A/N: No good, true excuse this time (though I'm sure I could come up with a few fibbers *wink*). I was more than lazy, but I don't know if there is a word to describe that. So here be the last chapter of Private Justice, so I shall not be crying into my pillow tonight. More notes to come at the end.
Jennifer, thanks so much for the beta work here
**********
At the sound of the gunshot, Hermione threw herself up against the wall, screaming. All reasoning seemed to have gone out of her at that moment as she sank to the floor, her head in her hands. All she could think about was Harry was lying on the floor, dead, at the hands of Percy Weasley.
If that was the case, she didn't care about anything anymore. Percy could come and kill her now, and she wouldn't complain. At least she would be reunited with Harry.
She heard footsteps running to her, and composed her strength to face what was about to happen…
"Hermione!"
Her screaming stopped at the sound of Harry's voice. Still trembling, she lifted her head up to see Harry almost before her. The relief she was feeling was so strong, she felt she could faint at any moment.
Sobs spilled out as Harry reached her and gathered her in his arms. She clung on to him and cried into his shoulders.
"It's okay," he whispered into her ears. "He can't hurt you anymore."
She then heard the sounds of running all around her. She heard the yelling of Aurors who were looking over Percy's body, proclaiming that he was dead.
Harry kept reassuring her that everything was going to be all right, and though she believed him, she couldn't stop the tears.
As the moments went by, Hermione saw that Harry hadn't left her yet. He was still holding on to her.
She could stop the tears now. Things were just getting better.
**********
Back at the Auror department, Ron couldn't believe his ears as he heard Terry tell him about Percy.
"You guys can't be…Do you all think it's funny to accuse all the Weasley's for this crime?" he yelled.
"He's dead, Ron," Terry stated quietly.
All air was sucked out of Ron. Percy's dead? "No…"
"He tried to kill Hermione tonight. He took her to Salidays where Ginny was to kill them both. Harry got up there and…you know…"
Ron took a deep breath. Terry then told him everything-about Penelope to what was upstairs in Percy's attic. Ron wasn't so sure if he could deal with this right now…He needed out.
"Am I free to go then?" he said with anger.
Terry nodded. "No hard feelings, right Ron? We were all desperate-"
"Whatever Terry," Ron snapped as he made his way out the door. "Right now, I'm sick and tired of listening to all your crap."
**********
Lavender waited at the Ministry fountain for Ron. She felt that she could cry forever after everything that happened in the past few weeks. Knowing that Percy was dead gave her a comforting feeling at first, but then it made her feel even more horrible, since she had known Percy for so long.
She turned around at the sound of footsteps and at the sight of Ron, her stomach still had butterflies. "I'm glad to see you're out."
Without saying anything, he brushed past her and stood in front of the fountain, hands in jeans. He stood there staring, almost not even acknowledging that Lavender was there.
Blinking with confusion, and slight disappointment, she walked up to him slowly. "Ron?"
He didn't answer, so at first she thought he hadn't heard her, so she tried again. "Ron, why are yo-"
"They all betrayed me," Ron finally said bitterly. "Every one of them. They were supposed to be my friends."
"I know, Ron. I know."
"And now they expect me to just forget it ever happened… to forget that they all thought I was capable…" his voice drifted with hurt and anger.
Lavender gave out a heavy sigh. It was hard to see both sides of the story. "Ron, put yourself in their shoes. They were freaked out."
"It's not like we haven't had freaky times like this before. And I wouldn't have ever expected Terry, Fred, and especially Harry and Hermione," he said as he finally turned to look at her.
"Would you have expected Percy?" Lavender asked quietly.
Ron grew quiet and turned back to the fountain. This was all just too much. Too much betrayal, anger, confusion…
Lavender came up and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know you're angry Ron, and you have every right to be. But nothing made sense this time…they panicked."
"Well, you didn't think I was guilty."
"There wasn't any reason to think you were."
Ron sighed with resentment. "Harry and Hermione did."
"But they really didn't," Lavender defended. "They were so lost, and confused."
He gave a weary smile. "There's no point trying to defend them. They doubted and you didn't. And I want to thank you for that."
