It Happened One Night

CHAPTER 23: Doing The Right Thing







Harry arrived shortly before noon to find Hermione and Remus sitting in their kitchen drinking tea. Both were dressed and ready for court but neither looked as though they were doing all that well.





“Remus…..well, you have looked worse I suppose.” Harry said, putting his hand on Remus’s shoulder. He saw the bruise marring the side of Hermione’s face and his stomach turned. “Mione, how are you?” He asked, reaching out to touch her cheek softly.







“I’ve been better. What has happened since last night?” She asked.







“Ron was taken to the ministry where he was held over night and given sober up potion. It turns out that alcohol wasn’t the only thing he was abusing. Opium was found in his system as well, though in small amounts. It doesn’t appear he was using it for very long.” Harry said, pulling out a chair and joining them. Hermione accio’d another cup and fixed him a cup of tea.







“Oh my goodness…..that explains why I couldn’t see him in there, why I couldn’t reason with him.” Hermione said, clutching Remus’s hand tight. “How is the family taking it?”





“Ginny of course has known and been very vocal about her belief in Ron’s addiction. The twins want to kick his arse, Arthur is of course deeply disappointed and Molly…..well as you can imagine she is in denial.” Harry said.





“What do you think should happen to him?” Remus asked.





“As an auror and a member of wizard law enforcement I think he should go to Azkaban for his crimes. But as his friend, as family, I know the real Ron and I know that were he himself he would never harm a hair on her head.” Harry said, shrugging in his confusion. “What do you two want to happen to him?”





“I don’t want him in prison, I know it doesn’t make sense since I was the one he hurt, but I knew that wasn’t Ron. I want him to get the help he needs, Harry. I want him to get well and I want him to find happiness. But I also don’t want to be anywhere near him for awhile. I need time…..” Hermione felt the tears begin to form. “While I know he wouldn’t have done it had he not been under the influence, I don’t think I can see him and feel safe, not after what he did.”





“It’s understandable. Remus, what about you?”





“I want him to find himself again, the man he was before the drinking and drugs. I want him to keep his distance until we decide that we are ready to see him.” Remus said, leaning back in his chair and brushing his thumb over the top of Hermione’s hand. “Believe that getting him help is the right thing to do, not prison.”





“Are you sure? The most serious charge against him is his attempt to cast the Avada curse.” Harry said.





“Like I said to Hermione, he isn’t the first wizard to try it. Even in wolf form I was confident in my ability to dodge it.” He smiled. “It is going to be difficult for his family as it is, I won’t compound that by having him sent to prison. I care too much for them all to do that.”





“Well, we should get to the Ministry then.” Harry said. Hermione gathered their cups and put them into the sink. Hand in hand she and Remus followed Harry into the hearth, exiting in the ministry receiving hall.





The courts were situated in the lowest level so they had to take an elevator to get there. Hermione stayed close to Remus, needing his support and the security of his nearness to get her through. They entered the courtroom and saw the sea of redheads who all looked up as soon as they walked in.





Molly saw Hermione’s face, marred by the large, purple bruise and she began to cry.

“Oh, he really did it didn’t he? He hurt you…..” She sobbed, pulling Hermione into her arms.







“Molly, Ron is sick. He needs to get help that is why I’m here.” Hermione said softly. Molly touched her cheek and leaned in to kiss it softly as though trying to ease the hurt of a small child.





“Mione…..oh my god…..” Ginny gasped.





“It looks worse than it feels, believe me.” Hermione said, trying to ease their minds. She wasn’t willing to completely forgive Ron for what he had done to her and she wasn’t trying to trivialize what he had done, but she would not inflict more pain on his family. She could see that they already felt responsible and torn between loyalty to their blood kin and defense of a woman they loved as though she were family.





“It looks pretty bad.” George said. It was one of the only times Hermione had ever seen him look serious and livid.





“When we get our hands on him he’ll look worse.” Fred added, punching his fist into his palm.





