretend to watch the memory," she unwillingly untangled herself from Bella's strong hold. "Let me know what Teddy and Draco find?"
Bella only nodded but a playful smile tugged at her lips, "be ready to leave at 5pm sharp, pet. I'd hate to have to carry you home over my shoulder, again."