"I'm a good judge of character," she replied softly, going slightly red for Merlin knows why.
Ron started walking backwards and after he was a few feet behind Lavender, he just looked at her. Lavender bit her lip, getting uncomfortable until he spoke.
"When this is all over," he said, suddenly getting nervous. "I mean, when everything's cooled down…doyouwanttohavedinnerwithmenextweekorso?"
She blinked. "Come again?" But did he just say what I think he just said?
He swallowed. "I said, do you want to have dinner with me? Maybe next week?" He held his breath as he waited for the answer.
He did just say it! Lavender could have broken out into song right then and there. Instead, she broke out into a warm smile. "Yeah, I'd love too."
He sighed with relief and broke out into his own smile. "Well…good. I'll let you know when."
With one last smile, he turned and walked away and out of sight. But Lavender just felt like standing there forever. "I'll be waiting, Ronald Weasley."
**********
It was all over the Wizarding Community for the next few weeks about Percy Weasley, and how it seemed he had gone crazy. People were able to start thinking reasonably again, and the tension that was once there was fading away.
Ginny was out of the hospital three weeks after her brother's death, after recovery and some rehab. She seemed more upset and affected by the knowing the murderer was Percy than her brothers were, but she had been able to let go of most of her anger as the time went by.
Since the Head of the Auror Department was now dead, Minister Bones had asked Fred to take the job.
"Oh no, thank you Minister, but I'd rather not," Fred had said hastily.
"But you'd be great. Everyone thinks so," Bones had replied back.
Then Fred had smiled. "Maybe, but I just want to get back to my joke shop. You'll find someone else for this job."
The job then was ultimately offered to Terry Boot, who accepted eagerly.
**********
Ginny opened the door of her house and a huge smile broke out onto her face. "Ron!"
Her brother's grin matched hers. "Glad to see you up and about," he said as he swooped her up in a hug.
"Same here. I'm sick of the bed right now," she said with a laugh.
Ginny led Ron over to the sofa. "So, how are things going?" she asked.
Ron shrugged. "As well as can be expected. I changed my hours at the department, so right now I'm working more at night."
She glanced down at her hands before asking the next question. "And have you talked to Harry and Hermione?"
She felt her brother's body go stiff and he didn't answer. "Come on Ron, you need to talk to them."
"There's nothing to talk about," came the gruff reply.
"Yes there is," Ginny argued back. "You can't throw away your friendship over this."
"Over this?" Ron got up and glared down at his sister. "They betrayed me. The actually thought that I was trying to kill Hermione. How can I just forgive them for that?"
"Because they're your best friends! You would have done the same thing had you been in their places."
"Oh, don't turn this around and try and put blame on me," he said angrily. "Our oh-so-important friendship apparently wasn't enough for them."
"You just don't understand," Ginny said, trying to stay calm, but found herself getting angry as well. Why couldn't he understand?
"I don't?" he asked sarcastically.
"No you don't." Ginny didn't want to bring back past situations, but she found she had little choice. "What about that time when you were at Hogwarts, in your fourth year? When you and everyone else believed that Harry had entered his name in the Goblet of Fire. You betrayed him there. He lost his best friend because you wouldn't believe him."
Ron turned away, hoping that Ginny would stop talking, but she didn't. "Hermione had tried to make you see that time, but you wouldn't, and now I'm in her place. And when you finally went to Harry to apologize, did he turn you away and have a pity party for himself? No, he forgave you. And you want to know why?"
Ron didn't answer. He hated being reminded of that incident. Ginny kept on talking. "He forgave you because you're his friend, and just maybe he understood where you were coming from. Just maybe he understood why you doubted him. And just maybe you could do the same for him."
Ron thought back to the look on Harry's face when he had apologized. Harry looked so happy, and even relieved. And he thought back to his face that night at the Ministry. He remembered how Harry and Hermione had looked so confused with what everyone was saying, and how weary they looked.
Did he really want their friendship to scatter away? He knew Harry had been trying to talk to him and apologize.