“You guys are sweet, really, but Ron didn’t walk away unscathed.” Hermione said, looking over her shoulder to make certain Remus was behind her.





“We heard that he was clawed…..that his face will be scarred.” Arthur said as he stared at Remus.





“It was in defense of my wife, Arthur. I couldn’t stand by and do nothing.” He said.





“Ron is lucky that Remus takes a new formula for Wolfsbane potion and is in control of his thoughts. If Hermione hadn’t stepped in he could have been bitten or worse.” Harry said, stepping up next to Remus in a show of support.





“I understand completely, I would have done the same in your position.” Arthur said.







“All rise for the honorable Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister of Magic.” Everyone shuffled for a moment to their feet as Kingsley and the jury were brought in and seated.





“Bring forth the accused and read the charges.” Kingsley said in an authoritative tone. Everyone looked as Ron was led in by two guards. He was still wearing the same clothes as the night before, though they were stained with blood. His face bore three long scratches down one cheek. His hair was mussed and he was shaking and sweating uncontrollably, no doubt from the withdrawal symptoms.





Ron glanced briefly at his family and his eyes showed his shame clearly. His gaze landed on Hermione and he gasped when he saw the swollen, damaged side of her face. He ducked his head and tears rolled down his cheeks.





“Ronald Weasley is accused of breaking and entering into the home of Remus and Hermione Lupin. He is also accused of physical and attempted sexual assault on Mrs. Lupin.” Hermione heard Molly gasp in horror from behind her, apparently they had not been informed of that little bit of information. “He is also accused of attempting to cast an unforgivable, specifically the Avada Kedavra, at Mr. Lupin when he tried to protect his wife.” The secretary reading the charges set the parchment down and waited beside the dais.





“Remus Lupin, Hermione Lupin and Harry Potter, would you please step forward.” Kingsley said. The three of them made their way to the center of the room, Hermione staying in constant contact with Remus. “Hermione, it says that you were in your bed asleep when Mr. Weasley entered your home uninvited. He pulled you from your bed by your hair and dragged you through your house at which time you were verbally assaulted and intimidated by him. Is this accurate?”





“It is.” Hermione said softly.





“He then made an attempt to kiss you and when you refused his advance he hit you, restrained you and informed you of his intent to sexually assault you, then tore your clothing and exposed you. Is this accurate?”





“Yes.” She said on a choked sob.





“Mr. Lupin, you are a registered werewolf, correct?”





“Yes sir.” Remus answered, clutching Hermione’s hand tight.





“You currently hold a prescription for the most updated formula of wolfsbane potion, had you taken it?”





“Yes sir.”





“The statement says you were in full control of your thoughts when you escaped your confinement area causing harm to yourself in the process. It says that you managed to knock Mr. Weasley away from your wife and that you took a swipe at his face, marking his left cheek. You did not bite him?”





“No sir, Hermione bade me not to harm him and I listened.” Remus answered.





“So despite the fact that you had backed off, Mr. Weasley still attempted to cast the Avada Kedavra directed at you.”







“Yes, sir, but my wife intervened and knocked him unconscious before he could complete the spell.” Remus said.







Kingsley wrote something on the file he was reading from and turned his attention to Harry.





“Mr. Potter, how did you come to be on the scene?”





“I received an emergency floo call from Hermione and I immediately went to her house.” Harry answered, standing straight and tall, very much in professional mode except for the fact that he had Hermione’s other hand in his. She was lucky to have such a true friend.





“And what were your findings when you arrived on scene?” Kingsley asked.





“When I arrived Ron was unconscious on the floor and Hermione was sitting with Remus, still in wolf form, her face was bruising already and her clothing was torn. She also bears marks on her arms that are currently hidden beneath her clothing.” Harry said.





“The werewolf did not attack you when you entered?” Kingsley asked, amazed the new formula was working so well.





“No sir, nor did he attack the others, he knew who I was.”





“And why were you not the one to make the arrest?” Kingsley asked, looking at the arrest report.





