Fire and the Dragon

A/N: Time for another semi-dramatic chapter. This story is riding the rollercoaster of my pregnancy mood swings. Obviously, Hermione still has a lot of trauma to work through. Next chapter there will be a little smooching on the lips...maybe. No promises. Damn ministry, always causing discord! Anyway...results of the trial in the next chapter or so. Thanks for reading and reviewing!!!





Ch. 14 Chaos before Christmas



Hermione sat grading more potions’ papers. It seemed that the closer they got to Christmas holidays, the more homework Severus gave the poor kids. She had not seen Harry since their trip to Hogsmeade, which had resulted in a near uprising by Molly Weasley.



The woman was distressed that her grandchild would not know who she was. Hermione smoothed things over by telling her that she could be a part of the baby’s life, just as she was a part of Hermione’s. That pacified Mrs. Weasley enough to get her to back off a bit.



Hermione placed her quill on the table, cracked her neck, and looked out the window. Probably one of the last nice days of the season, and she was inside. She picked up the parchments and headed out the door, deciding to finish out by the black lake.



She walked straight into a solid surface. “OH, hello, Professor.” She smiled. He looked down at the girl; she was not going to be happy. It was no wonder Potter did not have the guts to tell her.



“Ms. Granger, if I could have a quick word?” Hermione quickly allowed him in and followed. He looked terribly distressed. “Severus, what is this all about? I have papers to finish grading.” She smirked in her best imitation of him.



“Perhaps you would like to have a seat, this is not the best of news.” He watched as she plopped down in the chair opposite himself. She looked so happy today too, damn the ministry for doing this to her.



When he was sure he had her full attention, he began to speak again. “Ms. Granger, I have recently been informed by Mr. Potter that the ministry, once again, has gone back on their promises.”



Hermione cocked her head, “I don’t follow you.” Severus sighed. “It would appear that your presence is requested on the final day of Mr. Weasley’s hearing.” Her eyes went wide with shock and anger.



“Why do I need to be there? I gave them what they wanted? I can’t be near him..no.” Severus could nearly hear her mind trying to work a way out of it.



“They require you to verify the memory that was given to them, and possibly to testify. And……” he hesitated, for this part made him as angry as it would make her afraid. She leaned in closer as she awaited the last part. “They will need you to enter the memory in order to verify that it is an accurate account.”



“NO!” she screamed as she jumped up to stand in her chair. “I won’t do it! How can they possibly expect me to do that?” Severus was attempting to coax her into sitting again, this girl was too clumsy when she was upset.



“I am afraid, Hermione, that you do not have a choice. They can make you attend. If you do not, if you decide to run, for instance, Ron will be set free.” He hissed, his face a mere inches from her own.



He could see that the young woman was on the verge of a breakdown. He grabbed her hand and pulled her down. “Look at me witch, focus. All will be well. Do I make myself clear?” She nodded her head as the adrenaline began to wear out of her system.



After a few minutes of silence, she looked into his black eyes, “Will you be there with me?” Severus contemplated the possible consequences of standing beside her. “If that is what you want. Only as an observer, however.”



The morning of her appearance, Hermione kept checking her appearance in the mirror. She wanted to look professional. She had needed to transfigure her dress, her stomach was beginning to have the slightest bulge to it. Only enough to make clothing fit strange and only enough for her to notice.



She smoothed her braid one last time and went to meet Severus and Harry at the entrance hall. Severus took one of her arms, before Harry had the chance, and apparated to the ministry. When they got to the courtroom door, Hermione stopped. This was it. The moment she had dreaded for the past two weeks. She took a deep breath, and walked through the doors.



“Ah, Ms. Granger, right on time. So pleased you could join us.” The voice of Kingsley Shaklebolt boomed through the room. Hermione looked around. Only a few people had come to attend, all of Ron’s family of course, Remus, and Tonks. Hermione gave a start when she noticed Ron in the middle of the room, surrounded by two junior aurors, he refused to look at her, keeping his eyes locked on the floor instead.



Kingsley took in the somber scene before him and turned to the other witches and wizards on the court panel. “Shall we get right to it then? Let the record show that I still do not approve of Ms. Granger being forced in.” Someone was heard scribbling notes down.



“Are you quite ready, Ms. Granger? When you have either confirmed or denied the accuracy you will be free to go.” Hermione looked to Severus who gave a short nod of encouragement before joining the Weasley’s and the Lupins. She turned to Kingsley, “Prime Minister, I am as ready as I shall ever be.”



A large pensieve was placed upon a table, the onlookers were invited to join them, and the entire procession dove head first into Hermione’s nightmare. When she opened her eyes, Hermione saw herself walking slowly along the street. Her gut clenched as she knew what was about to happen.



She felt a hand on her shoulder as several gasps and screams were heard when the memory Ron grabbed the memory Hermione and began the attack. When her memory self was on the ground, she slowly made her way over to the scene.



One of the two junior aurors made to pull her back but was stopped by Harry. “Let her be.” He told him, warning in his voice. He watched as she approached herself being attacked. He kept his wand at the ready; she had a strange look in her eyes.



Hermione looked down at the weak woman under Ron. Tears began to stream out, “GET UP!!!” She screamed. “FIGHT HIM YOU COWARD!! FIGHT HIM” she turned her attention to the dream Ron and began to pound her fists into the ghost image, her fists going straight through to the ground. “Bastard, stupid son of a bitch.”



Meanwhile, the present Ron was watching with horrified looks. How could he have been so cruel? He deserved whatever punishment was handed to him. He looked to his family, his brothers and sister looked right back at him, with fury. His mom and dad were silently watching the scene still, tears staining their face.



Severus had seen enough. He went to Hermione and lifted her off the ground by her arms. She spat down on the image of her rape before allowing herself to be pulled away. When they all were back in the courtroom, nearly every eye had tears in it. Most looking at Hermione with sadness.



Hermione, however, merely looked at Kingsley fiercely. “Yes, Prime Minister, this is an accurate account of the attack.” He nodded her dismissal and Severus, who still had her arms, lead her towards the door. She spared Ron a look of hatred before leaving the courtroom.



Severus took her out of the ministry instead of straight back to Hogwarts. This little chit needed to cool off in the December air. She was still pissed off, but was calm enough to move of her own accord.



“I want revenge. You know people at Azkaban! You could help get him thrown in cell where they will butt rape him and beat him!” Severus knew that tone and look, and it was scary to see in so young a person.



“Hermione, revenge will not take the pain away. Trust in my words, I know.” Severus placed his arm around her waist. For the first time in weeks, she pulled away from him.



“But I’m just so angry, I don’t know what to do! I want him to hurt as much as I do.” She exclaimed. “He took away everything that I knew! He killed who I am!” Severus looked at her, she was finally letting the reality of the attack hit her hard, and he was going to have to watch her closely.



“Ms. Granger, it is true that you are not the same woman now that you were in September. You are stronger. He did not take anything from you.” He began to walk closer to her.



“Look at me, Severus!!” she said, shaking from anger. “I lost the family I had with the Weasley’s. Now I do not belong anywhere!”



Severus glanced around the alley before cupping her face with his hands. “Yes you do, Hermione, you belong with me.” He whispered, barely audible. He kissed her nose and smirked at the shocked expression on her face.



For one of the only times in her life, Hermione Granger was speechless. She hardly recognized apparating to Hogsmeade and walking back through the castle to her rooms. Severus had kissed her, well her nose, but still, it was definitely a kiss.