Title: A Love Like No Other
Disclaimer: All things Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. or Scholastic Books
Author's Notes: The idea for this story came from Sherry's Living With the Consequences from Skywalker Story Board. I merely made changes and adaptations for the Harry Potter universe. This story was originally posted on portkey, but was removed while I worked to make edits, clean up, and create a PG-13 version of the story. Around that time the story was lost. Special thanks to Dupond, who managed to save an original copy of my story and passed it on to my patient readers. If not for him, this story would not be here today.
Chapter 1: Accusations
"Do you understand the charges leveled against you, Miss Granger?"
Hermione hated the sound of Cornelius Fudge's voice. It was both authoritative and condescending. She knew it carried an air of superiority over her and her mudblood ways. Never mind that pure-blooded wizards and witches had answered the call of the Dark Lord. That didn't matter. She was a mudblood. And she was responsible for the death of a pureblood wizard - a muggle sympathizer, perhaps, but a pureblood wizard nonetheless.
Or so the magical world thought.
The 18-year-old gave a curt nod, leveling her mahogany eyes on the panel of witches and wizards in front of her chair. Several pairs of angry eyes narrowed at her, and Hermione fought to suppress a shudder. They hated her. They really believed she had done it. Hermione Granger -- Hogwarts valedictorian and hero of the final battle with the dark wizard Voldemort. Murderer. Hermione cringed; silently wishing Albus Dumbledore was up there. She could have used a friend in the courtroom. Her eyelids fluttered shut for a moment, trying to keep the tears at bay.
She was in the basement of the Ministry of Magic, seated on a splintery wooden chair whose chains rattled every time she shifted positions. Though the courtroom was dim, she could make out the slight figures of Professor Lupin and Moody. She was silently glad for their support, especially when many so-called friends had turned their backs on her after he had died.
Try as she might to suppress it, a tear squeezed out of Hermione's right eye, sliding down her cheek. It was so hard to believe he was gone. It seemed like just yesterday she had been chastising Ronald Weasley when it came to the arduous task of finding a job in something other than professional Quidditch. Absently, she brushed her fingers over her lips. To be accused of breaking her vows as a secret keeper was bad enough … but to betray her boyfriend and his family?
Your dead boyfriend, a sinister voice in the back of her mind taunted her. A stifled sob tried to escape her throat, which Hermione stifled with a ragged hiss and a look from her attorney, who appeared more frazzled as the minutes sailed by.
"Then you do understand that should you be found guilty, the penalty shall be lifetime in Azkaban prison?" Fudge's voice broke her reverie, forcing Hermione to shove all thoughts of loss out of her mind as she focused on the seriousness of her situation.
Hermione felt an icy ball developing in the pit of her stomach … a lifetime in Azkaban. How long would it take her to go mad? A day … A week? She had enough miserable memories now to haunt her dreams forever. She forced her gaze back to Fudge's, returning a curt nod.
"Very well. How do you plead?"
Julius Mockridge, her wizard attorney, rose to his feet. Hermione fought back a look of disgust at his intimidated demeanor. Fair trial indeed, she thought.
"The defendant pleads not guilty, your Honor," Mockridge said.
There was a series of murmurs and hushed voices that erupted around the courtroom. Hermione felt the eyes of a hundred witches and wizards on her, knowing quite well that most of those stares carried malevolent intent. She'd been expected to confess quickly, express her sorrow, and suffer the consequences. Only Cornelius seemed amused at her plea of innocence. A cruel smile crossed his face, but he recovered quickly.
"Very well, Mr. Mockridge," Fudge's eyes did not once fall on Hermione's slightly downtrodden, but still-defiant stare. "Trial will be set in a month. In the meantime I believe Granger will be held at Azkaban."
"It's Miss Granger," Mockridge said evenly, his voice betraying no hint of sarcasm. He seemed to be growing a bit more confident, much to Hermione's relief. "And I would like to discuss the issue of bail."
Cornelius' eyes narrowed. "Preposterous. The defendant would simply skip town and we'd never see her again."