“Conflict of interest, sir. It seemed better to allow another auror to handle it.” Kingsley nodded in approval and set the file aside.







“Mrs. Lupin, what would you like to see happen here since you were the party hurt the most by Mr. Weasley’s actions?” Kingsley asked her.







“I want him to get the help he needs, to get well again so that he can be the man I know he is. The monster who broke into my house was not Ron. He was someone twisted by the alcohol and drugs coursing through his veins.” Hermione said, looking at Ron who was staring at her from beneath shaggy bangs in complete surprise.





“And Mr. Lupin?” Kingsley asked.







“I agree with my wife. I think that Ron needs serious help for his addictions and therapy to help him cope with the stresses in his life. I do not think prison is the right way to go. He will be punished enough for the rest of his life knowing what he almost did to a woman who has been important to him almost his entire life and he will forever bear a mark that is a constant reminder of what happens when you attempt to force yourself on another man’s wife.” Remus said. The look he gave Ron said that should it ever happen again the outcome would be far worse than a claw mark.







“Ronald Weasley, please step forward.” Kingsley watched as Harry and Remus pulled Hermione aside, the two of them standing like sentinels beside her as Ron shuffled forward. “What do you have to say for yourself?”





“Nothing sir. I shamed myself, I have shamed my family….I hurt someone I love very much because I couldn’t stop indulging in the drink and drugs. There is nothing more for me to say. I don’t deserve the compassion they have shown me.” He said quietly, his head bent low.







“You are right. You don’t deserve it but I hope you appreciate it. If I did not know you and your family so well I would be sending you off to Azkaban to rot. But seeing as I do, I agree that the alcohol and opium were primarily the reason for your appalling behavior. Therefore I am ordering you into a six-month in patient treatment program at St. Mungos. Upon completion you will be released to your parents where you will remain on house arrest for no less than six months. You will serve two years of probation following that. You have no idea how lucky you are Mr. Weasley.” Kingsley gestured for the guard to take Ron away and banged the gavel on the dais.







“Mr. and Mrs. Lupin, you are good, kind people to seek his recovery rather than revenge. He and his family are truly blessed by your kindness.” Kingsley said as he got up and led the jurors out of the courtroom.











Hermione and Remus found themselves shoved together and wrapped in Molly’s tight embrace.





“Thank you, you didn’t have to do that, say those things. Not after what he tried to do….oh Hermione, daughter……I’m so sorry he……that he almost…..” Molly was crying too hard to continue.







“It wasn’t him, it was the drink…the opium…..the real Ron would never hurt me. He might be emotionally retarded, but he would never in a million millennia deliberately hurt me. That is why I want him to get well.” Hermione said, embracing the older woman tight.





“You saved our son from prison, we are forever in your debt.” Arthur said, hugging Hermione and shaking Remus’s hand.





“Just make certain that he gets the help he needs and there is no debt.” Remus said. “It has been a rough day and an even rougher night last night. If you would excuse us, I am going to take my wife home for some rest.”





Remus and Hermione said their goodbyes and left the ministry. That evening as they sat on their sofa staring into the fire Hermione smiled.





“What has you smiling, love?” He asked, his hands toying with her curls.





“I feel good about how we handled everything. I think that this was the best route for everyone.” She said, sipping her hot chocolate.





“It was the right thing to do, love.” He said, kissing her temple and tucking her head into his shoulder.





“Marrying you was the right thing to do as well. Even if it was during a night of drunken debauchery.” She laughed.





“Drunken debauchery is it?” He laughed along with her.





“Well I mean we ran off from a party, got married, shagged in a chapel bathroom…..and who knows where else between there and the inn.” She snuggled closer, her hand stroking the center of his chest where she had unbuttoned his shirt.





“Well, all things considered, it was the best decision I have ever made, love. I am more in love with you than I thought possible.” He said against her ear.





“And I am so in love with you.” She said, smiling contentedly as she rested in his arms.