But don't I have the right to be hurt and angry? He tried to keep that as justification for his actions, but did he really want to be angry with his two best friends? Was that really what he wanted?
"Just think about it, okay Ron?" Ginny asked behind him, almost as if she were pleading. "Too many things have been ruined in our lives for another bad thing to happen."
He turned to look at her. "Do you think about him a lot?"
She looked down at he hands, not wanting to start crying. "Sometimes. I guess I think about how maybe I could have sensed something was wrong, and maybe even helped him…"
"Hey…" Ron put his arms around her. "This wasn't your fault."
"But I could have done something!" she exclaimed, tears taking control.
"Ginny, listen," he said sternly, yet calmly. "This wasn't any of our faults, okay? Percy became sick, and there was nothing we could do. Don't do this to yourself."
She took a few deep breaths, nodding. "I know. It's just so hard."
Ron gave her an encouraging smile. "We'll get through this. We always have before."
She smiled back to let her know she'd be alright. "Thanks Ron," she said as she hugged him.
"Thank you, Ginny."
**********
The Memorial Service at Hogwarts for all three victims was held the next week, and it would be a time for everyone to finally come together to finish all the healing.
Hermione walked up to Harry and took a hold of his hand. "Have you seen him yet?"
Harry shook his head. "No. I don't even know if he's coming."
She frowned. "I don't think Ron would miss this. I'm sure he'll come," she said, giving his hand a squeeze.
Harry's eyes roamed around the Great Hall, hoping to see his red haired best friend. His eyes caught Ginny and Draco laughing over something with Remus, and Minister Bones sitting down at the table talking to one of his advisors. But no Ron…
"Come on Harry," Hermione whispered in his ears. "They're about to start."
Harry looked behind him towards the door. Come Ron. Just talk to me.
**********
Ron stood outside of the Great Hall doors, debating on whether or not he really wanted to go in. What was going on in there was the cause of all the anger he was having now.
He had thought a lot about what Ginny had told him, and though he didn't want to admit it, he knew she was right. He shouldn't have stayed angry with Harry or Hermione like he did. He didn't want to anymore. It didn't do him any good. But going through those doors was harder than he had originally thought.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Weasley," a deep voice said behind him.
Ron spun around to face his old Headmaster, Dumbledore "Hello, Headmaster. Why aren't you inside?"
"I could ask you the same question," Dumbledore replied with a smile.
Ron looked at the doors. "I want to, but for some reason, I can't."
"Does this have something to do with a certain married couple inside?"
Bloody hell, I still don't understand how he knows all this stuff. "Well, that was the reason, but now…going in there is facing the reality of it all. It's like the final plunge. Everything did happen…"
"And you don't want to face it all yet," Dumbledore finished, nodding.
Ron sent him a sheepish smile. "Sounds childish, doesn't it?"
"Not at all. We're all human, and those are human tendencies." Dumbledore took a step closer to the door. "You and your friends have gone through a lot of trials in your life, but it's those trials that make you who you're supposed to be. There's nothing wrong with not wanting to face reality. But there does come a time when you need to accept life the way it is, and take past experiences and learn from them. Denying what has really happened and living in the past could destroy you and the people around you."
Ron sighed. Let it all go Weasley. He's right, Ginny's right. Lavender's right. You'll regret this if you don't.
Dumbledore smiled. "Now I think there a few someones in there that want to talk too."
**********
The traffic in the Great Hall as the people were leaving was heavy, but Ron pushed his way through it to find Harry and Hermione.
He saw them getting up from their seats, Hermione putting her jacket on. Taking a deep breath, he made his way over to them.
Hermione saw him first and her breath almost got caught in her throat. Reaching her hand down, she gently shoved Harry, causing her husband to look up too.
Harry stood up and the two of them just looked at each other for what seemed like the longest time. Harry had come up with a whole speech about what he was going to say if ever given the chance, but now facing Ron, he forgot what he had planned to say.
Ron looked down at the ground before walking up quickly and gave Harry a tight hug, which Harry greatly returned. Hermione smiled at the exchange, and almost choked up when Ron came up to her and hugged her as well.