Mockridge cleared his throat. "I do not think so, Minister. If I recall, her wand was destroyed, leaving the only evidence against her in the testimony of Mr. Potter. You know as well as I that the Ministry has Aurors monitoring her nonstop. She is not a threat to herself or to anyone else in the magical community. She does not deserve to be treated as if she's already been convicted."
Fudge blustered, and Hermione could see his face growing red with the anger. She fought to suppress a smile. Serves him right for bringing up these false charges, she thought. An older witch to the side of Fudge leaned over and whispered something into his ear. His color immediately seemed to return to normal.
"Very well. We shall discuss this matter and render our decision in a few moments."
An impenetrable silencing charm was leveled on the bench and Hermione watched for a moment as the debate ensued and then glanced over to her attorney, who was reviewing a parchment. She allowed her gaze to drift over the courtroom. Her parents were there, chalk-faced and nervous. Hagrid sat next to them, whispering quietly under his breath to Professor McGonagall. Dumbledore was nowhere to be seen. She knew that his absence was for her benefit. He had tried to stop the proceedings but Fudge would not hear of it. The Hogwarts Headmaster had resigned his position as Chief Warlock of Wizengamot in protest.
Hermione's gaze drifted to the corner, where she saw Ginny Weasley sitting in the shadows. She felt a deep pang of regret. She knew that Ginny was the one Weasley who did not hold her responsible on some level for Ron's death. Hermione wondered if she'd ever be able to look Ginny in the eye again.
"Very well, Miss Granger."
Hermione's attention shifted to the front of the room, where Fudge bore a triumphant look on his face.
"Bail is set at 10,000 Galleons."
A gasp ran throughout the courtroom. Ten thousand Galleons! Hermione's mind tried to comprehend the number. There was no way she would be able to pay such an amount. No way would her parents be able to pay such an amount.
Hermione's breath momentarily left her body. She was going to have to go to the rotten stink hole that was Azkaban. She fought a tremble as the fingers of her right hand curled around the arm of the chair. Her lips continually mouthed the word 'No' as she shook her head, staring blankly at the bench.
"Do you wish to post bail, Miss Granger?"
Hermione stared blankly at her attorney, whose mouth had been scraping the floor as the number was read aloud. Hermione's eyes narrowed and she glared at Fudge. She had always regarded herself above truly despising another human being. Even Draco Malfoy, she had reasoned, was not worth the time or effort to hate. But at that moment, she hated Fudge with a passion.
"She will be posting bail."
The voice came from the back of the room, and all eyes turned as Harry Potter strode into the room, a sack clutched in his hand. Hermione felt her jaw drop in surprise. Harry had been avoiding her since the day Ron died. His absence had left an empty feeling in her heart. That day she had lost both of her best friends, and she was still reeling from Harry's angry betrayal.
Hermione's gaze fluttered to the bag Harry held in his left hand. It looked heavy, and for a moment Hermione wondered just what it held.
Cornelius Fudge looked enraged. "How…what…?"
Harry stepped up to the bench. His fingers deftly undid the drawstring at the top of the bag, pouring Galleons on the hard wood. Hermione's eyes widened, her jaw gaping in stunned silence. Harry handed a scroll to Cornelius Fudge, whose face was turning a deep shade of purple.
"In case you are curious," Harry's voice was loud, projecting his words above the furious rumblings of angry wizards and witches, "that letter is signed by the head of Gringotts himself. The money shall be waiting for you, wherever you would like it delivered. I just brought a small portion of it."
Fudge looked positively furious. Hermione wondered where Harry had found 10,000 galleons. Surely his parents hadn't left him that much.
And why is he helping me after he accused me of murdering Ron?
Hours seemed to pass before Fudge spoke again. "Fine," he hissed. "It doesn't matter anyways." He waved his hand dismissively, and the hearing was over.
Hermione stared widely at Harry, who looked more disheveled than in the aftermath of his battle with Lord Voldemort. It didn't seem possible that he, Ron's best friend and second secret keeper, was paying for Hermione to remain out of prison. He had been furious at her after Ron's death. Now, he simply looked tired, as if the weight of the world had been placed on his shoulders and he was unable to bear the burden.
She felt a hand on her shoulder. Julius gave her a silent nod and they slowly exited the courtroom. She'd meet up with her parents later.