Chapter 11: Betrayal
Hermione felt the wind being sucked out of her lungs. Ginny? No. This couldn't be…
But then why would she have admitted it?
Hermione gripped the rails that outlined her porch, feeling her knuckles turn white from the fury that was coursing through her body. Ginny had let her and her parents go through hell when she knew the entire time that Hermione hadn't done it?
Calm down, her mind admonished her as she struggled to get control of her emotions. Her eyes fluttered closed. This is Ginny. I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable explanation.
Yeah, right. And maybe Snape will don a dress and prance down Diagon Alley.
"You … killed Ron?" Hermione winced inwardly at how terse her voice sounded. Lighten up a bit. Don't scare her.
Ginny broke out into tears again, burying her face in her hands. As angry as she was, Hermione couldn't help but feel some pity for the youngest Weasley, and she hurriedly rushed her inside, settling her down in an old armchair. She woke Harry, who jerked wide awake when Hermione relayed what Ginny had said; confusion spreading across his features as he sleepily rubbed his eyes.
"Ginny?" He muttered stupidly. "No…not possible."
Hermione felt like she was in a daze as she gathered something warm for the three of them to drink. A few moments later, the three were sitting with mugs of warm tea in front of a roaring fire. Ginny was sniffling every few moments, still refusing to meet Hermione's gaze. Hermione was gripping her mug so tightly she was surprised it hadn't shattered. It'd taken a lot of her legendary self-control to keep from hexing Ginny there and then. She felt torn between her inner rage and her compassion for her friend.
"I guess…," Ginny's voice wavered slightly, "it began when Ron first got his flat in Ottery St. Catchpole."
Hermione thought back to the day Ron had told them he was getting his flat. It was just after Hogwarts had been closed due to persistent Deatheater attacks.
"But Ron, I really think you should think about this. It's not safe anywhere now. Wouldn't you rather be with your family?"
" 'Mione, my mum is driving me mad. She barely let me out of the house last summer. I can't live like that. I'm tired of living like that."
"Oh … fine, Ron. But then promise me you'll make Harry and me your secret-keepers."
"Will you quit worrying if I do?"
"Yes."
"Fine, I'll do it."
The charm had been performed that evening. Hermione and Harry were the only two who knew where Ron lived.
"Ron told me he'd made you his secret keepers," Ginny continued quietly. "I begged him to let me be one too. He didn't want to. He didn't want anyone in his family to know."
Ginny looked down, ashamed. Harry and Hermione gave each other a cursory look. Hermione couldn't decipher the look that was in Harry's eyes.
Ginny continued, her voice scarcely audible. "I asked him … I asked him how he'd feel if mum and dad got hurt, and no one could tell Ron because he was hiding. He didn't much like that idea either, so he agreed."
Her head jerked up sharply, panic evident in her features. "You've got to believe me, I didn't tell anyone. I don't know how someone found out."
Hermione frowned. If Ginny didn't tell anyone, then why did she say she killed Ron?
Harry looked seriously distraught. He can't believe what he's hearing either, Hermione thought. He must be as angry as I am.
Ginny sniffed again and continued her story. "The day of the graduation party, remember the day you graduated? Anyways, I was supposed to go help Ron clean. He was never very good at the cleaning charms, so …"
"Ginny, just get on with it," Hermione snapped impatiently. At Ginny's stricken look, Hermione softened her features. Don't scare her. She's suffered too. "Please, we just want to know what happened. It's important, Ginny."
Ginny blinked hard, tears welling in her eyes. "I arrived about an hour after the ceremony. Ron was taking a shower. I started cleaning up in the living room."
She paused for a moment, rubbing her eyes furiously. When she spoke again, it was with a detached voice. "I never saw them come up behind me. All of the sudden, it was like I wasn't myself. I … I wanted to kill Ron … I … I think it was the Imperius curse … I don't know … I mean He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was gone, right? Most of the Deatheaters were in Azkaban, right? So why would I be under the Imperius curse? I didn't understand. But I went to Ron. I found him…he was giving me a funny look when I pointed my wand at him. I…"
She said all of this very quickly, her voice breaking at the end. Hermione, her compassion overwhelming her anger, went to Ginny, giving her a tight hug.
"It's okay, Ginny. It's okay," Hermione murmured, conjuring up some tissues and handing them to Ginny. To her utter amazement, Ginny threw her arms around Hermione.
"I'm sorry 'Mione," she wailed. "I wasn't going to let you go to Azkaban. I was going to confess that I did it when Harry announced you two were married. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry…"
Hermione was silent, her mind mulling over the revelation. Someone had cast the Imperius curse on Ginny. Ginny claimed she didn't tell anyone about Ron's flat.
After getting Ginny to bed, she lay awake next to Harry, staring at the darkened ceiling.
" 'Mione?" His whisper was soft, his voice concerned. "Are you mad at what Ginny did?"
Hermione frowned. Of course she was furious about Ginny. How could she allow her to go through that? But imagine what she's been through, another voice in Hermione's mind interrupted.
But Hermione couldn't dismiss the anger that coursed through her veins.
"I'm furious. I mean, after all I went through…"
"She seemed sorry."
Hermione jerked out of his grip, staring pointedly at him. She could feel his squirm even in the darkness. "Does it make it right, though?"
Harry shook his head furiously, looking at the bed. "No…but I…I feel sorry for her."
Hermione sighed, drawing close next to Harry, her mind filled with more questions than answers.