"Sorry for being such a git," he said when they separated.
"Well, I don't really blame you for it," Hermione admitted, wiping at her eyes.
"You know how I am with situations like we had," Ron said.
"Don't worry about it," Harry said. "It's over now." He took a hold of Hermione's hand. "We're all starting over again."
Ron grinned at the two of them as they looked at each other. He turned his head slightly to the right and caught the gaze of Lavender, smiling at him. "I'll be right back, you two," he said.
He walked over to Lavender and surprised her when he took her in his arms and hugged her. "What was that for?" she asked, a blush creeping onto her face.
"For everything." Ron took her hand. "So, how about that dinner you promised?"
Lavender grinned. "I'm still waiting for you."
"Well then, Miss Brown. The waiting is over."
**********
~~Six years later~~
"Johnny, put that vase down, you'll end up dropping it and have glass all around you!" Hermione Potter scolded her four and a half year old son.
Her son stopped abruptly, and gently placed the vase down onto the floor. He then waddled over to his mother and plopped down onto the floor, looking up at her with his "Sorry, Mum" expression on his face.
She laughed despite herself and bent over to pick him up. "Mummy doesn't mean to yell at you, but you can't pick up the vase. Okay?"
He nodded and then let out a yawn, leaning down onto Hermione's shoulder. She kept him in her arms for a few more minutes, letting him fall asleep before she carried him over to his room and laid him down in bed.
She sat staring at him, marveling on how much he looked like Harry. Every day she seemed to grow more and more amazed at her life and how her two children were growing up.
There was Maddy, her two-year-old daughter, who resembled more of her than Harry. She had always wondered if she would ever become a mother, and now that she had been for almost five years, it sometimes didn't seem real.
Hermione heard the front door open and close. "I'm home," Harry called.
She slid out of Johnny's room and into the hall where Harry met her. "Shh, the kids are sleeping," she whispered right before he kissed her.
"Oh they are?" he breathed into her ear, making her shiver, knowing what he meant.
"Not now, Harry," she replied, almost giggling at his downcast expression. "How was your day?"
He grunted. "I'm just glad these long hours are ending the end of this week. I'm looking forward to eating a home cooked dinner again."
"I'll make sure I cook something extra special then," she commented, grinning.
"Did you hear about Lavender yet?" Harry asked as he walked into their bedroom.
"Something happened? Is she okay?" Hermione asked, alarmed.
He laughed. "Well, I think she's alright. She might be throwing up for a while, you know, morning sickness and things like that."
Hermione's mouth opened and she almost screamed. "She's pregnant?"
"Yep."
Hermione was so happy she started jumping up and down like a little girl, but stopped when Harry put his fingers to his lips, reminding her about their children. "That's great, she and Ron have been trying for so long now. How did Ron take it?"
"Um, well kind of like the same way as you, actually," he smirked. "He couldn't stop talking about it."
She sighed. "Oh wow…Ron's gonna be…a dad. After four years of marriage and now…"
"Yeah, and the poor kid, he wasn't even able to choose his father…hey," Harry said when Hermione threw a pillow at him.
"He'll be just fine Harry," she said, defending her friend. "You turned out alright."
He crawled over the bed to her side and pulled her down with him. "I did alright with you here," he said softly, caressing her cheek.
"You just became lucky," she joked and he smiled.
"Very lucky," he replied. "And you just might be lucky tonight yourself."
He captured her lips in a heart-stopping kiss, and they faded away into their own, secret place.
**********
A/N: Phew, and that's it; that's the end of Private Justice. *gets up on the stage* Oh you like me, you really like me *sniffles of joy* I want to thank all my readers and reviewers who stuck by this story even when it became rather depressing. I owe you all a lot, so many, many thanks! Really, you don't know how much I appreciate it all.
Now let's see…I was working on another story, but I won't be putting it up until I finish the whole thing (or at least have enough written to know how exactly it's all gonna play out). So, I don't know when or if the story will ever be shown.
A special thanks to Romy, Matt, Nitya, and Jennifer because you four know why!
And a HAPPY EARLY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!!!!
WonkyKris