* * *
Ginny's hearing was set for the following afternoon. Hermione felt a deep feeling of foreboding settle in her stomach as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She and Harry were attending to show their support for the youngest Weasley, who would be administered Veritaserum by the council.
Hermione closed her eyes, remembering the look of utter horror that had passed over Mrs. Weasley's face as Ginny told her story. Dumbledore had been present, as had Kingsley, Moody, and Arthur Weasley. Hermione had thought it best to include some Aurors who had experience in dealing with Dark Wizards.
"'Mione, are you ready to go?"
She glanced over her shoulder. Harry was standing there, his gaze solemn. There was a weariness in his eyes Hermione hadn't seen for a long time. He must be taking this even harder than I am, she thought. Hermione took one last look in the mirror, and gave a nod.
* * *
A few minutes later, she and Harry were sitting in the courtroom. Julius was representing Ginny, but it was widely expected that if she was telling the truth, she'd be let off.
Of course, that still left the question of who had put her under the curse.
Hermione watched quietly as Ginny relayed her story to the members of Wizengamot in a dull voice. Molly Weasley was sitting next to her, sniffling furiously. Arthur's eyes were red, as if he'd not slept in days.
Ginny relayed the same story she'd told Harry. Hermione paid close attention to Cornelius Fudge as he listened half-heartedly to her tale, casting ugly glances at Hermione every few seconds, no doubt blaming her for the loss of his position on the court.
Tiberius Ogden cleared his throat after Ginny finished, glancing at the other members of the court.
"Well," he said wearily. "I guess we can dismiss."
"Not so fast…"
Fudge's voice had a sinister air to it as he glanced at the youngest Weasley. "I have a few questions," he continued. Hermione narrowed her gaze. Fudge was up to something.
Julius cleared his throat. "This is highly unorthodox. The defendant has already been through enough…"
Fudge slammed his hand on the table. "I am the Minister of Magic and it is my prerogative to ask questions if I see fit!"
Hermione clenched her right fist so tightly her knuckles turned white. All eyes fell on Tiberius. The decision would be his.
Ogden sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Do be brief, Minister."
Fudge grinned, rising to his feet. He paced a few times back and forth across the room before resting his hands on the bench in front of Ginny.
"Did you recognize the voice that cast the curse on you, Miss Weasley?"
Ginny hesitated for a moment, the effects of the Veritaserum still strong on her. "I'm not sure."
Fudge raised an eyebrow, a triumphant smirk settling across his face. "Was it a female voice?"
There was no hesitation in Ginny's voice as she answered. "Yes."
Fudge grinned. "Very well, I am finished."
Everyone was looking at him very strangely. Fudge pulled out a wand, rapping it on the bench. Two wizards entered the courtroom immediately, and Hermione had barely turned around before she was jerked out of her chair. Her wand clattered to the ground. Hermione's eyes shot to Harry's. His eyes were wide as his hand began to make for his wand.
He'd be arrested. Hermione shook her head furiously, struggling as the wizards jerked her away from Harry's outstretched left hand.
"Harry!" Her protest and Harry's cry of anger rang out in unison. Molly gasped, and Arthur gave Cornelius a rather disdainful look.
Julius roared. "What is the meaning of this?!?"
Fudge grinned, looking at Hermione. "We had good evidence that Miss Gran…excuse me, Mrs. Potter, had committed the crime. Ginny's testimony of a female voice just confirmed it."
"You…you can't convict her. Her case was dismissed!" Tiberius Ogden's voice was barely controlled, his anger at being trumped in his own courtroom evident.
"Who said anything about conviction? Sirius Black was sent to Azkaban without a trial. Miss Granger can be too."
"NO!" Harry shouted. Hermione felt panic flood through her body. She stared at her wand, her fear spiking.
Not Azkaban. This can't be happening. No. I'm not going. Not now.
Fudge grinned at Hermione, his gaze narrowed. "Take her away."
Harry drew his wand, leveling it on Fudge's rotund face. "No! You're not taking her!"
Fear shot through Hermione's body as she watched Harry's spiteful expression. "Harry, no! Don't do this!"
Not for me.
Fudge narrowed his gaze, looking at Harry. Moody and Remus made a move to block the exit so the wizards could not take Hermione through the door. Everyone's gaze fell on Harry.
"I'm warning you, boy," Fudge snarled menacingly. "Put your wand down."
"Harry, don't do this," Remus said softly. "She won't be going to Azkaban."
If Harry heard his former professor, he made no sound. His gaze, and wand, was still leveled on Fudge.
"She didn't do it. Now let her go."
Fudge's eyes narrowed menacingly. "She was the only other one who knew about the location. Ginny already admitted she didn't tell anyone. That leaves Hermione as the obvious killer!"
Harry lowered his wand, his emerald gaze drifting to Hermione's panicked one. She saw a look of anguish, then defeat, in his eyes. His shoulders seemed to slump.
"She didn't do it, because I…I did."
Hermione felt her blood run cold. Her stomach seemed to drop through the ground.
…because I did…
Harry looked to the ground, his face filled with shame. Hermione felt her heart sink to the ground, wrenching in two. Everything seemed to disappear except for Harry, and his last words to the courtroom. Harry's eyes met hers. She sought his gaze hungrily, desperately hoping it wasn't true.
A tear slid down Harry's cheek, and at that moment Hermione knew. He wasn't lying. She felt her heart breaking as Harry uttered the next words.
"I told."